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Louie Culture „Mr Gangalee“
Dancehall fans, here he is, the original Mr. "Gangalee" himself-- Mr. "I wanna be free from all chains and all bangles and rope/Free from all bars and all borders and dope/Free to praise the Lord because mi naw praise the Pope/So mind how yuh a wash yuh face wid Babylon soap/I was born to be free 'cause mi a ole gangalee/Gangalee and who have eyes they will see." (taken from the hit song "Gangalee.")
He's also known as DJ Louie Culture, as that is the name he entered the music business with, but ever since he scored with his big hit, Dancehall fans, home and abroad, have branded him "Mr. Gangalee." He's very proud to wear this title, not only because he made it popular, but more so, because his belief in the concept of the word "gangalee" has been his main driving force to success.
Now, before driving you all nuts, here's the history of the word and the man called Gangalee. Follow mi! "Gangalee" is an old Jamaican rural term for an unruly, uncontrollable, bad person. As old people would say, "A soon cool yuh 'cause yuh a gwan like yuh a gangalee."
Well, Louie Culture, who was born in rural Portland (Windsor Forest to be exact), on May 9, 1968, took that old rural term and gave it a new meaning and lease on life in 1993. To Louie, a "gangalee" is a freedom fighter. One who fights for and never gives up on his beliefs, and what he wants and dreams of, no matter what the circumstances, obstacles or difficulties may be. Even if it means going or fighting the battle alone, with God by your side.
Louie Culture, born Lewin Brown, started out DJing while still at school in Portland. He took the name of his mentor Bobby Culture and fused it with his pet name "Louie," to come up with the name Louie Culture. Like his mentor, Louie DJayed a lot of Cultural tunes. His first recording was "Rat a Bother Me" (with fellow DJ and friend Waynie Ranking) for producer Red Man in 1986.
The song was a flop. Waynie Ranking got fed up and migrated, so Louie then teamed up with the singer called Positive. They recorded a few songs together, but they too were unsuccessful. Positive
thought what was happening was negative, so he also migrated, leaving Louie alone, hanging on to his dreams of becoming a DJ.
Louie Culture decided there and then that he was going to make it on his own. He was now determined to go "through the hills and valleys" to the mountain top of the music industry. After recording some songs for Colin Fatta, Louie met DJ Terror Fabulous. Terror introduced him to the "Mad House" crew. That's when his career took off.
He recorded and scored with songs "Live and Learn" (with Wayne Wonder), "Excellent," "Bogus Badge," "Revolution Song," "No Gal" (on the Pepperseed rhythm), and then the monster hit and titeltrack "Gangalee", that gave him his first LP, produced by Stone Love (Released 1994/ Available at: VP Music Group).
Louie is very happy about his growing success, and he thanks Jah for making his dream become a reality.
He remembers when he used to go to producers with reality tunes, and they'd tell him, "Them sound good man, but give me gal tune or gun lyrics." So, what he did as a gangalee was to give the producers what they wanted until they had to take "whey mi want to give them, and that is Culture."
Louie, a Rastafarian, is glad to see that Culture songs are now on the upswing; but he's a little concerned about the sincerity of the many DJs who are recording songs based on the Rastafarian belief. "'Nuff man a say things them don't know 'bout because them want to be under the light," he explained. "A lot of them will soon have to stand up and be counted, then we'll know who sincere from who wearing 'the Bogus Badge.'"
He's also aware that some Dancehall fans have been mis-interpreting the word "gangalee."
"When mi go abroad, some man a say, 'Whoah, mi a gangalee,' meaning a badman thing, so, mi haffi go pon stage [and] show them how I interpret it. But them still hold fi them view."
Mr. Gangalee made his debut appearance at Sunsplash in 1994, where he performed a great set. Here is a story about Louie and Sunsplash that he shared with us:"A great feeling and a great experience. The only thing I never like is how they put me on so late when the people dem weary."
Louie's big songs in the late 90s are "Don't Get Weary Gangalee," "They Lied" and "Ole Before Them Young." From early 2000 and the following years Louie Culture continued to mash up the
dancehalls with songs like „Grap your lass and come“ feat. Mickey Spice & „Scandalina“ for Digital B Records.
In 2004 Louie Culture released his second album entitled „The
Uprising“ (Available at: VP Music Group).
The titeltrack of this album was a next massive hit thru out Jamaica, the US and Europe. He toured the album extensivly together with Freddy McGregor on a 5 weeks europe-tour followed by individual shows in the US.
Over the years Louie Culture has performed countless shows in Jamaica, Japan, the US, Canada, UK, Europe and all over the Caribbean.
Since early 2009 Louie „Gangalee“ Culture is working on his 3rd album for his own new established label „Gangalee Music“. He plan to adress a few new topics with this album – „expect lyrics about my views of the world today, critics I wanted to verbalise for a while now... and nuff more me haffi teach the youth dem“... he says with a smile...
First singles from the album are „Concrete Jungle Rock“ (for german based label „Silly Walks“), „What a World“ (for 96 Degree Records) and „Prayer for Jamaica“ (for his own label „Gangalee Music“).
Gangalee
Louie Culture Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only I can decide my own fi me!
Why? 'Cause I'm a ole Gangalee.
How it go?!
I wanna be free from all chains, and all bondages and rope/
Free from all bars and all borders and dope/
So why now you ah wash your face with Babylon soap?/
Mi have whole wheap a faith, that mean mi have whole heap a hope/
Life ruff and hard, but wid it mi affi cope/
Some tek it 'pon di level and some slide down di slope/
Silent river run deep, but Gangalee have to float.
I was born to be free...
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangalee.
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangsta Lee, Gangsta Leeee.
And who have eyes, they will seeee.
Say, Me nuh come ya so fi joke, A me nuh come ya so fi laugh/
Me deya 'pon the mission an' me complete half/
Jah is my rod, of course He is my staff/
If you love di cow, you haffi accept the calf/
Coulda beat me likkle more, me get hard instead of soft/
Inequity worker, all ah work witchcraft/
Dem inject me body wit coal, but mi nah caugh/
Serious like all fifty judge, when all laugh/
I was born to be free...
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangalee.
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangaleeeee.
And who have eyes, they will seeee.
Me beg dem fi let me go now and mek me fly like a bird/
Jah send mi out, so mi voice must be heard/
I am di sheep and a Him ah di shepherd/
Try stop me someting ago happen, please mark me word!/
I was born to be free...
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangalee.
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangaleeeee.
And who have eyes, they will seeee.
Say, Original Gangalee put up up fi ya hand mek mi see/
South side spoilers a down a Tel-Aviv/
Who ah teach uh laws wit di infinity/
From you a born to be free, you a ol ganga...
Ole Gangalee, Gangalee.
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangalee.
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangsta Lee, Gangsta Leeee.
And who have eyes, they will seeee.
Say, I wanna be free from all chains, and all bondages and rope/
Free from all bars and all borders and dope/
Free to praise the Lord, becah me nah praise di Pope/
So why now you ah wash your face wit Babylon soap?/
Me have whole wheap a faith, that mean me have whole heap a hope/
Life ruff and hard, but wid it mi affi cope/
Some tek it 'pon di level and some slide down di slope/
Silent river run deep, but Gangalee have to float/
I was born to be free...
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangalee.
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangaleeeee.
And who have eyes, they will seeee.
Say, Me nuh come ya so fi joke, A me nuh come ya so fi laugh/
Deya 'pon the mission an' me complete half/
Jah is my rod, of course He is my staff/
If you love di cow, you haffi accept the calf/
Coulda beat me likkle more, me hard instead of soft/
Inequity worker, all ah work witchcraft/
Dem inject me body wit coal, but me nah caugh/
Serious like all fifty judge, when all laugh/
I was born to be free...
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangalee.
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangaleeeee.
And who have eyes, they will seeee.
Me beg dem fi let me go now and mek me fly like a bird/
Jah send me out, so me voice must be heard/
I am the sheep and a Him ah di shepherd/
Try stop me someting ago happen, please mark me word!/
I was born to be free...
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangalee, Gangalee.
Mmm, Man a ol' Gangsta Lee, Gangsta Leeee.
And who have eyes, they will seeee.
Louie Culture's song "Gangalee" is an ode to the power of self-determination and independence. The song reflects on the artist's desire to be free from societal constraints and to follow his own path. He acknowledges that his destiny is in his hands alone, and no one else can decide that for him. Gangalee is a symbol of freedom and independence, representing the kind of person who does not follow the status quo or succumb to societal pressures.
In the song's chorus, Louie Culture repeats the phrase "I was born to be free, Man a ol' Gangalee," affirming his belief that he was born to live life on his own terms. He also emphasizes that those who have "eyes" can see the truth in his words, suggesting that his message is universal and applicable to all who seek to break free from societal norms.
Throughout the song, Louie Culture addresses a variety of themes related to oppression and the struggle for freedom. He advocates for the rejection of oppressive institutions such as religion and politics, and encourages listeners to embrace their own spirituality and faith. He also speaks out against inequality and witchcraft, and asserts his determination to resist these forces.
Overall, "Gangalee" is a powerful statement of self-determination and freedom. Louie Culture's lyrics are both insightful and empowering, reminding listeners of the importance of following their own path and living their lives with purpose and conviction.
Line by Line Meaning
No man can decide my destiny!
I am in control of my own future and decisions.
Only I can decide my own fi me!
No one else has the power to choose my path in life except for me.
Why? 'Cause I'm a ole Gangalee.
The reason for my freedom is because I am a Gangalee.
I wanna be free from all chains, and all bondages and rope/
I desire to break free from all physical and psychological restraints and obstacles.
Free from all bars and all borders and dope/
I want liberation from all forms of confinement and limitations, including drugs.
Free to praise the Lord, becah mi nah praise di Pope/
I want to have the liberty to worship God according to my own beliefs, not influenced by the Pope.
So why now you ah wash your face with Babylon soap?/
Why are you conforming to the oppressive society that is Babylon, represented by washing your face with Babylon soap?
Mi have whole wheap a faith, that mean mi have whole heap a hope/
I have a lot of faith, which translates into having a lot of hope.
Life ruff and hard, but wid it mi affi cope/
Life is tough, but I have to find ways to deal with it.
Some tek it 'pon di level and some slide down di slope/
Some people tackle life head-on, while others give up and let themselves fall.
Silent river run deep, but Gangalee have to float.
I may appear calm and collected, but I have to keep going despite life's hardships.
Me nuh come ya so fi joke, A me nuh come ya so fi laugh/
I am not here to fool around, I am on a serious mission.
Me deya 'pon the mission an' me complete half/
I am still on a mission, and I have completed only half of it.
Jah is my rod, of course He is my staff/
I depend on God for guidance and support in my life.
If you love di cow, you haffi accept the calf/
If you are fond of something, you have to accept its associated difficulties as well.
Coulda beat me likkle more, me get hard instead of soft/
Adversity only makes me stronger and more resilient.
Inequity worker, all ah work witchcraft/
People who promote injustice and inequality are like practitioners of witchcraft.
Dem inject me body wit coal, but mi nah caugh/
Despite the attempts of others to harm me, I will not break.
Serious like all fifty judge, when all laugh/
I am serious about my message, even when others may not take it seriously.
Me beg dem fi let me go now and mek me fly like a bird/
I ask them to let me go free, like a bird that can soar.
Jah send mi out, so mi voice must be heard/
God has sent me on a mission, and I must speak out.
I am di sheep and a Him ah di shepherd/
I am one of God's flock, and He watches over me.
Try stop me someting ago happen, please mark me word!/
If anyone tries to stand in my way, they will face the consequences.
Original Gangalee put up up fi ya hand mek mi see/
Anyone who is a true Gangalee should put up their hand to show their freedom.
South side spoilers a down a Tel-Aviv/
South side Gangalees are present even in Tel-Aviv.
Who ah teach uh laws wit di infinity/
Those who teach eternal laws about freedom.
From you a born to be free, you a ol ganga...
If you were born to be free, you are a true Gangalee.
Writer(s): Lewin Hopeton Brown
Contributed by Bentley D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@thetruthhurt1794
After dexta daps I have to come to the original. Big up louie culture
@Alejo_54
Original is better my friend. Big up dexta sameway
@patricialee9829
Me too lol
@sexybrown6249
@@Alejo_54 and please to respect dexta cause if it wasn't for him you wouldn't get the much views 🤨😏😏😏
@Alejo_54
@@sexybrown6249 a true. dexta and teach dem. Even though its not my video im here for the culture not for the hype. Salute.
@britsedits8902
Me too🤣🤣🤣
@boxertest
Nice to see Louie Culture still getting props to the present, thank you Dexta Daps
@DavidG77904
I absolutely Love the classics but I also Love how the new artistes are dropping these 🔥 remixes and I'm here for all of it, can't get enough.
@iron2468
The legend himself. Bwoy, Louie is one dancehall artist who gets respect from EVERYBODY 🙏
@Cosmic_Cleanse
The words of this song are still relevant today. They didn’t make much sense to me when I was a kid, but I get your message now, Legend. Big up to Dexta Daps for taking me back to my childhood with that sample