Much, much more than a deejay, much more than a singer and more than a chanter too Lutan Fyah also plays guitar, keyboards and the kette drum. He holds strong beliefs in originality at all times and so he is a songwriter too and, as the New Millennium has progressed, he has developed his very own idiosyncratic and unique vocal styling. He embraced the Rastafarian religion at the age of sixteen but his songs are not always strictly Rasta. As a "living man with work to do" he ranges over all subjects and everything and anything can inspire him to write, to play, to chant, to sing and to deejay. Preaching to the converted can prove to be a fairly easy task but to take the same message all around the world is a totally different ball game.
Born Anthony Martin in Thompson Pen, Spanish Town in the parish of St. Catherine, Jamaica his formative years were spent in an environment where music was omnipresent. His grandfather ran a Sound System and artists such as Lt. Stitchie, Papa San and Lady G would gather in the family's yard to practise and perfect their skills on the microphone.
"I grew up around a Sound System. Music flows through my bones ..." Lutan Fyah
Music proved to be an incredible influence on young Anthony but sport, and football in particular, proved to be another and he started playing as a midfielder, a position where he excelled, in teams in his local community. He graduated to his school team, St. Andrew Technical High School, and eventually made the grade as a professional in Jamaican Premier League clubs De la Vega and Constant Spring; but the call of music proved too strong to resist and in 1999 he hung up his football boots and took the first steps towards a musical career.
Like so many others before and after Anthony Martin trod that same dispiriting round of Kingston's studios and record producers where he was met with indifference and at times ignorance. However there was a different reception at Mark Myrie's Aksum Studios where the young chanter's promise was immediately recognised and he passed his audition with flying colours. The man now known as Lutan Fyah spent what he terms his 'internship' at Gargamel where he recorded over sixteen songs for Buju Banton while also freelancing for other producers. His debut release was actually for the Crazy Hate label and 'Ambassador' signalled the arrival of a significant new talent in Kingston's musical maelstrom.
The resurgence of the Rastafarian influence and the Bobo Dread phenomenon in reggae music was an indicator of serious times in Jamaica as a new generation of singers and deejays came to the conclusion that the only credible solution to the current malaise was to "love the word of God and thy neighbour as thyself". Others, who shall remain nameless, were not slow to realise that this presented a heaven sent opportunity to jump aboard the bandwagon for a handy ride on the fast track to fame and money. Many futile attempts were made to hitch a ride to stardom and the words of God were readily mouthed by tongues that had previously been wrapped around the more worldly concerns of the dance hall. But artists such as Lutan Fyah were there for the long run for "the race is not to the swift" and his music was at all times driven by his deep beliefs. His devotion to the Rastafarian religion has meant that he has stayed the course while so many pretenders have fallen by the wayside.
No Selfie
Lutan Fyah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We don't want that right now
Can't deal with it...
Wha you say Moon?
Mm hmm
No time fi no selfie
Think me come fi come join dem company
No hypocrite can come stink up on me
Like odor, take unu selfie and go way
Please no lean pon me shoulder, keep unu problem and go way
Cuh me nah wan dem set me up fi something cheap fi people come call me
Dem nah wan me fulfill me dream, dem gone a mas Charlie
You see all of my life
All of my days
All my ancestors that passed away
All of my qwefa die without a penny
Some try to be better but distance away
I check on my friends, check on my wife
Things could be better but tracks and the lies
So cruel and vicious , wicked like tobacco
The fit of the fit will survive
Man if you try stop my food that mean we gon fight
Mama haffi live happy half rich and alright
But sometimes I'm anxious, sometimes I'm scared
Too much fake friends and dusty heart round here
Dem heart it so heavy dem ah wait so fi catch you
Dis time me ready get up and say Go!
Dem woulda wan see me trip and fell down
Flip and get dis take the piss and sell out
You see nuff ah den out of dem ...
Every link den set fi control you
No time fi no selfie
Think me come fi come join dem company
If you no real don't call me
No hypocrite can come stink up on me
Like odor, take unu selfie and go way
Please no lean pon me shoulder, keep unu problem and go way
Cuh me nah wan dem set me up fi something cheap fi people come call me
Dem nah wan me fulfill me dream, dem gone a mas Charlie
Me ah Ras me nuh live inna no canepiece
See piece a land so me buy it out cheap, cheap
Me turn round, go buy one TV
Naga people seh him dam show off eeh?
Right ya now here now straight house man a deal with
Dun fi trust and still live in a old fridge
You see the Benz was the rich mans sports car
But right now fi di Ras, that a joke star!
Figet JPS for bow me gone solar
And if mi gal a gwaan bad, me no scold her
Me pass and say bless like me nuh know her
If tings nuh right me nah go tan and take it more far
Cause a nuh everything me have me ago show her
No time fi no selfie
Think me come fi come join dem company
If you no real don't call me
No hypocrite can come stink up on me
Like odor, take unu selfie and go way
Please no lean pon me shoulder, keep unu problem and go way
Cuh me nah wan dem set me up fi something cheap fi people come call me
Dem nah wan me fulfill me dream, dem gone a mas Charlie
In Lutan Fyah's song "No Selfie," he expresses his distaste for fake people and insincere relationships. He starts by asserting that he has no time for people who are fake and only interested in taking selfies and being part of a superficial social circle. He emphasizes that he values authenticity and genuine connections, stating that if someone is not real, they should not bother contacting him.
Lutan Fyah then reflects on his life and the challenges he has faced. He mentions his ancestors who have passed away and the struggles they endured. He also acknowledges the difficult circumstances some of his friends and loved ones are in. Despite these challenges, he remains determined and focused on fulfilling his dreams. He recognizes that there are people who do not want him to succeed and scheme to bring him down, but he refuses to let them control his destiny.
The artist expresses his desire for a peaceful and fulfilling life for himself and his mother. He acknowledges that he sometimes feels anxious and scared due to the presence of fake friends and deceitful individuals around him. He is aware of their intentions to harm him, but he is ready to overcome and move forward. He wants to distance himself from negativity and be surrounded by genuine people who support him.
Lutan Fyah criticizes those who try to control and manipulate others. He highlights the importance of being true to oneself and not getting caught up in material possessions or showing off. He mentions how he has invested in land and renewable energy sources, indicating a focus on sustainability and self-sufficiency. He asserts that his worth is not determined by his possessions and that he will not tolerate being treated unfairly or taken advantage of.
Overall, the lyrics of "No Selfie" reflect Lutan Fyah's rejection of superficiality, his determination to stay true to himself, and his pursuit of genuine relationships and personal fulfillment. The song serves as a reminder to prioritize authenticity and to be cautious of those who may have ulterior motives.
Line by Line Meaning
No time fi no selfie
There is no time for taking self-centered pictures
Think me come fi come join dem company
They think I came to join their group, but that's not my intention
If you no real don't call me
If you are not genuine, don't contact me
No hypocrite can come stink up on me
I won't let any fake person come close to me
Like odor, take unu selfie and go way
Like a bad smell, take your self-centeredness and leave
Please no lean pon me shoulder, keep unu problem and go way
Don't burden me with your problems, keep them to yourself and leave
Cuh me nah wan dem set me up fi something cheap fi people come call me
Because I don't want them to deceive me with something insignificant just to gain popularity
Dem nah wan me fulfill me dream, dem gone a mas Charlie
They don't want me to achieve my dreams, they have left and moved on
You see all of my life
You can see the entire journey of my life
All of my days
Throughout all the days I've lived
All my ancestors that passed away
All my deceased ancestors
All of my qwefa die without a penny
All of my close friends died in poverty
Some try to be better but distance away
Some tried to improve their lives, but the struggle was too difficult
I check on my friends, check on my wife
I care about my friends and my wife's well-being
Things could be better but tracks and the lies
Things could be improved, but there are obstacles and deceitful people
So cruel and vicious, wicked like tobacco
They are extremely cruel and wicked, just like tobacco
The fit of the fit will survive
Only the strongest and fittest will survive
Man if you try stop my food that mean we gon fight
If someone tries to interfere with my source of income, we will have a conflict
Mama haffi live happy half rich and alright
My mother deserves to live happily and be financially stable
But sometimes I'm anxious, sometimes I'm scared
However, there are times when I feel anxious and afraid
Too much fake friends and dusty heart round here
There are too many fake friends and untrustworthy people in this area
Dem heart it so heavy dem ah wait so fi catch you
Their hearts are burdened with the intention of deceiving you
Dis time me ready get up and say Go!
This time, I am prepared to stand up and say 'Go!'
Dem woulda wan see me trip and fell down
They would love to see me stumble and fall
Flip and get dis take the piss and sell out
They want to humiliate and exploit me
You see nuff ah den out of dem ...
Many of them are like that ...
Every link den set fi control you
Every connection they make is to manipulate and control you
Me ah Ras me nuh live inna no canepiece
As a Rastafarian, I don't live in materialistic wealth
See piece a land so me buy it out cheap, cheap
I managed to buy a piece of land at a very low price
Me turn round, go buy one TV
I turned around and bought a TV
Naga people seh him dam show off eeh?
Some people say that I am showing off, don't they?
Right ya now here now straight house man a deal with
Right here and now, I am dealing with truly important matters
Dun fi trust and still live in a old fridge
I've learned not to trust people, but I'm still living in a humble condition
You see the Benz was the rich mans sports car
In the past, a Mercedes-Benz was a symbol of wealth
But right now fi di Ras, that a joke star!
But for us Rastafarians, it is now seen as a joke!
Figet JPS for bow me gone solar
Forget about the Jamaica Public Service (electricity company), I have switched to solar energy
And if mi gal a gwaan bad, me no scold her
And if my partner is misbehaving, I don't scold her
Me pass and say bless like me nuh know her
I pass by and greet her warmly as if I don't know what she did
If tings nuh right me nah go tan and take it more far
If things are not going well, I won't tolerate it for long
Cause a nuh everything me have me ago show her
Because I won't show her everything that I possess
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andrew H. Bain, Anthony Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jimmy Spice Curry
on Money (feat. Lutan Fyah)
Nice song