He was born in Kingston, Jamaica, raised in the parish of St. Mary and relocated back to the place of his birth during his teenage years. He began performing under his stage name, taken from a character in the G.I. Joe comic books, while still in his teens. He honed his talents on several local sound systems before entering the studio. His first single, 1989's "Respect Woman", was produced by his uncle, Tuff Gong engineer Delroy "Spiderman" Thompson. His next single, "Na Go Work", featured Tricia McKay, giving him his first hit, and bringing him to the attention of producers Captain Sinbad and Carl Nelson. Together they released a string of hit dancehall singles, including "Shoot to Kill", "Merciless Bad Boy", and "Ze Taurus", which featured tough, gangsta rap-style lyrics in keeping with the current trends of that time.
In 1990, Cobra began working with producer Donovan Germain and songwriter Dave Kelly on the Penthouse Records label. This partnership spawned a series of major hits in Jamaica, including "Yush", "Gundelero", "Bad Boy Talk", and "Feeling Lonely" (with Beres Hammond). He released his first full-length album in 1991, entitled Bad Boy Talk, and over the next year worked with several different producers on yet more hit tracks ("O.P.P" with King Jammy, "Tek Him" with Bobby Digital, "Be Patient" with Sly & Robbie). In 1991 and 1992, Mad Cobra broke into the UK Reggae charts with five number one hits, bringing with it a backlash over concerns about the anti-gay sentiments of tracks such as "Crucifixion".
In the wake of his British success, Mad Cobra signed a deal in America with Columbia Records. His next LP was entitled Hard to Wet, Easy to Dry, and featured "Flex", a single which interpolated elements of The Temptations' "Just My Imagination". It was a smash hit, topping the US Rap Singles chart, hitting #7 on the R&B chart, and peaking at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. The success of the single propelled the album to #125 on the Billboard Top 200, but the follow-up, "Legacy", failed to chart, and for the next several years Cobra's hit-making remained primarily in Jamaica with songs such as 1993's "Mek Noise" and "Matti Haffie Move". Around this time, Cobra became involved in rivalries with fellow reggae artists Ninjaman and Buju Banton. He also made a guest appearance on rap group Run-D.M.C.'s "What's Next" on their album Down with the King.
In 1994, Cobra returned with Venom, again recording with King Jammy. Jamaican hit singles from the 1994-1995 period included "Length and Bend", "Fat and Buff", and "Selassie I Rules", now adopting "conscious" lyrics. In 1996, Columbia Records released Milkman in the US market. The album peaked at #12 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart and featured a minor hit, "Big Long John", which charted briefly on the US Dance and R&B Singles charts. In 1998, a track with Mr. Vegas entitled "Guns High" charted in some countries in Europe, and a number of re-releases of his Jamaican material were issued on VP. Further albums were issued in 2001 (Cobra) and 2004 (Words of Warning). Most recently, Cobra was heard on "Cobrastyle", a single from Teddybears' 2006 album, Soft Machine.
On the night of May 11, 2010, Mad Cobra was shot three times in the upper body near his home in Braeton, only a day after another dancehall artist, Oneil Edwards of the group Voice Mail, was also shot in Duhaney Park. He was carried to the Spanish Town Hospital for treatment. It was later ascertained that the vehicle Mad Cobra was traveling in had shone its light on a group of men and this had angered them. When Mad Cobra came out to appease the men, he was shot. He was released from hospital later that week. On the following Monday night, his house was shot up by unknown assailants but no one was injured during the incident.
Flex
Mad Cobra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting too long
Finally yuh come a long
Baby love
Explain yuhself, baby girl
Lead out! Lead out, lead out, lead out
Like a clock ticking on the wall
So weak I need yuh body next to mine
Cyaan eat nor sleep
Like a club to a screw
Ohhh I do you
So neat
Spread your feet
Lord (Hear mi tell di girl!)
Girl flex, time to have sex
Long time yuh have di rude bwoy yah a sweat Girl, flex time to have sex
Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a sweat
I rather wait out-a patience
Lovin she get that will be sufficient
I rather wait till I cyaan wait no more
X amount of lovin hardcore
Me a listen jus to hear she knock pon di door
Only to touch her me nuh want know no more
Girl, flex time to have sex
Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a sweat
Girl, flex time to have sex
Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a...
Before she reach
I could smell her perfume
I could not wait to get her inna di room
Before she reach I could smell her perfume
I could not wait to get her inna...
Feel like a surgeon
Prepare di surgery
But I hope di likkle girl no charge me fi perjury
Action wit di injection
Worky, worky girl, according to plan
Girl flex, time to have sex
Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a wait
Girl flex, time to have sex
Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a...
Know me ready
Gal tickle up mi fancy
Skin to skin perform di surgery
Know me ready ain't wasting no time
Reach yuh climax girl anytime
Know me ready
Receive what me affi give
Good lovin every day that yuh live
Ready Gal lets go for it
Agony gal from start to finish
Girl Flex Time to have sex
Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a sweat
Girl Flex Time to have sex
Look how long she have di rude bwoy a
Bet mi life
She not go late again
When she remember what where or when
Bet mi life she'll be always early
For me to perform a long-a surgery
Bet mi life I cyaan count on dat
Surgeon knife a slice it like a flechette
Girl flex, time to have sex
Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a sweat
Girl flex, time to have sex
Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a...
I rather wait
Out-a patience
Lovin she get
That will be sufficient
I rather wait
Till I cyaan wait no more
X amount of lovin hardcore
Me a listen
Jus to her she knock pon di door
Jus to touch her me nuh want know no more
Girl flex, time to have sex
Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a sweat
Girl flex, time to have sex
Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a
Know me ready
Gal tickle up mi fancy
Skin to skin perform di surgery
Know me ready girl ain't wasting no time
Reach yuh climax girl anytime
Know me ready
Receive what me affi give
Good lovin every day that....
Mad Cobra's song "Flex" is a reggae dancehall track about the anticipation and excitement of sex. The song is about Mad Cobra waiting for his lover to arrive and being unable to contain his excitement. The lyrics speak of his longing for her body and his inability to eat or sleep without her. He describes the build-up of sexual tension as being like a clock ticking on the wall, seven days a week. The chorus repeats the phrase "Girl flex, time to have sex," as if urging his lover to finally give in to their desire.
Throughout the song, Mad Cobra uses a medical metaphor to describe their sexual encounter, comparing himself to a surgeon preparing for "surgery" and urging his lover to "spread your feet." The song is explicit in its sexual references but is more playful than vulgar. Mad Cobra's lyrics are delivered with a confident, almost boastful tone, highlighting the pleasure he anticipates.
Overall, "Flex" is an upbeat, sensual dancehall track that celebrates the pleasures of sex and the anticipation that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Crying, moaning, just can't wait til morning
Impatiently waiting for the morning to arrive, filled with longing and yearning.
Waiting too long
Feeling like waiting has gone on for an extended period without satisfaction or resolution.
Finally yuh come a long
The wait is over, and the person being waited for has finally arrived.
Baby love
Affectionate nickname for the person being addressed.
Explain yuhself, baby girl
The person is requesting an explanation or clarification from the woman in question.
Lead out! Lead out, lead out, lead out
Commanding the woman to take the lead or make the first move.
Like a clock ticking on the wall
Describing the steady, repetitive passage of time.
Seven days a week
Implying that the longing and desire for the woman is an all-consuming feeling that persists every day.
So weak I need yuh body next to mine
The person is overcome with desire and needs the physical connection of the woman to satisfy it.
Cyaan eat nor sleep
The person's desire is so strong that it is affecting their basic needs and functions.
Like a club to a screw
Comparing the person's desire to a tool that is necessary to complete a job or task.
Ohhh I do you
The person is willing and eager to satisfy the woman's needs and desires.
So neat
The person will carry out their role in the physical act with precision and skill.
Spread your feet
The person is requesting that the woman open herself up to receive the physical pleasure they will provide.
Lord (Hear mi tell di girl!)
Vocative expression, addressed to a higher power, indicating a plea for attention or help in conveying a message to the woman.
Girl flex, time to have sex
The person is instructing the woman to prepare and engage in a physical act of intimacy.
Long time yuh have di rude bwoy yah a sweat
Reinforcing the idea that the person has waited extensively and is now eager to engage with the woman.
I rather wait out-a patience
Expressing that the person would prefer to wait and build anticipation so that the physical intimacy will be more satisfying.
Lovin she get that will be sufficient
Implying that the romantic and physical gestures the person has already given or will give will be enough to satisfy the woman's needs.
Till I cyaan wait no more
The person has reached their limit of waiting and needs to engage in physical intimacy with the woman.
X amount of lovin hardcore
An unspecified but significant amount of intense physical pleasure.
Me a listen jus to hear she knock pon di door
The person is eagerly anticipating the arrival of the woman and the beginning of their physical intimacy.
Only to touch her me nuh want know no more
The person's sole focus is on physical pleasure and doesn't want to think about anything else.
Before she reach
Describing the person's eagerness and anticipation for the arrival of the woman.
I could smell her perfume
Suggesting a heightened sense of awareness and desire in the person as they eagerly await the woman's arrival.
I could not wait to get her inna di room
The person is eager to engage in physical intimacy with the woman as soon as possible.
Feel like a surgeon
Describing the person's competence and confidence in their ability to provide physical pleasure.
Prepare di surgery
The person is gearing up and getting ready to engage in physical intimacy.
But I hope di likkle girl no charge me fi perjury
Expressing the desire that the woman doesn't accuse them of lying or deception in their pursuit of physical intimacy.
Action wit di injection
Excitement and eagerness to engage in intimate physical contact with the woman.
Worky, worky girl, according to plan
The person is motivated and focused on their task of providing physical pleasure to the woman.
Know me ready
Confidence and certainty in one's ability to provide physical pleasure.
Gal tickle up mi fancy
The person finds the woman to be immensely attractive and desirable.
Skin to skin perform di surgery
Describing the physical act of intimacy in detail.
Girl ain't wasting no time
The woman is eager and motivated to engage in physical intimacy.
Reach yuh climax girl anytime
Describing the goal of the physical intimacy, to bring the woman to orgasm.
Receive what me affi give
The person is offering and providing physical pleasure to the woman.
Good lovin every day that yuh live
Implying a commitment and desire to provide physical pleasure to the woman across a long-term relationship.
Agony gal from start to finish
The woman is experiencing intense physical pleasure and excitement throughout the entire act of intimacy.
Bet mi life
Expressing complete confidence and assurance in one's predictions or promises.
She not go late again
Implying that the woman has been late in arriving for physical intimacy before.
When she remember what where or when
Describing the forgetfulness or confusion that keeps the woman from arriving on time for physical intimacy.
Bet mi life she'll be always early
Expressing the certainty that the woman will arrive on time or even early for physical intimacy in the future.
For me to perform a long-a surgery
Describing the longer duration or more intense physical pleasure that the person anticipates providing.
I cyaan count on dat
Expressing skepticism or doubt in the likelihood of the woman arriving on time for physical intimacy in the future.
Surgeon knife a slice it like a flechette
Describing the person's skill and precision in providing physical pleasure.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMIE LEE BISSMIRE, JOHNNY O'CONNELL, LUCIAN THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mncalapati415
The 90's was a F*CKIN' BLAST!!. My teenage years are gone but my memories will live on. Class of 97’
@mengezinxumalo9276
Greatest music era not coz i grew up in but facts music still relevant till this day..
@gabelopez82
MnCAlapati415 the 90’s gave me some of the greatest moments and memories of my life, there will never be another era like it.
@rykson161
MnCAlapati415 .. this and BOOM BYE BYE.. BUJU BANTON were always played back to back !! Hahahahaha back in the days 1990’s
@marisamesa4067
Must agree living in South Bimini jamming @beachclub drinking kalicks driving golfcRts n straight buju lol💖💯🌴🌄🌈🌡️✨🌠🐬⚓🍻🛩️🚤🗾🏝️🛤️🎉🥇
@tylercouture216
The 90s and 2000s were a true goodbye letter to the last of the great decades
@beautifulllb9493
The Jamaicans SERVED US A PLATTER through the 90s and 00s! 🤯 you just had to be there ❤
@dbdquatrvp
That Intro Is Everything 😌
@sidneyatkins6678
Iconic
@AHamSandwich516
I dont like this song. It made my ex cheat on me. Her in dude was just chillin then he got up & said "Flex time to have sex" and she loves them aggressive men. I had house cameras