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.
HAUNTED
Mad Cobra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nah mon nuh tun yuh back get we mad yuh nuh have nuh headback eediat
A weh yuh feel like seh yuh can come pon man ends
Go leggo any piece of chat, yah mon, mek sure yuh strapped
A Cobra again!!!!! Yeah!!!
Yuh feel haunted pussy start it pussy
Look like yuh see yuh coffin when yuh look pussy
From di way yuh chat mi nuh see yuh a gun claffy
Haunted pussy start it pussy
Look like yuh see yuh coffin when yuh look pussy
Haunted fassy pop it off fassy
From di way yuh chat... watch out.
Well since yuh so wicked and yuh so bad and yuh so bold
Come jump inna mi chest and mek mi dun yuh fassyhole
Or mek yuh friend dem come defend yuh death if dem so cold
Before yuh start lip go tell yuh muma dig a hole
Hide when yuh see di juvenile dem a patrol
Ting weh we a buss name collect people soul
Buck yuh one way mi leff yuh face wid a big hole
Hype likkle fool we get yuh big head fi roll
Furthermore we know yuh play a informa role
Now yuh did tell di feds and mek we tings get cold
Di way yuh chat fool a I must fi steamline yuh mole
Cau mon we open dat and mek yuh catch a dutty cold
Yuh feel haunted pussy start it pussy
Look like yuh see yuh coffin when yuh look pussy
Haunted fassy pop it off fassy
From di way yuh chat mi nuh see yuh a gun claffy
Haunted pussy start it pussy
Look like yuh see yuh coffin when yuh look pussy
Haunted fassy pop it off fassy
From di way yuh chat... watch out.
War yuh waan well a dat a yuh inna
Mon we share forty five shot gi yuh fi dinna
AK forty seven and glock fi suppa
Likkle fool a chat tough man a whole skull cracka
Tell yuh this false face sick a this
Anyhow I waan memba fool see a diss fi diss
Man nuh waan fist to fist deal wid it clip fi clip
Sittin haffi drop pon yuh ends fool memba this
Hell!!! Anyhow yuh waan it dweet and nuh talk it
Have yuh dog bark it machine nuh park it
Program and clock it try nuh bypass it
Owna who fi careless wid yuh food yuh ago lost it
Yuh feel haunted pussy start it pussy
Look like yuh see yuh coffin when yuh look pussy
Haunted fassy pop it off fassy
From di way yuh chat mi nuh see yuh a gun claffy
Haunted pussy start it pussy
Look like yuh see yuh coffin when yuh look pussy
Haunted fassy pop it off fassy
From di way yuh chat... watch out.
A gun claffy... a wah this... WAR!!!
Well since yuh so wicked and yuh so bad and yuh so bold
Come jump inna mi chest and mek mi dun yuh fassyhole
Or mek yuh friend dem come defend yuh death if dem so cold
Before yuh start lip go tell yuh muma dig a hole
Hide when yuh see di juvenile dem a patrol
Ting weh we a buss name collect people soul
Buck yuh one way mi leff yuh face wid a big hole
Hype likkle fool we get yuh big head fi roll
Furthermore we know yuh play a informa role
Now yuh did tell di feds and mek we tings get cold
Di way yuh chat fool a I must fi steamline yuh mole
Cau mon we open dat and mek yuh catch a dutty cold
Yuh feel haunted pussy start it pussy
Look like yuh see yuh coffin when yuh look pussy
Haunted fassy pop it off fassy
From di way yuh chat mi nuh see yuh a gun claffy
Haunted pussy start it pussy
Look like yuh see yuh coffin when yuh look pussy
Haunted fassy pop it off fassy
From di way yuh chat... watch out.
War yuh waan well a dat a yuh inna
Mon we share forty five shot gi yuh fi dinna
AK forty seven and glock fi suppa
Likkle fool a chat tough man a whole skull cracka
Tell yuh this false face sick a this
Anyhow I waan memba fool see a diss fi diss
Man nuh waan fist to fist deal wid it clip fi clip
Sittin haffi drop pon yuh ends fool memba this
Hell!!! Anyhow yuh waan it dweet and nuh talk it
Have yuh dog bark it machine nuh park it
Program and clock it try nuh bypass it
Owna who fi careless wid yuh food yuh ago lost it
Haunted fassy start it fassy
The lyrics of Mad Cobra’s song Haunted depict the threatening behaviour of gang members in Jamaica’s inner cities. The singer warns those who disrespect him or his gang of violent repercussions, urging them to stay away from his turf. He mockingly challenges his enemies to imagine their own funeral arrangements “look like yuh see yuh coffin when yuh look pussy,” and highlights his own superiority through the use of violent imagery that involves guns and bullets. The lyrics also suggest that one of his enemies has indeed been marked as an informer and therefore will suffer dire consequences if he tries to cross his gang. In the end, the lyrics reflect on the gang mentality that dominates inner-city Jamaica and reinforces the importance of violence as a means of achieving respect in that milieu.
Overall, Mad Cobra’s song Haunted is a poignant commentary on the struggles of inner-city Jamaican youth who confront brutal violence and poverty in their daily lives. By highlighting the dangers and challenges of this environment, the song prompts listeners to reflect on the root causes of this cycle of violence and to question the effectiveness of the government’s efforts to curb it. The song is a powerful reminder of the issues that besiege inner-city youth in Jamaica and the urgent need for compassionate solutions that address the structural roots of violence and poverty.
Line by Line Meaning
Nuh feel like so dat caan gi man nuh talk pon ends, a walk wey so
Don't act as if you own this area and can prevent people from talking, your power doesn't extend that far
Nah mon nuh tun yuh back get we mad yuh nuh have nuh headback eediat
Don't turn your back on us, or you'll regret it, you're not smart enough to escape us
A weh yuh feel like seh yuh can come pon man ends
What makes you think you're allowed to come to our street?
Go leggo any piece of chat, yah mon, mek sure yuh strapped
Say whatever you want but be prepared to defend yourself
A Cobra again!!!!! Yeah!!!
I'm Mad Cobra and I'm back
Yuh feel haunted pussy start it pussy
You feel scared and intimidated, so you try to start trouble
Look like yuh see yuh coffin when yuh look pussy
You look like you're about to die when you try to act tough
Haunted fassy pop it off fassy
Intimidate and scare the coward who's trying to start trouble
From di way yuh chat mi nuh see yuh a gun claffy
From the way you talk, I don't think you're really capable of using a gun
Well since yuh so wicked and yuh so bad and yuh so bold
Since you're acting like you're tough and fearless
Come jump inna mi chest and mek mi dun yuh fassyhole
Try to fight me, and I'll finish you off
Or mek yuh friend dem come defend yuh death if dem so cold
Or have your friends come to your defense if they're brave enough
Before yuh start lip go tell yuh muma dig a hole
Before you start talking, go tell your mother to dig your grave
Hide when yuh see di juvenile dem a patrol
Hide when you see the young gang members patrolling the area
Ting weh we a buss name collect people soul
The weapon we use is called 'collecting people's souls'
Buck yuh one way mi leff yuh face wid a big hole
I'll shoot you in the face and leave a big hole
Hype likkle fool we get yuh big head fi roll
Arrogant little fool, we'll make your big head roll
Furthermore we know yuh play a informa role
We know you're working as an informant for the police
Now yuh did tell di feds and mek we tings get cold
Now that you've informed the police, our operations have slowed down
Di way yuh chat fool a I must fi steamline yuh mole
The way you talk, you're begging to get killed
Cau mon we open dat and mek yuh catch a dutty cold
Because we're going to open fire and give you a serious injury
War yuh waan well a dat a yuh inna
You wanted this war, so you're to blame
Mon we share forty five shot gi yuh fi dinna
We'll share forty-five gunshots with you for dinner
AK forty seven and glock fi suppa
We're going to use high-powered weapons to take you down
Likkle fool a chat tough man a whole skull cracka
Little fool talking tough, we'll crack his skull open
Tell yuh this false face sick a this
Listen, I'm sick of people pretending to be someone they're not
Anyhow I waan memba fool see a diss fi diss
Anyone who wants a conflict will get what they're asking for
Man nuh waan fist to fist deal wid it clip fi clip
We don't want a fistfight, we're going to use guns
Sittin haffi drop pon yuh ends fool memba this
You will be killed if you come to our territory, remember that
Hell!!! Anyhow yuh waan it dweet and nuh talk it
Alright, if you want a fight, let's not talk, let's just do it
Have yuh dog bark it machine nuh park it
If you have backup, bring it, we have no problem using our weapons
Program and clock it try nuh bypass it
Our weapons are ready and programmed, don't try to avoid them
Owna who fi careless wid yuh food yuh ago lost it
Anyone who's careless with their lives will lose it
A gun claffy... a wah this... WAR!!!
You're not really skilled with guns, what's going on? This is war!
Haunted fassy start it fassy
Intimidate and scare the coward who's trying to start trouble
Writer(s): Brown Ewart Everton, Rami Troy
Contributed by Colton T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@emmalouize_99
2023 and still a banger. Mad Cobra...one of the best, underated artists. Ode to my BF 😂
@scoviz101
love this fookin tune 20 years ago and still lovin it
@youngb6137
Classic Legendary Mad Cobra 🐍
@achatcrypto2861
one of the best singer on this riddim 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@reppintrini3576
Bad bombo tune dis🔥🔥🔥..looking 4 it long time
@demonking8056
Me and you both fam
@reppintrini3576
@@demonking8056 blessings king👊
@navendraasgarally147
🔥💥.....lyricz up
Cobra lyrical tune on replay
@welshndebele3527
SKELTA
A WAN TO SOME FOOL
DEM NUH BAD😈
@jasonhenery9766
Yea boy