Brooks was raised in an area known as "Cuban", a micro ghetto within the heart of Kingston, Jamaica's Cassava Piece community. His grandmother gave him his first musical experience at a young age, bringing him to church to sing. He also cites the music of Bounty Killer as an early influence.
The boyhood idol became his mentor when at the age of 15, Bounty took him under his wing to show him the ropes of the music industry. He decided to name himself "Mavado" after the Swiss watch company Movado, altering the spelling.
His debut single, "Real McKoy" on the Anger Management riddim in 2004, provided him instant success.He further established himself with the follow-up record “Weh Dem a Do”, on the Red Bull & Guinness riddim. After a string of hits in 2005 and 2006, Mavado released the album ''Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks'' July 10, 2007 on VP Records. "Weh Dem A Do" and "Dying", two singles from the album, were featured heavily on R&B/hip-hop radio in New York.
That same year brought Mavado off-stage controversy, as he was arrested and booked by Jamaican police on what was later revealed to be gun charges. While in police custody, the singer claims he was thrown into a glass window, losing three fingers in the process, which were reattached at a local hospital. Police claimed Mavado escaped from custody while at the hospital. The incident caused him to be refused entry into the United States a short time later. He was again arrested and charged with shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm in relation to an event occurring July 27, 2007. He was later freed of all charges.
In March 2008, Mavado was featured performing a rendition of his song "Real McKoy" for Grand Theft Auto IV] Trailer #4 "Everyone's a Rat". "Real McKoy", along with "Last Night" (both from the album ''Gangsta for Life''), were also featured in the game on the radio station "Massive B Radio".
In November 2009, Mavado lost out to Sean Paul for the Best Reggae Artist award at Soul Train Music Awards. He won the 2010 EME award for Male Singjay of the Year.
In 2008 Mavado was given the prestigious UK MOBO Award for Best Reggae Act.
In April 2010, Mavado starred as a gangster in Drake's song Find Your Love for Drake's album Thank Me Later
Mavado formed his own label, Mansion Records, in 2011, debuting with the single "Delilah".
Along with Bounty Killer, he has cited 2Pac as a childhood idol, comparing the late rapper's life to his own.
In 2011, Mavado recorded with U.K. Grime artist Chipmunk on the track "Every Gyal"
On 1 September 2011, Mavado appeared on the Angie Martinez show on New York's Hot 97 radio station to announce that he had signed a deal with DJ Khaled's record label We the Best Music Group. Mavado released two singles "Emergency" featuring Ace Hood and "Survivor" featuring Akon on We the Best Music Group.
Mavado has confirmed the first song on his next album. It is called "For Jamaica, for the world" part 2 Featuring DJ Khaled, Rick Ross and Birdman.
High Life
Mavado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wi a live up the high life
Smoke from day till twilight
Smoke from night till sun light
That a my life
Marie Jane that a my wife
So high, trees light
Mi nuh know why, dem fight wi
Cause a time fi legalize it
Roll it up and light it
Ignite it
Legalize it
Jamaica will supply it
We have the highest
Mi smoke weed everyday
In America, in a JA
In a Canada, In a UK
In a Belgium, France and Spain
Jamaica have the top strength
Elevating yo brain
A the best from west than a run through mi vane
Now mi high like plane
Challis meck out a grass
Mi puff, puff, but no pass
Mi cut, cut, up the grass
As mi wake in a morning mi puff out the last
And mi nuh care weh the cost
From a high grade send it on fast
Mi tek a flight now mi lost
Out a space mi a blast
We love the weed and wi naw go a stray no day
Am inlove wi Marie J
It's you I wanna say pretty trees
You make me come everyday
No waan Craven A
No way
(Repeat)
Wi a live up the high life
Smoke from day till twilight
Smoke from night till sun light
That a my life
Marie Jane that a my wife
So high, trees light
Everything nice yea
Mi nuh know why, dem fight wi
Cause a time fi legalize it
Roll it up and light it
Ignite it
Legalize it
And i will advertise it
Ganjah Man.
In this song, Mavado celebrates the cannabis culture that has become an integral part of his life. He talks about how he and his crew live a lifestyle that involves smoking marijuana from day until night. He refers to the drug as "Marie Jane," which is a common nickname for marijuana. He insists that there is no reason why people should fight them since it is high time for the legalization of marijuana worldwide. He paints a picture of Jamaica being the world's leading supplier of marijuana if the drug were legalized.
Mavado notes that he loves marijuana so much that it has become his "wife," and he can't imagine life without it. He believes that marijuana elevates his cognitive abilities, enabling him to see things from a different perspective. He talks about smoking marijuana everywhere he goes, whether in Jamaica, America, Canada, Belgium, France, UK, or Spain. He brags that Jamaica has the world's best strains of marijuana, saying that it flows through his veins effortlessly, like a plane in the sky. In other words, the marijuana's potency is so high that he becomes super-intoxicated.
In conclusion, "High Life" is a song that celebrates marijuana culture, which has become prevalent worldwide. Mavado joyfully sings about smoking marijuana from day till night, insisting that it is high time for the drug to be legalized globally since it has shaped his life positively. He also shares his delight in Jamaica's highest quality strains, which he says he loves to smoke anywhere he goes.
Line by Line Meaning
Wi a live up the...
We are living the life of luxury
Wi a live up the high life
We are living a lavish lifestyle
Smoke from day till twilight
We smoke weed all day and night
Smoke from night till sun light
We smoke weed throughout the day and night
That a my life
This is the lifestyle that I have chosen
Marie Jane that a my wife
Marijuana is my partner in life
So high, trees light
We get so high that the trees appear to be lit up
Everything nice yea
Everything is good and enjoyable
Mi nuh know why, dem fight wi
I do not understand why people fight against us
Cause a time fi legalize it
It is time to legalize marijuana
Roll it up and light it
Roll a joint and light it up
Ignite it
Start the fire
Legalize it
Make marijuana legal
Jamaica will supply it
Jamaica will provide the best marijuana
We have the highest
We have the most potent marijuana
Mi smoke weed everyday
I smoke weed every day
In America, in a JA
In America and Jamaica
In a Canada, In a UK
In Canada and the UK
In a Belgium, France and Spain
Even in Belgium, France, and Spain
Jamaica have the top strength
Jamaica has the best quality marijuana
Elevating yo brain
Marijuana elevates your mood and thinking
A the best from west than a run through mi vane
The best marijuana from the West (Jamaica) runs through my veins
Now mi high like plane
Now I am as high as an airplane
Challis meck out a grass
I use a chalice to smoke marijuana
Mi puff, puff, but no pass
I take a few puffs, but do not pass it
Mi cut, cut, up the grass
I cut up the marijuana
As mi wake in a morning mi puff out the last
As I wake up in the morning, I finish the last of my marijuana
And mi nuh care weh the cost
I do not care about the cost
From a high grade send it on fast
Send me the best quality marijuana quickly
Mi tek a flight now mi lost
I take a flight and get lost (in the high)
Out a space mi a blast
I am so high I feel like I am in outer space
We love the weed and wi naw go a stray no day
We love marijuana and will never stop
Am inlove wi Marie J
I am in love with marijuana
It's you I wanna say pretty trees
I want to express my love for this beautiful marijuana
You make me come everyday
Marijuana is a daily part of my life
No waan Craven A
I do not want cigarettes
No way
Not at all
Ganjah Man.
I am a marijuana user (Ganja is slang for marijuana)
Writer(s): Brooks David Constantine, Arison Justus
Contributed by London S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Besfa69420
2024 check in ✅
@Grammarrr
Mavado on still on top,,
best dancehall artist along with older vybz
@zamidmohammed8772
Who here in 2023
@klrksdkansio6058
Just heard this song today
@elvinnastella-9364
Me here😂
@carenesho240
Me
@user-ve4lr2ph3c
Am here
@yvonnetina2119
Me😂
@ioctanebrown924
i dont even smoke but mavado i love this, wins the riddim for me!
@amandaplant8861
dis one mad big chune dat big up gully god