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.
Progress
Mavado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi just link up wid mi dawg Mineral Boss
Yu know Gully Side mineral, progress
Wi nuh inna nutten wid you, if you naa show no progress
Man fi go through life without no stress
Be friends wid some people that's hopeless
'Cause dem a nuh nuh progress
A stone you bread come from
A jail bunk dem waan see man head pon
A you nice life dem waan see you dead from
Nah, dem cyaa trick mi and kill mi
Mi cyaa dead, so
Lord, dem a send a bad a news to you woman
Fi you woman left, yeah
Life is like the weather
You haffi go through the season
A simple straw blind you
People change and you don't know the reason
Duppy bat nuh have no direction
And a dem a try lead you
Mi couldn't work wid a nigga dem
From him a work wid him evil
Mama seh good mix wid a lot of evil
The devil inna lot of people
From mi naa feel you energy mi gone
Like the good bible mi ready you
Nah, dem cyaa trick mi and kill mi
Mi cyaa dead
Lord, dem a send a bad a news to you woman
Fi you woman left
Nah, dem cyaa trick mi and kill mi
Mi naa dead so
Ahh, mi hold on pan mi life and mi naa let go
Nuh bother drown in your sorrows, ya fi feel like swim
Fi mi paper to pen is a real life thing
Yesterday you down now you feel like king
Yeah the life where ya from wasn't inviting
Sometimes mi know it stressing
Mi waan every youth rise and count unu blessings
Dem waan si wi feed pon dumpling and mackerel, no
Mi wanta sea food and lobster pon the hot grill
Wa happen to dem?
No, no wi naa dead so
Say wi naa dead so
No wi naa dead so
No wa naa let go
Wi naa dead so
Wi naa dead so
Naa dead so
Wi nuh inna nutten wid you, if you naa show no progress
Man fi go through life without no stress
Be friends wid some people that's hopeless
'Cause dem a nuh nuh progress
Now dem a screw, a just so dem tongue tan
The lyrics to Mavado's song Progress speak about the importance of surrounding oneself with positive and motivated people who are constantly making progress in their lives. He mentions his friend Mineral Boss from Gully Side, a place where progress is being made, and how he cannot waste time with people who are not moving forward in life. He encourages others to live a life free from stress and to be careful of those who speak ill of them and wish them harm. He makes reference to the fact that people can change without reason and that it is important to guard against negative energy.
Mavado speaks of the need to align oneself with positive individuals and to avoid those who are working with evil intentions. He quotes his mother, who has taught him to mix with good people and to be wary of those who are not. He encourages others not to let life's challenges overwhelm them and to focus on their blessings. He speaks of his own experience of rising from a difficult beginning to a position of strength and power. He acknowledges the challenges of life and how people can make a positive impact on their circumstances by working together and making progress.
Line by Line Meaning
Dat's why wi go so and
That is why we are doing so well
Mi just link up wid mi dawg Mineral Boss
I recently connected with my friend Mineral Boss
Yu know Gully Side mineral, progress
Mineral Boss is from my neighborhood Gully Side where we value progress
Wi nuh inna nutten wid you, if you naa show no progress
We don't associate with non-progressive people
Man fi go through life without no stress
A man should go through life without stress
Be friends wid some people that's hopeless
It is okay to be friends with people who lack hope
'Cause dem a nuh nuh progress
As they are not progressive
Dem talk a bad a things and dem screw, a just so dem tongue tan
They talk ill about others and act negatively, as this is how they are programmed to behave
A stone you bread come from
You should remain grateful for the source of your wealth
A jail bunk dem waan see man head pon
They wish harm upon others, even to the extent of seeing them in jail
A you nice life dem waan see you dead from
They desire your death despite the good life you have obtained
Nah, dem cyaa trick mi and kill mi
No, they cannot deceive or harm me to death
Mi cyaa dead, so
Therefore, I cannot be killed
Lord, dem a send a bad a news to you woman
They are spreading ill news about me to my woman
Fi you woman left, yeah
With the intent of causing her to leave me
Life is like the weather
Life is like the weather, it changes constantly
You haffi go through the season
You must go through each season
A simple straw blind you
Even a simple thing can cause your downfall
People change and you don't know the reason
People change without explanation
Duppy bat nuh have no direction
The ghost bat has no direction/aim
And a dem a try lead you
Those who are directionless will try to guide you
Mi couldn't work wid a nigga dem
I cannot cooperate with dishonest people
From him a work wid him evil
As someone involved in evil works
Mama seh good mix wid a lot of evil
My mother always advised to associate with people with different moral values
The devil inna lot of people
Many people possess wickedness in them
From mi naa feel you energy mi gone
As I sense negativity, I will disappear
Like the good bible mi ready you
As the Bible says, I am prepared
Nuh bother drown in your sorrows, ya fi feel like swim
Don't suffer in your grief, learn to swim
Fi mi paper to pen is a real life thing
Writing is my profession
Yesterday you down now you feel like king
You can transform from a weakling to a confident person quickly
Yeah the life where ya from wasn't inviting
The life where you come from was not encouraging
Sometimes mi know it stressing
Life can be stressful at times
Mi waan every youth rise and count unu blessings
I want every youth to be grateful and count their blessings
Dem waan si wi feed pon dumpling and mackerel, no
They want to see us consume cheap and unhealthy food
Mi wanta sea food and lobster pon the hot grill
I want to enjoy luxurious seafood on the barbecue grill
Wa happen to dem?
What is wrong with them?
No, no wi naa dead so
No, we are not dead yet
Say wi naa dead so
We are still alive
No wi naa dead so
We are not dead yet
No wa naa let go
We will never give up or surrender
Wi naa dead so
We are not dead yet
Wi naa dead so
We are not dead yet
Naa dead so
We are not dead yet
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Khaled Khaled, Cleon Bruce Jones, David Constantine Brooks, Tawanna Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gullysidetvent9201
yow mavado you will forever be the man that give hope to the youths of today and God will always keep you on the right part god will forever bless you and your family and your next genaration shall be blesss forever progress
@JStubbzMusic
0.33 seconds you can clearly see the all seen eye of Lucifer the devil also in the Freemason shown
Also am I the only person who see the satanic pyramid at 0.33 seconds
@mss1993
GullySide TV Ent 🙏🏻💜FACT
@elsarm178
J Stubbz. What we see at 00:33 is the Star of David ✡️ (also Shield of David) a judeo-christian symbol, cause Rastas go to the roots of the religion.
@nelsoncharles3925
@@JStubbzMusic e 3e 2222222222222222222as2222
@mercymaziriri9122
Life is like the weather...
You haffi go through the season
A simple straw blind you....
People change and you don't know the reason🎤❤
@macidautos1867
Mercy Maziriri true
@memphisosarforedeemer2693
💯💯💯🤝🏽💓
@sanamballow2748
True
@mss1993
Mercy Maziriri Yaaaasssss💜