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.
Touch The Road
Mavado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't care what dem, ah, sey, unh
Ah, one thing mi know, when mi touch di road
Send bwoy to dem resting place
Askell shot in a face
When gangstas touch di road
The clip dem load, brain touch di cloud
Gunshot bun dem skin like the song mi sing
When mi done with him not even John Crow want him
Tell dem mi, ah, nuh somebody fi dem play with
Momma warn your son for the friend dem weh him stray with
Mi touch di road and the DSK mi spray with
Gangstas kill him and the batty man friend weh him go lay with
Ah, should a farther hole and a liar he a fast and pray with
Gun weh mi buss at mi tun in ah him hair with
Gunshot not up bwoy body like fair wig
Body ova deyso and the head in ah di drainage, Cubans
Touch di road
The clip dem load, brain touch di cloud
I am very proud
Daseca bun dem skin like the song mi sing
When mi done with him not even John Crow want him
Di likkle bwoy nuh stop chat wod but mi nah watch dat
Him father is a fish so mi know say it's sprat dat
My gun tear down pussy hole, don't bother match that
Because to how mi gun big upon a wall mi have to coch dat
When you hear blow cassava piece mack dat
So weh dem day when mi have mi k mi clap dat
Common sense ah mi spot that
Batty joke mi nuh chat dat
If a gal pussy fat my yute me ah slap dat
Anyway push your head underneath your mother frock back
Mi license fi kill so from a pagan mi shot dat
Dem rise 'gainst killa dem ratings mi drop dat
You violate Mavado your skull mi will crack dat
Because when mi
Touch di road
The clip dem load, brain touch di cloud
I am very proud
Gunshot bun dem skin like the song mi sing
When mi done with him not even John Crow want him
Tell dem mi, ah, nuh somebody fi dem play with
Momma warn your son for the friend dem whe him stray with
Mi touch di road and the DSK mi spray with
Gangstas kill him and the batty man friend weh him go lay with
Ah, should a farther hole and a liar he a fast and pray with
Gun weh mi buss at mi tun in ah him hair with
Gunshot not up bwoy body like fair wig
Body ova deyso and the head in ah di drainage, Cubans
Touch di road
The clip dem load, brain touch di cloud
I am very proud
Gunshot bun dem skin like the song mi sing
When mi done with him not even John Crow want him
Whitehall touch di road
Cassava piece touch di road
Garden touch di road
Firehouse touch di road
When Marvally touch di road
Di clip dem load, brain touch di cloud
I am very proud
Gunshot bun dem skin like the song mi sing
When mi done with him not even John Crow want him
Gangstarr for life
In Mavado's song Touch The Road, the Jamaican artist talks about the consequences that gangsters face when they offend him. He doesn't care about what people say about him; once he touches the road, he sends his enemies to their grave. Mavado continues to describe the use of his weapon and how he takes pride in it, making his enemies wish they had never messed with him. He warns people to stay away from bad company, especially those who lead them astray. Mavado also makes an explicit reference to a homosexual friend of his enemy, indicating that he will kill both of them when he is on the road. The song is an expression of Mavado's strength, pride, and power as a gangsta.
Line by Line Meaning
Gangstarr, ah, wha happen to dem
As the gangstas hit the road, they recall the fate of their enemies.
I don't care what dem, ah, sey, unh
The gangstas pay no attention to the words of their enemies.
Ah, one thing mi know, when mi touch di road
The gangstas are certain that their vengeance will be swift when they set foot on the road.
Send bwoy to dem resting place
The gangstas threaten to kill those who oppose them.
Askell shot in a face
A reference to a specific incident in which an individual named Askell was shot in the head.
When gangstas touch di road
When the gangstas hit the road.
The clip dem load, brain touch di cloud
The gangstas are ready to fire, and their bullets will send their enemies to the afterlife.
I am very proud
The gangstas take pride in their reputation and their ability to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies.
Gunshot bun dem skin like the song mi sing
The gangstas' gunshots burn their enemies like the lyrics of their song.
When mi done with him not even John Crow want him
The gangstas promise that their enemies will be so thoroughly defeated that even scavengers like John Crow wouldn't want their remains.
Tell dem mi, ah, nuh somebody fi dem play with
The gangstas warn their enemies not to mess with them.
Momma warn your son for the friend dem weh him stray with
The gangstas advise their enemies' mothers to warn their sons about the company they keep.
Mi touch di road and the DSK mi spray with
The gangstas are armed with DSK (Daseca) weapons as they hit the road.
Gangstas kill him and the batty man friend weh him go lay with
The gangstas threaten to kill their enemies and any homosexual friends they associate with.
Ah, should a farther hole and a liar he a fast and pray with
The gangstas suggest that their enemies are headed for hell due to their deceitful ways.
Gun weh mi buss at mi tun in ah him hair with
The gangstas shoot their enemies in the head with their guns.
Gunshot not up bwoy body like fair wig
The gangstas' gunshots cause more damage than a mere wig falling off.
Body ova deyso and the head in ah di drainage, Cubans
The gangstas suggest that their enemies' corpses will be dismembered, with their head ending up in the Cuban drainage system.
Di likkle bwoy nuh stop chat wod but mi nah watch dat
The gangstas ignore the incessant chatter of their enemies.
Him father is a fish so mi know say it's sprat dat
The gangstas insult their enemies' family by calling their father a small, insignificant fish (sprat).
My gun tear down pussy hole, don't bother match that
The gangstas' weapons are so powerful that they can tear through their enemies' bodies with ease.
Because to how mi gun big upon a wall mi have to coch dat
The gangstas' weapons are so large that they need to lean them against a wall while preparing to use them.
When you hear blow cassava piece mack dat
The gangstas warn their enemies that they will hear a loud noise when they fire their weapons.
So weh dem day when mi have mi k mi clap dat
The gangstas boast that they will use their weapons to kill their enemies.
Common sense ah mi spot that
The gangstas pride themselves on their intelligence and good judgement.
Batty joke mi nuh chat dat
The gangstas refuse to engage in any kind of homosexual activity or behavior.
If a gal pussy fat my yute me ah slap dat
The gangstas openly admit to engaging in sexual activity with women.
Anyway push your head underneath your mother frock back
The gangstas insult their enemies by telling them to go hide under their mother's skirt.
Mi license fi kill so from a pagan mi shot dat
The gangstas have a license to kill, and they will use it against their enemies.
Dem rise 'gainst killa dem ratings mi drop dat
The gangstas claim that their reputation is so feared that even those who oppose them will eventually become their admirers.
You violate Mavado your skull mi will crack dat
The gangstas threaten those who oppose Mavado that they will face the same fate as Askell, with their skulls being cracked open by a gunshot.
Whitehall touch di road
A reference to the Whitehall area, where the gangstas are headed to seek revenge.
Cassava piece touch di road
A reference to a high-powered gun called a cassava piece that the gangstas possess.
Garden touch di road
A reference to the Garden area, where the gangstas may be looking for their enemies.
Firehouse touch di road
A reference to the Firehouse area, where the gangstas may be looking for their enemies.
When Marvally touch di road
When the gangstas, including Mavado, hit the road.
Di clip dem load, brain touch di cloud
The gangstas prepare to pull the trigger, with their bullets sending their enemies to the afterlife.
I am very proud
The gangstas continue to take pride in their reputation and fearlessness.
Gangstarr for life
The gangstas are members of the Gangstarr group for life, and will always be prepared to defend themselves against their enemies.
Contributed by Gabriel E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.