The following year he replaced Don Carlos as the lead singer of a three-piece vocal group called Black Uhuru. Their first full-length recording "Love Crisis", produced by Prince Jammy in 1977, was later remixed and re-released as "Black Sounds of Freedom". Michael Rose had a profound effect on the sound of the group. With his distinctive voice and his powerful, self-penned reality themes, Black Uhuru were to eventually become the Reggae supergroup of the 80's after joining forces with Sly & Robbie and releasing hit-singles like "Shine Eye Gal", "General Penitentiary" or "Plastic Smile" on the Taxi Label. Signed to Island Records in 1980, they recorded highly acclaimed albums like "Sinsemillia", "Red", "Chill Out" and the grammy-winning "Anthem" in 1984.
In 1985 Michael Rose left Black Uhuru to pursue a solo career. After recording singles like "Bogus Badge" and "Demonstration" on his own Grammy Rose label he took a break from the music business, preferring instead to farm coffee on land he owned in Jamaica. It wasn't until he was signed to the RCA label in 1989 that he was heard from again. His pop-oriented debut solo album "Proud" was released the following year in Europe and Japan. The early 90's saw the release of two albums in Japan: "Bonanza" and "King Of General". Most of the tracks from these low-fi recordings were later remixed or re-recorded and reissued worldwide on the Heartbeat label. In 1993 Michael Rose also reunited in the studio with Sly & Robbie, resulting in a string of hit singles including "Monkeys Business", "One A We, Two A We" and "Bad Boys". These recordings also hit the streets in remixed form on the album "X-Uhuru" in 1999 for the french Tabou1 label.
The 1995 released, simply "Michael Rose" titled, album was his first for the american independent Heartbeat label. Produced by Niney the Observer, it contained the smash-hit "Short Temper". Another single, the UK produced "Last Chance" on the Ruff Cutt label, ruled the british charts for several weeks. 1995 saw the release of an album recorded by Bunny Gemini ("Voice of the ghetto" aka "Rising Star") followed by the Heartbeat album "Be Yourself", which contained remixed versions of some tracks from the japan-only release "Bonanza" and previously unreleased material. Heartbeat Records also did a dub-companion to "Be Yourself" dubbed "Big Sound Frontline".
Another album containing unreleased, previously by Jah Screw recorded material saw the light of day in 1996: "Nuh carbon" was licensed to Greensleeves/RAS Records. Teaming up once again with Mafia and Fluxy, who played also on the highly acclaimed "Michael Rose" album, he recorded the albums "Dance Wicked" and its dub companion "Dub Wicked" for Heartbeat. An interesting album that contained vocal as well as dub tracks called "Selassie I Showcase" surfaced 1997 on the european Bakchich label; tunes like the re-recorded "I Love King Selassie" on a sampled "Natural Mystic" rhythm held the grassroots market spellbound. An energetic live album, "Party in Session", was recorded for Heartbeat during his tours across America in 1996 and 1997.
1999 saw the release of the earlier mentioned "X-Uhuru" album on the Tabou1 label as well as "Bonanza" for the Heartbeat label (not to be confused with the japan-only release of the same title). The latter consists once again of previously recorded, remixed or re-recorded tracks as well as new tunes. June 2000 brought another live album on the Tabou1 label, this time recorded back in 1984 with Black Uhuru. After being postponed several times, the album "Never Give It Up" finally hit the stores in April 2001. This Hearbeat Records release consists of self-produced material recorded in Miami/Florida.
Although busy with touring (also with Sly & Robbie) and studio work, Michael Rose hasn't released a full-length album for quite some time. Early 2004 news hit the streets that Duckie Simspon and Michael Rose reunite as "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Since then, they released their single "Dollars" and performed in various countries. Heartbeat Records meanwhile puts out a "Best of"-album entiteld "Happiness - The Best of Michael Rose" and, in the summer of 2006, Young T/Otis Riddim Records released Jump Nya Benge, on their show-case uPLiFTMeNT album.
Gun Page
Michael Rose Lyrics
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Badbwoys and police
Sdindighidaidadindiwoy
Wooooy yeah
Police and thief inna shoot outNowadays they a tell dem nah cool out
In the community jah innocent jah move out
Di gangsta dem need a new route
Police and thief could′ntbe friend
Yet deh too a dem a role seh di same trend
Put a money pon dem head and dem
Dem bwoy [? ] we nuh rate dem
Police a bought shot
People get flat
Badbwoys we turn shot
Di whole a dem strap
Everybody blood have
Dem nah tek no chat
So when the violence gonna stop
Police and thief inna shoot out
Nowadays they a tell dem nah cool out
In the community jah innocent jah move out
Di gangsta dem need a new route
Police and thief could'ntbe friend
Yet deh too a dem a role seh di same trend
Put a money pon dem head and dem [? ]
Dem bwoy [? ] we nuh rate dem
Dem [? ] shape out inna badness
Dem treat life like a sadness
[? ] chill dem ghetto casket
Dem show no love at all
Who is to blame betta blame yourself
Police catch with your gun you cyaan explain yourself
Refrain from badness and save yourself
Just have good to enjoy yourself
Police and thief inna shoot out
Now a days they a tell dem nah cool out
In the community jah innocent jah move out
Di gangsta dem need a new route
Police and thief could′ntbe friend
Yet deh too a dem a role seh di same trend
Put a money pon dem head and dem [? ]
Dem bwoy [? ] we nuh rate dem
Michael Rose's "Gun Page" is a reggae song that comments on the violence that pervades Jamaican society. The song highlights the rivalry between the police and the gangs, who are engaged in a deadly shootout. The line "police and thief inna shoot out" describes the ferocity of the conflict, which has become a common occurrence in many communities. Michael Rose laments the loss of innocent lives, who are caught in the crossfire and are forced to flee their homes for safety. He also criticizes the gangsters for their inability to find a peaceful solution to the dispute and instead suggests that they find a new route.
The lyrics also mention the role of money in perpetuating the conflict. The line "put a money pon dem head" suggests that there is a price on people's heads and that the gangs are willing to kill for money. Michael Rose emphasizes the need to "refrain from badness" and "have good to enjoy yourself" as a way to avoid the violence.
Overall, "Gun Page" is a potent commentary on the deep-seated issues of violence and corruption in Jamaican society.
Line by Line Meaning
Badbwoys and police
The criminals and the law enforcement officials
Police and thief inna shoot out
The police and criminals fighting each other with guns
Nowadays they a tell dem nah cool out
Nowadays they are being told to stop the violence
In the community jah innocent jah move out
Innocent people are leaving the community to escape the violence
Di gangsta dem need a new route
The criminals need to find a new way to live, away from violence
Police and thief could′ntbe friend
The police and criminals cannot be friends
Yet deh too a dem a role seh di same trend
Yet they both play the same role in the cycle of violence
Put a money pon dem head and dem
Put a price on their head
Dem bwoy [? ] we nuh rate dem
We do not respect those boys
Police a bought shot
Police are being shot
People get flat
People are being killed
Badbwoys we turn shot
The criminals are also being shot
Di whole a dem strap
Everyone is carrying guns
Everybody blood have
Everyone is getting hurt or killed
Dem nah tek no chat
They don't want to talk, they just want to fight
So when the violence gonna stop
When will the violence come to an end?
Dem [? ] shape out inna badness
Those people are living a life of crime
Dem treat life like a sadness
They treat life as something to be wasted
[? ] chill dem ghetto casket
Their actions will lead to their own destruction
Dem show no love at all
They don't have any love for themselves or others
Who is to blame betta blame yourself
You should take responsibility for your own actions
Police catch with your gun you cyaan explain yourself
If the police catch you with a gun, you won't be able to explain yourself
Refrain from badness and save yourself
Stop being violent and save your own life
Just have good to enjoy yourself
Just do good things in order to enjoy your life
Writer(s): Rowen Johnson, Michael Rose, Clive Hunt
Contributed by Mateo N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.