He catapulted to the top of the Jamaican charts in 1997 with the dancehall … Read Full Bio ↴He catapulted to the top of the Jamaican charts in 1997 with the dancehall boomshots "Heads High" and "Nike Air", his distinctive vocals fusing melodious singing with precision deejaying (rapping). Since then he has built an international fan base with hit singles like "Pull Up", "Tamale" and "Hot Gal Today" but it is on his latest CD "Constant Spring" that Mr. Vegas' spectacular sing-jay approach and cleverly crafted lyrics dazzle with the intensity of an evening in, well, Las Vegas.

Born Clifford Smith in Kingston, Jamaica, he was given the nickname Mr. Vegas by his cousin for the neon pink shorts he wore on the football field; in addition to his athletic skills Mr. Vegas also demonstrated musical talents early on. However an unfortunate dispute over the ownership of a DAT resulted in Vegas being hit in the jaw with an iron pipe; after the assault Vegas' mouth was wired shut so he was forced to create a unique method of vocalizing through his teeth. That style was first heard on "Nike Air", the song that initially positioned Vegas on the dancehall charts. Characterized by uplifting lyrics aimed (especially) at young women, he followed "Nike Air" with another affirming and very appealing tune "Heads High" which reached number one in Jamaica, hit the British Top Ten and found its way onto several urban stations across America.

Vegas' 1997 debut album "Heads High" (Greensleeves Records) further displayed his captivating vocal capabilities on songs like "Jacket", "Sweet Pineapple" and "Everywhere I Go"; it also earned him a British Mobo Award as Best Reggae artist, while establishing his fan base beyond the Jamaican dancehall.

However Vegas demonstrated even greater versatility on his 2001 sophomore release "Damn Right" (Greensleeves) which featured a stronger R&B and hip-hop flavor on the hits "Girls Time" and "She's A Ho", sensitive singing on the roots rocking "Rise" and a sensational duet with Sean Paul "Hot Gal Today".

With his move to the Los Angeles based independent label Delicious Vinyl Vegas released his third CD "Pull Up". The title track was recorded on Scatta Burrell's wildly popular Coolie Dance riddim, entered the Billboard charts and took Vegas' music into previously uncharted territory. Another single from "Pull Up" "Tamale" also did well, particularly in Europe.

Vegas has just completed his fourth and finest CD so far "Constant Spring" which presents an amalgam of styles including reggaeton productions by the red hot duo Luny/Tunes on the tracks "Johnny" and "Papito" and Latin tinged duets with Don Omar ("Pobre Diablo") and El Medico ("Penicilin"). Another scorching combination "Burnin" features soca sensation Kevin Lyttle. Vegas' long time associate Jamaica's Richard "Shams" Browne produced several tracks including "Million Dollar Baby" and "Slow Wine" while veteran dancehall hit makers Steely and Clevie's Sleepy Dog riddim scampers under Vegas' current Jamaican chart topper, the CDs title track "Constant Spring". Another Jamaican hit that is currently finding popularity throughout Europe is Vegas' self-produced, uncharacteristically contemplative "More Love", his emotive singing lamenting Jamaica's upwardly spiraling crime rate but the song's lyrics are applicable to many troubled territories throughout the world:

"I walk these Kingston streets, everyday a bare a beat/I can't get no sleep all I hear is AKs when they speak/ I walk Spanish town all I hear is people get gunned down, when I look around all I see is bodies on the ground. My shadow's afraid to even walk beside me, my shadow's afraid to even walk this city gun dawg and his friend full the morgue in Kingston city/too many guns in town."

"Crime, violence, war, it affects everyone," Vegas says, "and there is nothing in that song that doesn't relate to what is going on everywhere, especially Kingston. We want this album to be versatile so a Latino person a hip hop person, urban kids or all nationalities will listen to it."

Reflecting the ongoing changes within the music industry, Vegas and his manager Leslie Cooney of the Los Angeles based company Addict Management will be taking a very different approach regarding the release of "Constant Spring": they will not be signing to just one label. "We have found that as an independent artist Vegas can better exploit his appeal in every territory without the expectations and limitations of being signed to one label," says Ms. Cooney. "Instead, we will directly supply his fans with music worldwide and will seek licenses with different labels in their respective territories. Whether by an actual record or digital distribution, if there is a demand for Vegas it can now be met without waiting for the record label machinery to spring into action. We are taking matters in our own hands and Vegas is planning his own future."

And for Mr. Vegas the future appears to be shining even brighter than the flashing neon lights that abound in the Nevada city that is his namesake. www.mr-vegas.com

Go Up
Mr. Vegas Lyrics

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Chorus:
Mek mi si yu hand a gwope
All a di ras dem weh nah nam nuh pork
Gwope gwope gwope
Mek mi si yu hand a gwope
All a di ganja man weh nah tek nuh coke
Gwope gwope gwope
Mek mi si yu hand a gwope

Grom yu know yu and nuh funny bwoy nah sport
Gwope gwope gwope
Mek mi si yu hand a gwope
Gal from yu nah run nuh funny gal joke
Gwope gwope gwope

Verse 1:
Woman fi get groom and man fi get bride
Pure hotty hotty gal itch up pon mi side
All funny bwoy affi gu run and gu hide
Caan cum bout yah wid nuh wrong ride
Come pon di ends yu and di machine collide
Any time yu si wi bwoy yu better walk wide
Yu nuh si a wi and di gal dem a slide
Yu nuh si a by God law wi abide

Chorus

Verse 2:
Mi waan fi hear all di rude bwoys dem now
Weather yu a pow mi seh weather yu a show
From a gal never yet seh yu know how
Tell dem a renta dread dem nam sow
Gal affi a bawl under tiger bone
Big up all a di gal dem up town and down
All rude bwoy mek mi hear it sound
From yu know seh dat yu a nuh gal clown

Chorus

Repeat Verse 1 and Chorus

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mr. Vegas's song Go Up vividly portrays a celebration of authenticity and non-conformism in various aspects of life. The first paragraph of the chorus urges individuals to showcase their choices and preferences confidently despite societal backlash. Mr. Vegas encourages his listeners to show him their hands offering proof of never eating pork, as demonstrated by Rastafarians, and not indulging in cocaine but opting for marijuana. He also challenges men to act like grooms, while women act as brides, emphasizing the importance of proper courtship. The second paragraph of the chorus encourages women not to partake in immoral activities and orders men not to be shy about their authentic personalities.

In the first verse of the song, Mr. Vegas reminds his listeners that only good-looking women are welcome to be by his side, and any man who appears suspicious should stay away from him. He also strictly warns individuals against using the wrong mode of transportation, which could attract negative attention. Mr. Vegas enforces the actual law, telling his listeners that he and his women follow the rules of God, implying that righteousness is the way to live.

In the second and final verse of the song, Mr. Vegas addresses the rude boys, who he expects to support the celebration of authenticity. He urges them to embrace their genuine personalities openly and prove that they are not pretending to be someone else. He also strategically challenges individuals who present themselves poorly or hide behind masks of humility to come out of their shells and be confident about themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Mek mi si yu hand a gwope
I want to see you holding a Bible

All a di ras dem weh nah nam nuh pork
All Rastafarians who don't eat pork

Gwope gwope gwope
Hold it up high

Woman fi get groom and man fi get bride
Women should get married and men should have a wife

Pure hotty hotty gal itch up pon mi side
Attractive girls come near me

All funny bwoy affi gu run and gu hide
All cowardly men must run and hide

Caan cum bout yah wid nuh wrong ride
Don't come here with a bad attitude

Come pon di ends yu and di machine collide
If you come around here, you will have trouble with the law

Any time yu si wi bwoy yu better walk wide
Be careful when you see us around

Yu nuh si a wi and di gal dem a slide
You see us with the girls having fun

Yu nuh si a by God law wi abide
We follow God's laws