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
Hot Gal Today
Mr. Vegas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shut up yu moooout
A my gyal dat my yute
My boo
Yow, a whappen to yuh?
Seana Paul and Mista Vegas again
Dutty yo
I an I buck a hot gyal today
Lalalalalala boomboom shi lau
I an I man haffi get da gyal yaah
Well, competition haffi gwaan cau me fus
Sight da gyal yah - Jah know seh a war bus
Between Sauna Paul and Mistah Vegus
A which one a pour di coffee dung in har t'ermos?
Mi haffi get da gyal yah now
Man a gyow yuh deh gyow
Shi leggo har numbah pon mi
Would be di wrong numbah yow
Mi beg har for a date
An den shi kill yu wid di "No"
Seh dutty still know man a nuh bait, a man nuh ole poppyshow
Becau mi haffi mek a try
Haffi get a bligh
Getti neegle eye
I an I naah guh romp wit nuh guy
Or mi haffi mek a cruise inna mi rubbah shoes
Gal a get bruise
Seana Paul win an Vegas a lose
Shilalalalalala boomboom shi laay
I an I buck a hot gyal today
lalalalalala boomboom shi lau
I an I man haffi get da gyal yaah
An mi alone have di key to har apartment
Shi only waan use Vegas fi pay rent
Shi seh shi love mi body scent an mi accent
Shi nuh waan nuh likkle bwoy wheh jooks wid him parents
But nuh see how mi have di gyal wee-ee-eak?
Ooman want a man wheh can dwee-ee-eet
Shi want di lovin right trou di wee-ee-eek
An shi nuh waan nuh man wheh love slee-ee-eep
Could yu be tellin mi dat i man is a punk
When seven days a di week nuh an yu stop from get junk?
Well i man bun up di chronic - a di highest grade skunk
An charge up mi body cau Jah know mi naah flunk. Ay
Trilalalalalala boomboom shi laay
I an I buck a hot gyal today
Lalalalalala boomboom shi lau
I an I man haffi get da gyal yaah
Trilalalalalala boomboom shi laay
I an I buck a hot gyal today
lalalalalala boomboom shi lau
I an I man haffi get da gyal yaah
Competition haffi gwaan cau mi fus
Sight da gyal yah - Jah know seh a war bus
Between Sauna Paul and Mistah Vegus
A which one a pour di coffee dung in har t'ermos?
Mi haffi get da gyal yah now
Man a gyow yu deh gyow
Shi leggo har numbah pon mi
Would be di wrong numbah yow
Mi beg haar fi a date
An den shi kill yu wid di "No"
But shi still know man a nuh bait, a man nuh ole poppyshow
Becau mi haffi get a bligh
Haffi mek a try
Getti neegle eye
I an I naah guh romp wid nuh guy
An mi haffi mek a cruise inna mi rubbah shoes
Gal a get bruise
Seana Paul win an Vegas a lose
Shilalalalalala boomboom shi laay
Mi nuh catah wheh yuh waan say
Lalalalalala boomboom shi lau
I an I man haffi get da gyal yaah
Lalalalalala boomboom shi laay
I an I buck a hot gyal today
Lalalalalala boomboom shi lau
I an I man haffi get da gyal yaah
An mi alone a get key to haar apartment
Shi only waan use vegas fi pay rent
Shi seh shi love mi body scent an mi accent
Shi nuh waan nuh likkle bwoy wheh a live wid him parent
The song "Hot Gal Today" by Mr. Vegas featuring Sean Paul is a fun, upbeat track about the struggles of chasing after a particular girl. The song is a playful back-and-forth between the two artists as they compete for the attention of the titular "hot gal." The lyrics are quite simple, but there are a few interesting things to note.
The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, as Mr. Vegas and Sean Paul trade insults and jabs in an attempt to one-up each other. The chorus is where the song really shines, with a catchy melody and infectious line about Mr. Vegas finally "bucking" the hot gal he's been chasing after. Throughout the song, Mr. Vegas paints a picture of a love triangle between himself, Sean Paul, and the hot gal - with plenty of humor and wordplay thrown in for good measure.
One interesting aspect of the song is the use of Jamaican Patois, a creole language spoken in Jamaica. Patois often includes unique vocabulary and grammar rules that make it difficult for non-Jamaican speakers to understand. Additionally, the song contains a number of references to Jamaican culture and customs, which adds to its authenticity and makes it feel like a truly Jamaican song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey me and you cyann guh nuh wheh yu kno
I don't want to go anywhere with you
Shut up yu moooout
Be quiet
A my gyal dat my yute
That's my girlfriend, my friend
My boo
My girlfriend
Yow, a whappen to yuh?
Hey, what's going on with you?
Seana Paul and Mista Vegas again
Seana Paul and Mr. Vegas are performing together again
Dutty yo
Unclean
Trilalalalalala boomboom shi laay
Vegas and the girl are enjoying themselves
I an I buck a hot gyal today
We have met a hot girl today
Lalalalalala boomboom shi lau
Vegas needs to get this girl
I an I man haffi get da gyal yaah
I need to get this girl
Well, competition haffi gwaan cau me fus
There is competition because I saw this girl first
Sight da gyal yah - Jah know seh a war bus
I've spotted this girl and I'm ready to fight for her
Between Sauna Paul and Mistah Vegus
It's a competition between Seana Paul and Mr. Vegas
A which one a pour di coffee dung in har t'ermos?
Who's the one that put coffee in her thermos?
Mi haffi get da gyal yah now
I need to get that girl now
Man a gyow yuh deh gyow
I'm checking out that girl
Shi leggo har numbah pon mi
She gave me her phone number
Would be di wrong numbah yow
I hope it's the right number
Mi beg har for a date
I asked her out on a date
An den shi kill yu wid di 'No'
But she rejected me
Seh dutty still know man a nuh bait, a man nuh ole poppyshow
I won't give up easily, because a man doesn't settle for less
Becau mi haffi mek a try
I have to keep trying
Haffi get a bligh
I need to get a break
Getti neegle eye
I'm being careful
I an I naah guh romp wit nuh guy
I'm not interested in any other guys
Or mi haffi mek a cruise inna mi rubbah shoes
I will walk on my rubber shoes
Gal a get bruise
I may get hurt, but I'll try anyway
Mi nuh catah wheh yuh waan say
I don't care what you say
An mi alone a get key to haar apartment
I'm the only one who gets a key to her apartment
Shi only waan use vegas fi pay rent
She only wants to use Vegas to pay her rent
Shi seh shi love mi body scent an mi accent
She says she loves my scent and accent
Shi nuh waan nuh likkle bwoy wheh a live wid him parent
She doesn't want a little boy who still lives with his parents
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind