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
Killa Swing
Mr. Vegas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ravers Clavers wid the Falvers
Ravers Claver Ravers Ravers Clavers
[Verse 1:]
Ding dong weh find ah brand new dance where mash up di place again
Ice boyz, Jhon Hype, Shelly Belly dem nah keep nah batty man fren
Mr Wacky him pass & gone well ah him set di dancing trend
Everboady ono start march forward Timless take it to dem
Every boady just killa swing Ravers Clavers killa swing
Watch Jermaine squad ah killa swing Sample & Ding Dong Bounty Killer
Ah gonna swiiingg! killa swing Kevva Latisha ah killa swing
All Dutty Firday ah killa swing Passa Passa Weddy Weddy
All dung ah Blaze ah swiiinng!
[Verse 2:]
Mi read paper mi see brother will count down
Gotta youtes dem dance & everyboady wan have sum fun
Ono see we dance & ono wan cum lock dat down
Cause ah dance we ah dance & we nah war black fi wrong
Give mi da killa swing & preze bounce & gimmie me sum nila fa bad man
Dance run up inna da dance & give me sum
Pull up pull up pull up & give mi ah small rock & just pull up pull up pull up just
[Chours:]
Every boady just killa swing Ravers Clavers killa swing
Watch Jermaine squad ah killa swing Sample & Ding Dong Bounty Killer
Ah gonna swiiingg! killa swing Kevva Latisha ah killa swing
All Dutty Firday ah killa swing Passa Passa Weddy Weddy
All dung ah Blaze ah swiiinng!
[Verse 3:]
If ono badmind jus killa swing killa swing killa swing
If ono nah grugefull jus killa swing killa swing killa swing
If yuh ah real gangsta ono jus killa swing killa swing killa swing
Free up ono self & jus killa swing killa swing killa swing
[Chours:]
Every boady just killa swing Ravers Clavers killa swing
Watch Jermaine squad ah killa swing Sample & Ding Dong Bounty Killer
Ah gonna swiiingg! killa swing Kevva Latisha ah killa swing
All Dutty Firday ah killa swing Passa Passa Weddy Weddy
All dung ah Blaze ah swiiinng!
[Verse 1:]
Ding dong weh find ah brand new dance where mash up di place again
Ice boyz, Jhon Hype, Shelly Belly dem nah keep nah batty man fren
Mr Wacky him pass & gone well ah him set di dancing trend
Everboady ono start march forward Timless take it to dem
[Chours: x2]
Every boady just killa swing Ravers Clavers killa swing
Watch Jermaine squad ah killa swing Sample & Ding Dong Bounty Killer
Ah gonna swiiingg! killa swing Kevva Latisha ah killa swing
All Dutty Firday ah killa swing Passa Passa Weddy Weddy
All dung ah Blaze ah swiiinng!
The song "Killa Swing" by Mr. Vegas is all about the brand new dance that has taken over the place. The lyrics inform us that Ding Dong has come up with a new dance that has become popular and gained popularity rapidly. The song mentions different artists like Ice Boyz, Jhon Hype, and Shelly Belly, who are also a part of the dance craze.
The lyrics of "Killa Swing" promote happiness and fun. The song invites everyone to enjoy the dance and take part without any inhibitions. The chorus suggests that everyone kills the dance floor with the killer swing. The song also states that the dance transcends borders and goes global.
Overall, "Killa Swing" is a lively and upbeat dance song that promotes having fun and leaving all worries behind, with a focus on the killer swing dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Ravers Clavers wid the Falvers
The group Ravers Clavers is with Falvers.
Ding dong weh find ah brand new dance where mash up di place again
Ding dong found a new dance that is popular and makes people dance.
Ice boyz, Jhon Hype, Shelly Belly dem nah keep nah batty man fren
The dancers Ice boyz, Jhon Hype, Shelly Belly do not associate with gay men.
Mr. Wacky him pass & gone well ah him set di dancing trend
Mr. Wacky has passed away but he created a popular dance trend that is still followed.
Everboady ono start march forward Timless take it to dem
Everyone starts moving forward and the dancer Timless leads them.
Every boady just killa swing Ravers Clavers killa swing
Everyone is doing the popular Killa Swing dance with the group Ravers Clavers.
Watch Jermaine squad ah killa swing Sample & Ding Dong Bounty Killer
Jermaine's group is also doing the Killa Swing dance along with Sample and Ding Dong Bounty Killer.
Ah gonna swiiingg! killa swing Kevva Latisha ah killa swing
I am going to dance the Killa Swing along with Kevva and Latisha.
All Dutty Firday ah killa swing Passa Passa Weddy Weddy
The Killa Swing dance is done in popular dance events like Dutty Firday, Passa Passa and Weddy Weddy.
All dung ah Blaze ah swiiinng!
The Killa Swing dance is popular everywhere, even in Blaze parties.
Mi read paper mi see brother will count down
I read the newspaper and saw a brother is in trouble.
Gotta youtes dem dance & everyboady wan have sum fun
The youth are dancing and everyone wants to have fun.
Ono see we dance & ono wan cum lock dat down
People see us dance and want to join us.
Cause ah dance we ah dance & we nah war black fi wrong
We are dancing and we are not fighting or discriminating against black people.
Give mi da killa swing & preze bounce & gimmie me sum nila fa bad man
Give me the Killa Swing dance and a lively beat and some marijuana for the bad men.
Dance run up inna da dance & give me sum
Let's dance and have fun together.
If ono badmind jus killa swing killa swing killa swing
If you hate us, just do the Killa Swing dance.
If ono nah grugefull jus killa swing killa swing killa swing
If you are not angry or resentful, then do the Killa Swing dance.
If yuh ah real gangsta ono jus killa swing killa swing killa swing
Even if you are a real gangster, you can still do the Killa Swing dance.
Free up ono self & jus killa swing killa swing killa swing
Relax and do the Killa Swing dance.
Writer(s): Clifford R. Smith, Andre Marshall
Contributed by Grace O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.