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
Nike Air
Mr. Vegas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yuh never get a slam yet fi a Nike air
All a di hand dem ina di air ya mi dear
Yuh never get a slam fi a bus fare
Pressure dem yah mi dear ina di latest wear
Dem can't smear yuh career
A you dem want compare
But you nuh borrow wear
Yuh nuh get nuh careless slam
Nuh con from nuh man
Tell dem yuh nuh one night stand
Suh tell a gal move along
Guh back weh shi come from
Tell dem seh yuh nah borrow man
Mek mi si yuh hand ina di air
Yuh never get a slam yet fi a Nike air
All a di hand dem ina di air ya mi dear
Yuh never get a sex yer fi a bus fare
Mek mi si yuh hand ina di air
Yuh never get a slam yet fi a Nike air
All a di hand dem ina di air ya mi dear
Yuh never get a slam fi a bus fare
Nuff a dem run guh breed
Nuff pickney all a teethe
All now di man nuh buy a tin a feed
Dem mussi smoke some bad weed
Or read dem can't read
Always ina want and need
But true yuh get yuh new home
Brand new cellular phone
All dem a get a pure stone
Suh tell a gal move up
Old enamel cup
Tell dem yuh nuh get so-so wuk
Mek mi si yuh hand ina di air
Yuh never get a slam yet fi a Nike air
All a di hand dem ina di air ya mi dear
Yuh never get a slam fi a bus fare
Mek mi si yuh hand ina di air
Yuh never get a slam yet fi a Nike air
All a di hand dem ina di air ya mi dear
Yuh never get a slam fi a bus fare
Dem a try compete
Dem get defeat
Look how yuh neat and sweet
Ina yuh face dem can't speak
Cah dem nah dweet
Whole heap a Harry and Pete
Mek mi si yuh hand ina di air
Yuh never get a slam yet fi a Nike air
All a di hand dem ina di air ya mi dear
Yuh never get a slam fi a bus fare
Mek mi si yuh hand ina di air
Yuh never get a slam yet fi a Nike air
All a di hand dem ina di air ya mi dear
Yuh never get a slam fi a bus fare
The lyrics to "Nike Air" by Mr. Vegas speak to the pride and confidence of a person who values hard work and self-sufficiency. The song praises those who have never had to rely on someone else for success or material possessions, using the metaphor of never having been "slammed" (rejected or dismissed) for a pair of expensive sneakers or for transportation fare. The lyrics suggest that those who have achieved success on their own merit are to be admired and respected, while those who seek to compete or compare themselves to others are likely to fail. The repeated refrain of "mek mi si yuh hand ina di air" (let me see your hand in the air) implies a celebration of individual achievement and a rejection of conformity or groupthink.
The song also critiques those who are "always in want and need," suggesting that they are unable to create their own success and instead rely on others to provide for them. The lyrics suggest that such people are not as admirable as those who have achieved success through hard work and perseverance, and that they should be left behind in favor of individuals who are self-sufficient and capable. The line "true yuh get yuh new home, brand new cellular phone, all dem a get a pure stone" highlights the contrast between those who have earned their own material possessions and those who rely on others for gifts or handouts.
Line by Line Meaning
Well mi want fi si yuh hand ina di air
I want to see you celebrating your success and triumphs
Yuh never get a slam yet fi a Nike air
You’ve never been knocked down or defeated for your Nike Air shoes
All a di hand dem ina di air ya mi dear
Everyone’s hands are up, my dear (everyone’s celebrating success)
Yuh never get a slam fi a bus fare
You’ve never been defeated for something as trivial as bus fare
Pressure dem yah mi dear ina di latest wear
The latest fashion can bring a lot of pressure, my dear
Dem can't smear yuh career
No one can ruin your career or reputation
A you dem want compare
Everyone wants to compare themselves to you
But you nuh borrow wear
You don’t have to borrow clothes
Yuh nuh change man like truck gear
You don’t switch romantic partners like you change gears in a truck
Yuh nuh get nuh careless slam
You don’t carelessly engage in sexual encounters
Nuh con from nuh man
You’re not interested in being deceived by someone
Tell dem yuh nuh one night stand
Tell them that you’re not a one-night stand kind of person
Suh tell a gal move along
So tell a woman to move along
Guh back weh shi come from
Go back where she came from
Tell dem seh yuh nah borrow man
Tell them that you don’t need to borrow a man
Mek mi si yuh hand ina di air
Let me see you celebrating and triumphant
Yuh never get a sex yer fi a bus fare
You’ve never exchanged sex for something as small as bus fare
Nuff a dem run guh breed
Many people run to have children
Nuff pickney all a teethe
Many children are going through difficulties
All now di man nuh buy a tin a feed
The man still can’t buy a single meal
Dem mussi smoke some bad weed
They must be smoking some bad weed
Or read dem can't read
Or they can’t read
Always ina want and need
Always in a state of want and need
But true yuh get yuh new home
But it’s true that you got your new home
Brand new cellular phone
And a brand new phone
All dem a get a pure stone
All they’re getting are fake gems
Suh tell a gal move up
So tell a woman to move up (get lost)
Old enamel cup
Using old enamel cups
Tell dem yuh nuh get so-so wuk
Tell them that you’re not only doing mediocre work
Dem a try compete
They’re trying to compete with you
Dem get defeat
They’ve been defeated
Look how yuh neat and sweet
Look how great and presentable you are
Ina yuh face dem can't speak
They can’t speak to your face
Cah dem nah dweet
Because they can’t accomplish what you have
Whole heap a Harry and Pete
A lot of people, like Harry and Pete
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLIFFORD SMITH, JEREMY HARDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annaire8491
This has got to be the hottest dancehall beat ever created 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@xxMCUmilexx
What does "Nike Air" mean in this song? Thanks.
@AndrePaulCodner
@@xxMCUmilexxqqq😊11
@oxfordtown3830
First time I heard dis tune when I was HMP Reading remand in 1998 ..i was 18 years old now I'm 38 and still listening to dis tune..!
@xxMCUmilexx
What does "Nike Air" mean in this song? Thanks.
@melanatedqueen4288
Dancehall was the shit pure hits after hits boom riddim and songs.....good times.
@xxMCUmilexx
What does "Nike Air" mean in this song? Thanks.
@anfieldreds_1892
@@xxMCUmilexxliterally means what it means. Nike Air Jordans.
you never had sex with someone for some nike airs
@si8985
One of the best dancehall riddim
@jean-paulthyme1973
Playground riddim