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
Raging Bull
Mr. Vegas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me seh Overmars and Buffa dem yu nuh
Me seh a stars among starsyu nuh
Mr. Vegas
Dai du
2007 dem sick a dis
The lighter dem
Because once again I'm just gonna dance
Away my sorrows dance till tomorrow
Everybody lets just dance again
Alright let go de bull
Don't get the wrong idea about me
It's Vegas on a dancing spree
Don't get the wrong idea about me
Ravers clavers lock the city
Don't get the wrong idea about me
I'm from a land of high grade tree
Don't get the wrong idea about me
Mad bull_ make the circle
(Chorus)
Raging, raging Bull (sample six)
Overmars a do the raging Bull (timeless)
Raging, raging bull,
Ravers Clavers a do the raging Bull (everybody now)
Tek weh yuself (ding dong)
Do the dance name tek weh yuself
Tek weh, tek weh yuself
Follow black blingers and tek weh yuself
Dis ya one ya easy no hell
Mek we dance and low the askelle
Six a try fi dance and fell on top
A Stacey and Michelle
Kieva waan fulfill waan bull till har head swell
Whiteman drop it fi mek it start sell
Murray caan do it so well
Black bling start tek weh yuself
(Chorus)
John and Ding unno sort out the matter
Dem sey alright Vege everything proper
Mannaz, Attitude sort out the matter
Dem she alright Vege everything proper
Cause we no want no more blood fi splatter
We no want no more body fi flatter
Mek Murray climb up the ladder
Dance we a dance and a unite together
Everybody want do it so dem link Overmars
Stone love book out book out we link star
Man a dance from ya so go straight to savlamar
Gal start escort Vegas to the bar
Stand up on yu feet
Move pony u toe
Raging bull dance fast so yu can do it slow
Who dat a do it nuh Fantan Mojah
Watch everybody a dance like yo yo
(Chorus)
Repeat 1st verse then Chorus
The song "Raging Bull" by Mr. Vegas is a lively dance anthem that serves as a tribute to the raging bull dance style, a popular dance craze in Jamaica. The lyrics begin by asking if the listener has ever lost a friend, but then quickly change the subject to dancing as a way to forget one's sorrows. The chorus encourages everyone to dance the raging bull, a fast-paced and energetic dance that requires moving quickly on one's feet.
Mr. Vegas also uses the song to declare his pride in his Jamaican heritage and love for high-grade (high-quality) marijuana. He warns listeners not to get the wrong idea about him or the raging bull dance, and mentions several well-known Jamaican dancers and sound systems. He also calls for unity among his fellow Jamaicans and for an end to violence and bloodshed.
Overall, "Raging Bull" is a catchy and upbeat song that celebrates Jamaican culture and encourages listeners to dance their troubles away.
Line by Line Meaning
Me seh Overmars and Buffa dem yu nuh
I am talking about Overmars and his crew, Buffa and the others, you know
Me seh a stars among starsyu nuh
They are stars among other stars, you know
Dai du
I am here, I am ready to go
2007 dem sick a dis
This is just too sick, especially for 2007
Have you ever lost a friend?, well let me see
Have you ever lost a friend? Let me rephrase that
The lighter dem
The lighters used during a show
Because once again I'm just gonna dance
I will just dance again, like always
Away my sorrows dance till tomorrow
I will dance away my sorrows and continue till tomorrow
Everybody lets just dance again
Let's all dance again
Alright let go de bull
Let's get started with the bull dance
Don't get the wrong idea about me
Please don't misunderstand me
It's Vegas on a dancing spree
I'm in the mood to dance like crazy, I am Vegas
Ravers clavers lock the city
Ravers clavers is taking over the city with this dance move
I'm from a land of high grade tree
I am from a place where marijuana is grown naturally
Mad bull_ make the circle
Let's make a circle and call it the mad bull
Raging, raging Bull (sample six)
I am referring to the Bull dance, it's raging
Overmars a do the raging Bull (timeless)
Overmars and his crew are doing the best Bull dance ever
Ravers Clavers a do the raging Bull (everybody now)
Now everyone is doing the raging Bull dance
Tek weh yuself (ding dong)
Move away, give me some space
Do the dance name tek weh yuself
Now let's do the dance called 'tek weh yuself'
Follow black blingers and tek weh yuself
Let's follow the black blingers and do the dance
Dis ya one ya easy no hell
This dance is easy as hell
Mek we dance and low the askelle
Let's dance and forget about our problems
Six a try fi dance and fell on top
Someone tried to dance and ended up falling on Stacey and Michelle
A Stacey and Michelle
Those are the unfortunate people who got fell on
Kieva waan fulfill waan bull till har head swell
Kieva wants to dance so much that she's about to burst
Whiteman drop it fi mek it start sell
The white man just needs to see the dance and he'll be willing to buy it
Murray caan do it so well
Murray can't dance it as well as we can
Black bling start tek weh yuself
Black bling has started the tek weh yuself dance move
John and Ding unno sort out the matter
John and Ding, can you two sort the issue out?
Dem sey alright Vege everything proper
They say it's alright, everything is good, Mr.Vegas
Mannaz, Attitude sort out the matter
Mannaz and Attitude also help us sort out the issue
Cause we no want no more blood fi splatter
We don't want any more blood to spill
We no want no more body fi flatter
We also do not want any more bodies to fall
Mek Murray climb up the ladder
Let's help Murray climb up the ladder
Dance we a dance and a unite together
We dance and unite together
Stone love book out book out we link star
Stone love has already booked the spot for their link stars to dance
Gal start escort Vegas to the bar
Women started to escort me to the bar
Stand up on yu feet
Stand up properly
Move pony u toe
Move your toes like a pony does
Raging bull dance fast so yu can do it slow
Dance the raging bull so fast that it will look like slow-motion
Who dat a do it nuh Fantan Mojah
Who is doing it? It must be Fantan Mojah
Watch everybody a dance like yo yo
Watch everyone dancing like a yo-yo
Contributed by Lucas N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Rudeboymo
Its 2019 and im still playing this at parties.
@celiavinkers7124
2020 more ups
@roadbeasts9301
Toughest thing ever
@sk8board-c265
I CANT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME MY BIG BROLIC ASS CRIEDππͺπΎπI havenβt listened to Reggae music in over 5yrs. This was 1 of my favorites during my college years & when my brother in this beautiful song said βHave you ever lost a friend...β I dead ass dropped big tearsπ€¦πΎββοΈ & started πΊπΎ at the same time Just brings back so many great memoriesππΎ
@anastasiaedmondson9523
This bring back memories
@FlidgenutBooakl
this song reminds me of the good times with my Jamaican cousins
@ieashhicks2691
this is when I liked dancehall and Jamaican dances
@toniafolkes557
Jamaica has the best dances lolol
@FlawlessTwerkFlocka
whenever im hurting and feel in a depressing mode i dance and listen to this and it lifts me back up
@mskayma1
this song make we wanna go to a party