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
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
Under Me Sensi
Mr. Vegas Lyrics
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
Wel mi bun di best size grade,which is di westside grade
Mek wi tek wi lass moment, go invest I grade
An before mi puff mi chalice, mi haffi bless I grade
Come gimme more, come in nuh waan less size grade
Come an test I grade. Nuh fed express I grade
Babylon ome an raid, mi wann more less size grade
Watch how wi conceal an possessi grade
But as I gaan, mi have suggest mi buy di best size grade
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
So mi seh gimme di mary j, paas it my way
Come in nuh joke I smoke
A straight hydro, mi nuh waan coke
Marijuana mi a bun pon di corner
Tell di cops to come pokah
Weed a play it like mi real like a pokah
Juss gimme di stoke and gimme di gum bowl
If yu got di color of gold, di purple hayes
I good fah days when mi get oled
When mi rule di top a top
I saw blaak until mi yeyes a get swolla
So mi smokin' to mi grey up an ole
Swing my brain, nuh cocaine
I nuh wanna, I nuh wanna go insane
Swing my brain, nuh cocaine
I nuh wanna I nuh wanna go insane
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
Beyond di day, mi try mi grade
A mi keep keep on buyin mi grade
Babylon wi in a messan knocks mi off
A seh on my grade
Juss mi a smoke di high grade now, I neba a lie grade
Nuh rub up on di coke
I waan to eat an hide di grade
Tell dem hole di cuck up mek di ganja smoke
A mek di air a pup
Paas mi di chalice wissliss paper mek mi air up
But mi true it was mi blew
A true mi know it fits di air a
All mi luv fah herb
Di canibus it cruises up air yu know
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
Wel mi bun di best size grade,which is di westside grade
Mek wi tek wi lass moment, go invest I grade
An before mi puff mi chalice, mi haffi bless I grade
Come gimme more, come in nuh waan less size grade
Come an test I grade. Nuh fed express I grade
Watch how wi conceal an possessi grade
But as I gaan, mi have suggest mi buy di best size grade
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
So mi seh gimme di mary j, paas it my way
Come in nuh joke I smoke
A straight hydro, mi nuh waan coke
Marijuana mi a bun pon di corner
Tell di cops to come pokah
Weed a play it like mi real like a pokah
Juss gimme di stoke and gimme di gum bowl
If yu got di color of gold, di purple hayes
I good fah days when mi get oled
When mi rule di top a top
I saw blaak until mi yeyes a get swolla
So mi smokin' to mi grey up an ole
Swing my brain, nuh cocaine
I nuh wanna, I nuh wanna go insane
Swing my brain, nuh cocaine
I nuh wanna I nuh wanna go insane
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
Under mi sensi, mi under mi sensi
Under mi sensi, mi under mi, hey, hey
Beyond di day, mi try mi grade
A mi keep keep on buyin mi grade
Babylon wi in a messan knocks mi off
A seh on my grade
Juss mi a smoke di high grade now, I neba a lie grade
Nuh rub up on di coke
I waan to eat an hide di grade
Tell dem hole di cuck up mek di ganja smoke
A mek di air a pup
Paas mi di chalice wissliss paper mek mi air up
But mi true it was mi blew
A true mi know it fits di air a
All mi luv fah herb
Di canibus it cruises up air yu know
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NOEL DAVEY, IAN SMITH, CLIFFORD SMITH, ALEX GREGGS, BRADLEY DAYMOND, MICHAEL STERLING, SHEVON STEWART, LLOYD JAMES, DONALD SHAW, Alexander Greggs, Dennis Shaw
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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