Ms. Dynamite was born and raised in Archway, London, England, to a Scottish mother and a Jamaican father. She grew up listening to reggae and hip hop music. Though she wanted to become a schoolteacher or social worker, her biggest aspiration was to be a musician. She is the eldest of eleven siblings, one of whom is a grime artist known as Akala.
While working at the radio station RAW FM, Ms. Dynamite was discovered by Richard Forbes at a West End club. After working briefly with the garage act So Solid Crew, she released her debut album, A Little Deeper, in 2002, which won Britain's prestigious Mercury Prize for Album of the Year for 2002.
2001
What I Do
Ms. Dynamite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Do I do it for me or the alarm clock?
When I work out
Do I do it for me or the Apple Watch?
When I pray long
Do I do it for me or the preacher man?
When I wash up
Do I do it for me or the water bill?
Do I do it for me or the slay queens & kings?
When I eat right
Do I do it for me or #fitfam?
When I drive through
Do I do it for me or the BMW?
When I work hard
Do I do it for me or the boss?
When I go out
Do I do it for me or the fear of missing out?
When I come home
Do I do it for me or the family?
When I lay down
Do I do it for me or the satin sheets?
When I lay down
Do I do it for me or the significant other?
Do I do anything for me?
Yes
I dance
Alone
To no music
Except the rhythm of my quickening heartbeat
The cranks, claps and taps
Straightening the creased hopes
Smoothing the crevices of my insecurities
I do that
As often as I please
For me
Passion. Purpose
Passion. Purpose
Passion. Purpose
Passion. Purpose
Sometimes
Life draws you apart
But you reunite
Like the meeting of old friends
You greet each other with swelling hearts
And walk together in synchronized steps
When one finger touches the other
The Chemistry feels more like Physics
The electric current runs throughout your Biology
From your cranium down to your phalanges
It's almost an exact science
The endorphins leave you leaping
From morning
Right through to evening
It'll keep you up all night
Wake you up with dawn
Heavy eyes
Light heart
High hopes and your hip hops
Your rhythm goes beyond feeling
Your sweat is your hydration
Your exhaustion leaves you energized
Your tears are your libation
You make a plan and you heed it
You set a goal and you beat it
You meet a culture and you change it
They may or may not know your name
But you do it all the same
Because
Passion and purpose will fuel your drive even where there is scarcity
You cannot fake passion
You cannot fight purpose
Passion. Purpose
Passion. Purpose
Passion. Purpose
Passion. Purpose
In the song "What I Do" by Ms. Dynamite, the lyrics explore the internal motivations behind our daily actions and decisions. The questions posed in the verses highlight a constant inner dialogue about the reasons behind the things we do. The reference to waking up for either oneself or the external elements like the alarm clock sets the tone for questioning our intentions in various aspects of life. From working out for personal well-being or for the validation from technology like the Apple Watch, to praying and dressing up for oneself or societal expectations, the lyrics provoke introspection on the true motivation behind our behaviors.
As the song progresses, the repeated questioning of whether our actions are driven by personal desires or external influences leads to a moment of clarity in the chorus. The affirmation of dancing alone to the rhythm of one's heartbeat symbolizes an act of self-expression and self-care detached from external validation. This act of dancing becomes a form of reclaiming one's agency and reconnecting with inner passions and purpose, amidst the noise of societal expectations and pressures.
The subsequent verses delve deeper into the concepts of passion and purpose as guiding forces in life. The imagery of life pulling us apart only to be reunited with a sense of familiarity and connection conveys a sense of resilience and determination. The analogy of chemistry feeling like physics and the physiological response to passion evoke a profound sense of euphoria and empowerment derived from pursuing one's true calling. The lyrics emphasize the transformative power of passion and purpose in reshaping one's path and leaving a lasting impact on the world, even if it goes unnoticed by others.
In conclusion, the song encapsulates a journey of self-discovery and empowerment through the lens of questioning and reaffirming one's motives and values. It emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself, finding solace in personal passions, and aligning one's actions with a sense of purpose that transcends external validation. The repeated refrain of "Passion. Purpose" serves as a mantra reinforcing the driving forces behind authentic and fulfilling living, reminding listeners that genuine motivation and dedication will ultimately fuel their endeavors and lead them towards meaningful achievements.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Oyindamola Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TRF
Ms Dynamite was an artist well ahead of her time ๐ฅ
Antonio Rivera Jr
This song fits good in 2021! Ms. Dynamite is timeless! A real gem definitely on my top 100 favorite artists.
FaboForever
Some tunes just need re-releasing every so often because of relevance. To me this is a classic and will never get old. The message is deep an the tune overall is big! I miss Dynamite in the game
LiLi and family
so true ๐
Simba blazing ape
Agreed
AJ Easmon
Ms Dynamite, so underrated. This tune needs to be re-released in 2021, this the is real stuff with a mesage and will never get old. Show the youngens what really influnced them and this is how you can do it without decreasing your garments
MJ Shakur
I agree
โ๏ธโ๐๐๐ธ.๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ค๐ค๐ค๐คโ๏ธ
This was trash sry
Dalya El sayed
Couldnโt agree more๐๐
brandon michaels
i completely agree