After moving from his birthplace Annotto Bay to Kingston at the age of 11, he launched his deejay career with the Black Culture Sound System at age 12 as "Double Ugly". In 1980, he joined Killamanjaro, there got the chance to learn from established deejays Super Cat and Early B, and released his debut single as "Uglyman". Yet another name change made him the now well known Ninjaman.[2] In 1987, Ninjaman recorded - and produced himself - his first hit single "Protection", a duet with Courtney Melody. The following years brought many prolific collaborations with producers like King Jammy, Witty, Xterminator, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, Redman, Ini Kamoze, Bobby Digital, Augustus "Gussie" Clarke, and Steely & Clevie and Henry "Junjo" Lawes. It has been said that Ninjaman comes up with all of his lyrics on the spot in the recording studio, in a freestyle manner.
His hits over the years 1989-1992, like "Murder Dem", "Permit to Bury" and "Above the Law" reinforced Ninjamans image of a violent rude boy. One of his most infamous rivalries (besides the ongoing quarrels with Flourgon and Super Cat) was the one with Shabba Ranks, leading to a number of clashes.
In 1993, criticism of Ninjamans violent and pro-gun lyrics arose, leading to a decline in performing gigs and chances to record.
By 1997, Ninjaman had changed his name once again, now performing gospel reggae songs as "Brother Desmond". He sought help to fight his Crack cocaine addiction in born again Christianity. It was not a complete changeover though, earning him criticism from parts of the Jamaican Christian community.
In the late 1990s, he was accused (but later acquitted), among other things, of having raped a woman at knifepoint in his home and having murdered a taxi driver. He was sentenced to one year in jail in late 1999, after being convicted of unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition.
In July 2001, Ninjaman was assaulted with a machete, suffering several wounds, some to the head.
Border Clash
Ninjaman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all who a run like horse pon track dem better just settle and stop
Weh mi tell unno 'bout, this a di don! unno listen
Come tell yuh 'bout border clash! border clash! yuh know dem send fi di
Don in a di border clash! mi tell unno border clash! border clash! wi seh
Wha kind of clash mi wanna tell unno 'bout that because yuh remember
When St Catherine and di Kingstonian dem clash yuh know seh!
Seh a from ferry highway yuh couldn't find nuh way fi stop mi tell
Unno di
Border clash! border clash! we a go tell di people dem about di, border
Clash! yuh seh if yuh, go pon stage and yuh nuh, singing well hot
Yuh know seh a shandy bottle lick yuh and mek yuh drop pon yuh back
Yuh think a one time! mi see derrick run off a dat him haffi
RUN! with him guitar when a singer gwaan like idiot in a di
Border clash! border clash! tell di people dem about di, ya h-h-hear mi man
Y-yuh si, when di St Catherine DJ dem jump pon di mic and chat and
When di people dem kick up and mek di, place get black yuh see if
Dem move up and gwaan like dem nuh know weh fi chat yuh know seh a pure
Stone and bottle and one a dem bound haffi drop yuh si when di
Orginal front teeth gold teeth dongorgon go pon dat and when mi!
Grab up di mic this is di first thing wi chat I gon' line out di lyrics
Mek yuh hear di whole a dat mi seh di Competition done! Competition done!
And mi seh! St Catherine and Kingston man dem jump off a ground wi bought
ONE HOUSE A GUN, ONE HOUSE A GUN and when mi draw dat di one deh
Yuh know di place tear down, mi draw ONE WORLD A BOMB! ONE WORLD A BOMB!
And it's like seh whole a inna di place it's like a invasion mi bought
TEN GUN FI BUST! TEN GUN FI BUST! and yuh waan hear di people dem seh this ya
One ya dangerous mi bawl, MOVE FROM HERE! MOVE FROM HERE! where yuh si gal
Pickney have manners start jump up in di air and seh lawd ninja man a long
Time yuh waan hear because yuh gone a switzerland and like yuh 'fraid fi DJ
Down here but when mi draw dem ya lyrics like mi gone in a gear but when
Mi come back fi di border clash a dat dem better hear inna di
Border clash! border clash! tell di people dem, yuh a hear mi
When mi come dongorgon come, and mi a go name it out right ya now
If a bwoy him a don him and can't use him tongue like original front
Teeth gold teeth dongorgon just come brush teeth with toothpaste
And teeth full a gun, one house a gun a weh wi drop pon di ground
Mi tell unno DONGORGON COME! DONGORGON COME! yuh know di orginal front
Teeth gold teeth dongorgon come, dem betta! TEK BACK DEM CHAT!
TEK BACK DEM CHAT! suh mi run way gone a foreign and mi nuh decide
Fi come back, dem betta! Tek back dem chat, tek back dem chat
A wonder wha a do dem ya bwoy must a big idiot must he think seh
Mi come from country use to bruck dry coconut and just carry bucket
Over 50 mile harrowed like dat or mi a fool! or else a idiot I might
Box yuh over! an mek yuh drop pon di spot because di DONGORGON COME!
Dongorgon come! nuclear weapon a it mi fling dung, one world a
Bomb mi use to walk with a town, new gun fi bust a it mi fling dung
A it dem have start run up and dung, ninja man with the talking tongue
When mi come dancehall tear down mi seh di dongorgon come! dongorgon
Come!
Yuh know di original front teeth gold teeth dongorgon just come mi tell
Unno dongorgon come! dongorgon come! and when di dongorgon come dem
Betta run up and dung yuh si, di dongorgon a tell unno something ya now
Unno betta listen carefully from di word from mi tongue and if you waan
Si a country betta unno just listen mi ya now because a love and
Harmony di dongorgon a fling dung yuh know seh, when mi come dem
Haffi skank up and dung because a unity wi have and mek dem move
Pon di ground mi tell unno, border clash! border clash! tell di people
Dem about di!...
The lyrics of Ninjaman's song "Border Clash" are a call to all those who engage in confrontational behavior to simmer down and play it smart. The song relates to the clash of DJ crews of St Catherine and Kingston, two parishes in Jamaica, and the resulting violent outbreak that forced Ninjaman to intervene. The song is a warning to those who try to take DJ clashes to another level and engage in physical violence.
Ninjaman's intention with the song was to call for peace and unity, reminding listeners of the dangers of confrontational behavior. He notes the fact that whenever a clash takes place, weapons become involved, and as a result, people get injured or killed. Throughout the song, he urges all of those involved to play it smart and think of the implications of their actions.
The song "Border Clash" was a very popular song in Jamaica during the 1990s, and Ninjaman became one of the most respected Dancehall DJs in the country. He was known for his lyrical prowess and charismatic performances. "Border Clash" is just one of the many great songs he released that helped solidify his status as a reggae legend.
Line by Line Meaning
Now hear this! all who a chat and dem mouth betta cool and quiet
Listen up! Those who talk too much need to calm down
And all who a run like horse pon track dem better just settle and stop
Also, those who are always running around need to slow down and take a break
Weh mi tell unno 'bout, this a di don! unno listen
Let me tell you about the boss, pay attention
Come tell yuh 'bout border clash! border clash! yuh know dem send fi di Don in a di border clash!
I'm going to talk about the border clash, where they called for the boss to handle the situation
mi tell unno border clash! border clash! wi seh Wha kind of clash
I'm telling you, it's a border clash and we're talking about a specific type of conflict
mi wanna tell unno 'bout that because yuh remember When St Catherine and di Kingstonian dem clash
I want to tell you about a specific instance of conflict between St. Catherine and Kingstonians
yuh seh if yuh, go pon stage and yuh nuh, singing well hot Yuh know seh a shandy bottle lick yuh and mek yuh drop pon yuh back
If you go on stage and don't perform well, someone might throw a bottle at you
Yuh think a one time! mi see derrick run off a dat him haffi RUN! with him guitar when a singer gwaan like idiot in a di Border clash!
It's not just a one-time thing - I've seen it happen before where a singer acts foolish and causes conflict
tell di people dem about di, border Clash! yuh si, when di St Catherine DJ dem jump pon di mic and chat and When di people dem kick up and mek di, place get black
Let me tell you about the border clash, where St. Catherine DJs spoke up and caused a disturbance among the people
yuh see if Dem move up and gwaan like dem nuh know weh fi chat yuh know seh a pure Stone and bottle and one a dem bound haffi drop
If they act like they don't know what they're talking about, they'll get hit with stones and bottles
yuh si when di Orginal front teeth gold teeth dongorgon go pon dat and when mi! Grab up di mic this is di first thing wi chat I gon' line out di lyrics Mek yuh hear di whole a dat mi seh di Competition done! Competition done!
When the original front teeth gold teeth dongorgon speaks up and I take the mic, I'm going to say it loud and clear: the competition is over
And mi seh! St Catherine and Kingston man dem jump off a ground wi bought ONE HOUSE A GUN, ONE HOUSE A GUN and when mi draw dat di one deh Yuh know di place tear down, mi draw ONE WORLD A BOMB! ONE WORLD A BOMB!
I also say that when St. Catherine and Kingston men fight, they use force by bringing out guns and bombs
And it's like seh whole a inna di place it's like a invasion mi bought TEN GUN FI BUST! TEN GUN FI BUST! and yuh waan hear di people dem seh this ya One ya dangerous
It's like a full blown invasion, and I come with ten guns to fight it. The people are saying that this is extremely dangerous
yuh si gal Pickney have manners start jump up in di air and seh lawd ninja man a long Time yuh waan hear because yuh gone a switzerland and like yuh 'fraid fi DJ Down here but when mi draw dem ya lyrics like mi gone in a gear but when Mi come back fi di border clash a dat dem better hear inna di Border clash!
Even kids are excited to see me perform, and they know that I'm the king of DJs. Just because I'm in Switzerland right now, it doesn't mean I'm scared to come back and perform. Just wait until the border clash, and you'll see
If a bwoy him a don him and can't use him tongue like original front Teeth gold teeth dongorgon just come brush teeth with toothpaste And teeth full a gun, one house a gun a weh wi drop pon di ground Mi tell unno DONGORGON COME! DONGORGON COME!
If a guy is claiming to be a boss but can't speak like the original front teeth gold teeth dongorgon, he needs to brush his teeth and then fight with his guns. We will fight back with our own guns and tell them, 'dongorgon come, come out and fight'
ninja man with the talking tongue When mi come dancehall tear down mi seh di dongorgon come! dongorgon Come! Yuh know di original front teeth gold teeth dongorgon just come mi tell Unno dongorgon come! dongorgon come!
When I speak, people listen and the original front teeth gold teeth dongorgon is here. We're going to fight back and they better watch out
and when di dongorgon come dem Betta run up and dung yuh si, di dongorgon a tell unno something ya now Unno betta listen carefully from di word from mi tongue and if you waan Si a country betta unno just listen mi ya now because a love and Harmony di dongorgon a fling dung yuh know seh
When the dongorgon shows up, they better be prepared to run. Listen carefully to what I have to say because I bring peace and harmony. Even people in the country can listen and understand what I have to say
when mi come dem Haffi skank up and dung because a unity wi have and mek dem move Pon di ground mi tell unno, border clash! border clash! tell di people Dem about di!
When I show up, everyone moves together and dances because we are united. Let me tell you about the border clash and what happened
Writer(s): Desmond Ballentine, Lloyd James
Contributed by Colin V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.