In 2010, Protoje began working with his cousin and popular Jamaican producer Don Corleon. After releasing "Dread", "JA" and "Roll" in 2010, Protoje's debut album, entitled The Seven Year Itch, was released in 2011. The first single off the album dubbed "Arguments" (2009) was responsible for his early popularity in Jamaica. In 2011, he released another single off the album entitled "Rasta Love" featuring Ky-Mani Marley.
His second album, The 8 Year Affair, was released in 2013. "Who Dem A Program" was the first single released from the album followed by "This Is Not A Marijuana Song". "Kingston Be Wise" was heavily promoted via traditional and social media. Protoje cited reggae artist Ini Kamoze and group Black Uhuru as influences when recording the album.
His third album Ancient Future is set for release in September 2014
Roll
Protoje Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I attract you, you react to me
Everytime I ask her that, she answer that she naa look back
No way
You wanna roll with a pro today then roll with Protoje
And roll this'dro for me
Dunno what more to say
'Cause you already know wah mi deh pon girl
Keep u Posh like Beckam's girl, take a second swirl
'Cause if you check the case, have a sexy face
Run-her-up inna me room like second place
Me skip first and second base but no mi nuh deh pon haste
And her next man deh pon di case so make me have a second please
Make him know weapon deh pon waist me say
So make me know if you deh pon that
'Cause me focus and deh pon track
And me like when you deh pon top but me love when you deh pon knees
When it gone too real you can deh pon please
God damn! The flow deh pon ease
You know like the mind get more time it deh pon trees
Have some big big dreams, never step on these
Things will get cross like second t's so please
I don't want my wife making my bed, I want her
Making my blunt while she laying in bed
While I'm taking a med
Thinking ahead, thinking bout the future
If she can bring these youths you know
When mi speak mi tell the truth nuh
Naa go fabricate it baby girl just fi suit you
Mek me know if it's cool to you
If it's new to you
Follow Diggy pon the route you know
In Protoje's song "Roll", we see the Jamaican artist musing about his lover and asserting his dominance. He starts off with checking in with his lover, wanting to ensure that he has her attention and wants to be sure that she is in sync with him. He then goes on to express his desire for her to "roll" with him, or in other words, join him in his lifestyle. The song itself is a representation of Protoje and his status as a leader of the movement towards a new age of reggae music. He is calling on those who appreciate his music and sensibilities to join him and follow his lead. When he says "roll this dro for me" he is referring to smoking marijuana, which is often used in the Rastafarian faith and culture and is a common theme in reggae music.
Protoje also boasts about his sexual prowess and dominance in the bedroom, stating that he wants her "on top" but loves it when she's "on her knees". He also takes a jab at another man who may be pursuing his lover, saying "her next man deh pon di case so make me have a second please" which roughly translates to "her other man is trying hard to be with her, so let me have a try".
The last few lines of the song are Protoje expressing his desires for a partner who is not just a lover but someone who can also help him build a future and bring children into the world. He is advocating for honesty and authenticity, stating that he is not here to fabricate stories or lie to his partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me check it from the top
Let me start from the beginning and assess the situation.
If I attract you, you react to me
If I appeal to you, you respond to me.
Everytime I ask her that, she answer that she naa look back
Whenever I ask her about being with me, she says she's not interested in the past.
No way
Absolutely not.
You wanna roll with a pro today then roll with Protoje
If you want to hang out with an expert today, then spend time with Protoje.
And roll this'dro for me
And smoke this marijuana joint for me.
Dunno what more to say
I don't have anything else to add.
It's Over-Diggy-D-O-S-E
It's finished and complete.
'Cause you already know wah mi deh pon girl
Because you already know what I'm about, girl.
Keep u Posh like Beckam's girl, take a second swirl
I want to keep you looking stylish like David Beckham's wife and take a moment to appreciate you.
'Cause if you check the case, have a sexy face
Because if you examine the situation, you have an attractive face.
Run-her-up inna me room like second place
Bring her to my room like she's the second best in a race.
Me skip first and second base but no mi nuh deh pon haste
I skip the first steps in a relationship, but I'm not in a hurry.
And her next man deh pon di case so make me have a second please
And her ex-boyfriend is still around, so give me a moment, please.
Make him know weapon deh pon waist me say
Let him know that I'm armed.
So make me know if you deh pon that
So tell me if you're interested in that.
'Cause me focus and deh pon track
Because I'm focused and on the right path.
And me like when you deh pon top but me love when you deh pon knees
And I like when you're on top, but I love when you're on your knees.
When it gone too real you can deh pon please
When things get too intense, you can ask me to stop.
God damn! The flow deh pon ease
Oh my God! The flow is effortless.
You know like the mind get more time it deh pon trees
You know, sometimes the mind needs to relax and get lost in thought like being in the trees.
Have some big big dreams, never step on these
Have ambitious dreams and never let anyone hold you back.
Things will get cross like second t's so please
Things will get complicated, so please be patient.
I don't want my wife making my bed, I want her
I don't want my wife to do domestic chores like making the bed, I want her to
Making my blunt while she laying in bed
Roll my marijuana joint while lying in bed.
While I'm taking a med
While I'm taking medication.
Thinking ahead, thinking bout the future
Thinking about and planning for the future.
If she can bring these youths you know
If she can bear our children, you know.
When mi speak mi tell the truth nuh
When I speak, I always tell the truth.
Naa go fabricate it baby girl just fi suit you
I won't make up stories, baby girl, just to please you.
Mek me know if it's cool to you
Let me know if it's acceptable to you.
If it's new to you
If it's something you're not familiar with.
Follow Diggy pon the route you know
Follow Diggy on the path you know.
Writer(s): Donovan Keith Bennett Copyright: Greensleeves Publishing Limited
Contributed by Connor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Deivid
Let me check it from the top
If I attract you, you react to me
Everytime I ask her that, she answer that she naa look back
No way
You wanna roll with a pro today then roll with Protoje
And roll this'dro for me
Dunno what more to say
It's Over-Diggy-D-O-S-E
'Cause you already know wah mi deh pon girl
Keep u Posh like Beckam's girl, take a second swirl
'Cause if you check the case, have a sexy face
Run-her-up inna me room like second place
Me skip first and second base but no mi nuh deh pon haste
And her next man deh pon di case so make me have a second please
Make him know weapon deh pon waist me say
So make me know if you deh pon that
'Cause me focus and deh pon track
And me like when you deh pon top but me love when you deh pon knees
When it gone too real you can deh pon please
God damn! The flow deh pon ease
You know like the mind get more time it deh pon trees
Have some big big dreams, never step on these
Things will get cross like second t's so please
I don't want my wife making my bed, I want her
Making my blunt while she laying in bed
While I'm taking a med
Thinking ahead, thinking bout the future
If she can bring these youths you know
When mi speak mi tell the truth nuh
Naa go fabricate it baby girl just fi suit you
Mek me know if it's cool to you
If it's new to you
Follow Diggy pon the route you know
Ras Slywayne
February 2020 and still a blast this 🔥🔥🔥🔥 chune!
Joymee Arado
November 2019 and still the same vibes listening to this
avadeen francis
Artistry at its best
Tori Sanity
Still on replay 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Who’s still listening in 2018 ♥️??
sean sampson
Ayee right here
Roberson Hood
2019...☀️💚🖤💛
Daniel Klinkhammer
Protoje is the best <3
felix kb
Minor Riddim is so underrated
Hybrid Tafari
Wanna roll with a pro today??
Massive tune!!!
MIWPuppet95
listening to this while high :)