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
Seven Year Itch
Protoje Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's love for the music
Journey on ma music
I've been doing this for seven years
I never make a dollar never make a change
I say naa go give up naa go ever slow
You know say me a hold it down
I've been doing this for seven years
I never make a dollar never make a change
I say naa go give up naa go ever slow
You know say me a hold it down for Evalfow
This is my seven year wish and
Then I'm coming home
This is my seven year wish and
Then I'm coming home
This is my seven year wish and
Then I'm coming home
This is my seven year wish I said
I'm coming home.
Me mother send mi go school for 17 years
Me come out and turn dj it no seem fair
What you seeing here, this is a product
Of two college one diploma no degree
Nuh know the meaning, coming out in the world and
Everything you learn in a the past five years
It naa go help you fi earn nuttin
What's the word cousin, you help your cousin
So every word that you heard me with worth suppin
Every burden them hurl at me
Hurdle so flawless dem naaa listen
Mi a miss out pon lift up mi team
A watch Gong and Stephen Marley a live out the
Dream you know
But Welcome to Jamrock did lift my feeling up
I listen it still I listen it keen you know
Then mi decide say mi music can meaningful
Take a look at my life and I clean it up
My herb customers calling me
But now my music demanding me
This is my seven year itch
Proto to Most Oje to some
Call him diggy the only son the sister young
The mommy legendary as around
Ask fi a pound and them will tell you who did
Carry macka a town
Ask Marshall ask him, and if u get a
Glimpse a Sean Paul
Beg unuh ask him, how it feel fi go three time plat
Than ask Shaggy cause him did move three times that
Me, no haffi feel like that
Just want retire to a seaside lot
Leff all the war and bring the peace rigt back
Never beein in love until now just
Just lost it wondering how
I woulda get through it, Like customs with herb
And no mi no accustom to hurt
But I got accustomed to her
And her she accustomed to me
Addicted to the thing weh addicted to she
Empress far and she calling me
But now my music demanding me
This is my Seven Year Itch.
In the song "Seven Year Itch" by Protoje, he expresses his love for music and his determination to pursue it despite not making a lot of money from it for seven years. He explains that he has been doing music for seven years and hasn't made a single dollar or any significant progress, but he is determined to continue striving. Protoje talks about how he was sent to school for 17 years, but after graduating, he became a DJ, which he doesn't think is fair. He emphasizes that his music has meaning and is more than just a beat. Protoje also talks about a past relationship where he became accustomed to the person, but his music's current demands have made it challenging to maintain. He hopes to retire by the beach with peace and love.
"Seven Year Itch" is a compelling song in which Protoje expresses his passion for music and his desire to make meaningful music. He emphasizes that the journey to success is often long and challenging, but with persistence and determination, success can be achieved. This song shows that success in music is not all about making money or fame but also about presenting the world with something to remember. Protoje's lyrics convey a message of encouragement to those who are pursuing their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Blessings for my music
I am grateful for the success of my music
It's love for the music
My love for music is the driving force behind my efforts
Journey on ma music
I will continue to embark on my musical journey
I've been doing this for seven years
I have been pursuing my music career for seven years
I never make a dollar never make a change
I have not yet achieved financial success in my career
I say naa go give up naa go ever slow
I will not give up or slow down my efforts
You know say me a hold it down
I will continue to persist in my pursuits
For seven more
I will continue on this path for seven more years
This is my seven year wish and
I have a wish for my career at the end of seven years
Then I'm coming home
I plan to return home after achieving my goals
Me mother send mi go school for 17 years
My mother supported my education for 17 years
Me come out and turn dj it no seem fair
It may seem unfair that I pursued a different career path after all my education
What you seeing here, this is a product
I am the result of my background and experiences
Of two college one diploma no degree
Despite finishing college, I do not have a degree
Nuh know the meaning,
It is unclear how my education has helped me in my career
coming out in the world and
Moving into the workforce
Everything you learn in a the past five years
What I learned in the last five years has not been valuable for my career
It naa go help you fi earn nuttin
It will not help me earn anything
What's the word cousin, you help your cousin
We should support our family
So every word that you heard me with worth suppin
Every word I speak has value
Every burden them hurl at me
I have faced many challenges and criticisms
Hurdle so flawless dem naaa listen
My achievements go unnoticed despite overcoming many obstacles
Mi a miss out pon lift up mi team
I have missed the opportunity to support my team
A watch Gong and Stephen Marley a live out the
I have been watching the success of other artists like Gong and Stephen Marley
Dream you know
Pursuing their dreams
But Welcome to Jamrock did lift my feeling up
Welcome to Jamrock inspired me
I listen it still I listen it keen you know
I still listen to it closely
Then mi decide say mi music can meaningful
I realized that my music can be meaningful too
Take a look at my life and I clean it up
I cleaned up my life to better pursue my music career
My herb customers calling me
Despite my career change, my previous customers still reach out to me
But now my music demanding me
My attention and passion is with my music career
Proto to Most Oje to some
I am known as Proto to most, Oje to some
Call him diggy the only son the sister young
People call me Diggy, the youngest of my siblings
The mommy legendary as around
My mother is highly regarded in our community
Ask fi a pound and them will tell you who did
Ask anyone for a favor and they will tell you who to go to (my mother)
Carry macka a town
Popular artist Macka was often carried around by me
Ask Marshall ask him, and if u get a
Ask Marshall and he will confirm my reputation
Glimpse a Sean Paul
If you see Sean Paul
Beg unuh ask him, how it feel fi go three time plat
Ask him how it feels to have three platinum albums
Than ask Shaggy cause him did move three times that
Then ask Shaggy, who has moved three times more than Sean Paul
Me, no haffi feel like that
I do not need to compare myself to them
Just want retire to a seaside lot
My goal is to retire comfortably by the sea
Leff all the war and bring the peace rigt back
I want to leave behind conflict and promote peace
Never beein in love until now just
I have never been in love before
Just lost it wondering how
But now that I have found love, I am unsure how to handle it
I woulda get through it, Like customs with herb
I need to figure out how to balance my love life and music career, like getting customs to approve my herbs
And no mi no accustom to hurt
I am not used to being hurt by love
But I got accustomed to her
But I am getting used to being with her
And her she accustomed to me
She is getting used to being with me too
Addicted to the thing weh addicted to she
We are both addicted to each other
Empress far and she calling me
My lover is calling me
But now my music demanding me
Despite my love life, my music career still demands my attention
This is my Seven Year Itch.
This is my seven year milestone in my music career
Contributed by Callie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pat Ribera
Jus started listening to protoje and not gunna lie. Im loving every second of it
Trader
One of my favourite.... love it
EXTRAVIEWS 876
just graduated from UNI, this song so special, means everything to me, teach me a lot ! even when things get tuff you still haffi keep holding it down !
Sam Crook
The vibes unreal bro
sloththebountyhunter
One of the realest songs ever made
Amal Mcgaw
Had to come back here 💿🔥🔥 hard work definitely pay off now king ☀️👑🔥
Daniel Jullien
He's been very talented ever since!
Miro Mudrik
Why is this album unavailable on vinyl? :(
So. fi So Kaissa
In order & according to each One, every Good tings will take Time_______.
like an Open Book the 7 year itch tell you that
Honorable - Love & Gratitude________.
N.F.E TV
Music !