Richie Campbell (born 1986) is the artistic name for the portuguese Reggae … Read Full Bio ↴Richie Campbell (born 1986) is the artistic name for the portuguese Reggae / Dancehall singer Ricardo Ventura da Costa.

He started in the band Stepacide in 2010 and he was a part of the project No Joke Sound System. He eventually left both of the projects in 2010 so he could focus on his solo career. In 2010 he debuted his first album My path, available for free download and he released an EP in the 6th Optimus Discos series, run by Henrique Amaro.

He became famous with the album "Focused", of which the track "That's How We Roll" stood out and was nominated to the 2013 Golden Globes

In 2012 he began the Tour Focused. His last tour concerts were in Porto and Lisbon, where he recorded Live at Campo Pequeno, which was released in 2014, in Cd and DVD.

On the 4th May 2015, he released, without a previous announcement, his album "In the 876", which reached the ITunes top of sales in only 2 hours. This album was recorded in Kingston and Lisbon. Its name is a reference to the Jamaican phone indicative.

Richie Campbell works and sings live with his band called The 911 Band, which was considered as the best "backing band" reggae in Portugal, and is consisted by elements of bands as One Sun Tribe, Kussondulola, (One Love Family), etc.

Whoa
Richie Campbell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh yeah
Yes a Richie Campbell come fi defend it again,
Striaght from Portugal, FrontLine!

Chorus:
Hear me sing whoa,
Too much gunshot a buss and dem gangsta dem bwoy self destroy
Hear me sing whoa,

When we a tell dem seh fi stop move like greeks that a run up in troy
So me sing whoa
Magazine dem a run up in the ghetto and dem replace the toy
So me whoa

Nuh badda fi press nuh gun fi come a ja
Just tell the yutes a gully that you come fi buy di ak
And mek sure seh yuh notice dem nuh have nuh food a belly
Cause Marley said your hungry then your trigger finger itchy

You angry man chant
Tired fi see mother a ball man cant
So from yuh burn dem dutty ways chant whoa
Cause dem fi know we nah go stand fi see our children die outta road no more.

Chorus

Me see seh dem a innocent
But still cant afford fi pay dem own judgement
Dem get arrested and leave the baby mom pregnant
How him fi work when him supposed to be a student

So me sing uuuh
Baby mother struggling !!!!
Bun out all dem battling
Weeeh want me kids fi see tomorrow
Tired of the pain and sorrow

Chorus

Overall Meaning

The song "Whoa" by Richie Campbell is a powerful message of social justice and raising awareness of the impact of gun violence in Jamaica. The song begins with Campbell introducing himself and his mission to defend the marginalized communities from the threat of violence. The chorus of the song emphasizes the need to put an end to gun violence, which is causing destruction and devastation in the community. Campbell spells out the negative effects of gun violence and how it is impacting the well-being of the Jamaican people. He calls on everyone to stand up and make a change.

The first verse of the song is a critique of the gun culture that has become prevalent in Jamaica. Campbell urges the youth not to resort to violent means to solve their problems. Instead, he emphasizes the need to address the root causes of the problems and find a peaceful resolution. The second verse calls for an end to poverty and hunger, which is fueling the cycle of violence in the community. Campbell also highlights the role of education in breaking the cycle of violence and poverty.

Overall, "Whoa" is a song that is both uplifting and empowering. It urges people to come together and take action against gun violence and to create a better future for their children. The song is a reminder that everyone has a role to play in promoting peace and social justice.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh yeah
Richie Campbell introduces himself and his mission in this song with an exclamation of enthusiasm.

Yes a Richie Campbell come fi defend it again, Striaght from Portugal, FrontLine!
Campbell affirms that he has come to defend his cause once more, and represents Portugal's FrontLine in this effort.

Hear me sing whoa, Too much gunshot a buss and dem gangsta dem bwoy self destroy
Campbell laments the excessive use of firearms and how it leads to the destruction of the very individuals that wield them.

Hear me sing whoa, When we a tell dem seh fi stop move like greeks that a run up in troy
Campbell implores those involved in gang and gun violence to stop and listen, to heed the warning calls, and not to disregard them like the Greeks did when they attacked Troy.

So me sing whoa Magazine dem a run up in the ghetto and dem replace the toy So me whoa
Campbell criticizes the media's portrayal of the ghetto and how they seem to replace real issues with sensationalized stories, which further promote stereotypes and hinder progress.

Nuh badda fi press nuh gun fi come a ja, Just tell the yutes a gully that you come fi buy di ak, And mek sure seh yuh notice dem nuh have nuh food a belly, Cause Marley said your hungry then your trigger finger itchy
Campbell advises against using guns as a means to solve problems, instead, he suggests that those who want to purchase guns should offer assistance to the needy in order to eliminate desperation, hunger, and consequently, the need for guns.

You angry man chant, Tired fi see mother a ball man cant, So from yuh burn dem dutty ways chant whoa, Cause dem fi know we nah go stand fi see our children die outta road no more.
Campbell expresses his anger towards those who produce the type of society that allows mothers to cry over their dying sons in the streets. He calls for the end of such behavior and a stand against unnecessary violence.

Me see seh dem a innocent, But still cant afford fi pay dem own judgement, Dem get arrested and leave the baby mom pregnant, How him fi work when him supposed to be a student
Campbell notes how the system often wrongfully accuses and imprisons individuals who cannot even afford to pay for their own court fees, eventually causing a ripple effect of negative social problems and hardships.

So me sing uuuh, Baby mother struggling !!!!, Bun out all dem battling, Weeeh want me kids fi see tomorrow, Tired of the pain and sorrow
Campbell sings about the difficult problems faced by single mothers, and expresses his desire for a society that upholds values of peace, love, and progress in order for kids to have hope for a brighter future.

Contributed by Alaina G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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