Before joining forces, Sly was drumming for the Skin Flesh and Bones band and Robbie was the bass player for the Aggrovators. They also used to play in clubs (Sly at Tit for Tat and Robbie at Evil People), and used to check each other out. They found out that they had the same ideas about music in general (both are huge fans of Motown, Philly Sound and Country & Western, in addition to Jamaican legendary labels Studio One and Treasure Isle), and Reggae production in particular. They first worked together for the newly created Channel One label and studio, operated by the Hoo Kim brothers.
They changed the face of Reggae several times: in 1976, they introduced a harder beat called "Rockers", which quickly replaced the then prevalent "One drop" style, then introduced the "rub a dub" sound in the early 1980s. Sly and Robbie were important in developing the trend towards computer assisted music and programmming in the mid 1980s.
Also in the early 1990s they introduced a novel sound with the hits "Bam Bam" and "Murder She Wrote" by Chaka Demus & Pliers. Chaka Demus' rough DJ vocals were matched with Pliers' sweet, melodic, soul-influenced singing; this unusal vocal pairing was championed by Sly and Robbie. This formula has since been used with great success by the likes of Shaggy (who teamed up with singers Rayvon or Rik Rok), Shabba Ranks, Maxi Priest and others. This predates and may have influenced the recent trend in some rap music where a song's "hook" or chorus is sung by a guest, while the verses are rapped.
Sly & Robbie continued to innovate during the 1990s and early 2000s, fusing Dancehall and Latin music sounds (La Trenggae) or Dancehall and hip hop/R&B (their 2004 Big Up riddim). In 2001, their "Strip to the Bone" album paired them with electro producer Howie B, and together they explored new dub territories.
Far from restricting themselves to the Jamaican scene, (in which they have played for virtually every prominent Jamaican musical artist from Beenie Man to Sean Paul to Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and others), they have been one of pop music's most sought after rhythm sections, playing for and producing superstars such as Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones, Grace Jones, Joan Armatrading, Gilberto Gil, Joe Cocker, Serge Gainsbourg, Simply Red, Michael Franti, Sting, Khaled, Tricky, Doug E. Fresh, Carlos Santana, Sinéad O'Connor, and many more.
They have produced No Doubt's hits 'Hey Baby' and 'Underneath it All'. They also produced some tracks off Suggs first album 'The Lone Ranger' including the hit version of Cecilia featuring Louchie Lou and Michie One which sold over 500,000 copies in the UK alone.
After 30 years together, they still tour and record relentlessly. Their last US tour was with Tony Rebel and Half Pint, during the Spring of 2005. During the Summer of 2005, they toured Europe and the UK with Bunny Rugs, lead singer for Third World. During the Fall of 2005 they were on the road with Sinéad O'Connor and in August 2006, they appeared with Don Carlos at the Reggae on the River Festival, while they backed Cherine and Queen Ifrica in 2007 and early 2008.
They have produced several new Jamaican artists for their TAXI label, including Kibaki, Mynimoo and Zennlocc, as well as confirmed superstars such as Elephant Man. They have also recorded with their original group, the Revolutionaries, to produce Horace Andy's new album "Livin' it up" (2007). They recently signed the lovers rock sensation Bitty McLean to their TAXI label and are planning to release "MOVIN' ON", Bitty's new album, during 2008.
http://www.myspace.com/slyandrobbie
Sly & Robbie on iTunes
Bank Job
Sly & Robbie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jamaican
Freaky, freaky
Get with it
We're hit all the major cities and become a pop act
And no-one will even know, that some of us are black
We'll break all kinds of records;? make the man will remember me?
Oh in an exseckutive world, with diamond rings on all our feet
We are the only ones that fall in love
Dogs don't do it, cats don't do it
We are the only ones that fall in love
Bank job (Bank job)
I'm having mixed emotions about these feelings that I'm having (Feelings that I'm having)
Feeling so unsure about the product that I'm selling (Bank job)
Trying to keep my shape while my body? wins and wanes?
By believing in myself? as the least that makes your help?
And by believing in it all the kids are gonna learn
Like cash on the street makes a living hard to earn
With a smile on my face and a dollar in my hand
You're my only way out is if you let me be your band
Here we go,?, dead to ill, ill,?, kill bill makes a,?, Jack, Jack, dead to Gill, Gill
?, freak, freak, rock for yo, yo, most with the rhymer,? most worth the fun, fun, bust? with the rhythm
Chuck, Chuck, some, some, L kill Jill, what's your deal, deal, but A to bugger Lil went down to nil, nil
Dowser, check, check, bump that freak, freak, rock, rock, click, click, it's? Oprah Winfrey?, hop, hop, hip pop
Don't do don't, don't, rock to the rhythm and you? sink your rope, rope?
We're hit all the major cities and become a pop act
And no-one will even know, that some of us are black
We'll break all kinds of records;? make the man will remember me?
Oh in an exseckutive world, with diamond rings on all our feet
What you do, old freak, freak, oh, oh, chic, chic, unless this part to the party is? cheap, cheap?
You keep on?, to a dip, dip, oh baby doll now don't the stiff lips, slip, slip, rock, rock
Don't dare stop, perform to the riddle that I hit the top, yep baby doll, oh me oh my, the groove is in the rhythm
Really my, I tell you why, like the? of the plan, more def for men, poop to the rhythm that
Poop to the phonograph, old freak? and crew?, makes you wanna? la-la?, rock to rhythm, and stop of?
Mission control. attention death command, all checks, all clear
Mission control, control, control, control, control, control, control, control
The song "Bank Job" by Sly & Robbie is a funky and upbeat tune with a mixture of Jamaican and English lyrics. The song starts with a chorus repeating "bank job" followed by the line "get with it." The lyrics portray the desire to become a successful pop act, hitting all the major cities and breaking records. The desire to succeed becomes a priority over racial boundaries, as the lyrics state that "no one will even know, that some of us are black."
The second verse delves deeper into the mixed emotions of selling one's image to become successful. The lyrics suggest that confidence in oneself and belief in one's craft are essential to inspire children to follow in one's footsteps. The song continues with a fusion of infectious rhythms, playful adlibs, and a mix of slang terms. The song concludes with the repeated phrase "mission control" and "control."
Overall, the lyrics of "Bank Job" represent the desire for success and recognition in the music industry despite obstacles that may come your way. The song encourages believing in oneself and one's craft in overcoming these obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Bank job (Bank job, bank job)
Let's make a plan to rob a bank
Jamaican
We're from Jamaica
Freaky, freaky
We're unconventional and daring
Get with it
Join in on our plan
We're hit all the major cities and become a pop act
We're so successful, we'll be famous all over the world
And no-one will even know, that some of us are black
Our skin color won't matter in our success
We'll break all kinds of records;? make the man will remember me?
We'll surpass all previous achievements and make a huge impact in the industry
Oh in an exseckutive world, with diamond rings on all our feet
We'll be living a lavish lifestyle surrounded by wealth and luxury
Birds don't do it, bees don't do it
Only humans fall in love
We are the only ones that fall in love
As humans, we experience love
Dogs don't do it, cats don't do it
Only humans experience love
I'm having mixed emotions about these feelings that I'm having (Feelings that I'm having)
I don't know how to feel about this plan
Feeling so unsure about the product that I'm selling (Bank job)
I'm not sure if robbing a bank is the right thing to do
Trying to keep my shape while my body? wins and wanes?
Trying to maintain my confidence when I feel unsure
By believing in myself? as the least that makes your help?
I will rely on my own self-confidence rather than the encouragement of others
And by believing in it all the kids are gonna learn
Our actions will have a lasting impact on future generations
Like cash on the street makes a living hard to earn
Money doesn't come easy and we should be cautious about how we make it
With a smile on my face and a dollar in my hand
I will stay positive despite the uncertainty of our plan
You're my only way out is if you let me be your band
I need your help to carry out this plan
Here we go,?, dead to ill, ill,?, kill bill makes a,?, Jack, Jack, dead to Gill, Gill
Unknown
?, freak, freak, rock for yo, yo, most with the rhymer,? most worth the fun, fun, bust? with the rhythm
Unknown
Chuck, Chuck, some, some, L kill Jill, what's your deal, deal, but A to bugger Lil went down to nil, nil
Unknown
Dowser, check, check, bump that freak, freak, rock, rock, click, click, it's? Oprah Winfrey?, hop, hop, hip pop
Unknown
Don't do don't, don't, rock to the rhythm and you? sink your rope, rope?
Unknown
What you do, old freak, freak, oh, oh, chic, chic, unless this part to the party is? cheap, cheap?
Unknown
You keep on?, to a dip, dip, oh baby doll now don't the stiff lips, slip, slip, rock, rock
Unknown
Don't dare stop, perform to the riddle that I hit the top, yep baby doll, oh me oh my, the groove is in the rhythm
Unknown
Really my, I tell you why, like the? of the plan, more def for men, poop to the rhythm that
Unknown
Poop to the phonograph, old freak? and crew?, makes you wanna? la-la?, rock to rhythm, and stop of?
Unknown
Mission control. attention death command, all checks, all clear
Unknown
Mission control, control, control, control, control, control, control, control
Unknown
Contributed by Sadie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.