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.
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Under Arrest
Sly & Robbie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't lock me up
[VERSE 1]
Well, I was kickin it on the corner somewhere out west
Lookin fly like I do because I am well dressed
When a cop stepped to me like a man possessed
I told him, "Pardon me, Mr. Officer, but what's the charge?
Is it against the law to max out and live large?"
He told me, "Keep quiet, did you hear what I said?
You keep runnin your mouth, and I'ma bust your head"
So he slapped the cuffs on me behind my back
A couple of friends walked up and aksed me, "What's up, black?"
Well, I couldn't say a word, this is really a shock
Cause I was known as the good guy on the block
We rolled to the station in the black and white
Goin through stop signs and traffic lights
And I thought, this must be the good Lord's test
An innocent man found guilty, placed under arrest
Don't lock me up [x3]
[VERSE 2]
When we got to the station we screeched to a halt
I said, "Whatever you think I did, my man, it ain't my fault"
I walked inside, feelin nervous and tense
When I was led downstairs for some pictures and prints
I posed from every angle, the pictures were taken
I tried to tell the cop about the mistake he was makin
But fingerprints were next, so I followed the plan
I took off my three-finger and I gave em my hand
I was real puzzled about the situation
No charge given, and no explanation
Subject to the law and its intimidation
Not to mention my own humiliation
The pieces didn't fit, it just didn't connect
Then I was told, "You're bein held as a rape suspect"
I was speechless, my head just fell to the chest
An innocent man found guilty, placed under arrest
Don't lock me up [x3]
[VERSE 3]
Sittin in a jail cell, what a crazy tale, hell
Seconds seem like hours and the minutes seem like days, well
I'm tryin to keep my wits about me, but
A man that doesn't have his dignity, will soon be a nut
Now I thought you're innocent until your guilt is proven
Locked behind bars, young man ain't movin
Like a newborn chick thrown out of the nest
An innocent man found guilty, placed under arrest
[BREAK]
[VERSE 3]
So I sat in the cell, sayin, 'Why?' and 'How?'
And what would my mother say if she could see me now?
As a rape suspect, and how could it be?
Cause all the women that I slept with, wanted to sleep with me
Just then the door opened, someone else got done
To my surprise it was the brother KRS-One
He said they snatched him up from out of his crib
Pulled out the night stick and nearly busted a rib
We spoke for a minute, then our names were called
Suspects for a line-up against the wall
Where they singled out a brother who was wearin a hat
And it wasn't me or Kris, so I was happy with that
Then I thought for a second: these cops got nerve!
They got the suspect, but justice was not served
Cause they was lookin for a brother who was 5 ft. 3
Well, I'm 6 ft. 1, and Kris is taller than me
So I went to my lawyer, asked if I could sue
He said, "I'm sorry, Young, there ain't a damn thing you can do
And it's a shame what happened, it's really a sin
The guy's short and fat and you're tall and thin"
Now I couldn't help feelin like I just got jerked
And the problem is that's how the system works
Black people need justice, we continue the quest
An innocent man found guilty placed under arrrest
The lyrics to Sly & Robbie's "Under Arrest" describe the experience of being arrested and wrongfully accused of a crime. The singer describes a situation where he is approached by a cop and arrested without knowing what he has done wrong. He is taken to the station where he is fingerprinted and accused of rape. Despite his protestations of innocence, he is placed in a cell, where he begins to feel hopeless and helpless. He is eventually released after being cleared in a lineup, but the experience has left him feeling violated and oppressed by a system that does not serve him.
The song is a frank commentary on the racial injustice pervasive in the United States in the 1990s, particularly in the way that the justice system deals with black people. The singer's experience of being accused of a crime he did not commit is indicative of the way that black people are often profiled and targeted by police, leading to wrongful arrests and convictions. The song also suggests that the justice system is rigged against black people, with the lawyer telling the singer that there is nothing he can do to fight the system.
The lyrics to "Under Arrest" highlight the need for justice and equality for black people in America. The song's powerful message is delivered through a mix of reggae and hip hop, blending the traditional rhythms of Sly & Robbie with the socially conscious lyrics of Young MC. Through its use of powerful imagery and poignant storytelling, "Under Arrest" stands as a stirring call to arms for anyone who has ever felt oppressed or marginalized by a society that does not value their humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I was kickin it on the corner somewhere out west
The singer was hanging out on the street corner in the western part of the city
Lookin fly like I do because I am well dressed
The singer dressed in a fashionable way to look good
When a cop stepped to me like a man possessed
An aggressive police officer approached the singer
And said, 'Get ready to hear your rights because you're under arrest'
The artist was told that he was being arrested and read his rights
I told him, 'Pardon me, Mr. Officer, but what's the charge?
The artist asked the police officer about the charges against him
Is it against the law to max out and live large?'
The singer questioned whether it was illegal to live a luxurious lifestyle
He told me, 'Keep quiet, did you hear what I said?
The police officer demanded that the singer stop talking
You keep runnin your mouth, and I'ma bust your head'
The officer threatened to physically harm the artist if he continued talking
A couple of friends walked up and aksed me, 'What's up, black?'
The artist's friends approached him and asked him what was going on
Well, I couldn't say a word, this is really a shock
The artist was speechless and surprised by the situation
Goin through stop signs and traffic lights
The police car drove quickly and disregarded traffic laws
An innocent man found guilty, placed under arrest
The artist was arrested despite being innocent
When we got to the station we screeched to a halt
The police car arrived quickly and stopped abruptly at the station
I walked inside, feelin nervous and tense
The singer was nervous and anxious when entering the police station
When I was led downstairs for some pictures and prints
The singer was taken downstairs to have his pictures and fingerprints taken
No charge given, and no explanation
The artist received no explanation or charges for his arrest
Sittin in a jail cell, what a crazy tale, hell
The artist was in a jail cell, experiencing a wild and unpleasant story
A man that doesn't have his dignity, will soon be a nut
The singer believed that losing one's dignity can cause one to go insane
An innocent man found guilty, placed under arrest
The singer was falsely convicted and arrested
He said they snatched him up from out of his crib
KRS-One was taken by the police from his residence
They got the suspect, but justice was not served
The police arrested someone, but did not serve justice because they had the wrong person
So I went to my lawyer, asked if I could sue
The artist sought legal advice on whether he could file a lawsuit
'I'm sorry, Young, there ain't a damn thing you can do
The singer's lawyer told him that he could not do anything about the situation
And the problem is that's how the system works
The artist criticized how the justice system operates
An innocent man found guilty, placed under arrrest
The singer reiterated that he was innocent but was still arrested
Contributed by Callie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
elvispreseli
Great post. Young MC on vocals.