Sugar Minott spent his youth hanging around the legendary "Studio 1" listening to the artists that recorded there, such as Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, The Heptones, Dennis Brown and others.
Sugar began his career with the formation of the African Brothers, along with Tony Tuff and Derek Howard (and later Triston Palmer) in the early 1970s. The African Brothers were a harmonious roots act, of which Sugar became the most popular member. By 1979, Sugar had been invited by Studio 1 to record a solo album.
When recording at Studio 1, he chose not to use a backing band as in conventional recording, but elected to sing over instrumental versions of old Studio 1 classics. This is considered to be the birth of "dancehall," which lead to countless artists making new hits out of old classics, a tradition that continues in Jamaica today.
Sugar was also well-regarded for hard work on his Youthman Promotion sound system and Black Roots & Youthman Promotion labels into the 1980s, which brought forth such artists as Tenor Saw, Nitty Gritty, Yami Bolo, Junior Reid, Tony Rebel, Garnett Silk, and many more to the industry. Up until his death, he was still working with young artists both in Jamaica and the US, including his daughter Pashon Minott.
Oh Mr DC
Sugar Minott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And time so tough.
Time so rough.
Coming from the country with my bag of collie,
I walk up on a DC, him want fe hold me.
Don't you run now youthman, you won't get away.
If you slip you will die,
For I've got my clip, stuck right in my hip, now.
Whoa-oa-oa DC.
Don't you take my ishen!
Whoa-oa-oa DC.
Don't you touch my collie!
Whoa-oa-oa DC.
The children crying for hunger and I-man a suffer,
So you've got to see, it's just collie that feeds me.
Fifty cents a stick, and a dollar a quarter,
That's what keeps me alive, me and my two kids and wife.
So give me a chance sir, a make me gwaan little faster,
Just let me pass through, and Jah will bless you.
Whoa-oa-oa DC.
Don't you take my ishen!
Whoa-oa-oa DC.
Don't you touch my collie!
No, for the time is so rough, I gotta hustle, yea.
I got the great sensimilla, and the good lambsbread, ya.
A little?? and a little??
You dread them waiting in the city,
We go lick it to the gritty.
So please Mister DC, won't you have some pity?
Whoa-oa-oa DC.
Don't you take my ishen!
Whoa-oa-oa DC.
Don't you touch my collie!
Whoa-oa-oa DC.
Don't you touch my ishen!
Whoa-oa-oa DC.
Don't you touch my collie!
No, no, no, no, Mister DC.
Sugar Minott's song "Oh Mr DC" is a reggae track that captures the struggle of the poor in the ghetto who live by selling marijuana to survive. The song is a plea to law enforcement officers, embodied by "Mr. DC," to have some mercy on the people who sell weed for a living. Sugar Minott speaks from personal experience, having grown up poor and struggling to survive. The lyrics begin by painting a picture of the rough and tough times in the ghetto, where people struggle to make ends meet by any means necessary. Sugar Minott takes us on a journey from the countryside, carrying his bag of collie (slang for marijuana), to being stopped and threatened by Mr. DC.
The song appeals to the emotions of the listener, as Sugar Minott describes the harsh realities of life in the ghetto. He portrays the desperation of the poor who are forced to resort to selling marijuana to feed their families. Sugar Minott pleads with Mr. DC to have some compassion for the people who sell marijuana. He pleas not to touch his collie or ishen (slang for marijuana), which is the only source of income to help him and his family survive. The song ends with Sugar Minott stating that the times are too rough that he must hustle.
Line by Line Meaning
Time so rough,
Times are tough and difficult.
And time so tough.
The situation is even more challenging and strenuous.
Coming from the country with my bag of collie,
The singer arrives from the countryside carrying marijuana.
I walk up on a DC, him want fe hold me.
The singer encounters a police officer who intends to arrest him.
Don't you run now youthman, you won't get away.
The police officer warns the singer not to attempt to flee.
If you slip you will die,
The police will not hesitate to use deadly force.
And if you run you can't hide.
Escaping on foot is futile with a police officer in pursuit.
For I've got my clip, stuck right in my hip, now.
The police officer is armed and ready to use his weapon.
Whoa-oa-oa DC.
The singer addresses the police officer and expresses his frustration.
Don't you take my ishen!
The singer pleads with the police officer not to confiscate his marijuana.
Don't you touch my collie!
The singer also asks the officer not to harm or confiscate his possessions.
The children crying for hunger and I-man a suffer,
The singer is struggling to provide for his family and feels their pain.
So you've got to see, it's just collie that feeds me.
Marijuana is the singer's source of income and sustenance for himself and his family.
Fifty cents a stick, and a dollar a quarter,
The prices for different amounts of marijuana that the singer sells.
That's what keeps me alive, me and my two kids and wife.
The singer depends on selling marijuana to provide for himself and his family.
So give me a chance sir, a make me gwaan little faster,
The singer asks the police officer to let him go so he can continue to sell marijuana and make money for his family.
Just let me pass through, and Jah will bless you.
The singer promises that if the police officer lets him go, he will be rewarded by the divine.
No, for the time is so rough, I gotta hustle, yea.
The singer explains that due to tough times, he has to resort to hustling to provide for his family.
I got the great sensimilla, and the good lambsbread, ya.
The singer is selling high-quality marijuana products.
A little?? and a little??
The singer mentions other substances he may be selling, but the words are hard to make out.
You dread them waiting in the city,
People in the city are eager to purchase marijuana from the singer.
We go lick it to the gritty.
The singer and his customers will consume marijuana until the very end of it.
So please Mister DC, won't you have some pity?
The singer begs the police officer to show some empathy and let him continue his way.
No, no, no, no, Mister DC.
The singer repeats his plea, refusing to take no for an answer.
Contributed by Claire E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sexyshaki
Dedicating this song to my dad Michael beckford...one of his favorite song R.I.P Daddy I miss u so much.😔
@petercameron5995
Daddy had the best taste !!!!
@petercameron5995
God bless his soul, we all meet them again when we die and go back home, don’t be scared my brother , we are only here to experience suffering to mould our eternal soul. Let’s all gwarn a lickle faster haha … towards love and unity xxx
@petercameron5995
Lost my mummy recently too btw, i understand the pain n I promise it gets easier. Try to live a healthy and righteous life in their memory until you meet them again 😊
@Homeymoto
RIP Pops!
@caseymacdonald878
😊
@rojanscarlett521
Pops used to listen music like this every Sunday when Bob Clarke played on Irie FM. Good days
@rajivmorris5657
Buck up pon a dc. Hits never age general
@delroygardner8325
Was there a DJ called des Mitchell also ?
@arsenalforlife5389
One of my favorites reggae song love it big up Mr Minott jus turn 29 today