T.O.K., the Jamaican dancehall group, was created 1996 by Xavier Davidson,… Read Full Bio ↴T.O.K., the Jamaican dancehall group, was created 1996 by Xavier Davidson, Craig Thompson, Alistaire McCalla and Roshaun Clarke. They were best known för hits as 'Footprints', 'Gal You Ah Lead', 'Chi Chi Man', 'Eagles Cry', 'Guardian Angel', 'Money 2 Burn', 'Hey Ladies', 'The Voice', and 'I Believe'. Described by the New York Times as "the world's greatest dancehall boy band", T.O.K. were popular over a decade. The success was partly a result of their different voices. Their first album, My Crew, My Dawgs (2001), made Top 10 in the Billboard Top Reggae Album Chart and got platinum status in Japan. Their song "Chi Chi Man" was controversial for its lyrics about murdering gays. T.O.K. refused to sign the Reggae Compassion Act. In 2015 the group split up.
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1. Alistaire Mc Calla, Roshaun Clarke, Craig Thompson and Xavier Davidson make up the Jamaican dancehall crew, known as T.O.K (a.k.a Touch Of Klass).

Straight from Jamaica, T.O.K has emerged as dancehall's hottest foursome. The band, made up of Alex, Flexx, Bay-C and Craigy T, have shown their true strength with their sophomore VP Records set.

The group started out in high school doing R'n'B covers, and it was only a matter of time before they began to blend hardcore dancehall into their music to create their trademark style. After building a fan base on their home island, the group was recognised in the U.S. with their 2001 debut album "My Crew, My Dawgs," which peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart.

With singles such as "Gal You Ah Lead", T.O.K has become a crossover hit. The single has re-introduced the group to fans both stateside and abroad, as the world's current fascination with dancehall continues to grow. T.O.K sees it as their duty to "continue doing more quality songs that everybody loves to sing because more eyes are on us and the whole dancehall fraternity on a whole," says Flexx. "We hope that our fans will see that we have grown as artists," says Bay-C. "We will be around for a very long time."

Yardie
T.O.K. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All massive and crew,
this is washroom and T.O.K
In musical combination
Rock the nation yo

When yuh see mi yuh see soundclash,
Gal a a bubble pon dem head top
and you see nuff cash, money a dash pull up dat an yuh see Marley, Tosh Bunny Wailer, Isaacs, Bolt, Jimmy Cliff, Buju B, Tdot

Fresh, ever clean, swagger buck a wi dat,
Worldwide everygal a pree that

And when yuh see wi, yuh see Jungle, Spanish town, Grants Pen, Common uptown downtown, wi rep fi flag and.

From mi Clarks to mi felt yardie!
Anywhere yuh see mi mek a step man a yardie!
The gal dem love the Patois accent yardie!
And wi don't take disrespect, man a yardie!

Wi a step, when wi step, wi a step on a cheese, black man, gold chain, pocket full of greens
Anywhere wi go yuh doan have to ask who wi is, man a yardie!

Push up your han cah you're proud of weh yuh coming from.
Wi are de bess in anything wi do aso wi tan.
Inna the dance, gal a wine up and a position.
The thugs them inna the corner have the herbs them a crush in hand.
Ackee, steam fis, jerk chicken that we love fi nyam.
Real yard man there's still certain things that wi nuh fi nyam.
Yuh know we're full of swagger, real don dada,
Wi a set the trend the world of follow

From mi Clarks to mi felt yardie!
Anywhere yuh see mi mek ah step man a yardie!

The gal dem love the Patois accent yardie!
And we don't take disrespect, man a yardie!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics for "Yardie" by T.O.K. showcase the pride and confidence the group feels as Jamaican citizens. They mention various iconic figures from Jamaica such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Gregory Isaacs, Usain Bolt, Jimmy Cliff, and Buju Banton. T.O.K. also references different places in Jamaica like Jungle, Spanish Town, Grants Pen, and Common. They boast about their style and swagger, as well as their love for Jamaican food such as ackee, steam fish, and jerk chicken.

T.O.K. emphasizes their Jamaican heritage and identity, stating that they are "man a yardie," which is a Jamaican slang term that refers to someone from the country. They also assert that they do not tolerate disrespect, showing that they are proud and confident in their cultural identity. The song promotes a sense of pride in one's roots and the importance of staying true to oneself and one's culture.

Overall, "Yardie" serves as a celebration of Jamaican culture and identity. It highlights the richness of Jamaican music, food, and heritage, while also showcasing the pride and confidence that Jamaicans feel in their national identity.

Line by Line Meaning

All massive and crew, this is washroom and T.O.K In musical combination Rock the nation yo
We, as the group T.O.K, along with our co-artist Washroom, are here to create music that will rock the nation and bring people together.

When yuh see mi yuh see soundclash, Gal a a bubble pon dem head top and you see nuff cash, money a dash pull up dat an yuh see Marley, Tosh Bunny Wailer, Isaacs, Bolt, Jimmy Cliff, Buju B, Tdot Fresh, ever clean, swagger buck a wi dat, Worldwide everygal a pree that
When you see us, you see the art of soundclash, as well as confident women enjoying their time. We represent the flow of money, and if you look closely, you'll see the great Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Gregory Isaacs, Usain Bolt, Jimmy Cliff, Buju Banton and Toronto. Our style is always fresh and clean, and attracts women from all over the world.

And when yuh see wi, yuh see Jungle, Spanish town, Grants Pen, Common uptown downtown, wi rep fi flag and.
We're from various parts of Jamaica, such as Jungle, Spanish town, Grants Pen, and represent our country's flag wherever we go.

From mi Clarks to mi felt yardie! Anywhere yuh see mi mek a step man a yardie! The gal dem love the Patois accent yardie! And wi don't take disrespect, man a yardie!
From my Clarks shoes to my felt hat, I represent my yard (Jamaica) wherever I go. If you see me, I make an impression and let others know that I am a yardie. Women love the Jamaican Patois accent, and we don't tolerate disrespect.

Wi a step, when wi step, wi a step on a cheese, black man, gold chain, pocket full of greens Anywhere wi go yuh doan have to ask who wi is, man a yardie!
Wherever we step, it's with confidence and style. We walk over those who oppose us like they're nothing. We wear gold chains and carry money with us. We don't have to introduce ourselves because when we walk into a place, people automatically know we are yardies (Jamaicans).

Push up your han cah you're proud of weh yuh coming from. Wi are de bess in anything wi do aso wi tan. Inna the dance, gal a wine up and a position. The thugs them inna the corner have the herbs them a crush in hand. Ackee, steam fis, jerk chicken that we love fi nyam. Real yard man there's still certain things that wi nuh fi nyam. Yuh know we're full of swagger, real don dada, Wi a set the trend the world of follow
Raise your hand if you're proud of where you come from. As yardies, we excel in everything we do and remain confident. During dances, women are dancing in suggestive positions, while tough guys are smoking herbs in a corner. We love to eat ackee, steamed fish, and jerk chicken. However, there are certain things that true yardies shouldn't eat. We have great swagger and are true leaders who set the trends that the rest of the world follows.

Writer(s): Roshaun Clarke, Craig Thompson, Xavier Davidson, O. K. T., Alistaire Mccalla

Contributed by Oliver C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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