Tarrus Riley born Omar Riley in Bronx, New York, is a promising reggae sing… Read Full Bio ↴Tarrus Riley born Omar Riley in Bronx, New York, is a promising reggae singer and songwriter. His early years were spent in music studios and traveling the world with his dad. He picked up something special along the way. He is a songwriter of uncommon intelligence, breadth with a deft touch. His emotional and spiritual IQ matches his heartfelt sincerity. As a singer, his vocal style is reassuring. It conveys his every mood, concern and context eloquently. His songwriting is bold, yet definitive, passionate and authentic, without being strident or overly militant. Except for the same surname, Tarrus, while clearly not possessing his famous father's voice with its sharp edge, is content musically to create his own legacy.
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Riley is the son of veteran singer Jimmy Riley and nurse Lavern Tatham-Riley. He was born in the Bronx and grew up in South Florida. He began his musical career as a deejay working with Busta Rhymes, taking his birth sign as his stage name at his mother's suggestion (the spelling later changed from Taurus to Tarrus), and recorded his first singles for his father's Love & Promotion label. He was guided in his early career by Dean Fraser, who also performs in his band and produces much of Riley's work.
Riley has released three albums, Challenges (2004), Parables (2006), and Contagious (2009). Contagious features guest appearances from Damian Marley, Vybz Kartel, Etana, Konshens, Demarco and Duane Stephenson. His commercial breakthrough came in 2006 with the Parables album and the Jamaican number one single "She's Royal".

Riley was awarded the Reggae Runnins Caribbean Heritage Award at the 2009 HOT 105 FM Caribbean-American Heritage Awards. He was nominated in the Best Reggae category of the 2009 MOBO Awards.

System Set
Tarrus Riley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ah so dem system set, to keep the family out there fighting
While the slave masters rejoicing, yet we all are one skin
Dem system set, to keep the family out there fighting
And the slave masters rejoicing, yet we all are one skin

Hey out in the streets, yute dem hustlin and ah look food fi eat.
And Babylon control dem thinkin, put one against another and ah sharpen dem teeth.
It makes no sense, a fight for master were out and what leff?

Tell me who, how, what did profits, you? Ohhh

Dem system set, to keep the family out there fighting,
While the slave masters rejoicing, and we all are one skin.
Dem system set, to keep the family separated.
You plant seeds of war and hatred, yet we all are one skin.

In the race for a dollar, friends turn sour; even mama gainst dada.
And I heard that gun shot shower ova rice and flour; this we cant allow ah no.
It makes no sense, a fight for food; Id rather wait till harvest
Tell me who, how, what did profits, you? Ohhh

Dem system set, to keep the family out there fighting,
While the slave masters rejoicing, yet we all are one skin.
Dem system set, but I can never make a brother a victim,
To keep the slave master rejoicing, yet we all are one skin. Ohhh

hey out in the streets, yute dem hustlin and ah look food fi eat.
And Babylon control dem thinkin, put one against another and ah sharpen dem teeth
It makes no sense, a fight for master wear out, and what left?
Tell me who, how, what did profits, you? Ohhh

Dem system set, to keep the family out there fighting,
While the slave masters rejoicing, yet we all are one skin
Dem system set, but I can never make a brother a victim,
To keep the slave master rejoicing, cuz we all are one skin.

Dem system set, to keep the family out there fighting,
While the slave masters rejoicing, yet we all are one skin
Dem system set, but I can never make a brother a victim,
To keep willingly __________? , yet we all are one skin, yeah.

Dont fall to the system, becuz how so it set, Yeah
Dont keep the slave master rejoicing no more, NO!

Dem system set, dem keep black people fooled, but dem can't fool I -n -I,
No, No, Noooo!

Overall Meaning

The song "System Set" by Tarrus Riley speaks on the oppressive nature of the societal structures that exist to keep certain groups of people subjugated. The lyrics describe a system that is designed to keep families fighting against one another while the "slave masters" continue to benefit. The idea of "one skin" is referenced throughout the song, emphasizing that we are all humans, and should not be divided by the man-made lines of race or class.

The first verse references the struggles of young people in the streets who are forced to hustle for food, while the "Babylon" system controls their thinking, turning them against one another. The second verse speaks to the idea that greed and the pursuit of money has caused people to turn against their own friends and family. The line "It makes no sense, to fight for master wear out, and what left?" suggests that instead of fighting against one another, people should be working together to properly distribute resources. The chorus reinforces the idea that the system is designed to keep people fighting each other, and we should resist falling victim to it by recognizing that we are all of one skin.

Overall, the message in the song is one of unity and resistance against the systems that oppress us. By taking a stance against these structures, we can work towards a better future for ourselves and our communities.

Line by Line Meaning

Ah so dem system set, to keep the family out there fighting
The system is designed to keep family members in a constant state of conflict.

While the slave masters rejoicing, yet we all are one skin
The oppressors are happy to see the oppressed constantly fighting against each other despite all being humans of the same race.

Hey out in the streets, yute dem hustlin and ah look food fi eat.
Young people are struggling to survive and find food in the streets.

And Babylon control dem thinkin, put one against another and ah sharpen dem teeth.
The system tricks young people into turning against each other, sharpening their metaphorical teeth and further dividing them.

It makes no sense, a fight for master were out and what leff? Tell me who, how, what did profits, you? Ohhh
Fighting for the oppressor makes no sense, and the question arises: Who benefits from such fighting?

Dem system set, to keep the family separated.
The system is designed to keep family members apart.

You plant seeds of war and hatred, yet we all are one skin.
The system plants the seeds of hatred and conflict, despite everyone's shared humanity.

In the race for a dollar, friends turn sour; even mama gainst dada.
Money ruins relationships and causes conflicts even between family members.

And I heard that gun shot shower ova rice and flour; this we cant allow ah no.
The violence and crime resulting from poverty and desperation is unacceptable.

Dem system set, but I can never make a brother a victim, To keep the slave master rejoicing, yet we all are one skin.
The system may try to victimize a fellow human but the artist cannot let it happen, as everyone is of the same race regardless of skin color.

Dont fall to the system, becuz how so it set, Yeah
One should resist the system even though it might seem powerful and entrenched.

Dont keep the slave master rejoicing no more, NO!
The slave master should not be allowed to rejoice anymore.

Dem system set, dem keep black people fooled, but dem can't fool I-n -I, No, No, Noooo!
The system tries to deceive Black people, but the singer cannot be fooled.

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

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