Drake (featuring Rick Ross) : Lord Knows
“Destined for greatness, but got a place in Jamaica. Villa on the water with the wonderful views”
In Ross’ feature he plays on how he’s “destined” for greatness but already owns a home in Jamaica; as well as the idea that that is his “destination” (as in actual physical destination). Ross’ intention with the line appears to say that even though he’s rich, he still owns a house in a country with a significant population of people in poverty (Jamaica).
A$AP Ferg: Shabba
Snoop Lion (formerly Snoop Dogg): Remedy
“See we gifted when together. Snoop Lion Reincarnated, so Selassie I forever”
Snoop Dogg converted to Snoop Lion in 2012. Part of a soul-seeking trip to Jamaica, which inspired the album Reincarnation, saw him identifying with the Rastafari movement. This line lauds Emperor Haile Selassie I, the messiah of Rastafarians, who will deliver Africa and her diaspora into freedom and repatriation to Ethiopia. The album evokes a unique phase in his life during which he felt he was ‘the reincarnation of Bob Marley’.
Kanye West (featuring Rick Ross): Devil in a New Dress
“I hit the Jamaican spot, at a bar, take a seat. I ordered the jerk, she said you are what you eat.”
Off his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album released in 2010, Mr. West makes reference to Jamaica by playing on the word “jerk”, a Jamaican style of cooking. West also made reference to Jamaica in his 2013 single Bound 2, “Dutty whining ’round all these Jamaicans”, which the rapper says in a patois accent. The dutty wine is a Jamaican dance.
