Last night I found myself at a talk by Lawrence Watson downstairs at The Book Club. Slightly uncomfortable talking about his work (which I can relate to) he shared some of the stories behind the images. One that stands out is the photo he took for NME of LL Cool J in Philadelphia. He was the only white guy there, gun shots were going off at the back to the auditorium and all this at 18 years old! You could tell his line of work has put him in some life changing situations, I’m jealous!

Run-DMC

Chuck D & Flavor Flav – Public Enemy

LL Cool J

Grace Jones

One of his pictures was of a reggae singer called Smiley Culture, which I can’t find on the net. He mentioned a song he did called Cockney Translation, with a name like that there was no way I was not going to check it out. It’s a Jamaican’s guide to the East End. Brilliant.

Cockney’s not a Language it is only a slang
And was originated yah so inna England
The first place it was used was over East London
It was respect for the different style pronunciation
But it wasn’t really used by any and any man
Me say strictly con-man also the villain
But through me full up of lyrics and education
Right here now you a go get a little translation

Cockney have name like Treey, Arthur and del-boy
We have name like Winston, Lloyd and Leroy
We bawl out YOW! While cockneys say OI!
What cockney call a Jack’s we call a Blue Bwoy
Say cockney have mates while we have spar
Cockneylive in a brum while we live in a yard
Say we nyam while cockney gwt capture
Cockney say guv’nor. We say Big Bout ya
In a de Cockney Translation!
In a de Cockney Translation!

Well watch a man…………………………
The translation of cockney to understand is easy
So long as you don’t deaf and you listen me keenly
You should pick it up likea youth who find some money
Go tell it to your friends also your family
No matter if a English or a Yardy
Ca’ you never when them might buck up a cockney
Remember warm dem dem deh man dem don’t easy
Dem no fire sling shot a me say strictly double B
Dem run protection racket and control ’nuff C.I.D.

Say cockney fire shooter, We bus’ gun
Cockney say tea leaf, We say sticks man
You know dem have wedge while we have corn
Say cockney say be first, my son! We just say Gwan!
Cockney say grass, We say outformer man
When dem talk ’bout iron dem really meam batty man
Rope chain and choparita me say cockney call tom
Say cockney say Old Bill, We dutty Babylon
In a de Cockney Translation!
In a de Cockney Translation!

Well watch a man……………………
Slam bam
Jah man
Hear dam
Fashion
Smiley
Culture
Origiantion

But first let me tell you more about thr cockney
Who live comfortably and have yacht by the sea
And when it come to monry most of then have plenty
But where dum spend it? In de bookie
Lose it all on the dogs or on the gee gees
Or paying off fe dem bribes to the Sweeney
So dem nah go do no time fe no armed robbery
Or catching antthing that fell off the back of a lorry

Slam bam
Jah man
Hear dem
Fashion
Me strong
Me long
Me at the mike stand
More time
In a dance
Me chat
‘Pon a sound

But sometimes me shake out and leave me home town
And that’s when me travel a East London
Where I have to speak as a different man
So that the cockney can understand
So black man and white man hear dem fashion

Cockney say scarper, We say scatter
Cockney say rabbit, We chatter
We say bleach, Cockney Knackered!
Cockney say triffic, We say waaacked!

Cockney say blokes, We say guys
Cockney say Alright? We say Ites!
we say pants, Cockney say strides
Sweet as a nut…………………. just level vibes. Seen?