JAY-Z teamed up with Damian Marley for “Bam,” a standout track from the rap icon’s new album 4:44. The song is produced by No I.D. and features Jay rapping about retaining his edge in the rap game. JAY-Z and Marley have never worked together before, but the reggae singer previously collaborated with Nas for the 2010 album Distant Relatives. “Bam” draws from a reggae classic that has been sampled extensively in rap: Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam.”
Damian Marley interpolates the melody of “Bam Bam” while singing:
Can’t you see it’s my ambition
I’ll come to nice up the whole nation
What a bam bam yeah, Lord
“Bam Bam” is a 1982 reggae tune by Jamaican DJ and singer Sister Nancy, a remake of the Toots and the Maytals 1966 song of the same name. Nancy sings over Ansel Collins' “Stalag 17” instrumental (or riddim, in dancehall vernacular). As a woman in the late ‘60s dancehall scene, she was a rarity; she earned respect and became a pioneer, performing locally at Reggae Sunsplash and internationally. Nancy had a huge impact on reggae, influencing some of the genres brightest stars like Lady Saw.
Nancy’s lyrics share the same sentiment as Damian’s, albeit with a different goal:
Dis woman neva trouble no one
I’m a lady, I’m not a man
MC is my ambishan
“Bam Bam” has been sampled many times, most recently on Kanye West’s “Famous.” Nancy saw the song’s controversial video for the first time during a Genius interview.
Listen to the songs above and read all the lyrics to JAY-Z and Damian Marley’s “Bam” and Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam” on Genius now.
