First time hearing Snow "Informer" Reaction | Asia and BJ

[@coreyrogers8700]

Snow is a Canadian dude from an island neighborhood in Toronto. He grew up in this shit, that's why he's so legit with it. Props to Snow!

[@Nepthu]

An island neighborhood in Toronto?

[@nullentry6032]

@@Nepthu Toronto has Caribbean black folks. Lots of Jamaicans since the 80s

[@johnplaysgames3120]

Yeah, I've always figured that if a person grows up around a certain kind of music and loves that music, you can't really call them a guest or an imposter just based on skin color or whatever. He's legit with the music because that's where his heart is, just like Matisyahu. The "In Living Color" parody of this song, "Imposter," was funny but it wasn't really fair or accurate.

[@maxjenkins4199]

Dude was in prison when this blew up

[@scottonanski4173]

LoL. The guy's from the suburbs in Scarborough.

[@MontyBurns21]

This song is about snitches. He wrote it while locked up on attempted murder charges in Torontol

[@germaniatv1870]

word.

[@mstwntd00]

Yeah but he was innocent and someone snitched and said it was him

[@JustMike989]

💯📠

[@lightlantern]

I did shots with him in Yorkville in the late 90s he’s so much fun!!

[@yungchunks6931]

@@lightlantern hell yeah lol

[@stonemansteveiii3135]

"lick your bum bum down" is a Caribbean term for I'm going to knock you off the planet ...or get rid of you .....to knock somebody down. He doesn't look like it but he was the real deal Gangsta in the day. He recorded this, but was actually in the can on an assault charge when it blew up and started getting airplay! Snow was charged and imprisoned for attempted murder but was later released. He grew up in a mostly Jamaican neighborhood. He's not putting on an act, this is what he listened to and was around all the time!

[@mikeblanchard7579]

Ha, funny seeing how he's saying "a licky boom boom down"

[@stonemansteveiii3135]

@@mikeblanchard7579 Same diff.

[@quiett6191]

@@mikeblanchard7579 Jamacan patois is the language he's rapping in, and its origins are mostly English, some African and other languages thrown in. "Lick" is an old English slang meaning to beat the shit outta someone. You may have heard the expression "You/I/We got em licked", meaning to defeat or beat someone.

[@bensweet9685]

Snow is the og

[@mozzjones6943]

He does not say 'lick your bum bum down' dude! that's hilarious 😂😂

[@Benz869]

This was a club banger back in the day, dance floors were always packed when this came on! Miss those days!

[@Itelkner]

I remember

[@charles1203]

You kidding, I was in the 5th grade in NY and we had a class party, I think it was an end of the year party, this song came on even the teachers were dancing so that’s a wow. Damn class did a conga line to this it shows how big this song was!

[@michelleturner6865]

Me too

[@johnplaysgames3120]

No boom-booms are licked in this song, y'all, lol! In a ’93 documentary, Snow says the line implies fisticuffs-“’A licky boom-boom down’ means, like, I’ll hit down the informer; I’ll knock the informer out”-yet the music video’s pantomimed gunshots suggest something more lethal. The song is about Snow's arrest and incarcerations for what he refers to as "a couple of bar fights," including an attempted murder charge from a fight where he and a friend attacked a couple of guys with butcher knives and one of the dudes got cut or stabbed. He was eventually acquitted when his friend confessed to the actual stabbing but, because of his record, Snow was barred from entering the US. As a result, radio stations stopped playing his music when they realized he wasn't going to be able to tour and do promotion. In fact, to this day, he's still not allowed to enter the US without a waiver of some sort.

[@minneyruth]

Wow, had no idea. Banning him from the US is ridiculous lol Thanks for the info 👍

[@trotskyite1]

I heard an interview where he said "likki was the sound of cocking the gun" then boom boom you fall down

[@bashirijones7008]

Classically you will hear "lick shot" which can mean gunshot or fire a shot. Even though Snow said it is reference to hand to hand, he did that to cover the truth that he was talking about shooting the informer. He knew his song and career could get cut if he let it be known what he was really saying. Licky boom boom down = Gunshots 2 of them then down!

[@roumifyouwnt2]

I saw Snow performed this at a small amusement park in Phoenix in maybe 94-95? I don't remember the exact year I just know I wasn't driving yet (96 got my license). It was actually a dope lil show.

[@TheDavejmcknight]

I completely agree....Jamaican patois....so very cool

[@JazzDrummer1946]

Ini Kamoze "Here Comes the Hotstepper" it's like a pie in the face Asia...good and sweet.

[@kimberlinibambini1988]

😂 yessssss! Love that song!

[@harrypothead42024]

Glorious song

[@hugorodriguez3835]

MURDEREEEEER

[@MrRudeboy212]

When this song was originally on MTV, they ran subtitles on the bottom of the screen after popular demand.

[@germaniatv1870]

haha

[@christhornycroft3686]

That is the most American thing I’ve heard all day. I notice in news docs on American TV, if someone has the slightest accent, even an English one (LMFAO), there are subtitles or some white guy “translates” over them. It’s kind of hilarious in a Blazing Saddles kind of way.

[@stephaniewashburn7700]

Always had the utmost respect for Snow and his unbelievable talent! Not to even begin to preach on how FIRE this song is!!!!

[@Motorhands]

Growing up in Scarborough this was the jam at the time. Snow is legit.

[@vorbis4860]

The hardest thing about singing this song (once you learn the lyrics super well) is the whole "WHEN DO I BREATHE?!" factor.

[@TheAurickle]

When you watch him perform this live, he makes it look effortless.

[@emmakane8088]

i was the SHIT in my high school for being able to sing this song effortlessly. to this day its my claim to fame.

[@SteveStone-r1d]

I watched a Caribbean girl react to this song, and she knew exactly what was going on from the beginning!!!

[@krw73]

And when he's done rapping he looks like he can do your taxes.

[@DaP84]

He's cheating with taxes, that's why he made this song about snitches

[@frankticasdroppinknowledge2363]

The dude at the beginning that tells him the cops are looking for him is MC Shan from The Juice Crew. He produced the track and the album. Snow was a real gangster in Canada. This was the jam!!!

[@echopryme]

TRUE CONFESSION... I know EVERY word to this song. I had to learn ALOT of Jamaica slang to get it right, but I know this whole song! And when this dude proclaims that he's the "Article Don"... 😱 That took the kinda balls that made him realize people may try to kill him for saying that shit! For REAL!

[@SkemeKOS]

Weh do article don mean? Me always hear dat but I nuh know weh it mean

[@echopryme]

@@SkemeKOS The 'Article Don' is a term for the man with the MOST respect. For him to come out like that on his first major track, is basically proclaiming himself as the ONLY person in Dancehall that should be respected... and people get KILLED for that kinda shit! 💯 Its basically proclaiming yourself the new "Godfather" in town, while other people are running the town already. The BALLS ot took for a white dude from Toronto to proclaiming himself the Article Don?!?! 🙄 I'm amazed he wasn't killed within 2 months. 💯

[@sf0tacticalguy]

Look up the interview with Snow about this song. He's rapping in Jamaican patois and it's not about what you think.

[@BotulinSpikedMarzipan]

Somebody framed him for attempted murder?

[@northleedspoppa]

​@@BotulinSpikedMarzipanyep he stabbed someone up the lane

[@h.c4898]

reminds me of "the hotstepper" by ini kamoze. Early reggaeton, Pato Banton and them.. very carrabean pidginy.

[@thewhinjaninja3610]

This song is like fine wine. It gets better with age. It's an absolute BANGER!

[@W4ll_fl0w3r]

can't believe I still remember every word

[@sventextor1309]

"Hit's from the bong" !!!!! Cypress Hill. Please do a reaction🤟

[@catman2629]

And High Times and Strictly Hip Hop 👍

[@aakla]

The song is about someone snitching on him for a stabbing in an ally, and how he is going to get the snitch. Oh and how he is innocent. He was in prison on double attempted murder (unrelated to the stabbing) when this came out. The prison went nuts

[@randomuploaderguy]

Should check out other Snow tracks. Runway, Legal, Anything For You, Lonely Monday Morning and my favorite Snow track, SHAME featuring Mykal Rose. I'm a stereotypical white Canuck from the same area as Snow and I can sing all of Informer. Been listening to Informer since I was a kid when it came out. Nobody has done a reaction video to SHAME yet and that's disappointing because it's such a great song.

[@CLynns]

This song would go to the top of the charts if it was released today. I was just out of high school when this one came out. Everybody liked it.

[@mistyanderson4567]

Oh this throw back I forgot about. Haven't heard it in forever🤗✌️

[@Rotnbully]

Love me some Canadian content 👌🇨🇦

[@joseesparza7488]

I loved when Snow said “I really really really wanna play some Atari” 🤣

[@jimilemons3437]

This dude was actually for real, he was charged with attempted murder, he did some time for assault. This song means ‘I’m going to shoot the snitch’.

[@annabinksy1694]

Memories of crossing the river to Hull, Quebec to sneak into the french clubs. BoomBOOMing the night away till closing time LOL!!! And poutine afterwards before going back to Ottawa, Yes the same place the news is focusining on with the truckers!!! Great memories to start the day with!!!

[@1001VideoGames]

I live Toronto and have seen Snow three times in my life because he drives a white Porsche everywhere he goes. Seriously, this guy has one of the best selling singles of all time. 😀

[@belladoran222]

Biggest ❤ to you both, thsnx for listening to THE MAN, of the 80's love your gutz bi time. ❤ bella.

[@karenpower1643]

I'm Canadian and I remember when this came out - it was a HUGE hit in Canada. Snow is awesome! He grew up with people in his neighbourhood that were from the islands. Even though he's white, the islands are in his blood!

[@LALMCGatorsfan]

This song was hott!!! I can't tell you another song he sang. But he made Millions off this Gem.

[@Ritaholden1]

Love this song. Haven't heard this in a very long time. Thanks for the reaction. 👍😁

[@Braveheart0484]

Great Song...takes me back to Dj'ing. Showing how old I am I bought the Single Cassette. lol. Some of my favorite Old School Hip Hop and rap songs: "Groove is in the Heart", "Wild Thing", "Now that we Found Love," "Humpty Dance," "Welcome Back to Cali", "Mama Said Knock You Out", "Bust A Move", "Funky Cold Medina", "Gangsters Paradise", "Everybody Everybody", "Strike it Up", "Rebirth of Slick (Kool Like Dat)", "Cantaloop" By US 3, "Things that make you go Hmm", "I've Got the Power," "Baby Got Back", "Wipeout" with Beach Boys and Fat boys (first Hip Hop song I ever heard; cousin played it for me), "It Takes Two", "Jump Around" House of Pain, "Insane in the Membrane", "Pump Up the Jam," "Pump Up the Volume", "Because I Got Hight" (Note I dislike drug use), "Push it", "I want to Talk About Sex", "Free Your Mind", "My Lovin' Never Gonna Get It", "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred ( I know this isn't Hip Hop but it was popular around this time), "Everybody Dance Now", "Poison", " "O.P.P", "Hip Hop Horray," "Parents Don't Understand", "Summertime", "Rico Suave" "Mombo Number Five" (I know this really isn't Hip Hop but I had to play this everywhere), "You Can't Touch This" "Boom, Boom, Boom, Take me Back to my Room," "Blue" (again not necessary hip hop), and "Rhythm is a Dancer." A few Soul Songs/Love Songs/Slower I like from this era: "End of the Road," "Killing Me Softly", "No Ordinary Love", "Sweetest Taboo", Angel" Shaggy and Rayvon, "I will Always Love You" Whitney Houston", and "Kiss From a Rose". Obviously there is more to add to the list and there are later artists and songs that were awesome too. I'm purposely picking Hip Hop Songs around the late Eighties and early Nineties.

[@albertoaguirre1101]

This song is about shanking(stabbing)an informer in prison as explained by French Canadian rapper Snow in the old Arsenio Hall Show.

[@glida458]

Hes from toronto

[@tjo3410]

Lol no its not and no he isn't. 🤣

[@TritoneChris]

Darrin Kenneth O'Brien was born in Toronto and is the son of two Irish Canadians LOL

[@emcsquared8681]

@@tjo3410 it is and he is. Damn, you’d think people would look shit up before commenting so they don’t look foolish af 🤣

[@tjo3410]

@@emcsquared8681 he's from Toronto and not turning into an informant. SMH. And he dated one of my best friends. Nice try jacknut.

[@forthrightnight]

Up here in Canada we had the Much Music channel (TV not KZbin) when this song came out. Still awesome today!! Snow, back in the rotation.

[@Aughtel]

You guys keep doing these artists at this rate, you'll have all us Canadians here :P

[@jacqueline4514]

Yes!!! My husband would play this one to death back in the day; great to hear it again!! Snitches get stiches, lol! Love the variety that you react to, and Asia's face when she says I don't know what he's saying most of the time either, lol!

[@jeraldbennett9289]

There is a slightly slowed down version of this called "Lonely Monday Morning " . I have the cassette single of "Informer" and "Lonely Monday Morning " is on the B side. I don't think it matches word for word, but many lyrics match.

[@ronybonilla9186]

I really love your reaction. Thankyou.

[@johncampbell9107]

Jim Carrey making fun of him on in living color was hilarious

[@luke9305]

Jamaican slang for shooting the informer. Boom Boom down! He’s also from Jamaica.

[@iamthesolitarymaninblack]

I heard it back in the 90s. Recently downloaded the song after the DJ Vlad interview.

[@55tranquility]

This song was huge in the UK! Not having the internet back then we only saw the video and couldn't het our heads round it. My friend at college, his parents were Jamaican and he used to swear there is no way he can be pretending he must be Jamaican. He was also the one who told us it was about getting revenge on informers for snitching to the police - ie 'blam' . We had no idea, it was a big song you heard it on the radio all the time lol.

[@leoochofaigh6714]

Jim carrey parody is too good

[@patriciadavis1393]

This was Back in In the day when people appreciateed this video and music because they didn't say he was Appropriating from black people he was Showing appreciation For the culture Because that's what he knew.

[@AppStateSpanky]

Fun fact... snow was locked up when this song hit number 1. It was his only #1 hit ever and he couldn't enjoy it.

[@scottvanhille5688]

Wow, totally remember this one! Classic. Suggestion: Soul to Soul--Back To The Life. Thanks!

[@ir8123]

2:56 "Yes the one MC Shan an' the one Daddy Snow together we-a love'em is a tor-na-do" 🙌🔥🙌

[@MrJuliojinez]

You should watch the Spanish version daddy yankee ft snow called Con calma i promise you will love it!! 😁

[@ravenmasters2467]

Before i even watch this i have to say thankyou. i love this song and its very rare to see a reaction on it. I also 100% confident that youre going to love it (and only understand 1 word in 10 lol)

[@EmmaBadOne]

and almost nobody mentions that that's the legendary MC Shan on the rap. Yes, that MC Shan.

[@lc9685]

Such a classic! Check out the in living color skit "imposter" with Jim Carrey. Lmao!

[@lovedc4ever678]

Oh my blast from the damn past. One hit wonder that is totally awesome! Good Gawd. Excellent. Thanks for the react! BJ same thing happened to me. When David Bowie "Fame" first came out I was 7 or 8 and my mom heard me listening to it on the radio totally vibing and she shut that shit down. She said, "we don't listen to that man's music in this house". At 55 years old I still can't believe that happened to me. LOL!

[@dzdogg]

This brings me back 🔙 To a time when I turn on the radio 📻 And this playing ▶️ The 90s was awesome and it still is.

[@alicerobb5924]

Best thing about our city of Toronto in Canada we accept and incorporate all cultures. He grew up in a neighborhood with lots of Jamaican patois so it came to him naturally.

[@KirbyPooh]

HECK YEAHHHH. Snow - Informer was one of the BEST SONGS :P Recently, Snow & Daddy Yankee (and even Katy Perry) made a remix/collab re-do on this song, called "Con Calma".

[@richardhargrave6082]

I don't care what it is saying, I love the groove It was big, back in the day

[@kathyyore309]

This song was just on the series Yellowjackets.

[@TurboThunderGaming]

Love how Asia is just vibing with it and smiling and then at the end like "I have no idea what he's saying". :D

[@anns6215]

Great reaction....and let me say...you are one beautiful woman and one handsome man. Love to you both :D

[@heartofgold79]

I have this cd still. Lol 😆 it was very popular back in the day. Have no idea til this day what hes truly saying lol

[@candyalmetrabaxter7871]

Yep we understand every word!! we are Caribbean people...Reggae, Dancehall and Soca is what were breathe...I know I am late with my comment...LOLLLL

[@donstallings4276]

There are a lot of great songs on this album. Y’all should check it out!!

[@terrancebrown87]

Everybody wants to be like you - Snow No one else has reacted to that yet and it’s his second biggest hit. Great reaction as always!

[@jcbstn77]

Back in the day on MTV, they used to put the lyrics on the screen sometimes so you could read along and understand what he was saying. lol

[@Itelkner]

"It's such a groove track." Sums it up.

[@WiseAssGamer]

I was in high school when this came out. I didn’t understand what he was saying, but we danced. 🤟😎👍

[@CalixYukon]

The original snitches get stitches song. Great reaction y'all! Peace and much love from Scarbz

[@johnnyjohnny2650]

Loved this song from back in the day. Still remember all the lyrics by heart: "Informer a siddy dum beebee dum snow a leeky boom boom dum". Great stuff

[@milburntim]

Apparently the line "a licky boom boom down" means to shoot the informer with a gun. "Boom boom" is the sound of the gun, and "licky" has to do with the flame that comes from the barrel. I had to look all this up.

[@minneyruth]

🤣🤣 what he say!! 🤣🤣 takes me back

[@iwasframedformyparentscrim9519]

In Jamaican colloquially Licky is hit boom boom is either punches or shots, down is self explanatory. In the context of the song it means he’s gonna take out the the dude that snitched on him for a stabbing he didn’t do. This song is about snitches getting f*****d up. And Snow is Canadian but he grew up in a predominantly Jamaican neighborhood in Toronto.

[@1955jeg]

I don't know why, But this song always reminds me of Ini Kamoze's "HIGH STEPPER" Lick ya down means to knock you out

[@kmvoss]

I saw Snow perform this track live when I was 7, back when it was brand new. Time flies.

[@stephaniewashburn7700]

Totally recommend y’all lookin up the lyrics. They hard!!!

[@613lcd]

I remember buying this album on tape.......a lot of people don't know this but "Lonely Monday Morning " is the same lyrics but slow and smoother

[@makaveliuk86]

And yeh, that was MC Shan 👌💜

[@chargedlt1]

“Licka boom” is Jamaica slang for taking out a snitch.

[@jayanthony2414]

No its not 🤦🏽 it just means hitting someone

[@justingutube]

Huge on the dance floor back in the day!

[@juniorsworld3771]

Still can't believe this ish came back out in circulation but I effin love it brings back my early 90 days

[@slem17]

In 100 words the one verse said "I sound Jamaican but I am white and from Toronto" in one of the coolest ways to say it

[@nickh2958]

Please check out Maestro Fresh Wes - Let Your Backbone Slide: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaSzhGOig5Koors Same geography a little further back in the day.

[@deanharris7149]

This was a thing back in the day, lots of artists were doing this. Was SO GLAD it went out of fashion.

[@aaronsanchezz]

Why u dont like reggae?

[@Kevin-py7hb]

It's a hard lyrical song to understand what SNOW is singing. I remember when this came out and it was a banger for sure. Asia, I think he is singing " Lick your boom boom down, instead of Lick your boom boom now"... That made me laugh when you made that comment... I think BJ should make a video of him singing this song with his southern drawl..... Love you guys, always bringing a smile to my face watching your reactions... Music has the power to bring all of us together to enjoy!!!!!!!

[@garywaterman814]

Take a look at the lyric sheet. Probably the most words in a song when it came out.

[@marinabrennan7695]

You should check out Buju Banton's song "Untold Stories" and then his song "Champion" Both Amazing Reggae songs!

[@brandonsimmons1695]

Y’all look around the same age as me and grew up in the 80s and 90s. How does everyone not know this song?

[@BrianR.]

I watch this now and all I can think of is J-Roc from Trailer Park Boys, so it makes me laugh...

[@aaronsanchezz]

maaaffffhk

[@arumugam8879]

I ❤ the way asia move

[@3DJapan]

He was actually in prison when he wrote this song. It's inspired by the person that snitched (informed) on him.

[@quincee3376]

Darrin O'Brien actually has a lot of other good songs. They were only played in Canada though. Checkout The Plum Song by Snow from the late 90s or maybe it was early 2000's. Can't remember. Anyways he really does have a great voice. The Plum Song is really him just singing. Not Reggae influenced. But he also has some other good songs i just can't remember the names of them. Great Reaction!

[@vanburger]

You guys should really follow this up with Boom Shack-A-Lack by Apache Indian..

[@wendyreveyoso3731]

This is definitely on the soundtrack of my childhood, we were steady making our own lyrics though cause we didn’t understand half of what he was saying 🧡🧡😂😂

[@deeboy4378]

. . "Lonely Monday morning" is another one of my favorites from him. . check it out yo😊

[@DJMARCD1000]

We used to call that tripling down back in the old days

[@lebodownunder]

A leaky is an informer or a snitch. Leaky boom boom down meaning he’s going to shoot the snitch

[@Pilutta100]

I love that ppl explained the misunderstanding of the lyrics, it still though grab 99% of reactors and curious ppl, I was a teen when it came and ofcourse thought same. Didn't help that everytime he sings that lyric a girl is wiggling, lmao. Kinda bummer the record company went with it. It's a good song,talented ppl af.

[@deepconnection1169]

He says, "I Licky Boom Boom Down". So, just as suggestive as what you guys thought. I remember when this sopng came out, radio was playing it like every 30 minutes. It was a hot record and super soulful from a white guy. wow.

[@JustOneSue]

YESH!👍👍💙💙Go BJ, go BJ😆

[@patriciadavis1393]

I have watched a lot of reactions to this video and nobody understands what hes saying but that is the whole point. I think it's a groove. 😂😂😂😂 Nobody so far has realized At the end of the Video was When snow smiled Because that Guy walked in is because he's the informer ❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂