rasams13, May 2, 2010
Artist: Reggie Stepper
Song: Kim-Bo-King
Album: Kim-Bo-King
Country: France
Released: 1992 *
Genre: Reggae
Style: Reggae, Dancehall
-snip-
* 1990 is the original release date for Jamaican Dancehall artist Reggie Stepper's "Kimbo King".
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series about Reggie Stepper's 1990 now classic Jamaican dancehal song "Kimbo King" (also given as "Kim-bo King").
This post showcases a sound file of Reggie Stepper's song "Kimbo King" along with information about Reggie Stepper and my partial transcription of that song.
Click _- for Part II of this pancocojams series.That post showcases one 2025 YouTube video of Reggie Stepper performing his composition "Kimbo King". The second 2025 YouTube video showcases Reggie Stepper performing "Kimbo King" and a few other examples of his hit dancehall songs.
This post also presents my speculations about the meanings of the word "kimbo" in Reggie Stepper's 1990 dancehall song "Kimbo King".
Click __ for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents selected comments from the discussion thread of two YouTube video of Reggie Stepper's song "Kimbo King".
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and entertainment purposes.
Thanks to Reggie Stepper for his musical legacy. Thanks to the publisher of this sound file and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
This pancocojams series is an update of a 2023 pancocojams post that is still available on this pancocojams blog: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/07/reggie-stepper-kimbo-king-what-are.html. That 2023 post has seven discussion thread comments as of Feb. 24, 2026..
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INFORMATION ABOUT REGGIE STEPPER
From https://www.facebook.com/RootsWarrior/posts/october-17happy-birthday-reggie-stepper-%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8Ftoday-october-17th-we-celebrate-the-bi/1387180033415484/
ROOTS WARRIOR SOUND, October 17, 2025
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY REGGIE STEPPER ! 🇯🇲⭐️🎙️
Today, October 17th, we celebrate the birthday of one of
Jamaica’s most unique and beloved voices in dancehall : Reggie Williams, better
known to the world as Reggie Stepper.
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Reggie has made his
mark with a distinctive sound characterized by his fast-talking “chatting”
style, blending DJing with singing, and his deep baritone voice that sets him
apart from the crowd. Here’s a look at his incredible journey and musical
contributions!
Reggie Williams was born in the late 1960s in Jamaica, in a
time when reggae and dancehall were becoming defining cultural movements.
Growing up in the tough streets of Kingston, Reggie was surrounded by the
vibrant energy of the soundsystem culture, which would play a huge role in
shaping his career. Influenced by legendary artists such as Papa San and
General Trees, Reggie began developing his own style, eventually crafting the
fast-paced, rhythmic delivery that would become his signature sound.
The name Reggie Stepper became known in the late 1980s and
early 1990s, when he exploded onto the scene with a series of hit tracks. One
of his breakthrough moments came in 1990 with the song “Kimbo King”, which
showcased his fast-chat style and immediately made him a favorite among
dancehall lovers. His biggest hit, however, was the 1993 classic “Cu-Oonuh”
produced by Patrick Roberts of Shocking Vibes Productions. The track’s
infectious rhythm and Reggie’s clever wordplay propelled him to international
acclaim, even reaching reggae and dancehall charts outside of Jamaica.
Reggie Stepper’s career is marked by several memorable
singles, albums, and collaborations that have left a lasting impact on the
genre.
Notable Singles:
• “Kimbo King” (1990)
• “Cu-Oonuh” (1993)
• “Drum Pan Sound”
(1993) *
• “Under Mi Sin Ting”
• “Kimbo Clap”
[...]
Beyond his hits, Reggie’s influence can be seen in the newer
generation of dancehall artists who have embraced and evolved his chat-style
vocals. Artists like Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel have taken cues from Reggie’s
distinctive delivery, ensuring that his legacy continues.
While he may not be as active in recent years, Reggie
Stepper remains a beloved figure in dancehall. His songs continue to get
airplay, and his influence is undeniable. Fans old and new alike celebrate his
contribution to the genre that has taken Jamaican culture global.
On this special day, we honor Reggie Stepper for his talent,
his contributions to dancehall, and for representing Jamaica with pride
throughout his career. Join us in wishing him many more years of success,
health, and happiness !
Happy Birthday, Reggie Stepper!"
-snip-
* Most online sources indicate that Reggie Stepper's song "Drum Pan Sound" was recorded and released in 1990.
YouTube comments that I've read indicate that Reggie Stepper's "Kimbo King" was recorded and released in 1990 before "Drum Pan Sound".
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LYRICS - KIMBO KING (draft transcription)*
(by Reggie Stepper)
[…]
I wanna get this song out to all the people around the world
I fire this one to all the people around the world
Boom!
Original kimbo king uuuuhhhhhh
Kimbo queen and a king uuuuhhhh
Original kimbo king uuuuhhhhhh
Kimbo queen and a king uuuuhhhh
They wanna laze around sittin uuhhhh
they want to do nothing uuuhhh
they’re fond of money making uuuhhh
And fond of kimbo watchin uuuhhh
and they pon de corner ah pure posing. uuuhhh.
And in the mix of every ting uuuhhh
Nuff people business watching uuuhhh
[…]
They live in Brooklyn
And they make their livin
We call dem Kimbo King!!!
[…]
Kimbo Kimbo what fon a kimbo
Tell you what work and I tell you who I am
[…]
They full of passion
One time gone we call em lazy man
One time gone we call em lazy woman
But now days we have a different passion
Original kimbo king uuuuhhh
Kimbo queen and a king uuuuhhhh
Original kimbo king uuuuhhhhhh,
Kimbo queen and a king uuuuhhhh
He went to work last Saturday
I let him know that this is Thursday
[...]
-snip-
*This is my draft transcription of this song.
Additions and corrections are very welcome for my attempted transcription of this dancehall classic.
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WHAT IS REGGIE STEPPER'S SONG "KIMBO KING" ABOUT
[Additions and corrections are welcome.]
The dancehall song "Kimbo King" criticizes those men and women the singer calls "kimbo kings" and "kimbo queens".
The singer says that these people used to be called "lazy men and lazy women". However, nowadays he refers to them "kimbo kings and kimbo queens" - people who either don't have a steady job or who don't consistently show up for their jobs. Instead, they spend their time hanging out in the street corners, hustling, or socializing.
Part of the reason why the singer is critical of these "kimbo kings and kimbo queens" is because he believes that a person's work (and-by extension-how that person works at that job tells you who that person is: [lyrics -"Tell you what work and I tell you who I am".
i believe that the term "original" in this song refers to "authentic" / "real" and not "the first". In the context of this song, "original" adds to the singer's criticism of these kimbo kings and queens. .
Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, New York (USA)* is named in the Jamaican dancehall song "Kimbo King" because of its high number of residents from Jamaica.
The other boroughs of New York City are Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island Harlem is a neighborhood in Manhattan.
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