Lady Saw

Biography

Marion Marie Hall (born 12 July 1969), formerly known by the stage name Lady Saw, is a Jamaican singer whose career has spanned over two decades. Formerly known as the "Queen of Dancehall", she is known for her guest appearances on Vitamin C's debut single "Smile×Smile4 October 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Smile (album version)4:002Smile (Maserati mix)4:03" (1999) and No Doubt's "Underneath It All" (2002), the latter of which went triple Platinum and won a Grammy for No Doubt.

Early life

Hall was born in the village of Galina, Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica near Port Maria . As a child, she attended Galina Primary School. During her teen years, she had a sewing job at The Free Zone in Kingston. At the age of fifteen, she began performing with local sound systems. She went on to work with the Stereo One system in Kingston.

1987–1995: Lover Girl

In 1987, Hall took the name "Lady Saw" after the famous Jamaican singer Tenor Saw, who inspired her music. Her performances brought her to the attention of record producers and she recorded her first single for producer Piper, and "Love Me or Lef Me", produced by Olive Shaw received significant airplay. She topped the charts with her first hits "If Him Lef" and "Find a Good Man". After her music success on Jamaican radio, she began recording her first studio album. In August 1994, Saw released her first album entitled Lover Girl×Lover Girl29 August 1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Man in My Life (feat. Frankie Paul)3:512To Sir With Love3:013Love Is What We Want (feat. Luciano)3:534Baby Face3:155We Need Love (feat. Dennis Brown)3:556Find a Good Man4:227Hardcore3:378Heads of Government3:449Wife and Sweetheart3:4510Bare as You Dare3:5011Welding Torch3:4212Bad Rooster3:4813Bad Inna Bed3:4314Stab Out the Meat (remix)4:0815Informer3:5116Can't Run Competition3:49. The album spawned the hit "Stab Up De Meat".

1996–1997: Give Me the Reason and Passion

In 1996, Saw released her second album Give Me the Reason×Give Me the Reason11 April 1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Good Wuk3:232What Is Slackness3:513Give Me the Reason4:324Darnest Things3:155Husband a Mine3:116Glory Be to God3:587Saturday Night at the Movies3:548Name Nuh Stand Fi Sex3:299Condom3:2210Lonely Without You3:3311Life Without Dick3:3012Love & Understanding3:3813Ain't No Meaning4:2314Over & Over4:00. The album became known for its explicit sexual lyrics which was showcased on songs "Life Without Dick" and "Name Nuh Stand Fi Sex". The album spawned the singles "Give Me the Reason", "Good Wuk", and "Condom".
In June 1997, Saw released Passion. The album charted at number 8 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart, becoming her first album to chart. The album spawned the singles: "Healing" and "Sycamore Tree".

1998–2003: 99 Ways

In February 1998, Saw released her first greatest hits album entitled Raw, the Best of Lady Saw. In December 1998, Saw released her fourth album 99 Ways×99 Ways8 December 1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Straight Work3:382Oh Yeah2:273No Matta Me3:094Ride of Your Life4:045Woman Sneaking3:336Picture on the Wall4:037Nuh Dis Me3:018Hardcore Lover3:069Money Money3:1310Don’t Even Stress Dat3:401199 Ways3:0712Bunner Boy3:3613Brown Eyes Blue3:0314Hall of Fame3:4715Let’s Stay Together3:5116I Call Your Name4:411799 Ways (live) (a cappella)3:28, which charted at number 10 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart.
In 1999 she had a major hit in the United States with "Smile×Smile4 October 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Smile (album version)4:002Smile (Maserati mix)4:03", recorded with Vitamin C, which peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, also a major hit in New Zealand and Canada, and certified gold with over 500,000 sales. In 2002, her collaboration with No Doubt, "Underneath It All", which reached number three in the US and sold more than three million copies, reaching triple platinum certification. The track won No Doubt a Grammy Award for 'Best Performance by a Duo or Group'.

2004–2007: Strip Tease and Walk Out

In August 2004, Lady Saw released her fifth album Strip Tease×Strip Tease24 August 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Intro0:322I've Got Your Man2:593Man Is the Least3:504Do Me Better2:535Move Your Body (feat. Voice Mail)3:316Strip Tease3:317Coming Over3:468Cocky Liquor - Skit1:239Pretty Pussy2:5310Loser (feat. Ce'cile)3:2311Lock It Up3:1712Just Being Me3:2813Best Pum Pum3:2514Been So Long3:4915Dreaming of You3:4116Thug Loving3:3317Good Love (feat. Sizzla)3:3018Messed Up3:3919My Dreamz4:5320Dedicated to Mama4:09. The album charted at number 84 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 14 Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart. The lead single "I've Got Your Man" garnered much worldwide success and charted at number 58 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The album also spawn the singles: "Man is the Least", "Move Your Body", and "Loser".
In 2006, she was featured on the Steven Seagal song "Strut", which she also co-wrote. It has achieved internet fame under the incorrect name Me Want The Punani, a repeated lyric from the song.
In March 2007, Saw released the single "No Less Than a Woman (Infertility)". The song addressed the many problems that women have involving infertility. In April 2007, Saw released her sixth album Walk Out×Walk Out17 April 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Hello Lady Saw2:532Big Up3:363Me and My Crew (The Rae)3:104Silly Dreams3:385No Less Than a Woman (Infertility)4:016Not the World's Prettiest5:177You Need Me3:328Baby Dry Your Eyes4:359Walk Out3:0910Chat to Mi Back2:4911It's Like That3:2312Power of the Pum3:1413Like It4:4114Stray Dog3:53, which peaked at number 8 on the Top Reggae Albums chart. Saw released two more singles: "Chat to Mi Back" and "Me and My Crew (The Rae)". Later that year, she performed on the main stage at Jamaica's annual Reggae Sumfest.

2009–2015: My Way and Alter Ego

In 2009, Saw released her second greatest hits album entitled Extra Raw: The First Lady of Dancehall×Extra Raw: The First Lady of Dancehall13 July 2009 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Find a Good Man3:292Hardcore3:353Good Wuk3:204Give Me the Reason3:445Want It Tonight3:376Healing3:317Sycamore Tree3:318Na Nurse2:539Hice It Up3:1610No Matta Me3:0811Don't Even Stress Dat3:3412I've Got Your Man2:5913Man Is the Least3:5014Loser3:2315Chat to Mi Back2:4816Me and My Crew [The Rae]3:0917Silly Dreams3:3718No Less Than a Woman [Infertility]4:02. She launched her own record label, Divas Records, in January 2010. In August 2010, Saw released the lead single "Party Till December" from her forthcoming album. In December 2010, she released My Way, which failed to chart. In the same year, Lady Saw was also featured along with Nicki Minaj on rapper Trina's song "Dang A Lang" from her album Amazin'. In May 2011, she released a single "When Mi Left a Man".
In 2012, she released an extended play entitled "Two Man". In October 2012, Saw released a single "Heels On×Heels On10 October 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Heels On3:502Heels On (radio)3:483Heels On (instrumental)3:50". In November 2012 she announced that she was turning her back on dancehall and would be concentrating on Gospel music in the future. In August 2013, Saw released a single "Nuh Tek Mi Man".
In 2014, she released her album Alter Ego×Alter Ego18 November 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1What Kinda Man6:332I Do Love You5:143She Has Changed4:434STD6:215I Hate Your Guts3:296Nuh Yuh Business2:497Whine3:378Pretty Fingers3:319Me & Mi X3:1310Heels On4:0111Cockpit4:4712Hoping3:3613Selfie3:0114Heaven5:45, which features guest appearances from Beres Hammond, Flo Rida, and Ali Campbell. The album charted at number 6 on the Top Reggae Albums chart. In the same year, she established The Lady Saw Foundation; which aims to help abused and needy women.
In March 2015, she released a single "Scammer". In May 2015, Saw released the single "Incline Thine Ears". In June 2015, she released a two singles "Last Night" and "The Devil Have a Way". In August 2015, Saw released a single "The Day Will Never Come". In September 2015, she released the single "Likkle Bit". In November 2015, Singing Melody released the single "Beneath Your Beautiful", which featured Lady Saw. On 6 November 2015, she released her second extended play entitled, Lady Saw: Special Edition. In December 2015, she released a single "Lay On Your Body".

2016–present: Conversion to Christianity and retirement from dancehall music

On 15 December 2015, Saw underwent a baptism. She later stated she will no longer identify herself as "Lady Saw", but instead as Minister Marion Hall or simply Marion Hall. She also stated that she will not perform dancehall music, but instead she will begin a new music career in gospel music. She released a few gospel songs: "Jesus in the End", "Cup of Blessings", "God Almighty", and "Heaven", which appear on several mixtapes. In July 2016, she released her first gospel album When God Speaks×When God Speaks12 September 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Lead Me to the Water4:182I'm on Fire5:173I Had Jesus4:194With Me4:045I Won't Worry6:466Working It Out4:507You Are Worthy7:208Room in My House5:159Enemy4:0410My Arms4:2111Cup of Blessings3:3012Break Through3:5813Love Jesus3:3014Burden3:50.
In June 2018, Hall released the lead single, "I'm Gonna Fast", from her album His Grace×His Grace20 July 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Overflow4:212Lord We Need You4:303Pay You Back6:054Walk on Water3:485That Cross3:596My God Is Alive3:187Dead Man Walking4:078My Praise3:519Mighty God3:3010Tun Back Christians4:1711Love Like This4:1712I'm Gonna Fast4:1013The World Can See3:3714His Grace6:3915You Are5:3716Gave It All Up6:0217All That's Left3:57. The album was released on 20 July 2018.
In April 2020, Hall stated that she believed she was denied a United States O-1 visa because she no longer identified as "Lady Saw".

Style

Lady Saw became known for slack performance style. The style also prompted her to record "What is Slackness?"; a song in which she defines 'slackness' in many ways. Slackness often refers to vulgarity in Jamaican culture, behavior and the music. It always sums up the explicit sexual lyrics used in reggae and dancehall music. Because of this, several of her performances were banned in some parts of Jamaica, though equally lewd male performances were not. The double standard inspired her to record the song "Freedom of Speech" in protest. She also became known for her "conscious" lyrics. She recorded "Condom"; warning girls of the dangers of unprotected heterosexual sex.