Make It Bun Dem

"Make It Bun Dem"
Single by Skrillex and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
Released	May 1, 2012
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2012
Genre	Reggaestep
Length	3:35
Label	Big Beat Atlantic OWSLA
Producer(s)	Skrillex
Certification	Gold (RIAA)
Remix EP cover After Hours Remix EP Skrillex singles chronology "Bangarang" (2012) "Make It Bun Dem" (2012) "Wild for the Night" (2013) Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley singles chronology "As We Enter" (2010) "Make It Bun Dem" (2012) "Can't Keep Me Down" (2012) Music video "Make It Bun Dem" on YouTube

"Make It Bun Dem" is a song by Skrillex and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley. The single was released on February 28, 2012.^[1]

Background

The song started out as an original, without lyrics, in early 2012. The instrumental had no name, and was only played live. Fans dubbed the song "Rudeboy Bass", as it used the sample "Rudeboy bass, mash up the place!" The song was later re-edited and vocals from Damian Marley's "Welcome to Jamrock" were added. Skrillex eventually sent the demo to Damian. Instead of releasing the song as a remix of "Welcome to Jamrock", Damian offered to record original vocals for the song, replacing the previous ones. This version of the song, with new, original vocals, was premiered at Surrender Night Club in Las Vegas, on January 21, 2012. Damian posted the finalized version of the unnamed song, finally confirmed as "Make It Bun Dem" on his SoundCloud page, on April 16, 2012, as a listen-only track. The release was postponed from an earlier date to May 1, 2012.

Music video

The music video for "Make It Bun Dem" was directed by Tony Truand^[2] and debuted on September 6, 2012 via Skrillex's official YouTube channel.^[3]

The video begins with US police knocking on the doors of people being evicted from their homes, and the victims and their families leaving their homes in tears and in struggles. An elderly Native American man is shown waiting for his turn on the front porch, as a younger family member performs a rain dance in his backyard with two boys watching him in awe. It begins to rain, an act of non-violent direct action that causes the development plans of the business man to be washed away. The Native Americans conduct a smudging ritual in which the boy's guardian smears red paint on his face, and hands a roach (a headpiece for regalia) to him. He returns outside and a glowing golden eagle bursts from his chest followed by a trail of golden light whilst the guardian beats a drum in ritual. The police come to their door, but the chief's goons refuse to aid him in breaking into the house and points middle fingers, so the chief enters the backyard alone, and is met with the sight of the young Native American boy and the golden bird. The bird flies towards the man. The elder Native American is seen sitting in his living room, surrounded by three canines.

This video was filmed in Lincoln Park, Michigan, with two local children acting as the children watching the young Native American boy (played by Zakiah Phillips) do his dance.

Use in media

"Make It Bun Dem" is used in the video game Far Cry 3. The track can be heard playing in a looped form during "Kick the Hornet's Nest", a mission where the player is required to destroy five marijuana fields by setting fire to them with a flamethrower.

Make It Bun Dem After Hours EP

Official remixes from Alvin Risk and Culprate were leaked, with Alvin playing his remix on Kaskade's Freaks Of Nature tour and the Culprate remix being played by Modestep Radio and Gemini.^[4]

David Heartbreak revealed that he would appear on an official remix EP.

On 25 August 2012, Alvin Risk shared a private link via Facebook to his remix on the official Skrillex Soundcloud page. This was only accessible to those with the link. Official artwork was also included on the track, confirming a Make It Bun Dem After Hours EP.

On the same day, a private Soundcloud set^[5] was revealed containing the full 6-track remix EP. The remixes consisted of Culprate, Brodinski, French Fries, David Heartbreak, Flinch and Alvin Risk.^[6]

The release date was confirmed as 28 August 2012, and an official teaser video was uploaded to Skrillex's YouTube channel on 27 August 2012.^[7]

Track listing

Charts and certifications

Certifications

References