Kenneth Edmonds was born on April 10, 1958, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Marvin and Barbara Edmonds. Barbara was a pharmaceutical plant manager. Edmonds, who is the fifth of six brothers (including future After 7 band members Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, the latter of whom went on to have a modestly successful solo career), attended North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, and as a shy youth, wrote songs to express his emotions.
When he was in eighth grade, Edmonds's father died of lung cancer, leaving his mother to raise her sons alone. At this stage, Edmonds became determined to have a career in music.
Edmonds later played with funk performer Bootsy Collins, who tagged him "Babyface" because of his cute face while he was still a teen.
He also played in the groups Manchild (which had a 1976 hit "Especially for You" with band member Daryl Simmons), as he was a guitarist for the band. Then, as a keyboardist in the light-funk and R&B group The Deele (which also included drummer Antonio "L.A." Reid, with whom he would later form a successful writing and producing partnership).
One of his first major credits as a songwriter for outside artists came when he wrote the tune "Slow-Jam" for the R&B band Midnight Star in 1983. The tune was on Midnight Star's double-platinum No Parking on the Dance Floor album, and while it never hit the charts, the song is still played on quiet storm shows. Babyface remained in The Deele until 1988, when both he and Reid left the group.
In the late 1980s, he contributed to the creation of new jack swing, writing and producing music for the likes of Bobby Brown, Karyn White, Pebbles, Paula Abdul and Sheena Easton.
In 1989, Edmonds co-founded LaFace Records with Reid. Three of the label's early artists TLC, Usher, and Toni Braxton were successful, the former becoming one of the best selling female groups in music history.
Braxton's eponymous 1993 debut album went on to sell over eight million copies, and earned her the 1994 Grammy Award Best New Artist. TLC's first two albums on LaFace—1992's Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip and 1994's CrazySexyCool—combined to sell more than 15 million copies in the U.S. CrazySexyCool won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best R&B album.
Babyface helped form the popular late-90s R&B group Az Yet.
Edmonds works with many successful performers in contemporary music. “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” produced for Whitney Houston, was his first #1 Top 40 hit in the US.
He also wrote and produced Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" and "I'll Make Love to You," both of which established records for the longest stay at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
He co-wrote, co-produced, and provided backing vocals on Madonna's 1994 Bedtime Stories, which featured the 7-week #1 hit "Take a Bow," and shared billing with Eric Clapton on the chart-topping Grammy winner "Change the World" from the Phenomenon soundtrack.
He also wrote and produced the #1 hit "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" for Whitney Houston as well as the rest of the critically acclaimed 10 million selling Waiting to Exhale soundtrack in 1995, which spawned additional hits for Houston, Brandy and Mary J. Blige.
Additionally, Edmonds has produced and written music for many artists including Carole King, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Faith Evans, Al Green, Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Sheena Easton, Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson, Michael Bolton, Paula Abdul, Pebbles, Tevin Campbell, Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Tamia, Shola Ama, 3T, Sisqó, Dru Hill, Fall Out Boy, Céline Dion, Honeyz, Katharine McPhee, Mariah Carey, Vanessa L. Williams, Chanté Moore, En Vogue, Kenny G, Kristinia DeBarge, Lil Wayne, Japanese singer Ken Hirai, P!nk, Marc Nelson, TLC, and Phil Collins among others.
He received three consecutive Grammy Awards for Producer of the Year in 1995–1997.
In 1994, he appeared and performed on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 entitled "Mr. Walsh Goes to Washington (Part 2)".
In the mid-1990s, Edmonds and his then wife Tracey Edmonds expanded into the business of motion pictures, setting up Edmonds Entertainment Group and producing films such as Soul Food (1997), Josie and the Pussycats (2001), and also the soundtrack for the film The Prince of Egypt, which included contributions from numerous artists, including Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
They are the current executive producers of the hit BET reality series College Hill. Edmonds also worked with David Foster to compose "The Power of the Dream," the official song of the 1996 Summer Olympics, performed by superstar Céline Dion. Linda Thompson provided the lyrics.
Babyface also participated as a duet partner on the Fox reality show Celebrity Duets.
Babyface was in the studio for about two years with Ashanti to produce her album The Declaration.
His album Playlist consists of eight cover songs and two original works. It was released on September 18, 2007. It was the first album on the newly re-launched Mercury Records label.
He worked on the Lil Wayne album Tha Carter III, on the Kanye West-produced "Comfortable." He also worked with R&B singer Monica for her sixth studio album Still Standing.
He has written and produced over 26 #1 R&B (many of which hit the pop charts at either #1 or the top ten) hits throughout his career.
Seamless
Babyface Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two tequila shots in, now you wanna read me
Tryna have a good time, now you wanna make a scene
You deserve an Emmy, girl, go and get your Emmy, girl
See you be tryna do the most, you be tryna rock the boat
I was tryna make it work, tryna make this house a home
Act like I'm anybody, girl, I ain't everybody, girl
You don't know my body, how come I'm a body?
We 'posed to be seamless
But you love showin' off weakness
Gettin' all mad for no reason
Turnin' up on me for breathin' (oh-oh-oh, oh-oh)
We 'posed to be seamless
Arguin' every weekend
Switchin' up on me like seasons
Wanna fight? Never mind, keep it (oh, oh)
I be tryna make plays for us
I be tryna start the wave for us
You too busy on stage, stuck in your ways
Settin' us back minutes and days, weeks and months (yeah)
Swear I'm in it for love (love)
Are you in it for the fun?
When we pop out, you act up
How I'ma roll with a shawty
Who can't handle liquor and cause a disruption? (No)
Girl, I'm out here tryna function (ayy)
Take you to dinners and lunches (no)
Think it's okay to just lace your gloves
And I'm 'posed to roll with the punches
I'll cut it off like it's nothin (oh, oh-oh, oh)
We 'posed to be seamless
But you love showin' off weakness (oh, showin' off)
Gettin' all mad for no reason
Turnin' up on me for breathin' (breathin', breathin', yeah, yeah)
We 'posed to be seamless
Arguin' every weekend (oh, oh, oh-oh, oh)
Switchin' up on me like seasons
Wanna fight? Never mind, keep it (nah, oh)
(Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh)
Don't be showin' out
(Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh)
Girl, why you showin' out?
(Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh)
We 'posed to be seamless (seamless)
She got somethin' that she want to say (what you talkin' 'bout?)
If you listen, you can hear her pain (man, she be showin' out)
And there's a reason why she acts that way
We supposed to be seamless, seamless
You need to tell her that your heart won't stray (what you talkin' 'bout?)
You need to show her that you're here to stay (man, she be showin' out)
And if you ever wanna see things change
We're supposed to be seamless, seamless (seamless)
We 'posed to be seamless (seamless)
We 'posed to be seamless (seamless)
We 'posed to be seamless (seamless)
"Seamless" by Babyface is a track that discusses a tumultuous relationship that was supposed to be harmonious but keeps going off the rails. The song talks about how one partner is always trying to make the relationship work and create a home, while the other partner is always causing disruption by getting angry for no reason and creating scenes. The chorus states, "We 'posed to be seamless, but you love showing off weakness/Gittin' all mad for no reason/Turning up on me for breathin'." Despite the singer's attempts to create a loving and stable relationship, the other partner seems to be more interested in causing drama and ultimately spoiling the relationship.
The verses delve deeper into the situation more, with lines that describe how the other partner frequently gets drunk and tries to start fights. The singer tries to keep things on track, but the other partner's behavior is causing tension and making the relationship unstable. They also mention that they feel the other partner is not understanding their desires and that they are not okay with how things are going.
Line by Line Meaning
Always givin' me hell every time that you drink
Whenever you drink, you always give me a hard time and make things difficult.
Two tequila shots in, now you wanna read me
As soon as you've had a couple of tequila shots, you start trying to confront me and pick a fight.
Tryna have a good time, now you wanna make a scene
I thought we were just trying to enjoy ourselves, but now you're making a big public display and causing a scene.
You deserve an Emmy, girl, go and get your Emmy, girl
You're acting like such a drama queen and causing so much unnecessary conflict, you're worthy of an acting award.
See you be tryna do the most, you be tryna rock the boat
You're always trying to do too much and stir up trouble, instead of just trying to keep things calm and simple.
I was tryna make it work, tryna make this house a home
I was doing my best to establish a comfortable and happy relationship, to make this place into a home we can both enjoy.
Act like I'm anybody, girl, I ain't everybody, girl
You're treating me like I'm just some random person, but I'm not like everyone else, I'm unique and I deserve respect.
You don't know my body, how come I'm a body?
You don't understand me and what I'm feeling, so why are you treating me like just a physical object?
We 'posed to be seamless
We're supposed to be smooth and easygoing, without any unnecessary drama or conflict.
But you love showin' off weakness
You seem to take pleasure in displaying your own flaws and weaknesses, instead of working to overcome them and improve yourself.
Gettin' all mad for no reason
You're getting angry and frustrated for seemingly no good reason, instead of focusing on the positive and trying to work towards solutions.
Turnin' up on me for breathin' (oh-oh-oh, oh-oh)
You seem to be getting angry at me for even existing and taking up space, which is unfair and unreasonable.
Arguin' every weekend
We seem to fight and argue every weekend, instead of relaxing and enjoying our time together.
Switchin' up on me like seasons
You're constantly changing your mood and attitude towards me, like the seasons change unpredictably and without warning.
Wanna fight? Never mind, keep it (oh, oh)
Even if you feel like arguing or causing conflict, it's better to just let it go and avoid further problems.
I be tryna make plays for us
I'm always trying to make plans and take actions that will benefit and improve our relationship together.
I be tryna start the wave for us
I'm trying to create a positive and productive momentum for us, to keep us moving forward and growing together.
You too busy on stage, stuck in your ways
You're too focused on your own interests and goals, and you're not willing to be flexible or compromise with me.
Settin' us back minutes and days, weeks and months (yeah)
Your stubbornness and resistance to growth or change is slowing down our progress and holding us back from achieving our goals.
Swear I'm in it for love (love)
I'm committed to this relationship because I truly love and care about you.
Are you in it for the fun?
Do you see this relationship as just a temporary fling or something you're doing for entertainment, or do you take it seriously and really care about me?
When we pop out, you act up
When we go out in public or are around other people, you start acting out and causing trouble, instead of being well-behaved and respectful.
How I'ma roll with a shawty
How can I continue to be with someone who is always causing chaos and problems, instead of being a steady and supportive partner?
Who can't handle liquor and cause a disruption? (No)
You're unable to handle your alcohol and always end up causing trouble and making things worse, which is not acceptable or healthy behavior in a relationship.
Girl, I'm out here tryna function (ayy)
I'm just trying to live my life and move forward, without getting bogged down by unnecessary drama and stress.
Take you to dinners and lunches (no)
I'm willing to invest time and money into our relationship, by taking you out to nice meals and events, but it's not worth it if you're just going to cause trouble and chaos.
Think it's okay to just lace your gloves
You seem to think that it's acceptable to start a fight or argument, even when it's not warranted or productive, like putting on boxing gloves for no reason.
And I'm 'posed to roll with the punches
I'm expected to just accept your bad behavior and keep taking the hits, without fighting back or defending myself.
I'll cut it off like it's nothin (oh, oh-oh, oh)
If this relationship is causing me more stress and pain than happiness and love, I'm willing to end it without hesitation or regret.
Don't be showin' out
Don't act out and cause unnecessary conflict or drama, stick to being calm and reasonable in your behavior.
Girl, why you showin' out?
Why are you acting so irrationally and dramatically, causing chaos and problems where there don't need to be any?
She got somethin' that she want to say (what you talkin' 'bout?)
You seem to have something on your mind that you want to express, but you're not sure how to do so effectively or constructively.
If you listen, you can hear her pain (man, she be showin' out)
If you take the time to really listen and understand her perspective, you can start to see where she's coming from and why she's behaving the way she is.
And there's a reason why she acts that way
There must be some underlying cause or reason for her behavior, possibly related to past trauma or stress.
You need to tell her that your heart won't stray (what you talkin' 'bout?)
You need to reassure her that you're fully committed to this relationship and won't cheat or abandon her, to help alleviate her fears and concerns.
You need to show her that you're here to stay (man, she be showin' out)
Actions speak louder than words, so if you want to prove your commitment and dedication to this relationship, you need to demonstrate it consistently over time.
And if you ever wanna see things change
If you want to improve this relationship, you'll need to be open to compromise and communication, and work together to overcome any obstacles or issues.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Kehlani Ashley Parrish, Kenneth B Edmonds, Khris Riddick-Tynes, Leon Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind