Twista grew up in the K-Town area on the west side of Chicago. He started rapping at the age of 12. However, before starting his professional career, he worked at several other jobs including working at a factory, selling shoes, working at McDonald's, working as a security guard, and even cutting hair.
Twista was one of the first artists to sign with Loud Records. In 1991, he released Runnin' off at da Mouth under the name of Tung Twista. Due to his rapid-fire pace of delivery, he was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's fastest rapper. Despite this recognition, the album achieved little success. Tung Twista dropped the "Tung" off of his name in his second album Resurrection, which was never released outside of Chicago's underground.
In 1996, he teamed with fellow Chicago act "Do or Die" on the track "Po' Pimp" leading to a contract with Atlantic Records. He released Adrenaline Rush in 1997 followed by Mobstability in 1998. Twista then formed his own Legit Ballin' label which has released two compilation albums Legit Ballin' in 1999 and Legit Ballin' Vol. 2: Street Scriptures in 2001. The label later released Respect The Game,Vol. 3 in 2002 and Volume 4: Tha Truth in 2006.
Twista developed a good reputation in rap circles leading to work with Mariah Carey, P. Diddy (then Puff Daddy),Lil kim, Drag-on, Jay-Z, Timbaland, Ras Kass, Ludacris, Royce Da 5'9", Shaquille O'Neal, and Da Brat. However, it would take him until 2004 to achieve a platinum, number-one record under his own name.
On his website, Twista stated that he made Kamikaze to show that he was still true to the ideals that he had when he started out. "I represent for the MCs that have skills, not just make music for the hell of it. I take the time to concentrate. Otherwise, I could have 10 albums out there, easy. I could sit down all day and write something. But I write when I get in a zone more than writing because I’ve got to do this. I represent the artists that keep it true to what really is, to be able to make rappers want to write."
"I want to show the streets that I’m back and that I’m true to the game. Musically, I want to show that I’m still out here doing my thing. After all the people that were out when I was out years ago fell off, I’m still out here competing with the shorties. I also want to gain platinum success. It’s something that I haven’t done."
The first single, "Slow Jamz", featured Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and world R&B charts in early 2004, and eventually reached number 3 on the UK singles charts. Kamikaze built on the success of "Slow Jamz" to reach the top of the Billboard 200 album chart upon its release in January 2004 and went platinum by March 2004. The second single, "Overnight Celebrity", became another top 10 Hot 100 hit and a UK top 40 entry, while the third, "So Sexy" (featuring R. Kelly), made the top 40 of the Hot 100. In the UK, the album track "Sunshine", which featured R&B singer Anthony Hamilton and lifted its chorus from Bill Withers' "Lovely Day", was extracted as a third single and became a big hit; this track received comparatively little exposure in the U.S., perhaps because rapper Lil' Flip had a huge hit there at the same time with a different song of the same title.
Albums
Runnin' off at da Mouth (1991, as Tung Twista) (US Certification: Gold)
Resurrection (1994, as Twista) (Never officialy released outside of Chicago's underground)
Adrenaline Rush (1997) #77 US (US Certification: Gold)
Mobstability (with The Speedknot Mobstaz) (1998, as Twista) #34 US
Kamikaze (2004) #1 US, #19 UK (US Certification: Platinum)
The Day After (2005) #2 US (US Certification: Gold)
Adrenaline Rush 2007 (2007)
Slow Jamz
Twista Lyrics
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Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
She said she want some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross
A little Anita will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well, well, well, well)
She said she want some Ready for the World, some New Edition
Some Minnie Ripperton will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well, well, well, well)
I told her to drive over in yo' new whip
Bring some friends you cool with
I'ma bring the cool whip, then I want you to strip
See you is my new chick, so we get our grind on
She be grabbin', calling me Biggie like Shyne home
Man I swear she fine homes (back in the day)
Why she always lying though?
Tellin' me them diamonds (back in the day)
When she know they rhinestones
She got a light-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson
Got a dark-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson
I played Ready for the World, she was ready for some action
My dog said you ain't no freak
So you 'bout to prove my man wrong
I'ma play this Vandross, you gon' take yo pants off
I'ma play this Gladys Knight, me and you gon' get right
She said she want some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross
A little Anita will definitely set this party off right
Now, now Kanye, I know I told you to slow it down, baby
And it's good, it's all good, it's beautiful, it's beautiful
But now, I need you to do it faster, baby
Can you please? Do it faster baby, do it faster
Damn, baby, I can't do it that fast
But I know somebody who can, Twista
Got you looking at the glist on my hands and wrist
While I'm laying back smoking on my cannabis
When it come to rocking the rhythm like Marvin and Luther
I can tell you ain't no messin' with Kan man and Twist
In the Chi and I be sipping Hennessy, play some R&B
While I smoke a b, you can preferably find that I'm a G
And all this (well, well, well, well)
Come with me and sip on some Evelyn Champagne
You ain't know Twista could work it like The Whispers?
Hit the stop light, move it to some Isleys
These rims still moving so I bump a lil' Spinners
While I'm smoking on a b dipping through the streets
Bumpin' R&B and I got the heat on the 23's
And I do it (well, well, well, well)
With my Earth in the Wind smoking Fire
Let me get ya sheets wet listenin' to Keith Sweat
Put you in a daze wit Maze
Fulfilling our every temptation, slow jammin' havin' deep sex
You ready for the world, girl, come on go wit me
I touch you all over your body, baby, don't say no to me
And every moment controlling me
I'm lovin' the way you be holdin' me when I be listening to Jodeci
And when I come over and bend ya ass
You be bumping Teddy Pendergrass
I done hit it from the back to the melody and rode it slow
Now I got to go up in it fast, but I'ma finish last
No matter how much of a thug you see
I still spit it like it's R&B, come to the club with me
And when some Luther come on I hope you feelin' me
And still will be in love wit me, Chi ride
She said she want some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross
A little Anita will definitely set this party off right
(Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, are you gonna be
Are you gonna be, are you gonna be, well, well, well, well)
She said she want some Ready for the World, some New Edition
Some Minnie Ripperton will definitely set this party off right
Yes it will
Oh, yes it will
Baby, drop another slow jam
And all the lovers need to hold hands
And if you ain't got no man, hop up in my Brougham
I keep it pimpin' like a old man, you gots to roll with the plan
'Cause if nothin' then I take it to the dome
When I get to bone, stay up in the zone
Gotta get you home, gotta run up on
And I do it (well, well, well, well)
Baby, drop another slow jam
And all the lovers, need to hold hands
And if you ain't got no man, hop up in my Brougham
I keep it pimpin' like a old man, you gots to roll with the plan
'Cause if nothin' I'll take you to my home
We can get it on, disconnect the phone
Trying to get you gone, I'ma make you moan
And I do it (well, well, well, well)
The lyrics of "Slow Jamz" by Twista featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx talk about the desire for sensual and romantic music to set the mood in a party. Twista and Kanye both rap about their prowess with women, with Kanye bragging that his skills can match Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross. He then hands off to Twista, who flexes his own sensuality with lyrics about sipping cognac, smoking cannabis, and playing smooth R&B while with a lover. The lyrics also mention the desire for physical intimacy, with Twista making multiple references to "slow jammin' and having deep sex".
The song is unique in the way it melds together different musical genres, with Twista's fast raps and Kanye's biting rhymes fitting effortlessly over the smooth R&B beats. It's interesting to note that the song started off as a remix of "Is That All There Is?" by Peggy Lee before Twista decided to rewrite the entire song.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you gonna be? Say that you're gonna be
Asking if the person is going to come to the party or not
She said she want some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross
A little Anita will definitely set this party off right
The person wants some classic R&B music to set the mood at the party
She said she want some Ready for the World, some New Edition
Some Minnie Ripperton will definitely set this party off right
The person wants to hear some old school R&B music to get the party started
I told her to drive over in yo' new whip
Bring some friends you cool with
I'ma bring the cool whip, then I want you to strip
See you is my new chick, so we get our grind on
She be grabbin', calling me Biggie like Shyne home
Man I swear she fine homes (back in the day)
Why she always lying though?
Tellin' me them diamonds (back in the day)
When she know they rhinestones
Describing the scenario of him asking the girl to come over in her new car with her friends, and they begin grinding on each other. He thinks she's fine, but she lies about her diamonds being real.
She got a light-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson
Got a dark-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson
The person has two friends who resemble Michael Jackson, one being light-skinned and the other being dark-skinned.
I played Ready for the World, she was ready for some action
My dog said you ain't no freak
So you 'bout to prove my man wrong
I'ma play this Vandross, you gon' take yo pants off
I'ma play this Gladys Knight, me and you gon' get right
Playing different songs to see how the person reacts and trying to prove his friend wrong about her not being a freak. He plans to play more songs to get intimate with her.
Now, now Kanye, I know I told you to slow it down, baby
And it's good, it's all good, it's beautiful, it's beautiful
But now, I need you to do it faster, baby
Can you please? Do it faster baby, do it faster
Damn, baby, I can't do it that fast
But I know somebody who can, Twista
Kanye is asked to do it faster, but he can't. However, Twista can fulfill the person's wish to turn up the speed.
Got you looking at the glist on my hands and wrist
While I'm laying back smoking on my cannabis
When it come to rocking the rhythm like Marvin and Luther
I can tell you ain't no messin' with Kan man and Twist
Describing how he's wearing expensive jewelry and smoking weed while stating that he's good at making music like Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross.
In the Chi and I be sipping Hennessy, play some R&B
While I smoke a b, you can preferably find that I'm a G
And all this (well, well, well, well)
Come with me and sip on some Evelyn Champagne
You ain't know Twista could work it like The Whispers?
Describing how he sips on Hennessy and enjoys listening to R&B music while smoking weed. He's also inviting the person to drink some champagne with him. He also talks about The Whispers, a band known for their romantic tracks.
Hit the stop light, move it to some Isleys
These rims still moving so I bump a lil' Spinners
While I'm smoking on a b dipping through the streets
Bumpin' R&B and I got the heat on the 23's
And I do it (well, well, well, well)
With my Earth in the Wind smoking Fire
Describing his car ride, playing Isleys and Spinners music while smoking weed and enjoying his drive through the streets. Stating that he's got the heat (probably gun), and also talking about Earth, Wind and Fire (a popular R&B group).
Let me get ya sheets wet listenin' to Keith Sweat
Put you in a daze wit Maze
Fulfilling our every temptation, slow jammin' havin' deep sex
Describing how listening to Keith Sweat's songs can set the mood and make the sheets wet. Also saying that listening to Maze's songs can put the person in a daze and fulfill their desires of having deep sex.
You ready for the world, girl, come on go wit me
I touch you all over your body, baby, don't say no to me
And every moment controlling me
I'm lovin' the way you be holdin' me when I be listening to Jodeci
Asking the person to come with him and enjoy intimate moments while listening to Jodeci. He likes the way she holds him and doesn't want her to say no.
And when I come over and bend ya ass
You be bumping Teddy Pendergrass
I done hit it from the back to the melody and rode it slow
Now I got to go up in it fast, but I'ma finish last
No matter how much of a thug you see
I still spit it like it's R&B, come to the club with me
Describing how the person is bumping Teddy Pendergrass while having sex with him from the back. He's saying that he'll finish last, but he's always true to the R&B genre. He invites her to come to the club with him.
And when some Luther come on I hope you feelin' me
And still will be in love wit me, Chi ride
Yes it will
Oh, yes it will
Stating that when Luther Vandross' songs come up, he hopes that the person will still be in love with him. He also mentions how they're riding in Chicago.
Baby, drop another slow jam
And all the lovers need to hold hands
And if you ain't got no man, hop up in my Brougham
I keep it pimpin' like a old man, you gots to roll with the plan
'Cause if nothin' then I take it to the dome
When I get to bone, stay up in the zone
Gotta get you home, gotta run up on
And all the lovers, need to hold hands
'Cause if nothin' I'll take you to my home
We can get it on, disconnect the phone
Trying to get you gone, I'ma make you moan
Asking for another slow jam and requesting all lovers to hold hands. If the person doesn't have a partner, he offers his Brougham (car) and wants her to come with him. He'll get them in the mood and take them to his home, where they'll disconnect from the world and get intimate. He wants to make her moan.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Carl Mitchell, Kanye West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind