Angela "Angie" Martinez (born January 9, 1971, Brooklyn, New York) is an Am… Read Full Bio ↴Angela "Angie" Martinez (born January 9, 1971, Brooklyn, New York) is an American radio personality, former rapper, and actress. Known as “The Voice of New York”, her afternoon radio show has consistently been ranked #1 with more young listeners than any other radio program in the country.

Angie Martinez got her first break in radio at the age of 16 answering hot lines at the urban radio station WQHT ("Hot 97"). There she met popular DJ Funkmaster Flex, and began working as his protégé. Martinez quickly picked up on the craft of running a successful radio program. Executives at the station decided to give her a chance, even though she lacked on-air experience.

As an actress, Angie received small roles in independent hip hop films such as Blood is Thicker Than Water and Paper Soldiers. She then appeared in Brown Sugar starring Taye Diggs, Queen Latifah and Sanaa Lathan.

In 1996, Martinez was encouraged to give rapping a shot by friend KRS-One. She appeared on his track "Heartbeat" from his 1997 album I Got Next. After the song gained a strong fan following, another friend, Lil' Kim, offered her a spot on the "Ladies Night Remix" of her song "Not Tonight" for the Nothing to Lose soundtrack. Along with Missy Elliott, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Da Brat, the ladies enjoyed one of the most successful singles of 1997. It peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #2, and reached #1 on the Hip-Hop / R&B charts and the Rap charts respectively. The single sold over 1,000,000 copies and was certified Platinum. The ladies were nominated for two Grammy Awards that year, and were also invited to perform the song live on The MTV Video Music Awards. A major label battle began to sign Martinez to a recording contract. Her appearance on other rapper's material was in high demand. She recorded songs with Mary J. Blige ("Christmas in the City"), Terror Squad ("Freak Out"), N.O.R.E. ("Oh No Remix"), Beenie Man ("Tell Me Remix") and Funkmaster Flex & Big Kap's compilation album The Tunnel ("Wow"). She also recorded interludes for mixtapes by Kid Capri, DJ Clue and DJ Kayslay. In 2001, she appeared in the music video for Jay-Z and R. Kelly's "Guilty Until Proven Innocent".

On April 17, 2001, she finally issued her oft-delayed debut album, Up Close and Personal. The album included production by DJ Clue, Salaam Remi, Knobody and RocWilder among others, and featured guest appearances by Jay-Z, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Wyclef Jean, Busta Rhymes and Kool G. Rap. The first single, "Dem Thangzzz" was produced by The Neptunes, and also featured background vocals by Pharrell Williams and Q-Tip. The track failed to make a strong impression at radio, but the album enjoyed strong first week sales. It debuted at #32 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, and #10 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Charts selling 69,000 its first week. The second single, "Coast 2 Coast" (Suavamente) featuring rapper Wyclef Jean re-sparked interest in the album. She promoted the album with magazine posters, in-store signings, club appearances and television appearances with MTV and BET. The record received mixed reviews from critics, but like Martinez herself, was strongly accepted in the hip hop community. The album sold a low 325,000 units.

Following her first album's release, Angie began work on a second record Animal House. In order to build anticipation for the record, she appeared on BET's Rap City and began a nation-wide radio tour. She recorded a verse for the remix to her Artist Sacario record "Live Big". It became the number one record in the tri-state area and coincidentally coincided with the release of Martinez's first single from her second album, "If I Could Go" which also featured Sacario and singer Lil' Mo. "If I Could Go" became a huge crossover hit on pop radio, climbing into the top 10 on The Billboard Hot 100 Chart. It became the #1 played on urban radio in 2002. The album, Animal House (named after Martinez's own production company and recording posse), was released on August 21, 2002. It entered the Billboard Hot 200 Albums Chart at #11, and the Billboard Hot Hip-Hop / R&B Charts selling 92,000 units in its first week. The follow-up single, "Take You Home" featuring R&B singer Kelis didn't receive as much attention, but it did become a minor hit that winter. The album was more strongly received by critics and fans. Following the release of the album, she was featured on a remix for labelmate Lil' Mo's track "Gangster", and Nina Sky's hype single "Time to Go". Following this she announced she was retiring from the recording industry to concentrate on her other projects.

She has a son Niko Ruffin (born June 12, 2003) with Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin of Dru Hill.

Live At Jimmy's
Angie Martinez Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Corazon, (?) aiy aiy esta Angie Martinez, 'ta Cuban Link why Domingo
Una cosita aiy que te voy a poner para los pie,
A sete bailar, tu ve el berau; va se congio, tigeraso..

[Chorus]
Jimmy, "Copa Cabana," in Miami, Little Habana
Aiy.. Latin Quarters, la Gran Manzana
We're gonna party hasta por la manjana

Aiy.. Santo Domingo - tomando Mama Guana
Gozando en Columbia, Venezuela why la Bahamas
Aiy.. Costa Rica pero why Ti' Juana
Ven con migo mami, porque te van a robana
Aiy..

[Angie Martinez - overlapping Chorus]
Uhh, uhh, uhh, yo yo, yo
Bubble heavy in the club, double Henne' in the cup
Trouble and merengue make you move yo' butt
Got the fella's goin' nuts, girl it's too much

Got me four numbers already, the night's still young
Papi work the room, 'mance 'em like WHAT!
Mami got no shoes, hair done like WHAT!
Me, you - speed through

Yeah, yeah good to meet'cha; how you doin'?
Afraid to be the one baby take it floor
Don't say nuttin' dumb, maybe we could do more!
'Cause it's our night and it's okay!

Work hard - okay now we ready to play!
And the J, the I, the M, the M, the why, the J, the I, the M
At Jimmy's.. at Jimmy's!

[Chorus]

[Verse Two]
Uhh.. creep to yo' block in the black Cadillac
You could go wit' a grey Mac, BRRRA!
Run, duck; son, what the fuck?
See my tattoo, got Pun on my gut

Bag yo' chick; give a nun a million bucks
Curse me out, call me a bum and a slut
Cause I bust quick like a ton in a cut
Then I broke out wit' more guns in a stro'!

[Cuban Link]
Yo, yo..
Ain't nuttin' stoppin' us from droppin'
And rockin' the whole and droppin' us
The lockin' this down, strait up and down

We too hot to miss, we got the shit to make 'em loose it,
They can't refuse it,
'Cause it ain't nuttin' like hip hop music!
New shit! Took a merengue beat loot it

Exclusive, it died down, this shit stupid!
Who's this? Cuban Link, no te asuste!
Don't mean to drop the bomb, I got the fuse slit

[Chorus]

[Angie Martinez - overlapping Chorus]
Whoo, whoo.. hey!
Stro' like swellin', smoke everywhere
Dance all sudden, hands in the air
Par in the back, ballers in the rear

Find me 'round there, bottles by the beer, yeah
All right cause it feels real good
And good wood from a nigga in the hood
Ladies - shake it, shake it real girl should

Let it be understood,
That I'm wit' my friends and we ready to go
Connects wit' (?) to Santo Domingo!
And I, won't west 'til I poppin' at the show

Watchin' all my people shoutin' "Go, ma, go!"
So get it up, get it up (uh-oh, uh-oh!)
Shake it down, shake it down (uh-oh, uh-oh!)
If we havin' big fun (uh-oh, uh-oh!)
If you rep' Big Pun (uh-oh, uh-oh!)
Come on...

[Chorus]

[Big Pun]
Boriqua, morena; girl I want to take ya back to Cuba (Cuba)
Habana (Habana), see'mon you pretty mama
Jamaica, Puerto Rico or Santo Domingo
We could take it there!
Yeah, yeah; and put yourself try a player result

[Chorus]
... and put yourself try a player result..
... and put yourself try a player result..

... and put yourself try a player result..
... and put yourself try a player result..

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Angie Martinez's "Live at Jimmy's" showcase the rapper's love for partying and fun. Throughout the song, Angie talks about traveling to different places like Miami, Santo Domingo, Columbia, and Bahamas, having no worries, just enjoying life. She is in full party mode, looking to dance, sing, and meet attractive men. The song is a celebration of life, youth, and enjoying fleeting moments of happiness.

The lyrics also showcase the rapper's pride in her culture and roots. She mentions being with Cuban Link and Domingo and throws in a few Spanish words in the mix. The chorus of the song is incredibly infectious and has a chant-like quality to it. The lyrics are simple but effective and will have anyone listening singing and dancing along.

Line by Line Meaning

Corazon, (?) aiy aiy esta Angie Martinez, 'ta Cuban Link why Domingo
My heart sings as I perform with Cuban Link and Domingo

Una cosita aiy que te voy a poner para los pie,
I have a surprise for your feet,

A sete bailar, tu ve el berau; va se congio, tigeraso..
Let's dance, watch the floor; get wild, be a tiger..

[Chorus]
We're partying at various destinations including Miami, Santo Domingo, Columbia, Venezuela, and more

[Angie Martinez - overlapping Chorus]
I'm enjoying the night at the club with double Hennessey, merengue music, and attracting attention from guys

Got me four numbers already, the night's still young
I already got four guys' phone numbers and the night is still young

Mami got no shoes, hair done like WHAT!
I have no shoes on and my hair looks fabulous

Work hard - okay now we ready to play!
We've worked hard, now it's time to party

And the J, the I, the M, the M, the why, the J, the I, the M
We're at Jimmy's club

[Verse Two]
I'm driving in a black Cadillac and I'm armed with guns

Then I broke out wit' more guns in a stro'!
I brought more guns with me to the club

[Cuban Link]
Cuban Link is rapping about how hot their music is

Exclusive, it died down, this shit stupid!
Their music is exclusive and superior to everything else

[Angie Martinez - overlapping Chorus]
I'm having a great time at the club, dancing, and drinking with friends

Ladies - shake it, shake it real girl should
Ladies should shake it and show off their moves

Let it be understood,
It's important to know

That I'm wit' my friends and we ready to go
I'm with my friends and we're ready to leave

Watchin' all my people shoutin' "Go, ma, go!"
My friends are cheering me on

[Big Pun]
Big Pun is rapping about wanting to take a girl back to Cuba, Jamaica, or Santo Domingo

We could take it there!
We could go all the way

[Chorus]
The chorus describes partying at various destinations

... and put yourself try a player result..
This line means nothing as it appears to be a repetition of a previous line

Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SCOTT MCKENZIE, MICHAEL EDWARD LOVE, TERRY MELCHER, JOHN PHILLIPS, ANGIE MARTINEZ, CHRISTOPHER RIOS, DOMINGO PADILLA, FELIX DELGADO, LAWRENCE PARKER, SALAAM REMI GIBBS, AUTHOR UNKNOWN COMPOSER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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