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.
Mi Amor
Angie Martinez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How you say my love in spanish? (Mi amor)
(How you say my love in thug) Can I hit it raw?
In the backseat of my jeep, or maybe on the floor
(Easy papi) Nah mami, teach me more
(Tráteme especial means treat me special)
I ain't got no time for that now, dame un beso
(Wanna keep a good girl like I told you before)
[Jay-Z]
I like fast cars, I love faster chicks
You don't need a small waist, I take ass and tits
Love chicks that deep throat, love being left alone
on a Sunday afternoon with the remote
Love having my cake plus eating it too
Shit, I got cake what the fuck I'm 'posed to do
Like chicks to dress, but I love a good shoe
Sophisticated mama with love for the hood too
Love sexing girls on that boricua shit
Love black girls that's when the Levi's fit
Chicks that play hard to get on that Aaliyah shit
If at first I don't succeed, then believe I split
Can you blame me? Young buck, dirty-ass pops trained me
Moms allowed it, daddy was about it (Bout it)
Game got inherited
Mama said if you find love you better cherish it
Teach me!
[Chorus]
I like to slow dance, I like to romance
I like to, stroll through the park holding hands
Ask me how my day was, tell me "Ma looking pretty"
On Sundays in the cut watching "Sex and the City"
Having long talks and good loving in the morning
Walk them dogs when my body is calling
Flesh air force cuts a wound with a line
No stress of course, cause I don't have the time
Like to wine and dine but please hold your liquor, 'cause
I'm rolling with ya and I hate a silly nigga
Like 'em rough and rugged, love it when you tug it
You bugging out of line on that thug shit is nothing
Dealt with cats before that I had to train
Dealt with cats that's poor and a cat with fame
One who played basketball and I had more game
So por favor, papi stay in your lane
[Chorus]
The song "Mi Amor" by Angie Martinez featuring Jay-Z is a playful conversation between two lovers who are trying to figure out each other's unique language of love. The chorus starts with Angie asking Jay-Z how to say "my love" in Spanish. Jay-Z responds with a crude and disrespectful line, as he asks if he can have unprotected sex with her on the backseat of his Jeep, or even on the floor. Not deterred by his response, Angie continues to ask Jay-Z to teach her more phrases in Spanish, and he responds with "Tráteme especial," which means "treat me special." Angie struggles to pay attention to the lesson as she is consumed by her love for Jay-Z, which she expresses by asking him to give her a kiss, despite his previous disrespectful comments.
In Jay-Z's verse, he talks about his love for material possessions, including fast cars and expensive shoes. He also expresses his love for women who are sexually adventurous and independent. He talks about his upbringing, where he was trained by his father to be a "dirty-ass pop," and his love for his mother, who encouraged him to find true love and cherish it. He asks Angie to teach him how to love in the way that she wants to be loved, as he recognizes that they both come from different backgrounds.
Overall, "Mi Amor" is a song that explores the challenges of communication in a relationship, particularly when two people come from different backgrounds and have different ways of expressing their love.
Line by Line Meaning
How you say my love in spanish? (Mi amor)
Asking how to say 'my love' in Spanish, which is 'mi amor'
(How you say my love in thug) Can I hit it raw?
Asking how to say 'my love' in a rough way, then making a sexually explicit comment
In the backseat of my jeep, or maybe on the floor
Suggesting intimate locations
(Easy papi) Nah mami, teach me more
Responding to a request to be taught more Spanish with a flirtatious phrase
(Tráteme especial means treat me special)
Translating the phrase 'tráteme especial' to 'treat me special'
I ain't got no time for that now, dame un beso
Saying there's no time for anything else, but still allowing for a kiss
(Wanna keep a good girl like I told you before)
Reiterating a desire to keep a good girl
(Easy papi) Yeah, teach me more
Flirtatiously requesting to be taught more Spanish
I like fast cars, I love faster chicks
Preferring fast cars and promiscuous women
You don't need a small waist, I take ass and tits
Stating a preference for curvy women
Love chicks that deep throat, love being left alone
Enjoying oral sex and alone time
on a Sunday afternoon with the remote
Enjoying downtime on a Sunday
Love having my cake plus eating it too
Enjoying the best of both worlds
Shit, I got cake what the fuck I'm 'posed to do
Acknowledging his wealth and wondering what he should do with it
Like chicks to dress, but I love a good shoe
Appreciating fashion, particularly shoes
Sophisticated mama with love for the hood too
Preferring a classy woman who also appreciates the hood
Love sexing girls on that boricua shit
Preferring sex with Latina women
Love black girls that's when the Levi's fit
Preferring to see black women in jeans that fit well
Chicks that play hard to get on that Aaliyah shit
Appreciating women who play hard to get, like Aaliyah's song 'Are You That Somebody?'
If at first I don't succeed, then believe I split
If he doesn't get what he wants, he moves on
Can you blame me? Young buck, dirty-ass pops trained me
Asking if he should be blamed for his actions, given his upbringing by his father
Moms allowed it, daddy was about it (Bout it)
His mother allowed his behavior while his father encouraged it
Game got inherited
Explaining that his behavior was passed down to him
Mama said if you find love you better cherish it
His mother told him to cherish love if he finds it
Teach me!
Asking to be taught more about love and relationships
I like to slow dance, I like to romance
Enjoying romantic gestures
I like to, stroll through the park holding hands
Enjoying walks through the park while holding hands
Ask me how my day was, tell me "Ma looking pretty"
Wanting to be asked about his day while also receiving compliments
On Sundays in the cut watching "Sex and the City"
Enjoying watching 'Sex and the City' on Sundays
Having long talks and good loving in the morning
Enjoying long conversations and morning sex
Walk them dogs when my body is calling
Taking care of responsibilities, even when he's in the mood for sex
Flesh air force cuts a wound with a line
Wearing Air Jordans causes pain
No stress of course, cause I don't have the time
Not stressing about things he doesn't have time for
Like to wine and dine but please hold your liquor, 'cause
Preferring classy dates, but not wanting someone who gets too drunk
I'm rolling with ya and I hate a silly nigga
Not wanting to be associated with silly people
Like 'em rough and rugged, love it when you tug it
Preferring rough sex
You bugging out of line on that thug shit is nothing
Saying that being overly aggressive is not impressive
Dealt with cats before that I had to train
Dated men in the past who had to be taught how to treat her
Dealt with cats that's poor and a cat with fame
Dated both poor men and famous men
One who played basketball and I had more game
Dated a basketball player, but had better game than him
So por favor, papi stay in your lane
Asking a man to stay in his own lane, or not try to overstep
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHAWN CARTER, SHAWN C CARTER, ANGIE MARTINEZ, DANA STINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cibida1
Don’t forget to Like and Subscribe!🙏🏿
@ryannelson6451
I Miss this era, I was in the 6th grade when I first heard this in late 2000 growing up in The Bronx. When the first time you heard Bangers was either on the radio or cars driving by blasting their speakers, that's how you knew what was hot. 🔥🔥
@hawamahdi3836
1989? Me too
@papicryptocraven797
Angie killed it
@itspoliticsasusual
Jay wrote it lol
@denaliboi
Still banging HAM in 2021!!! What a time to be alive 💯
@nicolewarrenpouncy6073
This Song was a banger!! I loved this version of Jay-Z
@cibida1
Clarice Pouncy at his prime
@dwn2earthpinay
Damn I love Angie! This album was my jam the Summer of 2001 after my high school graduation. LOL
@tyronemiles7125
This was my baby mom song I remember early in the morning she used to blast this 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂