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.
This is For the Lover in You
Babyface Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Word is bond, yeah
I will love you anyway baby
Anyway and every way I can
'Cause I'm that kinda man, yes
I will give you everything, baby
Give you more than any girl can stand
I'll talk about making love
In the shower least a hour
And let you dangle in my arms
'Cause love is power, can you feel it?
The sky's the limit once you reveal it
Your heart was wounded , God sent me to heal it
I'm on a mission ain't no stress love
Touch it with precision, just undress, love
I know the right position, come on, trust me, girl
Throw this rock up on your hand
I'll give you the world
Hey, yo, face, whoa
(Ooh, baby, baby)
On the real was the honey looking laced
[Chorus]
This is for the lover in you
This ring means I'll always be true
This is how we'll start love anew
This time's gonna last forever
I will love you all the way baby
Girl, that means this love will never end
I'll be your lover and your friend
I'll take you anywhere baby
Just say when and girl I'll take you there
I'm gonna take you baby, baby, baby
We're going from Tahiti to France to Italy in one night
Drop top Bentley Coupe parked in the spotlight
And you can drive it laced in all white
I'm wearing triple black, a Gear's top flight
Trips to Venice the man a steel when a menace
A match made in heaven when we blend this
Lovers everlasting in other words endless
To love any other man would be senseless in yor face
On the real was the honey looking laced?
[Chorus]
Ladies and gentlemen, Howard Hewitt
I can say I never met a girl, no, no
Who satisfied my mental and my physical thing
When I lay me down to sleep
I rest assured with the thought
That you are right, right next to me
[Chorus]
It's for the lover in you, baby
With this ring I'll show you there ain't no maybe
It's for the lover in you baby. oh, yeah, yeah
Oh this time's it's gonna last forever, and ever, baby
It's for the lover in you, baby, baby, baby
Oh, oh
It's for the lover in you, baby
And this time's it's gonna last forever
The song "This Is For the Lover in You" by Babyface is a romantic ode that expresses his commitment to a lover who has captured his heart both mentally and physically. The song is a tribute to the durability of love that is true and everlasting. He reassures his beloved that he will always love her no matter what and will give her all that she deserves, be her support system, and take her to new, exciting places where they can create ever-lasting memories. Babyface promises to bring joy and passion into her life, fulfilling all her needs and going the extra mile to make her happy. He affirms that their love can overcome any obstacles that may come their way, and it will last forever.
The lyrics of the song remind us of the beauty of true love and its ability to provide support, passion, and emotional stability. The song also emphasizes the importance of going to great lengths to impress and take care of the person whom we love. It gives you a glimpse of the kind of commitment required to build and sustain a lasting relationship. The powerful vocals and soothing melody of the song are perfect for listening to and singing along with your loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
I will love you anyway baby
I will love you in any way possible, no matter what happens.
Anyway and every way I can
I will use all possible ways to love you completely and without any reservations.
'Cause I'm that kinda man, yes
I am a man who is capable and willing to love you unconditionally.
I will give you everything, baby
I will give you all that I have, without holding anything back.
Give you more than any girl can stand
I will love you so much that you will feel overwhelmed with happiness and pleasure.
I'm gonna love you baby, baby, baby, baby
I will love you with all my heart, soul, and mind, all the time.
I'll talk about making love
I will never get tired of talking about love and making love to you.
In the shower least a hour
We will make love while taking a shower for at least one hour.
And let you dangle in my arms
I will hold you close to me and make you feel safe and loved.
'Cause love is power, can you feel it?
Love is a powerful force that can make us do great and wonderful things, and I want you to experience that power too.
The sky's the limit once you reveal it
Anything is possible once we declare our love for each other and make a commitment to stay together.
Your heart was wounded, God sent me to heal it
You have been hurt in the past, but I am here now to heal your heart and make you whole again.
I'm on a mission ain't no stress love
I have a goal to love you fully, and I am not worried or stressed about anything else.
Touch it with precision, just undress, love
I will touch you with precision during our love-making, and I want you to feel comfortable and undressed with me.
I know the right position, come on, trust me, girl
I am confident about my ability to find the best position for us to make love, and I am asking you to trust me.
Throw this rock up on your hand
Put this ring on your finger and make a commitment to love me forever.
I'll give you the world
I am willing to give you everything that I have and everything that I am.
This is for the lover in you
This song is dedicated to you, the one I love.
This ring means I'll always be true
This ring symbolizes my promise to always be faithful and loyal to you.
This is how we'll start love anew
This is the beginning of a new phase of our love, and we will start it with this commitment.
This time's gonna last forever
Our love is going to last forever, and we will be together always.
I will love you all the way baby
I will love you in every way possible, throughout our entire journey together.
Girl, that means this love will never end
Our love is eternal and will never come to an end.
I'll be your lover and your friend
I will not only be your lover but also your friend, always there for you through thick and thin.
I'll take you anywhere baby
I will take you to any place you want to go, and we will experience the world together.
Just say when and girl I'll take you there
All you have to do is tell me when, and I will take you to any place you want to go.
We're going from Tahiti to France to Italy in one night
We will travel from one exotic place to another, experiencing new cultures and cuisines all in one night.
Drop top Bentley Coupe parked in the spotlight
We will ride in a luxurious, expensive car, and everyone will be looking at us.
And you can drive it laced in all white
You can drive the car while wearing a beautiful white dress, looking stunning and elegant.
I'm wearing triple black, a Gear's top flight
I will dress to impress you and make you feel proud to be with me.
Trips to Venice the man a steel when a menace
We will travel to beautiful and romantic places, like Venice, and I will protect and take care of you always.
A match made in heaven when we blend this
We are the perfect match for each other, and our love will only get stronger as we blend our lives together.
Lovers everlasting in other words endless
Our love is infinite and will never come to an end.
To love any other man would be senseless in yor face
It would be foolish and meaningless to love any other man when you have me.
Ladies and gentlemen, Howard Hewitt
Introducing Howard Hewitt, who will sing the next part of the song.
I can say I never met a girl, no, no
I have never met a girl quite like you, someone who is so special and unique.
Who satisfied my mental and my physical thing
You are the only one who can satisfy me both mentally and physically, bringing me complete and utter fulfillment.
When I lay me down to sleep
When I go to bed at night and rest, I feel at peace knowing that you are lying next to me.
I rest assured with the thought
I feel confident and sure because I know that I have you by my side.
That you are right, right next to me
I know that you are with me, and that brings me great comfort and happiness.
It's for the lover in you, baby
This song is dedicated to the lover in you, the part of you that is passionate, loving, and caring.
With this ring I'll show you there ain't no maybe
This ring is a symbol of my commitment to you, and I promise that there is no doubt or hesitation in my love for you.
Oh this time's it's gonna last forever, and ever, baby
Our love will stand the test of time, and it will last forever and always.
It's for the lover in you, baby, baby, baby
This song is for you, my love, and I want you to know how much you mean to me.
Oh, oh
Expressing the joy and delight that love brings.
And this time's it's gonna last forever
This is not just a passing fancy, our love will last forever.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DANA MEYERS, HOWARD HEWETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HannibalHector714
This generation will never understand how DOPE the 90s were. ✌🏾😎
@brightemerald3924
FACTS!
@todayyesterday
it is our secret
@irenewairimu4200
Talented folks used their real voices
@chrisgerald1937
@Irene Wairimu a AAA aa@
@Brijax1
Yassssss
@kellynash8289
Almost 25 years later and this song is still hot. Love the Jody & Howard appearance...bringing r&b full circle. :) Babyface is a mastermind!
@stephaniejones4749
Yes, but don't forget Jeffrey Daniels is in there too
@desireewilliamsramos9524
Jeffrey Daniels was also a member of Shalimar!
@diamondgirlboss
You can't go wrong with BabyFace. Legend!