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.
What If
Babyface Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I asked her how you've been
She said my girl is fine; just bought a house, got a job, real good man
I told her I was glad for you; that's wonderful
But does she ever ask 'bout me?
She said she's happy with her life right now
Let her go, let her be
And I told myself I would, but something in my heart just would not let you go
[Chorus]
What if we were wrong about each other?
What if you were really made for me?
What if we was 'sposed to be together?
Would that not mean anything?
What if that was 'sposed to be my house that you go home to every day?
How can you be sure that things are better?
If you can't be sure your heart is still here with me
Still wanting me
Your friend asked me if there was someone special in my life that I was seeing
I told her there was no one in particular
There's just I, myself, and me
I told her that I dream of you quite often
She just cut her eyes at me
She said you got a home, you're very happy
So just stop your meddling
I told her that I won't
I said things were cool, but I guess I was wrong
I still can't move on
[Chorus]
Now that could be my car
That could be my house
That could be my baby boy that you're nursing
That could be the trash that I always take out
That could be the chair that I love to chill in
That could be my food on the table at the end of the day
Hugs and the kisses, all the love we make
What the hell do you expect me to say?
What if it's really 'sposed to be this way?
What if you're really 'sposed to be with me?
[Chorus]
The song "What If" by Babyface is about a man who runs into a friend of his ex-girlfriend and asks her about how she's doing. The friend tells him that she has moved on, bought a house, and is with a good man. However, the man can't stop thinking about her and wonders if they were wrong about each other, and if they were truly meant to be together. He questions if he is supposed to be the one to go home to her every day and if his heart is still with her. He talks about all the things that could have been if they were still together, such as the house, the car, the child, and the love they used to share. Overall, the song is about the man's regret about not being with his ex-girlfriend and wondering what could have been.
The lyrics of the song are straightforward and easy to understand. However, the emotion behind the lyrics and the way Babyface delivers them make the song extremely powerful. The song brings out the idea of regret and questioning what could have been if things were different. The song's metaphorical language and comparisons of what could have been add to the overall impact of the song. Babyface's vocals, as well as the instrumentation in the song, provide a strong, emotional backdrop to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I ran into a friend of yours the other day
I accidentally met someone who knows you
And I asked her how you've been
I inquired about your current situation
She said my girl is fine; just bought a house, got a job, real good man
She informed me that you are doing quite well in life
I told her I was glad for you; that's wonderful
I expressed happiness for your success
But does she ever ask 'bout me?
However, I was curious to know if you still remember me
She said she's happy with her life right now
Your friend told me that you are content with your current circumstances
Let her go, let her be
She suggested that I should move on and accept the situation as it is
And I told myself I would, but something in my heart just would not let you go
Although I intended to forget about you, I couldn't help but feel that we still belong together
I just want to know
I am just seeking answers
[Chorus]
Refrain
Your friend asked me if there was someone special in my life that I was seeing
Your friend questioned me about my love life
I told her there was no one in particular
I replied saying that I am single and not committed to anyone
There's just I, myself, and me
The only company I have is myself
I told her that I dream of you quite often
But, I confessed that I still dream about you
She just cut her eyes at me
Her reaction was disapproving
She said you got a home, you're very happy
She reiterated that you are happily settled
So just stop your meddling
Hence, I should not interfere in your happiness
I told her that I won't
I insisted that I can't help myself from thinking about you
I said things were cool, but I guess I was wrong
I tried to convince myself that everything was fine, but the truth is that it's not
I still can't move on
I am still unable to forget about you completely
[Chorus]
Refrain
That could be my car
I feel as if everything that reminds me of you is mine
That could be my house
I envision a life where we lived together
That could be my baby boy that you're nursing
I wish I had a shared responsibility with you
That could be the trash that I always take out
Even something as trivial as garbage reminds me of the little things we did together
That could be the chair that I love to chill in
I miss the moments spent together just relaxing
That could be my food on the table at the end of the day
I imagine we still share meals together after a long day
Hugs and the kisses, all the love we make
I long for your affectionate presence and intimate moments with you
What the hell do you expect me to say?
I am at a loss for what to say or do
What if it's really 'sposed to be this way?
What if we are destined to be together?
What if you're really 'sposed to be with me?
What if we truly belong together?
[Chorus]
Refrain
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARVEY JAY MASON, ERIC DION DAWKINS, DAMON E. THOMAS, ANTONIO LAMAR DIXON, JASON PAUL EDMONDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hoilife
I ran into a friend of yours the other day,
And I asked her how you'd bin.
She said 'My girl is fine just bought a house, got a job, real good man.'
I told her I was glad for you, that's wonderful,
But does she ever ask 'bout me?
'She says she's happy with her life right now, let her go, let her be.'
And I told myself I would but something in my heart just would not let you go.
I just wanna know...
What if we were wrong about each other?
What if you were really made for me?
What if we were supposed to be together?
Would that not mean anything?
What if that was supposed to be my house that you go home to everyday?
How can you be sure that things are better?
If you can't be sure your heart ain't still here with me,
Still wanting me.
Your friend asked me if there was someone special in my life that I was seein',
I told her there was no one in particular,
There's just I, myself and me.
I told her that I dream of you quite often,
She just cut her eyes at me,
She said you got a home, you're very happy,
So just stop your medling!
I told her that I won't,
I said things are cool, but I guess I was wrong.
I still can't move on.
Now that could be my car,
That could be my house,
That could be my baby boy that you're nursing.
That could be the trash which I always take out,
That could be the chair I love to chill in.
That could be my food on the table at the end of the day.
Hugs and the kisses, all the love we make.
What the hell do you expect me to say?
What if it's really supposed to be this way?
What if you're really supposed to be with me?
(Ooh!)
@FujiiKaze
What an underrated masterpiece!
@KarenSmith-xs7yz
Love BabyFace! Still listening 2023 ALWAYS WILL!! 🎤🎤🎤
@tinahudson1973
😮
@barbararay5712
Me too, Karen 😊
@MrBlactye
Maybe the greatest songwriter ever. Babyface has a song for any occasion.
@jonb4667
WISH PEOPLE CAN APPRECIATE HIS WORK MORE
@petrenavengreen
He's my favorite songwriter of all time. Babyface wrote so many hit songs from the 80s to now. And they are well written.
@strauqq1
Specifically "Two occasions" 🙊 I had to.
@frankfim
the very best that's ever been and stood the test of time.
@mariareeves357
He is the best songwriter ever