Their debut album One For All is one of the more popular and acclaimed alternative hip hop albums of the 1990s, known for socially conscious and politically charged content inspired by the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths.
1989-1992
Brand Nubian formed in 1986 after Grand Puba's original group, Masters of Ceremony, split up. Its first single, "Brand Nubian," was released in 1986. Signed to Elektra Records by A&R man Dante Ross, its debut album, One For All, was released in 1990. Generally acclaimed, the album drew fire for militant Five-Percenter rhetoric on tracks such as "Drop the Bomb" and "Wake Up." The controversy helped sales, though the album was still not a great commercial success. To date, the album has sold 350,000 units. A version of the Fab Five Freddy-directed video for the single "Wake Up," featuring a Black man in white-face makeup, was also banned from MTV. On MTV and from official WEA sources, this image was replaced by a Baptist preacher. The singles "Slow Down," "All for One," and "Wake Up" all became hits on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1991.
Shortly after its debut release, Sadat X and Lord Jamar began having problems with Grand Puba, which caused him to leave the group, along with DJ Alamo, to pursue a solo career. Lord Jamar and Sadat X enlisted DJ Sincere to join the group in 1992. The same year, Puba released his solo debut, Reel to Reel, which featured the hit single "360° (What Goes Around)".
Later in 1992, the Puba-less Brand Nubian released a hit single of its own, "Punks Jump up to Get Beat Down". The track was met with controversy over alleged homophobic content, referencing the Sadat X line "I can freak, fly, flow, fuck up a faggot/I don't understand their ways, I ain't down with gays." Despite the controversy, the single charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 77. Later versions omitted the line, including the version on the greatest hits compilation The Very Best of Brand Nubian.
1992-1996
In late 1992, the crew released its second album, In God We Trust. "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down" was included on this release, as well as the number-92 Hot-100 single, "Love Me or Leave Me Alone." The effort sold moderately well, fueled by the crew's continuing controversy. Also in 1993, the group contributed a track for the Menace II Society soundtrack, titled "Lick Dem..........."
The group’s next release, Everything is Everything, was issued in November 1994. The controversy kept growing, with further accusations of the group’s music being analogous to hate speech. The album received very mixed reviews and mediocre sales, despite the top-40 Hot Rap Tracks singles "Word is Bond" and "Hold On (feat. Starr)." In 1995, the group broke up, left Elektra, and launched solo careers in music and television. That year, Puba released his second solo effort, 2000, featuring another Billboard Hot 100 single, "I Like It (I Wanna Be Where You Are)." Sadat X released his first solo effort, titled Wild Cowboys (Loud/RCA/BMG Records), in 1996.
1997-2000
The original members reunited in 1997, contributing a song to the Soul In The Hole soundtrack, titled "A Child is Born". Another song, "Keep It Bubblin'," appeared on the 1997 Money Talks soundtrack. In 1998, the four original members returned with the album Foundation on a new label, Arista/BMG Records. The album received wide acclaim and featured contributions from a larger group of producers, including DJ Premier, Buckwild, Lord Finesse, and Diamond D. The lead single "Don't Let it Go to Your Head" became, at number 54, the group's highest-charting single on the Hot 100. In 2000, the crew once again teamed up with Buckwild of D.I.T.C. and released the underground single "Rockin' It," before the members continued their individual pursuits. Sadat X released a solo EP in 2000, The State of New York vs. Derek Murphy, on Loud/Relativity Records.
2001-present
Puba released his third solo effort, Understand This, in 2001, which received little attention despite featuring his fellow Brand Nubian members. The original members reunited once again in 2004 for the release of its fifth album, Fire in the Hole, their first release on an independent label, Babygrande Records. The album received mixed reviews and sold below expectations. Sadat X released another solo effort in 2005, titled Experience and Education, receiving mostly positive reviews. Jamar also furthered his acting career, recently appearing on an episode of The Sopranos, as well as episodes of Oz, Third Watch, and Law & Order. Lord Jamar released his first solo album, The 5% Album, June 27, 2006, on Babygrande Records. Sadat X's third full length album, titled Black October, was released October 2006. In 2007 the group released an album titled Time's Runnin' Out.
Sincerely
Brand Nubian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Grand Puba]
This one goes out to all the black woman across
the whole planet Earth, givin our black nation birth
So we dedicate this song, black woman
[Lord Jamar]
This one is for every woman I was ever with
The ones that I cared about and ones I just wanted to hit
I feel ashamed for all the times that I called you a bitch
And I, know I was wrong, can you ever forgive?
The negative, we used to use sex as a sedative
I abused your respect for me
I would choose to react disrespectfully
Never thinkin the impact would come back to me
Now I'm the son, and I know you're my reflection
Let me give you love and my protection
Proper education Allah's correction
Eternal lies, within your eyes
I hope you realize that I apologize, for all the lies
I never meant to make you cry - all the mistakes that I
may have made, and games that I played
Been put to an end, black women
Let me take this time, to let you know
You've been on my mind, and even though
I always haven't been kind
I want to show you that you really divine, sincerely
(repeat 2X)
[Grand Puba]
Now she's the most beautifullest thing in creation
She give me motivation causin constant elevation
Seein more than booty used in lustful situations
So feel the vibrations, she's the mother of our nation
Now for oh so long you stood by us so strong
even when we done wrong, so I dedicate this song
More priceless than a worldly treasure, you bring
love joy pleasure, countless things that are unmeasured
Some raise seeds all alone with no father in the home
but they still find the strength to continue on
I see you more than a crackhead or a chickenhead
or just a piece of somethin I'm tryin to get up in my bed
You often say a lot of times we demean
Sometimes we do to lift the hardhead ones up to queens
Our whole purpose is to give a proper surface
cause the black woman always is a queen
Let me take this time, to let you know
You've been on my mind, and even though
I always haven't been kind
I want to show you that you really divine, sincerely
(repeat 2X)
[Sadat X]
My fondest thoughts and memories go out witchu
And I'm sorry for that time that I hit you
The finest lights you radiate, you lookin bright
And that's why I love you with the chocolate skin
Finer things were never made in this world
There you are lookin like somethin worth somethin
Make me feel pride when you walk with me
Sit down and talk with me, for a minute
It's kinda hard for me not to stray
But I think I'm gonna start today
Hey I'm tryin, at least I ain't lyin
(Like that frontin ass, you know what I'm sayin?)
Send a rose to your wife, she probably saved your life
Put up with cheatin and she mighta got beaten
You can't build a _Foundation_ based on lies and deceit
I'm tryin to be right, I want my cypher complete
Let me take this time, to let you know
You've been on my mind, and even though
I always haven't been kind
I want to show you that you really divine, sincerely
(repeat 2X)
The song "Sincerely" by Brand Nubian is a poetic tribute to black women. It begins with Grand Puba declaring his dedication to black women as they give birth to and sustain their black nation. He acknowledges the immeasurable worth of every black woman across the planet and how they deserve respect and recognition. Lord Jamar also adds his contribution to the song by apologizing to the women he has been with in the past. He admits that he has mistreated them and used sex as a sedative to his own advantage. However, he promises to give them love, protection, and proper education, which is Allah's correction. Sadat X adds his own apologies and praises black women for being the finest lights that radiate in the world. He acknowledges their worth and praises their beauty, which he attributes to the chocolate skin they possess. He admits to struggling to stay faithful, but he promises to keep trying to be better.
The song acknowledges the strength and resilience of black women, who often raise their children alone without a father's help. It praises black women and credits them for being queens who should be respected and treasured. The song also acknowledges the mistakes that men have made in their relationships with black women, and it serves to apologize and make amends. It reminds us to give love, respect, and praise to the black women who play an essential role in our lives and society.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, black woman
The song is dedicated to all the black women across the planet who give birth to the black nation.
This one goes out to all the black woman across the whole planet Earth, givin our black nation birth
The song is a tribute to all the black women in the world who are responsible for bringing the black nation to life.
Nothin in this universe is worth your worth
Nothing in this universe is more valuable than the worth of black women.
So we dedicate this song, black woman
The song is solely dedicated to black women to honor and appreciate them.
This one is for every woman I was ever with
The rapper is apologizing to every woman he has been with in the past, regardless of whether he had a romantic interest in her or not.
The ones that I cared about and ones I just wanted to hit
The rapper is acknowledging that he had both romantic interest and only physical interest in the women he had been with in the past.
I feel ashamed for all the times that I called you a bitch
The rapper is apologizing for every time he disrespected and called women derogatory names.
And I, know I was wrong, can you ever forgive?
The rapper is admitting that he was wrong and is asking for forgiveness.
Let me give you love and my protection
The rapper wants to show the black women his love, appreciation, and protect them.
Eternal lies, within your eyes
The rapper acknowledges the struggles women go through every day, which are reflected in their eyes.
Now for oh so long you stood by us so strong
Black women have always been the backbone of the black community.
even when we done wrong, so I dedicate this song
The rapper is dedicating this song to black women who, despite the wrongdoing of men, have always been resilient and strong.
More priceless than a worldly treasure, you bring love joy pleasure, countless things that are unmeasured
Black women are priceless, and they bring joy, love, and countless things that cannot be measured.
Our whole purpose is to give a proper surface cause the black woman always is a queen
The purpose of the song is to highlight the fact that black women are queens and should always be treated with respect and dignity.
My fondest thoughts and memories go out witchu
The rapper is expressing his love and fondness for black women.
And I'm sorry for that time that I hit you
The rapper is apologizing to a woman he hit and abused in the past.
You lookin bright, and that's why I love you with the chocolate skin
The rapper loves black women because they radiate light and beauty that is unique to their melanin-rich skin.
It's kinda hard for me not to stray, but I think I'm gonna start today
The rapper acknowledges that he has strayed in the past but is committed to starting anew and treating women right.
You can't build a Foundation based on lies and deceit
A relationship built on lies and deceit cannot stand the test of time.
I want to show you that you really divine, sincerely
The rapper wants to show his appreciation for the divine nature of black women and their role in the black community.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DEREK MURPHY, GARY S. SCOTT, LORENZO DECHALUS, MAXWELL DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind