Born in McComb, Mississippi, Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album, Brandy, the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Norwood ventured into acting with the UPN sitcom Moesha (1996–2001), which won her an NAACP Image Award, and resulted in numerous other roles, such as the titular character in the television film Cinderella (1997) and Karla Wilson in the slasher film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Her musical breakthrough came with the wildly successful single "The Boy Is Mine" (1998), a duet with fellow R&B contemporary Monica, which went on to become one of the best selling female duets of all time. Her second album, Never Say Never, won Norwood her first Grammy Award. In 2002, Norwood starred in the reality series Brandy: Special Delivery, documenting the birth of her daughter. Her third and fourth albums, Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004), were released to critical success.
Norwood served as a judge on the first season of America's Got Talent before being involved in a heavily publicized car accident in 2006. Norwood's fifth album, Human (2008), was released to positive reviews, although it was a commercial failure. In 2010, she returned to television as a contestant on the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars and starred in the reality series Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business. She was a series regular in the BET series The Game (2012–2015) and released her sixth album Two Eleven (2012) thereafter, both earning her critical praise. In April 2015, Norwood made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. She starred in and executive produced a sitcom titled Zoe Ever After on BET which premiered in January 2016. In July 2020, Norwood released her seventh studio album, B7, also her first project as an independent artist, to critical acclaim. In 2021, Norwood starred alongside Naturi Naughton, Eve and Nadine Velazquez in American Broadcasting Company's music drama series Queens to critical acclaim.
In June 2022, Norwood announced her major label return after signing with Motown Records under which she is expected to preprare her eighth studio album.
What About Us
Brandy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, Darkchild
Uh, B-Rocka, let's go
Why don't you return my calls?
Why you trip out where I be?
You don't ever come to see me
You say that you're too busy (what?)
What the hell? I don't have time
Why you messin' with my mind?
I can find another guy
Someone who will treat me right
I don't need this bull ish
I won't put up with it any longer
You can go if you want
I don't need your pity
I will be just fine if
You decide that you want to leave
Close the door behind you
I just want to know what
What about all of the things that you said?
What about all of the promises that you made?
What about all of the ice that you gave?
What about all of the things you told me?
What about all of the things that you said?
What about all of the promises that you made?
What about all of the, the ice that you gave?
What about, what about?
What about us? (What about it?)
What about us, us? (What about it?)
What about us? (What about it?)
What about us, us? (What about us?)
I thought you said you were different
Was that what I heard you say?
Said that you'd love only me
Thought that you'd be all I need (what?)
What happened to promises?
Said that you were a better man
Your words have no weight with me
'Cause you're counterfeit, I see
I don't need this bull ish
I won't put up with it any longer
You can go if you want
I don't need your pity
I will be just fine if
You decide that you want to leave
Close the door behind you
I just want to know what
What about all of the things that you said?
What about all of the promises that you made?
What about all of the ice that you gave?
What about all of the things you told me?
What about all of the things that you said?
What about all of the promises you made me?
What about all of the ice that you gave?
What about, what about?
What about us? (What about it?)
What about us, us? (What about it?)
What about us? (What about it?)
What about us, us? (What about us?)
Baby, check it out, hear this
Now what if I said that you wasn't fit to be with
Now what if I told you the game we played, I rigged it
Then what if I said it wasn't true, so do you
You and I know, without me, there's no you
So what about the bills that were past due, paid for you
All you said to me is, "Baby, I owe you" (uh-huh)
Forget about the brand new life that I gave you
Now what about us to me, now what about us to me (what about us?)
What about all of the things that you said? (What about em?)
What about all of the promises that you made? (Woo)
What about all of the ice that you gave? (Uh-huh)
What about all of the things you told me? (Yeah)
What about all of the things that you said? (Uh-huh)
What about all of the promises that you made? (Uh-huh)
What about all of the ice that you gave? (C'mon)
What about, what about, what about us? (B-Rocka)
What about all of the things that you said? (Let's go)
What about all of the promises that you made? (C'mon)
What about all of the ice you gave me? (Yeah)
What about all of the things you told me? (Yeah)
What about all of the things that you said? (Uh-huh)
What about all of the promises that you made?(C'mon)
What about all of the ice that you gave? (Let's go)
What about, what about, what about us? (C'mon, B-Rocka)
What about us? (B-Rocka)
What about us? (B-B-B-B-Rocka, y'all)
What about us? (It's B-Rocka, y'all, FJ)
Uh-huh (uh-uh, Ray J)
Uh-huh (uh-uh, Big Shiz)
Uh-huh (uh-uh, Big Bert)
Uh-huh (uh-uh, J. Matthews)
Uh-huh (uh-uh-uh, Fats)
Uh-huh (uh-uh, Kenisha)
Uh-huh (uh-uh-uh, B-Rocka, and Darkchild)
The song "What About Us" by Brandy is about a failing relationship where the singer confronts her partner about his insincerity and lack of effort. The chorus is the singer asking about all the promises, gifts, and sweet nothings her partner said and did, questioning if they were all just empty words. Brandy's lyrics indicate her frustration and inability to deal with the situation any longer. She's constantly waiting for her partner to understand her point of view, acknowledge his mistakes, and make things right, but he never does. The lyrics are a plea for communication and for her partner to take responsibility for their actions.
The song was written by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and Brandy. The track was produced by Jerkins, and Bass, Rock, and Brandy helped produce it. It was released as the album's second single in 2002 and was a commercial hit in the US and internationally. It peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart and number 2 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The music video was directed by Dave Meyers and features Brandy's ex-boyfriend Robert Smith.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't you return my calls?
Why do you refuse to answer my calls?
Why you trip out where I be?
Why do you get angry with me for being in certain places?
You don't ever come to see me
You never visit me.
You say that you're too busy (what?)
You claim that you're too busy (what is that supposed to mean?)
I can find another guy
I am capable of finding someone new.
Someone who will treat me right
Someone who will treat me with respect and kindness.
I won't put up with it, any longer
I refuse to tolerate this behavior any longer.
Close the, door behind you
Please shut the door when you leave.
What about all of the Things that you say
What happens to all the things you say?
What about all of the Promises that you made
What happens to all the promises you made?
What about all of the Ice that you gave
What happens to all the gifts you gave me?
What happened to promises?
What happened to the promises you made?
Your words have no way with me
I am not swayed by your words anymore.
Cause you're counterfeit, I see
I can see through your lies and deceptions.
Baby you should now hear this...
Listen to me now...
Now what if I said that you wasn't fit to be with
What if I said that you are not suitable to be with?
Now what if I told you you're game was played, I licked it
What if I told you that I figured out your scheme?
Yo what if I said I wasn't true, so do you
What if I said that I wasn't faithful, just like you?
So what about the bills that were passed due
What about the unpaid bills that we have?
Now what about us to me, now what about us to me
What about the two of us, how do I fit into this equation?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, Lashawn Daniels, Nora Payne, Kenisha Pratt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wernerwhitlow9964
This album could even have been released in 2020!!
@choloyolo8522
True!
@woke1497
Yeah it still has a fresh sound to date because of how the sound was produced
@yourfavoritecousindavin7744
I AGREE
@bktee8182
Dark child did his thang as always
@taqueenawitherspoon1585
YOOUU RIGHT!!
@la5081
This beat is INSANE! Her vocals are killing it too. Miss real R&B.
@adamgordon2572
DARKCHILD on the beat 🔥🔥
@ephre
i remember when it came out. It was so far ahead of everything else in pop at the time.
@bruhvibes5941
This sounds like it's trying to mimic Aaliyah...