In 2001, "What Would You Do?" was released as part of the band's eponymous debut to radio with a new mix that interpolated Dr. Dre's The Next Episode into the bridge. The song, a story seen from different perspectives about a young woman who becomes a stripper to feed her child, became a U.S. Pop #8 and R&B #13 hit. The band's follow-up single, Caramel, found Ortiz singing lead and Pardlo on the bridge. In the original version, there is also a section where Ortiz sings in Spanish. For radio release, the song was remixed to include the rapper Eve. "Caramel" was a U.S. Pop #18 and R&B #9 hit. The remix was done by Trackmasters. The final single from the group's debut was City High Anthem, which failed to make a big impact on urban and top 40 markets. Once again, however, a remix was released, featuring rapper Styles P.
In early 2002, City High shot several mini music video commercials for MTV based on their own songs promoting the 11th season of The Real World set in Chicago.
Their debut self-titled album sold millions and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003. City High members Ryan Toby and Claudette Ortiz got married on October 14, 2004.
City High disbanded in 2003.
Didn't Ya
City High Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That be pagin' you and callin' all night?
Just tell me please
Ain't no need for you to try and lie now.
Where did you go
When you said that you where gonna be here, boy, don't ya know?
Today I followed you over her crib.
Ya thought I didn't see ya now didn't ya
Tried to sneak by me now didn't ya, didn't ya
Ya gonna be sorry cause I aint the one
Ya tried to sneak by me now, didn't ya didn't ya.
Now I, won't cry
Cause honestly I knew it all the time but,
Deep inside the love I had for you was keeping me blind, but
I've made up my mind
I'm tired of giving yaw scrub-ass niggas my heart.
Now boy, you and that broad
'bout to meet with the lord.
Cause now it's too late
(What are you gonna do)
I lost my control
(puttin' my trust in you)
Keep this on ya mind
(Every last dog gets caught some time, bye-bye)
Ya must've been crazy, crazy and dumb,
Ya thought I didn't see ya now didn't ya
Tried to sneak by me now, didn't ya, didn't ya
Ya gonna be sorry cause I ain't the one
Ya tried to sneak by me now, didn't ya didn't ya.
Sorry,
I didn't mean to do what I done.
I'm only wrong for lovin' you too much,
Now I'm sittin' in these damn 'cuffs, locked up.
(Damn)
Ya must've been crazy, crazy and dumb,
Ya thought I didn't see ya now didn't ya
Tried to sneak by me now, didn't ya, didn't ya
Ya gonna be sorry cause I ain't the one
In City High's "Didn't Ya," the singer is confronting her partner about his infidelity. She asks who the woman is that keeps paging and calling him all night, and then accuses him of lying about his whereabouts when he promised to be with her. She admits that she knew all along but her love for him blinded her from the truth. Now, she is done and won't be giving her heart to "scrub-ass n****s" anymore. The song is a powerful statement about the strength of women and their refusal to tolerate cheating and dishonesty.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes that she knew what was going on all along. This shows the importance of trust and communication in relationships. When partners are truthful with each other, they can avoid situations like the one depicted in the song.
The chorus emphasizes the idea that everyone eventually gets caught for their wrongdoings, implying that the person who cheated will face consequences. The singer further reinforces this idea by stating that her partner and the woman he cheated with are "about to meet with the lord."
Line by Line Meaning
Who is she?
City High is suspicious of their partner who is being paged and called by an unknown person.
That be pagin' you and callin' all night?
The unknown person is continuously contacting City High's partner through calls and pages.
Just tell me please
City High wants their partner to be honest and confess the truth.
Ain't no need for you to try and lie now.
City High is sure that their partner is lying but wants them to confess anyway.
Where did you go
City High is questioning their partner's whereabouts when they had promised to be present.
When you said that you where gonna be here, boy, don't ya know?
City High is reminding their partner that they had promised to show up but did not follow through.
Today I followed you over her crib.
City High followed their partner to the house of the unknown person and has caught them red-handed.
Ya must've been crazy, crazy and dumb,
City High believes their partner is foolish for thinking they wouldn't get caught.
Ya thought I didn't see ya now didn't ya
City High's partner wrongly assumed that they could sneak past them without getting caught.
Tried to sneak by me now didn't ya, didn't ya
City High is calling out their partner's attempt to deceive them.
Ya gonna be sorry cause I aint the one
City High's partner will regret lying and cheating on them.
Now I, won't cry
City High will not weep over their partner's betrayal.
Cause honestly I knew it all the time but,
City High has been aware of their partner's infidelity for a while, but was blinded by love.
Deep inside the love I had for you was keeping me blind, but
Despite knowing about their partner's actions, City High continued to love them and overlooked their mistakes.
I've made up my mind
City High has decided to put an end to the relationship.
I'm tired of giving yaw scrub-ass niggas my heart.
City High is exhausted from investing their emotions into undeserving partners.
Now boy, you and that broad
City High is addressing their partner and the unknown person they were caught with.
'bout to meet with the lord.
City High is suggesting that their partner will face divine punishment for their wrongdoings.
Cause now it's too late
City High's partner has lost their chance to come clean and salvage the relationship.
(What are you gonna do)
City High is questioning their partner's actions and decisions.
I lost my control
City High acknowledges that they were overcome with emotions when they faced the reality of their partner's infidelity.
(puttin' my trust in you)
City High trusted their partner completely but was betrayed in return.
Keep this on ya mind
City High wants their partner to remember the consequences of their actions and think twice before repeating them.
(Every last dog gets caught some time, bye-bye)
City High is reminding their partner that their unfaithful ways will catch up to them eventually, and the relationship is over.
Sorry,
The partner expresses regret for their actions.
I didn't mean to do what I done.
The partner admits to their wrongdoing but claims not to have intended to hurt City High.
I'm only wrong for lovin' you too much,
The partner acknowledges the depth of City High's love but downplays their own mistakes.
Now I'm sittin' in these damn 'cuffs, locked up. (Damn)
The partner is facing the consequences of their actions and has been arrested for it.
Ya thought I didn't see ya now didn't ya
City High is repeating their accusation of their partner's deception and infidelity.
Tried to sneak by me now, didn't ya, didn't ya
City High is reiterating their partner's attempts to deceive them.
Ya gonna be sorry cause I ain't the one
City High's partner will regret their actions as they have lost someone who loved them deeply.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RYAN TOBY, SALAAM REMI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind