Transforming her wounds into a source of strength, Deemi crafts songs that speak to the perseverance of the human spirit. This is a true story - Deemi's story.
Act I - A Star Is Born
Born into a single-mother household in the Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) area of Brooklyn, Deemi became aware of her gift for singing at age 7, when she won first place at a neighborhood talent show with her rendition of Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love Of All."
"I still have the video from that day," Deemi says with a laugh. "I look like a little worm wiggling back and forth onstage with my little braid to the side, a yellow jumpsuit on, and some yellow jelly sandals."
At 13, Deemi began to formally pursue her craft, enrolling in Manhattan's prestigious Talent Unlimited High School, where she studied chorus and mastered the art of harmonizing. Despite her excellent academic performance, Deemi's singing aspirations would soon be derailed.
Act II - Growing Pains
At 17, Deemi became pregnant with her first child, Nathan. At her mother's request, she transferred to another high school and continued her studies. But, a year later, when she became pregnant with her daughter Felicity, Deemi was left with no choice but to quit school and obtain her GED.
To make matters worse, her already tumultuous relationship with her children's father was quickly deteriorating. "The verbal abuse came first," Deemi recalls, "and then it led to pushing, choking, and hitting."
When the couple relocated to Richmond, Virginia, the situation became dire. "That's when everything got worse," Deemi says. "I didn't have any family there, and I wasn't allowed to go out or make friends." Beyond her man's controlling ways, his physical abuse had worsened, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for Deemi to hide her bruised face.
Act III - Rebirth
In 2000, when her daughter was six months old, Deemi finally summoned up the courage to leave the abusive relationship and return to New York City. Three weeks later, her children's father was arrested for drug dealing and was imprisoned for two years (in January 2004, he was fatally shot in a drug-related incident in Virginia).
Upon her return to Brooklyn, Deemi focused on establishing her independence and rebuilding her self-confidence. She rented her own apartment, landed a job as a dentist's assistant, and attempted to piece together a new life for herself and her children. "For a while, I didn't know who I was, "Deemi confesses. "I had to learn myself all over again."
Act IV - The Next Episode
Back in NYC, Deemi formed the girl group DNA with some neighborhood friends and poured herself into her music. Her life took a fortuitous turn when, during an impromptu performance at a get-together held at one of the member's homes, she caught the ear of producer Chris Styles, who eventually signed her to his production company, Dangerous, LLC. Styles introduced her to Bruce Waynne, one half of production duo Midi Mafia (who would go on to craft hits like 50 Cent's "21 Questions"), and they soon began working on a demo.
After Deemi finished some musically impressive but lyrically generic songs, Styles urged her to sing about the struggles she'd endured. Styles's instincts proved spot-on: 2004's "So Hood," which featured a cruder, more earnest Deemi, was quickly embraced by mixtape heavyweights like DJ Envy and DJ Famous. "We were getting so many accolades that I knew it was the route we needed to take," Styles says. "Deemi's been through so much, but she's able to take all of that ugliness and make it beautiful." Finally, in 2004, Deemi was signed to Atlantic Records through Midi Mafia's Family Ties imprint.
Act V - The Takeover
With the completion of the aptly titled Soundtrack Of My Life, Deemi has delivered an impressive, powerful, and moving debut. As the album unfolds, Deemi leads audiences deeper into her world, walking them through a mosaic of experiences and emotions.
Deemi revisits old wounds in "How Do I," in which she speaks openly of a life of physical abuse, while she professes her loyalty to her incarcerated love in the ballad "I Don't Care." Meanwhile, "Little Girl," featuring Remy Ma, finds Deemi cautioning against the streets' allure over ominous drums and frenetic keys that create an urgent feel.
Free of smoke and mirrors, Soundtrack's power lies in Deemi's vocal prowess, her gift for relaying graphic detail, and her ability to channel emotion through each note. Says Deemi, "I'm not a victim - I'm a survivor." And with her poignant debut, she provides all of us with a soundtrack for our own survival.
Move
Deemi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gotta move, move
I gotta move, move
[Verse: Deemi:]
What the hell ya'll expect a girl to do
Life is like a game of chess I got to move
Now that I'm up in the game I'm not gon' move
Did ya'll all hear
Did ya'll get the news
My r&b ain't bubble gum
I speak the truth
From the hood to the booth
Bring it to you
(On the grind this is how I do)
[Chorus:]
I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up
I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up
I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up
I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up
I gotta move, move
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
I gotta move, move
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
[Verse: Deemi]
I gotta sing about the slums
That's where I'm from
Call it the city of God where kids carry guns
Little girls turning tricks to get the ones
(Whatever happened to?)
Tryna make a better way
Look out for mine
There go the ladder of success
I'm bout to climb
To the top, nonstop
I'm bout to shine
(Ain't nothing gonna hold me back this time)
[Chorus:]
I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up
I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up
I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up
I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up
[Rap: Fabolous]
My time is money
And ya'll ain't gon stop my tickin'
You know the kid be crispy like Popeye chicken
You prolly hear rumors about who I got my d*** in
But I'm not the one you spot by chickens
Or got by trickin'
I'm so Brooklyn I push the drop by Pitkin
Or the truck through Gates with the "Fuck You" plates
Niggas move when I come through
Or they gettin' some too
Shots'll be sprayin' man
I'm not gon' be playin
Cause I move like a you-haul
Smoother than you all
And the spots look like it's movin with que ball
When money ride up
With the jewelry that's sunny side up
Then you better have your honey tied up
Or she move when I come through
Tell your girl to come too
Double or nothin' girl
I'm publicly frontin'
So
Please believe me the wag is creamy
Who else make moves like Fab and Deemi
[Bridge: Deemi]
From the north, to the east
To the west and south
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
And if you don't know me
Better watch your mouth
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
Working hard everyday
That's what I'm about
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
It's time to get paid
Nothing left to say
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
[Chorus:]
I gotta move, move
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
I gotta move, move
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
[Outro: Man talking]
[Deemi:]
I keep it movin' up
Move!
Deemi's song Move is an anthem for perseverance and ambition. In the intro, Deemi repeatedly chants "I gotta move," reflecting her drive to keep moving forward in life. She then dives into the struggles she faced growing up, highlighting the obstacles she has overcome in order to succeed. Deemi is proud of her R&B music, which she describes as real and honest, as she seeks to speak truth to her listeners. She stresses her commitment to hard work and her desire to make her dreams come true. The chorus echoes her commitment to staying on the move, never letting obstacles slow her down.
Fabolous joins in the rap verse, emphasizing his own work ethic and ability to make money moves. His rhymes boast of his success, as he drives through Brooklyn and gets respect from all who cross his path. Deemi then takes over the vocals again, singing about moving forward to achieve success in all aspects of life. From the north to the south, Deemi is focused on working hard and getting paid.
Overall, Move is a motivational song about resilience and hard work. Deemi and Fabolous both share their stories of striving towards their goals and never giving up despite the obstacles they have faced. The song encourages listeners to keep moving forward and never let setbacks slow them down.
Line by Line Meaning
I gotta move, move
I need to keep moving forward.
What the hell ya'll expect a girl to do
I am a woman in a tough industry, but that won't stop me.
Life is like a game of chess I got to move
Life is a strategic game and I need to make the right moves.
Now that I'm up in the game I'm not gon' move
I have finally made it, and I'm not going anywhere.
(I'm so focused no time to be confused)
I am completely focused, there's no room for confusion.
Did ya'll all hear
Have you heard the news?
Did ya'll get the news
Were you able to keep up with everything that's happening?
My r&b ain't bubble gum
My music has substance and is not just catchy.
I speak the truth
I am honest and authentic in my lyrics.
From the hood to the booth
My experiences growing up in rough areas shape my music.
Bring it to you
I am here to deliver my music to you.
(On the grind this is how I do)
I work hard and this is what I do to achieve success.
I gotta sing about the slums
My music reflects the reality of where I come from.
That's where I'm from
That's the harsh reality of where I grew up.
Call it the city of God where kids carry guns
The area where I come from is ridden with violence.
Little girls turning tricks to get the ones
Young girls in this area resort to sex work to make money.
(Whatever happened to?)
What happened to the hope and promise?
Tryna make a better way
I'm trying to make a better life for myself and my community.
Look out for mine
I'm looking out for myself and my loved ones.
There go the ladder of success
I finally have a chance to climb the ladder of success.
I'm bout to climb
I am determined to succeed.
To the top, nonstop
I am going all the way to the top and won't stop until I get there.
(Ain't nothing gonna hold me back this time)
Nothing is going to stop me from achieving my dreams.
My time is money
My time is valuable and I won't waste it.
And ya'll ain't gon stop my tickin'
No one can stop me from accomplishing my goals.
You know the kid be crispy like Popeye chicken
I am confident and stylish.
You prolly hear rumors about who I got my d*** in
There may be rumors about my personal life, but it's none of your business.
But I'm not the one you spot by chickens
I am not someone who hangs around or associates with lesser people.
Or got by trickin'
I don't use cheating or trickery to get ahead.
I'm so Brooklyn I push the drop by Pitkin
I am proud of my roots in Brooklyn and it shows.
Or the truck through Gates with the "Fuck You" plates
I don't care what people think of me or my success.
Niggas move when I come through
People clear the way for me when I'm around.
Or they gettin' some too
People either help me out or get out of my way.
Shots'll be sprayin' man
Things can get dangerous when people feel threatened by my success.
I'm not gon' be playin
I'm serious about my career and won't let anyone stop me.
Cause I move like a you-haul
I am constantly on the move and progressing forward.
Smoother than you all
I am more successful and talented than my competition.
And the spots look like it's movin with que ball
My presence commands attention and everyone around me moves accordingly.
When money ride up
When I arrive with my wealth and success.
With the jewelry that's sunny side up
I have expensive and shiny jewelry that you can't miss.
Then you better have your honey tied up
If you have someone special around me, keep them close and safe.
Or she move when I come through
I have the ability to affect those around me.
Tell your girl to come too
If you want to be a part of my success, come along for the ride.
Double or nothin' girl
You could either gain a lot or lose everything by being associated with me.
I'm publicly frontin'
I am open and honest about my success.
So
Therefore.
Please believe me the wag is creamy
My car is luxurious and expensive.
Who else make moves like Fab and Deemi
There are no one else who can compare to us and our success.
From the north, to the east
Wherever I go, I am always moving forward.
To the west and south
I don't let barriers hold me back in any direction.
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
I am always making progress.
And if you don't know me
If you are not familiar with me and my success.
Better watch your mouth
Don't underestimate me or say anything negative about me.
Working hard everyday
I am constantly putting in the work to achieve my goals.
That's what I'm about
My work ethic and determination define me.
(I keep it movin', I keep it movin' up)
I am always progressing, moving forward.
It's time to get paid
All the hard work needs to pay off eventually.
Nothing left to say
There's nothing else to do but succeed.
Contributed by Ella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cameron Hailey
Do you have her full album?
Babysnoop
I got many songs from her but not an entire album. The project "Soundtrack of My Life" was cancelled back in the day. I can make a playlist with couple of songs ;)
Demetrus Johnson
@Babysnoop I have it I believe it was
shelved