Born in Chicago, Illinois, Jones' upbringing was rough. He struggled between wanting to be a musician and to be a member of a street gang. After a brush with death, Jones left the gang and focused on a music career forming the group Porscha. However, Jones was gaining notice as a writer penning songs for established R&B acts such as Usher, producing the singer's 1995 hit, "Think of You", 702's "Get It Together" and also wrote for groups such as Brownstone and Silk.
In 1996, he signed with LaFace Records and released his debut album, My Heart, which included his hit cover of Stevie Wonder's 1976 ballad "Knocks Me Off My Feet". It wasn't until 1999 however that Jones began to establish himself as a R&B hit maker with the album, Where I Wanna Be. The album yielded the number-one hits such as "U Know What's Up", which featured TLC member Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes and the title track. Other hits included "Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)" and "This Luv".
In 2002, Jones released the gold-selling Life Goes On album, which featured the hits, "You Know That I Love You" and "Put Me Down" featuring Styles P.. Four years later, he released his fourth album, Journey of a Gemini, which featured the Tim & Bob hit, "I'm Gonna Be", which became a big hit on Urban AC. Jones is currently writing songs for Usher, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey on their upcoming albums.
In The Hood
Donell Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up to no good, lets kick it like we really should
It's just an ordinary day
As I step on the scene, yo I'm steady maxin'
And I call up my boys 'cause I'm looking for some action
We need to kick it like we use to
Back in the days when we were known as the crazy crew
When we use to kick it with the G's and the homies
I would go back, yo if I could
This is for my peoples that still roll around in the hood
This is for my playas in the hood
Up to no good, lets kick it like we really should
It's just an ordinary day
Heads up on the ride she's a hottie
All the fellas break wide to summer bunnies
That's the way that we flex, yeah
Everyday on the O.G set
But keep it smoove
I keep it smoove on a move spit to the hotties
On a late night move to flex their bodies
That's the way that we hang
On a regular doing our own thang
This is for my playas in the hood
Up to no good, lets kick it like we really should
It's just an ordinary day
This is for the playas in the hood, up to no good
As we're rolling around, and we're doing our thang
This is for the playas in the hood, up to no good
As we're rolling around, and we're doing our thang
This is for my playas in the hood
Up to no good, lets kick it like we really should
It's just an ordinary day
Donell Jones's "In the Hood" is a celebration of his hometown and the people who made it feel like home. Jones reminisces about the good old days, when he and his friends were known as the crazy crew, and they would hang out with the G's and the homies. The song speaks of community and the bond that can be created through shared experiences. It is a tale of friendship, loyalty, and good times.
The opening lines, "This is for my playas in the hood, up to no good, let's kick it like we really should, it's just an ordinary day" set the tone for the song. It is a call to action for his friends to come together, have fun, and create new memories just like they used to. Jones's first verse, "As I step on the scene, yo I'm steady maxin, and I call up my boys 'cause I'm looking for some action," speaks to the importance of friendship and camaraderie, even when times are tough.
The chorus repeats the phrase "this is for my playas in the hood, up to no good, let's kick it like we really should, it's just an ordinary day" several times, emphasizing the importance of living in the moment and making the most of what we have.
Overall, "In the Hood" is a tribute to Jones's roots, his friends, and the community that made him who he is today. It is a reminder that no matter where we come from, we can always find comfort and joy with the people we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
This is for my playas in the hood
The message of this song is directed towards people who live in difficult neighborhoods
Up to no good, lets kick it like we really should
We may not always be doing the right thing, but we should at least hang out together like we used to
It's just an ordinary day
Nothing special is happening today
As I step on the scene, yo I'm steady maxin'
I'm showing up and feeling really confident
And I call up my boys 'cause I'm looking for some action
I'm trying to find something fun to do with my friends
We need to kick it like we use to
Let's hang out the way we used to back in the day
Back in the days when we were known as the crazy crew
We had a reputation for being wild and having fun
It's good to reminisce on the old days
It's nice to remember the fun we used to have
When we use to kick it with the G's and the homies
We used to hang out with our friends and associates
I would go back, yo if I could
I wish I could go back to those times
Heads up on the ride she's a hottie
Watch out, there's an attractive woman coming
All the fellas break wide to summer bunnies
All the guys are interested in attractive women in the summer
That's the way that we flex, yeah
That's how we show off our style
Everyday on the O.G set
We hang out every day in our original gangster environment
But keep it smoove
We need to keep things cool and smooth
I keep it smoove on a move spit to the hotties
I try to be cool when talking to attractive women
On a late night move to flex their bodies
We often stay out late and show off our dance moves
That's the way that we hang
That's how we like to spend our time together
On a regular doing our own thang
We often hang out and do our own things on a regular basis
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIELLE JONES, ROGER TROUTMAN, LARRY TROUTMAN, SHIRLEY J. MURDOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@quilt704
Who is listening with a smile in 2024?
@pharuqazeez2141
I am
@Tattman80
That 'Computer Love' beat/sample will always bang!!!!
@fabiuswiley4430
110% facts
@christopherserugwa9430
Then "Something New by Ty Dollar $ign ft Wiz Khalifa in 2017" was another great sample.
@fresh2cool957
@@christopherserugwa9430 lil Kim, Charlie Wilson & TPain “download” also
@treyvonnerobinson
@@christopherserugwa9430 no
@moaswrld
fr
@Johnlmooring
Summer of 96. I’ll never forget. One of the best years In music.
@trigger357
Facts