Although Dwele has had somewhat of a short career as a commercially avaliable artist, he has a vast catalogue of material currently unreleased that die-hard fans revere as some of his best work, considerably superior to his material released as a signed artist that showcases the true depth of his artistic and diverse talent, displayed without constraint.
Gardner was raised on the west side of Detroit in a musical family. He played piano from the age of six, later taking up trumpet, bass and guitar. He was deeply affected by the fatal shooting of his father outside his home when he was age ten, later stating "I learned to put my emotions into music; it was my therapy."
He cites Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Roy Ayers, Miles Davis, and Freddie Hubbard as favorite artists, and took inspiration from hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, becoming an MC, and working with Slum Village. Gardner recorded a demo in his bedroom, called, The Rize, and sold it out of the trunk of his car. He had about 100 copies, which sold out within a week. He caught the ears of local heroes Slum Village and more specifically their world-renowned producer J Dilla. Slum Village invited Dwele to sing the hook of the song "Tainted" for their album Trinity (Past, Present and Future). It became an instant classic and led to more high profile work with female rapper Bahamadia, the all-star group Lucy Pearl and London's New Sector Movement. Dwele signed to Virgin Records in 2003, who released his debut album, Subject, which mixed neo soul and hip hop. In a 2005 review in The Independent, his style was summed up: "Dwele's rooted in vintage soul but isn't stuck in the past, overly reverential or an exercise in pastiche - there's a major hip-hop edge which betrays his original incarnation as a rapper." A second album, Some Kinda..., followed in 2005. He then later signed with RT Music Group and KOCH records in March, 2008. He is coming out with his fourth album titled, W.W.W. (W.ants. W.orld. W.omen) coming out June 29, 2010. Dwele was recently featured on the first single off of Kanye West's fifth studio album, Good Ass Job. The song was entitled "Power" and was leaked on May 28, 2010.
Dim The Lights
Dwele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then I want it (then I want it)
We should get it (we should get it)
You want my moves (you want my moves)
Deep in your womb (deep in your womb)
Let's play hide my friend (let's play hide my friend)
In your bedroom
I want you to say
How much you can take (what you want from me)
Dim the lights baby
I want you this way
How much can you take
What I want from you
You want my lips (you want my lips)
On you (on you)
I want your hips (I want your hips)
On me (on me)
We want this feeling to last
Last always (last always)
Eternity
I got what you want baby
I'll be your confidant
To wrap your problems (to wrap your problems)
If that's what you want (if that's what you want)
All my life (all my life)
I wanted (I wanted)
Someone like you (someone like you)
To want me too
Dim the lights baby
I want you to say
How much you can take (what you want from me)
Dim the lights baby
I want you this way
How much can you take
What I want from you
I'm in a zone
Sh*t feels good
Show me what you need girl
I wanna feel your world
Just take me in your world
Pass the gin
You can touch my manhood
You look good on your nightstand
You need to feel my body move
Inside you like grown folks do
I wanna feel ya body move
Watch what Dwele do
I make it feel payday too
You gone tell your girls bout this dude
Every girl want a friend
Fuck that every woman want a man
Dim the lights baby
I want you to say
How much you can take (what you want from me)
Dim the lights baby
I want you this way
How much can you take
What I want from you
In "Dim The Lights," Dwele Feat. Raheem DeVaughn delves into the topic of intimacy between two individuals. The lyrics suggest that the message is about a couple engaged in a romantic situation, and they are exploring each other's bodies to the fullest. The first verse begins with both individuals expressing a mutual interest in each other, with the singer urging the other person to engage deeply with them. The second verse contains more explicit language, with the singer essentially speaking about the physical act of sex. They encourage the other individual to let them in and allow themselves to experience an intimate moment that they will both enjoy.
The chorus of the song is straightforward and reiterates the idea of a romantic moment between two people. The refrain describes the dimming of the lights to create an atmosphere of intimacy to value the moment as they explore each other's bodies. The bridge of the song conveys an undeniable chemistry between the two individuals as they connect on a physical and personal level emotionally.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want it (if you want it)
I'm willing to give you what you desire, but I need to know if it's what you truly want.
Then I want it (then I want it)
Once you've confirmed that you want it, I'm also interested in having it.
We should get it (we should get it)
Let's work together to make it happen, whatever it may be.
You want my moves (you want my moves)
You desire my physical actions and expressions.
Deep in your womb (deep in your womb)
You want me to deeply connect with you on an intimate, sexual level.
Let's play hide my friend (let's play hide my friend)
Let's engage in a playful sexual activity, perhaps a game of hide and seek in your bedroom.
In your bedroom
The suggested location for our sexual activity is your bedroom.
Dim the lights baby
Turn down the light levels, to set a mood of intimacy and privacy.
I want you to say
I need you to communicate your desires, so I know what will give you pleasure.
How much you can take (what you want from me)
How much stimulation can you handle, and what specific actions will meet your needs?
You want my lips (you want my lips)
You desire the sensation of my lips on your body.
On you (on you)
You want me to focus that sensation specifically on your body.
I want your hips (I want your hips)
I desire physical closeness to you, specifically by embracing your hips.
On me (on me)
You want to experience physical contact with me as well.
We want this feeling to last
We both desire the physical and emotional sensations to continue for an extended time.
Last always (last always)
We both want these feelings to persist indefinitely.
Eternity
We use this term to emphasize the idea that we want these intimate and emotional connections with each other to last forever.
I got what you want baby
I can fulfill your desires.
I'll be your confidant
You can trust me with your deepest secrets and desires.
To wrap your problems
I can help you process and overcome the issues weighing on your mind.
If that's what you want (if that's what you want)
I am here to support and care for you, but I will respect your boundaries if there are topics you don't want to discuss.
All my life (all my life)
For my entire existence, I have desired a particular type of partner.
I wanted (I wanted)
This has been a long-term desire and yearning for me.
Someone like you (someone like you)
I have been searching for someone with your specific qualities and characteristics for a long time.
To want me too
I have been waiting for someone to reciprocate my feelings of attraction and desire.
I'm in a zone
I am fully focused and present in this moment with you.
Sh*t feels good
I am experiencing a strong sense of pleasure and enjoyment.
Show me what you need girl
Tell me what you want and how I can satisfy you.
I wanna feel your world
I want to deeply connect with you on a physical and emotional level, experiencing the world as you perceive it.
Just take me in your world
I am willing to be immersed in your perspective and experience of the world.
Pass the gin
Let's share some alcoholic beverages to unwind and relax.
You can touch my manhood
I am willing to engage in sexual activities of a physical nature.
You look good on your nightstand
The visual image of you in your bedroom is very pleasing to me.
You need to feel my body move
I want you to feel the physical sensations of my movements during our intimate activities.
Inside you like grown folks do
I want to engage in sexual activities with you in a mature and adult manner, expressing our desires and pleasure openly and honestly.
Watch what Dwele do
Observe and enjoy my actions during our intimate activities.
I make it feel payday too
I am capable of providing you with the physical and emotional sensations you desire and it feels as satisfying as receiving a paycheck.
You gone tell your girls bout this dude
You will share the details of our physical and emotional connection with your close female friends.
Every girl want a friend
All people desire a close, intimate companion in their lives.
Fuck that every woman want a man
However, in this specific context, you desire a man as your intimate companion.
Dim the lights baby
Turn down the light levels, to set a mood of intimacy and privacy.
I want you to say
I need you to communicate your desires, so I know what will give you pleasure.
How much you can take (what you want from me)
How much stimulation can you handle, and what specific actions will meet your needs?
Dim the lights baby
Turn down the light levels, to set a mood of intimacy and privacy.
I want you this way
I want you to be open and honest about your desires, so we can experience pleasure together.
How much can you take
I want to know your limits and what you can handle, so we can both have a positive and satisfying experience.
What I want from you
I am willing to satisfy your desires, but I also have needs and want to communicate them openly.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
holup4
omg...dwele....and raheem devaughn on the SAME TRACK!!! i had to pause it just to catch my breath!! omg these men with these voices and lyrics!!! i'm just too overwhelmed!!! they need WAY MORE play!!
Brandahli
Omg I had an entire eargasam!
Patina Edochié
Definitely a classic collab with both of them on some grown man shii and this track stillll goes hard omggg! 🔊🎶🔥😩💦🌊🤤💪🏽🏆💯👑
KETAJ1
THIS IS OFF THE CHAIN ... THE BEAT IS BANGIN AND I LOVE TO HEAR DWELE SPITTIN OVER THIS TRACK
Mz Nurú
These two brothas keepin soul music alive!
Terrace Long
This joint is just SICK. "Radio" Raheem and Dwele...two of the best "soul" cats in the business
Rasha Richardson
I still bump this in 2018!
I love him & raheem devaughn. They're underrated. 😣😡😔😒
Piano with Brandy
still bumping in 2022...i totally forgot about this song.
chokolate29
OMG I love this track. Now why didn't his A&R team do a good job of promoting this CD? I just found out about it and I don't sleep under a rock when it comes to music....Dang like I knew of a single he had from this CD but that's the only track they play on the radio....DWELE is soooo under rated man! What a shame this man knows music like no other his beats and production is soooo fly. I love you Dwele- Nita from Pontiac, MI.
Galaxy Music
This will always be my favorite song by Dwele. 😎