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.
Wants
Dwele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't fall in love ?
Knowin' I still got these feelin's for you ?
It's been so long since I told you we was thru ?
You kept in touch and I touched as well ?
Thought we kept it cool
Now you Boo'd up ? found you some one to replace me that's whats up ?
Baby girl is cool but she's fallin' in love ? but I don't think I'm thru which you baby
I still choose you if you want to I still touch you,
If you want I'm here for you baby ?
I still choose you ?
If you want to I still crush you if you wan to ?
She's falling in love I wish that I could catch her and be that dude ?
But my arms are full 'cause I'm still holdin' you
? I could try to catch her but I get torn between the two and that's n'er cool ?
Why you with this dude its apparent he don't love you like I do
? he may have moves but
Baby ?
I got groove
? and deep down you know he can't groove you like I do
I still choose you if you want to I still touch you,
If you want I'm here for you baby ?
I still choose you ?
If you want to I still crush you if you wan to ?
I need you more then anyone has ever needed you you got me now
I know you're the only one to make me feel complete thru and thru
So just know that I got you if you want to
'Cause I don't think you're thru with me baby
The lyrics of Dwele's song "If You Want To" describe a situation where the singer is torn between his current relationship and his past love. He admits that he still has feelings for his ex and that he finds it hard to fall in love with his current girlfriend knowing he still has those feelings. He reveals that although they broke up some time ago, they have still kept in touch and have hooked up a few times. However, his ex has now moved on and is in a new, committed relationship. The singer himself has also found someone new, but he only did it for fun and not because he had moved on. He further expresses how he wishes he could be the one to make his ex-girlfriend fall in love again and that he is certain he can groove her better than her current man.
In the chorus of the song, Dwele makes it clear that he still loves his ex and is willing to choose her over his current girlfriend if she wants him back. He offers to be there for her in any way she needs him to, and he still has a crush on her. He even goes as far as saying that he needs her more than anyone has ever needed her and acknowledges that she is the only one who can make him feel complete. He hopes that his ex feels the same way he does and that she is not yet done with him.
Overall, "If You Want To" is a song about a man who is still in love with his ex-girlfriend and is left wondering if she feels the same way. He is torn between his current relationship and his past love, but he makes it clear that he would choose his ex if given the chance.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want to
The singer is addressing the person he is speaking to, while acknowledging that their future relationship depends entirely on what they want.
I can't fall in love ?
Despite what the other person may want, the singer cannot force himself to fall in love with them again.
Knowin' I still got these feelin's for you ?
The singer still has strong feelings for the other person but is unsure if they are reciprocated .
It's been so long since I told you we was thru ?
Despite breaking up and moving on to other relationships, the artist is aware that the other person kept in touch and vice versa.
You kept in touch and I touched as well ?
The artist and the other person have possibly engaged in hookups after breaking up but did not rekindle their relationship.
Thought we kept it cool
Now you Boo'd up ? found you some one to replace me that's whats up ?
The singer thought he could handle a casual physical relationship with the other person but is disappointed that they have moved on to a new partner.
I found me a girl but I did it for front ? (or fun)
Baby girl is cool but she's fallin' in love ? but I don't think I'm thru which you baby
The singer is currently with someone else just for fun, but is still uncertain about his feelings for the other person and thinks he is not over them.
I still choose you if you want to I still touch you,
If you want I'm here for you baby ?
I still choose you ?
If you want to I still crush you if you wan to ?
The artist is telling the other person that even though it has been a long time since they broke up, he still has strong feelings for them and would choose them again if they want to be with him. He is also open to touching them and being intimate with them if they want to.
She's falling in love I wish that I could catch her and be that dude ?
But my arms are full 'cause I'm still holdin' you
The artist is aware that the other person's new partner may fall deeply in love with her, but the artist is still holding on to his own feelings for her and cannot give her up.
? I could try to catch her but I get torn between the two and that's n'er cool ?
Why you with this dude its apparent he don't love you like I do
? he may have moves but
Baby ?
The artist is conflicted about whether to try to win the other person back or let her go to her new partner. He is also telling her that her new partner cannot compare to him in terms of love and affection.
I got groove
? and deep down you know he can't groove you like I do
The singer believes that he is the only one who can truly satisfy the other person both emotionally and physically.
I need you more then anyone has ever needed you you got me now
I know you're the only one to make me feel complete thru and thru
So just know that I got you if you want to
'Cause I don't think you're thru with me baby
The artist confesses that he needs the other person more than anyone else ever has and that she completes him in a way that no one else can. He assures her that he is there for her if she ever wants to come back to him because he doesn't think that she is truly over him yet.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Clayton Callender
this is why dwele is my favorite artist! i could care a less what people say/think... yall are witnessing greatness 2 the ears! one love dwele!
CenterStage816
I love when he sings, " Don't make me start a war in the cosmos!" -- it is serious out here!
Stephanie Moorehead
Oh wow! Dwele is the truth! This rendition of "Everybody Want To" is SICK!!! Love it! Love it! Love it!
Shaun Bygraves
A beautiful rendition.
C HILL
Simply amazing ❤ from Tears for Fears to Dwele...
dwil2002
Damn! Too nice! Keep these tracks coming! Thanks for the post.
Jeff
Dwele is crazy. This is toooo good
Lovon Viola
Beautiful Tears for Fears cover.
majorpayne59
Six years and this is still sweet to hear! I>
Lokki J
I love this songggg ❤