1) hip-hop
2) post-punk… Read Full Bio ↴Governor is the name of more than one artist:
1) hip-hop
2) post-punk
1) Governor started in Charles City, Virginia, when he graduated from high school. Governor, who plays the saxophone, trumpet and percussion, was accepted into the much-coveted Berklee College of Music, but he opted to form an R and B outfit a la Jodeci, named Case Closed. The group headed to New York City. Unsurprisingly, the group disbanded, and Governor went back to Virginia.
Governor returned to the Big Apple where he to nine-to-fiving and hustling. He eventually caught a break with indie cornerstone, Warlock Records, who via a production deal eventually released his debut, "Another State of Mind" (2000).
In 2002, Governor eventually landed himself in the company of the Trackmasters. By this time, Governor had altered his groove from the orthodox R and B delivery employed on his Warlock release, tapped into his hip-hop influences and came up with his current style. Governor recorded an amount of songs with the Trackmasters, most notably, the intoxicating "My Life," featuring 50 Cent-who was at the time also signed to the Trackmasters. In fact, Governor and 50 recorded about six songs together for a prospective album they tentatively named "Best of Both Worlds."
Not long after Governor and the Trackmasters decided to go their separate ways, he was introduced to his business partner "Haitian" Jacques Agnant and his cousin, producer Wyclef Jean. The two hit it off right away. Governor appeared on a Clef-produced song on Santana's "Shaman" (2002) and his "Preacher's Son" album (2003). Clef was indeed also responsible for Governor's signing to Atlantic Records. He walked Governor into music executive Craig Kallman's office, who signed him.
While completing the recording process for Atlantic, Governor received a call from Dr. Dre, who expressed his interest in producing six songs for Governor's major label debut. He flew to Los Angeles where he ended up recording over a dozen scorchers with Dre. Unfortunately the industry red tape got the better of the situation-Governor's work is, to this day, very unlikely to see the light of day.
Then he teamed up with Grand Hustle, the Atlanta-based label owned by Atlantic recording artist T.I. and his business partner Jason Geter, through a joint venture with Atlantic. "Grand Hustle gives me a direct connect to a million people," he says. He met with the former at the recommendation of Kallman, and the two immediately hit it off. Governor was confident their new alliance would help him bring his sound to lovers of both R and B and hip-hop alike.
Governor's debut for Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records, "Son of Pain," starts with the touching "Blood, Sweat and Tears."
Governor labels his musical blend "Soul Folk." "Folk music is about the story and the message," he says. "Soul music is about the feeling. R and B is so dead; I don't even want to consider myself R and B. Everybody wants to dance for massa. I don't dance, I boogie."
Governor wrote every song on his album. "Music is a vehicle for saying something," he says "It is an art. We already know what hustling's about... the street life. There's a whole other spectrum that our people don't talk about. Artists take their power for granted. At the end of the day, what you leave here when you go is more important than what you did."
He doesn't rely on hip-hop as a crutch for his vocal shortcomings. He is as proficient a singer. "I try to create timeless music but still incorporate some hint of the current era I'm in. Everybody that's young wants to be old, and everybody that's old wants to be young," says Governor. "I'd never go back though and listen to an O'Jays joint and try to switch the vibe from it and roll with it. That vibe is already in my blood. I was born with that."
Destiny
Governor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(verse1)
It was standing room only, shoulder to shoulder in a crowded room,
when I saw her for the first time,
on a summer evening in June
and I didn't even know her name.
what a hell of a way to start
I bought her a drink, we had a conversation that made me think,
could she be the one, to be my flowers, moon, stars and sun
That sweet summer breeze enough to bring a strong man to his knees
When I asked her her name she said "Please to meet ya',
My name is"...
(chorus)
Desitny... That means I'm the way.
Til ya can't push me away... (you can't push)
Destiny... I may not have been here yesterday,
but I been always on my way-
(verse2)
I took her for a walk down by the oceanside
she put her feet in the water-
She opened up to me, and started confessin'
There ain't nothin' harder...
Then to tell the truth, bout your secrets,
skeletons in your closet-
Things that God only know, sh*t that you ain't supposed to let go
But she said inside, she felt like that it was her duty
From now and ever more, to always be true to me
I asked her "Sweetie, why tryna talk to me. like you're my wife?"
She said I been tryna tell you my name all night,
but now hope you get it right... My name is...
(chorus)
Desitny... (Destiny, love you girl) That means I'm the way.
Til ya can't push me away...
Destiny... I may not have been here yesterday,
but I been always on my way- (I'm your)
Destiny... and the choice ain't even yours
ain't even yours to choose...(Love your)
Destiny... and I'm always with you,
whether you win, or you lose
(verse3)
It wasn't a year later, my heart jumped on that elevator
It took me straight upstairs to ask the man himself for
some consulation-
What am I to do? I got myself in a tight situation,
I know that I love her, but still I got a few inhibitions.
I don't wanna move to fast- and I don't wanna move to slow
but there so much about life, that I still just don't know
As I got up off my knees, and I ended my prayer
when I opened up my eyes, guess who was standing right there.(my)
(chorus)
Desitny... That means I'm the way.
Til ya can't push me away...
Destiny... I may not have been here yesterday,
but I been always on my way-(I'm your)
Destiny... and the choice ain't even yours
ain't even yours to choose...(Love your)
Destiny... and I'm always with you,
whether you win, or you lose
In "Destiny," Governor tells the story of meeting the love of his life in a crowded room and feeling an instant connection. He is captivated by her and wants to explore if she could be the one for him. He takes her for a walk by the oceanside where she opens up to him and confesses her deepest secrets, telling him that she wants to always be true to him. As time passes, Governor realizes that he is in love with her but has some reservations. Seeking guidance, he prays for clarity and when he opens his eyes, he finds her standing right in front of him once more. The song speaks to both the inevitability of destiny and the power of free will in choosing to embrace it or not.
The lyrics of "Destiny" are poetic and romantic, painting a vivid picture of the singer's love story. The song has a timeless quality to it, with the theme of destiny being something that anyone can relate to. It's easy to get lost in the story and feel a connection to the emotional journey that Governor is on. Overall, "Destiny" is a beautiful and powerful song that captures the heart and soul of love.
Line by Line Meaning
It was standing room only, shoulder to shoulder in a crowded room, when I saw her for the first time, on a summer evening in June
Describes the moment the singer met someone special in a very crowded and bustling room which made the encounter even more serendipitous.
She took my breathe away, stop my heart, and tore my world apart- and I didn't even know her name. what a hell of a way to start
Describes the physical and emotional impact the singer's encounter with the woman had on him, and how it completely threw him off balance.
I bought her a drink, we had a conversation that made me think, could she be the one, to be my flowers, moon, stars and sun
The singer is hopeful of a real connection with this woman, and is already fantasizing about a life together.
That sweet summer breeze enough to bring a strong man to his knees When I asked her her name she said "Please to meet ya', My name is"...
The atmosphere and mood of the moment is so intense that even a passing breeze causes the artist to be unsteady. But, the woman finally tells him her name.
Desitny... That means I'm the way. Til ya can't push me away... (you can't push) Destiny... I may not have been here yesterday, but I been always on my way-
The artist feels as though he was always destined to meet the woman, and she is the path he is meant to follow. He believes that their meeting was inevitable.
I took her for a walk down by the oceanside she put her feet in the water- She opened up to me, and started confessin' There ain't nothin' harder... Then to tell the truth, bout your secrets, skeletons in your closet- Things that God only know, sh*t that you ain't supposed to let go
The woman feels comfortable with the singer and opens up about her past secrets, which she's very guarded about. She explains that it's difficult to confess these things to anyone, let alone someone she just met.
But she said inside, she felt like that it was her duty From now and ever more, to always be true to me I asked her "Sweetie, why tryna talk to me. like you're my wife?" She said I been tryna tell you my name all night, but now hope you get it right... My name is...
The woman expresses loyalty to the singer and insists on honesty in their relationship. She also teases him about not being quick enough to realize her name.
Destiny... (Destiny, love you girl) That means I'm the way. Til ya can't push me away... Destiny... I may not have been here yesterday, but I been always on my way- (I'm your) Destiny... and the choice ain't even yours ain't even yours to choose...(Love your) Destiny... and I'm always with you, whether you win, or you lose
Emphasizing that the artist believes that he and the woman were meant to be together, and that he's committed to her whether things go well or not. The artist believes that fate has already decided their path.
It wasn't a year later, my heart jumped on that elevator It took me straight upstairs to ask the man himself for some consulation- What am I to do? I got myself in a tight situation, I know that I love her, but still I got a few inhibitions.
The artist seeks guidance from a higher power as he realizes he has strong feelings for the woman but has some personal fears and apprehensions regarding the relationship.
I don't wanna move to fast- and I don't wanna move to slow but there so much about life, that I still just don't know As I got up off my knees, and I ended my prayer when I opened up my eyes, guess who was standing right there.(my)
The artist is cautious and unsure about how to handle his relationship with the woman. But, when he opens his eyes, he sees her standing there, reinforcing his belief that they were always meant to be together.
Writer(s): Scott Storch Copyright: Reservoir Media Music, Reservoir Media Music O.B.O. Tuff Jew Productions LLC, Tvt Music Inc.
Contributed by Asher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.