Innovative. Multi-talented. Explosive.
All words that aptly describe IMx. Formerly known as Immature, the trio of Batman, Romeo, and LDB announce their return with a new album and a new set of standards. The self-titled album is their strongest and most creative effort yet, and showcases the group's development and diversity as artists. IMx is saturated with a varied mix of solid uptempto jams and soulful ballads, a true testament to IMx's talent and growth.
"There's a lot of things we're showing off on this record," says a confident Batman. "We're showing that we can really sing and that we've grown as artists and as individuals. It's also important to us for people to see that we can get together and collectively write and produce, and that we have several strengths as a group."
IMx is a deeply personal album that showcases the threesome's effortless vocal ability and taps their softer side with songs like "Beautiful" and "Tears." A poignant moment on the album comes with "First Time," a touching song that is dedicated to that special someone that everyone has, their "first." "LDB thought of this concept," Batman explains. "So many people have been there and remember the experience, and although it is a really personal subject, we wanted to write about something that everyone could feel and relate to."
Another single, entitled "Clap Your Hands," is, as LDB explains, "a booty-shaking g-string song. It's kinda edgy but still fun because everybody can relate to it." Based on the universally known schoolyard rhyme of the same name, "Clap Your Hands" not only asks you if you're happy -- but if you want to get naughty. Other tracks including "Hate the Playa" and "Ain't No Need" are hopping party anthems that guarantee packed dance floors nationwide.
At the young age of 18, the members of IMx are already showbiz veterans with 10 years under their belt. The group first formed in 1991 when Chris Stokes, a young manager with an eye for fresh talent, saw Romeo rapping at a local youth center. In 1992, the group, then named Immature, released On Our Worst Behavior, followed by the wildly successful Playtime Is Over, which included the hits "never lie," and "Constantly." We Got It soon followed before the band changed their name and released The Journey, featuring the certified gold single "Stay the Night."
Being in a popular R&B group who has sold an estimated seven million records and gone on tours with the likes of Brandy, the Notorious B.I.G., and Soul 4 Real would be enough for most recent high school graduates -- but not for the men of IMx. They have spent a great deal of time honing their skills behind the board in the studio, something they are all very enthusiastic about. In addition to writing and producing all but one song on IMx, they have also produced tracks for other chart-topping artists such as Destiny's Child and Blaque.
In addition to IMx's great success within the world of music, they have all ventured into the realm of acting for film and television. Batman was the first to pursue an acting career, landing a recurring role on the new syndicated hit television series, Sister, Sister. The entire group appeared in House Party 3 alongside TLC and Kid'N'Play, and has recently starred in New Line Cinema's House Party 4.
For the critics who thought Immature were just a kiddie group with little hope of, well, maturity, Batman counters that notion with a sly chuckle. "They'll soon see," he says assuredly. "I think this album is really self-explanatory. They'll feel the change once they hear the album. The songs on the album talk about what young men go through, as opposed to little boys. Everyone will be able to recognize that we have all grown up and matured and are here to stay."
The past was Immature and though the future is unknown, the present is a sure thing . . . it's IMx.
The group released four albums under the name Immature: On Our Worst Behavior (1992) (which included former member Don "Half Pint" Santos, later replaced by Kessee), Playtyme Is Over (1994), We Got It (1995) and The Journey (1997). In 1999, the group underwent a name change and continued on to release two albums under the name IMx: Introducing IMx (1999) and IMx (2001) and released the Greatist Hits album in 2001. The group also branched out into film (such as House Party 4: Down to the Last Minute) and television (such as A Different World) before disbanding in 2002.
After Immature/IMx
In 2002, the group disbanded. Houston and Jones (under the name Young Rome) began solo careers, while Kessee continued his work as a record producer. Houston became the first former member to release a solo album, MH, in 2003. Jones followed suit with the release of his debut solo album in 2004, entitled Food for Thought. Houston continued on to release two more albums: Naked (2005) and Veteran (2007).
Houston and Jones have also pursued acting careers, with both starring in the dance film, You Got Served (2004) and Houston starring in UPN's comedy Cuts and the horror film Somebody Help Me (2007).
Hate The Playa
IMx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
2001, uh
Gon' make you dance, come on
Gon' make you dance, come on
Gon' make you dance, come on
I ain't lookin' at your girlfriend
But she's peepin' me
I broke her
I-c-e was on my neck
You started to suspect
Your girl was thinking damn
Who could I be
The situation's clear to me {i know}
That your baby girl is feelin' me {for sure}
And you wanna pick a bone with me {but what the}
You need to check your girl and leave me be
Now you wanna put the blame on me {i see}
But it's you that got to deal with this {now what}
Instead of tryin' to pick a fight with me {but what
The}
You need to check your girl and leave me be
Excuse me, I don't know the reason
Why you're hatin' me (why you're hatin' me)
You must be doin' somethin' wrong
'cause she got her eyes on me
And for your information
I don't even know her name (know her name, her name)
You need to stop and check yourself
Don't hate the playa, hate the game
Why you frontin' for your man
Girl, I don't understand
You asking all these questions
That's in you
Call yourself hurting me, me
I was only passing
That's when he saw you
Kissin' on me
The situation's clear to me {i know}
That your baby girl is feelin' me {for sure}
And you wanna pick a bone with me {but what the}
You need to check your girl and leave me be
Now you try to put the blame on me {i see}
But it's you that got to deal with this {now what}
Instead of tryin' to pick a fight with me {but what
The}
You need to check your girl and let me be
Excuse me, I don't know the reason
Why you're hatin' me (why you're hatin' me)
You must be doin' somethin' wrong
'cause she got her eyes on me (got her eyes on me)
And for your information
I don't even know her name (even know her name)
You need to stop and check yourself
Don't hate the playa, hate the game (hate the game)
Excuse me, I don't know the reason
Why you're hatin' me (yeah...yeah...)
You must be doin' somethin' wrong
'cause she got her eyes on me (got her eyes)
And for your information (for your information)
I don't even know her name (know her name)
You need to stop and check yourself
Don't hate the playa, hate the game
Duh duh
Duh duh
Ooh...
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Why you keep hatin' on me
If everything you see
That your girl could be, yeah
Excuse me, I don't know the reason
Why you're hatin' me (why you're hatin' me)
You must be doin' somethin' wrong
'cause she got her eyes on me (got her eyes on me,
Yeah)
And for your information
I don't even know her name (I don't even know her
Name)
You need to stop and check yourself
Don't hate the playa, hate the game
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah
Yeah...
Yeah
Playa (playa)
Oh...oh...oh...
Excuse me, I don't know the reason
Why you're hatin' me (why you're hatin' me)
You must be doin' somethin' wrong
'cause she got her eyes on me (doin' somethin' wrong)
And for your information
I don't even know her name (for your information i
Don't know her name)
You need to stop and check yourself
Don't hate the playa, hate the game
The song "Hate the Playa" by IMx has a catchy beat that is sure to make audiences dance. The lyrics revolve around a man who is being accused of trying to steal another man's girlfriend. The accused man insists that he did not approach the woman and in fact, she was the one who showed interest in him. He tells the other man to stop hating on him and instead focus on checking his girlfriend's behavior. The song seems to be saying that if someone's partner is cheating or showing interest in someone else, it's their responsibility to address it, rather than blaming the person their partner is interested in.
The lyrics reflect the sentiment often found in hip-hop culture: it's not the player's fault for trying to pursue and attract women, but rather it's the woman's fault for allowing herself to be persuaded. The song also brings up the issue of jealousy and how it can lead to misplaced anger and accusations. The singer is straightforward in calling out the behavior of the jealous man, telling him to stop blaming him and to focus on his own relationship issues.
Line by Line Meaning
Stormy day, platinum status
The weather is bad, but IMx is a successful platinum-selling artist.
2001, uh
The year is 2001 and the song is about to make people dance.
Gon' make you dance, come on
The song is going to make people dance.
I ain't lookin' at your girlfriend
IMx is not actively paying attention to someone else's girlfriend.
But she's peepin' me
Despite not paying attention to her, the girlfriend is looking at IMx.
She saw me good lovin'
IMx believes that the girlfriend saw how good of a lover he is.
I broke her
IMx may have made the girlfriend fall in love with him.
I-c-e was on my neck
IMx is wearing an expensive diamond necklace, which may have contributed to catching the girlfriend's eye.
You started to suspect
The guy who the girl is with starts to get suspicious of the situation.
Your girl was thinking damn
The girlfriend was thinking about IMx in a romantic or lustful way.
Who could I be
The girlfriend is wondering who IMx is and why he's caught her attention.
The situation's clear to me {i know}
IMx understands what is happening and isn't confused about the situation with the man's girlfriend.
That your baby girl is feelin' me {for sure}
The man's girlfriend is attracted to IMx.
And you wanna pick a bone with me {but what the}
The man wants to confront IMx about his girlfriend's behavior.
You need to check your girl and leave me be
The man should talk to his girlfriend, not IMx.
Now you wanna put the blame on me {i see}
The man now accuses IMx of causing trouble in his relationship.
But it's you that got to deal with this {now what}
The man should address his relationship problems with his girlfriend instead of blaming IMx.
Instead of tryin' to pick a fight with me {but what the}
The man should not be trying to fight IMx over his girlfriend's interest in him.
Excuse me, I don't know the reason
IMx is confused about why the man is angry with him.
Why you're hatin' me (why you're hatin' me)
IMx is asking the man why he's angry with him.
You must be doin' somethin' wrong
The man is probably causing problems in his relationship, which is why he's so angry with IMx.
'cause she got her eyes on me
The girlfriend is looking at IMx, which is probably why the man is so angry.
And for your information
IMx has some information that the man needs to know.
I don't even know her name (know her name, her name)
IMx doesn't even know the girlfriend's name and isn't actively pursuing her.
You need to stop and check yourself
The man needs to re-evaluate his feelings and actions towards IMx.
Don't hate the playa, hate the game
The man shouldn't be angry with IMx, he should blame the situation instead.
Why you frontin' for your man
The girlfriend is lying to her man about her feelings towards IMx.
Girl, I don't understand
IMx doesn't understand why the girlfriend is lying to her man about her feelings towards him.
You asking all these questions
The girlfriend is interrogating IMx about his role in the situation.
That's in you
The girlfriend's suspicions and jealousy are her own issues to deal with, not IMx's.
Call yourself hurting me, me
The man is accusing IMx of intentionally hurting him.
I was only passing
IMx wasn't intentionally trying to hurt the man or his relationship.
That's when he saw you
The man probably got suspicious when he saw his girlfriend interacting with IMx.
Kissin' on me
The girlfriend may have kissed or shown physical affection towards IMx, which is why the man is so angry with him.
Now you try to put the blame on me {i see}
The man is still trying to hold IMx responsible for his relationship troubles.
You need to check your girl and let me be
The man should address his issues with his girlfriend instead of trying to start a fight with IMx.
Oh, yeah
An exclamation of agreement with the previous line.
Playa (playa)
IMx is saying that he's not responsible for the situation, the situation itself is responsible.
Contributed by Gavin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.