If Boyz II Men are portrayed as a clean-cut, wholesome R&B vocal group, then Jodeci's wild, sexual, bad-boy image represents the other side of the coin. Made up of two sets of brothers, the group's name is a consolidation of three members' aliases: "JoJo" Hailey, Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate, and Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey; the group also includes Dalvin DeGrate. Natives of Charlotte, NC, all four members toured the South as young boys singing gospel music, even recording albums; both families belonged to the Pentecostal church, and the DeGrates' father was a minister. The boys were able to hear each other's gospel songs played on the radio, and eventually were introduced through girlfriends as teenagers. However, when they did meet, K-Ci was with a girl Dalvin had been dating, and a fight nearly broke out. The Hailey brothers and DeVante started hanging out together, partying and talking about making R&B records together, coming up with the name Jodeci at this time.
At age 16, DeVante ran away to Minneapolis to get a job in Prince's organization, but was refused. He returned to Charlotte, where he wrote a song and recorded JoJo singing it. The two planned on going to New York to shop the demo around by themselves, but both K-Ci and Dalvin decided to tag along at the last minute. By the time they got to New York, they had demo recordings of 29 songs, which they brought to the offices of Uptown Entertainment. They were almost rejected, but rapper Heavy D overheard the tape and talked Uptown president Andre Harrell into hearing the group. Harrell was impressed, and just like that, Jodeci signed a recording contract. In 1991, they recorded Forever My Lady, which featured the gold single "Come and Talk to Me" and went on to sell over three million copies. A minor feud resulted over the band's follow-up album, Diary of a Mad Band; Jodeci, unhappy with their treatment by Uptown, flirted with the idea of leaving for Dr. Dre's Death Row Records, which resulted in almost zero promotion for their new album. It didn't matter much, as Diary went platinum. The group's troubles got worse in 1993; DeVante and K-Ci were involved in an incident with a woman K-Ci met at a club and brought back to DeVante's apartment. The woman filed charges against the two, saying that K-Ci had threatened her and fondled her breast, while DeVante pointed a gun at her. Both pleaded guilty, but that wasn't all; shortly afterwards, DeVante's house was robbed of over 160,000 dollars in jewelry and clothes as the singer was held with guns in his mouth and at the back of his head.
Jodeci's third album, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel, was released in the summer of 1995. DeVante also was afforded the opportunity to work with Al Green, one of his idols, writing and producing the song "Could This Be the Love." ~ Steve Huey, Rovi
Jodeci Albums:
* 1991: Forever My Lady #18 US (3x platinum)
* 1993: Diary of a Mad Band #3 US (2x platinum)
* 1995: The Show, The After Party, The Hotel #2 US (platinum)
* 2005: Back to The Future: The Very Best of Jodeci (300,000)
Jodeci Singles:
* 1991: "Gotta Love"
* 1991: "Stay" (US #41, R&B #1)
* 1991: "Forever My Lady" (US #25, R&B #1)
* 1991: "Come and Talk to Me" (US #11, R&B #1)
* 1993: "Cry For You" (US #15, R&B #1)
* 1993: "Feenin'" (US #25, R&B #2)
* 1993: "Lately" (US #4, R&B #1)
* 1993: "Let's Go Through the Motions" (US #65)
* 1994: "What About Us" (R&B #14)
* 1995: "Freek'n You" (US #14, R&B #3)
* 1995: "Love U 4 Life"
* 1996: "Get on Up" (US #22, R&B #4)
Jodeci Side-Projects:
(K-Ci & JoJo)
* 1997: Love Always
* 1999: It's Real
* 2000: X
* 2002: Emotional
* 2005: All My Life "Their Greatest Hits"
(Dalvin Degrate)
* 2000: Met.A.Mor.Phic
(K-Ci Solo)
* 2006: My Book
Incredible
Jodeci Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walkin' around like you've been walkin' all around, girl
Wearin' it like you've been wearin' it, girl
Keep smilin' and smilin', keep smilin' for me, baby
That's all I keep thinkin' of
Every time you be lookin' over my way
I be thinkin' you be lookin' at me
I be thinkin' you be watchin' me
I be thinkin' you be clockin' me
Maybe not, maybe it's just
Just my imagination
Incredible
I'm taking you with me
Babe can't you see
I think you're so incredible, so incredible
Incredible, I gots to know
Incredible, so incredible
Dreamin' for you like I've been dreamin' for you
Wantin' you like I've been wantin', wantin' you baby
Schemin' for you like I've been schemin' for you
Huntin' for you like I'm on a hunt for you, baby
I hope I really catch up with you
I hope you come around the way
I can't wait to tell all my friends
About this incredible lady
Incredible, you're incredible
So incredible
Incredible, I gots to know
You're incredible
Incredible
So incredible
Incredible, incredible
Incredible, so incredible
Incredible, I gots to know
Incredible, so incredible
You drive me crazy
Incredible, so incredible
You are you are
Incredible, I gots to know
Incredible, so incredible
Incredible, you're so incredible
The song "Incredible" by Jodeci is a smooth R&B ballad, with a beat that grooves gently and creates a sensual atmosphere. The song expresses the admiration and attraction that the singer feels towards a woman who walks and wears her clothes in her own unique way, and who smiles at him whenever their eyes meet. Every time the woman looks his way, the singer feels that she might be interested in him, but he is not entirely sure if he is just imagining these signs of attraction. He hopes to catch up with her and share his emotions with his friends, whom he believes will agree that the woman is truly incredible.
The song is a classic example of Jodeci's signature sound, blending smooth and passionate vocals with a soul and funk-inspired beat. The group was one of the most successful R&B acts of the 1990s, producing many hits such as "Forever My Lady," "Come & Talk To Me," and "Lately." Jodeci was renowned for their unique blend of gospel, soul, hip hop, and funk music that appealed to both African American and white audiences. "Incredible" was released as the lead single from their third album, "The Show, the After Party, the Hotel," in 1995.
Line by Line Meaning
Doin' your thing like you be doin' it, girl
You're being yourself and living your life confidently
Walkin' around like you've been walkin' all around, girl
You're moving with grace and ease
Wearin' it like you've been wearin' it, girl
You're dressed for success and owning your look
Keep smilin' and smilin', keep smilin' for me, baby
Your infectious smile is alluring and captivating
That's all I keep thinkin' of
You're constantly on my mind
Every time you be lookin' over my way
I hope you're looking at me and showing some interest
I be thinkin' you be lookin' at me
I wonder if you're checking me out
I be thinkin' you be starin' at me
My mind is telling me that you can't take your eyes off me
I be thinkin' you be watchin' me
I feel like you're observing me closely
I be thinkin' you be clockin' me
I sense that you're keeping track of my every move
Maybe not, maybe it's just
But, it's possible that I'm mistaken
Just my imagination
Perhaps, it's just my mind playing tricks on me
Incredible
You are truly amazing and impressive
I'm taking you with me
I want to make you mine and take you on a journey
Babe can't you see
Don't you notice how much I want to be with you?
I think you're so incredible, so incredible
I can't praise you enough for how awesome you are
Dremin' for you like I've been dreamin' for you
I've been fantasizing about you for a while now
Wantin' you like I've been wantin', wantin' you baby
I've been desiring you with all of my heart
Schemin' for you like I've been schemin' for you
I've been planning and strategizing how to win you over
Huntin' for you like I'm on a hunt for you, baby
I'm on a mission to claim your heart and make you mine
I hope I really catch up with you
I pray that I eventually get a chance with you
I hope you come around the way
I hope our paths cross and we get to meet again
I can't wait to tell all my friends
I want the world to know how fortunate I am to have you
About this incredible lady
I want to brag about how amazing you are
You're incredible
You're one of a kind and extraordinary
You drive me crazy
You push me to the brink of madness with your allure
You are you are
You have a striking presence and unique charm
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DONALD DEGRATE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind