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
P.I.B. 4 Play
Jodeci Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
this shit is tight
sorry, sorry
wait a minute, wait a minute baby
that's my song, turn that shit up
"I be gettin' freaky baby won't come and see me...
I be goin' solo baby, won't you come and see me
.....
having sex in background
The lyrics to Jodeci's song P.I.B. 4 Play are quite explicit and revolve around sexual desire and physical intimacy. The song starts with the lead vocalist expressing the need to change the station because what is currently playing is tight but then recognizes his own song and asks for it to be turned up. Throughout the song, he sings about getting freaky, going solo, and doing it with someone he desires.
The repetition of the phrase "I be getting freaky baby won't come and see me" suggests that he wants this person to be with him physically and enjoy the intense pleasure that comes with intimacy. He is also suggesting that he prefers to be with someone rather than being alone. Overall, the lyrics are blatantly sexual and convey an intense desire for physical intimacy.
In conclusion, the lyrics to Jodeci's song P.I.B. 4 Play are quite straightforward, and the song's message is clear; the lead singer wants physical intimacy with someone he desires. The lyrics don't leave much room for interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
ah baby let me change the station
Hey there, sweetheart, can we switch to a different song please?
this shit is tight
I'm not really feeling this song right now.
sorry, sorry
My apologies for interrupting the music.
wait a minute, wait a minute baby
Hold on just a moment, my dear.
that's my song, turn that shit up
I love this song, can we turn up the volume?
I be gettin' freaky baby won't come and see me...
I've been feeling really horny lately, why don't you come over and see me?
I be goin' solo baby, won't you come and see me
I've been entertaining myself lately, but it would be nice if you came over to keep me company.
I be gettin' freaky baby won't come and fuck me
I'm feeling incredibly sexual, why don't you come over and have sex with me?
...having sex in background
At this point in the song, there are sounds of people having sex in the background.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DONALD DEGRATE, DONALD EARLE DE GRATE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind