The main lead singer for Jodeci and the second lead singer for K-Ci and JoJo, much of K-Ci's performance and singing style, defined by an emotive, gospel-flavored rasp, is inspired by soul star Bobby Womack. K-Ci covered Womack's 1981 hit single "If You Think You're Lonely Now" as a single for the Jason's Lyric soundtrack in 1994.
As Womack inspired him, K-Ci inspired another R&B star, Mark "Sisqó" Andrews of the late-1990s R&B group Dru Hill. However, Sisqó and Dru Hill were initially blamed, including by K-Ci himself, of not just using his style as an inspiration, but of outright copying it to fuel their own success.
Between 1992 and 1997, K-Ci had a much-publicized romantic relationship with R&B singer and Uptown Records labelmate Mary J. Blige. Both artists perform on "I Don't Want To Do Anything" from Blige's What's the 411? album, and Blige often toured with Jodeci. Blige and K-Ci split up in 1997; Blige has gone on record a number of times stating that the split was because of alleged domestic violence and drug use.
In 1993, K-Ci and fellow Jodeci member DeVante Swing were involved in an incident with a woman K-Ci met in a club. They later went back to Devante's house. The woman filed charges against the two saying K-Ci fondled her breasts while Devante pointed a gun at her.
In 1999, K-Ci provided vocals for the Will Smith single "Will 2K".
In 2001, K-Ci got into more trouble with the law as he was charged with indecent exposure after he fondled his erect and exposed penis at a show in Los Angeles. He pleaded no contest, paid a fine, and was put on probation.
He now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his mother and brother JoJo in a mansion which was shown on MTV Cribs in 2000.
Discography:
(w/ JODECI)
* 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 #6 US [Gold]
(K-Ci & JoJo)
* 1997: Love Always
* 1999: It's Real
* 2000: X
* 2002: Emotional
* 2005: All My Life "Their Greatest Hits"
(K-Ci Solo)
* 2006: My Book
Filmography:
- Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story (1999) (TV) .... Nate
- Soul Food (1997) .... Band Member #5
- Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996) (as Jodeci)
It's Me
K-Ci Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And own a piece of land (umm) somewhere (somewhere somewhere somewhere)
Somewhere off in the country.
(oh listen)
Temperatures like a hundred degrees like I got chains on me.
Black male in a family of three been robbed of my destiny.
Shouldn't gone down this way what happened to my master plan. (oh)
Cause I can't figure out, I coulda been a love child.( love child)
Shouldn't gone down this way,
Tell me how did I get life
Life life, (oh oh yeah, talk to me) life life, life life, (oh oh, how did I
Get life.. tell me) life life, life life,
Life life, life life, life life (oh oh yeah, oh yeah)
Oh somebody done done me wrong, done me wrong , eyes to the ceiling all
Night long.
(all night long)
Time is slippin away from me (away from me). and it ain't no tellin when I
Get home (gotta get home yeah).
Just about to see the dollar signs, that close to a piece of mind
Everything was about to be fine
So tell me so how did I get life
Life life, (oh oh oh) life life, life life, (tell me , yeah, I want to know
Now, now) life life, life life,
Life life, life life, life life (and you know, and you know, and you know,
And you know)
(everything), everything (everything)
I hoped for (that I hoped for)
Is gone now, (is gone now)
Buried in the ground (buried in the ground)
Hopes and dreams (my hopes and dream)
And all those things (and all those things)
I never see (i will never, never, never see) I'll never see
Sombody gave me life.
Life life,(yeah, yeah) life life, life life, (yes they did..yeah eh eh eh
Eh eh eh eh yeah, yeah) life life, life life, (oh yeah)life life, life
Life, life life (oh you you, oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh life somebody gave me
Life uh uh uh uh uh uh)
(say it again say it again yeah)
Life life,oh wee) life life, life life, (oh oh oh oh) life life, life life,
K-Ci's song "It's Me" is a reflection on the artist's longing for freedom and a country lifestyle while also dealing with the reality of being a black man in a society where he feels robbed of his destiny. He compares his desire to fly away like a bird to his current state of being chained and weighed down by society's expectations and limitations. The song expresses the artist's frustration with his current circumstances and his search for answers to his life's purpose. He questions how he ended up in this situation and laments the loss of his dreams and hopes.
The lyrics of "It's Me" reflect the themes of freedom, personal identity, and social inequality that are commonly present in hip-hop music. The song's chorus, "Life, life, tell me how did I get life," is a powerful statement on the artist's quest for understanding the complexities of his life and the challenges he faces daily. The verses also reference the loss of personal agency, hopes, and dreams that are taken away from young people of color in American society. K-Ci's emotional delivery makes the song a call to action for listeners to face these issues and strive for true equality and justice for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Just like a birdie (umm) I just want to fly free. (so high so high)
I want to be free from my current situation, just like a bird flying high in the sky with no boundaries.
And own a piece of land (umm) somewhere (somewhere somewhere somewhere) Somewhere off in the country.
I want to own land in the countryside where I can escape from my current surroundings and live a peaceful life.
Temperatures like a hundred degrees like I got chains on me. Black male in a family of three been robbed of my destiny.
I feel stuck and oppressed, like I'm being held captive despite the scorching heat. As a black man in a broken family, I feel like my future has been taken from me.
Where can I fly away cause it's to much for the man. Shouldn't gone down this way what happened to my master plan. (oh) Cause I can't figure out, I coulda been a love child.( love child) Shouldn't gone down this way,
I want to escape my current situation because it's too much for me to handle. I don't understand why my life hasn't gone according to plan, and I can't help but wonder if things would be different if I was born into a loving family. I regret the way my life has turned out.
Tell me how did I get life Life life, (oh oh yeah, talk to me) life life, life life, (oh oh, how did I Get life.. tell me) life life, life life, Life life, life life, life life (oh oh yeah, oh yeah)
I'm questioning the circumstances that led to my existence and wondering how my life turned out the way it did.
Oh somebody done done me wrong, done me wrong , eyes to the ceiling all Night long. (all night long) Time is slippin away from me (away from me). and it ain't no tellin when I Get home (gotta get home yeah).
Someone has caused me harm, and I can't sleep at night because of it. Time is running out, and I don't know when I'll be able to leave my current situation and go home.
Just about to see the dollar signs, that close to a piece of mind Everything was about to be fine So tell me so how did I get life
I was so close to experiencing financial security and finally finding peace of mind, but my life took a turn for the worse. I can't help but wonder how I ended up where I am.
Everything (everything) I hoped for (that I hoped for) Is gone now, (is gone now) Buried in the ground (buried in the ground) Hopes and dreams (my hopes and dream) And all those things (and all those things) I never see (i will never, never, never see) I'll never see
All of my hopes and dreams have been crushed, and I'll never be able to achieve the things I once hoped for.
Sombody gave me life. Life life,(yeah, yeah) life life, life life, (yes they did..yeah eh eh eh Eh eh eh eh yeah, yeah) life life, life life, (oh yeah)life life, life Life, life life (oh you you, oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh life somebody gave me Life uh uh uh uh uh uh) (say it again say it again yeah) Life life,oh wee) life life, life life, (oh oh oh oh) life life, life life,
Someone brought me into this world, but I'm questioning why my life turned out the way it did. Despite my struggles, I'm grateful to be alive and I cherish my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joel Lamonte Hailey, Richard Cedric Hailey, Rory A. Benett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WizeChoice
The most amazing👉🏾✨✨✨🥳 However, what is more amazing is how long I've been loving this song and it still hits me like the first time I heard it.
@UncleAir
This single was so funky, I loved it
@l357131
One of my favorites r&b 💕🙌
@Nxcey004
Damn all they songs be fire no joke, K-Ci & Jojo on sum different shiii
@earthyboheme2719
Myyyyy hometown Boys representing always. Lol k-ci always trips me out with those theatrics lmao!! This is my jam one of my fav CDs from them as we'll!! 💕👌🙌
@Inexux
The coolest beat ever !!
@natbooh1
I LISTEND TO THIS A LOT AS A KID LOL MY MOM GOT ME HOOKED ON OLD JAMS
@ericmcgowan1993
From the Vegas vampires soundtrack. My favorite horror movie 👍🏿👍🏿
@platinumplus6
new style but still tight!them boys are legends
@ninasaba8850
GREAT,TERRIFIC SONG,2 OF THE BEST EVER AND I LOVE BOTH OF THEM. K-CI IS SMOOTH AS SILK!!!