Keith Sweat was born in Harlem, New York City, to Juanita Thompson, a hairdresser, and Charles Sweat, a factory worker. After Charles Sweat's passing in 1973, Juanita raised their five kids by herself. He worked as a night stock boy at Macy's Department Store, and then a mail room clerk at Paine Webber, a brokerage firm. In just four years he worked his way up to a lucrative brokerage assistant job on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.[2] Sweat also worked as a supervisor for the New York Mercantile Exchange.[1]
Sweat started his musical career as a member of a Harlem band called Jamilah in 1975.[3] With the help of Jamilah, Sweat was able to hone his craft as a lead singer by performing regionally throughout the tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The group was started by bassist Larry Peoples, guitarist Michael Samuels, and drummer Walter Bradley.[citation needed]
After leaving the group in 1984 to begin a solo career, he sang at nightclubs throughout New York City and landed a chance to record for the independent label, Stadium Records. Sweat recorded only two tunes for Stadium, "Lucky Seven", and "My Mind Is Made Up", which was their third and fourth ever release, but on Stadium's first release, he is credited as co-writer and co-producer of "You Are the One for Me", the last recording ever made by the group GQ. One of GQ's original members is his uncle, Keith "Sabu" Crier.
Later in 1987, Keith Sweat was discovered by Vincent Davis and offered a recording contract with his label, Vintertainment Records, which was founded in 1983 on the foundations of early Hip-Hop and otherwise best known for releasing Joeski Love's "Pee Wee's Dance" in 1985. Vintertainment was distributed by Elektra Records from 1985 until it ceased operations in 1990. On November 24, 1987, Sweat released his debut solo studio album Make It Last Forever, which sold three million copies. The biggest hit from this album was the song that inaugurated the new jack swing era "I Want Her"[5] (No. 1 R&B & No. 5 Pop), which was nominated for the 1989 Soul Train Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year award, while the title track from the album hit No. 2 on the R&B charts. Sweat reached the charts again with his second album I'll Give All My Love to You (1990) which hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. He released his third album, Keep It Comin' in 1991, which debuted in the Top 20 of the album chart. He produced soul singer Omar Chandler.
In 1992, Sweat discovered the group Silk, and helped craft their debut album, Lose Control, which hit No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[6]
The album's single "Freak Me" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 1993. In 1993, Sweat discovered the Atlanta-based female R&B group Kut Klose. Sweat also produced the group's debut album Surrender, which produced their biggest hit single "I Like", peaking to No. 8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
Sweat released his fourth album Get Up on It in the summer of 1994, and his self-titled fifth album in 1996. Both albums reached the top ten on the Billboard 200. The single co/produced and written by Eric McCaine "Twisted" featuring R&B group Kut Klose hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Nobody" hit No. 3, which made them Sweat's biggest hits to date. "Just A Touch" was a cover of the 1979 song "Just a Touch of Love" by Slave. He produced R&B group Dru Hill in 1996.
In the fall of 1997, Sweat discovered the group Ol' Skool and helped with their self-titled debut. He was on their biggest single, "Am I Dreaming", which featured the R&B group Xscape. Sweat also formed the R&B supergroup LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, and released their self-titled debut album Levert.Sweat.Gill in 1997.[7] That album featured "My Body", which became a hit single. The album was certified double platinum and reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200.
Sweat's sixth album, Still in the Game was released in 1998, hitting No. 6 on the Billboard 200, and No. 2 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. It featured the singles "Come and Get With Me" (which featured Snoop Dogg) (No. 12 Hot 100) and "I'm Not Ready" (No. 16 Hot 100). Sweat's success on the charts started to diminish in 2000, when he released the album Didn't See Me Coming. None of the singles from the album reached the top forty.
On August 13, 2002, Keith Sweat released his eighth album, Rebirth. The single "One on One" reached No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 44 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.His 2008 album Just Me included the single, "Love U Better (featuring Keyshia Cole)". Sweat is currently signed to Kedar Records and released his tenth studio album entitled Ridin' Solo on June 22, 2010. The lead single taken from the album is "Test Drive" and featured label-mate Joe. Since 2007, Sweat has been the host of a nationally syndicated radio program based upon the Quiet storm format. The Keith Sweat Hotel (known as The Quiet Storm with Keith Sweat on WBLS in New York City) is syndicated through Premiere Radio Networks.[8]
Sweat is also the host of a nationally syndicated radio show called The Sweat Hotel, which I s produced and distributed to urban adult contemporary and classic soul radio stations across the U.S. by Premiere Networks, a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, Inc.[9]
100% All Man
Keith Sweat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hot, hot, hit district
Hot, hot, Royalty
Hot, hot, come on, uh
No
Yeh, yeh 100 percent girl, listen
There's a thin line when it comes to
He's got to be so official
The type of guy that don't take no shit
For instance you can take me,
I got money but I'm low key
Be buggin' when need be
And all of the above pointin at me
[Chorus:]
Forty percent lover, ten percent playa, ten percent stunner, no percent hater
Forty percent hotty, add it up Mami, a hundred percent all man
Forty percent lover, ten percent playa, ten percent stunner, no percent hater
Forty percent hotty, add it up Mami, a hundred percent all man
Let me see that, holler
Now I been checkin' out ya profile Mami
You want me, if I'm wrong please stop me
If it's real lemme know right now
We can slide to my crib baby
Your ex man, can't sex like we can sex
If I ask you, can you say yes?
I can throw it, I can show
I can lay it, I can slay it baby
[Chorus:]
Add it up
I can lock you down, throw away the key
Make you feel like your my queen to be
Take you round the world in forty days, yeah
I can show you things that you never seen
Make you feel like you were in a dream
A hundred percent, I'm everything you need so holler at me
[Chorus: Repeat 5X]
Hot, hot
Hot, hot
Royalty
Hot, hot
Hot, hot
Keith Sweat
In "100 Percent All Man," Keith Sweat asserts his masculinity, claiming to be the perfect mix of qualities that women desire in a man. He showcases his alpha male traits and how they make him an ideal partner. He mentions "there's a thin line when it comes to the type of dude that can have you" indicating that not all men can have a woman because they lack the necessary qualities. He then goes on to describe the kind of man he is, one that is official, doesn't take any nonsense, has money but is low-key, and is capable when needed. The chorus repeats the idea of him being a hundred percent all man, adding up percentages of different qualities that women desire in a man, such as a lover, playa, stunner, and hotty, ending with the assertion that he is all a woman needs in a man.
The song embodies Keith Sweat's persona as a smooth-talking, confident, and assertive man who knows how to please a woman. He uses his lyrics to present himself as an ideal partner to women, highlighting his alpha male traits and his ability to take care of his woman's needs. He indirectly challenges other men who lack the necessary qualities to have a woman, positioning himself as the ultimate alpha male that other men should strive to be like.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot, hot, Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat is on fire and ready to perform.
Hot, hot, hit district
Keith Sweat is a chart-topping artist who is in high demand for live performances.
Hot, hot, Royalty
Keith Sweat is a musical icon and a king in the industry.
Hot, hot, come on, uh
Keith Sweat is inviting his fans to get excited for the upcoming performance.
No
Keith Sweat is denying something or someone.
Yeh, yeh 100 percent girl, listen
Keith Sweat wants the girl to pay attention and understand that he is 100% man.
There's a thin line when it comes to
There is a fine line between different types of men.
The type a dude that can have you
The type of man that can win your heart.
He's got to be so official
He has to carry himself in a respectable and professional manner.
The type of guy that don't take no shit
The man that won't put up with disrespect or nonsense.
For instance you can take me,
Keith Sweat is using himself as an example of this type of man.
I got money but I'm low key
Keith Sweat is wealthy but he keeps it low-key.
Be buggin' when need be
Keith Sweat can get upset when necessary.
And all of the above pointin at me
Keith Sweat is saying that he meets all of the criteria he just mentioned.
[Chorus:] Forty percent lover, ten percent playa, ten percent stunner, no percent hater Forty percent hotty, add it up Mami, a hundred percent all man
Keith Sweat is singing that he has many desirable qualities, and when you add them all up, he is a 100% all man.
Let me see that, holler
Keith Sweat is asking the girl to show him what she's got and to give him a shout.
Now I been checkin' out ya profile Mami
Keith Sweat has been researching and reviewing the girl's information.
You want me, if I'm wrong please stop me
Keith Sweat is asking the girl to correct him if he's misreading the situation.
If it's real lemme know right now
Keith Sweat is asking for honesty and clarity about the girl's intentions.
We can slide to my crib baby
Keith Sweat is inviting the girl to come over to his place.
Your ex man, can't sex like we can sex
Keith Sweat believes that he can provide the girl with better sexual satisfaction than her ex.
If I ask you, can you say yes?
Keith Sweat is asking the girl if she is ready to say yes to his advances.
I can throw it, I can show
Keith Sweat can show off and demonstrate his abilities.
I can lay it, I can slay it baby
Keith Sweat can have sex and put in work in the bedroom.
[Chorus:]
Repeating the chorus.
Add it up
Keith Sweat is saying that when you add up his qualities, he's a total package.
I can lock you down, throw away the key
Keith Sweat is saying that he can commit to her and be faithful.
Make you feel like your my queen to be
Keith Sweat is saying that he can treat her like royalty and make her feel special.
Take you round the world in forty days, yeah
Keith Sweat is saying that he can take her on an amazing adventure.
I can show you things that you never seen
Keith Sweat can show her new experiences and things she has never witnessed before.
Make you feel like you were in a dream
Keith Sweat can make her feel like she's in a beautiful, surreal dream.
A hundred percent, I'm everything you need so holler at me
Keith Sweat is confident that he is the complete package and is exactly what she needs.
[Chorus: Repeat 5X]
Repeated chorus for emphasis.
Hot, hot
Keith Sweat is still on fire.
Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat is referring to himself and reminding everyone who he is.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROY LEAFORD HAMILTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind