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]
Get Up On It
Keith Sweat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ladies won't you, tell them your names,
Tabitha, Athena and La Von
If you really, really want it
All you got to do is get up on it
If you really, really want it
All you got to do is get up on it
The time has come for us
Oh yes it has hmm
And you don't have to be afraid of my love
Oh no, cause it won't hurt you sugar
Oh no it won't, oh yeah baby
If you really, really want it
(If you really want it)
All you got to do is get up on it
(Yeah)
If you really, really want it
(Baby, do you really want my love)
All you got to is get up on it
I like it girl when we get
Real get freaky baby, ooh yes I do baby
And I'm on my hands and knees
You know I'm with it sugar
Girl I'm with everything you want to do
(Sang)
If you really, really want it
(If you really want it baby)
All you go to do is get up on it
(All you go to do girl get up on that love of mine)
If you really, really want it
(If you really, really want it baby)
All you got to do is get up on it
(Girl I want to take this off tonight)
Boy, I know that this is it
(A love)
'Cause I know that I'm giving you a love
(And I know I'm giving you a love)
A love , a love you can't resist baby
(A love you can't resist)
Babe, babe bring it on
(If you really, really want it)
If you really want it, come on and get it
(All you got to is get up on it)
Get up on it, oh
(If you really, really want it)
Oh, if you really want it
Come on baby
(All you got to do it get up on it)
Baby yeah, oh girl
(I know that this is it)
I know that this is it
(I know that this is it boy)
And I know that I'm giving my love
(A love you can't resist)
Don't leave me baby, oh oh yeah
Yeah baby, oh boy
(I know that this is it)
I know, I know, I know
I know I'm giving you, giving you
All my loving my baby
(I know I'm giving you my love)
Oh love
(A love you can't resist)
A love you can't resist
I wanna lick you up and down
"Get Up On It" by Keith Sweat featuring Kut Klose is a song about a guy who wants to get intimate with his lady but wants her to make the first move. The opening lines invite the ladies to introduce themselves, indicating that the song is meant for them to take the lead. The lyrics make it clear that Keith doesn't want to harm his partner physically or emotionally, and he wants her to feel safe and comfortable.
The chorus is an invitation for the ladies to take the initiative and "get up on it" if they "really, really want it." The verse indicates that Keith is willing to indulge in his partner's wishes and is eager to fulfill her desires. He tells her to be confident and to take the lead. Keith emphasizes that he wants to make his partner feel loved and excited.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that Keith wants to create a safe and pleasurable space for his partner to let go and indulge in their intimacy together. The song emphasizes the importance of communication and respect between partners, making it a romantic and erotic track that keeps the focus on the woman's pleasure.
Line by Line Meaning
I got something for the fellas this time around
Keith Sweat has a special message for the male listeners.
Ladies won't you, tell them your names,
Keith Sweat is asking his female backup singers to introduce themselves.
Tabitha, Athena and La Von
The names of Keith Sweat's female backup singers are Tabitha, Athena, and La Von.
If you really, really want it
Keith Sweat is referring to his love and affection.
All you got to do is get up on it
To receive Keith Sweat's love and affection, all someone has to do is reciprocate.
The time has come for us
Keith Sweat believes that it's now time to act upon the feelings shared.
Oh baby to get real busy baby
Keith Sweat wants to get down to business, he means to be sexually active with his partner.
Oh yes it has hmm
Keith Sweat is excited about getting intimate with his partner.
And you don't have to be afraid of my love
Keith Sweat is assuring his partner that there's nothing to be scared of when it comes to his love.
Oh no, cause it won't hurt you sugar
Keith Sweat believes that his love will never hurt anyone.
Oh no it won't, oh yeah baby
Keith Sweat wants to reassure his partner that his love is safe.
I like it girl when we get
Keith Sweat enjoys getting intimate with his partner.
Real get freaky baby, ooh yes I do baby
Keith Sweat wants to engage in experimental intimate activities with his partner.
And I'm on my hands and knees
Keith Sweat is willing to comply with his partner's wishes.
You know I'm with it sugar
Keith Sweat wants his partner to know that he's willing to do anything to satisfy them.
Girl I'm with everything you want to do
Keith Sweat is flexible and open to new experiences.
If you really, really want it
Keith Sweat reiterates that if his partner wants his love and affection, all they have to do is reciprocate.
(If you really want it)
All you go to do is get up on it
Keith Sweat is once again stating that his partner needs to reciprocate his love.
(All you go to do girl get up on that love of mine)
(If you really, really want it baby)
(Boy I want to take this off tonight)
Keith Sweat is implying that he wants to take off his partner's clothes.
Boy, I know that this is it
Keith Sweat feels like this is the moment to express his love.
(A love)
'Cause I know that I'm giving you a love
Keith Sweat is aware and confident that he's giving the best of his love.
(And I know I'm giving you a love)
A love , a love you can't resist baby
Keith Sweat is certain that his love is irresistible.
Babe, babe bring it on
Keith Sweat wants his partner to be more expressive when it comes to intimacy.
(If you really, really want it)
If you really want it, come on and get it
Keith Sweat urges his partner to express their desire for his love.
(All you got to is get up on it)
Get up on it, oh
Keith Sweat wants his partner to act on their desire.
(If you really, really want it)
Oh, if you really want it
Keith Sweat confirms that he's ready to give his love if his partner wants it.
Come on baby
Keith Sweat wants his partner to come and claim his love.
(All you got to do it get up on it)
Baby yeah, oh girl
Keith Sweat is addressing his partner in an affectionate and intimate way.
I know that this is it
Keith Sweat is convinced that this is the moment for his partner to claim his love.
(I know that this is it boy)
And I know that I'm giving my love
Keith Sweat reaffirms that he's giving his all in this relationship.
(A love you can't resist)
Don't leave me baby, oh oh yeah
Keith Sweat doesn't want his partner to leave him.
Yeah baby, oh boy
Keith Sweat expresses his love in an affectionate way.
(I know that this is it)
I know, I know, I know
Keith Sweat is certain about his love for his partner.
I know I'm giving you, giving you
Keith Sweat is sure that he's giving his partner his utmost love and affection.
All my loving my baby
Keith Sweat wants to express his love to his partner.
(I know I'm giving you my love)
Oh love
Keith Sweat is expressing his love and affection.
(A love you can't resist)
A love you can't resist
Keith Sweat is convinced that his love is irresistible.
I wanna lick you up and down
Keith Sweat is expressing a sexual desire towards his partner.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TYRESE DARNELL GIBSON, CHRISTOPHER ALAN STEWART, TRACI COLLEEN HALE, ORENTHAL HARPER, THABISO NKHEREANYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind