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]
Love Jones
Keith Sweat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Playa]
We can go on and on
[Erick Sermon]
Ah ha one two y'all
[Too Short]
Uh uh nobody ah
[Eric Sermon]
Woo woo this is E Short Dog and Sweat
We vets
Coming through hot to death place your bets
Baguettes swing from the neck
Make want to be playas show us mad respect (word up)
Yo dog (whassup?)
He daughter said it's cheaper to keep her
If she gets fly then, hmmmm
(leave her)
E, G hooked it up, Short dog and Sweat
Got the average girl want to inhale and catch her breath
(What, what, what, what)
[Playa]
1 - We can go on and on
We can go on and on
Don't sleep on
Our love jones
'cause we got it goin' on
You know it ain't wrong
We can go on and on
We can go on and on and on and on
Our love jones
Not to be sleepin' on
We can go along
[Keith Sweat]
In the morning when the sunlight hits my eyes
I just lay there thinkin' how your lovin' keeps me in a jive
Ain't no question, you can love me baby
Like nobody can
What you do to me, my baby girl
I just don't understand
Now we can go on
Repeat 1
I would never ever, baby do you wrong (ha)
In the midnight hour I will always keep this lovin' strong
Just surrender your love, baby girl, and I'll surrender mine
All I want to do right now, my girl, is baby, take my time
(Huh, nah-mean, word up)
So we can go on
Repeat 1
[Too Short]
Hey, yo baby
Ain't got no tatoos
But when I walk in the room they pose like statues
I size 'em all up, I used to take my pick
But now I'm on some high powered new improved shit
Deep down inside, it never goes away
I just might knock a few hoes today
It's ok, I really get pay makin' phone calls
Told you once before, I'm in it for the long haul
The last in the business, make the transition
Do I have what it takes
Or do you have the right intentions to git with a playa
Even if it means you gotta play the back ground so you can see some green
No video's or groupies, who ever got the talent
Rush her to the house and let her pose for the camera
Don't let the freak in you keep you up all night
Get your money on girl, don't waste your life
Repeat 1 until fade
The song "Love Jones" by Keith Sweat featuring Playa, Too $hort, and Erick Sermon is a song of love and admiration. It is essentially about how the love between two individuals can last forever. The song is a fusion of R&B, Hip-hop, and Soul music, which gives it an energetic feel. The song starts with the artists introducing themselves, setting the mood for the song.
The first verse by Keith Sweat talks about how his lover's love keeps him going. He praises her for loving him like no one else can. The chorus emphasizes the idea that the love shared between them can go on forever. The second verse by Too $hort talks about his experience with women and how he used to size them up before picking one. However, with time, he's become more focused on his career and making money. The final verse by Erick Sermon speaks to the idea that some things are more important than just being physically attracted to someone. He emphasizes the importance of talent and the need to focus on making a good life for oneself.
Overall, "Love Jones" is about the power of love and how it can sustain two people even when other factors are trying to tear them apart. The song sends a message of hope and optimism about relationships and how if two people are truly in love, they can make it through anything.
Line by Line Meaning
We can go on and on
Our love is strong and we will continue to be together
We can go on and on
We have an everlasting love
Don't sleep on
Don't underestimate our love
Our love jones
Our love is the real deal
'cause we got it goin' on
We have a special connection that cannot be broken
You know it ain't wrong
Our love is pure and true
We can go on and on
We will continue to love each other for a long time
We can go on and on and on and on
Our love will never end
Not to be sleepin' on
Our love is something to take seriously
We can go along
We will journey together
In the morning when the sunlight hits my eyes
I wake up thinking about how much I love you
I just lay there thinkin' how your lovin' keeps me in a jive
Your love makes me feel alive and happy
Ain't no question, you can love me baby
I am certain of your love for me
Like nobody can
Your love is unique and special
What you do to me, my baby girl
I don't understand how much your love affects me
I just don't understand
Your love is so strong and I can't explain it
In the midnight hour I will always keep this lovin' strong
No matter what time it is, my love for you will remain strong
Just surrender your love, baby girl, and I'll surrender mine
Let's be vulnerable and give our love completely to each other
All I want to do right now, my girl, is baby, take my time
I want to cherish every moment with you
Ain't got no tatoos
I am not like other guys
But when I walk in the room they pose like statues
Girls are attracted to me
I size 'em all up, I used to take my pick
I used to be a player and choose any girl I wanted
But now I'm on some high powered new improved shit
I am now focused on making real money and being successful
Deep down inside, it never goes away
My desire for women is still there
I just might knock a few hoes today
I might still have casual sex with women
Told you once before, I'm in it for the long haul
I am committed to my career and making money
Do I have what it takes
Am I skilled enough to succeed?
Or do you have the right intentions to git with a playa
Are you seeking a serious relationship or just looking to have fun?
No video's or groupies, who ever got the talent
I am not attracted to women who are only interested in my fame
Rush her to the house and let her pose for the camera
I am not interested in shallow relationships
Don't let the freak in you keep you up all night
Don't let your desire for sex control your life
Get your money on girl, don't waste your life
Focus on being successful and making money
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERICK S SERMON, GREGORY TAYLOR, JAMES BEARD, KEITH SWEAT, KEITH D SWEAT, TODD ANTHONY SHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind