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]
Never Had A Lover
Keith Sweat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Cause you ain't never had a love like me)
I know you've been a lot of places, seen a lot of things,
Seen a lot of guys
(Cause you ain't never had a lover like me)
Hey baby, how you doing?
Tell me why wont you smile
Sit down lets talk a while
She says, (ain't been in love in a while been going through some ups and downs and I need somebody)
And now I say, don't worry bout a thing baby I got your back
Your rollin' with Keith, you like that
[Chorus]
I know you've been some things with some other guys
(Cause you ain't never had a love like me)
I know you tired of hearing everybody puttin' it down
(Cause you ain't never had a love like me)
Girl bring your body closer to mine
(Cause you ain't never had a love like me)
I'll make your body jump, scream and shout
And circuit do it all night long
I know you've been stressin' so I did somethin' special
Darling good for you, (good for you)
We're going to central bay baby we'll spend the day
Huggin' and kissin' you,
(When you give me that feeling are you gonna give me sexual healing
Cause I'm feeling you right now and you know its been a while boy)
Just tell me how you want it, baby girl I'ma come and jump up on it
So let me inside, you ain't never had a lover like me
[Chorus]
Your body is here, looking sexy my dear
Girl I'ma give it to you anyway you want it
Nothing but chemistry between you and me
Your body is calling me
Let me show you the way girl
You should be loved, baby
[Chorus]
In Keith Sweat's song "Never Had A Lover," the singer encounters a woman who has been through life's ups and downs and has not been in love for a while. The song is about assuring her that she has never had a love like his and that he will show her how it feels to be loved. He tells her that he knows she has been through some things and been with some other guys, but none of them were like him. He promises to make her body jump, scream, and shout and to give her sexual healing. The song's chorus repeats the message that the woman has never had a love like Keith's.
The song's lyrics can be seen as the singer's attempt to convince a woman to give him a chance by pointing out that she has never experienced love like his before. He wants to be the person to make her forget about her past experiences and show her what true love feels like. He reassures her that he has got her back and promises to make her body scream with pleasure. Ultimately, the song is about the importance of finding someone who truly loves and cares for you.
Line by Line Meaning
Whats up baby,
Keith initiates a conversation with his love interest.
(Cause you ain't never had a love like me)
Keith boasts about the kind of love he can offer, stating that she has never had anything like it before.
I know you've been a lot of places, seen a lot of things,
Keith acknowledges that she has experienced a lot in life, indicating that she may have been heartbroken before.
Seen a lot of guys
Keith also accepts that she might have dated a lot of guys in the past.
Hey baby, how you doing?
Keith continues to strike a conversation with his love interest, expressing his care and concern for her.
Tell me why wont you smile
Keith inquires why she isn't happy.
Oh sugar, I've been around
Keith shows that he has gained experience in the dating scene and is perhaps skilled in providing his partner with love and care.
Sit down lets talk a while
Keith invites his love interest to a conversation, intending to get to know more about her.
She says, (ain't been in love in a while been going through some ups and downs and I need somebody)
Keith's love interest expresses that she hasn't been in love for some time and acknowledges that she needs someone to offer her love and support.
And now I say, don't worry bout a thing baby I got your back
Keith assures his love interest that he will always be there for her, no matter what, offering himself as a reliable partner.
Your rollin' with Keith, you like that
Keith attempts to sell himself to his partner, hoping she will appreciate his value as a lover.
[Chorus]
The chorus emphasizes that Keith's love is different and unique from others and he aims to convince his partner to embrace it.
I know you tired of hearing everybody puttin' it down
Keith suggests that his love interest has heard negative things about love from other people, and therefore, she may be hesitant to trust his love.
Girl bring your body closer to mine
Keith invites his partner to move closer to him to start an intimate connection between them.
(Cause you ain't never had a love like me)
Keith highlights that he is different than anyone she has met before and promises a unique love experience.
I'll make your body jump, scream and shout
Keith is confident that his intimacy with his partner will bring her immense pleasure and satisfaction.
And circuit do it all night long
Keith assures her that he can pleasure her all night long, emphasizing his love's intensity and longevity.
I know you've been stressin' so I did somethin' special
Keith acknowledges that his partner has been struggling, and he did something special to alleviate her stress.
Darling good for you, (good for you)
Keith desires her happiness and wellbeing and is pleased to have done something that made her feel good.
We're going to central bay baby we'll spend the day
Keith plans to take her to a beautiful location and spend time enjoying each other's company.
Huggin' and kissin' you,
Keith's goal is to show physical affection and intimacy to his partner.
(When you give me that feeling are you gonna give me sexual healing
Keith implies that her love gives him a euphoric feeling and wonders if she can offer him the same love and intimacy in return.
Cause I'm feeling you right now and you know its been a while boy)
Keith admits to having the desire to experience love and intimacy with someone after spending much time alone.
Just tell me how you want it, baby girl I'ma come and jump up on it
Keith wants his partner to communicate her desires and needs, assuring her that he will cater to them.
So let me inside, you ain't never had a lover like me
Keith urges her to let him in, promising a love that she has never experienced before.
[Chorus]
The chorus reaffirms Keith's claims that he offers a love experience that his partner has never had before, calling for her to embrace it.
Your body is here, looking sexy my dear
Keith is physically attracted to his partner and communicates his desire and admiration for her.
Girl I'ma give it to you anyway you want it
Keith is committed to fulfilling his partner's desires and needs, promising to love her in a way that suits her.
Nothing but chemistry between you and me
Keith recognizes that there is a connection between him and his partner beyond just physical attraction.
Your body is calling me
Keith finds himself irresistibly drawn to his partner's body and personality, emphasizing his attraction to her.
Let me show you the way girl
Keith intends to guide his partner through the love journey and create an experience that fulfills her.
You should be loved, baby
Keith believes that his partner should be loved and cared for, hence, is committed to loving her to the best of his ability.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats Keith's confidence in his unique love experience and calls for his partner to embrace it fully.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KEITH SWEAT, ROY L. III HAMILTON, ANTHONY JONES, RONALD LINTON, J. CHARLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind