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]
Only Wanna Please You
Keith Sweat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never told you lies
I was there when you needed me
When chips were down
Who stayed around?
Better recognize
Nobody but me
What size you need?
You love so we can grow
So close together, go through any weather
I only live just to please you
So stop playin' boo
Cuz I want you
(There's nothing I won't do)
Girl I gotta have you
(I thought you knew)
How bad I need you
(And I'll go)
I'll go that extra mile
I only live to please you
What must I do
To prove to you
That I'm the one
You should give your love to
It'd be a mistake
If you don't take
All of the love
That I've tried to give
I'm at your service
So don't be nervous
I'll never do any wrong to you
My only reason
My only purpose
On this earth is to please you
So stop playin' boo
Cuz I want you
(There's nothing I won't do)
Girl I gotta have you
(I thought you knew)
How bad I need you
(And I'll go)
I'll go that extra mile
I only live to please you
My only reason here on this earth
Is to treat you right
Make you feel real good
Just like a woman should
Let me do my job
Make your heart throb
Only for me baby, yeah, yeah, yeah
There's no other purpose that I'm here for
Baby but to love you
Won't you stop frontin' boo
Tell me what you gonna do
Let's stop all this masquerade
And let's show what you really feel
I'm the one for you babe
Now tell me what's the deal
You better stop playin' boo
Cuz I want you
(There's nothing I won't do)
Girl I gotta have you
(I thought you knew)
How bad I need you
(And I'll go)
I'll go that extra mile
I only live to please you
Never made you cry
(Cuz I want you)
Never told you lies
Always tried to be there for you
(Girl I gotta have you)
When all the chips were down
(How bad I need you)
Who stayed around?
You better recognize
(I'll go that extra mile)
(I only live to please you)
Well let me come, let me feed
Come feed you with my love
(Cuz I want you)
Grow close together, through any weather
(Girl I gotta have you)
Cuz you're all I'm thinkin' of
What must I do to prove to you
(How bad I need you)
That I'm the one for you
Stop frontin' baby, stop masqueradin'
(I'll go that extra mile)
Tell me what you gonna do, oh oh
(I only live to please you)
Cuz I want you (oh, oh, oh, oh)
Girl I gotta have you (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
How bad I need you (mmm)
In Keith Sweat's song "Only Wanna Please You", the singer is pledging his utmost commitment and loyalty to his partner. He emphasizes that he has never made his partner cry or told her any lies; furthermore, he was present when she was in need, through thick and thin. Sweat emphasizes that he is the only one that has stayed committed, and he also acknowledges his partner's importance in his life, asserting that he only lives to please her. Sweat insists his partner should stop playing games and give in to him, as he only wants to love and treat her right, and be the one to fulfill her every request.
Overall, the song portrays the depth of the singer's love and commitment, as well as his desire for his partner to reciprocate his dedication. The lyrics express a desire to be a loving and caring partner who will go the extra mile to ensure his partner's happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Never made you cry
I have never intentionally hurt you.
Never told you lies
I have always been honest with you.
I was there when you needed me
I have always been supportive and available for you.
When chips were down
During tough times.
Who stayed around?
I was the one who stuck around.
Better recognize
You need to acknowledge and appreciate me for what I've done for you.
Nobody but me
No one else has been there for you like I have.
What size you need?
What do you need from me?
Come and let me feed
Let me take care of you with my love.
You love so we can grow
We need to nurture our love in order for it to grow.
So close together, go through any weather
We will be able to endure any hardship as long as we are together.
I only live just to please you
My purpose in life is to make you happy.
So stop playin' boo
Stop playing games with me.
Cuz I want you
I desire you deeply and passionately.
(There's nothing I won't do)
I am willing to do anything for you.
Girl I gotta have you
I need you in my life.
(I thought you knew)
I assumed you understood the depth of my feelings for you.
How bad I need you
My need for you is strong and intense.
(And I'll go)
I am willing to do whatever it takes.
I'll go that extra mile
I will make extra effort to make you happy.
What must I do
What can I do to prove my love to you?
To prove to you
To show you my commitment and love.
That I'm the one
That I am the right person for you.
You should give your love to
You should love me in return because I have earned it.
It'd be a mistake
It would be a regrettable decision.
If you don't take
If you do not accept my love.
All of the love
The intense love and adoration I have for you.
That I've tried to give
The love that I have given to you over time.
I'm at your service
I am here to serve and take care of you.
So don't be nervous
You have nothing to worry about when it comes to me.
I'll never do any wrong to you
I will always treat you with the utmost respect and love.
My only reason
The only thing that motivates me.
My only purpose
The sole reason for my existence.
On this earth is to please you
To make you happy is my ultimate goal.
Well let me come, let me feed
Allow me to love and take care of you.
Come feed you with my love
My love will heal and sustain you.
Cuz you're all I'm thinkin' of
You are constantly on my mind and in my heart.
Stop frontin' baby, stop masqueradin'
Stop pretending and hiding your true feelings.
Tell me what you gonna do, oh oh
Let me know how you feel and what you are going to do about it.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DERRICK CULLER, KEITH SWEAT, KEITH D SWEAT, PALMER EUGENE WILLIAMS, WAYNE GRIMSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind