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]
Test Drive
Keith Sweat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make me want a test drive
You make me want a test drive
You make me want a test drive
I hop up in my ride and caress the dash
Look in my rear-view, you're chillin' in the back
I got a lot of power and you're workin' with a big body
I know you thinkin' I'm talkin' 'bout a car
Baby, I ain't, I talkin' 'bout us
My gas gush through your fuel line
And you got me tailgatin' you from behind
Come on, baby girl
Out of all those cars in the yard
You're the one a player wants
Got a big bank, girl, I can buy the parts
I'm what you need, so tell me
You need a lift, girl, I be the seat
Come on and sit on it, ride on it
Do what you want but don't you move from it
You make me want a test drive
(It's hot up in there, I'ma take off your top)
You make me want a test drive
(Got my feet on the gas and we will never stop)
You make me want a test drive
(Just put the roof back and let your panties drop)
Down, down, touch the ground now
I'll follow all your signs, give me the green light
I'll keep it right there until the sunlight
Slippery on your road, and shorty I know
You wanna take the wheel, wanna be in control
I keep it comin' so my wood-grain tellin' me
To go north, go east, go west, go south
Down, ridin' in your Cadillac
Keep your feet by the brake if you ain't ready yet
So baby girl
Out of all those cars in the yard
You're the one a player wants
Got a big bank, girl, I can buy the parts
I'm what you need, so tell me
You need a lift, girl, I be the seat
Come on and sit on it, ride on it
Do what you want but don't you move from it
You make me want a test drive
(It's hot up in there, I'ma take off your top)
You make me want a test drive
(Got my feet on the gas and we will never stop)
You make me want a test drive
(Just put the roof back and let your panties drop)
Down, down, touch the ground now
You make me want a test drive
(It's hot up in there, I'ma take off your top)
You make me want a test drive
(Got my feet on the gas and we will never stop)
You make me want a test drive
(Just put the roof back and let your panties drop)
Down, down, touch the ground now
You make me want a test drive
(You make me want to test drive your body)
You make me want a test drive
You make me want a test drive
Keith Sweat's song "Test Drive" is a seductive R&B ballad that describes a desire for passionate intimacy with someone. The song's title is a metaphor for sexual exploration, as Sweat compares his own sexual desires to the excitement of test driving a fast car. He beckons the object of his desire to join him in his car, offering to take her on a ride that she won't forget. He uses language that is both suggestive and poetic, such as "my gas gush through your fuel line," to describe the intensity of his sexual attraction. When he urges her to "come on and sit on it, ride on it," he's inviting her to engage in the sexual act itself.
Throughout the song, Sweat emphasizes the importance of the physical connection between partners. He describes himself as having a "big bank," which can buy the parts needed for his partner to experience the same pleasure that he does. This suggests that he cares about his partner's sexual satisfaction as much as his own. The repeated refrain of "you make me want a test drive" underscores the theme of the song, which is the desire to explore the physical and emotional connection between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
You make me want a test drive
Your presence and energy are so powerful that I desire to have an intimate experience with you
I hop up in my ride and caress the dash
I get excited and ready to go with you in my car, and I touch the dashboard with anticipation
Look in my rear-view, you're chillin' in the back
I see you in my car's rearview mirror, and you feel comfortable and relaxed in my presence
I got a lot of power and you're workin' with a big body
I have a lot of physical and emotional strength, and you have a beautiful and attractive body
Tonight is when my muscle meet your exotic
Tonight is when my masculine energy and power combine with your unique and alluring qualities
I know you thinkin' I'm talkin' 'bout a car
You may assume I am only talking about my car, but I am actually talking about a deeper connection between us
Baby, I ain't, I talkin' 'bout us
I am actually talking about an intimate and passionate connection between us as individuals
My gas gush through your fuel line
My intense love and desire flows through you and keeps you energized and excited
And you got me tailgatin' you from behind
I am following your lead and ready to follow your every move
You're the one a player wants
Out of all the options, you are the one that I desire and want to pursue
Got a big bank, girl, I can buy the parts
I have the resources and means to take care of you and ensure your happiness
I'm what you need, so tell me
I am the one that can fulfill your desires and needs, and I am eager to hear what they are
You need a lift, girl, I be the seat
If you need a boost or a lift, I am here to support you in any way I can
Come on and sit on it, ride on it
Come closer to me and enjoy the ride of our mutual affection and passion
Do what you want but don't you move from it
You have the freedom to express yourself and do as you please, but I want you to stay with me and continue our connection
Down, down, touch the ground now
Let's get physically closer and deepen our physical intimacy
I'll follow all your signs, give me the green light
I will respect and follow your lead, and I want you to give me the signal that you are ready to proceed
I'll keep it right there until the sunlight
I will stay with you and remain committed to our connection until dawn
Slippery on your road, and shorty I know
I recognize that you are a challenge and have your own unique path, but I am ready to navigate your twists and turns
You wanna take the wheel, wanna be in control
You are a strong and independent person who wants to lead and control the situation, and I am willing to let you take charge
So baby girl
My affectionate and intimate nickname for you
It's hot up in there, I'ma take off your top
Things are getting heated and intense, and I want to remove your clothing to deepen our physical intimacy
Got my feet on the gas and we will never stop
I am moving forward with passion and intensity, and I will not slow down or stop
Just put the roof back and let your panties drop
Let's get more comfortable and more intimate, and remove any barriers to our physical connection
You make me want to test drive your body
Your beauty and energy are so alluring that I desire to have a more intimate and physical connection with you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM M. GIBBS, DAVID D. BROWN, LUKE JONEAS AUSTIN, MICHAEL A. CHESSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@swatson211
Man... you all just don't know how under rated Joe is. This has been the cut for a minute.
@ronniej7282
So true.....
@demmonddorris4358
Joe Thomas is the most underrated R&B vocalist the last twenty years.
@aurorarene9909
If that ain't the truth I don't know what is!!! Keith Sweat claims to have the baby-making music, but JOE is the man with the real baby-making, love making to a woman R&B musician.
@arieslove6144
it's between him and brian mcknight
@aurorarene9909
@@arieslove6144 🤔🤔 that's why Joe, brian mcknight and Johnny Gill are my favorite R&B artist.
@lrodriguez9650
we will be there in the right direction to what my good Lord bless me to get through this is a great way to start a great day and see this world is coming to be there so sorry to do this to these people and they are going be hind your phone and I don't want to get into the only thing that I can do it be there for the baby he the best love you be safe and strong you are going to hard for you and me and the Lord has in his hands good night my sweet baby just got keep praying I will be in touch with all of the miss I will never give up on us and we will see this one day son sweet dreams my love you are my everything my little angel and I will be ready for what ever reason I love you with all my heart baby
@tonyabailey532
They r clean in those suits 4 real that's how a real man is suppose to dress. Not with pants hanging down to the ground looking like convicts.
@aurorarene9909
You said a mouthful and didn't choke! Say it louder!!
@darrick1426
"My gas is gushing through your fuel line, and you got me tailgating you from behind"... lol...I like that. Get'em Keith!