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]
Whatcha Like
Keith Sweat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, whatcha like? (yeah yeah)
(Uh-huh, uh-huh)
Yeah
(Uh, uh, what, what, what, what, what)
Baby, I'm scopin'
I know you want some
Some of this love of mine (yeah, yeah)
Cuz I'm not you average trick
It takes a lot to get with this
If you want my love
You gotta wine and dine (yeah, yeah)
Wait a minute baby
You must think I'm crazy
Trickin' is to me
One of my favorite past-times
Nah, I'm not used to spendin' money
Just to get some honey
But you know girl
There's always a first time
For everything, lemme say
I know what you want
I know what you need
Gonna give ya
What you like, what you like
You know what I want
You know what I need
Can you give me
What I like, what I like
Girl, I'll take you
Where you never been before
I'll go down girl
And give you so much more
Please come to me
I'll supply your every need
Satisfaction, baby, guaranteed
Now I've heard that game before (heard it before)
But you've got to give me more (give you more)
I like diamonds and plush cars
I wanna be the star (oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Boy don't take advantage
That bullshit, I can't stand it
I'm tired of givin' love
And bein' hurt
So first thing's first baby
I know what you want
I know what you need
Gonna give ya
What you like, what you like
You know what I want
You know what I need
Can you give me
What I like, what I like
Uh, uh, uh, uh
You better get your shit right
Boy ain't got much equipment
For you to come prepared for me
Cuz I'ma catch you slippin'
The bullshit I'm skippin'
No dicks I'm dippin'
Watch your mouth, it ain't no trippin'
While this madam is flippin'
And I'm sippin' Perione with the thong
Gone in the jacuzzi
Call this nigga to get my bone on
Come screw me, like the driver
Do amazing shit like MacGyver
Check out how I flip it when I ride ya
I hypnotize ya
With the twistin' of my hips
I mesmerize ya
With the lickin' of my lips
And I feed him a mouthful
Five from that snack, she packin'
In the sack, she lackin'
Ain't no slackin', I'm mackin'
Get the fuck back and recede like a hairline
Pull some shit, you gon' see me take care of mine
The bomb poetess be on a paper quest
For little D, my mama and me, fuck the rest
Uh, uh
I know what you want
I know what you need
Gonna give ya
What you like, what you like
You know what I want
You know what I need
Can you give me
What I like, what I like
In Keith Sweat’s song, “Whatcha Like,” the lyrics tell a story of a man and woman who are interested in each other but have different expectations. The man is confident in his abilities to seduce the woman, saying he knows she wants his love and that it takes more than just an average effort to be with him. He claims he can take her to places she’s never been before and promises to satisfy her every need.
However, the woman is not easily swayed by his charm. She tells him that she’s tired of being hurt and that she wants more than just being taken to fancy places and being given expensive gifts. She wants to feel like a star and not be taken advantage of. She warns him that she won’t tolerate any disrespect or mistreatment.
The chorus of the song involves both the man and the woman asking each other if they can give what the other wants. The woman wants more than just material things and is looking for someone who truly understands her. The man is confident that he can deliver on what she desires, which is his love and affection.
Overall, “Whatcha Like” is a song that explores the dynamics of romance and relationships, highlighting the importance of understanding and respecting each other’s wants and needs.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, I'm scopin';I got you wide open;I know you want some;Some of this love of mine (yeah, yeah);Cuz I'm not you average trick;It takes a lot to get with this;If you want my love;You gotta wine and dine (yeah, yeah)
Keith is interested in the person he is talking to, he knows they are interested in him because of his charm; he thinks of himself as someone special who can't be easily won, he expects to be pursued with constant attention
Wait a minute baby;You must think I'm crazy;Trickin' is to me;One of my favorite past-times;Nah, I'm not used to spendin' money;Just to get some honey;But you know girl;There's always a first time;For everything, lemme say
Keith knows that he's been known for tricking, but wants the listener to know that he's not used to spending so much money to get what he wants but is willing to make an exception for the right person
I know what you want;I know what you need;Gonna give ya;What you like, what you like;You know what I want;You know what I need;Can you give me;What I like, what I like
Both Keith and the listener know what each other wants and they're willing to give it to each other
Girl, I'll take you;Where you never been before;I'll go down girl;And give you so much more;Please come to me;I'll supply your every need;Satisfaction, baby, guaranteed
Keith promises to take the listener to new places and give them new experiences; he's willing to do everything to make the listener happy and promises satisfaction
Now I've heard that game before (heard it before);But you've got to give me more (give you more);I like diamonds and plush cars;I wanna be the star (oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah);Boy don't take advantage;That bullshit, I can't stand it;I'm tired of givin' love;And bein' hurt;So first thing's first baby
The listener has heard these promises before but needs more proof of Keith's commitment; they want a lavish lifestyle and fame, but they've also been hurt before and don't want to be taken advantage of
You better get your shit right;Boy ain't got much equipment;For you to come prepared for me;Cuz I'ma catch you slippin';The bullshit I'm skippin';No dicks I'm dippin';Watch your mouth, it ain't no trippin';While this madam is flippin';And I'm sippin' Perione with the thong;Gone in the jacuzzi;Call this nigga to get my bone on;Come screw me, like the driver;Do amazing shit like MacGyver;Check out how I flip it when I ride ya;I hypnotize ya;With the twistin' of my hips;I mesmerize ya;With the lickin' of my lips;And I feed him a mouthful;Five from that snack, she packin';In the sack, she lackin';Ain't no slackin', I'm mackin';Get the fuck back and recede like a hairline;Pull some shit, you gon' see me take care of mine;The bomb poetess be on a paper quest;For little D, my mama and me, fuck the rest;Uh, uh
Keith warns that the listener better be ready and not come unprepared because he'll be paying attention and won't be falling for any lies; he's describing the amazing things he can do sexually and how he's confident he can please the listener; he talks about taking care of himself and his loved ones and letting go of those who don't matter
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BOBBY CRAWFORD, CURTIS JEFFERSON, DORNA JENKINS, KEITH SWEAT, KEITH D SWEAT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind