After signing a record deal with Capitol Records, she pursued a successful solo career. Her solo debut album, LeToya (2006), topped the US Billboard 200 albums chart in July 2006 and was certified platinum by the RIAA in December 2006. The single, "Torn", achieved records on BET's top ten countdown show 106 & Park. She was also named "One of the Best New Artists of 2006" by AOL and the "Top Songwriter of 2006" by ASCAP. Luckett released a second solo album Lady Love on August 25th, 2009 which debuted at #12 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Letoya Luckett was born in Houston, Texas to parents of African American and Indigenous American descent and grew up singing in her local Brentwood Baptist Church. She also had vocal lessons to become an opera singer. Her father, who was also a singer, was very proud of his daughter's vocal talents and tried to promote her in the music business. Luckett is the eldest of two children; she has a younger brother Gavin. Luckett was given the opportunity to sing her first church solo at the age of five. "The lady just gave me the mic one Sunday and I sang", she recalled. Shortly thereafter, she joined the children's choir and began performing in plays at her elementary school. One day, she walked to her desk in class to find a girl sitting in her seat. Luckett asked her teacher to remove the girl from her assigned seat, who turned out to be BeyoncΓ© Knowles. They later became friends, and she was invited to join Latavia's and BeyoncΓ©'s singing group.
In 1993, LeToya Luckett joined BeyoncΓ© Knowles, LaTavia Roberson, and Kelly Rowland to complete the Houston-based R&B group, Destiny's Child. After being signed and later dropped by Elektra Records, the group eventually signed with Columbia Records in 1997, but not before signing with Mathew Knowles as their official manager. According to the E! Television Special, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Knowles forced the girls to sign with him before they could sign with the label. LeToya's mother requested the contracts be reviewed by an attorney, but Knowles denied the request. However, Luckett eventually signed with him and joined the group.
After graduating from the Houston club scene, the group began opening for acts such as Dru Hill, SWV, and Immature, and released their 1998 self-titled debut album Destiny's Child. The album spawned two singles: the platinum "No, No, No Part II" (featuring Wyclef Jean) and "With Me". The group was featured on the Why Do Fools Fall in Love soundtrack with the song "Get on the Bus" (featuring Timbaland), and later toured as an opening act on TLC's "Fanmail Tour" and Christina Aguilera's debut tour.
In 1999, the group released their second album, The Writing's on the Wall. The album became one of the biggest selling albums released by a female group, and was certified eight times platinum in the USA. The album spawned four hit singles: "Bills, Bills, Bills", "Bug a Boo", "Say My Name" and "Jumpin' Jumpin'". In late 1999, in the midst of the group's rising success, Luckett and Roberson sent a letter to their management stating they wanted their own manager because of the increasing lack of communication from the group's manager Mathew Knowles (who is also BeyoncΓ© Knowles' father). The pair said they never wanted to fire Knowles, but they did want to secure outside management to represent them fairly. Soon after, Luckett and Roberson found themselves on the outs with Knowles family and the group they helped create. When the "Say My Name" music video debuted in February 2000, they were shocked to find themselves replaced by two new members, Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin.
Luckett and Roberson filed a lawsuit against Matthew Knowles, BeyoncΓ© Knowles and Kelly Rowland, charging them with breach of partnership and fiduciary duties, and sought unspecified damages. Luckett and Roberson withdrew the case against BeyoncΓ© and Kelly, but continued to sue Matthew Knowles. The case was eventually settled, with Luckett and Roberson continuing to receive royalties from their contributions as founding members of the group. When it seemed as if the drama had subsided, shortly following the release of Destiny's Child's Survivor, Luckett and Roberson filed another lawsuit against the group in March 2002. They claimed that the album's lead single, "Survivor", violated their previous settlement due to its lyrics, which they believed to reference the ugly split.
After several months of media speculation, it was announced via the MTV News website that Luckett and Roberson had created a new group called Anjel. After several auditions, Naty Quinones and Tiffany Beaudoin were selected as members. The group recorded a twenty-two-song demo in Atlanta, Georgia, with the help of R&B group Jagged Edge. Their production company (581 Entertainment) which handled the group fell through, and all the members of Anjel went on to pursue solo projects. However, the recorded tracks were leaked onto the internet.
After the Anjel project fell through, Luckett joined with Noontime, an Atlanta-based management/production company. Along with Noontime, she recorded a five song demo and eventually signed with Capitol Records in 2003. Soon after, she began working on her debut solo album. The first promotional single, "You Got What I Need", was released in 2004, followed next year by "All Eyes on Me". She featured on "My Promise" with her label mate Houston on his debut album It's Already Written, "What Love Can Do" on the Coach Carter soundtrack, and on "This Is My Life" with former boyfriend and rapper Slim Thug on his album Already Platinum. LeToya's self-titled debut album, was released on July 2006 and debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, outselling the compilation Now That's What I Call Music! and Pharrell Williams's debut album. The album was certified gold after one month and as of December 2006, the album had been certified platinum. Luckett and BeyoncΓ© Knowles are the only members of Destiny's Child to have an album debut at number one on the Billboard 200 and achieve platinum status in the U.S.
With LeToya being marketed as "The H-Town Chick", the album featured hip-hop inspired R&B production. Producers on the album included Jermaine Dupri, Scott Storch, Teddy Bishop, B. Cox, and musical guests Slim Thug, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Bun B. "All Eyes on Me" was originally chosen as LeToya's debut single, but she selected "Torn" instead. She stated she "had to go against the grain" to get that single released, but it proved to be a good move. The ballad (produced by Teddy Bishop and a personal favorite of LeToya's) was released March 2006 and became an R&B hit. The ballad has been compared to Natalie Imbruglia and Mary J. Blige's past hit singles. The song climbed the Billboard charts, peaking at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and became the number one song on urban radio.
"Torn" (2006)
LeToya's most successful single to date.
"She Don't" (2006)
Although Torn was still receiving major airplay, her second single, "She Don't", was released to radio and the video premiered on BET's Access Granted in July 2006 featuring LeToya's ex-boyfriend, Slim Thug. The single received moderate success, reaching number seventeen on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. In November 2006, "Obvious" was selected as the third single. According to Billboard, the song had a 94% chance of becoming a hit, but due to the merger of Capitol Records and Virgin Records, all promotion and money was frozen, therefore the single was never officially released. Luckett was also named "One of the Best New Artists of 2006" by AOL Music, number two on Rap-Up magazines' Top 5 Breakthrough Artists of 2006, and had received multiple nominations from the NAACP, the Soul Train Music Awards, and the Teen Choice Awards.
BET promoted LeToya heavily not only on 106 & Park, The Center, and The Black Carpet, but with a three-part reality series special called The H-Town Chick, which aired from May to July 2006. The series chronicled LeToya's experiences during her summer promotional tour and insight on her life since Destiny's Child. BET also hosted a contest that gave fans the opportunity to decide the final outcome of the "Torn" video. Cingular hosted a Lip-Sync contest that awarded those who best performed "Torn" best in an online submitted video.
In addition to a nationwide radio tour, club performances, a brief European and Asian tour, LeToya was asked to participate in the 2006 Pantene Total You Tour, the Cingular Live in Concert series, and was personally invited by Mary J. Blige to join her summer tour, The Breakthrough Experience Tour, as her opening act.
Lady Love
On July 13, she said in an interview that her album will have a 1980's influence on her songs and during the event, LeToya announced that the album would officially going to be named Lady Love, then she introduced and performed two new songs "Lady Love" and "Don't Let Me Get Away". On December 10, a buzz track, Swagger, that features rappers such as Slim Thug, Killa Kyleon and Bun B leaked onto internet through Luckett's official fansite, surprisingly the song makes a reference of BeyoncΓ©'s song, Upgrade U. In 2008 she was featured on Webbie's single "I Miss You" which was a moderate success. She didn't appear in the video due to the fact that she was acting in the nationwide play "Rumors" and as a result wasn't able to make it to the shoot.
LeToya's second solo album was released on August 25, 2009. and debuted at #1 on the Billboard R&B Hip Hop chart. The first single, "Not Anymore", was written by Ne-Yo and was produced by Bei Maejor. It was released on February 3. The music video was released on March 10. The uptempo song "She Ain't Got..." was leaked onto the internet end of March 2009 on several sites including YouTube. Luckett ran a contest online giving fans the chance to choose the follow-up single to βNot Anymore.β Called βThe Final Showdown,β the contest gave the option of voting for one of two songs off her sophomore album, Lady Love. βWe want the fans to choose between βRegretβ and βShe Ainβt Got Shit On Me,ββ LeToya reveals. βSo whichever one wins between those two. Theyβll both be singles though". "She Ain't Got..." won.
"Regret" was released soon after and became a urban hit reaching #3 on Urban Mediabase. A video was released in November and is currently on 106 And Park. The song peaked at #78 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart (becoming the first single from Lady Love to peak within this chart) and #8 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
LeToya revealed via Twitter that she was filming a video for Good To Me - thus confirming it to be the next single. The viral video premiered on the internet on February 12th.
Luckett's first role on television was on the WB show "Smart Guy" in 1998 with Destiny's Child. She also had an appearance in the movie "Beverly Hood" in 1999.
Since 2008, LeToya has been acting in plays and movies. LeToya was part of the cast of JD Lawrence's stage play Rumors as the character Michelle. She hit the road from January 31, 2008 to March 2, 2008.
Luckett is starring in the movie Preacher's Kid, which was released in January 2010.
She is also part of the movie Killers, scheduled for release June 4th, 2010 along with Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl and Tom Selleck.
Regret
LeToya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh, uh, he don't deserve you, deserve you
He gonna regret that he hurt you, hurt you
You must regret the day you left me
He gonna regret that he hurt you, hurt you, LeToya
I made you cool, you wasn't that dude
Until I started fuckin' with you
Gave you swag and a duffel bag
You left the best you had, now you gonna act like that
I got you right, I changed your life
Suicide doors I cosigned
Gucci rags, Louis travel bags
You left the best you had, baby don't look so mad
You must regret the day that you left me
You must regret the day that you left me
Still tryin' to get back, get back
Still tryin' to get back, back, back with me, oh
Still tryin' to get back, get back
Still tryin' to get back, back, back with me, oh
VIP was all on me
Now you're at the bar with 1 or 2 drinks
Poppin' game, you look so lame
Without me your pimpin' ain't the same
First class flights, dipped in ice
I had your neck and wrist, oh so bright
Poppin' tags is a thing of the past
You lost the things you had chasin' them scallywags
You must regret the day that you left me
(You must regret the day, baby)
You must regret the day that you left me
(You must regret the day, baby)
You still tryin' to get back, get back
Still tryin' to get back, back, back with me, oh
Still tryin' to get back, get back
Still tryin' to get back, back, back with me, oh
Listen, hey sexy, tell 'em that it's over
Tell 'em you my baby and my coupe is your stroller
Tell 'em this Louis Vuitton scarf is your bib
Or that you call me daddy and my house is your crib
And if he cries, I know how to control that
Give him some bottles of this Conjure cognac
Just to shut him up, she said you wasn't half the man I am
So I guess he had to double up
He still tryin' to get back like the soldiers
Dreamin' and it's time to wake him up like Folgers
I just told her you used to put a load of
Shit up on her brain but you lame, now it's over
I keep her by my side like a holster
I plan to make a full house and I ain't talkin' 'bout poker
But I might poke her and just stroke her
'Cause I'm about to treat her like a real man supposed to, Luda
You must regret the day that you left me
(I know you regret it, homie)
(See, I gave you too many years of my life)
You must regret the day that you left me
(You dropped her down and I picked it up, she's mine)
(All your dis' was dragging me down)
You still tryin' to get back, get back
(You can't have her back)
Still tryin' to get back, back, back with me, oh
(I'm gonna treat her like the queen that she is, man)
Still tryin' to get back, get back
(Teach you a lesson)
Still tryin' to get back, back, back with me, oh
You must regret the day you left me
(Now you realize that you were wrong)
You must regret the day you left me
(But it's too late 'cause I moved on)
You still tryin' to get back, get back
(It feels so good)
Still tryin' to get back, back, back with me, oh
(Feels so good)
Still tryin' to get back, get back
Still tryin' to get back, back, back with me, oh
The lyrics of LeToya's song Regret speak to a man who left her for someone else and now regrets his decision. LeToya reminds him of everything that he had when he was with her, including his newfound "swag" and material possessions. She asserts that he "must regret" the day he left her and that he "don't deserve" his current partner. As the song progresses, there are additional verses from Ludacris that reinforce LeToya's message and let the ex know that he can't have her back. The song's catchy beat and confident lyrics make it a standout track in LeToya's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
You must regret the day that you left me
The person who left the singer must deeply regret their decision
Uh, uh, he don't deserve you, deserve you
The person who left the singer doesn't deserve to be with their new partner
He gonna regret that he hurt you, hurt you
The person who left the singer will eventually regret and feel guilty about hurting their new partner
I made you cool, you wasn't that dude
The artist helped the person they were with become popular and respected
Until I started fuckin' with you
The person the artist was with wasn't well-liked or well-known until the artist got involved with them
Gave you swag and a duffel bag
The singer enhanced the person they were with's style and gave them expensive items
You left the best you had, now you gonna act like that
The person who left the singer gave up something great and is now acting negatively towards the singer
I got you right, I changed your life
The artist made a positive impact on the person they were with's life and improved it
Suicide doors I cosigned
The artist helped the person they were with purchase an expensive, luxury car with unique doors
Gucci rags, Louis travel bags
The artist gave the person they were with designer clothing and travel bags from prestigious brands
VIP was all on me
The singer was the center of attention in exclusive, VIP areas
Now you're at the bar with 1 or 2 drinks
The person who left the artist is no longer in high-end social settings and is now just an average person at a bar
Without me your pimpin' ain't the same
The person who left the singer's charisma and charm isn't as effective without the presence/support of the singer
First class flights, dipped in ice
The singer paid for and traveled first class on flights and had expensive, flashy jewelry
Poppin' tags is a thing of the past
The person who left the singer can no longer afford to continuously buy expensive, luxury items
You still tryin' to get back, get back
The person who left the artist is still attempting to get back with them
Listen, hey sexy, tell 'em that it's over
The artist is telling their new partner to officially end things with the person who left them
Tell 'em you my baby and my coupe is your stroller
The singer is saying that they will take care of their new partner like a child and provide for them
And if he cries, I know how to control that
The singer can handle any emotional reaction that may come from their new partner ending things with the person who left the singer
He still tryin' to get back like the soldiers
The person who left the artist is still persistently trying to get back with them, like a soldier fighting in battle
Dreamin' and it's time to wake him up like Folgers
The artist needs to confront the person who left them and make them realize that they're never getting back together
But I might poke her and just stroke her
The artist may engage in sexual activity with their new partner
You must regret the day you left me
The person who left the singer must deeply regret their decision
Still tryin' to get back, get back
The person who left the artist is still attempting to get back with them
You dropped her down and I picked it up, she's mine
The singer took in the person who left the first speaker and is now with them instead
You can't have her back
The first speaker cannot have their ex-partner back - the singer's new partner chose the singer instead
Now you realize that you were wrong
The person who left the singer now understands that they made a mistake in leaving
But it's too late 'cause I moved on
The artist has already moved on from their previous relationship and is now with someone else
Feels so good
The artist is happy and content with their current partner and relationship
Teach you a lesson
The singer's success after being left by the first speaker serves as a lesson to them
I know you regret it, homie
The person who left the singer deeply regrets their decision
See, I gave you too many years of my life
The artist sacrificed a lot of time and energy into their previous relationship with the person who left them
All your dis' was dragging me down
The negative behavior and words of the person who left the artist were bringing the artist down
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NolaTwin504
β€LeToya...still π₯2023...thanks Terrell for having her on your podcast. π―ππ½
@strongblkwmn
Same reason I came here. π
@trumoca
Still a bop! 3/24
@TheAnointedOne91
This is a prime example of why you don't take good people for granted.
@troyjohnson6889
God's Child men of women
@troyjohnson6889
God's Child don't take a good person for granted
@kameshiaglover8654
π―π―π―ππ
@magihypnotisthannibalbey1755
Genuine Servant of God thank you saying that! A Honey did that just that! Iβm done with settling for not getting want I really wanted! My advice to all, DO NOT SETTLE FOR LESS! Peace from the Magi in the East ππΏ
@daydayuzoma3737
Yass Hunny Period β€β€β€π
@cookingvlogforlearnies851
Letoya did her thang...she killed it