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 Beyoncé Knowles. They later became friends, and she was invited to join Latavia's and Beyoncé's singing group.
In 1993, LeToya Luckett joined Beyoncé 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 Beyoncé 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, Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, charging them with breach of partnership and fiduciary duties, and sought unspecified damages. Luckett and Roberson withdrew the case against Beyoncé 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 Beyoncé 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 Beyoncé'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 “Not Anymore.” Called “The Final Showdown,” the contest gave the option of voting for one of two songs off her sophomore album, Lady Love. “We want the fans to choose between ‘Regret’ and ‘She Ain’t Got Shit On Me,’” LeToya reveals. “So whichever one wins between those two. They’ll 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.
She Ain't Got
LeToya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Given everything)
Even past the fact that you lied
(Look what you did to me)
Baby, I cried, baby, I tried
(But you don't)
Even care about what we had
(And I won't)
Deal with it [unverified]
('Cause I don't)
[Unverified] I think is trash
So I'ma take out the trash
Soon as I find out who she is
Who is this chick that you think's all that?
Trynna steal you away but I ain't havin' that
I'ma put my foot down on home girl's neck
To make her see that
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got, she ain't got
Oh, so you wanna leave
'Cause you ain't goin'
You're a puppy on a leash
Time to come back home
I done let 'chu out to play
But 'chu ain't playin' fair
You done messy little stray
Bringin' fleas 'round here
So swing batta, batta, batta
Swing mad up at, up at, up at her
Swing batta, batta, batta
Swing mad up at, up at, up at her
Right at up at her at her
Right at up at her at her
All I need to know is who she is
Who is this chick that you think's all that?
Trynna steal you away but I ain't havin' that
I'ma put my foot down on home girl's neck
To make her see that
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got, she ain't got
(Shit on me)
Does she kiss like me?
Care for ya kids like me?
Keep a secret like me?
Does she cook? Clean?
Do all that things
Can you take her home to momma?
Deal wit 'cha baby momma?
Does she fight like me? Stay fly like me?
Down to ride like me?
No, 'cause she ain't, yeah
Who is this chick that you think's all that
Tryna steal you away but I ain't havin' that
I'ma put my foot down on home girl's neck
To make her see that
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got shit on me
She ain't got, she ain't got
Swing batta, batta, batta
Swing mad up at, up at, up at her
Swing batta, batta, batta
Swing mad up at, up at, up at her
Swing batta, batta, batta
Swing mad up at, up at, up at her
Swing batta, batta, batta
Swing mad up at, up at, up at her
The song "She Ain't Got" by LeToya is an empowered anthem for all those confronting cheating partners. The chorus makes this very evident. The singer alleges where her partner has falsely left her for a woman he perceives to be better, she is not interested in playing second fiddle. The chorus implies that LeToya Jackson is a powerful woman who is not going to be easily disposed of, as she sings 'She ain't got shit on me.' She also warns the woman who is making advances on her partner to back off, saying that she is going to confront and put that woman in her place. She wonders what this ‘other’ woman possesses that she can't provide in her relationship, which ranges from physical intimacy to household chores to emotional support.
Line by Line Meaning
Now ain't nobody perfect but I've (given everything)
I understand that we all have flaws, but I have given my all to this relationship.
Even past the fact that you lied (look what you did to me)
Despite the fact that you lied to me, I still went through a lot of pain because of you.
And lonely nights at home when I cried
I have had many lonely nights at home where I cried because of how much you hurt me.
Baby I cried, baby I tried..
I cried and I tried my best to make things work but it seems like it's not enough for you.
(But you don't) even care about what we had
You don't seem to care about the love and bond we had once shared.
(And I won't) deal with it be your punching bag
I won't tolerate being your punching bag and you treating me like I'm the root of all our problems.
(So don't) compare me to what I think is trash
Please don't compare me to someone who I deem as trash and beneath me.
So I'm a take out the trash
I am going to get rid of the toxic energy in our relationship.
Soon as I find out who she is
As soon as I find out who this other woman is that you are giving attention to, I am going to confront her.
Who is this chick that you think's all that
Who is this woman that you believe is better than me and can replace me?
Tryna steal you away but I ain't havin' that
She might be trying to steal you away, but I won't let that happen.
I'm a put my foot down on home girl's neck
I am going to stand up for myself and confront this woman who is causing problems in our relationship.
To make her see that
I am going to make this other woman understand that she is not better than me.
She ain't got shit on me (that whore)
She is not better than me in any way, even if you think she is.
Oh so you wanna leave
You seem to be considering leaving our relationship for this other woman.
'Cuz you ain't gone'
But you haven't fully made that decision yet.
You're a puppy on a leash
You are easily swayed and controlled, much like a puppy on a leash.
Time to come back home
It's time for you to realize where you truly belong.
I done let 'chu out to play
I gave you freedom to make your own choices.
But 'chu ain't playin' fair
But it seems like you are not playing fair with me.
You done meet this little stray
You have met this other woman who is not committed to our relationship.
Bringin' fleas 'round here
And now she is bringing negativity and drama into our lives.
Does she kiss like me?
Is this other woman a better kisser than me?
Care for ya kids like me?
Does she take care of your children the way I do?
Keep a secret like me?
Can she keep a secret the way I can?
Does she cook? clean?
Is she as good at cooking and cleaning as me?
Can you take her home to momma?
Is she someone that you can introduce to your family?
Deal wit 'cha baby momma?
Can she handle dealing with your child's mother the way I can?
Does she fight like me?
Is she a fighter like I am?
Stay fly like me?
Is she as stylish and put-together as I am?
Down to ride like me?
Is she down for you the way I am?
No, 'cause she ain't me, yeah!
The answer to all these questions is no, because she is not me.
(now tell me who she think she is)
I want to know who this other woman thinks she is, trying to come between us.
Swing batta batta batta
I am ready to fight for my relationship and my man.
Swing mad up at, up at, up at her
I am going to swing hard at this other woman who is trying to take what is mine.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CORY BOLD, CHRIS N BROWN, LETOYA NICOLE N LUCKETT, ANDRE N MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@misha6962
2022- randomly thought of this song and it's been on loop in my head since. Me and my little sister's favourite lines to sing aggressively to each other to the brink of getting physical were
"AFTER PUTTING MY FOOT DOWN ON HOMEGIRLS NECK"
and
"You done let this little stray bring fleas round here"
Such a memorable song and the vocals omg. BTW sorry if ignorant but is this the same LeToya that was in Destiny's Child? I had no idea!
@DMB1125
This should’ve been a massive hit. Especially in Europe.
@Chris-cc5ne
This song had so much potential to be a crossover hit.
@MadbutBad07
I heard beyonce had it blocked from radio airplay etc
@Cryabtit_
@kate r why would she waste her time doing that let’s be real now
@traveline52
Her label president was fired and it put her promotion in limbo. There was a rumor then that Mathew spread a radio campaign to suppress play on her songs. She addressed it, but neither confirmed or denied.
@michellewest1213
@@MadbutBad07I wouldn't be surprised
@Machelle3200
@@traveline52I believe it...Beyawnce is a big phawking hater..😡😡😡
@nonaconner8807
Fierce song!!!!!!! Her tone...her runs... HER period... A God kissed beauty and I hear she is super kind .... Luv ya
@ThePharaoho
This is really impressive: she wrote the song and directed this video, of course starred in it too. This was done really well, it's like she has many natural talents.
@egoriysemenov
was directed by Bryan Barber