In 2004, James toured as an opening act for the Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray. That same year, she was featured on hip hop producer, DJ, and emcee Pete Rock's album Soul Survivor II, providing vocals to the track "No Tears".
Her debut album was released on June 21, 2005, entitled A Change Is Gonna Come. The album is a soul music record incorporating the styles of 1960s and 1970s American soul singers, with a mixture of funk, R&B and gospel influences. The first single from the album, entitled "Music," laments what Leela James sees as the decline of hip hop and soul music and asks for a return to the artistry of musicians of earlier decades. Leela co-wrote most of the tracks on her debut album, with two notable exceptions being her cover of No Doubt's "Don't Speak," and the classic song by Sam Cooke for which the album is named. Notable collaborators on the album include Raphael Saadiq of the 1990s R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, Kanye West, and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean.
After parting ways with Warner Bros., James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all-cover set entitled Let's Do It Again (the title being a homage to the 1975 soundtrack album of the same name by The Staple Singers).
In 2005, she lent her voice to the posthumously released Ray Charles album Genius & Friends, duetting with the singer on the song "Compared to What". Leela also guested on Robert Randolph and the Family Band's 2006 album Colorblind, lending her vocals to "Stronger". In June 2009, she appeared on Moby's new album "Wait for Me", performing the vocal on "Walk with Me".
After parting ways with Warner Bros., James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all-cover set entitled Let's Do It Again (the title being a homage to the 1975 soundtrack album of the same name by The Staple Singers).
In June 2009, she appeared on the Moby album Wait for Me, performing the vocal on "Walk with Me".
James' third album My Soul - her debut release for the Stax label - was released on May 24, 2010, and debuted on the US Hip Hop/R&B chart at #7. Speaking in May 2010 to UK soul writer Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul, she stated: "With this album I wanted to make sure that I showed all sides of me - in terms of variety in the music and in my vocal range - while at the same time making it clear that every song deeply came from my soul. Plus I also wanted to incorporate a little more hip hop this time, and infuse it with my traditional R&B - because I felt that. By making my beats edgier and harder-hitting, I'd show there was more to me than just doing ballads and things of that sort."
On July 8, 2014, Leela James released her fifth studio album, Fall For You. The album's first two singles, "Say That" feat. Anthony Hamilton and "Fall For You" both reached Top 15 on the Billboard Urban AC charts, with "Fall For You" reaching #12. Ms. James supported her album with tours nationwide, including performances at Essence Music Festival, Arizona Jazz Fest, San Diego Jazz Fest, Capitol Jazz Fest, and more.
James' sixth album, Did It for Love was released on March 31, 2017 by Shesangz Music under license to BMG.[5] The album has the singles "Don't Want You Back" released on October 28, 2016,[6] "Hard for Me" released on February 25, 2017, "Don't Mean a Thang" released on March 27, 2017,[8] and a video single "All Over Again" on May 4, 2017.[9] The single "Don't Want You Back" reached number 1 on Billboard' Adult R&B Songs chart on April 15, 2017, becoming her highest charting single ever.
Ghetto
Leela James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's gettin' ghetto up in here
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
She be like, "One Mississippi, two Mississippi rock!"
Backed up
Like I said before, he's my man.
What part of that conversation don't you understand?
(She's gonna get ghetto up in here)
The gloves gonna come off, grease up my face, put you in your place
Didn't want to scrap, poppin' on the cap when ya gotta fall back ?
[Chorus]
Tryin' to be a lady but you keep pushin' me
It's gonna get pretty.
Leave me alone, go on by the way stop, throw another cell phone ?
When you had him, you mistreated him
Now I found him and I'm feedin' him
And he's happy, there's no drama
So you can save those hardy notes for the doctor
'Cause I ain't givin' him up
I'm lovin' him up
Me and him every night, drinkin' from the same cup
They say you don't know a good thing 'til it's gone
And now I found him in my arms
She be like, "one Mississippi two Mississippi rock!"
Backed up ?
Like I said before, he's my man.
What part of that conversation don't you understand?
Whoa, whoa, whoa
(She's gonna get ghetto up in here)
The gloves commin' off, grease up my face, put you in your place
Didn't want to scrap, poppin' on the cap when ya gotta fall back(?)
[Chorus]
Leave me alone, go on by the way stop, throw another cell phone.
Took advantage of his kindess
Didn't appreciate his sweetness
Now I'm present, you're the past
Ain't my fault what y'all had didn't last
See, I wanna kill the confusion
(Girl, there ain't no confusion)
I want you to know it's me he's lovin'
(You know it's you I'm lovin')
I'm even thinking about having his children
So, I think you should go find yourself a new boy
?
Have you ever been in a party,
Droppin' your sexy and bottles
Came flyin' in your direction?
Turned around saw two kitty-cats fightin'?
Tried to play the good Samaritan,
Now your face is scratchin'.
They're gettin' pretty, pretty, gettin' ?
Someone call security bout to be an outbreak
Stillettos comin' off ?
When the cops break it down half the party's in my loff
He gloves gonna come off, grease up my face, put you in your place
Whoa, whoa, whoa
[Chorus]
Uh, uh, don't make me ghetto.
In Leela James's song Ghetto, the central theme is a woman who is defending her relationship with her man against an ex who wants him back. The song starts with the phrase "She's gettin' ghetto up in here," which means the woman is getting angry and aggressive in response to the ex's behavior. The lyrics "What part of that conversation don't you understand?" signify the woman's exasperation because she had already communicated that her man was off-limits. The phrase "The gloves gonna come off, grease up my face, put you in your place" indicates the woman is ready to fight the ex if she doesn't back off.
Line by Line Meaning
She's gettin' ghetto up in here
The singer is warning that she is going to get aggressive and confrontational.
She be like, "One Mississippi, two Mississippi rock!"
The singer is counting down to a fight or confrontation, possibly with a physical altercation.
Like I said before, he's my man. What part of that conversation don't you understand?
The singer is frustrated that someone is not respecting the fact that they are in a committed relationship and that person should back off.
The gloves gonna come off, grease up my face, put you in your place
The artist is ready to fight and defend their partner against anyone who disrespects their relationship.
Leave me alone, go on by the way stop, throw another cell phone ?
The artist is being harassed and disrespected and the person is escalating their behavior to the point of throwing things.
When you had him, you mistreated him / Now I found him and I'm feedin' him / And he's happy, there's no drama / So you can save those hardy notes for the doctor
The singer has found the person who was mistreated in the past and is now happy in a relationship with them, so they should stop bothering them and let them be.
I ain't givin' him up / I'm lovin' him up / Me and him every night, drinkin' from the same cup
The singer is committed to their relationship and is not going to let anyone come between them.
The gloves commin' off, grease up my face, put you in your place / Didn't want to scrap, poppin' on the cap when ya gotta fall back(?)
The artist is ready to fight and will defend their relationship against those who try to meddle.
Took advantage of his kindness / Didn't appreciate his sweetness / Now I'm present, you're the past / Ain't my fault what y'all had didn't last
The artist's partner was taken advantage of and disrespected in the past, but now the artist is in the picture and the past relationship did not work out.
See, I wanna kill the confusion / (Girl, there ain't no confusion) / I want you to know it's me he's lovin' / (You know it's you I'm lovin') / I'm even thinking about having his children
The artist wants to make it clear that there is no confusion or doubt about who their partner loves, and they are even considering starting a family together.
So, I think you should go find yourself a new boy ?
The singer is suggesting that the person who is interfering should find a different person to pursue and leave the singer and their partner alone.
Have you ever been in a party, / Droppin' your sexy and bottles / Came flyin' in your direction? / Turned around saw two kitty-cats fightin'? / Tried to play the good Samaritan, / Now your face is scratchin'. / They're gettin' pretty, pretty, gettin' ? / Someone call security bout to be an outbreak / Stillettos comin' off ? / When the cops break it down half the party's in my loff
The artist is describing a chaotic and violent scene at a party, where a fight breaks out and bystanders get caught in the middle of the chaos, possibly resulting in injuries or arrests.
Uh, uh, don't make me ghetto.
The singer is warning people not to provoke her or test her patience, as she can become aggressive and confrontational.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY DUPLESSIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind