The group released their debut album, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam with Full Force in 1985, it went platinum[1]. The Personal Records label leased "I Wonder if I Take You Home" to the European division of CBS Records for the compilation album Breakdancing. Stateside club DJs began playing the single from the import LP. The U.S. division of CBS, Columbia Records, released the record with it quickly becoming a chart-topper on Billboard's Hot Dance/Disco chart. The single went gold, crossing over to the R&B chart, peaking at number six, and the pop chart at number 34 in summer 1985. I Wonder If I Take You Home was followed by the club hit "Can You Feel the Beat," and they soon found their first Top 10 single, the ballad "All Cried Out". "Can You Feel the Beat" made it to number 40 R&B in late 1985. Their third single, the ballad "All Cried Out" went gold, going to number three R&B, number eight pop in summer 1986. "All Cried Out" was later covered by Allure and was a hit in 1998.
Their second album Spanish Fly was a huge success in 1987, spawning two #1 hits, "Head to Toe" and "Lost In Emotion," both of which sported a retro Motown style mixed with the Freestyle sound they were known for. Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam's Spanish Fly, went platinum, peaking at number seven pop and included two Motown-influenced gold singles; a combination of the sound of the Supremes, Lulu ("To Sir With Love"), with a sprinkling of the 5th Dimension and FF's hard-driving beats, "Head to Toe" parked at number one R&B for two weeks and hit number one pop in spring 1987, and with its strong Mary Wells influence, "Lost in Emotion" held the number one R&B spot for two weeks and made it to number one pop in summer 1987. Other hits from Spanish Fly were the ballad "Someone to Love Me for Me" b/w "Spanish Fly" (number seven R&B), "Everything Will B-Fine" (number nine R&B). [2]
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam's third CD Straight to the Sky from 1989, was a moderate hit and includes the Top 20 single, "Little Jackie Wants to Be a Star".
Their fourth and final album, Straight Outta Hell's Kitchen was less of a commercial success and the group disbanded in 1991 when Velez went to do both solo and acting careers and Moseley and Hughes went on to do other projects. The album did include a hit with "Let the Beat Hit 'Em," which reached the pop top 30 and was a huge hit on the club charts.
Let the Beat Hit 'em
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You must tune your bass to up
Look out
One, two, three, four, hit it
Rock the house, y'all
Let the beat hit em
The beat goes round and
Round and up and down and
Let the beat hit em
Got to learn to let
Go go go go go go go go go,
All right
Get away me fun
Rock the house, y'all
Its time to move,
Its time to move, h,
He-he-hey yeah, he-he-hey yeah
The beat goes round
And round and up and down and
Let the beat hit em
Got to learn to let
Go go go go go go go go go,
Keep movin'
And round and up and down and
Let the beat hit em
Got to learn to let
Go go go go go go go go go,
There's enough,
What will the people say?
The lyrics to Let the Beat Hit 'em by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam are all about music and how it can take control of you. The song is a call to action, urging listeners to let go and get lost in the music. The opening lines of the song almost serve as a warning: if you want to play along with this record, you're going to have to turn up the bass and get ready for something powerful. Then, the music kicks in, and Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam start to rock the house.
The chorus is where the heart of the song lies. They implore the listener to: "let the beat hit em, let the music take control." The lyrics emphasize that the beat goes up and down and round and round, and the listener must learn to just let go and let the rhythm move them. The second half of the chorus repeats the phrase "go go go" to emphasize the call to action.
The ending lines of the song become more introspective. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam ask: "what will the people say?" This line can be interpreted in many ways, but perhaps it expresses the fear of judgment or outside opinions. The last line of the song could mean that there are enough people telling you what to do or how to be, and it's time to break free and live your life.
Line by Line Meaning
In order to play with this record
Before listening to this song, adjust the bass on your sound system.
You must tune your bass to up
To get the full experience of the song, the bass must be increased.
Look out
Pay attention because something exciting is about to happen.
One, two, three, four, hit it
The song is starting now, get ready.
Rock the house, y'all
Enjoy the music and have a good time.
Let the beat hit em
Allow yourself to be completely immersed in the music.
Let the music take control
The song has the power to dictate your mood and movements.
The beat goes round and
The rhythm of the song continues to play in a circular motion.
Round and up and down and
The beat of the song varies in intensity and direction.
Got to learn to let
You need to practice allowing the music to move you.
Go go go go go go go go go,
Fully engage and dance to the song.
All right
Everything is good and enjoyable.
Get away me fun
Have a good time and enjoy the music.
Its time to move,
The song is calling for you to dance and move your body.
h, He-he-hey yeah, he-he-hey yeah
An expression of enjoyment and excitement.
Keep movin'
Continue to dance and move to the beat of the song.
There's enough,
There is plenty of music for everyone to enjoy.
What will the people say?
Don't worry about other people's opinions, just have fun and dance.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT MANUEL CLIVILLES, DAVID BYRON COLE, ALLAN J FRIEDMAN, DURAN RAMOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ceofounder
Summer of 1991!
"Guess jeans", "Ralph Lauren polo shirts" and the black & silver
"Nike Bo Jackson 34" sneakers!
14 year old teenager growing up in Crown heights/Flatbush/Brooklyn!
Remember this song pumping out of the speakers at the Empire Roller skating Rink, and watching this video on MTV and Ch. 31
"Video Music Box "!
This song was definitely a hot jam that summer!
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam are absolutely one of the best hiphop/R&B pioneers/singers/musicians/entertainers of the 1980s and early 1990s!
Memories of the last best decade/era ever in the 20th century! 1990s!
The music, culture, creativity, movies, fashion and the overall human condition!
I so miss the world and society before the dehumanization of "unsocial media"!
YouTube can stay!
Get rid of:
"Hatebook/facebook"
"Instasnitch/instacrap/Instagram"
"Shitter/Twitter"!
Thank you for this nostalgic upload!
@arnoldtankus
This still rocks on the dance floor 33 years later! Feel the bass 👌
@Chris-us7fk
😊
@omarsaeznavarrete9253
32 year ago....naaaa man...ok yeah ..uuuffff..I still like this song...
@edwinabraham1735
1991 33yrs. Ago now watching jan. 28, 2024
@oliviermuller9606
The design was as now, in 2024
@moebetta6194
This is when music was real. I LOVE THIS SONG LISTENING IN 2023
@SheriFromDetroit
And 2024❤
@fredhominal5029
Et .. bien après encore !! . 💙👏
@funkmasterfishdatdamnfish7442
Anyone else is going through their favorite jams thinking about life back in the days? Please tell me I'm not the only one✌🏼️
@daniellemaroney2931
You're not, it was a time when we didn't have to wear a stupid mask, and DT wasn't president. Ahhh, simple times.