Houston sang with his childhood friends, Jerome "Romeo" Jones and Kelton "LDB" Kessee in the group Immature. Chris Stokes became the manager of the group. They first started with the band called Immature. Houston's Immature nickname "Batman" was given to him for wearing Batman underwear on his head. The group later changed their name to IMx, because they felt they had matured personally and musically. In 2002, IMx mutually disbanded because the members wanted to move on and do different things creatively. Houston inked a record deal with TUG/Universal records and embarked upon his journey of becoming a relevant R&B soloist.
In 2003, Houston recorded and released his first solo album entitled MH. The singles were "That Girl" and "Clubbin (Ft. Joe Budden)". Houston also appeared on Scream Tour with Nick Cannon, B2k, and Bow Wow.
In 2004, he released two more singles from that album; "Pop That Booty (Ft. Jermaine Dupri) and "Because Of You".
In 2005, Houston released his sophomore album entitled Naked. The singles from that album were "All Because Of You (Ft. Young Rome)", "Naked", and "Sex Wit You".
In 2006 he released the first single from his third solo album, "Favorite Girl" and the Accompanying video, featuring Stacey Dash. He was also featured in his fellow T.U.G. artist, Mila J's video/song "Good Lookin' Out" and on Yung Joc's video/song "1st Time" and with Trey Songz.
On March 26, 2007, Houston released his third studio album entitled Veteran.
Acting career
Houston made his debut acting appearance in the comedy film House Party 3, where he played himself along with fellow Immature/IMx bandmates Jerome "Romeo" Jones and then member Don "Half Pint" Santos (who was later replaced in the group by Kelton "LDB" Kessee).
Houston's breakthrough role came when he won the part of Roger Evans in the television comedy show Sister, Sister, playing the next door neighbor of Tia and Tamera (played by Tia and Tamera Mowry). He played the role from 1994 to 1997, making a final cameo appearance in the final episode of the show in 1999.
Houston starred in a couple of movies and played small roles here and there throughout his career. He even held his own television show for a short while (the short-lived UPN's Cuts, a spinoff of another UPN show, One on One).
Filmography
Television
Year Title Role
1993 - A Different World -- Eli Black
1996 - Family Matters -- Himself
1996 - The Parent 'Hood -- Himself
1994-1997 - Sister, Sister -- Roger Evans
2003 - Rock Me, Baby -- Himself
2004 & 2006 - One on One -- Kevin Barnes
2005-2006 - Cuts - Kevin Barnes
Film
Year Film Role
1992 - Bébé's Kids -- Khalil (voice)
1994 - House Party 3 -- Himself
1997 - Good Burger -- Jake
2001 - House Party 4: Down to the Last Minute -- John-John
2004 - You Got Served -- Elgin
2004 - Fat Albert -- Dumb Donald
2007 - Somebody Help Me -- Brendan Young
Hold N' Back
Marques Houston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why you treat me like you do?
Can it just be me and you?
Cause I don't wanna play no more
If I let go, you let go
Cause I just can't get enough
And I just wanna feel you touch
Verse 1(Marques Houston)
Hey girl come here sit down
Lemme holla at you a while
Gotta get this off my chest
Hope that you can handle it
We've been seeing each other a lot
Honestly I don't want it to stop
You and me; Me and you
I'm liking what we've got
Only thing that's bothering me
We ain't as close as we should be
That's cause your holding back
Holding back your love for me
How do you expect to grow if you just don't let go
Chorus(Marques Houston)
Why you tryna hold back
Why you tryna hold back
When you know you want it just like I do
Why you acting like that, girl don't do me like that
All I'm tryna do is be next to you
Why you tryna hold back
Why you tryna hold back on me baby
All I want is you stop holdin back on me
Verse 2(Mya)
don't take offense to this
Not tryna start no mess
Ain't tryna have you stressed
This is just a little test
I wanna see how serious
Serious you are of us
Do you like or like me not
I'm loving what we've got
Only thing that bothers me
We ain't close as we should be
That's cause your holding back
Holding back you love for me
How do expect this thing to grow
If you don't let it go go go go
Chorus(Mya and Marques Houston)
Babe
Why you tryna hold back
Why you tryna hold back
When you know you want it just like I do
Why you acting like that, girl don't do me like that
All I'm tryna do is be next to you
Why you tryna hold back
Why you tryna hold back on me baby
All I want is you stop holdin back on me
Verse 3(Shawnna)
Everytime I get to thinking bout you
I see I can't be without you
Cause you that shit, that's it
And I really can't leave right now boo
You my fix, your kiss
Made me bout to let go bout to
But wait right quick can't slip
I don't really think your down with this
See I played these games before
And I fall everytime we go
Cause see I can't no more
I move slow but don't really wanna stop the flow
Don't know what to do
Gotta just relax and hold back
Just sit back and roll that, roll that, rolle that
Chorus(Mya and Marques Houston)
Babe
Why you tryna hold back
Why you tryna hold back
When you know you want it just like I do
Wht you acting like that, girl don't do me like that
All I'm tryna do is be next to you
Why you tryna hold back
Why you tryna hold back on me baby
All I want is you stop holding back on me
Outro(Shawnna)
Why you treat me like you do?
Can it just be me and you?
Cause I just can't get enough
And I just wanna feel you touch
Wutsup wutsup
Why you treat me like you do?
Can it just be me and you?
Cause I just can't get enough
And I just wanna feel you touch
I just gotta know whatsup, wutsup, wutsup
The song “Hold N Back” by Marques Houston features verses from Shawnna and Mya, who both express their frustration with their partners holding back their love. In the chorus, Marques questions why his partner is hesitant to fully commit to the relationship and holds back on her feelings. He tells her that he wants to be with her and asks her to stop holding back.
In the first verse, Marques sings about his desire for their relationship to continue and how much he likes what they have. However, he believes that they are not as close as they should be because his partner is holding back her love for him. He questions how they can expect their relationship to grow if she does not let go of her reservations. Similarly, in Mya’s verse, she tests her partner by asking him how serious he is about their relationship and if he truly likes her or not. She also expresses her frustration with their lack of closeness.
In Shawnna’s verse, she reveals that she cannot be without her partner and that she wants to let go of her reservations and be with him. However, she has been hurt before and is hesitant to fully let go. The outro repeats the same questions asked in the intro, emphasizing the frustration expressed throughout the song.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of frustration and confusion in relationships when one partner holds back their love or emotions. The artists express the desire to be with their partners but feel held back by their partner's reluctance to fully commit.
Line by Line Meaning
Why you treat me like you do?
Questioning why the person is treating the singer a certain way.
Can it just be me and you?
Asking if the person is willing to make their relationship exclusive.
Cause I don't wanna play no more
Expressing the singer's desire to have a serious relationship.
If I let go, you let go
Clinging onto the relationship and not wanting to be the only one fighting for it.
'Cause I just can't get enough
Admitting to having strong feelings for the other person.
And I just wanna feel you touch
Desiring physical and emotional closeness with the other person.
But I just gotta know whats up, whats up, whats up
Requesting to know the other person's true feelings and intentions towards the relationship.
Hey girl come here sit down
Addressing the other person and inviting them to have a conversation.
Lemme holla at you a while
Asking for the other person's attention and time to speak.
Gotta get this off my chest
Admitting to having something important to say.
Hope that you can handle it
Requesting the other person to be patient and open-minded about what is to be said.
We've been seeing each other a lot
Acknowledging the time spent between them.
Honestly I don't want it to stop
Expressing the singer's desire to continue the relationship.
You and me; Me and you
Emphasizing the companionship shared between them.
I'm liking what we've got
Expressing satisfaction with the current state of the relationship.
Only thing that's bothering me
Admitting to feeling that something is wrong in the relationship.
We ain't as close as we should be
Acknowledging a lack of emotional closeness between them.
That's cause your holding back
Attributing the lack of closeness to the other person's unwillingness to fully invest in the relationship.
Holding back your love for me
Speculating that the other person is not fully expressing their love and emotions.
How do you expect to grow if you just don't let go
Posing a rhetorical question to emphasize the need for the other person to fully invest in the relationship in order for it to develop and grow.
Why you tryna hold back
Questioning the other person's reluctance to fully invest in the relationship.
When you know you want it just like I do
Emphasizing the shared desire for a serious relationship.
Why you acting like that, girl don't do me like that
Expressing frustration over the other person's behavior towards the relationship.
All I'm tryna do is be next to you
Stating the artist's simple desire to be close to the other person.
Don't take offense to this
Prefacing a sensitive topic to be discussed.
Not tryna start no mess
Assuring the other person that there is no intention to cause problems or conflict.
Ain't tryna have you stressed
Promising not to cause the other person additional stress or anxiety.
I wanna see how serious
Expressing curiosity about the other person's level of commitment to the relationship.
Serious you are of us
Inquiring about the other person's investment in the relationship.
Do you like or like me not
Asking if the other person has true feelings of affection towards the singer.
I'm loving what we've got
Acknowledging the positive aspects of the relationship.
This is just a little test
Clarifying that the artist is not attempting to cause harm, but rather gauge the other person's true feelings.
Everytime I get to thinking bout you
Reflecting on the other person and the impact they have on the artist's thoughts and emotions.
I see I can't be without you
Admitting that the artist has grown to depend on the other person's presence in their life.
Cause you that shit, that's it
Referring to the other person as unique and irreplaceable in the singer's life.
And I really can't leave right now boo
Admitting to feeling trapped in the relationship, but not wanting to let go.
You my fix, your kiss
Describing the other person as an addiction to the singer.
Made me bout to let go bout to
Desiring to let go of all inhibitions and give in to their feelings for the other person.
But wait right quick can't slip
Recognizing the need to be cautious and not rush into anything.
I don't really think your down with this
Expressing doubts about the other person's true feelings for the artist.
See I played these games before
Alluding to past negative experiences in relationships.
And I fall everytime we go
Admitting to falling for the other person's actions, despite past negative experiences.
Cause see I can't no more
Acknowledging the need to stop repeating past patterns in relationships.
I move slow but don't really wanna stop the flow
Preferring to take things slow in the relationship, but not wanting to end it completely.
Don't know what to do
Admitting to feeling unsure about how to handle the current situation.
Gotta just relax and hold back
Deciding to take a step back and not rush into anything.
Just sit back and roll that, roll that, rolle that
Encouraging the other person to relax and enjoy themselves.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARQUES HOUSTON, ANDRE MERRITT, SHAWNA, CORY PETERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind