Mashonda Tifrere-Dean, professionally known just as Mashonda, is an R&B sin… Read Full Bio ↴Mashonda Tifrere-Dean, professionally known just as Mashonda, is an R&B singer signed to Full Surface/J Records, which her husband of 4 years, Swizz Beatz, has a partnership with. She was born in Massachusetts and raised in Harlem, New York. She is a labelmate of Cassidy (her husband runs the label; Full Surface Records) and is featured in his song "Get No Better" from his 2004 album Split Personality. She is also featured on Fat Joe's song "Listen Baby" from his 2005 album All Or Nothing.

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but raised in Harlem, N.Y., Mashonda's vocal coaching began at the tender age of 7, in church, where most legendary voices are honed. Urged by her godmother, who saw in her a precocious love for music, Mashonda dedicated a substantial amount of her time as a teen to piano lessons and poetry writing. She gained some exposure in high school from joining a few different singing groups, but it wasn't until a meeting with renowned hip hop/R&B writing team Full Force (Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears) that her music career truly took off. Under Full Force's tutelage, Mashonda co-wrote songs for artists Yvette Michelle and Monifah, which, in turn, led to a publishing deal. Soon after, the budding singer/songwriter partnered with rapper Lady May to form Desert Rose, and signed a short-lived deal with Deric "D Dot" Angeletti's Crazy Cat/Columbia Records. The duo split from the label before releasing an album, and Mashonda soon realized her destiny was to go her own way, much like her idols Mary J. Blige, Sade, Faith Evans, and Toni Braxton.

In 1998, one of hip-hop's most influential beatmakers, Swizz Beatz, recognized Mashonda's talent and took her under his wing, giving her the opportunity to write some of the catchiest hooks in recent urban music history (Eve's "Gotta Man;" Jay-Z's "Girl's Best Friend"). He also featured her on chart-topping hits like Mya's "Best Of Me" and Cassidy's "Get No Better." The key to their relationship? The most fundamental of elements: chemistry-both personal and professional. "We were able to create a very distinct sound," says Mashonda. "He made gritty tracks and I would get on them and make them pretty, bringing out the melodies. Once we did that, everybody wanted one of those. So that's where it all started." Ever since, the two have been conceptualizing January Joy, her long-awaited debut on Swizz Beatz's Full Surface/J Records imprint.

January Joy is a perfectionist's work of art mélange of up-tempos, mid-tempos, and ballads that marry hip-hop's street tendencies with R&B's softer sensibilities. "I didn't have a timeline or deadline, so I was really able to get into it and be extra picky with every track and every lyric that I wrote," says Mashonda.

The lead single, "Blackout" featuring Snoop Dogg, is a bouncy, dance floor-rattling track in pure Swizz Beatz tradition (hard drums, bass, whistles). And that's just a sneak preview of January Joy's star power. Expect additional cameos by hip hop heavyweights like Kanye West ("Hold Me") and Jadakiss ("Leave The Block Alone"). Rounding the album out on the R&B production tip are Mike City and Raphael Saadiq, among others.

"January to me is the genesis of music for myself and for all my listeners," says Mashonda of the album's title. "It's the first month of the year and it's when everyone makes their resolutions. It's a fresh start, a new feeling, and that's what my music is. I'm also a January baby," she adds with a smile. Here's to new beginnings, and re-introductions.

Her debut album, January Joy, was released in Japan only. Scheduled for a U.S. release in early 2005, the project was postponed, due to a lack of strong radio response to her first two singles, "Back of The Club" and "Blackout" featuring Snoop Dogg. Mashonda is currently in the studio, working with A-List producers. Confirmed producers on the project are Swizz Beatz, Scott Storch and Rich Harrison.

She is married to famed hip hop and R&B producer Swizz Beatz. On a statement released to SOHH http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/9964 on October 11,2006 Swizz Beatz and his wife Mashonda are have their first child together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashonda

Ask of You
Mashonda Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just give me all your lovin'
Girl, I'll do all the rubbin'
That's all I ask of you
I'll kiss you anywhere
(I'll kiss you anywhere, baby)
Yes, love, even there (Even there)
That's all I ask of you

Kissin' you is not enough for me
You know I'm a big boy, and big boys have desires
Makin' love is what I want to do
But I need a true friend to make me come together

Just give me all your lovin' (All your love)
Girl, I'll do all the rubbin'
(I want to kiss you right there)
That's all I ask of you
(Just stand right there, little girl)
I'll kiss you anywhere (Anywhere)
Yes, love, even there
(Especially there and there)
That's all I ask of you
(That's all I ask of you)

I'm not tryin' to put you on the line
But I got to tell you what's exactly on my mind, girl
My big heart leads me right to you
Every time the phone rings
I pray to God that it's you, girl

Every time I close my eyes
A vision of your face always pops into my mind, girl
I would do anything to receive love from you
So show me the way that this could happen soon

I'll be right there on time
It's your place or mine
Just show me the place
(I really love you) I really love you
(I love you Deja) I love you Deja

Just give me all your lovin'
(All your love)
Girl, I'll do all the rubbin'
(Give me everything I want)
That's all I ask of you
(I'm sure I can please you)
I'll kiss you anywhere (Anywhere)
Yes, love, even there
(I want to kiss you right there)
That's all I ask of you
(Just stand right there, little girl)

Let's blow out the candles (Out the candles)
And see if I can handle (See if I can handle you)
That's all I ask of you
Little things I do (Little things)
It's just because of you
(It's just because it's you)

See, time is all we need (Time)
Sing it, partner
And time is all we have
Just show me the place
(I really love you) I really love you
(I love you Deja) I love you Deja, love

Just give me all your lovin'
(All your love)
Girl, I'll do all the rubbin'
(I will do all the rubbin')
That's all I ask of you (Girl, all I ask)
I'll kiss you anywhere (Anywhere)
Yes, love, even there
(Especially there and there)
That's all I ask of you
(Just because it's you)

Just give me all your lovin'
(All your love)
Girl, I'll do all the rubbin'
(And I will do all the rubbin')
That's all I ask of you (That's all I ask)
I'll kiss you anywhere (Anywhere)
Yes, love, even there
(Especially there and there)
That's all I ask of you
(All I want to do)

Let's blow out the candles
(Blow out those candles)

And see if I can handle
(See, I want to please your body)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mashonda's song Ask Of You are about a man expressing his desire for intimacy with his partner. He tells her that kissing her is not enough and that he wants to make love to her. He also expresses his love and admiration for her, stating that every time he thinks of her, he is filled with joy. He is eager to please her and make her happy, and he promises to do all the rubbing and kissing she desires. Ultimately, he wants to take their relationship to the next level, and he hopes that she will reciprocate his feelings.

The song is a beautiful expression of love and desire, with the lyrics painting a vivid picture of a man yearning for his partner. At its core, Ask Of You is a sensual and passionate song that captures the essence of human desire.

Line by Line Meaning

Just give me all your lovin'
The singer desires full emotional investment from their lover

Girl, I'll do all the rubbin'
The singer is willing to perform any act of physical intimacy requested by their lover

That's all I ask of you
The singer only desires emotional and physical closeness with their lover

I'll kiss you anywhere
The singer is comfortable with kissing their lover in any location

(I'll kiss you anywhere, baby)
The singer reassures their lover of their desire for physical touch

Yes, love, even there (Even there)
The singer is open to intimate physical contact in unconventional locations

Kissin' you is not enough for me
The singer craves more physical intimacy

You know I'm a big boy, and big boys have desires
The singer acknowledges their sexual desires as a normal and natural part of their identity

Makin' love is what I want to do
The singer desires to engage in sexual intercourse with their lover

But I need a true friend to make me come together
The singer desires a strong emotional connection with their lover in order to fully consummate their physical desires

Just stand right there, little girl
The singer is directing their lover to stand in a specific location for physical intimacy

I'm not tryin' to put you on the line
The singer is not attempting to pressure their lover into anything

But I got to tell you what's exactly on my mind, girl
The singer is attempting to clearly communicate their feelings and desires to their lover

My big heart leads me right to you
The singer's strong emotions guide them towards their lover

Every time the phone rings
The singer is constantly hoping for communication from their lover

I pray to God that it's you, girl
The singer desires communication and connection with their lover

A vision of your face always pops into my mind, girl
The singer is constantly thinking about their lover

I would do anything to receive love from you
The singer desires love and affection from their lover and is willing to go to great lengths to obtain it

So show me the way that this could happen soon
The singer is looking for guidance or direction from their lover regarding how to progress their relationship

Let's blow out the candles (Out the candles)
The singer desires a romantic evening with their lover

And see if I can handle (See if I can handle you)
The singer desires to test their physical intimacy with their lover

Little things I do (Little things)
The singer performs small actions for their lover out of love and affection

It's just because of you (It's just because it's you)
The singer's affectionate actions are motivated by their love for their lover

See, time is all we need (Time)
The singer believes that patience is necessary for the relationship to progress

And time is all we have
The singer is willing to invest time in their relationship

(I really love you) I really love you
The singer expresses their love for their lover

(I love you Deja) I love you Deja
The singer specifically addresses their lover by name to communicate their love and affection

Just because it's you
The singer's love and affection is specific to their lover

(And I will do all the rubbin')
The singer further reassures their lover of their willingness to provide physical intimacy

(All I want to do)
The singer's only desire is to be physically and emotionally close with their lover

(Blow out those candles)
The singer is continuing to set a romantic mood with their lover

(See, I want to please your body)
The singer desires to fully satisfy their lover's physical desires

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROKUSUKE EI, HACHIDAI NAKAMURA, CLEMON TIMOTHY RILEY, RAPHAEL SAADIQ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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