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

Back of da Club
Mashonda Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Chorus:]
I love the way we dance in the back of the club,
boy you know you drive me crazy.
When you hold my thigh real close to yours,
make me feel like I'm your baby.
I just met you, but I'll show you what to do to do it right.
We'll be dancin', just relaxin'
be in back of the club all night.

[Verse 1:]
When I stepped in the club,
wait to have a little fun.
Me and 'bout 5 of my girls, all done up.
Made our way through the crowd,
the music was so damn loud.
But when I spotted you out,
I just froze up.

[Bridge:]
You took my hand and said,
"Baby, come dance with me -
I know you want to party with me,
I know you want to rock with me -
in the back of the club is where I'll be."

[Chorus]

[Verse 2:]
Boy, you know you look so good,
feelin' you like I should.
But it's getting kinda late,
don't want this to be over.
Starin' in my face,
movin' to the beat of the song.
Wish it could last all night long,
don't want this to be over.

[Bridge]

[Chorus]

La la la lalalala
La la lalala
Lalalalalalalalalalalala

[Chorus]

[Swizz Beats 7x :]
Get ya hands in the air,
and move it like this.

and move it like this.
and move it like this,

and move it like this,
and move it like this

Overall Meaning

The song "Back of Da Club" is about a woman who is at a club with her friends, looking to have fun, when she meets a man who catches her attention. The man takes her hand and leads her to the back of the club to dance, where they dance all night. The chorus emphasizes the joy of dancing with this man in the back of the club, how he makes her feel, and how much she wants to spend the night with him.

The first verse talks about the woman's excitement to have a good time with her friends at the club, but everything changes when she spots the man who becomes the focus of her attention. In the second verse, the woman expresses her wish to keep the night going with this man, not wanting it to end.

Overall, the song captures the feeling of a dancefloor connection between two people, and the excitement and desire that can come with it. It's a fun and upbeat song that encourages the listener to let loose and enjoy the moment.

Line by Line Meaning

I love the way we dance in the back of the club,
I enjoy dancing with you in the back of the club

boy you know you drive me crazy.
You make me feel wild and out of control

When you hold my thigh real close to yours,
Your touch is very intimate and brings us closer together

make me feel like I'm your baby.
You make me feel cherished and taken care of like a baby

I just met you, but I'll show you what to do to do it right.
Even though we just met, I will teach you how to dance properly

We'll be dancin', just relaxin'
We will be dancing and having a good time without any stress or pressure

be in back of the club all night.
We will spend the entire night in the back of the club

When I stepped in the club,
When I entered the club

wait to have a little fun.
I was excited to have some fun and enjoy myself

Me and 'bout 5 of my girls, all done up.
I was with my group of five friends, all dolled up and ready to have a good time

Made our way through the crowd,
We pushed our way through the people in the club

the music was so damn loud.
The music was very loud

But when I spotted you out,
When I noticed you

I just froze up.
I became stunned and speechless

You took my hand and said,
You took my hand and spoke to me

"Baby, come dance with me -
You invited me to dance with you saying

I know you want to party with me,
You knew I wanted to party with you

I know you want to rock with me -
You were aware that I wanted to dance with you

in the back of the club is where I'll be."
You suggested we dance in the back of the club

Boy, you know you look so good,
You are aware of how attractive you are

feelin' you like I should.
I am connecting with you like I should

But it's getting kinda late,
It is late

don't want this to be over.
I do not want this night to end

Starin' in my face,
Looking directly at me

movin' to the beat of the song.
Dancing to the rhythm of the music

Wish it could last all night long,
I wish this moment could go on forever

La la la lalalala
(Repetition of melody)

La la lalala
(Repetition of melody)

Lalalalalalalalalalalala
(Repetition of melody)

Get ya hands in the air,
Raise your hands up

and move it like this.
Move your body in this way

and move it like this,
Move your body in this way

and move it like this
Move your body in this way

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MASHONDA TIFRERE, KASSEEM DEAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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