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
Hold Me
Mashonda Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every time you were around me baby
Boy you know you drive me crazy
And I really wanna be your lady
That's all baby, nothin' else
I been watchin' you for a few years
Every time you come around, I just stare
All I want you to do is
[Chorus:]
Hold me, hold me (hold me)
Show me that you do (that you do)
Wanna get to know me too
Hold me, no more lonely
I'm with you (I'm with you baby)
We been spendin' more time together
Gettin to know each other better
Baby I am down for whatever
Slowly fallin love
Cause you treated me like a princess
Wit you, don't have to worry 'bout stress
And I really have to confess
You're the best baby
[Chorus]
[Verse: Kanye West]
See none of the girls know me, but they all want me
So when they start runnin' they mouths just hold me and keep me in your prayers so these nay-sayers can't make it through out layers
I say somethin' to warm you up like California
I'm from the Chi, you from the Apple like Fiona
I'm feelin like Prince when he met Appolonia
You feelin kinda tense cause what ya frienda have warned ya
Man, they hatin', if they ain't hatin, they insinuatin'
You remember when we first start datin, we worked at the mall
They said we like a guy with no muscles. oh they'll never work out at all
And I just that broke dude that worked next door, but can please donate some sex to the poor
Baby, I see it, one day, we'll be drivin in dem crazy whips
I ain't gon' be workin' this grave shift 'til I'm 86
I ain't gon' be pushin' this broom, I ain't gon' be stayin' in my friend's room that's only one bedroom that i call my lair
We was V.I.P.
Very imaginary Playas
See why we, smoke our weed
You neva let these rumors come between you and me
And that's good lookin' plus you good lookin' plus the hood lookin'
So hold me down like B.I.G. held Brooklyn
[Bridge:]
Hold me down, don't go away (don't go)
Give me your love a million more days
In your arms, I wanna stay (stay)
I always wanna be with you
Anything you want me to do
Baby you know I'll do it for you (you)
(Hold me, show me that you do)
[Continue until end]
The song "Hold Me" by Mashonda featuring Kanye West is a love song that expresses the singer's desire to be with her love interest. The lyrics begin by asserting the strong physical attraction between the two, with Mashonda singing that every time the man is around her, he drives her crazy. She then expresses her wish to be his lady and asks him to hold her, indicating her deep emotional feelings for him. She acknowledges that they have spent some time together, but she wants to get to know him better.
In the second verse, Mashonda sings about how their relationship has progressed and how she's falling in love with him. She praises him for treating her like a princess, and confesses that he is the best thing that has ever happened to her. Kanye West's verse reinforces the commitment between the two, with him pledging to stay by her side even when the rest of the world may try to disrupt their love. He notes that there may be rumors floating around, but he and Mashonda will continue to stand together, adding that he wants to hold her down like the late rapper Biggie Smalls held down Brooklyn.
Overall, the song speaks to the idea of finding love and sticking it out despite any obstacles that may arise. Mashonda and Kanye's verses complement each other, further emphasizing the mutual commitment between the two. The song's repetition of the phrase "hold me" underscores the importance of physical and emotional connection between the two lovers.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time you were around me baby
Whenever you were near me
Boy you know you drive me crazy
You have the ability to make me crazy about you
And I really wanna be your lady
I want to be your partner and lover
That's all baby, nothin' else
That's the only thing I want from you
I been watchin' you for a few years
I have been observing you for a few years now
Every time you come around, I just stare
Whenever you appear, I just look at you without blinking
There is somethin' I gotta make clear
I need to clarify something
All I want you to do is
The only thing I want you to do is
Hold me, hold me (hold me)
Embrace me tightly
Show me that you do (that you do)
Demonstrate your love for me
Wanna get to know me too
I also want to get to know you better
Hold me, no more lonely
Hold me to end my loneliness
I'm with you (I'm with you baby)
I am by your side always
We been spendin' more time together
We have been spending more time with each other
Gettin to know each other better
We are getting to know each other on a deeper level
Baby I am down for whatever
I am willing to do anything for you
Slowly fallin love
Falling in love gradually
Cause you treated me like a princess
Because you treated me like royalty
Wit you, don't have to worry 'bout stress
With you, I don't have to worry about stress
And I really have to confess
I have a confession to make
You're the best baby
You are the best
See none of the girls know me, but they all want me
None of the girls understand me, but they all desire me
So when they start runnin' they mouths just hold me and keep me in your prayers so these nay-sayers can't make it through out layers
When they start spreading rumors, just comfort me and pray for me so that they won't be able to reach us
I say somethin' to warm you up like California
I say something to make you feel good like a warm California day
I'm from the Chi, you from the Apple like Fiona
I am from Chicago, you are from New York like Fiona Apple
I'm feelin like Prince when he met Appolonia
I am feeling like Prince did when he met Apollonia Kotero
You feelin kinda tense cause what ya frienda have warned ya
You are feeling tense because of what your friends warned you about
Man, they hatin', if they ain't hatin, they insinuatin'
They are jealous and trying to cause problems for us
You remember when we first start datin, we worked at the mall
Remember when we first started dating and worked at the mall
They said we like a guy with no muscles. oh they'll never work out at all
They said we looked like a guy who doesn't have muscles and that our relationship won't last
And I just that broke dude that worked next door, but can please donate some sex to the poor
I was just a broke guy working next door, but can you please give me some intimacy that I'm lacking
Baby, I see it, one day, we'll be drivin in dem crazy whips
I can see us driving fancy cars one day
I ain't gon' be workin' this grave shift 'til I'm 86
I won't be working late hours until I am old
I ain't gon' be pushin' this broom
I won't be doing menial work like sweeping the floor
I ain't gon' be stayin' in my friend's room that's only one bedroom that i call my lair
I won't be living in my friend's one-bedroom apartment that I consider my hideout
We was V.I.P.
We were very important people
Very imaginary Playas
We were imaginary players who thought we were important
See why we, smoke our weed
That's why we smoke weed
You neva let these rumors come between you and me
You never let rumors affect our relationship
And that's good lookin' plus you good lookin' plus the hood lookin'
That's good because you are handsome and from the same neighborhood
So hold me down like B.I.G. held Brooklyn
Hold me down like Notorious B.I.G. held down Brooklyn
Hold me down, don't go away (don't go)
Stay with me, don't leave me
Give me your love a million more days
Love me for a million more days
In your arms, I wanna stay (stay)
I want to be in your arms and stay there
I always wanna be with you
I always want to be with you
Anything you want me to do
I am willing to do anything you want me to
Baby you know I'll do it for you (you)
You know I'll do it for you
(Hold me, show me that you do)
(Hold me tightly and show me your love)
[Continue until end]
Keep going with the song until it's over
Contributed by Jake S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nai
This tune is so underrated, it will always be 1 of my all time favorite ❤💯
Don't Worry About it
Because this track is probably never gonna get the light it deserves in the future. Kanye was an inspiration and a light. It's sad the direction he's going in but it's hard to not see the positivity he brought into this world when he did. I miss the old kanye. I hope someone else creates a positive memory to this song because this just brings me back. I miss this community. Kanye community is gone but this song is still here to remind us ;( The blogs are dead. The comments are dead. The music is alive. Love you all.
SayberV1
We can only hope he does.. he's a genious when he produces like this.
Bm. mot.
swizz lost out big time by playing this woman
Diego Braga
que musica maravilhosa. faiz lembra de muita coisa.
yuichi
beat is fire, mashonda does her thing, and gotta love that ye verse
N J
this album was amazing
the diary of paige hatalyn
this is now my favorite kanye verse!
no
Love it
Heeromils
Super Nice beat!!!!