The group is well known for its highly diverse musical style (able to play anything from traditional jazz stylings to mainstream R&B and rock-based music to funk grooves and even Latin and Jamaican-based rhythms) and also its captivating live performances.
Discovered and originally signed to Perspective Records by music producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in 1989 (after being heard at a performance at a club in downtown Minneapolis called First Avenue), their debut album was entitled Meant To Be Mint (released in 1991).
Despite their musical versatility the band attempted to attract New Jack Swing listeners with their dance cut "Are You Free", but it wasn't successful (the song hit #55 on the R&B charts). However, they did enjoy major success with the stunning ballad "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)".
The song stayed on the charts for 34 weeks, hitting the R&B top 5 (#3), and the Pop Top 10 (#6). Forever In Your Eyes was also successful (#7 R&B). Two years later they released their 2nd platinum album, From The Mint Factory (1993). They enjoyed success with the #2 hit "U Send Me Swingin'", while "Someone To Love" and "So Fine" hit the R&B Top 30. 1996 saw the release of "Definition of a Band". The album hit the R&B Top 20. Some successful singles on this album are: "What Kind Of Man Would I Be" (#2 R&B), and "You Don't Have To Hurt No More" (#10 R&B). Two years later, The Collection: 1991-1998, a greatest hits compilation, was issued.
After Perspective Records/A&M folded, the group signed with Elektra Records in 1999, releasing their fourth full-length album, Life's Aquarium (#7 R&B). It's main single, If You Love Me, hit the R&B Top 5.
As the 21st Century came around, Mint Condition was the only R&B/Funk band signed to a Major Record Label.
After a six year hiatus, the group resurfaced as a quintet due to former member and keyboard player Keri Lewis leaving the group to produce for other artists, such as his one-time wife, singer Toni Braxton .
During the same year, they released Living The Luxury Brown on their independent label Caged Bird Records. The album hit #1 on the Independent Album Charts. Live From The 9:30 Club, a performance of a concert at the 9:30 club in Washington DC, was issued in 2006.
Goldigger
Mint Condition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl, people assume you’re all about that cash,
They don’t know you heart is gold you just move fast,
I’ll admit when I met you I had you figured wrong,
Everytime I turned around there was money on your arms,
They’d promise you things but they never came through,
That’s maybe when we met how I hooked you,
I got some of what they got but I’m just more real
HOOK
Can you be my Goldigger/
So I can touch you all time…
Can you be my Goldigger/
All my friends want you but you’re mine
Want you for my Goldigger/
Tell all your NBA friends so long…
Can you be my Goldigger/
Don’t you need love?
2nd verse
Girl…I may not have the dough that you’re used to,
But I got more than enough to take care of you,
The only thing I want from you is respect,
So don’t introduce me to some one that you wanna hit,
You might be teasing & hittin’ him through the phone,
But in my mind I know that shit is still wrong,
Wanted to check you girl so now you know…
I know you want financial security/ & respect,
Someone that really listens to you/ & good sex,
No one selling you/ false dreams,
Just one man giving you/ the real thing,
See I know I took you out the game but your life is still far from simple and plain
So be patient, you gon’ get to see the world, & there’s no one I’d rather do it with,
Than you my girl…..
HOOK
In "Goldigger," Mint Condition lyrically explores the unfair judgments people place on women who are assumed to only be interested in money. The singer describes a woman who is constantly burdened with such stereotypes when people take a quick glance at her. They assume she only cares about money, but the singer sees past that and realizes her heart is made of gold. The dramatic string arrangement on this track sets the tone for a love story that has a deeper meaning than the surface-level assumptions people make about the woman. Despite being aware of the woman's social status, the singer sees something in her that others don't, and he works hard to prove that he is genuine and that he truly loves her.
In the first verse, the singer talks about how people are quick to assume that the woman in question is superficial, but he sees beyond that. He acknowledges his early judgment of her, which was based on the flashiness of her lifestyle, but he soon realizes she is genuine, and she doesn't just care about money. In the second verse, he reassures her that he may not have as much money as she's used to seeing, but he can take care of her regardless. He just asks for respect in return and assures her that he's not someone who will be played with. Ultimately, he wants her to be his "Goldigger" - not in the conventional materialistic sense but in the sense that she is the one he wants to go through life with, experiencing everything together.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, people assume you’re all about that cash,
People think you only care about money, but they don't know that you have a heart of gold.
They don’t know you heart is gold you just move fast,
People misunderstand you and think you're only in it for the money, but you're just moving quickly.
I’ll admit when I met you I had you figured wrong,
When I first met you, I misjudged you and thought you were just after money.
Everytime I turned around there was money on your arms,
You were constantly being approached by people who promised you wealth and status.
They’d promise you things but they never came through,
These people made promises to you, but never followed through on them.
That’s maybe when we met how I hooked you,
When we first met, I showed you that I was different from those other guys and tried to win you over.
I saw something in you no one’s ever seen,
I recognized something special in you that no one else had noticed before.
I got some of what they got but I’m just more real
I may have some of the qualities that those other guys have, but I am more genuine and authentic than they are.
Can you be my Goldigger/
Can you be with me because of my love and not my money?
So I can touch you all time…
I want to be close to you all the time.
All my friends want you but you’re mine
My friends may be interested in you, but you belong to me.
Tell all your NBA friends so long…
Tell your wealthy friends goodbye, because you're with me now.
Don’t you need love?
Aren't you looking for love and not just money?
Girl…I may not have the dough that you’re used to,
I may not be as wealthy as the people you're used to being around.
But I got more than enough to take care of you,
I may not have as much money as they do, but I can still provide for you and take care of you.
The only thing I want from you is respect,
I don't need you to be rich or famous, I just want you to respect me.
So don’t introduce me to some one that you wanna hit,
Don't introduce me to someone you're interested in and want to pursue romantically.
You might be teasing & hittin’ him through the phone,
You might be flirting with him over the phone, but that's not okay with me.
But in my mind I know that shit is still wrong,
In my mind, I know that this behavior is inappropriate and disrespectful.
Wanted to check you girl so now you know…
I wanted to call you out on this behavior and make sure you know that it's not acceptable.
I know you want financial security/ & respect,
I know you're looking for financial stability and respect in your life.
Someone that really listens to you/ & good sex,
You're also looking for someone who will listen to you and give you good sexual experiences.
No one selling you/ false dreams,
I am not trying to deceive you or sell you on a false lifestyle.
Just one man giving you/ the real thing,
I am the only one who can give you a true and authentic relationship.
See I know I took you out the game but your life is still far from simple and plain
I may have taken you out of the world of people chasing money, but your life is still complex and challenging.
So be patient, you gon’ get to see the world, & there’s no one I’d rather do it with,
Be patient, we'll get to experience the world together, and I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else.
Than you my girl…..
I love you, my girl.
Contributed by Aubrey I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.