Jordan attended Pepperdine University in California to pick up a bachelor's degree in communications, graduating summa cum laude and was a state finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship.
Jordan's first single was the 1995 #1 hit single "This Is How We Do It", and defined his hip hop soul musical style. "This Is How We Do It" and its follow-up, "Somethin' 4 Da Honeyz", show a strong hip hop influence, and Jordan's material fit alongside the rest of Def Jam's output. Future hits would include "Let's Ride" with Master P in 1998 and "Get It on Tonite" in late-1999.
Besides crafting his own material, Jordan has written and produced for a number of outside artists, including Christina Milian, 98 Degrees, Deborah Cox ("Nobody's Supposed to Be Here", 1998), and Sisqó (the number-one hit "Incomplete", 2000). The singer has had cameo roles in the films "The Fighting Temptations" and "The Nutty Professor."
Jordan left Def Soul in 2003 and released the album "Life After Def" on Koch Records.
Jordan released his 7th project - "Let It Rain" - on October 21, 2008.
In 2010, Jordan left the music business to become a minister. As he explained on his Twitter feed, the decision is "a calling that’s probably been with me all my life since I was a child. And I’ve known it. A lot of people in the business know it and have the same calling but that leap of faith is difficult."
Are You With Me
Montell Jordan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They will pull you out
It's too late to change your mind
Off the record, I've been saying
Cut the cord that's hanging you
On the record, information
Pretty soon they're selling you
Are you with me
Nothing to trust in
You have the answers?
What are the questions
Are you with me
Are you with me now
Are you with me
Nothing to trust in
You have the answers?
What are the questions
Are you with me
Are you with me now
One's in your class
One's a relative
They're just getting started
One waits in line (put you on, put you on, put you on )
One in the next car (put you on, put you on, put you on )
Off the record, I've been saying
Cut the cord that's hanging you
On the record, information
Pretty soon they're selling you
Are you with me
Nothing to trust in
You have the answers?
What are the questions
Are you with me
Are you with me now
Are you with me
Nothing to trust in
You have the answers?
What are the questions
Are you with me
Are you with me now
Are you with me
Nothing to trust in
You have the answers?
What are the questions
Are you with me
Are you with me now
Are you with me
Nothing to trust in
You have the answers?
What are the questions
Are you with me
Are you with me now
Are you with me
Nothing to trust in
You have the answers?
What are the questions
Are you with me
Are you with me now
Montell Jordan's song "Are You With Me" is a track that speaks to the idea of being caught up in a system that is selling you out. The song is a warning that if you don't cut the cord that is holding you back, it will be too late to change your mind. The lyrics suggest that everyone has answers but not in the right order. The chorus poses a question, whether one is with the singer or not.
The opening lines, "There will come a time, they will pull you out," suggest that people are thrown into the game selling you out, and eventually, they will be pulled from it. The line "On the record, information, pretty soon they're selling you" suggests that one can easily be sold out without even knowing it. The message of the song is to be aware of what is happening around and start questioning it.
Overall, "Are You With Me" is a warning to not get caught up blindly in someone else's game. It is a call-to-action to take control of one's life and start challenging the system instead of being passive. It is a reminder to evaluate if you are with someone or not.
Line by Line Meaning
There will come a time
At some point in the future
They will pull you out
Someone will extract you from your current situation
It's too late to change your mind
You cannot alter what has already happened
Off the record, I've been saying
Confidentially, I have been expressing
Cut the cord that's hanging you
Disconnect yourself from whatever is holding you back
On the record, information
Publicly, the details are
Pretty soon they're selling you
Before long, someone will try to exploit you
Are you with me
Do you understand/agree with what I'm saying?
Nothing to trust in
There is no reliable source of guidance
You have the answers?
Do you know what to do?
What are the questions
What aspects of the situation are you uncertain about?
Are you with me now
Do you currently comprehend/agree with me?
One's in your class
One individual shares your educational environment
One's a relative
One person is a member of your family
They're just getting started
They are new to something
One waits in line (put you on, put you on, put you on )
One is waiting their turn somewhere, potentially trying to take advantage of an opportunity
One in the next car (put you on, put you on, put you on )
Someone is nearby and could potentially try to exploit you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GEOFFREY GERALD LAGADEC, DAVID MITCHELL SMITH, BENJAMIN JOSEPH MURPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind