The members of NLT aren't pretending to be anything they're not. They love pop music, have been born and bred on pop music, and have manicured their pop music to a brilliant, effervescent sheen on their self-titled debut, Not Like Them.
While the quartet's hometown roots are split between Los Angeles and Texas, it was their similar artistic drive that led them to each other. Growing up in his family's Synthesis dance studio in Los Angeles, V was never far from the names that have shaped popular culture's last decade, including 50 Cent, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson and Destiny's Child. Chris Stokes was a familiar face in the studio, as it was a home-base of sorts for B2K, and after much pestering, the superstar producer told V that if he put a group together, he'd be willing to take a listen. V was 14 at the time, and not knowing where to really start, looked to an acquaintance he'd worked with on an instructional dance video—JJ, whose dance coach, Terry Bixler, skyrocketed to acclaim for his choreography and staging on Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation 1814" tour extravaganza..
Then 13, JJ ironically had B2K on his young resume, having danced in one of the group's early videos (on the acting front, he'd also had a speaking part on television's "Will & Grace"). Through an agent, the pair found Kevin, who was living in Dallas. His sister was an agent, and when Kevin mentioned that the trio were looking to become a quartet, she recommended one of her theater actors, Travis. In what could be a called a fateful string of serendipity, the NLT circle was now complete.
NLT's Travis Garland, posted a Myspace blog confirming their split. You can read it at nltonline.org.
Hollywood
NLT Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybodies favorite centerfold
The girl that everybody wants to know
But what I didnt see
Was a secret identity
What she was doing behind the scences
All the dirty lies and filthy schemes
You don't, you don't even know
How low,how low she would go
To be the star of her show
And I dont know
I dont know why I trusted
She, she took control of me
So blind I couldnt see
Be like monopoly
Deeds that she cant undo
All that she was untrue
That girl I thought I knew
Never expected babe
Hollywood set me up
She set me up(she set me up)x's3
Oh and I don't know why but hollywood set me up
Girl was sitting next to me
And she askin could she leave with me
I'm like cant be comin on to me
My girl is at home waitin on me
Whispers in my ear and she's like baby can we dissappear tonight
Kissess me and to the right my girl is staring me right in my eye
Chorus:
You don't, you don't even know
How low,how low she would go
To be star of the show
And I dont know
I dont know why I trusted
She, she took control of me
So blind I couldnt see
Be like monopoly
Deeds that she cant undo
All that she was untrue
That girl I thought I knew
Never expected babe
that Hollywood set up
She set me up(she set me up)x's3
Oh and I don't know why but hollywood set me up
She set me up(she set me up)x's3
Oh and I don't know why but hollywood set me up
Spot lights
Left right
Going to her head
Closing the curtain
Your show is over
No more, no more
Take your act and leave
I dont know why I trusted
She, she took control of me
So blind I couldnt see
Be like monopoly
Deeds that she cant undo
All that she was untrue
That girl I thought I knew
Never expected babe
Hollywood set me up
Hollywood set me up
Hollywood set me up
Said I shouldn't have trusted her
And I don't know why but hollywood set me up(Fades out)
The song "Hollywood" by NLT portrays the downside of the entertainment industry by focusing on the negative aspects of a girl's role. The song describes a beautiful, sexy girl who appears to be everyone's favorite centerfold and who everybody wants to know. However, despite her apparent charm and beauty, she has a dark side, with a secret identity of lies and schemes. The persona in the song trusted this girl, but they were blind and unable to see through her facade. She took control of him and set him up, and he was left feeling betrayed and lost, blaming Hollywood for his downfall.
The song communicates the message that fame can be alluring, but it comes with a price. The persona in the song shows how one can be blinded by the desire to be famous and end up making decisions that affect their lives negatively. The song serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of the entertainment industry and how not to fall into its trap.
Line by Line Meaning
She maybe beautiful sexy from her head down to her toes
The girl is attractive and sexy from top to bottom.
Everybodies favorite centerfold
Everyone loves her and admires her as a model and actress.
The girl that everybody wants to know
She is the girl whom everybody wants to be acquainted with.
But what I didnt see
The artist was unaware and ignorant of the truth.
Was a secret identity
She had an undercover or hidden side of her that no one knew.
What she was doing behind the scences
She was engaged in something unscrupulous or unethical behind the scenes.
All the dirty lies and filthy schemes
She was involved in deceitful and dirty tactics.
You don't, you don't even know
You do not have any idea or clue about her actions and true nature.
How low,how low she would go
She could stoop to incredibly low levels to achieve her dreams or goals.
To be the star of her show
She wanted to be the shining and successful center of the performance.
And I dont know
The singer is unaware and puzzled about the situation.
I dont know why I trusted
The artist is struggling to comprehend why they put their faith in her.
She, she took control of me
She had the authority and power over the singer.
So blind I couldnt see
The singer was unable to see the truth and was oblivious to her actions.
Be like monopoly
It was like a game of Monopoly, where she was manipulating the situation and controlling everything.
Deeds that she cant undo
She had already committed actions that were irreversible or had severe consequences.
All that she was untrue
Everything she did and said was not true, and she was lying.
That girl I thought I knew
The singer believed and thought he knew her well, but he was wrong.
Never expected babe
The singer never anticipated this from her.
Hollywood set me up
The corrupt and unscrupulous environment of Hollywood caused the artist to be deceived.
Girl was sitting next to me
The girl was physically close to the artist.
And she askin could she leave with me
She was requesting the artist to leave with her.
I'm like cant be comin on to me
The singer refused her advances and expressed his reluctance.
My girl is at home waitin on me
The artist has a girlfriend who is waiting for him at home.
Whispers in my ear and she's like baby can we dissappear tonight
She whispered in his ear, asking if they could vanish together.
Kissess me and to the right my girl is staring me right in my eye
She kissed the singer, but his girlfriend was looking directly at him.
Spot lights
The bright lights of the stage.
Left right
The lights were moving in every direction.
Going to her head
The fame and success had gone to her head and changed her.
Closing the curtain
The performance or her show was ending.
Your show is over
Your time in the spotlight has ended.
No more, no more
It's finished and there is nothing left to do.
Take your act and leave
You need to pack up and vacate the premises.
Said I shouldn't have trusted her
The artist acknowledged his error in trusting her.
Hollywood set me up
The Hollywood culture and environment caused his deception and downfall.
Contributed by Ava F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rodrigo Silva
I'm in love with this sound ❤❤❤
Neil Clark
I wish that they would have at least put out their album before they broke up. I love them so much
lighteyes214
This is a jam. One of the best boybands that never was... so sad.
RaliJ13
One word: AWESOME.
cowsgomoo2
I LOVE KEVIN but the pic at 1:07 is amazing
SweetSim xo
Love NLT <3 I wish they got backk together :(
Ashley
i like the way you put there pics and then them together that was neat
Italia
Stupenda <3
Hannah Johnson
nlt <3 kevin<3 im in love with him!!
Ashley Noda
omg that video is awsome! its goign on my top ten fave nlt videos!