Native New Yorker, Rahsaan Patterson is a seasoned entertainer, whose reput… Read Full Bio ↴Native New Yorker, Rahsaan Patterson is a seasoned entertainer, whose reputation for being extraordinarily gifted spans from his childhood acting career, cast as "The Kid," on the popular 1980s television show, Kids Incorporated, to his sustained, enumerable accomplishments as a highly-regarded, successful Independent Contemporary Soul Music Artist, Songwriter, Producer and Music Executive.

After appearing in a school talent show in 1984, Patterson auditioned for the television show Kids Incorporated. Proving to be "a natural," he undoubtedly landed the part and was cast as "The Kid", remaining on the show for a number of years. Onward and upward, Patterson continued to evolve, gaining experience as a backup vocalist for several artists (including Kids co-star Martika). Following his vocal contributions on Colour Club's self-entitled album, as well as writing for other artists (his credits include Brandy's platinum Top 5 smash "Baby", and Tevin Campbell's hit "Back to the World"), Patterson signed with MCA Records. Collaborating with Keith Crouch and Jamey Jaz, among others, he released his own self-entitled debut in 1997.

Stirring rave reviews, the album launched Patterson into an even larger limelight (with the single "Where You Are" receiving widespread airplay on R&B radio). Patterson, soon after, developed global recognition, as well as a loyal following in the United States and abroad.

Patterson went to work, handcrafting his followup, Love in Stereo, with Jaz and new collaborators such as Van Hunt. When Love in Stereo was released in late 1999, its reviews topped those of its predecessor, slating Patterson as one, of few artists, whose vocal ability was classified as so "distinctive," he need not rely solely on the mainstream music market to gain his footing in the film and music industry, nor afford his music massive, worldwide, international appeal..

Although Patterson's path eventually diverged from MCA's, he remained indispensable amongst industry affiliates, continuing to perform live, working as a session singer, and contributing to both soundtracks (Brown Sugar) and compilation albums (Steve Harvey's Sign of Things to Come), while working on his next album.

After Hours, Patterson's third album, was released internationally early in 2004, again garnering positive reviews. Now, with the conception of his own label, the album released in the United States during late October 2004. Wine & Spirits followed in the Fall of 2007. Wine & Spirits, not only spoke to Patterson's consistency as a versatile, smooth-crooning performer, known for his scintillating, sultry provocative vocal style; but it also, signified, for Patterson, a career of longevity, divinely masterminded from his childhood endeavors to crossing the threshold as a multi-level, music mogul, independently signed, produced and operated. The project further evidenced Patterson's "musical muscularity," spawning itself in such diverse arrangements as the reflective lamentation of "Stars," to the smooth-jazz contours in one of the album's many "feel-good" hits, entitled "Feels Good," to Patterson's resident, high-frequency, timbres, echoing in the uptempo, "Higher Love," which, inevitably, served as the artist's professional and personal testimony of growth, triumph and spiritual ascension.

Patterson's next project, the highly anticipated CD, BLEUPHORIA, is scheduled to drop in the fall of 2010. It is expected to be nothing short of what Patterson's proud fanbase has always enjoyed from him: an astronomical, stellar work of art.

Soul Free
Rahsaan Patterson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm giving up on we
Leaving behind the past and what might be
Erasing all of the memories from my mind
So I can set my soul free

No matter where you are
Baby near or so far
You must always know that you're in my heart

As I try to forget
All the time that we spent
I'm sure I'll never love this way again

I need to let my soul free-soul free
Even though in times it may hurt me
I need to set my soul free-soul free
And let go of this love baby completely

Far too many times baby
we've played the gam of loves hide and seek
Growing oh so tired of the mystery
I've decided to set my soul free

No matter where you are
Baby near or so far
You gotta know that you're in my heart
But we've traveled far beyond
The star we were once on
And I don't think we can find our way home

I need to set my soul free-soul free
Knowing that in time it may hurt me

I need to set my soul free-soul free
And let go of this love baby completely

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rahsaan Patterson's song "Soul Free" express the desire to move on from a failed relationship and to let go of the pain and memories that are holding the singer back. He is making the difficult decision to give up on "we" and leave behind the past and everything that "might be." This is not an easy decision, as evidenced by the acknowledgment that it may hurt him at times, but ultimately, the singer knows that he needs to let go in order to set his soul free.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of freeing oneself from the weight of clinging to a past love. The singer knows that he must let go completely of this relationship, even though it may be difficult. He acknowledges the presence of the person in his heart, but also recognizes that they have both moved on and will never love each other in the same way again.

The last verse describes the weariness of playing "the game of love's hide and seek" and the decision to let go of the mystery and set his soul free. The stars they were once on have led them too far from home, and there is no turning back. The singer must move forward and let go of the love that once was.

Overall, the lyrics of "Soul Free" convey the importance of letting go of the past and moving on, even when it is painful. It emphasizes the idea that true freedom and peace comes not from holding on, but from letting go.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm giving up on we
I'm letting go of our relationship

Leaving behind the past and what might be
Putting the past aside and not focusing on what could have been

Erasing all of the memories from my mind
Removing all memories related to our relationship from my thoughts

So I can set my soul free
In order to feel liberated and at peace with myself

No matter where you are
Regardless of your current whereabouts

Baby near or so far
Whether you're physically close or distant

You must always know that you're in my heart
You hold a special place in my heart

As I try to forget
Attempting to move on

All the time that we spent
All the time we spent together

I'm sure I'll never love this way again
I doubt I'll love someone like I loved you ever again

I need to let my soul free-soul free
I require freedom to feel at ease with myself