Like most aspiring producer/songwriter/singers, Ryan Leslie started out making his own records as a teen because he couldn't afford to pay for studio time or producers when he wanted to record his demo. Counting self-contained producer/artists like Stevie Wonder and Prince as his heroes, it's been a long ride from being a 19-year-old senior in college who had no music contacts - to overseeing studio sessions with the likes of Diddy, Usher, Britney Spears, and many other of today's top stars.
The road was not easy, as anyone who has tried to make it in music would understand. When he graduated from Harvard in 1998, Ryan started out selling beats for $200 to anyone who would buy - a questionable career move for an ivy-league graduate. He stayed in the Boston area for a while, taking on a community service job to make ends meet, and spending his nights in the recording studio. Eventually, in the summer of 2000, he linked with a young artist named Corey "Latif" Williams, and he produced a song that won a contest sponsored by Teen People magazine, earning them a performance at the famed Apollo theatre in Harlem.
A few months later, in 2001, the two had generated enough buzz as a producer/artist duo to score Latif a record deal with Motown. Though initial excitement in the project was strong, the album they made together in thirty days took two years to get released. In the meantime, Ryan returned to a suburb of Boston and began to experiment with making his own records again.
Times were tough, the advance money from his work on Latif's album ran out, and in late 2002, after nearly a year grinding with little to no money coming in, Ryan was forced to move back in with his parents, who were living in Phoenix. Though he was devastated, he remained determined, and after a long talk, his father gave Ryan a glimmer of hope, offering to max out the family's credit cards to buy the keyboards and recording software needed to create a modest project studio. Moved by this vote of confidence in his potential, Ryan vowed that he would do whatever it took to repay the nearly $15,000 worth of equipment - even if it meant going to law school and getting a job more suited to his academic pedigree.
For the next five months, Ryan locked himself in a room, eating infrequently and sleeping even less, spending countless hours formulating a distinct sound that would prove useful when in the spring of 2003, his music career took an unexpected turn. Encouraged by his long-time music lawyer and advisor, Ed Woods, Ryan got on a plane to New York to take a 30-day contract as a music production intern for former Bad Boy Hitman Younglord. One week into his internship, a record they created together became "Keep Giving Your Love To Me", a song performed by Beyoncé for the Bad Boys II movie soundtrack. That record led to a meeting with Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was supervising the project.
Honored by the opportunity, Ryan played a few of the instrumentals he had created while in Phoenix for Diddy, and there was one in particular that caught the Bad Boy Records CEO's attention. Though it was a simple track, consisting mostly of a conga loop and a guitar riff, the magic in the music emerged when Ryan played a song he had written and recorded to the track, called "Hot 2 Nite". Thoroughly impressed, Diddy offered Ryan a producer management contract on the spot, and the song became the first single for New Edition's Bad Boy album.
Diddy immediately put Ryan on every project that came across his blackberry, and Ryan produced a string of records, including Loon's 2003 summer hit "Down For Me". He shared his unique talent with everyone from Britney Spears, B5, Cheri Dennis, Danity Kane, and many other Diddy-helmed projects. In six months, he had collected enough money from advances to be able to repay his father, and after sending a check home, he requested that his equipment be shipped to New York, where he set up a project studio in a one-bedroom apartment in Harlem.
Simultaneously during that time, Ryan inked a publishing deal with Tommy Mottola's Aspen Songs, cementing his relationship with two of the most legendary and notorious executives in the music industry. Under the mentorship of Diddy and Mottola, Ryan began to absorb the mannerisms of a savvy entrepreneurial music executive.
Soon the word began to spread of his unorthodox approach to record-making (eschewing programming and beat machines for real-time playing of instruments and on-the-fly song writing), and people began reaching out to Ryan for his "NextSelection" sound. He produced singles for Donell Jones ("Better Start Talking"), Cheri Dennis ("I Love U"), and dancehall legends Tanto Metro & Devonte ("News For You"). He also signed a recording contract as an artist with Universal through Mottola's imprint. Though he recorded an album for Universal in 2004 between projects for other artists, his production schedule kept him from paying any real attention to promoting a single.
It was when Usher called on him to produce some records for his new label, US Records, that Ryan, being the same age as Usher, became inspired to champion his NextSelection brand by developing an artist of his own. After writing and producing the title track "Private" for Usher's act One Chance's debut album, Ryan returned to New York and met a strikingly beautiful young artist named Cassie with a distinct vocal texture and a unique point of view. With the help of some coaxing by her mother, he convinced Cassie to record a song with him. Encouraged again by his attorney, Ed Woods, he played the record for Mottola, who immediately signed Ryan's young protégé to a management contract, urging the two to continue the recording process.
The next record he wrote and produced for her, a song called "Me & U", would prove to be a defining work in Ryan's career - earning him his first number one hit, and the opportunity to work as an executive producer alongside Diddy, who outbid 2 other labels to partner with him on Cassie's project. "Me & U" went on to be the biggest record at radio in the history of Atlantic Records (Bad Boy's distributor), and Ryan's dream to introduce the world to the NextSelection brand was achieved.
The success of Cassie's project also proved to be definitive in a different way for Ryan, who had partnered with a young on-line media entrepreneur named Rasheed Richmond to wage a ground-breaking internet marketing campaign using non-traditional media to raise awareness about Cassie, NextSelection, and the infectious song he had written for her. Thanks to their joint efforts, she became the first major new artist to break from social networking phenomenon MySpace.com, prompting so many internet searches that Yahoo crowned her the first "Internet diva".
Fueled by this momentum, Ryan's next moves will be made with laser focus on brand development and will be watched intently by an evolving music industry. He is building a management company, led by Sean Collins, a long-time friend and early supporter who invested in him during the early stages of his career, to develop and nurture budding production talent. He is expanding his on-line media properties with Rasheed Richmond to create a network of sites dedicated to entertainment content developed by NextSelection. He is assembling a roster of acts that will embody the characteristics of his signature 4 D's - drive, desire, discipline and dedication.
Most importantly, amongst all of his endeavors, he's campaigning as Ryan Leslie - the artist. With a goal to fill arenas around the world where he has already been performing for small crowds of die-hard NextSelection fans, he is pursuing the dream that started his foray into music in the first place: being an entertainer. His live show is explosive, channeling of the energy of a young James Brown mixed with the swagger of a modern day Marvin Gaye. The soundtrack to the Ryan Leslie experience is just as engaging. Fusing thick analogue synths, heavy drums and lush vocal harmonies, his double album, consisting of his best unreleased gems like "The Way That U Move", "Just Right" and "Used 2 Be", plus an entirely fresh crop of newly-inspired recordings, will be a collection of all the songs he wouldn't sell to anyone else, songs that he really loves, stories told in a way only he can tell them.
A look at Ryan's daily schedule, which usually starts on-line at 5am and continues (with meetings, calls, rehearsals and studio sessions) into the wee hours of the following morning, suggests that he may have too much on his plate to lead the life of an ordinary twenty-something year old. Thankfully, his approach to life is, arguably, extraordinary.
© 2006 NextSelection Lifestyle Group
GREEN
Ryan Leslie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got you under the red lights right now
And that body looking right right now
I bet you I could make them red lights turn green
I bet you I could make your red lights turn green
[Verse 1: Ryan]
I see you built your defense, that’s why the mazes in your mind are so complicated
I hear your friends say he’s shady you won’t’ make it
Lets pull that bullshit off until we’re both naked
Fully exposed – standing in your honesty
The difference between who you are and who you wanna be
And this is just a preview you know there’s more to see
Class is in the details hidden in the embroidery
And it's obvious you feeling me
Turn your pillow talk into a script from a soliloquy
Real page turner, Shades of Grey trilogy
Body language for dummies I’m a master of ventriloquy
Master of the talk game, words my artillery
Master of the “please Ryan, slow down you’re killing me”
You gotta body that was made for the camera
Let me see how it hold up ‘gainst this legendary stamina
Les
[Hook:]
I got you under the red lights right now
And that body looking right right now
I bet you I could make them red lights turn green
I bet you I could make your red lights turn green
[Verse 2: - Fabolous]
This be her scene
Look at her and me
So incredible it be getting her green
But she be flirting, she be curving
Stop acting 12 girl, it's 20 13
Put her on the first thing, Julius Erving
That mean I 6 her til I get in her jeans
I ain’t thirsting I’m just knowing what I want
They be hiding how they feel, I be showing what they won’t
I be going where they don’t
I could take you where they can’t
I could score when I want now don’t make me go Durant
To the hole if coach give me the go ‘head
She say she can’t stay but she gave me some to-go head
[Hook:]
I got you under the red lights right now
And that body looking right right now
I bet you I could make them red lights turn green
I bet you I could make your red lights turn green
[Verse 3 - Ryan]
It’ll only take a minute
One chance and I swear you won’t forget it babe
I could take you anywhere that your heart will allow
If you take that chance on love
We could find ourselves in love
We’ll be getting it til the morning
Oh yea
Up until the morning
Can we get it baby
Up until the morning light
Said we high on love
Up until the morning
Can we get it baby
Up until the morning light
[Hook:]
I got you under the red lights right now
And that body looking right right now
I bet you I could make them red lights turn green
I bet you I could make your red lights turn green
[Outro:]
Turn the lights down
There’s no one around (oh no)
Just you and me babe
Make them red lights
Make them red lights
Make them red lights turn green
In Ryan Leslie's song Green, he expresses his interest in a woman and is confident in his ability to take their relationship to the next level. The hook of the song, "I bet you I could make your red lights turn green," suggests that Ryan believes he has the power to turn this woman's hesitance into willingness. He recognizes that she has built up a defense, as evidenced by the complicated mazes in her mind, but he sees a spark between them that he believes is worth exploring. He urges her to let down her guard and be vulnerable with him. He's certain that there is more to her story than meets the eye and he's eager to uncover it.
The verses of the song are split between Ryan Leslie and rapper Fabolous. Ryan Leslie talks about how he can read this woman's body language and turn their pillow talk into a "soliloquy." He asserts that he's a master of the talk game and can handle anything that she throws his way. He compliments her on her body, suggesting that it was made for the camera, and boasts about his own "legendary stamina." Fabolous joins in on verse two, painting himself as a "scorer" who can "take [her] where they can't." He's suave and confident, assuring her that he knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go after it.
Overall, Green is a song about the power of attraction and the thrill of a new relationship. Ryan Leslie is confident in his ability to seduce this woman and is eager to take things to the next level. The red lights represent her hesitance or uncertainty, while turning them green represents her willingness to be with him. The song is upbeat and confident, reflective of the passion that Ryan Leslie feels for this woman.
Line by Line Meaning
I got you under the red lights right now
I have your complete attention, you are focused on me
And that body looking right right now
You are attractive, your body looks great at this moment
I bet you I could make them red lights turn green
I believe I can arouse you and turn you on
I bet you I could make your red lights turn green
I believe I can sexually satisfy you and make you orgasm
I see you built your defense, that’s why the mazes in your mind are so complicated
You are guarded emotionally and mentally
We found a spark I’m saying it's time we consummate it
We have a connection that needs to be physically acted upon
I hear your friends say he’s shady you won’t’ make it
Your friends doubt my trustworthiness and our potential success as a couple
Fully exposed – standing in your honesty
In a vulnerable state, you are being truthful with your emotions
The difference between who you are and who you wanna be
You are not yet your ideal self and yearn for growth
And this is just a preview you know there’s more to see
Our connection is just the beginning, there is more to explore
Class is in the details hidden in the embroidery
There are subtle nuances and intricacies in our relationship
And it's obvious you feeling me
It is clear that you are attracted and interested in me
Turn your pillow talk into a script from a soliloquy
Our intimate conversations are of great importance and are worthy of being written down
Real page turner, Shades of Grey trilogy
Our sexual encounters are exciting and intense, like the popular book series
Body language for dummies I’m a master of ventriloquy
I am skilled at understanding and manipulating nonverbal cues
Master of the talk game, words my artillery
I am skilled at persuading and seducing with my words
Master of the “please Ryan, slow down you’re killing me”
I am skilled at pleasuring my partner to the point of exhaustion
You gotta body that was made for the camera
Your body is visually appealing and could be seen as desirable on camera
Let me see how it hold up ‘gainst this legendary stamina
I want to test your physical endurance against my sexual prowess
This be her scene
The scene we are in is suitable for her
Look at her and me
We are attracting attention
So incredible it be getting her green
We are so amazing that she is getting jealous
But she be flirting, she be curving
She flirts but rejects my advances
Stop acting 12 girl, it's 20 13
Stop acting immature, it's the current year
Put her on the first thing, Julius Erving
Have sex with her immediately, like Julius Erving playing basketball aggressively
That mean I 6 her til I get in her jeans
I make her climax numerous times before having sex with her
I ain’t thirsting I’m just knowing what I want
I am not desperate, I simply know what I desire
They be hiding how they feel, I be showing what they won’t
Others may conceal their emotions, but I am open and expressive
I be going where they don’t
I explore territories outside of what others typically do
I could take you where they can’t
I can introduce you to experiences and places that others cannot
I could score when I want now don’t make me go Durant
I can achieve sexual success easily, don't make me work too hard
To the hole if coach give me the go ‘head
I will take advantage of any opportunity to score sexually
She say she can’t stay but she gave me some to-go head
She says she has to leave, but she performs oral sex on me before departing
It’ll only take a minute
Making love will not take long
One chance and I swear you won’t forget it babe
If you give me a chance, I will make it memorable
I could take you anywhere that your heart will allow
I can take you on an emotional journey as far as you are willing to go
If you take that chance on love
If you allow yourself to love me
We could find ourselves in love
We could develop strong romantic feelings for each other
We’ll be getting it til the morning
We will have sex all night
Up until the morning
Until the sun rises
Can we get it baby
Can we continue sexual activity
Said we high on love
We are intoxicated by the feelings of love
Turn the lights down
Dim the lighting
There’s no one around (oh no)
There is nobody watching or listening
Just you and me babe
It is just us two in this intimate moment
Make them red lights
Elevate the sexual energy and intensity
Make them red lights
Attract more sexual attention
Make them red lights turn green
Make the sexual excitement escalate and lead to climax
Contributed by Samantha H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Myiesha Caldwell
Love itttttttttt
Max Dennis
Vanglorious
Chris Ellis
Black Mozart yeah right I guess those that don't play instruments cant hear that r les regurgitates his cord progressions ..a let down and I like Ryan I'm a fan but far from a black Mozart..
Fʟʏ Lɪᴍᴀ
Man it ain’t even that deep just appreciate the art bro. Ryan Leslie is a musical genius nonetheless
bulgogi Aft
SEXTOY POUR TYMPAN