Kasseem Dean (born August 30, 1978 in The Bronx, New York), better known by… Read Full Bio ↴Kasseem Dean (born August 30, 1978 in The Bronx, New York), better known by his stage name Swizz Beatz, is a producer, rapper, actor, writer and painter best known for producing songs for artists such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, DMX, Drake, Chris Brown and Mary J. Blige. The husband of Alicia Keys and the nephew of Ruff Ryders founders Chivon, Joaquin and Darrin Dean, he began his music career in 1994 serving as a producer for their label. He released his debut album One Man Band Man in 2007, it included the hit single Money in the Bank. His second album, Haute Living, is set to be released sometime in 2011. He was married to R&B singer Mashonda for four years and married Alicia Keys in September 2010.

With his aunt Chivon Dean, and uncles Dee, and Waah Dean involved with the Ruff Ryders label, he began to produce tracks at the age of 16. He sold his first beat at 17 which became DMX's hit single Ruff Ryders Anthem. He started working with Ruff Ryders, Roc-A-Fella Records, Elektra Records, Epic Records, Def Jam Recordings, and Bad Boy Entertainment and his career blew up from there. But it wasn't until his first solo album, 2002's Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories, that he started to get notices for his production style and interesting ideas. He released two singles "Guilty" and "Bigger Business" and both had music videos.[

Swizz Beatz has his own record label called Full Surface which was helped developed by Cassidy and is currently working on albums by Cassidy, Jay-Z, 2 Much, 50 Cent, Drag-On, Papoose, Busta Rhymes, Ruff Ryders, Michael Jackson, Eve, T.I., Lil Wayne, Bow Wow, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Eminem, Lil Jon and Ludacris. He is also set to be recording the new album for his close friend DMX which is confirmed to be titled Walk with Me Now and You'll Fly with Me Later. It was also confirmed he will be working with Jennifer Lopez for the first time on her new album.

Swizz Beatz released his first proper solo album titled One Man Band Man on August 21, 2007, selling 45,000 records in its first week of release including songs such as "It's Me Bitches", "Money in the Bank".

On October 19, 2007, as an extension to his first solo project, Swizz Beatz launched a contest called Music Video 2.0 and The Source Magazine Presents "Share the Studio." The contest and allows unsigned/indie music artists the opportunity to compete on the Music Video 2.0 website for the chance to open for Swizz Beatz at a NYC event.

Swizz Beatz also did an interview with MTV about his next album stating he just leaked a record called "Hard Knocks" with Drag-On. It's the first offering from Beatz's upcoming follow-up to One Man Band Man.

“ Everybody is expecting 'It's Me Bitches' or 'Money in the Bank', I just want to use my opportunity to get a little more serious in the artist department, as a performer and lyricist. Not giving a f--- about radio and all that. I just want to give hip-hop something that's not on the radio. A lot of the songs I got can blend in on the radio, but 'School of Hard Knocks' don't blend in with nothing on the radio. I'm already in full mode. What they want me to do? Let's get it. I'm busting shots early — bong, bong!
The title is between Life After the Party and Remember Hip-Hop," he continued. "I'm in between them. I don't even have a date on my joint. I'm just feeling out the scene.
”

Ghetto Love
Swizz Beatz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[LL Cool J]
Damn I Miss You
It's still gone ride, it's still gone ride
Uh uh, uh uh, c'mon, uh, uh, yeah, ride, uh

Damn I miss you
Ooh I feel better than before
We should've never separated

Paused or hesitated
You rocked me to sleep
It's like my body levitated
Looking in the mirror
But the heat makes it less clearer
It's all fogged up, face me baby
Put your fingers in my mouth, let me taste the gravy
Reunited, feel good, real good, squeeze me
I tell you that I Love You
But you wouldn't believe me

[Chorus: Mashonda]
Ghetto loving, when I'm with you
Anything you want I will do
Ghetto loving, when I'm with you
Anything you want I will do

[Mashonda]
Hello
Baby
There is something that I want to say to you
You've been on my mind now
For a while and I just don't know what to do
I've been thinking of holding you (holding you)
Showing you, what I'm all about
And I promise that I will do
Everything you want without a doubt

[Chorus]

[Mashonda]
I know
That we've
Had our share of ups and downs but that's in the past
If you promise to hold me down
Then our love will have a second chance to last
I've been thinking of holding you
Showing you, what I'm all about
(And I promise) And I promise that I will do
Everything you want without a doubt

[Chorus]

[LL Cool J]
Forget the past
We like Bonnie and Clyde from now on
Back to back, through the ups and downs
Right or wrongs, lay down
Let me kiss you all down your back
Then I'll go further down, swirl my tongue around
I apologize too
For not recognizing the pain inside of you
I never lie to you, again
Last time had stress on my mind
Had a hard time believing
That my girl could be genuine
It's different now, we ghetto lovers fo' real
I grab the wheel, you hold the steel
Teach me how to touch you where you like it the most
From now on, til we give up the ghost
Reunited, Baby

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Ghetto Love" talk about a couple who were separated but are now willing to give their love a second chance. LL Cool J raps about how he has missed his partner and how their time apart has made him realize that he still loves her. He admits that he should have never allowed their separation or hesitation to come between them. The chorus sung by Mashonda talks about how she is willing to do anything for her partner and how their love should be strong enough to overcome any obstacle. She also mentions how they have their ups and downs, but if they hold on to each other, their love will grow stronger.

Throughout the song, LL Cool J and Mashonda both express how they have been thinking about each other and desire to hold one another. LL Cool J also apologizes for not recognizing his partner's pain in the past and promises to never lie to her again. He acknowledges that their love is real and that they belong together like Bonnie and Clyde. The lyrics end with LL Cool J asking his partner to teach him how to touch her where she likes it the most, and they vow to be reunited.

Overall, the song's lyrics are about the power of love and how it can overcome any obstacle if two people are willing to work at it. It's about forgiveness, trust, and appreciation for your partner.

Line by Line Meaning

Damn I miss you
Expressing a feeling of nostalgia and longing for someone who is no longer around

Ooh I feel better than before
Feeling uplifted and more positive after reuniting with a lost love

We should've never separated
Regret and remorse for breaking up or going separate ways with a loved one

Paused or Hesitated
Feeling uncertain or indecisive about renewing a relationship with an ex-partner

You rocked me to sleep
Referring to a time when the love interest used to comfort and soothe the artist, often before falling asleep

It's like my body levitated
A sense of weightlessness or euphoria, as if floating in excitement and joy

Looking in the mirror
Self-reflection and contemplation of one's own thoughts and feelings

But the heat makes it less clearer
Feeling of being in a haze, unclear and uncertain about future with the love interest

It's all fogged up, face me baby
Motivating the love interest to face the artist to confront their issues and problems

Put your fingers in my mouth, let me taste the gravy
An intimate and suggestive gesture, indicating a sexual longing for the love interest

Reunited, feel good, real good, squeeze me
Happiness and joy about meeting a loved one after a long time, wanted them to hold and embrace the singer tightly

I tell you that I Love You
Expressing strong affection and devotion towards the love interest

But you wouldn't believe me
Feeling unsure about the love interest reciprocating or trusting the singer's emotions

Ghetto loving, when I'm with you
A passionate and fiery love that the singer and the love interest share in their neighborhood

Anything you want I will do
Expressing a willingness to do anything to keep the love interest happy

Hello
A greeting to the love interest

Baby
A term of endearment for the love interest

There is something that I want to say to you
An indication of wanting to have an honest and open conversation about the state of their relationship

You've been on my mind now
Expressing a strong longing and remembrance of the love interest

For a while and I just don't know what to do
Feeling uncertain and indecisive about what to do with their relationship

That we've had our share of ups and downs but that's in the past
Acknowledging the difficulties and challenges in their relationship but wanting to move past it and start anew

If you promise to hold me down
Expressing a need for emotional and mental support from the love interest to go through life's trials and tribulations

Then our love will have a second chance to last
If they can trust each other and work towards building a strong relationship, it will continue to prosper and last longer

Forget the past
An urging to the love interest to forget past mistakes and wrongdoings committed by both parties

We like Bonnie and Clyde from now on
Comparing their relationship to the outlaw couple who were lovers and partners in crime

Back to back, through the ups and downs
Promising to stand by their love interest no matter the circumstances and challenges they may face

Right or wrongs, lay down
A willingness to work through their differences and lay down any disagreements between them to continue their relationship

Let me kiss you all down your back
An intimate gesture, indicating a strong physical attraction towards the love interest

Then I'll go further down, swirl my tongue around
A sexually suggestive line indicating a desire to provide pleasure to the love interest

I apologize too
A recognition of the singer's own mistakes and wrongdoings towards the love interest

For not recognizing the pain inside of you
An acknowledgement of the love interest's pain and hurt that the singer failed to recognize earlier

I never lie to you, again
A promise never to deceive the love interest again

Last time had stress on my mind
A recognition of personal problems that may have caused strain in their relationship

Had a hard time believing
A confession of distrust and doubt towards the love interest's intentions

That my girl could be genuine
Doubting the authenticity and sincerity of the love interest's love for the singer

It's different now, we ghetto lovers fo' real
Having come to a realization about their love towards each other, they are certain and proud of their love as a passionate and genuine expression of their feelings

I grab the wheel, you hold the steel
A metaphor for each other's strengths and roles in the relationship, with the singer leading and the love interest supporting

Teach me how to touch you where you like it the most
A desire to learn and provide pleasure to the love interest in ways that would be satisfying and enjoyable

From now on, til we give up the ghost
A pledge to remain devoted to each other until their deaths

Reunited, Baby
An acknowledgement and celebration of their reunion as lovers and partners

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CROPPER, DAN, DANDY, DUNN, JACKSON, JONES, SMITH, TIFRERE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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