Together with a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death a few years after its formation. After moving to the New York City area in the late 1950s, the group had their first successes during these early years, first coming to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, "Shout", written by the three brothers. Initially a modest charted single, the song eventually sold over a million copies. In the 1960s, the group recorded songs for a variety of labels, including the top 20 single "Twist and Shout" and the Motown single "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", before recording and issuing the Grammy Award-winning hit "It's Your Thing" on their own label, T-Neck Records.
Influenced by gospel and doo-wop music, the group began experimenting with different musical styles incorporating elements of rock and funk as well as pop balladry. The inclusion of younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), and Rudolph's brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards, synthesizers), in 1973 turned the original vocal trio into a complete band and reached the height of their success. For the next full decade, they recorded a string of top-selling albums from 3 + 3 to Between the Sheets, including the number one album The Heat Is On.
The six-member band splintered in 1983, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper forming the short-lived spinoff group Isley-Jasper-Isley. The oldest member, O'Kelly, died in 1986 and Rudolph and Ronald released a pair of albums as a duo before Rudolph retired to a life in the Christian ministry in 1989. Ronald reconvened the group two years later in 1991 with Ernie and Marvin; five years later, in 1996, Marvin Isley left the group due to complications of diabetes. The remaining duo of Ronald and Ernie achieved mainstream success with the albums Mission to Please (1996), Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003). Eternal spawned the top twenty hit "Contagious". As of 2019, the Isley Brothers continue to perform under the lineup of Ronald and Ernie.
The Isley Brothers have sold over 18 million units in the United States alone. They have had several hit songs including four Top 10 singles on the United States Billboard chart. With their first major hit charting in 1959 ("Shout"), and their last one in 2001 ("Contagious"), they are among the few groups ever to have hit the Billboard Hot 100 with new music in five different decades. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40 and thirteen of those albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. The brothers have been honored by several musical institutions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted them in 1992. Five years later, they were added to Hollywood's Rockwalk, and in 2003 they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Isley_Brothers
Studio albums
Shout! (1959)
Twist & Shout (1962)
Twisting and Shouting (1963)
This Old Heart of Mine (1966)
Soul on the Rocks (1967)
It's Our Thing (1969)
The Brothers: Isley (1969)
Get into Something (1970)
Givin' It Back (1971)
Brother, Brother, Brother (1972)
3 + 3 (1973)
Live It Up (1974)
The Heat Is On (1975)
Harvest for the World (1976)
Go for Your Guns (1977)
Showdown (1978)
Winner Takes All (1979)
Go All the Way (1980)
Grand Slam (1981)
Inside You (1981)
The Real Deal (1982)
Between the Sheets (1983)
Masterpiece (1985)
Smooth Sailin' (1987)
Spend the Night (1989)
Tracks of Life (1992)
Mission to Please (1996)
Eternal (2001)
Body Kiss (2003)
Baby Makin' Music (2006)
Power of Peace (2017)
I Like
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like the way the chrome is blinding (that's what I like)
I like the way the ice is shining (that's what I like)
I like the way mama is grinding (that's what I like)
I like clubbing and big timing (that's what I like)
I like cash, cars, and chicks (that's what I like)
I like Cristal in my cup (that's what I like)
I like wylin' out at clubs (that's what I like)
I like clubs in Miami (that's what I like)
I like Montego Bay (that's what I like)
I like games and DVDs (that's what I like)
In the back of my Escalade (that's what I like)
'Cause when we do it
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it
I like to party 'til daylight (that's what I like)
I like to beats that's tight (that's what I like)
I like to have a real good time (that's what I like)
I like girls of all kinds (that's what I like)
I like ski boats and yachts (that's what I like)
I like ballin' 'til I drop (that's what I like)
I like mansions in the hills (that's what I like)
I like rollin' on big wheels (that's what I like)
I like eating in fancy places (that's what I like)
I like Henny with no chaser (that's what I like)
I like jukin' superstars (that's what I like)
I like counting all this paper (that's what I like)
'Cause when we do it
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it
You know I got to do it big every time I do it
Walking around with a tall glass of pimp fluid
Matching outfits to go along with my cup
Seven pieces, now go ahead and add it up
Don't it look good to ya? Sho' you right
I bust a brand new 6 like every other night
Half a dozen—one to my brother, two to my cousin
Now that leaves me three of 'em
And now we buzzin', sippin' on Cris' fa sho
And now you wanna kiss me slow
Saying Snoop Dogg's irresistible
Be professional, 'cause I don't see
Nothing wrong with us dipping to the pizzad
To do it real bizzig and act real bizzad
All of y'all on me, high G
That's seventy toes that just jumped out of Rolls
You know how it goes
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it, we do it big
When we do it
The Isley Brothers’ song “I Like” is a fun and upbeat track that catalogues the things they enjoy. The song is filled with boasts and a sense of opulence, as Mr. Biggs confidently raps about his love of luxury and excess. The song’s theme of extravagance serves as a critique of the materialism that is rampant in hip-hop culture. While the song celebrates wealth and success, it also acknowledges the emptiness that can accompany these things. The Isley Brothers convey the idea that even when someone has all of the things they like, they still may not be happy.
One of the most notable features of the song is its focus on consumerism. Mr. Biggs lists a variety of things that he enjoys, including cars, boats, mansions, and designer clothes. The song’s chorus emphasizes the idea of doing things “big” and living life to the fullest. Mr. Biggs repeats this phrase over and over, suggesting that the only way to enjoy life is to constantly indulge in luxury.
Despite the surface-level celebration of wealth and indulgence, there is an underlying sense of melancholy and dissatisfaction throughout “I Like.” The Isley Brothers recognize that even when someone has everything they want, they can still be unhappy or unfulfilled. The song is a commentary on the emptiness of wealth and material possessions, and suggests that there is more to life than just accumulating things.
Line by Line Meaning
Mr. Biggs, everybody wanna know what you gon' do next
People are curious about Mr. Biggs' next move
I like the way the chrome is blinding (that's what I like)
I enjoy the shiny appearance of chrome
I like the way the ice is shining (that's what I like)
I enjoy the sparkling appearance of diamonds
I like the way mama is grinding (that's what I like)
I enjoy watching women dance suggestively
I like clubbing and big timing (that's what I like)
I enjoy going to clubs and showing off my wealth
I like cash, cars, and chicks (that's what I like)
I enjoy having money, cars, and women in my life
I like fancy shopping trips (that's what I like)
I enjoy expensive shopping experiences
I like Cristal in my cup (that's what I like)
I enjoy drinking expensive champagne
I like wylin' out at clubs (that's what I like)
I enjoy partying to the extremes at clubs
I like clubs in Miami (that's what I like)
I enjoy going to clubs in Miami
I like Montego Bay (that's what I like)
I enjoy going to Montego Bay
I like games and DVDs (that's what I like)
I enjoy playing games and watching DVDs
In the back of my Escalade (that's what I like)
I like to ride in the back of my Escalade
'Cause when we do it
Because we like to do it
When we do it, we do it big
We like to do things in a grand way
I like to party 'til daylight (that's what I like)
I enjoy partying until the morning
I like to beats that's tight (that's what I like)
I enjoy music with a strong beat
I like to have a real good time (that's what I like)
I enjoy having a great time
I like girls of all kinds (that's what I like)
I enjoy women of all types
I like ski boats and yachts (that's what I like)
I enjoy expensive watercraft
I like ballin' 'til I drop (that's what I like)
I enjoy living a lavish lifestyle until I am exhausted
I like mansions in the hills (that's what I like)
I enjoy living in large, expensive houses in the hills
I like rollin' on big wheels (that's what I like)
I enjoy driving large vehicles with big wheels
I like eating in fancy places (that's what I like)
I enjoy dining at expensive, high-end restaurants
I like Henny with no chaser (that's what I like)
I enjoy drinking Hennessy straight
I like jukin' superstars (that's what I like)
I enjoy dancing and grinding with famous people
I like counting all this paper (that's what I like)
I enjoy counting my wealth (money)
You know I got to do it big every time I do it
I always like to do things in a grand manner
Walking around with a tall glass of pimp fluid
I am carrying a drink that is associated with a luxurious, pimp lifestyle
Matching outfits to go along with my cup
I am wearing clothes that match the look and feel of my drink
Seven pieces, now go ahead and add it up
I have seven pieces of something expensive, now calculate their worth
Don't it look good to ya? Sho' you right
Doesn't it all look good to you? Yes, it really is
I bust a brand new 6 like every other night
I buy a brand new luxury car nearly every night
Half a dozen—one to my brother, two to my cousin
I buy six luxury cars, then give some away to family members
Now that leaves me three of 'em
Now I have three luxury cars left for myself
And now we buzzin', sippin' on Cris' fa sho
We are feeling good, drinking Cristal for sure
And now you wanna kiss me slow
Because of my luxurious lifestyle and personality, people are attracted to me
Saying Snoop Dogg's irresistible
People are comparing me to the popular hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg, saying I am irresistible
Be professional, 'cause I don't see
I am reminding others to act professionally around me
Nothing wrong with us dipping to the pizzad
There is nothing wrong with us leaving quickly
To do it real bizzig and act real bizzad
To do things grandly and to act like we have money
All of y'all on me, high G
Everyone is focused on me, and I am feeling great
That's seventy toes that just jumped out of Rolls
Several people just stepped out of a Rolls-Royce, totaling to 70 toes (feet)
You know how it goes
You are familiar with how things happen around me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robert S. Kelly, Calvin Cordazor Broadus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind