For starters, the troupe performed alongside the lauded (and diverse) likes of No Doubt, Nelly, Counting Crows, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Garbage, Boyz II Men and Erykah Badu (to name a few) on a cross country tour in support of its major label debut The Fault Is History. That project also set a streak of precedents, making SoulJahz the first new hip-hop/funk/soul act in history to write, produce, executive produce and co-engineer a major label album, not to mention group member Rachael becoming the youngest composer/producer/songwriter in the history of Warner Brothers Records (she was 17, beating out Prince at 19). Extensive features followed on CNN Headline News, E!, Billboard, The WB, plus a slot on Sessions@AOL beside Christina Aguilera, 50 Cent, Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Red Hot Chili Peppers. But even with the tremendous amount of buzz and overwhelming fanfare, record label red tape soon wrapped itself around the burgeoning band, putting an extreme delay on what would’ve been its sophomore CD.
“Basically we were about to begin our new record after being gone on tour for at least a year and a half on that first record, but the entire staff of our label flipped upside down,” Jekob recalls of the incredibly trying time. “When it came time to talk with the new cats, they had a different thought process on where our sound needed to go and there ended up being a lot of problems. We basically had our second record shelved entirely and spent the next several years trying to get out of our contract.”
Despite the lack of a new CD, the band took trips to Iraq in 2005 and 2006 to entertain troops, though back home in America, their lawyers and a constantly switching staff of label executives were waging war of their own. Eventually the group was allowed to exit its deal, but at the expense of leaving the SoulJahz moniker in the label’s hands.
“As all of this went down, we literally retreated to Hawaii for a time because we have family out there, which were the bonds that helped keep us going,” Jekob contends. “But it actually all turned out to be a very good thing because we recharged our batteries and the break helped give us a fresh perspective and new start. SoulJahz has a certain amount of recognition as a brand, but The Washington Projects is a name that’s even closer to our hearts because no one can ever take that one away from us!”
With the battle flames dying down, The Washington Projects hit the studio for its debut in this format Commanders of the Resistance, an enthralling soundtrack of hope covering just as many relevant themes as it does sonic spectrums. The album had rave reviews not to mention both singles they filmed videos for took the 1 spots for 2 straight weeks on GMC, one of the biggest inspirational video channels in the world.
After touring extensively both in the states and abroad, with groups ranging from The Nappy Roots & Relient K, to Third Day & Toby Mac , they head back to the studio to lay down what they say will be one of the best inspirational records EVER! The sky is the limit for this duo, and if anyone can do it .... they can. Light Up The Dark Souljahz -
Come Back To Me
The Washington Projects Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but crime just donʼt pay. I know that I could get blasted for the words that I say. I ainʼt
afraid of no casket, you canʼt hold me in the grave watch out! See most of that is peer
pressure, donʼt worry bout the next man. Well your life you could gamble, but homie you
ainʼt got the best hand. Iʼm tryin to tell you what I know dog, Iʼm tryin to give em
something real. Watch how I put it on a dope beat and give em something they can feel.
If youʼre goin bangin tonight, if you plan on shooting tonight, If youʼre getting wasted
wanting. Sayin come back to me.
Yea, I know you feel a little foolish given the situation at hand. Deep down you know that
you can do it. Donʼt act like you donʼt understand, come on. Waiting, wishing and hoping,
hoping and wishing, homie you missing, missing out on a blessing, itʼs like an unopened
present. And yes I can relate, dude said he loved me, did me dirty, oh but just wait. My
God gets butterflies every time, I mean every time He thinks about my face. So I pray
youʼre wishing and hoping, hoping and wishing but no longer missing, missing out on no
blessings. Baby girl I hope you learned your lesson.
If youʼre goin bangin tonight, if you plan on shooting tonight, If youʼre getting wasted
tonight, if you plan on lootin tonight. Let me tell you something, Godʼs watching and
wanting. Sayin come back to me.
Bridge
How the beat go, how the heat go. Pop pop cause of dudes and they ego. Lego my ego
we all people. Stop, drop, put it down thatʼs how we roll, and you could lose your life
trying to be the cool kid. But He could use your life if you let Him do it. I know youʼre
scared, I know youʼre friends talk schmack, but you ainʼt gotta fold home you could talk
back. So you say you know, then what are you waiting for? Go on and make a change,
Iʼm telling you donʼt waste no time. The way to go is hard to find when youʼre all alone.
If youʼre goin bangin tonight, if you plan on shooting tonight, If youʼre getting wasted
tonight, if you plan on lootin tonight. Let me tell you something, Godʼs watching and
wanting. Sayin come back to me.
In The Washington Projects's song Come Back To Me, the lyrics are a message to someone who is making the wrong choices in life. The vocalist acknowledges that the pressures and temptations to make those choices might be overwhelming but reminds the listener that those choices will only lead to negative consequences. Instead, the vocalist suggests that the listener turn towards a positive path, one that is aligned with God's teachings. The lyrics try to impart that it is never too late to change one's path and seek redemption.
The lyrics are poignant as they highlight the consequences of making negative choices as well as the benefits of making positive choices. The song is an uplifting reminder that, despite life's challenges and obstacles, there is always hope for a brighter future if one chooses the right path. The lyrics urge the listener to come back to their true self, their true values, and their true identity, which ultimately leads to a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, I see you out there slippin.
I see that you're struggling.
I know you gotta get paid. So you could rob somebody, but crime just don't pay.
I understand you need money, but committing crimes isn't worth the consequences.
I know that I could get blasted for the words that I say. I ain't afraid of no casket, you can't hold me in the grave watch out!
I know that speaking out against harmful behavior could lead to danger, but I'm not afraid of death and I won't stay silent.
See most of that is peer pressure, don't worry bout the next man. Well your life you could gamble, but homie you ain't got the best hand.
A lot of negative behavior is motivated by peer pressure, but you shouldn't worry about impressing others. Even if life is like a game of chance, you might not have the best cards.
I'm tryin to tell you what I know dog, I'm tryin to give em something real. Watch how I put it on a dope beat and give em something they can feel.
I'm trying to share my knowledge and experiences with others through music that is authentically relatable.
If you're goin bangin tonight, if you plan on shooting tonight, If you're getting wasted tonight, if you plan on lootin tonight. Let me tell you something, God's watching and wanting. Sayin come back to me.
If you're engaging in harmful behavior tonight, remember that God is watching and wants you to come back to Him.
Yea, I know you feel a little foolish given the situation at hand. Deep down you know that you can do it. Don't act like you don't understand, come on.
I know you might feel embarrassed for your actions, but you are capable of doing better. Don't pretend like you don't understand what is right.
Waiting, wishing and hoping, hoping and wishing, homie you missing, missing out on a blessing, it's like an unopened present.
If you keep waiting and hoping for something to change without any effort, you're missing out on potential blessings that are like unopened gifts.
And yes I can relate, dude said he loved me, did me dirty, oh but just wait. My God gets butterflies every time, I mean every time He thinks about my face. So I pray you're wishing and hoping, hoping and wishing but no longer missing, missing out on no blessings. Baby girl I hope you learned your lesson.
I can understand being hurt by someone who claimed to love you, but God loves us unconditionally and is always excited to be with us. I hope you stop waiting and start seeing the blessings in your life.
How the beat go, how the heat go. Pop pop cause of dudes and they ego. Lego my ego we all people. Stop, drop, put it down that's how we roll, and you could lose your life trying to be the cool kid. But He could use your life if you let Him do it.
The music and violence around you might be influenced by ego, but we are all human. Stop and think about the dangerous consequences of trying to fit in. Instead, let God guide and use your life for good.
I know you're scared, I know you're friends talk schmack, but you ain't gotta fold home you could talk back. So you say you know, then what are you waiting for? Go on and make a change, I'm telling you don't waste no time. The way to go is hard to find when you're all alone.
I understand that your peers might criticize you for making positive changes, but you don't have to back down. If you know what's right, then start making a change and don't postpone it. It can be difficult to find the right path when you're alone, but remember that God is with you.
If you're goin bangin tonight, if you plan on shooting tonight, If you're getting wasted tonight, if you plan on lootin tonight. Let me tell you something, God's watching and wanting. Sayin come back to me.
If you're engaging in harmful behavior tonight, remember that God is watching and wants you to come back to Him.
Contributed by Grace M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alfonso Pagan
heavy beat, luv it :)