Early life
Hunt was born in Dayton, Ohio and raised by his single mother. His father, Van Hunt, Sr., was a factory worker and part-time painter, who was a friend of Ohio Players drummer Jimmy "Diamond" Williams. Hunt took up the drums at age 7, and saxophone at the age of 8, later adding bass and keyboards. Guitar was the last instrument he learned to play; he played guitar in a rock band called Royalty. Hunt moved to Texas for a short time before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia in 1996 to attend Morehouse College, where he studied English, but soon dropped out. In Atlanta, he started producing a few hip-hop demos for Atlanta rappers in order to pay bills. Hunt met up-and-coming record producers and artists like Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri and TLC through his work on demos.
Career
Early career
Hunt wrote and co-produced the song "Hopeless" for singer Dionne Farris, formerly of Arrested Development, and joined her band on guitar and keyboards. "Hopeless" appeared on the soundtrack for the film Love Jones (1997). Hunt co-wrote several songs with Rahsaan Patterson on his album Love in Stereo (1999), and co-wrote with Cree Summer, including the song "Mean Sleep", for her album Street Faërie (1999), produced by Lenny Kravitz. He also collaborated with Joi on the single "Missing You" (2002). Through Dionne Farris, Hunt met A&R person Randy Jackson (who later went on to be a judge on Fox's American Idol). Jackson would become Hunt's manager in 2002.
Capitol Records
Hunt recorded much of the material from his debut album in 2000. Producer Dallas Austin took Hunt's recording to Capitol Records, leading him to sign with the label in 2001. Hunt's first album, Van Hunt, was released in February 2004. The album included the singles "Down Here in Hell (With You)", "Dust", and "Seconds of Pleasure", and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Hunt's second album, On the Jungle Floor, was released in 2006. The album featured the single, "Character," a revisited "Mean Sleep", as a duet with Nikka Costa, and a cover of "No Sense of Crime" by The Stooges. The album was co-produced by Bill Bottrell. Hunt has toured and appeared with Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Boney James, The Roots, Seal, Angie Stone, Coldplay, The Brand New Heavies, the Dave Matthews Band, and Kanye West.
In 2006, Hunt appeared with Nikka Costa on the Sam Moore album, Overnight Sensational, on the song "If I Had No Loot". Hunt was also featured on "Half the Fun", a track on the Count Bass D album, Act Your Waist Size, released on Fat Beats Records.
in 2007, Hunt won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, along with John Legend and Joss Stone, for their cover of the Sly & the Family Stone song, "Family Affair", which appeared on the 2006 tribute album Different Strokes By Different Folks. Hunt described winning the award as "one of the bigger pleasures I've had" to The Athens Blur Magazine in 2009.
Blue Note
Hunt released the 4 track digital EP, The Popular Machine, on August 7, 2007. Hunt announced a full length album, Popular, to be released on Blue Note Records on January 15, 2008. Hunt moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles in 2007 while the album was nearing completion. Blue Note had taken over Hunt’s recording contract after corporate restructuring at Blue Note and Capitol's parent company, EMI. In December 2007, Blue Note announced that they would not be releasing the album, and that Hunt and the label mutually agreed to part ways. Hunt wrote on his MySpace blog in January 2008, that he couldn't promise that Popular would ever be officially released. Blue Note owns the master recordings and opted not to sell it back to him at an affordable price. Hunt commented that he "didn't think that they had enough money" to promote the album properly. LA Weekly called the album an "appealingly trippy fusion of funk grooves, punk guitar and soul vocals", and "a left-field stunner". Hunt told the Atlanta alternative weekly newspaper Creative Loafing that he was "devastated" when the label decided not to release the album.
Independent
As of June 2008, Hunt was recording a fourth album, which he plans to release himself and market using the Internet. Hunt has blogged about his new approach on his MySpace page. Hunt toured the U.S. in July and August 2008. He released Use In Case Of Emergency, a compilation of demos, remixes and B-sides recorded between 1997 and 2005, through his Web site in May 2009. Hunt has also been working on autobiographical book of short stories titled Tales of Friction. In July 2009, Hunt told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he plans to release one more album and tour once more, but doesn't know what his plans are after that. Hunt performed at the National Black Arts Festival's tribute to Curtis Mayfield at Atlanta Symphony Hall on July 16, 2010.
Influences
David Bowie
Serge Gainsbourg
The Isley Brothers
Curtis Mayfield
Thelonious Monk
The Ohio Players
Iggy Pop
Prince
Richard Pryor
Sly Stone
Neil Young
Discography
Albums
Van Hunt (2004), Capitol
On the Jungle Floor (2006), Capitol
Popular (2008) - unreleased studio album
Compilations
Use In Case of Emergency (2009), self-released - collection of outtakes
EPs
Acoustic E.P. (2004), Capitol - digital EP
Napster Sessions (2004), Capitol - digital EP
Connect Set (2006), Capitol - digital EP
The Popular Machine (2007), Blue Note - digital EP
Singles
"Down Here in Hell (With You)" (2004), Capitol
"Dust" (2004), Capitol
"Seconds of Pleasure" (2004), Capitol
"Character" (2006), Capitol
"Being A Girl" (2006), Capitol
Awards and nominations
2005 Grammy Award nomination for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for "Dust."
2006 Grammy Award win for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for "Family Affair"
Being A Girl
Van Hunt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You meet a child that drives you wild
With unmistakable
Down-town, style
Her winter coat and sexy tokes
On camel smokes
Don't prepare you
A princess and a mistress
Dressed in Sunday best
To impress a fresh love, interest
To set the stage
Receive her praise
And leave a sour taste
That only gets sweeter as it fades
She just can't help being a girl
She just can't help being a girl
She just can't help herself
Full of spectacle and charm like nothing else
Being a girl
At the initial glance
She's making plans to build her a man
Like a T-4 or an airplane
The girl wants a model romance
Fell in love
While taming her new adventurer
'Cause every rebel
Needs a woman's touch
(Woman's touch)
The fact is she's an actress
Using the bedroom for practice
Making him think
His kiss is all she ever imagines
With a pocketful of rocket fuel
Dragging strings that pull
On a heart, that's uncertain
But beautiful
She just can't help being a girl
She just can't help being a girl
She just can't help herself
Full of spectacle and charm like nothing else
Being a girl
Van Hunt's song "Being A Girl" is a tribute to the beauty and complexity of womanhood. The lyrics describe a woman who is confident, stylish, and full of charm. The song begins by introducing the listener to a child who is completely captivating. The child has a downtown style that is both unmistakable and attractive. The lyrics then move on to describe this same child as a princess and a mistress, dressed in her very best clothes to impress her new love interest. The child's laugh is described as explosive, and it is clear that she is full of energy and spirit.
As the song progresses, we learn more about this young woman- her desire for a model romance, her love of adventure, and her rebellious spirit. It is clear that she is not content to simply be a passive observer in life- she wants to live it to its fullest. She is described as an actress, using the bedroom as a place to practice her craft. She is also described as having a pocketful of rocket fuel, dragging strings that pull on a heart that is uncertain but beautiful.
Through it all, the lyrics emphasize the fact that this young woman just can't help being who she is- full of spectacle and charm like nothing else. Despite any challenges or obstacles, she remains true to herself, boldly living her life to the fullest.
Overall, Van Hunt's "Being A Girl" is a celebration of the unique beauty and strength of women. The song encourages listeners to embrace their own complexity and to live their lives boldly, without apology.
Line by Line Meaning
Every once in awhile
Occasionally, you come across a child that captivates you
You meet a child that drives you wild
You meet a young woman with a striking, bold style
With unmistakable
She has a distinctive, unforgettable presence
Down-town, style
Her style is urban and trendy
Her winter coat and sexy tokes
She wears a winter coat and smokes cigarettes
On camel smokes
She smokes Camel brand cigarettes
Don't prepare you
These details don't anticipate
For a laugh that explodes
Her laughter is so unexpected that it takes you by surprise
A princess and a mistress
She can play both an innocent princess and a seductive mistress
Dressed in Sunday best
She dresses in her finest clothes
To impress a fresh love, interest
To attract a new love interest
To set the stage
To create a mood or atmosphere
Receive her praise
Accept compliments from others
And leave a sour taste
Disappear, leaving behind negative feelings
That only gets sweeter as it fades
Even though it ended badly, there are still good memories
She just can't help being a girl
She can't control her feminine nature
She just can't help being a girl
She's not deliberately trying to act a certain way – she is natural
She just can't help herself
She can't change who she is
Full of spectacle and charm like nothing else
She is unique, fascinating, and delightful
Being a girl
Her femininity is a defining trait
At the initial glance
At first sight
She's making plans to build her a man
She's already thinking about how to create the perfect partner
Like a T-4 or an airplane
She wants her man to be a masterpiece, designed to satisfy her
The girl wants a model romance
She desires a perfect, idealized love story
Fell in love
She fell in love
While taming her new adventurer
While she was controlling and guiding her new partner
'Cause every rebel
Because every rebellious person
Needs a woman's touch
Requires a woman's influence to balance and guide their decisions/actions
The fact is she's an actress
The truth is that she's good at pretending
Using the bedroom for practice
She practices her acting skills in the bedroom, playing a role
Making him think
Leading him to believe
His kiss is all she ever imagines
That she only fantasizes about intimate moments with him
With a pocketful of rocket fuel
With passion and energy, ready to ignite
Dragging strings that pull
Controlling and manipulating others with ease
On a heart, that's uncertain
Playing with a heart that is unsure or wavering
But beautiful
Despite the confusion or uncertainty, it is still lovely
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VAN HUNT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cheftobiascooks2342
VAN HUNT I have been a FAN for YEARS!!! Thank you Ms. Berry, now the entire WORLD is about to see him.......... GREAT MUSIC!!!!!!!!! Blessings to you TWO
@WomanofGod-jc4cj
So underrated. I'm loving this💜
@NikNik0123
Perfection. Another one I constantly had on repeat! One of my fav artist of all time...I still love Van!
@leongreene3451
Yes!!!!
@coolcat6303
Funky, Sexy & Smooth. Doesn't get much better than this Underrated R&B jam from the 2000's.
@rubenacosta6357
my friend , i think it is neo soul
@blackamericanlesbianprofes4357
One of my favorites by Van Hunt! Thank you for posting. :)
@stephaniemontgomery66
Prince has so much stank on his style of writing and playing Also Curtis Mayfield the greats has influenced them and left us gifts like Van to continue the journey 🖤❤
@rahphunk
This man is so underrated. This track is the ish to me!!
@TruthLightDesigns
I love this smooth song! I still play it in 2012!