Along with Run-D.M.C. and Fat Boys, Whodini were among the first rap groups to cultivate a high-profile national following for hip-hop music, and made significant inroads on Urban radio. The Brooklyn, New York-based trio consisted of vocalist/chief lyricist Jalil Hutchens, (one of the few rappers to go by his real name), co-vocalist John Fletcher, aka Ecstasy (so-named before the drug trend), who tended to wear a Zorro-style hat as his trademark; and DJ Drew Carter, aka Grandmaster Dee. Contemporaries of Run DMC, they were managed by Russell Simmons, brother of Joey “Run” Simmons. Signed to NY-based indie Jive Records in 1982, they enjoyed a string of hits, mostly charting on Urban/R&B stations. The bulk of production on their releases was done by Larry Smith, a bass player who also handled much of Run DMC’s early work. In keeping with 80’s trends, Whodini’s cuts tended to be synthesizer driven with a heavy electronic drumbeat. The sampling technology that became identified with rap hadn’t really become prominent during Whodini’s early days, and their works were thoroughly original compositions.
“Haunted House of Rock” was their first single, a whimsical Halloween-themed number. Synth-pop pioneer Thomas Dolby produced another of their early singles, “Magic’s Wand”. Speaking with Songfacts about "Magic's Wand" in a 2011 interview, Dolbyexplained that he hooked up with Whodini after sending his demo tape to the music publisher Zomba, who had launched the label Jive Records. Whodini was one of the acts on the label, and Zomba put Dolby together with the New York rap trio.
The group culled a female audience with such relationship-themed cut as “Friends” and “One Love”. Backstage partying was extolled in the mildly controversial “I’m a Ho”. “Fugitive” was guitar-driven funk. From 1982 - 1986 was the band’s heyday, touring with Run DMC, LL Cool J, the Fat Boys, and other prominent R&B and funk outfits of the 80’s.
Their albums Whodini (1983), Escape (1984), and Back in Black (1986; no relation to AC/DC) were all well-received by rap fans and youthful R&B enthusiasts. The ‘Fresh Fest’ tours were the first arena-sized tours to feature all hip-hop lineups, but full-fledged crossover fame seemed to elude them, however. The group had earned their share of gold singles and albums by 1987, when the hits started to slump. Open Sesame, their release that year, failed to produce any hits. After that point, the band eked out their tenure on Jive by occasionally releasing singles, including “Anyway I Gotta Swing it” for the Nightmare on Elm Street 5 movie soundtrack.
One Love
Whodini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The O(echo 3x)
And the V (echo â??the Vâ?? 3x)
The E(echo 3x)
Love (echo 3x)
Love (echo 3x)
Love (echo 3x)
[Ecstasy]
Well there's love and life, both have four letters
But there's two, different things all together
'cause I've liked many ladies in my day
But just like the wind, they've all blown away
You see, to love someone is atmosphere
But to both they'll share, when ones not there
There's no one way, it can be explained
I guess it's the way I smile, when I hear your name
It's the little things that you do, that mean so much
It's the care that you put, into every touch
It's the way I touch you, and you touch me
I guess some of us, are so lucky
[Jalil]
I was known for having, the upper hand
I was known as a stone cold ladies man
If it wasn't for you, I'd be that way still
But lately there's a change, in Jalil
All thought my friends play games, and teach me a lot
I know I'm more than happy, wit what I got
When I get up in the morning, and go to work
See all day long, I stay alert
'Til we come home at night, and close your door
Two people sharing, one common cause
When I say one love, you can trust me
'cause never have I been so lucky
Chorus:4x
[Ecstacy]
And we represent like this)
[Jalil & Ecstacy]
One Love, One Love
You're lucky just to have just One Love
Verse 2:
[Ecstacy]
Now the love I use to have just left me cold
I use to buy everything from diamonds to gold
For I thought she'd left me, 'cause I didn't buy her enough
'cause she left me alone, with all of my stuff
That maybe one of these days, you'll have to learn
That love is something, that you have to earn
And once you earn it, you gotta know how to keep it
You got to want it, as well as you need it
To have lost love, was a hurten lesson
But to a mad love, it's a definite ?
And I know what the Beatles were thinking of
When they said that money can't buy you love
[Jalil]
Well that's all stuff, what do you mean
I just went through, the exact same thing
M-m-mind was lost, for a whole different reason
I lost my love, 'cause she was cheatin'
Started roamin' through the streets, all day and night
Gets greedy best describes such an appetite
Wish I had a bat, but if you means a whip
Guess a bird in the hand, beats two in the bush
Like to thank you girl, for teaching me love
But all and all, I had a ball
Guess it's better to have loved and to have lost
Then to never have loved at all
Chorus:4x
[Ecstacy]
Well I think it's 'bout time, that we break it down
This is all about the love, that we lost and found
About the love that we ?, and the love that we shared
About the love that just, up'd and disappeared
About who's was bout real, and who was fake
So you can learn, from our mistakes
[Jalil]
'cause see it was already written, good and said
So you can stay, two steps ahead
Of the L(echo), for the love which you give
The O(echo), is for the love who we live
And the V(echo), is for the vivrant letter
The E means may we last forever and ever(echo 7x)
Chorus: 2x
The song "One Love" by Whodini revolves around the themes of love and relationships. The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of having one true love, and how lucky one is to have found it. The verses of the song present different experiences of love and relationships from the perspectives of the two singers.
The first verse by Ecstasy presents love as an intangible experience that cannot be easily explained. He says that there is a difference between liking someone and loving someone. He describes the little things that his significant other does that mean so much to him, and how they both care for each other. On the other hand, Jalil's verse talks about how he was known as a ladies' man, but everything changed when he found love. He emphasizes the importance of staying alert to keep the love alive.
The second verse by Ecstasy talks about how he lost his love due to his materialistic approach towards the relationship. He realizes that love is something that needs to be earned, and one needs to know how to keep it. Meanwhile, Jalil talks about how he lost his love because she was cheating on him. He accepts the experience as a lesson and says that it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.
Overall, the song emphasizes the importance of love and how it can change a person's perspective towards life. It also highlights the different experiences that people go through in relationships, but ultimately, they all lead to valuable lessons.
Line by Line Meaning
The L(echo 3x)
Introduction to the song focusing on the four-letter word 'love'.
The O(echo 3x)
Reiteration of the focus on the word 'love'.
And the V (echo the V 3x)
Still focusing on the word 'love' emphasizing the letter 'V'.
The E(echo 3x)
Final reiteration of the focus on the word 'love' emphasizing the letter 'E'.
Love (echo 3x)
Continuation of the emphasis on the word 'love'.
Verse 1:
Introduction of the first verse.
[Ecstasy]
Ecstacy begins the verse with his perspective on love.
Well there's love and life, both have four letters
Love and life are four-letter words but mean entirely different things.
But there's two, different things all together
Love and life cannot be compared based on their four-letter similarity.
'cause I've liked many ladies in my day
Ecstasy had feelings for many women in his life.
But just like the wind, they've all blown away
All these women left Ecstasy's life like the wind that comes and goes.
You see, to love someone is atmosphere
Loving someone creates a particular environment around the person.
But to both they'll share, when ones not there
The feeling of love is mutual between two people even when one is not present.
There's no one way, it can be explained
Love cannot be described or defined in just one way.
I guess it's the way I smile, when I hear your name
Ecstasy feels love when he smiles hearing the name of the person he loves.
It's the little things that you do, that mean so much
Small actions can have a significant impact on expressing love.
It's the care that you put, into every touch
Touching someone with care and affection is an expression of love.
It's the way I touch you, and you touch me
The touch of two people in love is special and different.
I guess some of us, are so lucky
Some people are fortunate enough to experience the magic of love.
[Jalil]
Jalil takes over the verse by expressing his views on love.
I was known for having, the upper hand
Jalil was known to control his relationships.
I was known as a stone cold ladies man
Jalil had a reputation of having many women in his life.
If it wasn't for you, I'd be that way still
Jalil changed his ways because of the person he loves.
But lately there's a change, in Jalil
Jalil has changed as a person because of love.
All thought my friends play games, and teach me a lot
Jalil's friends taught him how to navigate relationships.
I know I'm more than happy, wit what I got
Jalil is happy and content with what he has now.
When I get up in the morning, and go to work
Jalil's daily routine involves going to work.
See all day long, I stay alert
Jalil is focused and attentive while he is working.
'Til we come home at night, and close your door
Jalil is happy when he is with the person he loves.
Two people sharing, one common cause
Two people in love share the same goal in life.
When I say one love, you can trust me
Jalil emphasises the importance of having one love in your life.
'cause never have I been so lucky
Jalil feels lucky to have found love in his life.
Chorus:4x
Reiteration of the title of the song - One Love.
[Ecstacy]
Ecstasy begins the second verse of the song.
Now the love I use to have just left me cold
Ecstasy's past experiences with love left him feeling cold and unloved.
I use to buy everything from diamonds to gold
Ecstasy tried to buy his way into love by gifting expensive things.
For I thought she'd left me, 'cause I didn't buy her enough
Ecstasy thought his partner left him because he did not gift enough.
'cause she left me alone, with all of my stuff
His partner left him, and he was left with all the things he bought for her.
That maybe one of these days, you'll have to learn
Ecstasy has a piece of advice for his listeners.
That love is something, that you have to earn
Love cannot be bought with money, but only earned with actions and feelings.
And once you earn it, you gotta know how to keep it
Maintaining love is as important as earning it in the first place.
You got to want it, as well as you need it
Love is something you need and want in your life.
To have lost love, was a hurten lesson
Losing love was a painful lesson for Ecstasy.
But to a mad love, it's a definite ?
It is still unclear what the missing word is.
And I know what the Beatles were thinking of
Ecstasy mentions the Beatles and their statement about money not being able to buy love.
[Jalil]
Jalil takes over the second part of the second verse.
Well that's all stuff, what do you mean
Jalil is questioning Ecstasy's experience with love.
I just went through, the exact same thing
Jalil also had a similar experience with love like Ecstasy.
M-m-mind was lost, for a whole different reason
Jalil lost his mind for a different reason.
I lost my love, 'cause she was cheatin'
Jalil lost his love because she was unfaithful.
Started roamin' through the streets, all day and night
Jalil was roaming the streets endlessly, distraught over his lost love.
Gets greedy best describes such an appetite
Jalil became greedy in his efforts to find happiness in his life.
Wish I had a bat, but if you means a whip
Jalil uses alternative metaphors to describe his feelings.
Guess a bird in the hand, beats two in the bush
Having what you have is better than what you do not have.
Like to thank you girl, for teaching me love
Jalil thanks his past love for teaching him a valuable lesson about love.
But all and all, I had a ball
Jalil is happy about all the experiences and still enjoyed his life.
Guess it's better to have loved and to have lost
Having experienced love and lost it is better than not experiencing it at all.
Then to never have loved at all
The experience of love is essential and special whether or not it lasts forever.
Chorus:4x
Reiteration of the title of the song - One Love.
[Ecstacy]
Ecstasy begins the conclusion.
Well I think it's 'bout time, that we break it down
Ecstasy feels it is time to summarize the lessons learned about love.
This is all about the love, that we lost and found
The song is about the experience of losing and finding love.
About the love that we ?, and the love that we shared
Unclear missing word.
About the love that just, up'd and disappeared
The song also mentions lost love that disappeared without an explanation.
About who's was bout real, and who was fake
Some love was real, and some was fake.
So you can learn, from our mistakes
Ecstasy and Jalil share their experiences so that the listeners can learn from their mistakes.
[Jalil]
Final words from Jalil.
'cause see it was already written, good and said
Jalil says that everything was already written about love, and it is already well-known.
So you can stay, two steps ahead
Jalil advises the listeners to stay ahead in their love life.
Of the L(echo), for the love which you give
Unclear meaning.
The O(echo), is for the love who we live
Unclear meaning.
And the V(echo), is for the vivrant letter
Unclear meaning.
The E means may we last forever and ever(echo 7x)
Unclear meaning.
Chorus: 2x
Final reiteration of the song's title - One Love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NICHOLSON, PARNELL, SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RBS_
...a LOT of people forget, that Whodini actually was the THE first Rap group to have the most Top Ten R&B hits; "Friends" & "Freaks Come Out At Night" both hit #5 R&B, then this tune hit #10 R&B, Summer of 1986....Grandmaster Flash & Afrika Bambatta, had Two...HERE'S THE CHARTS...(cont.)
10. **One Love** - Whodini
9. When I Think Of You - Janet Jackson
8. Oh People (7" remix) - Patti Labelle
7. Give Me The Reason - Luther Vandross
6. Dancing On The Ceiling - Lionel Richie
5. The Rain - Oran 'Juice' Jones
4. Pop Pop Pop Pop..Goes My Mind - Levert
3. All Cried Out - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam feat. Full Force
2. Love Zone - Billy Ocean
1. Ain't Nuthin' Goin' On But The Rent - Gwen Guthrie
@TheWaronSJWs
Whodini is so underrated. RIP Ecstasy.
@michaelhammond7344
Bro you brought love son
@ifergotti7073
They werent underrated in thier time or today what are you talking about?
@keeper116
@Ifer Gotti Fa'real FACT!!!! lol "Whodini" was the ish then & still today. A party ain't a party without at least "Freaks Come Out At Night" being played, lol
@keeper116
I don't know what planet you reside on but here on Earth With PLATINUM sales "Whodini" has always been KNOWN by all, LOL
@MissToyasConsulting
No, they aren't underrated. They are coined as one of the best Rap groups of all time!
@matthewchance8835
When rap music had a heart, this song hits HARD!!
@johnryder557
I hear you I miss it
@delontejeter9870
That part!!💯
@MsIntense6845
Hell Yes!❤✊🏾