R&B crooner Young Steff is definitely a believer.
And the 21-year-old takes pride in making sure others feel
just the same way.
Case in point. After carefully shopping his demo around, Steff's music
landed in the hands of hit-making producer Rich Harrison. Having only
heard of Harrison through his work with Beyonce ("Crazy In Love") and
Amerie ("1 Thing"), Steff didn't know what to expect from him.
Likewise, for Harrison, who only knew of Steff as a stout, teen singer
from the early 2000s.
But when Steff met with Harrison for an impromptu audition, dancers in tow, things quickly changed.
"Unfortunately, talent isn't always a pre-requisite for a superstar, and vice versa but Steff is that rare combination of both a shining stage presence and powerful personality, together with a truly, truly unique voice. This alone already makes him competitive on a world-class level, and he's only 17!
He's something the world has never quite seen before" states Harrision of Steff.
The New Jersey native thrilled Harrison with his syrupy voice and energetic show, having become a seasoned performer by singing at high schools, talent shows, and on the road with his father, who had been part of a gospel singing troop. The multi-platinum then producer promptly offered to sign Steff to his burgeoning Richcraft Inc. label through Atlantic Records. Steff immediately obliged.
"I wanted someone I could be personal with, says Steff of his decision to join Harrison. Because the more personal the producer and the record company are, the better the records. And I wanted to be special this time, so it could be a sure thing. Because I know what I have and I wanted them to know that, too.
The dynamic young performer first got his start crooning alongside
his father as an eight-year-old imitator.
"He'd tell me to hit a note, and I'd do it," recalls Steff, laughing
at the memories. Quickly, Steff took to writing his own songs
and performed one for is father, who was floored at his son's talent.
From there, his father began preparing the young prodigy for a career
in music.
By 11, Steff was hard at work on his first demo, which eventually
spawned "Can I Holla," featuring Bow Wow and was featured on the Like
Mike soundtrack.
The father-and-son produced track caught the attention of a prominent
Philadelphia music insider who passed Steff's demo along to Jay-Z and
Damon Dash of Roc-A-Fella Records. Within a week, Steff was on his way
to New York to audition for the duo.
Although Steff eventually signed with the Roc, the experience was
short lived. Given the chance to either stay with Dash as he launched
a new music venture, or become a free agent, Steff chose the latter.
"Me and my pops were like, 'We're good'," remembers Steff. "So, we
went back to the drawing board."
Steff returned to his hometown of Vineland, New Jersey and began recording new material. Along the way Steff, a once short, pudgier young Michael Jackson look-a-like grew into a young man. Fortunately, his voice and upbeat personality - remained in tact.
On "Thang,Thang," from his steamy, forthcoming debut, Young Steff flexes those elastic vocals over Scott Storch's pulsating club track. In a searing
falsetto, Steff sings of eyeing a cutie: "Your twerk is so crazy," he
croons. "Got me so dizzybrings out the freak in me." He more than
holds his own alongside a featured rapper, who caps the track with a
furious battle rap.
"I'm Feeling," with its cascading piano-tinged production, finds Steff
singing and spitting fly love raps to his girl.
But its on 'Hallway," where Young Steff shows that he's all grown up
now. "I was just having fun with that," he sheepishly admits of the
steamy ballad. "It's just about wanting to see a shorty, that's all."
Having been influenced by his fathers group, Spirit, Steff has a solid foundation most artists his age only hope to achieve. He cites another gospel artist, J Moss, as a major inspiration.
I look up to him as a vocalist, says Steff. Because at the end of the day, as a young artist, I could do a thousand riffs and it wont mean anything. But if a person can growl at you and touch your heart, and say one word to make you feel it, then thats when I know Im doing my job. And thats my whole goal, to make this thing personal between me and my fans. From my heart to another persons heart.
Though things haven't always been easy for Steff, from his first failed record deal to his upbringing in New Jersey ("Where I'm from, nobody is prospering," explains Steff), he's always remained optimisticwhether it's been about career or lifeand hes ready to share that with the world.
"God puts a special gift in everyone, you know?" says Steff, mulling the idea
around his head before finally finishing. "You just got to find out what it
isand then utilize it."
Young Steff is a believer. Are you?
And I
Young Steff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Poptracks baby
It's Monday morning
I gotta get up and go to school
I wish I could sleep all day but Mom said you know your rules
The weekend's over, seems like school never ends
The only thing that keeps me going, I can go and chill with my friends
So let me get up and get myself together, be on my way
I get to school and everything's cool I see shorty's
I smile at her, she smile back and it makes my day
So I say
Can I holla, would you mind
If I stand up with two time
You don't have to be alone
I can call you on the phone
Can I holla, what's the deal
Can I holla, I'm for real (I'm for real)
You don't have to be alone
Oh no
Uh Lil Steff
Pop tracks, let's go
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday later on I'm at the spot
It's a place where me and my boys go hanging
The girls and the music be hot
It's a place where young people go and there we be having fun
That's when I seen that shawty from school and I said
"Yo, she the one"
It was on and poppin' and there was no stoppin'
The crush that I had on you
And I wondered if you really know
Can I holla, would you mind
If I stand up with two time
You don't have to be alone
I can call you on the phone
Can I holla, what's the deal
Can I holla, I'm for real (I'm for real)
You don't have to be alone
Oh no
Can I holla, would you mind
If I bother you for a minute
Just a minute of your time
Me and you we can kick it
Can I holla (holla holla)
Yo, yo Bow Weezie
Rappers steppin' to me
They want to get some but it's yo boy Lil Weezie
You know the outcome
Another victory, they can't get wit me
So pick a PCD 'cause you're history
And stop trying to be like this rap mine
'Cause as long as I'm around you gon' be behind
I'm like a new bike to a kid
A perm to your wig
There's a lot of copy catin' but I know who ya wit
Can you holla at this big dolla getting sitting pretty hard
Representin' So So
You know the flow, baby, everything gravy
Everything big, ma, everything crazy
That means you ain't got to worry 'bout nothing
That means I'ma keep ya fly and crushing
That means when people see me they see you
And all you got to do is holla
Can I holla would you mind
If I stand up with two time
You don't have to be alone
I can call you on the phone
Can I holla, what's the deal
Can I holla I'm for real (I'm for real)
You don't have to be alone
Oh no, yeah yeah
The song 'And I' by Young Steff talks about a boy who goes to school and wishes he could sleep all day, but he has to follow his mom's rules and go to school. The only thing that keeps him going is the fact that he can hang out with his friends. He likes a girl and wants to spend time with her. He asks her if he can call her on the phone and holla at her. He also talks about hanging out with his friends at a place where young people go, and the girl he likes is also there. He believes that he and the girl can have a great time together.
The lyrics paint a picture of young love and the desire to spend time with someone you like. The song is relatable to young people who may have gone through similar experiences of navigating their feelings for someone else while in school. The lyrics are also catchy, and the beat is upbeat, making the song enjoyable to listen to.
Line by Line Meaning
It's Monday morning
The song begins with the singer describing the start of his week at school.
I gotta get up and go to school
He expresses his reluctance to have to go to school.
I wish I could sleep all day but Mom said you know your rules
He acknowledges that he has obligations and responsibilities to fulfill, which he would rather avoid.
The weekend's over, seems like school never ends
He compares the monotony of school to the fleeting nature of weekends.
The only thing that keeps me going, I can go and chill with my friends
His friends provide support and motivation that keep him going despite his lack of enthusiasm for school.
So I bust 'em on the basketball team 'cause basketball's my thing
He talks about his passion for basketball and how it energizes him.
So let me get up and get myself together, be on my way
He resolves to prepare and focus himself for the day ahead.
I get to school and everything's cool I see shorty's
Upon arrival at school he sees his crush, shorty, and feels pleased.
I smile at her, she smile back and it makes my day
He is elated by her reciprocated smile and feels happy.
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday later on I'm at the spot
He describes a spot where he and his friends like to hang out after school during weekdays.
It's a place where me and my boys go hanging
This spot is where he and his buddies go to spend their leisure time.
The girls and the music be hot
He informs us that in addition to the group of friends, there are girls and great music attractions.
It was on and poppin' and there was no stoppin'
His relationship with his crush at the spot was quickly developing and gaining momentum.
Can I holla, would you mind, If I stand up and two-time
He makes a request to shorty to let him date her.
You don't have to be alone, I can call you on the phone
He assures her that he can keep her company and remain in touch with her.
Yo, yo Bow Weezie Rappers steppin' to me
The singer is interrupted mid-flow by another rapper, Bow Weezie, who is challenging him.
They want to get some but it's yo boy Lil Weezie
He assures Bow Weezie that he is not to be underestimated.
Another victory, they can't get wit me
He brags about his continued success in the rap field.
So pick a PCD 'cause you're history
The singer challenges any competition to face him, but warns that they should be careful with their choices.
Can you holla at this big dolla getting sitting pretty hardrepresentin' So So
He refers to himself as a successful rapper representing So So Def Recordings, and thus a potentially desirable partner.
That means you ain't got to worry 'bout nothing
He tells shorty that if she agrees to be with him, she need not worry about anything.
That means when people see me they see you
The singer promises shorty that people will view them as a pair and not as individuals.
And all you got to do is holla
He invites her to express her interest in him.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORGE GOLDSBORO, JAMES ROLLINS, JERMAINE DUPRI, JR HUFF, JR LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
big jones boys
THIS SONG WAS UNDERAPPRECIATED
SneakerTeacher89
💯 Realest shit I never wrote. Song is so damn sexy.
Kenneth Caffas
Most definantly
Rouge Anderson
Yes it was
Alyssa C.
I used to hip roll tf outta this song when I was a teenager!
Karl Roc say I love you
I know
N V
They slacked big time on this dude! This should of blown him up to stardom but labels fail to capitalize the moment
A DIG INTO THE LIFE OF SHANTAE
I’m jamming to this right now pretending I’m juking on somebody front 🤣🤣🤣 never will get old still going 2022
Brandon Denver
And just like that we're now all in our 30's or 40's. Time ain't waiting on none of us. lol
Lil Durk
28 and thinking the same thing. Wtf happened to time