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?
Disintegrate
Young Steff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goin on like that, is something I don't want to.
Can't believe you would even try to play me.
Seein you shotgun in the jeep,
Do what you want to, just know I don't want ya.
I'm sayin damn, I'm tryin hard to please ya, tryin to be your man.
Now all along knowing you had other plans.
Please tell me you can help me try to understand
You stay out everynight
Doin anything you like
Blame it all on me, blame it all on me
But when there's no more lies,
Who was always there for you?
Girl, who was always there for you?
Ride baby drive, hope I don't disintegrate.
Roll so cold, I hope that I don't disintegrate.
Can't hold on, so if I do disintegrate.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Ride baby drive, hope I don't disintegrate.
Roll so cold, I hope that I don't disintegrate.
Can't hold on, so if I do disintegrate.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Now that it's over,
I don't need for you to come back, girl I'm over.
Anything you need to say just wouldn't change me
And there ain't no need to talk about it.
You shoulda thought about it,
Said you couldn't be without me. damn
I'm tryin hard to please you,
Tryin to be your man.
Knowing all along you had other plans.
Please tell me you can help me try to understand
Cause I don't understand.
You stay out everynight
Doin anything you like
Blame it all on me, blame it all on me
But when there was no more lies,
Who was always there for you?
Girl, who was always there for you?
Ride baby drive, hope I don't disintegrate.
Roll so cold, I hope that I don't disintegrate.
Can't hold on, so if I do disintegrate.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Ride baby drive, hope I don't disintegrate.
Roll so cold, I hope that I don't disintegrate.
Can't hold on, so if I do disintegrate.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
I woulda given you all of me,
But you was away.
I tried to blame myself,
When I knew all along it was you.
At the end my hearts still aching.
So I might as well, I might as well disappear
Ride baby drive, hope I don't disintegrate.
Roll so cold, I hope that I don't disintegrate.
Can't hold on, so if I do disintegrate.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Ride baby drive, hope I don't disintegrate.
Roll so cold, I hope that I don't disintegrate.
Can't hold on, so if I do disintegrate.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
These lyrics depict a story of heartbreak and betrayal. The singer is expressing his emotions towards a partner who has been unfaithful to him. He confronts her, questioning why she would try to play him and explaining that he cannot believe that she would do such a thing. He feels like he has been trying to be a good partner and make her happy, but all along, she had other plans.
The chorus focuses on the singer’s uncertainty and fear about the future without his partner. He hopes that he does not disintegrate, which can be interpreted as him not wanting to fall apart emotionally due to the heartbreak. He uses the metaphor of riding and rolling to describe his state of mind, and how it can potentially drive him to disintegration.
In the second verse, the singer has moved on from the relationship and does not want his partner to come back. He no longer wants to talk about it, as anything she says would not change how he feels. He is hurt and disappointed that he tried so hard to be a good partner, but in the end, it was not enough. The bridge further emphasizes the singer’s emotional pain, as he tried to blame himself for what happened, but he knew all along it was his partner's fault. He feels like disappearing, possibly representing the idea that he wants to move on and forget the hurt.
Overall, the song represents the universal feeling of heartbreak and hurt caused by unfaithfulness in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Can I say I caught ya?
Did I catch you in the act?
Goin on like that, is something I don't want to.
I don't want to deal with your behavior.
Can't believe you would even try to play me.
I can't believe you would try to deceive me.
Seein you shotgun in the jeep,
Witnessing you as a passenger in the jeep,
Do what you want to, just know I don't want ya.
Do as you please, but I don't want to be with you.
I'm sayin damn, I'm tryin hard to please ya, tryin to be your man.
I'm trying hard to make you happy and be the man you want me to be.
Now all along knowing you had other plans.
All this time, I knew you had another agenda besides being with me.
Please tell me you can help me try to understand Cause I don't understand.
Please help me understand your intentions because I am confused.
You stay out everynight Doin anything you like Blame it all on me, blame it all on me But when there's no more lies, Who was always there for you? Girl, who was always there for you?
You go out every night doing whatever you want and blame me, but when the truth is revealed, I am the one who is always there for you.
Ride baby drive, hope I don't disintegrate.
Please drive carefully, so I do not fall apart.
Roll so cold, I hope that I don't disintegrate.
It is freezing, and I hope I do not fall apart.
Can't hold on, so if I do disintegrate.
I cannot hold on, and if I fall apart, it is inevitable.
Now that it's over, I don't need for you to come back, girl I'm over.
Our relationship is over, and I don't need you to return because I have moved on.
Anything you need to say just wouldn't change me
Whatever you have to say won't affect me.
And there ain't no need to talk about it.
There is no point in discussing it further.
You shoulda thought about it, Said you couldn't be without me.
You should have considered it before and now claim that you cannot live without me.
I woulda given you all of me, But you was away.
I would have given you everything, but you were unavailable.
I tried to blame myself, When I knew all along it was you.
I tried to put the blame on myself, but I knew all along that I was not at fault, it was you.
At the end my hearts still aching.
Ultimately, my heart is still in pain.
So I might as well, I might as well disappear.
Therefore, it is better for me to disappear.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Please do not let me fall apart.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Please do not let me fall apart.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Please do not let me fall apart.
Disintegrate, hope I don't disintegrate.
Please do not let me fall apart.
Contributed by Alice S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@trinimami1902
I used to be obsessed with this song, glad I even remembered to search for it lol. Now I’m obsessed again 😂
@leonardalbei7211
I use to listen this song 14 years ago 🥺🥺🥺😍
@shannonr2159
Still listening to this song in 2019..so why is this not on spotify yet?
@denselight849
CUZ ITS NOT KY OLDER BLOOD RELATIVE SONG WE FROM VINELAND NEW JERSEY THIS NOT HIS SONG IT WAS AN ARTIST JAY Z HAD SIGNED WHILE MY COUSIN WAS ON ROC HE IS SINGING THE LYRICS BUT THATS IT THAT AINT EVEN HIM ON THE HOOK
@love_julie
Still listening in 2021
@CDub-df2us
Omgggg i used to listen to this song when i was in high school lol
@lyhav8988
2023 and here I am reminiscing when I pay for this to be my ringtone on my prepaid phone 😂😂😂
@billyLarabia
This song never gets old still listening in 2014..
@325654
2015 :)
@sunsetcity420
mistah singh fuk yea:-