For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, we are going to venture back to 1995 and show some love to R&B trio MoKenStef and their debut single “He’s Mine”. Hailing from La La Land and initially breaking into the industry as background dancers for Hip-Hop acts such as AMG and Big Daddy Kane in the late 1980s, the group would break through with the side dude anthem “He’s Mine” in late spring 1995.
Written by the group members and sampling Zapp’s “Be Alright” by Zapp and Prince’s “Do Me, Baby the track was produced by Big Hamm. The opening lyric of the song presents a confident declaration that sets the tone for the rest of the group’s lyrics. The refrain delivers a powerful message, emphasizing that she is proud to be with him and is unafraid to let the world know. “He’s mine; you may have had him once, but I have got him all the time,” she asserts in response to the mistress’s fling. Her confident tone clearly signals that he is with the right woman.
She addresses the other women with a condescending remark, saying, “Do not get too attached.” This statement highlights the woman’s assertiveness towards the other woman, making it clear that she is aware of the other woman’s feelings for her partner. The song emerged at a time when many were grappling with love relationships involving mistresses, and it can often feel easier to be condescending once you understand the situation. It is also true that love can involve considerable turmoil, mainly when infidelity occurs, leading us to become more emotional.
The group seems to be at peace with the situation, as indicated by the fact that he had to ask for her forgiveness after a one-night stand. This shows that she recognizes her love for him, and that understanding is all she needs.
While it might be easy to judge her actions in the song, everyone has their own personal love stories that may not align with societal norms. Just as the group confidently claims their man in the song, some men would express the same sentiments about their women.
Final Grade: B
“He’s Mine” is available on all streaming platforms.
As a longtime music enthusiast, I’ve often wondered how quickly record labels expect lead singers from groups to release solo albums. This question came to mind recently when my iPod played “So You Like What You See” by Samuelle. Listening to the song, I realized he would be a great choice for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
You know the voice. The moment Michael Marshall starts singing the hook in Luniz’s “I Got 5 on It,” anyone who grew up in the nineties knows exactly what time it is. However, nearly a decade before that 1995 hip-hop classic, Marshall was already responsible for another instantly recognizable vocal.
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.