R&B duo Ruff Endz burst onto the scene in the summer of 2000 with back-to-back hits in the form of “No More” and “Where Does Love Go.” from their debut album, Love Crimes. The group followed those singles up with the smash hit “Someone To Love You,” which made an appearance on the soundtrack to Chris Rock’s film Down To Earth.
For whatever reason, the label decided to wait to release the group’s sophomore album, Someone To Love You, until the spring of 2002. Unfortunately, this didn’t bode well for the group and put a blotch on their career. Due to a lack of promotional support and uncertainty in record labels about what kind of music would be popular at a time of transition in the music industry, the album failed to make an impact.
All that said, “Someone To Love You” is this week’s pick for Slow Jam Saturday, “Someone to Love You” by Ruff Endz is about the singer’s desire to be with someone who has been lonely and acting cold. In the song, group member David Chance feels a deep sense of empathy for this person and wants to understand the reasons for their behavior. He suggests their loneliness may be due to the lack of someone who cares for them and is always there.
Furthermore, the lyrics reflect the singer’s belief that the person has been waiting for a long time to find the right partner. He acknowledges that perhaps they have been searching for someone flawless or who fulfills their expectations like fairy tale princes do. He offers himself as a potential partner who can comfort them during difficult times.
However, he suggests that instead of focusing on fantasies, they should focus on the possibilities of finding someone to love them in the real world. Overall, the song is a romantic plea to be given a chance to love and care for someone waiting for the right person to come along. It conveys a sense of genuine care and understanding of the person’s emotions and experiences and hopes to provide comfort, fulfillment, and happiness.
Final Grade: A-
“Someone To Love You” from the same titled album is available on all streaming platforms.
Growing up in the nineties, movies aimed at a melanin audience often featured soundtracks that had to be just as flavorful as the films themselves. This week, for Slow Jam Saturday, I want to take a trip back to 1993 and highlight one of the slow jams from the soundtrack of “Menace II Society”.
Last week marked two significant anniversaries for one of the greatest artists of all time, Mr. Prince Rogers Nelson. It’s only fitting that I show him some love for Second Listen Sunday. The first anniversary was on the 21st, commemorating nine years since his passing. The second anniversary was on the 22nd, celebrating the 40th anniversary of his seventh studio album, “Around the World in a Day.”
One of my most significant decisions late last year was to pledge to Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. At the time of this writing, I am in Atlantic City for my fraternity’s Regional Conference, where I will represent my chapter, Beta Alpha Omega. In that regard, I believe the perfect song for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday is “The Best Man I Can Be.”