Derrick Dunn

Slow Jam Saturday : 3T, Waiting For Love

There’s no doubt that the Jackson Family is a musical dynasty. You can go anywhere in the world, and there’s a good chance you will hear a song by Michael or Janet on the radio. In the past, I’ve given some flowers to solo releases from Jermaine and Jackie, but for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to shout out 3T.

Taj, Taryll, and TJ, The three sons of the second oldest brother, Tito, made up the group. 3T was mentored by their late uncle Michael Jackson who signed them to his label MJJ Music. The group’s debut hit stores in November 1995, achieving triple platinum sales worldwide. While I could have picked a few songs from the group’s debut, I went with their contribution to the Men In Black soundtrack, “Waiting For Love.”

A lush ballad from the pen of writing trio John Howcott, Emanuel Officer & Donald Parks, “Waiting For Love” was produced by Craig Burbidge. The lyrics convey a message about a man expressing his desire for a woman he has been waiting for. He wants her to stop pretending and wasting time and give in to their attraction. He promises to take his time and be gentle with her, catering to her every desire. The chorus reveals that he has been waiting for her patiently and anticipates being with her.

The song’s bridge showcases the man’s intense feelings for the woman and desires to be with her. He can sense the passion in her eyes and believes that her sighs are a sign of his desire. He reassures her that he will take good care of her as he doesn’t want her to deny what she feels inside. He advises her to relax, let go of her feelings, and not deny their attraction.

Overall, “Waiting For Love” is a song about a man who has been waiting for a woman and desires her with all his heart. He is willing to do anything for her and wants to make her feel loved and appreciated. The song promotes honesty, passion, and the courage to express one’s feelings.

Per the norm of the music business, 3T never achieved the success of their debut. The group departed Sony and decided to sign to a label in France. They released their cover of Lionel Richie’s ‘Stuck on You,’ with positive reception. However, the release coincided with Michael Jackson’s trial (subsequently acquitted), which caused radio stations and TV networks to pull back from playing 3T’s songs and videos. Shortly after, their auntie Janet had her Super bowl fiasco leading to another setback. Nevertheless, they could drop a successful EP in the streaming age with the right producers and marketing push.

Final Grade: B+

Waiting For Love from the Men In Black soundtrack is available on all streaming platforms.

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Slow Jam Saturday : Chauncey Black, “Everyday Is Your Birthday”

July 26, 2026

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Second Listen Sunday: Brooke Valentine, “Chain Letter”

July 26, 2026

As my loyal readers know, one of my passions during my Air Force enlistment was being a DJ. Since I was stationed in the UK, it was sometimes hard to keep up with the music scene, as there was no satellite radio, the club scene rarely showcased new music, and I missed out on shows like 106 & Park. Often, I would buy new CDs based solely on their covers and find a way to incorporate the music into my sets, particularly if the artist caught my attention. One such artist was Brooke Valentine, who is this week’s pick for Second Listen Sunday.

Second Listen Sunday : Akon, Konvicted

July 19, 2026

Since my wife’s favorite solo artist, Ne-Yo, is currently on tour, I decided to show some love to Akon this week for Second Listen Sunday by focusing on his second album, “Konvicted.” I first discovered Akon in the fall of 2004 when I made my DJ debut while stationed in the UK. During my warm-up set, I played “Locked Up,” and one of the bouncers came over, handed me a pound, and said it was about time someone played that song.