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.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.