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.
My introduction to Nate Dogg goes back to Dr. Dre’s 1992 debut, The Chronic, and the song “Deeez Nuuuts.” Even then, something about Nate’s voice set him apart from everybody else. He wasn’t just singing on rap records. He was bringing soul, gospel, street knowledge, and West Coast cool into the same space. He set the standard for hook singers in hip-hop, and dare I say, he’s still vastly underrated.
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to give Stevie Wonder his due as he prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his masterpiece, “Songs in the Key of Life,” on tour. While the easy choice could have been “Knocks Me Off My Feet”—a classic that still resonates fifty years later—I chose “From the Bottom of My Heart,” the second single from his twenty-third studio album, “A Time to Love,” released in 2005.
It’s hard to believe that an iconic singing competition like American Idol has produced only two Black male winners in its more than two-and-a-half-decade history. Jamal Roberts made history last year when he won the show, following Ruben Studdard’s well-deserved victory in Season Two.