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Thursday, July 7, 2022

Black Men United - "U Will Know" (1994 R&B video, information, & lyrics)



Carlos Leatico, Nov. 19, 2015

Black Men United - U Will Know (Official Music Video) Tevin Campbell, El DeBarge, Gerald Levert, Tony Toni Toné, Boyz II Men, Al B. Sure!, Lenny Kravitz, R. Kelly, Aaron Hall, Brian McKnight, Silk, Keith Sweat, Stokley, H-Town, Christopher Williams, Portrait, Damion Hall, Lil' Joe, Intro, DRS, After 7, Usher, Sovory, Joe, D'Angelo -snip- Here's some statistics for this YouTube video as of July 7, 2022 as of 5:26 PM ET: total # of views - 1,678,557 total # of comments - 1,259

**** Edited by Azizi Powell This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series that showcases the 1994 R&B song "U Will Know". This post showcases the official YouTube video of the 1994 record "U Will Know" by a supergroup of Black male Rhythm & Blues singers who performed this song under the name "Black Men United" (BMU). Information about the song "U Will Know" and the lyrics for that song are also included in this post along with information about that song.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/07/sang-took-us-to-church-other-african.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a video of Black Men United performing "U Will Know" at the 1994/1995? American Music Awards show. That post also highlights some examples of comments from that video's discussion thread that include African American Vernacular English words or sayings.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, inspirational, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. Thanks to Michael Eugene Archer (D'Angelo) and Luther Archer for writing this song and thanks to Black Men United for performing this song. Thanks to all those who were associated with this song and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube. -snip- Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Angelo for information abot D'Angelo. **** INFORMATION ABOUT BLACK MEN UNITED AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "U WILL KNOW" EXCERPT #1
From https://www.songfacts.com/facts/black-men-united/u-will-know#:~:text=Black%20Men%20United%2 "Black Men United was a supergroup of R&B artists. The people involved included D'Angelo, Brian McKnight, R. Kelly, Boyz II Men, El DeBarge and a very young Usher. This was their sole release, which featured on the soundtrack of the Forest Whitaker movie Jason's Lyric.

The tune was written by a young D'Angelo along with his brother Luther. "That song really is what got me my deal [with EMI]," he revealed during a lecture, titled 'A Conversation with D'Angelo,' at Brooklyn Museum on May 21, 2014. "It was on my first demo. Jocelyn [Cooper, former president of Midnight Music] shopped it. I think that was the one. It was the one."

"It was my first demo.".... **** EXCERPT #2 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Men_United "Black Men United (B.M.U.) was a collaboration of many African-American male R&B, neo soul and soul music artists. Their only song "U Will Know", written by a young D'Angelo, was released in 1994. It was featured in the film Jason's Lyric, and on the film's soundtrack.[1]"...-snip-This page includes a list of all of Black Men United singers, including the groups that they were/are associated with.

**** EXCEPT #3 From https://dawsoninkonline.com/2019/02/28/look-back-at-it-u-will-know-black-men-united/ "Look Back at It: ‘U Will Know,’ Black Men United" published by Dawson Writes, 2019 "It’s been a very strange and twisty Black History Month, but there’s no way I could let it end without acknowledging the anniversary of one of the most Blackety Black moments in the history of Blackness. Ever. Yup, this year, the track “U Will Know” by Black Men United turns 25 and despite the grainy photo I had to grab from the internet, the song has aged very well. One MIGHT say we need a new version right now, if only to find a reason to get this much greatness in one room once again.

The song, which appears on the motion picture soundtrack to the film Jason’s Lyric, features an historic gathering of 90s male R&B singers, with lyrics and music by a very young D’Angelo. Do you remember where you were when you saw the video? And then the live performance at the American Music Awards that same calendar year? I used to challenge myself to see if I could list everyone that appeared on the song (I didn’t want to cheat and look at the liner notes since *gasp* there was no comprehensive internet back then), and honestly, I could never name everyone."... -snip- This article continues with information about some of Black Men United singers.

**** EXCERPT #4 From https://genius.com/Black-men-united-u-will-know-lyrics " "U Will Know"

A song with vocals provided by R&B supergroup Black Men United. It speaks on the hardships that come with transitioning from childhood to adulthood (specifically manhood) and the realization that life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It also hints at the theme of resilience when facing life’s challenges, implying that when things get tough, you’ll be okay as long as you stick to what you know (be it your plans, morals, values) and believe in yourself.

Featuring D’Angelo, Tevin Campbell, Gerald Levert, R. Kelly, El DeBarge, Raphael Saadiq, Brian McKnight, Stokley, Aaron Hall, Joe, Keith Sweat,Kevon Edmonds, Melvin Edmonds, Joe Little III & Christopher Williams

Produced by D’Angelo, Brian McKnight & Bob Power

Release Date - July 23, 1994"

****

LYRICS- U WILL KNOW

(written by Michael Eugene Archer (D'Angelo) and Luther Archer)

[Intro: Tevin Campbell & Gerald Levert]

Mmm, mhm, mhm-hmm

Yeah, yeah

[Verse 1: 1-Tevin Campbell, 2-El DeBarge, 3-Gerald Levert,

4-Raphael Saadiq, 5-Brian McKnight, 6-Stokley]

1-When I was a young boy

I had visions of fame

2-And they were wild and they were free

They were blessed with my name

3-And then I grew older

And I saw what's to see

That the world is full of pain

And my dreams they left me

4-And then I got stronger

And tired of the pain

5-That's when I picked up the pieces

And I regained my name

1-And I fought hard, y'all

To carve out my place

6-And right now you could ask me

And it all seems in vain

[Pre-Chorus: B.M.U. & (Gerald Levert)]

Your dreams ain't easy (Your dreams ain't easy)

You just stick by your plan (You just stick by your plan)

To go from boys to men (Go from boys to men)

You must act like a man (You gotta act like a man)

When it gets hard, y'all (When it gets hard, y'all)

You just grab what you know (Grab what you know)

Stand up tall and don't you fall (And my background sing)

[Chorus: B.M.U., Tevin Campbell, Stokley]

(You will know) You will know (Yeah yeah)

You will know

You will know (You will know, you will know)

You will know

[Verse 2: 1-Keith Sweat, 2-Melvin Edmonds, 3-Joe Little III,

4-R. Kelly]

1-And I know you're cryin'

2-'Cause it's all in this pain

3-And the things you want you can't have

It just all went away

4-But life ain't over, woo-hoo

Just grab the wind and make amends

And the vibe will take you far

[Pre-Chorus: B.M.U., Christopher Williams, +Kevon Edmonds+,R. Kelly]

Your dreams ain't easy (Your dreams ain't easy)

You just stick by your plan (+Stick by your plan+)

To go from boys to men (Go from boys to men)

You must act like a man (I know it ain't easy)

When it gets hard, y'all (It gets hard sometimes, yes it does)

You just grab what you know

Stand up tall and don't you fall

(Stand up tall, don't you fall, and you will know)

[Chorus: B.M.U. & (R. Kelly)]

You will know

You will know (You will know)

You will know (Hey, there's no doubt about it)

You will know (Hey, you will know)

[Bridge: B.M.U. & (Joe)]

You will know (You will know)

You will know (Hey, hey)

You will know (You will know, yeah)

Oh, you will know (Hey)

[Pre-Chorus: B.M.U., Aaron Hall, Brian McKnight]

Your dreams ain't easy (Your dreams ain't easy)

You just stick by your plan (Stick by your plans)

To go from boys to men (Boys to men)

You must act like a man (You will act like a man)

When it gets hard, y'all (It ain't hard, yeah)

You just grab what you know (Grab what you know)

Stand up tall and don't you fall (Oh)

Your dreams ain't easy (Your dreams ain't easy)

You just stick by your plan

To go from boys to men (Boys to men)

You must act like a man (I know it ain't easy)

When it gets hard, y'all

You just grab what you know

Stand up tall and don't you fall

(Come on, D, and sing the song, yeah)

[Chorus: B.M.U. & (D'Angelo)]

You will know (Yeah, yeah)

You will know (You will know, yeah yeah yeah)

You will know

You will know (Hey)

You will know

You will know (You will know)

You will know, you will know

You will know

Oh, you will know

Online source: https://genius.com/Black-men-united-u-will-know-lyrics

**** This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series. Thanks for visiting pancocojams. Visitor comments are welcome.

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