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Friday, July 8, 2022

Black Men United's 1994 Song "U Will Know" & African American Vernacular English Words & Phrases


Brigette Nora, Dec. 23, 2008
-snip-
Here are statistics for this video as of July 7, 2022 at (;45 AM ET. total # of views - 3,888,995 total # of comments - 5,417
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Edited by Azizi Powell This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series that showcases the 1994 R&B song "U Will Know". This post showcases a video of Black Men United performing "U Will Know" at the 1994 American Music Awards show. This post also highlights some examples of comments from that video's discussion thread that include African American Vernacular English words or sayings. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/07/black-men-united-u-will-know-1994-r.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcases the official YouTube video of the 1994 record "U Will Know" by a collaboration of Black Rhythm & Blues singing under the name "Black Men United." Information about the song "U Will Know" and the lyrics for that song are also included in that post along with information about that song.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural and linguistic 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. ****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD Numbers are added for referencing purposes only. The African American Vernacular English words/sayings aren't highlighted and I haven't included any definitions or explanatory notes in this post other than these two definitions: sang - (African American Vernacular English meaning) - to sing very well, especially to sing soulfully very well ** take'em to church ..."The phrase "Take 'em to church" means to play an instrument, sing a song, etc. in a fashion similar to or reminiscent of the way it is done in many african american churches (especially those of Protestant lineage i.e. Baptist, Pentecostal, Holiness)."...
-
sc0rpi001, Feb. 17, 2006, https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/tookem-to-church.18302/#:~:text=The%20phrase%20%22Take%20'em%20to,Hope%20this%20helps!


2009

1. rrrickster3137 "These dudes is straight jamming...." ** 2. Chris Williams "How in the world are most of the people I see in the video sitting in their seats like they're dead to the world. All the brothas andsistas were up in there showing love and it was like church up in there for them. One of my favorite songs ever. To give everyone an update, D'Angelo is working on new material. A friend of mind ran into him a month ago in Richmond, VA."

**** 2010

3. Geone2 "Some big acts from new and old  fantastically done love it, and big up to stars there that are no longer with us, fabulously done love it love it the singing is amazing, even a very young Usher there!! Lol. & Black Men United tough tune."

** 4. JOE KING of R&B THOMAS (Facebook) "I LOVE YOU JOE (yellow, blue & red jacket)!!! You're the greatest. They ALL DID THE DAMM THING.... everyone on point & made it happen. Love it."

** 5. menhlywd "This is one of the hottest joints ever....we need this kind of unity again."

** 6. Fat Daddy Toys "JOE IS THE MAN!!!! I love this freakin song... It sends chills through my body every time I hear it" ** 7. Anna Ramirez "YOU CAN FEEL THE HOLY GHOST IN THIS SONG ,THANK YOU JESUS. LOVE ANNA" ** 8. Bobsyermomsuncle "Thissong makes me want to get up and do the Holy Dance."

**** 2011

9. wr513 "This is FIRE!!!"

**

10. Rotonger Burns "Everyone of these guys deserve a best male singer award, but I w ish they would have let EL have a more leading part to put his signature high note on it as well to accentuate Tevon, who of course is also the bomb.

RIP to the men who has passed on in this great classic song."

**** 2012 11. BMecca "Stokley's voice is so unique and amazing! Gerald Levert is taking it to church!" ** 12. Tye K. "Those are some bad boys on stage. Brian mcKnight came in,with,that note and set it off  Usner was trying to break in. usher is about swag. Iys funny when,he,tried to riff,

Tevin smiled and put his,head down like "is he serious? Let me,show him how to do that". My man Stokely, as usual, killed it with his little part. Mcknights riff from,the note it started out at was so on point. Wld have liked to see Wanya on,that mic though 

**** 2013 13. AngelEyes Taunie "Tevin kilt" ** 14. BB McKinlay "Gerald levert. Boss."

** 15. dappadan777 "Joe looks like such a G here in the Tommy Hilfiger :)"

**** 2014

15. Sandra Young "They need to be at the Soul Train Awards or B.E.T. awards ,the audience is dead"

** EC Dilly
16. "I see you Joe, ol' sexy darkness !" ** 17. BRENDA J. PEART "The ROLL CALL on this is SWEET!!! Maaaan

time for these performers today to RISE UP!!"

**** 2015

18. Masiah Ketika "best collab ever straightup cant beat this all r&b 90s allstar team lol"

**** 2016

19. Jo Rhodes "What a beautiful sight this was back in the day.  We need this right now.  And, dang that Tevin Campbell know he can "sang".  RIP to those in the video gon on.  Love this song."

**
20. bookie Austin "arron hall tavin Campbell and gerald gave me so much life

not to mention mr McKnight took it home this song is very sentimental for me lord knows we are living in  desperate times male unity is way pass due"

** 21. Browning the Butter "Gerald took us to church" ** 22. Boi Jupiter "These dudes were sangers!! Doesnt even exist in mainstream anymore. Tevin, levert, debarge, joe, boystomen,h town, tony toni tone, d angelo, that's a lot of pretty voices." ****
2017

23. 96NightRider96 "'m sorry yall, but Stokely snatched my entire existence."

**

C B 24. "You better sing Joe"

** 25. Minerva "Tevin laid it to rest...drops the mic...😁" ** 26. Terry Sanders "That Tevin took it..OMG!! listen to our brothers.. I love seeing my brothers get together and represent each other.

Thank you Jesus. Amen." ** 27. Cherish G "Tevin Campbell was being extra!"

** Reply 28. Sheldon Young "Stop hateing on tevin" ** Reply 29. Shante B, 2018 "No he wasn't extra. That's just talent"

** Reply 30. Kel El, 2018 " @Miss Shell  That was vocal control. Tevin was playin with they ass!  

Talent for the better sense of the word." ** Reply 31. beaulogist, 2018 "Tevin Campbell is extremely talented. I love Tevin, but he was definitely being extra! lol" ** Reply 32. fats69, 2018 "He was coming at usher" ** Reply 33. Frederick Jones, 2018 "Sonia Riley tell them Babygirl" ** Reply 34. Michael Diggs, 2018 "That’s cause he could out sing all of them" ** Reply 35. Boi Jupiter, 2018 " @Michael Diggs  Low key, Young Tevin Campbell carried the song. Folks was getting they life, when TC was at the mike. Of course,G Levert, Brian MCKnight, and Joe showed up & out as well. Everybody brought it, though Usher was weakest." ** Reply 36. Cuppy Robertson, 2018 "@Miss Shell  he was feeling the loveπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚" ** Reply 37. Frederick Jones, 2018 "Sonia Riley tell them again Babygirl" ** Reply 38. Cuppy Robertson, 2018 " @FOURNG  I think that he was so into it that he almost

missed his chance to do his solo part." ** Reply 39. Nick Jones, 2018 "Michael Reynolds quit hating joker we talking about unity

and here You go with foolishness" ** 40. shomari1234 "I'm mad D'Angelo's mic wasn't working

when he was about to bust that note πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚" ** 41. Lysha B "This was nice... Stokley always sounds good! That man can sang" ** 42. Aaron Email "Gerald Levert stomped this track and BLAAAAAZED itπŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯"

****

2018
43. S.Punkie "Black Men United & not just singing but "SANGING"!😍" ** 44. cslworldwide "Brian McKnight and them runs, that man killed it.  Everyone sung their asses off. 

I miss performances like these.  Everyone did their part." ** 45. i_am_erica "When we had men that had them voices

back in the day sound like a whole church choir up there"

** 46. Reginald Evans "Gerald and Tevin was SANGIN! Whew if they woulda gave Stokley some more ad libs then I wouldn't have known what to do lol

"
47. Todd Maek
"Oh and for the record JOE MURDERED

everything on this stage lollllllllllll" ** Reply 48. Frederick Jones "No he didn't but he was still Great though"

** 49. Kejuwan Oyoro "All the white folk sitting down smh onlythe beautiful sisters looked happy, we love u sisters"

** 50. Kimberly Prescott "MannnnnnnnnnnnπŸ’―πŸ’―πŸ’―πŸ’―πŸ’―πŸ’―πŸ’žπŸ’žπŸ’žπŸ’žπŸ’žπŸ’žπŸ’žπŸ’žπŸ’žπŸ’ž i miss these daysπŸ’ž"

** 51. Better Days "PHATT JOYNTT BLESSED ARTISTS FO SURE" ** 52. Randy Miles "Standouts: tevin, gerald, brian. Joe. And dude with the gold dreads"

** Reply 53. Geoffrey Madu "Stokely in prime Mint Condition mode #Level." *** 54. Misty Norman "I can't help but cry everytime I watch this. So much love and unity and my gawd they can sang...especially Tevin,Brian Mcknight,Joe,Stokely and Aaron Hall omg they give me chillz"

** 55. Han "What do we have now? Thick mumble rappers, future, Gucci mane. So embarrassed and we are too dumb to realise why it’s like that now, our sons think it’s cool to be criminals, disrespect women and become idiots. Don’t you ever question why? Why do we celebrate these losers? We can’t we get back to this kind of beautiful message for black men. Who are the record producers for the crap music these days?????? Industry plants, if we don’t change, we will be continue filling up prisons because it’s “cool” to murder and sell drugs"

** 56. Len Halz "So dope. They could have made so many versions of this rotating parts with those who have not touched the mic yet and it would come out dope each and every time. We had too many talent back then. Intro, add in Silk, add in Jodeci, let BoyzIIMen get on the mic, Shai, Jamie Foxx, Give Kevon Edmonds the mic, bring in Take 6, Luther Vandross, Prince, MJ, Raphael Sadiq, Tony Terry, Stevie Wonder boy oh boy.. man I could go all day long. Way too much talent back then. Everyone on this stage on this video was dope in their own right and different too. Then let the ladies of the 70s 80s and 90s get some too lol.." **
57. MsSexyDiva4Lyfe "Gerald Levert was my boo! 

Man I miss him!" ** 58. clbzone "Y'all brothas betta sAng! 😎" ** 59.MS Momo "Whoever dislike this was born in 2016πŸ˜‚

Young buck who don't know and can't appreciate REAL music. #2019 n still rockn" ** 60. Derece Johnson "Tevin Campbell give me LIFE!!!!" ** 61. Jahmarl Hughes "Sang, Joe." ** 62. Thomas Fair "TC was going to church" ** 63. Sit C. "Sang Gerald. When you literally had to

sing live on the awards."

** 64. stelthie "Tevin Campbell showed up!!!!  You better sang baby!!!"

** 65. J.Evans_TalktheTalk "Gerald levert could sing a damn restaurant menu and would have sung the hell out of it" ** 66. Samuel Crenshaw "Sing 🎀 y’all!!!!! My brothers I pray we all will do better!!!" ** 67. MsSexyDiva4Lyfe "They wrong for giving 50 black men 3 microphones! lol  I guess they

said...y'all ain't gon be adlibbing all day long tuday!" ** Reply 68. QueenLizzie, 2019 "MsSexyDiva4Lyfe this literally has me SCREAMING πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚" ** 69. Ms. Dani "Dead ass crowd! Im glad we know how to big up each other tho. πŸ’ͺ🏿πŸ’ͺ🏿πŸ’ͺ🏿" ** 70. Boi Jupiter "TEVIN, GERALD, JOE, BRIAN MCKNIGHT ALL CAME TO SHOW OUT! When the male vocalist mattered." ** 71, Rosilyn MaKeba "You can tell they've ALL  been in somebody's Sunday morning choir-the way they were rockin!!

#GOHEADONBLACKMEN

#YOUAREAPPRECIATED

#ANDFINEASWINE (couldn't help it) LoL -snip- This is the way this comment was written in that discussion thread. ** Reply 72, J. Marshell Robinson "πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚" ** Reply 73, Mimikinmiracle 83 "Yes honey, can't nobody do me like Jesus and black men!!!" ** 74, killakam612 "El's face is priceless when Tevin hit that nite" ** Reply 75. Walt Bionik "I never noticed that. He looked at Tevin like, "DAYUM!!!" "

**** 2019

76. Robert Ruiz "Lmao Tevin Campbell didn’t step on that stage to play no games" ** 77. Pvpgods123 "Salt Peppa and Spend showed mad respect... the rest were asleep and didn’t know they were in the presence of Black Elegance...damn shame" ** 78. April Lashon "This song is a sweet sound after George Floyd and all our slain Kings and Queens."

** 79. Caramel Spice "Thes 90s...when they didn't let you on an awards show stage unless you were about to bring it.πŸ‘ŒπŸ½"

** 80. Love Lost "Just noticed Boys II Men was in the back row .. they def should’ve had their own mic !" ** 81. Thea Walker 'All hail these FINE BLACK KINGS singing right from the heart!!! Ripping this joint to pieces⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️πŸ’•❤️ GOD bless the BROTHERS still with usπŸ™πŸΎ and those that left us may they rest with the ANCESTORSπŸ˜ͺπŸ’‹"

** 82. ms Mayes "ed debarge wasnt ready for tevin's voice.   man that kid at that time.         cannnn sannnnnggggg     usher had no choice but try to shine." ** 83. Joshua McDowell "Salt n Pepa was up getting their lives in the audience"

** 84. me "Come on Queen Latifah lookin the same as you do today in 2019!!!! Love my ppls....oh this song is still the ish!!!✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾" ** 85. AC "TEVIN ATE EVERYONE ON THAT STAGE UP" ** 86. Toya Johnson "Joe was singing his BEHIND OFF!!!! ❤️πŸ”₯" ** 87. Franklin PatDhat Allie "These are sommmme sanging Men‼️

Tevin,Stokley, Brian Joe & Gerald‼️"

**** 2020

88. SheShe Bee "Everybody on this damn song can sang.

Times were good then. Brings back so many memories."

** 89. sonia uwhuba "Tevin came to SLAY!!--" ** 90. Zion McElroy "Who the light skin brotha next to Joe name?" ** Reply 91. FlyGIRL Metaphysics "Al B Sure!" ** 92. Princess Moon "Maybe they don’t need to recreate this. Maybe just leave this in history & celebrate this cause let’s be real, it ain’t gon hit the same if it’s done today." ** 93. VanToi Chandler "Am I the only one who noticed how the Other singers looked at Tevin Campbell when He went To Church on all of them ?πŸ€”πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚"
** 94. Jimmie Page "They sounded so good!! My brothas!!!" ** 95. K andre "Damn these boys can SANG"

** 96. Mathew "Stokley is so cool lol" ** 97. Whitney "Tevin Campbell was like everyone step aside and let me show you how to shut it down!" ** 98. Estelle Batts "Get it Gerald Levert!!!!! get it Tevin Campbell! Get it Brian McKinight! Get it Aaron hall. Heck get it everybody on that stage!!!! I couldn't stop dancing in my chair! lol" ** 99. CreaseChannel "Brian Mcknight last part:  "Yourrrr dreaaams!!!!!!!!!!!" 

Me:*throws shoe at the phone.* "you better sing that sht!!!!" -snip- This is the way this comment is written in that discussion thread. ** Reply 100. Linda Rivera, 2021 "Yas!!! Lol" ** Reply 101. Christina Farr, 2021 "🀣🀣🀣🀣🀣🀣"

** Reply 102. Aandunno, 2021 "Lol “threw SHOE at the Phone”" ** Reply 103. Alicia G, 2021 "Brian got pipes too!" ** Reply 104. rettastar, 2021 "Riiiiight you better sang Brian πŸ˜‚

🎼" **** 2021 105. MBA26 "Tevin, Aaron, and Brian ateeeeee! πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯" ** 106. Kim Miles "This is a serious throwback πŸ’˜ this song"

** 107. Shonny blue "Chileeeee I love me some Joe."

** 108. Sunny Gabriel "Let em try to revisit, excuse me reinterpret, reinvent Joe's runs!! That boy can sang" **

109. Way2ruf "Joe (Red and yellow coat bottom right) hit that dope ass note (3:57) then turned away like "Top that Tevin Campbell" Then Brian McKnight came through (after Aaron Hall)  like "I got you Joe" I remember this like it was yesterday and it's still in 2021 πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯"

** 110. Shanae Allday "Joe rock'n that jacket😍" **
111. Rashad Robinson
"They all was vibing up there respect it" ** 112. R M
"Sorry these brothers had to perform this
piece of history for that bunk ass audience."
** 113. nickie roc roc "Wow!!! What a POWERFUL song ...  How much POWER us Black people Got and we're Hated just because of it ... I Love Y'all Brothers ... Wake Up Stay Up And Keep It Moving Period"
**
114, Tony Lewis "Was tevin being extra or nah lol

** Reply 115. KayJay! "Hell nah he was being Tevin"

** 116. Kenneth Francis Jr. "Usher right before UURSHER."

** 117. Myia Jackson "That audience did not deserve them.  Period. I said what I said" ** 118. Michelle Clark "Tevin Campbell & gerald levert was the goat period yall hear it" ** 119. Anthony Ezioha "Usher ✨ a young G amongst greats" ** 120. Because the Internet "Imma need a look book made up exclusively of Gerald Levert fits. Man got drip for days" ** 121. Trillagan Lewis "Stoley came thru with the vocals" ** 122. Clarissa Coby "BEAUTIFUL BLACK MEN UNITEDπŸ–€πŸ’š❤️πŸ–€πŸ’š❤️πŸ–€πŸ’š❤️πŸ–€πŸ’š❤️πŸ–€πŸ’š ❤️πŸ–€πŸ’š❤️πŸ–€πŸ’š❤️πŸ–€πŸ’š  USA, YOU WILL KNOW

...TRUST AND BELIEVE!!!" ** 123. Roc Lee "Gerald Levert always understood the assignment. I miss him πŸ’―"

****

2022

124. Maisha Green "2022 and this still hits heavy" ** 125. Tonie Hall "I was front and center for this epic event when 40+ VERY TALENTED MEN came together for this song. Not all 40 had a lead YET the Allllllll showed up and OUT to play Theeee Biggest Part of the entire project.. The Show of UNIFICATION and the giving a damn about what was and still is happening to their fellow #Brother !!! Not πŸ‘‰πŸΎDawg  or Ni&&@  Salute to the Kings/Brothers who act, conduct themselves and see themselves and others who look like them as one!! πŸ€œπŸΎπŸ’―πŸ€›πŸΎ✊🏾

#WeLoveYouBlackManπŸ‘‘❣️πŸ‘‘❣️πŸ‘‘❣️πŸ‘‘" -snip- This is the way this comment is written in that discussion thread.

**
126. D AA "I can tell I lived a sheltered childhood. This 2021-1/2 and I am watching this for the

very first time. My Momma didn't  allow us to watch nothing growing up. I did not know all these people was in this group. Well now I'm making up for lost time. Thanks YouTube.😁🀣"

** 127. Gabrielle Johnson "Thank you TikTok for reminding me of this performance. Also…

Joe and D’Angelo needed their mics turned up lol Tevin running Laps on these boys πŸ˜†" ** 128. Jefe Huncho "Joe and that melody he always hitting maaan"

** 129. KINGVIBES "Shoutout to the GOAT D’Angelo for writing this jawn πŸ’―

( I peep him on keys) and Joe was wildinggg πŸ”₯" ** 130. Yvette Walker "This is a song that many men needs to listen to,..."act like a man!" ✊πŸΎπŸ‘ŠπŸΎEspecially these deadbeats and trifling men!!πŸ‘ˆπŸΎ☝🏾"

**
131. Pierre Johnson "They was hating on tevin hard πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚" ** 132, chad mcgraw "From Cleveland and knew J. Little,  he can sing his ass off... but when Lil Usher

grabbed that mic, the look on his face was "Price less "

** 133. Crystal Perry
"Look how fine the men were πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•" ** 134. Mani Lotus "Y'all remember when Ryan Toby played Westley on sister act 2 & he hit that high note singing oh happy day & everybody looked at him like damn come on somebody that's the same look they gave tevin🀣πŸ₯°" ** 135. GritsN Wavy "We need to start putting some respect on D'Angelo's name."
** 136. Lay Paris "I had that same Tommy Hilfiger jacket Joe was wearing back in the day lol. As a kid in 1994 I didn’t fully appreciate or understand the reason for this song. πŸ”₯πŸ’™" **
137. Dexter Allen
"LORD HAVE MERCY,,,THIS AIN'T NOTHING BUT TRUE LOVE AND THE POWER OF GOD

WHEN WE COME TOGETHER,,,,,,HE MADE US FOR A REASON,,,,, NOT THE SEASON" ** 138, MsBeastinthesheets "Timeout is that Brian McKnight being the choir director you betta direct sir"

** 139. King Yosef "And just Michael archer "d'angelo....and his brother Luther wrote and composed this....

be4 Brown sugar baby lol....Richmond VA stand up..."

** 140. mark Alleven "Every single artist on that stage was Hot at the time of that performance. What happened? You have like 2 or 3 Notable R&B artist here in 2022." ** 141. asferguson2010 "We need.. another united song..particularly  for black men ..but all men can unite... why  not..! Empower a real DNA ..men .. ..the song can b with..... with  tyrese..usher.. neyo.. brian mcknight... jagged edge...  kc joj..jodeci..  even ppl like lionel richie , boys 2 men..  ole school singers too man... n these young catz.. unite every1"

** 142. James Mwali "Man Tevin Campbell didn’t come to play." ** 143, mrmajic6969 "This song belongs to Tevin Campbell and Gerald Levert R.I.P.

Everybody else was background like Gerald said. Now this song running hard on tic toc. Good music last forever." ** 144. ᴍᴀʀᴀ "Tevin Campbell was ice cold πŸ₯Ά"

** 145. Dee Blackmon "DeAngelo did the damn thang when he wrote this one!!!!

** 146. highly favored "They had everybody but my guys Jodeci.  Kci would’ve taken it church with his signature “Oooh Yeah” "

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

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