Keith Sweat
Born July 22 1961, New York, U.S.A.
Born Keith "Sabu" Crier in Harlem New York, Sweat grew up in the shadow of the legendary Apollo Theatre. But though he sang in R&B bands as a teenager, Sweat first tried to make his mark as a brokerage assistant on Wall Street. Keeping his singing career active, in 1987 Sweat found himself in the same studio as young rap producer Teddy Riley.
The pair collaborated on a demo that mixed their R&B and rap styles; it gained Sweat a contract with Elektra and created a whole new musical genre. "I Want Her," Sweat's stunning 1988 debut single, hit number three and previewed the much-copied shufflebeats of new jack swing. It also helped Make It Last Forever, Sweat's landmark first album, go platinum. However, Sweat pulled in his horns and upped the horniness on 1990's I'll Give All My Love To You, surrounding himself with more languid, traditional soul grooves that featured plenty of heavy-breathing dialogue.
In the 90s Sweat established his own Keia Productions management agency and constructed the Sweat Shop recording studio in his home base of Atlanta, Georgia. He started the Keia label in 1992, signing hit acts like Silk and Kut Klose. In 1997 he joined with Gerald LeVert and Johnny Gill for the "soul supergroup" LSG. In 1998 they released Levert.Sweat.Gill. The same year's Top 10 solo set, Still In The Game, maintained Sweat's strong commercial profile. The album included the hit single "Come And Get With Me", featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg. Further releases for Elektra Records maintained Sweat's presence in the upper reaches of the US R&B charts.
Albums
Make It Last Forever (Elektra 1987)
I'll Give All My Love To You (1990)
Keep It Cornin' (1991)
Get Up On It (1994)
Keith Sweat (1996)
Just a Touch (1997)
Still in the Game (1998)
Didn't See Me Coming (2000)
Rebirth (2002)
Keith Sweat Album info
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