DILEMMA by Nelly feat Kelly Roland (2024)

DILEMMA by Nelly feat Kelly Roland (1)

DILEMMA

Nelly feat Kelly Roland»6 Derrty Hits

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"Dilemma" is the hit single by rapper Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland, ex-Des… Read Full Bio ↴"Dilemma" is the hit single by rapper Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland, ex-Destiny's Child, released in 2002, from the 2002 album Nellyville. "Dilemma" was Kelly Rowland's first international single outside of Destiny's Child (she had a guest appearance on Avant's "Separated", which was only released in the US) and is also the first single from her debut studio album, Simply Deep . It has a melodic base and uses some excerpts from the lyrics of "Love, Need and Want You" by Patti LaBelle on her 1983 album, I'm In Love Again. Patti also appears in part of the music video, playing the role of Kelly Rowland's character's mother. Kelly Rowland's part in "Dilemma" was originally offered to Christina Aguilera, but Aguilera turned down the offer. Two years later, Nelly approached Aguilera again so she could record "Tilt Ya Head Back", a track that was critically acclaimed but had little commercial success (in terms of the Billboard Hot 100, the most important music chart in the world) from her next album. by Nelly, Sweat.

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Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴Line by Line Meaning ↴

I love you and I need you
Nelly, I love you, I do
Need you

No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
Boy, you know I'm crazy over you

No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
You know I'm crazy over you

Uh-uh-uh-uh
I met this chick and she just moved right up the block
From me
And she got the hots for me, the finest thing I need
To see
But oh, no, no, she got a man and a son, oh-oh, but
That's okay
Cause I wait for my cue and just listen, play my
Position
Like a shortstop, pick up everything mami hittin'
And in no time I better make this friend mine and
That's for sure
Cause I-I never been the type to break up a happy
Home
But there's something 'bout baby girl, I just cant
Leave her lone
So tell me, ma, what's it gonna be
She said, you don't know what you mean to me, come
On

No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
Boy, you know I'm crazy over you

No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
You know I'm crazy over you

Uh-uh-uh-uh
I see a lot in your look and I never say a word
I know how nigures start actin' trippin', and hate up
All the girls
And there's no way Nelly go for it
Ain't f*ckin' with no dame, as you could see
But I-I like your stee*ze, your style, your whole
Demeanor
The way you come through and holler, and swoop me in
His two-seater
Now that's gangsta and I got special ways to thank ya,
Don't you forget it
But it ain't that easy for you to back up and leave
Him
But you and me we got ties for different reasons
I respect that and right before I turned to leave
She said, you don't know what you mean to me, come
On

No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
Boy, you know I'm crazy over you

No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
You know I'm crazy over you

Sing it for me, k

I love and I need you
Nelly, I love you, I do
And it's more than you'll ever know
Boy, it's for sure
You can always count on my love
Forever more, yeah, yeah

East coast, I know you're shakin' right
Down south, I know you're bouncin' right
West coast, I know you're walkin' right
(cause you don't know what you mean to me)
Midwest, I see you swingin' right

No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
Boy, you know I'm crazy over you

No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
You know I'm crazy over you

East coast, I know you're shakin' right
Down south, I know you're bouncin' right
West coast, I know you're walkin' right
(You don't know what you mean to me)
Midwest, I see you swingin' right

East coast, you're still shakin' right
Down south, I know you're bouncin' right
West coast, I know you're walkin' right
(you don't know what you mean to me)
Midwest, you're still swingin' right

No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
Boy, you know I'm crazy over you

No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
You know I'm crazy over you

Yeah, yeah

East coast, I know you're shakin' right
Down south, I know you're bouncin' right
West coast, I know you're walkin' right
(You don't know what you mean to me)
Midwest, I see you swingin' right

East coast, you're still shakin' right
Down south, I know you're bouncin' right
West coast, I know you're walkin' right

(You don't know what you mean to me)
Midwest, you're still swingin' right


Overall Meaning


The song "Dilemma" is a story about a love triangle. Nelly is in love with a girl, who is in a relationship with someone else. Despite the fact that she has a boyfriend and a child, Nelly can't stop thinking about her. The girl admits to having feelings for Nelly but is conflicted about whether to leave her current relationship.

The chorus of the song expresses the obsession the girl has with Nelly, even when she's with her boyfriend ("No matter what I do, all I think about is you, even when I'm with my boo Boy, you know I’m crazy over you"). While the verses express Nelly's desire for the girl and his reluctance to break up a happy home.

The song was a huge commercial success and was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 consecutive weeks. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2003.

Line by Line Meaning


I love you and I need you
Nelly is expressing his love and need for someone special.

No matter what I do
Nelly cannot stop thinking about this person even when he's with someone else.

All I think about is you
Nelly's thoughts are consumed by this special person he loves and needs.

Even when I'm with my boo
Even when Nelly is with someone else, he can't stop thinking about this special person.

Boy, you know I'm crazy over you
Nelly is admitting to this person that he is head over heels for them.

I met this chick and she just moved right up the block
Nelly met a new woman who lives close to him.

From me
The woman Nelly met lives close to him.

And she got the hots for me, the finest thing I need
This woman is attracted to Nelly and he finds her to be very attractive.

But oh, no, no, she got a man and a son, oh-oh, but
Unfortunately, this woman is already in a relationship and has a child.

That's okay
Nelly is willing to wait for his chance with this woman, even though she's taken.

Cause I wait for my cue and just listen, play my position
Nelly is being patient and waiting for the right moment to make his move on this woman.

Like a shortstop, pick up everything mami hittin'
Nelly is using a baseball metaphor to explain how he's paying attention to everything this woman is doing and saying.

And in no time I better make this friend mine and
Nelly knows he needs to act fast if he wants to make this woman his.

That's for sure
Nelly is confident in his pursuit of this woman.

Cause I-I never been the type to break up a happy home
Nelly doesn't want to be the cause of someone else's relationship ending.

But there's something 'bout baby girl, I just cant
Nelly is very attracted to this woman and can't help but pursue her.

Leave her lone
Nelly doesn't want to leave this woman alone because he feels a strong connection to her.

So tell me, ma, what's it gonna be
Nelly is asking this woman to make a choice between him and her current partner.

She said, you don't know what you mean to me, come
This woman is telling Nelly that she has strong feelings for him, but can't leave her partner right away.

On
This is just a transitional word used to move the conversation along.

I see a lot in your look and I never say a word
Nelly is noticing cues from this woman that she has feelings for him, too.

I know how nigures start actin' trippin', and hate up
Nelly is aware that some people become jealous and angry when someone else shows interest in their partner.

All the girls
This is just a generalization of how people can react in situations like this.

And there's no way Nelly go for it
Nelly isn't interested in causing problems between this woman and her partner.

Ain't f*ckin' with no dame, as you could see
Nelly is emphasizing that he isn't interested in pursuing relationships with women who are already in committed relationships.

But I-I like your stee*ze, your style, your whole
Even though Nelly isn't interested in pursuing this woman while she's in a relationship, he still admires her qualities.

Demeanor
Nelly is impressed with how this woman presents herself and carries herself.

The way you come through and holler, and swoop me in
Nelly likes how this woman approaches him and initiates conversation.

His two-seater
This woman's partner has a car that only fits two people.

Now that's gangsta and I got special ways to thank ya,
Nelly is impressed with this woman's partner's car and wants to do something nice for her to show his appreciation.

Don't you forget it
Nelly wants this woman to remember how he feels about her.

But it ain't that easy for you to back up and leave
Nelly understands that this woman can't leave her partner easily.

Him
Referring to the woman's partner.

But you and me we got ties for different reasons
Nelly feels a connection to this woman that goes beyond her current relationship.

I respect that and right before I turned to leave
Nelly respects this woman's decision to stay with her partner and is about to leave the situation alone.

Sing it for me, k
Nelly is asking Kelly Rowland to come in and sing the chorus.

And it's more than you'll ever know
Nelly's love and need for this person is greater than what they could ever imagine.

Forever more, yeah, yeah
Nelly wants to love and be with this person forever.

East coast, I know you're shakin' right
This line is a transition to the chorus.

Down south, I know you're bouncin' right
This line is a transition to the chorus.

West coast, I know you're walkin' right
This line is a transition to the chorus.

(cause you don't know what you mean to me)
This line is a calling to the chorus.

Midwest, I see you swingin' right
This line is a transition to the chorus.


Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KENNETH GAMBLE, CORNELL HAYNES, ANTOINE MACON, BUNNY SIGLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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DILEMMA by Nelly feat Kelly Roland (2024)
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