Introduction

The Isley Brothers, legendary pioneers of R&B and soul, have left an indelible mark on the music industry with their timeless hits. Among these, “Contagious” stands out as a modern classic, showcasing the group’s ability to seamlessly blend soulful melodies and storytelling. Released in 2001, this track features not only the smooth harmonies of The Isley Brothers but also an unforgettable collaboration with R&B sensation R. Kelly.

Did You Know?

“Contagious” is a compelling narrative of love, betrayal, and consequence. Released as a single from The Isley Brothers’ album “Eternal” in 2001, the song became an instant hit. The addition of R. Kelly’s vocals added a contemporary twist to the group’s signature sound, creating a mesmerizing fusion of classic and modern R&B. The accompanying music video, directed by R. Kelly, further elevated the song’s impact with its cinematic storytelling.

The Isley Brothers, comprising Ronald, Rudolph, and Ernie Isley, have been a force in the music industry since the 1950s. “Contagious” not only reaffirms their status as musical pioneers but also demonstrates their ability to evolve with the times, staying relevant across generations.

Video

Lyrics: Contagious

It’s 2 A.M. I’m just getting in about to check my message
No one has called but my homies and some bill collectors
Cellular rings, somebody wants to borrow money
I two-way her she don’t hit me back something is funny
So I called her mother’s house and asked her has she seen my baby
Roll my six around looking for that missing lady
Got back in turned the TV on and caught the news
Then I put my hand on my head cause I’m so confused
And then I turned the TV down
Cause I thought I heard a squeaky sound
Somethings going on upstairs
And I know nobody else lives here
“Bump bump bump” as I get closer to the stairways all I hear
Then I hear my babies voice in my ear screaming out

You’re contagious, touch me baby, give me what you got
(And then a man said) sexy lady drive me crazy, drive me wild
(And I just can’t believe this shit)

I ran downstairs looked in the closet looking for that ooo
Said a prayer cause only God knows what I’m gonna do
What I saw was enough to drive a Preacher wild
I’m in the hall contemplating “not in my own damn house”
Who would have thought she was creeping with another man?
The down low happening to me all over again
And then I turned the TV down
‘Cause I know I heard a squeaky sound, something going on upstairs
‘Cause I know no one else lives here
“Bump bump bump” as I get closer to the stairways all I hear
Then I hear my babies voice in my ear screamin’

You’re contagious, touch me baby, give me what you got
(And then a man said)
Sexy lady drive me crazy, drive me wild
(And I just can’t believe this shit)

What the hell is going on between the sheets in my home?
Baby wait let me explain before you start to point your cane
Girl I’m about to have a fit
“Oh it’s about to be some shit!”
How did I get in to this? Should have never came home with this bitch
Low down dirty woman, back to where you come from
“But baby wait” but wait my ass
Hit the streets your ass is grass
Now Mister Biggs before you’re done
“Wait how you know my name son?”
“Honey wait I was gonna tell you”
“Move this cat looks real familiar”
Hmmm?!?! Now don’t I know you from somewhere a long time ago?
No, no, I don’t think so
Yeah, yeah, I feel I know you brother very well
No, no, you’re mistaking me for somebody else
“Frank” “SHUT UP!” “Can’t you see two men are talking?
“But” thought I told your ass to get to walking
Now I think you all better leave this place
‘Cause I’m about to catch a case

You’re contagious, touch me baby, give me what you got
Sexy lady drive me crazy, drive me wild

You’re contagious, touch me baby, give me what you got
You’re contagious, touch me baby, give me what you got
You’re contagious, touch me baby, give me what you got
You’re contagious, touch me baby, give me what you got

 

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HE WROTE THESE WORDS AS A LIGHTHEARTED TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND — BUT NO ONE KNEW IT WOULD BECOME THE ANTHEM OF HIS FINAL BATTLE. Back in 2017, during a charity golf event at Pebble Beach, Toby Keith found himself sharing a cart with the legendary Clint Eastwood. Clint was nearing his 88th birthday, yet he was still working, still directing, and still full of life. Toby, curious about how the Hollywood icon stayed so sharp, asked for his secret. Clint’s answer was simple but profound: “I just don’t let the old man in.” Toby was so moved by that philosophy that he went straight home and turned those words into a song. When he recorded the first demo, Toby actually had a bad cold. His voice was unusually gravelly, tired, and raw. Clint heard that “imperfect” version and insisted it stay exactly that way for his 2018 movie, The Mule. Back then, it was just a quiet, soulful track that most of the world barely noticed. Everything changed in 2021 when Toby received his stomach cancer diagnosis. Suddenly, the song he wrote for Clint became the story of his own life. Those lyrics were no longer just a tribute—they became a daily prayer for strength. The world finally felt the true weight of that song in September 2023. Toby stepped onto the People’s Choice Country Awards stage to accept the Icon Award. He was visibly thinner, and his hands trembled slightly, but his spirit was unbroken. He joked about his “skinny jeans,” then he began to sing. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Overnight, a song from five years prior surged to the top of the charts. After playing his final trio of shows in Las Vegas that December, Toby peacefully passed away on February 5, 2024, at age 62. Clint Eastwood later shared a photo of them together, a final salute to his friend. Time eventually catches up to everyone, but Toby Keith showed us all how to face it with dignity, courage, and a guitar in hand. Do you remember the title of this final, powerful masterpiece by Toby Keith?

HE WAS 70, STRUGGLING TO STAND, AND THE INDUSTRY HAD ALREADY WRITTEN HIM OFF — UNTIL HE COVERED A TRACK BY A ROCK STAR HALF HIS AGE AND BROKE THE WORLD’S HEART. By 2002, Johnny Cash was a man surviving on memories. He had outlived most of his peers. His record label of nearly three decades had abandoned him. His health was a wreckage of diabetes, pneumonia, and failing nerves. There were moments in the recording booth when his producer, Rick Rubin, could hear the literal sound of a voice breaking. Then Rubin presented him with a raw, industrial rock song about the depths of depression and self-harm. Cash made one simple change — replacing a profane lyric with “crown of thorns” — and transformed a young man’s angst into his own final testament. The music video was shot inside his shuttered museum in Nashville, a place crumbling under the weight of dust and silence. June Carter was there, looking at him with an expression of profound, tragic realization. She would be gone in three months. He would follow her just four months later. When the original songwriter finally saw the footage alone one morning, he broke down. He later admitted that the song no longer belonged to him. The video went on to win a Grammy and was hailed by critics as the greatest music video ever filmed. It has been streamed hundreds of millions of times since. But its true power isn’t in the numbers or the awards. It continues to haunt us two decades later because it is the sound of a man who has stopped running from the end — a man who sat down in the fading light and finally told the absolute truth.

NO ONE KNEW WHY TOBY KEITH KEPT VISITING THE OK KIDS KORRAL EVERY WEEK DURING HIS FINAL 2 YEARS — EVEN AS HIS OWN CANCER WAS TAKING OVER… UNTIL A NURSE FINALLY TOLD THE TRUTH In 2006, Toby Keith launched a foundation for children battling cancer, inspired by the loss of his lead guitarist’s 2-year-old daughter to a tumor in 2003. By 2014, he turned that vision into reality, opening the OK Kids Korral in Oklahoma City—a sanctuary where families of pediatric patients could stay for free. Then, in 2021, the world stopped when Toby was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Yet, instead of retreating into his own pain, Toby began appearing at the Korral every week. He wasn’t there to sign autographs or put on a show. He would simply stand in the quiet hallways, watching the children go about their days. Outsiders assumed he was inspecting the building. The staff figured he was there to lift spirits. But following Toby’s passing in February 2024, a veteran nurse finally shared what really happened. She had asked him why he pushed himself to come when he was so exhausted. Toby leaned heavily against the wall and whispered: “These kids showed me how to be a warrior long before I ever had to fight for my own life. I’m just here to pay my respects—while time still allows.” The world believed Toby Keith built the Korral to rescue those children. In reality, it was those children who were quietly holding him together at the end. What remained a secret until his very last visit—just 11 days before he slipped away—was how Toby stopped in front of a single name on the memorial wall: the little girl whose story began it all two decades earlier. He stood there in total silence, longer than anyone had ever seen him stay in one place.