Gerald Levert (July 13, 1966 - November 10, 2006) was an American R&B singer, one of several from the musical Levert family. His father, Eddie Levert, is the lead singer of the 1970s soul group The O'Jays. Gerald Levert sang with his brother, Sean Levert, and Marc Gordon in the R&B trio LeVert. He was also a part of LSG, an R&B musical group comprised of Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and Levert.

Levert died of an apparent heart attack in his sleep while at his Cleveland, Ohio, home on November 10, 2006.[1] Sister 2 Sister magazine reported that Gerald and his father had just returned from a 10-day trip to South Africa where they had met with Nelson Mandela. He had four children.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, Levert scored big hits with Baby Hold On to Me, Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop (Goes My Mind), "Casanova", and ABC-123 (not to be confused with the Jackson Five hit of the same name). He also wrote and produced the late Barry White's "comeback" hit, Practice What You Preach. As a solo artist, Gerald's hits included I'd Give Anything (to Fall in Love), You Got That Love, Funny, and Mr. Too Damn Good to You.

Gerald and Eddie collaborated together on many different occasions, and they recorded an album called Father and Son together.

Gerald Levert also sang the chorus on the Chris Rock spoken-word comedy piece, No Sex (In the Champagne Room). Levert also discovered Men at Large and The Rude Boyz, two R&B vocal groups who were successful in the 1990s.

In 2005, Levert's daughter, Carlysia, was featured on an episode of MTV's My Super Sweet 16.

His label, Atlantic Records, confirmed that Levert died at his home and issued the following statement:

"All of us at Atlantic are shocked and deeply saddened by his untimely death. He was one of the greatest voices of our time, who sang with unmatched soulfulness and power, as well as a tremendously gifted composer and an accomplished producer," the label said in a statement.

Dan Bomeli, public relations manager at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center in suburban Cleveland, said Levert had been brought to the hospital. Bomeli said Levert had died but he had no further details.

Levert's family released a statement asking for privacy: "As everybody knows, Gerald was a man who loved and breathed music. To his family and friends he was a man of strong character, who had an infectious personality and a zest for life. For his fans, his greatest love was touching the hearts and souls of all people through his music. At this very difficult time, we thank you for your prayers and hope you will understand our need for privacy," the statement read.

Patti LaBelle, who had worked and recorded with Levert, said he "was like a son" to her. "He was such a great entertainer. It's not for real to me that he is gone ... Nobody was prepared for this." LaBelle added that she hopes to sing at Levert's funeral.

"It's very sad. He was an amazing talent, obviously", friend and fellow R&B singer, Will Downing, said. "Gerald was a hard worker. He would go out there and do his thing, and be in places where the folks were. He would touch the people, and that's really what it's all about."

Over his two-decade music career, Levert sold millions of albums and had numerous R&B hits.

Levert first gained fame in 1986 as a member of the R&B trio LeVert, which also included his brother, Sean, and childhood friend Marc Gordon. They quickly racked up hits like (Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind, Casanova, and Baby I'm Ready.

But Gerald Levert's voice — powerful and soulful, almost a carbon copy of his father's — was always the focal point, and in 1991, he made his solo debut with the album Private Line which included a hit duet with his dad, Baby Hold on to Me. His father also recorded the successful album Father & Son.

Levert was known for his sensual, romantic songs, but unlike Luther Vandross, whose voice and songs were more genteel, Levert's music was explosive and raw — his 2002 album was titled The G Spot.

"When we would do shows together, we would get on stage and battle for the hearts of women. Every night, that was our thing," Downing said.

Though Levert was successful as a solo singer, in 1997 he got into group mode again — joining with R&B singers Johnny Gill and Keith Sweat for the supergroup of LSG. The self-titled album sold more than two million copies, and their hits included the sensual My Body. Levert also worked with other artists as a songwriter and producer.

His most recent album was 2005's "Voices."

Lyrics to Beyonce Irreplaceable

To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
Everything you own in the box to the left
In the closet that's my stuff - Yes
If I bought it nigga please don't touch
And keep talking that mess, that's fine
But could you walk and talk at the same time
And It's my mine name that is on that Jag
So remove your bags let me call you a cab

Standing in the front yard telling me
How I'm such a fool - Talking about
How I'll never ever find a man like you
You got me twisted

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be here in a minute - baby

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
So don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

So go ahead and get gone
And  call up on that chick and see if she is home
Oops, I bet ya thought that I didn't know
What did you think I was putting you out for?
Cause you was untrue 
Rolling her around in the car that I bought you
Baby you dropped them keys hurry up before your taxi leaves
Standing in the front yard telling me
How I am such a fool - Talking about
How I'll never ever find a man like you
You got me twisted

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be here in a minute - baby

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I will have another you by tomorrow
So don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

So since I’m not your everything
How about I'll be nothing
Nothing at all to you
Baby I wont shead a tear for you
I won't lose a wink of sleep
Cause the truth of the matter is
Replacing you is so easy

To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
Everything you own in the box to the left

To the left
To the left

Don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be be here in a minute - baby

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
Don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be be here in a minute - baby

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
Don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

Lately I have been thinking about men selection, and what steps one should take when selecting a man to become intimate with and share a lifetime of happiness together with. I suddenly realized that allot of the same principles and similarities reign true in selecting fruit & produce to bring back into our homes from the grocery store. I think that if many of us were to choose our men like we chose or produce, many of us would be allot better off.

Think about it. You see a bruised banana with knats flying all around it you would pass it right on by. But when you see a tattered looking brutha with little kids and knatts flying around him you still throw him into your shopping cart to take home. Why? What does this man standing out on the corner waiting on a ride have to offer you and enhance your life with? You see a nice body but in the long run you know this isn’t the one you truly need to settle down with.

You see an orange and it looks so damn ripe and juicy and large. You snatch it up thinking the package you see on the outside will reflect what you will get on the inside. You take it back home and the day comes when it is time to eat it. After you begin to peel it you realize the orange was actually small. The outside was just thick, but the substance within was not. Then to top it all off the orange was not even juicy. It was bitter and dry.

We see a man and think that he is all of that just like that orange. We assume he is just as right on the inside as he was on the outside when you selected him. You take him home, and the time has come for you to consume him. Not only was the package small, but his attitude was bitter, and his character was not ripe or nowhere near ready for you to be down with.

You see a large green fresh head of lettuce. It is so wet and fresh and all you can picture is you taking it home and making you a great salad. Things come up and you don’t get around to eating the lettuce. It soon becomes wilted, soggy, and old. Then it is undesirable. But it was still the same head of lettuce you cared so much for the week or so before when you bought it. You pull a few of the leafs off to realize there is still some good left in it. Many of us are so caught up into guys by appearance and then get the man into our lives, but your schedule interferes with your intentions of enjoying his company. You sleep on him taking it for granted he will be there. His initial yearning & appeal you once felt for him starts to fade, as does his for you, because of the neglect and lack of attention on your part. You finally get back to him, but his attitude has become a bit weathered and wilted like the lettuce, due to your negelctfulness. As you begin to invest more of your  time into him you soon begin pulling back some of those damaged leaves you caused to form. You soon realize that all of what made you so attracted to him initially was still there underneath it all- all along.

You see a tomato and it looks so ready from the first glance so you do not inspect it all too much. You assume it is "all to the good" and take it home. After you cut into it you realize that part of it is bruised and you even see a worm hole, or possible sign of infection. You either throw it into the trash all together to discard of it, or you choose to accept it and cut out the bad areas and continue using it. You can see how this is like a good looking man you meet and do not take the time out to inspect him. You find out later that he has been hurt and mistreated so many times before and has issues and bruises (like the tomato). You may even see signs of infection and find out the brutha has AIDS or HIV. You either choose to accept him and work things out. Or you choose to throw him to the curve and pursue a relationship with someone else.

There are so many instances where the way we choose produce can reflect or come back into how we select the men we choose to have in our lives. Some men are for the best & some are for the worst. But the truth of the matter is that nine times out of ten; we take others at face value and assume that what we see of them from the outside is actually who & what they are on the inside. We assume that just because a guy is thugged out in "gangster- gear" with gold teeth in his mouth and some tattoos that he is a Top.  When he could be the biggest bottom in town. You may assume he is uneducated. You may even assume that he is slanging drugs. When in all actuality if you would have taken the time out to inspect him and get to know the man, you would have come to find out that not only does he own his own business, but he was everything that you had always claimed to have wanted in someone.

Never judge a book by its cover, and always get to know the man that you are choosing to be down with. Just liek you would your produce you are about to buy.  I think that if we actually took “three months” to get to know a man we were truly attracted to instead of taking “three minutes” of your initial greeting on trying to get know how big his dick is, many of you would find a true love. When you meet a guy, be respectful. Be tactful, & show him that you have some common sense.  Approach him with “Hello, my name is _______ , I really find you very attractive, and I’d like to get to know you.”  Instead of approaching these men like many of you do… “Damn nigga! You sexy as fuck man! Is all that dick really You?"

Come on fellas! Get to know these men for who they are instead of how much dick they packing, or how much money they make. Choose your men like you choose your produce. All sales final. Amen.

Choosey Lover (enjoy).

Lord have mercy. Where do I even begin? I am sure I am not the only one on here to have dealt with this situation. But I need to vent. I just recently met a guy, and he claimed to be so head over in heels in love with me. I was so flattered and it felt so good to finally have met me a guy who was local who was not on crack, or living at home with his momma, or unemployed like 90% of the potential single dudes are in my city. I thought I had met someone who I may actually have enough in common with to develop something serious.

Man was I fooled, or was I? I mean he would be so happy with me at one moment, and then the next start crying for no reason. He would call me three days in a row, and then I would not hear from him anymore. He would come by the house and want to see me, take me out to eat, and then after he kisses me get sad and leave for no reason.

Finally I was like STOP!!! Enough is a fuckin’ nuff~ nikka! "You need to tell me what da heck is wrong with you?" Why you acting all Bi-polar? That’s when he stopped and told me, “I am having convictions with this lifestyle.”

“Baby I care for you man, but inside I feel like I am damning myself to hell for being with another man.” “I am sorry I just wasn’t raised this way.”

I am sitting there is shock looking and listening to this nikka in awe. Thinking... “Is anyone raised to be gay?” “What da hell is his problem?” I guess I feel this way because I am from a very religious household but was raised by loving parents who accepted their children  for who and what they are. I never had any issues or hang-ups facing my sexuality. My family and friends know what's up with me, and I have never had to carry the burden of hiding a secret life from the world. Now growing up I always hid it from my folks because they would always talk about how bad it was to be gay and how homosexuality was so filthy. So I would get girlfriends and stuff and fake like I was into women when in reality they disgusted me inside. But it made my mother happy so I played the role. But as I got older I played my own role. That secret role of momma, or wifey you use to play when you played House in the little make shift tent you hooked to the chairs in the house with sheets when you had over night company with the neighborhood boys as a child. You know …don’t play like you all ain't done it to! By 16 I was taking care of my business joined the football team of my high school and was always late to the football field for practice for some nikka always wanting to mess around with them on the DL in the locker room. But anyway that’s a whole nother' BLOG!

Back to this confused nika. He was really beating himself up about liking me but feeling like he was damning his soul to hell in the process. He said he felt as if he was battling or having to choose between me and God. I said, "Dude I am a child of God, I ain't no one immortal to be choosing with like that against the Lord!" "You should choose God first, and leave me alone if you really so for real about that way you are feeling." He would say “No! But baby I love you” Then start crying. Then I started thinking that the nikka was not mentally stable. He then told me that he was raised in his church since a child and was now being called to preach, and that his first sermon was against homosexuality and how he feels like such a hypocrite. I told him he was! How dare he discourage someone from God by casting judgment on them for loving another man or woman, and then be over here at my crib wanting to date me. UUGH!

Well I prayed for him, and tried my best to explain how you can be gay, and have feelings for a man, and still love God and be a Christian. But he wasn’t trying to hear it. He said He had to deal with his convictions. I just told him to leave me alone. I don’t even want a friend in my life like that. I only deal with men who know who they are, what they are, and know what it is that they want. Be secure and be stable, bring food to the table, and you can rock this cradle! OKAAY!

I remember the first time I ever slept with a guy in college, and he started crying and pulling out the bible to read to me, telling me that it was a sin what we had just done after he had already nutted 3 times! Uggh! I was like “What the fuck!” Him acting like this made me think back to that day and made me very uncomfortable. He still calls and leaves voice messages telling me that he likes me and wants me in his life but I refuse to return the calls. Because later he will leave a message crying that he has sinned again by calling me and acting on his feelings.

I hear stories of men whose lovers go to church then come home and tell they partner of 6 to 8 years that they are now straight and are no longer living this lifestyle. I think that is crazy! The God I believe in is a loving and caring God. I refuse to believe that if I believe in him, and choose him as my personal Lord & savior, and trust that His son Jesus died on the cross for me so that I may have everlasting life, that he would turn his back on me solely because I choose to love another man~ that is absurd!

Everybody has they own beliefs and their own convictions. But I do not feel that me being gay is a sin. This is who I am. I believe that heaven & hell is on earth and if you live wrong, and do bad unto others hell will always follow you in your life. If you do right and good by others and love God and worship and praise him then your life will be filled with joy and great things. I would be miserable with a female. God knows that. I would be living a lie if I chose to be with a woman. I am not attracted to a womans body, her smell, her anything whatsoever. I love men. A sexy, masculine, well educated and successful God loving man is the only man for me.

God knew who I was before he made me, what I was to become, how I am to get there, and will be the only one I have to face for judgment after it is all over, said and done. And with that in mind I am going to be happy love him, and wait for the man of my dreams to come along and sweep me off my feet. Ya’ll let me know what you all think. Oh Lord my phone is ringing again...It’s “Mr. Confusion”. I wonder what he will say this time. Will he be wanting another date or will he be crying cause it’s a sin for him just thinking of calling me for one. Your comments are deeply appreciated! Thanks - Harith