Mtume, You, Me And He | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 128th edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “You, Me And He” by Mtume.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 128^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2025), we recollect and reflect on “You, Me And He” performed by Mtume.

“So much tension / ‘Cause we’re livin’ a lie by and by / Woah, woah, woah, not to mention / Can we give it a try?” R&B group Mtume is most renowned for two songs: “Juicy Fruit” and “You, Me And He”.  Both songs marked the only pop entries by the late James Mtume (1946 – 2022) and company. The latter was the most modest hit of the two, peaking at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100. “You, Me And He” is the third track from the collective’s 1984 album, also titled You, Me And He. James Mtume wrote and produced it. Notably, he and Tawatha Agee (1954 – ) split vocal duties.

Beginning with the sound, “You, Me And He” is super smooth with refined R&B vibes.  The musical backdrop is warm and sleekly produced.  Beyond the accompaniment, the melodies are tuneful, particularly the simple but unforgettable chorus: 

“You, me and he

What we gonna do, baby?

You, me and he

What we gonna do, baby?”  

James and Tawatha sing the chorus together.  Backtracking, Tawatha is the first voice heard, wowing with her lovely vocals in the first verse: “There’s another in my life / He’s my lover, and I’m your wife.” Oh, snap! While James’s naivety gets the best of him initially, he informs us in the second verse, “Then I knew things had changed / ‘Cause when we made love, you called out his name.” Oh, hell no! Following the revealing verse is the bridge, sung by both, excerpted earlier.  They split the third verse where the truth is arduous, and the pain grows.  Following another iteration of the bridge and the final chorus, there is no resolution.  Nothing but questions, questions, questions.  What is unquestionable is the excellence of “You, Me And He” which deserved far more airplay and recognition than it received back in the day. Mtume puts their feet into this gem!