Songfacts®:

• In this song, Keith Sweat makes a friendly wager, betting a girl that he can make her sweat before the night is over. He even explains how he plans to do it, but it starts with a kiss here and now.
• The song does some brand building for Keith Sweat, who was indeed born with that name. Born and raised in New York City, music was his side hustle (he had a sensible job on Wall Street) until he released his first single, "I Want Her," in 1987. It was a huge hit, going to #1 on the R&B chart and propelling his debut album, Make It Last Forever, to 3 million in sales. "Make You Sweat" was the first single from his second album, I'll Give All My Love to You, and also went to #1 on the R&B chart.
• Keith Sweat's first album, released in 1987, was produced by Teddy Riley and established the sound of New Jack Swing. Sweat spent most of 1988 touring while Riley stayed very busy with his band Guy and production work for other artists. When Sweat made his next album, his main collaborator was Bobby Wooten, known for his work with Jennifer Holliday and Phyllis Hyman. He came up with the basic track for "Make You Sweat," which was initially called "Rock This Girl Tonight." He and Sweat worked on it with Timmy Gatling, who like Riley, was in the band Guy. Gatling came up with the famous chorus:
  
  You say no, I say yes
  Girl I bet, I can make you sweat
  
  They changed the title and the song came together with help from Riley, who did some drum programming on the track.
• "Make You Sweat" was Keith Sweat's first music video. With a cast of lovely ladies in various stages of perspiration, it was very popular on BET.