BLACKstreet

For the first time in years, Dave Hollister, Chauncey Hannibal and Teddy Riley (Teddy is credited with creating the New Jack Swing genre) will be sharing the same stage. Brandishing an electrifying mix of soul, funk, hip-hop and gospel, BLACKstreet delivered its self-titled debut album in the summer of 1994. The disc was certified platinum, rose to #7 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and spawned three hit singles: “Before I Let You Go” (Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100), “Joy” (#8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay list) and “Booti Call” (Top 20 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay). These, combined with MTV and BET airplay and a thriving tour, established BLACKstreet as one of the most promising outfits on the R&B landscape.  Still, as history would bear out, BLACKstreet was just getting started. BLACKstreet defied the sophomore slump with an album that soared. Appropriately titled Another Level, the disc debuted at #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #3 on the Billboard 200 (it would reside on both charts for more than 60 weeks). This spectacular premiere was due in no small part to a Riley-produced monster called “No Diggity.” Deemed one of the 100 Greatest Pop Songs by Rolling Stone and MTV, “No Diggity” broke new ground with its amalgamation of gritty hip-hop beats and smooth-as-silk harmonies. The sweltering intensity of BLACKstreet’s vocal performance, coupled with the track’s pulsating rhythms and G-funk-infused sonics (including a cameo from Dr. Dre ), propelled the song to #1 (Hot 100) and platinum certification. It seemed “No Diggity” was everywhere. Among other achievements, it topped the Hot R&B Singles Airplay chart for seven straight weeks and the Hot R&B Singles Sales chart for a month.

Bell Biv Devoe

Bell Biv DeVoe was hatched in the minds of its members, New Edition's Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe, upon the departure of lead singer Bobby Brown in 1986. But it wasn't until after New Edition completed its supporting tour for the album Heart Break in 1988 that the trio gave in to the urgings of Heart Break producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and decided to chart its own course.  Bell Biv DeVoe enlisted a variety of producers for its debut album, including Jam and Lewis and Public Enemy producers Hank and Keith Shocklee. The results were quite unlike anything in New Edition's repertoire: The beats were funkier, the lyrics and vocals were sexier, and the overall sound had a harder, hip-hop-tinged edge. The album's title track, "Poison," became a number three smash, and it was followed by the equally successful "Do Me!" and the R&B hits "B.B.D. (I Thought it Was Me)," "When Will I See You Smile Again?," and "Dope!" The album itself went on to sell over three million copies and was followed by a remix album the next year. Meanwhile, Bivins assembled the East Coast Family, discovering and producing debut albums for Another Bad Creation and Boyz II Men.

Tony! Toni! Toné

Tony! Toni! Toné crashed out of their Oakland neighborhood in 1988 with their Gold debut album Who? which spawned the hit "Little Walter". In 1990, to both critical and popular acclaim, their second album The Revival garnered four # 1 Billboard hits including "Feels Good," "Whatever You Want," "The Blues" and "It Never Rains (In Southern California)" and went Platinum. The success of The Revival and subsequent headlining tour was captured during various awards shows: 1991 NAACP Image Award for "Vocal Group Of The Year," 1991 American Music Award for "Favorite R&B/Soul Group" and ASCAP Award for "Feels Good". They also contributed “Me & You” to the hit soundtrack for the John Singleton film Boyz in the Hood.

SWV

With loads of down-to-earth appeal, youthful vocal licks, sassy struts and a state-of-the-street blend of soul-rooted melodies, coasting above an assortment of streetwise beats, New York City-bred Cheryl (Coko) Gamble, Leanne (Lelee) Lyons and Tamara (Taj) Johnson struck big as SWV. With slammin' singles like "I'm So Into You", "Right Here", "Weak" and "Anything", all Top 10 smashes, resulted in the multi-platinum statusof their debut album, It's About Time. They received nominations for a Grammy Award, an American Music Award and The Source Award in 1993. They won a Children's Choice Award and a BET "Best of Video Soul" Award. As if that weren't enough, they wowed audiences on a national tour with Bobby Brown, were "poster girls" for Cross Colours, appeared on "The Tonight Show", "Arsenio Hall", "New York Undercover", hosted "Showtime At The Apollo", and were chronicled in several notable publications, such as People, Us, Ebony, Essence, USA Today and Vibe. 

After 7

After 7's second album was released in 1992 and was called Takin My Time. The album went gold, with the hit single 'Kickin' It' that reached #6 on the R&B charts. At the same time, the group began to become well established as a top performing group with their many lively concerts and televised performances. The group toured with big name acts including Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston and MC Hammer.  In 1995, the group released their third album, 'Reflections.' The album was a critical success and featured more group involvement in the production process as Kevon and Melvin spearheaded the effort. The album had the hit single 'Til You Do Me Right' which made it to number 5 on the R&B charts. Reflections also featured the Jon B penned 'Damn Thing Called Love.'