Troop was a California teen band that got its start by winning $1000 in a talent show in the mid-'80s. The Pasadena, California group were then signed to Atlantic, and their debut single, "Mamacita," reached number two on the R&B charts in 1989. It was modeled after their inspiration, New Edition, whose "Cool It Now" they had lip synched to win the contest. Levert served as their producers on "Mamacita," and the lead vocalists were Steve Russell and Allen McNeil. Their second release, Attitude, earned a gold certification in 1990, and their third was Deepa in 1992.