Jodeci

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Jodeci
Members of Jodeci from left to right: Mr. Dalvin, JoJo, DeVanté Swing and K-Ci
Members of Jodeci from left to right: Mr. Dalvin, JoJo, DeVanté Swing and K-Ci
Background information
Also known asThe Bad Boys of R&B
OriginCharlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres
DiscographyJodeci discography
Years active1988–present
Labels
Spinoffs
Members
Joel "JoJo" Hailey
Websitejodeci.com

Jodeci (

Billboard R&B No. 1 hit singles: the album's titular track, "Stay" and "Come and Talk to Me".[2]

The group's critical and commercial success continued with the releases of

platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and helped to redefine the genre, allowing for developments in thematic and musical content within R&B.[4]

In 1996, they announced a hiatus – though continuing to work on music as a group – which prompted

Complex magazine ranks the group 1st on their "1990s Male R&B Group Pyramid of Excellence" list in 2014,[9] one of the most influential groups of the 1990s,[10][11] and the best R&B group of all time.[12]

History

1983–1991: Early beginnings and formation

Raised in extremely religious

Little Cedric & the Hailey Singers – originally performed and recorded as a gospel group, releasing three albums; Jesus Saves, I'm Alright Now, and God's Blessings.[13][14] K-Ci would later draw comparisons to Michael Jackson during his gospel career.[15] Separately, Mr. Dalvin and DeVanté Swing performed and toured in their own family's gospel group called the Degrate Delegation. The studio is where the duos later made acquaintances through relationships the members were in at the time. In a 2011 interview, Dalvin stated, "there was this girl gospel group called UNITY and then the Don DeGrate Delegation, which Devanté and I played in. So we met some of the girls from UNITY and [one] was dating K-Ci before we even met [and she] would always tell us that we need to meet K-Ci and JoJo."[16] A short time after meeting, the brothers started living together after leaving their families to pursue musical careers.[17]

At 16, DeVanté Swing traveled to Minneapolis, hoping to visit Paisley Park in order to audition to Prince.[18][19] Swing would later say, "I was up at Paisley Park every day begging for a job, asking people to listen to my tape. The receptionist kept saying she couldn't help me".[20] The rejection motivated Swing to relocate back to North Carolina, and work to improve his songwriting and production skills.[21] Upon arriving, Swing continued to record with the group's additional members, eventually forming Jodeci, and began work on a demo tape to present to label executives. The name Jodeci is an abbreviation of all the members names. "Jo" comes from JoJo, "De" comes from the last name of the DeGrate brothers, and Ci comes from K-Ci.

The members soon drove to

Hip hop artist Heavy D overheard the performance and consulted Harrell,[27] eventually taking the group out to dinner and awarding them a recording contract.[28]

Jodeci was assigned to Uptown intern

Timberland boots, to the group in order to establish a different aesthetic in the genre.[30] The group was introduced after providing background vocals on the 1990 song "Treat Them Like They Want to Be Treated", and performed live on Soul Train on June 11, 1991.[31]

1990–1995: Forever My Lady, Diary of a Mad Band, and The Show, the After Party, the Hotel

Landing a recording deal in 1990

Ronin Ro maintained, "They no longer resembled gospel singers… Puffy also asked them to build their mystique by posing for photos with their backs to the camera, which he borrowed from Guy's stage show."[32] The album's seductive energy showcased DeVanté's songwriting, establishing a uniqueness in his production that mixed old-fashioned soul singing with New Jack Swing, creating a production of great boldness. It featured the number 1 R&B singles "Forever My Lady," "Stay," and "Come and Talk to Me." Mr. Dalvin recalls how the album Forever My Lady was created, "The last version of the album that was released only took us a week to finish because we had already written the songs. It was about getting our sounds right because the vocals were already done. It was us going back in the studio recreating the beats and the melodies... Most of the songs were written before we left North Carolina. My brother was 16 and I was 14 when we wrote the songs..."[33]
The album went on to sell over three million copies.

In 1993, a minor feud resulted over the band's second album,

double platinum. Jodeci also covered "Lately", a Stevie Wonder song, for the Uptown MTV Unplugged release in 1993. The group's version of the song was released as a promotional single, claiming the number one spot on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart as the group's fourth number one R&B hit. It was also Jodeci's highest peaking pop hit, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1993.[34] It sold 900,000 copies and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.[35][36]
A studio version of the song was included on Diary of a Mad Band.

Jodeci's third album,

Get on Up
".

2014–present: Return and The Past, the Present, the Future

In February 2014, Timbaland revealed that he was in the process of working with Jodeci on their comeback album.[37]

On November 7, 2014, Jodeci reunited and performed a medley of their classic songs at the 2014 Soul Train Awards. The performance also included a snippet of a brand-new single titled "Nobody Wins," which was released on December 22, 2014. The song is the first single released by Jodeci in over 18 years. The last song released by the group was "Get on Up", in 1996. Prior to the performance, the group had not taken the stage together in the U.S. since 2006.

On January 28, 2015, a second single titled "Every Moment" was released.[38] Also in that same month, it was announced by Epic Records that Jodeci had been signed to the label to release their new album.[39] Timbaland, who recently brought his Mosley Music Group over to Epic, worked on the album. Their fourth album, The Past, the Present, the Future, was released on March 31, 2015. It was their first album in 20 years.[40]

Shortly after the album's release, a Jodeci reunion tour was announced. The first show took place on June 6, 2015, in Richmond, Virginia, as a part of the city's 11th annual Stone Soul Music Festival. Jodeci headlined the event, marking the group's first official concert performance together in the United States since 1995.

Legacy and influence

Most of the elements that were eventually combined to form what became known as the "Jodeci style" originated with the work of new jack swing pioneers

Guy. Other influences include the works of Bobby Womack, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Bobby Brown
, and New Edition. The group's cover of Stevie Wonder's 1981 song "Lately", became their biggest pop hit to date, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1993.[41][42]

Artists and producers heavily influenced by Jodeci were those were directly or indirectly associated with them, including

Smoke E. Digglera, Suga (who R&B act Tweet
was a part of), and Darryl Pearson.

To date, Jodeci remains well respected and revered among most hip-hop circles for their street-flavored sound and urban appeal. The group has been mentioned and sampled in songs by a number of hip-hop artists including

Drake, who, along with J. Cole released a song titled "Jodeci Freestyle" in June 2013. The song pays homage to the group and samples "4 U", an interlude from The Show, the After Party, the Hotel. On October 19, 2014, a Drake song titled "How About Now" leaked to the internet. The song samples Jodeci's "My Heart Belongs To U", and was later released in 2015 as a bonus track on the physical release of Drake's album/mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late
.

Mariah Carey repeatedly mentions Jodeci in her song "The Impossible" from her album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, which sampled "Forever My Lady". She also samples Jodeci's "Freek'n You" in her song "Makin' It Last All Night" featuring Jermaine Dupri. Additionally, she sampled a line from "Bring On Da' Funk" in her song "Don't Stop (Funkin' 4 Jamaica)" on her album Glitter.

Cardi B also mentions Jodeci in Bruno Mars' and her song "Please Me".

Jodeci's "Freek'n You" is used as the ending theme in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind.

Megan Thee Stallion sampled Jodeci's "Freek'n You Remix" for her song "Plan B".

Members

Current
  • DeVante Swing – (1988–present) (producer, songwriter, background vocals; Baritone)
  • Mr. Dalvin – (1988–present) (producer, songwriter, background vocals; Second Tenor)
  • K-Ci – (1988–present) (primary lead vocalist, songwriter, Tenor / Baritone)
  • JoJo – (1988–present) (lead vocalist, songwriter, Tenor)

Discography

Studio albums

Awards and honors

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Tortorici, Frank (September 1, 1998). "Jodeci's K-Ci". mtv.com. Music Television. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  2. ISSN 0006-2510
    . Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  3. . Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  4. ^ "Video: jodeci – 'every moment'". rap-up.com. Retrieved February 26, 2015. The Bad Boys of R&B are back.
  5. ISSN 0021-5996
    . Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  6. ^ Ni'Kesia (February 24, 2015). "Jodeci reveals details about new album, teases 'every moment' video". thisisrnb.com. Retrieved February 25, 2015. The original Bad Boys of R&B are back!
  7. ^ Davis, Rea (February 24, 2015). "Jodeci releases teaser for 'every video + new album moment'". allhiphop.com. Retrieved February 25, 2015. The Bad Boys of R&B aka iconic R&B group Jodeci
  8. ^ THEBOOMBOX.COM. "K-ci, jojo reminisce on jodeci, 'bad boys of r&b' title". watchinga.com. Retrieved February 25, 2015. During their Jodeci days, K-Ci?and?JoJo were far removed from the Disney set. They were the "Bad Boys of R&B" after all.
  9. ^ Scarano, Ross. "The '90s Male R&B Group Pyramid of Excellence". Complex. Retrieved May 8, 2014. Jodeci as number one with multiple classic albums, and various Top 10 songs.
  10. ISSN 1070-4701
    . Today, their label, Uptown Records, encourages the groups's penchant for wearing boots and hip hop gear, and tacitly condones Jodeci's image as "the bad boys of R&B."
  11. ^ THEBOOMBOX.COM. "K-ci, jojo reminisce on jodeci, 'bad boys of r&b' title". watchinga.com. Retrieved February 25, 2015. During their Jodeci days, K-Ci?and?JoJo were far removed from the Disney set. They were the "Bad Boys of R&B" after all.
  12. ^ Bossip Staff (March 22, 2015). "25 Male R&B Groups We Loved From The '90s". Bossip. Retrieved March 22, 2015. The best R&B group ever?.
  13. ^ "Albums". amazon.com. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  14. ^ Darden, B (November 3, 1984). "Gospel lectern". books.google.com. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  15. ^ Smith, D (August 1995). "Tuff love". Vibe Magazine. 3 (6): 66. Retrieved March 2, 2015. Folks down South...
  16. ^ Williams, C. (November 1, 2011). "Dalvin degrate recalls..." soulculture.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015. there was this girl gospel group called UNITY...
  17. ^ "Biography". www.myhot1065.com. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  18. . Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  19. ^ "About jodeci". mtv.com. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  20. ^ S, Danyel (August 1, 1995). "Tuff love". Vibe magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2015 – via Google Books. I was up at Paisly Park...
  21. ^ Smith, D. (August 1995). "Tuff love". books.google.com/. Vibe Media Group. Retrieved March 2, 2015. ...So I took my ass...
  22. ^ Whitlock, Jason (April 10, 1992). "Music". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  23. . Retrieved March 2, 2015. We didn't have an appointment...
  24. ^ Harrell is an executive many have credited with reenergizing r&b with hip-hop textures in the 1990s, e.g. Barry Michael Cooper, Kira Wakeam, and Tinbete Ermyas, "' He Revived R&B': The Legacy of Andre Harrell and Uptown Records", NPR (May 12, 2020); available online at https://vocalo.org/andreharrelllegacy/
  25. ^ Williams, Chris (November 1, 2011). "Dalvin degrate recalls making..." soulculture.com. SoulCulture. Retrieved March 2, 2015. We sung 'Come and...
  26. ^ Gonzalez, M. (September 18, 2013). "K-ci & jojo talk the history of a mad band". Ebony. Retrieved March 2, 2015. "We went to the office...
  27. . Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  28. ^ Williams, C. (November 1, 2011). "Dalvin DeGrate recalls..." soulculture.com. Soul Culture. Retrieved March 2, 2015. The next thing we knew...
  29. . Retrieved March 2, 2015. "Dress Jodeci the same...
  30. . Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  31. ^ "Inductee jodeci". northcarolinamusichalloffame.org. October 5, 2012. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  32. . Retrieved March 3, 2015. They no longer resembled...
  33. ^ Willians, C. (November 1, 2011). "Dalvin DeGrate recalls making..." soulculture.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015. The last version of the album that was released...
  34. ^ "allmusic ((( Jodeci > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  35. ISSN 0006-2510
    . Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  36. ^ "American certifications – Jodeci – Lately". Recording Industry Association of America.
  37. ^ "Timbaland Is Working On A New Jodeci Album". HNHH. February 3, 2014.
  38. ^ "Jodeci Debuts New Single "Every Moment"". epicrecords.com. Epic Records. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  39. ^ Bristout, Ralph. "Jodeci Signs To Epic Records, Preps New Album". revolt.tv. Revolt Television. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  40. ^ Jean Baptiste, Jr., Renaud. "Jodeci's New Single "Every Moment" Proves Their Reunion Was Worth The 20 Year Wait". vh1.com. VH-1. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  41. ISSN 1070-4701
    . Retrieved February 26, 2015. Only a song not written by DeVanté-the group's cover of Stevie Wonder's "Lately"-ever made the Top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
  42. . Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  43. ^ "N.C. Music Hall of Fame offers tickets". The Salisbury Post. August 29, 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2012.

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