Remembering Rhythm & Blues: October 2008

Rockin A 90s Girl Mentality in 2008

The year was 1994 and the song was 90s Girl by BlackGirl. With Teddy Riley producing, this joint has continued to hold strong many, many years later.

BlackGirl was a successful R&B/dance vocal trio consisting of Pam Copeland, Nycolia "Tye-V" Turman and Rochelle Stuart from Atlanta, that formed in 1992 on the Kaper/RCA/BMG label, like other R&B acts Eric West and Questionmark Asylum.

BlackGirl released their debut album in 1994 titled Treat U Right, the LP went Gold (for sales of 500,000 copies in the US), and reached the Top 50 of Billboard 200. The groups first single "Krazy", reached #37 on the Billboard charts, the single spent 15 weeks in the Top 100, but it was its follow up that took BlackGirl into the Top 20 of the US charts, the Teddy Riley produced single asserts itself as a posse of renegade women who will not succumb to the sexism their moms and sisters did, the single "90's Girl" reached #13 and spent 20 weeks in The Top 100 (it also became one of 1994's biggest R&B singles according to Billboard Magazine), the albums third single, was a Daryl Simmons-produced ballad, drastically reworked from the original album version "Where Did We Go Wrong", the groups third Top 40 hit, spent 20 weeks in the Top 100 as did "90's Girl".

After scoring 3 Top 40 hits on the Billboard charts, and becoming one of R&B's top female groups, Blackgirl appeared in a TV spot for Chrysler, singing special lyrics to their hit single, "90s Girl", they then joined R&B star R. Kelly for a six-week tour.

Late 1994 the group released the holiday single "Give Love On Christmas Day"/"Christmas Time", the single didn't sell well though it did make the Billboard bubbling under sales list. The group then teamed up with Aaliyah, En Vogue, Mary J. Blige, Vanessa Williams, For Real, and SWV for the single "Freedom" from the movie Panther. The single became BlackGirl's 4th Top 40 single, when it hit #18 within weeks.

Towards the end of 1994, BlackGirl earned two Billboard Music Award nominations for Top R&B Group, and Top R&B New Artist. On March 3rd 1995, BlackGirl released their version of the soul classic "Let's Do It Again". Written by Curtis Mayfield, the Staple Singers' version of the song went to No. 1 on Billboard's Top 100 back in 1975, with a '90s hip-hop-flavored version BlackGirl managed to once again make the Billboard Top 40, the single hit #25 in 1995.

Summer 1995, BlackGirl earned two Soul Train Award nominations, one for Single Of The Year (By A Group, Band Or Duo) for "Let's Do It Again" and Album Of The Year (By A Group, Band Or Duo) for Treat U Right. They then released 90's Girl in the UK, the song was a Top 10 success on the R&B chart, and reached #23 on the UK Pop chart. The group appeared on the single "Hey, Look Away" by Questionmark Asylum in late 1995, the single flopped when it reached the lower 50's on Billboard's Top 100.

In 1996 the group deciced to break up, some of the members went on to work with the likes of Janet Jackson, Toni Braxton and Jermaine Jackson. After the break up Nycolia went on to write, or record back up vocals for Pink, Deborah Cox, Case, Toni Braxton and Will Smith.

So it's 2008 and while there are good songs out here today that support a woman's independence (such as Destiny's Child Independent Woman), this classic song made me recognize the inner strength of womanhood more because it didn't couple the song's message with a whole bunch of materialistic bullshit. Granted, it's cool to have all kinds of "woman thou art strong" songs as there's something to be said about a lady that can stand on her own two, but BlackGirl still holds a special spot in my heart for this jam. Check the chorus:

I'm a 90's girl
In an ice cold world
Won't be used for sex (a 90s girl)

I'm a 90's girl
In an ice cold world
Show me some respect (a 90s girl)

I'm a 90's girl
In an ice cold world
Independent and strong
I can make it on my own (a 90s girl)

Yup, it's still an ice cold world, but through the cold, I feel the warm voices of these three beautiful sistas telling me to remain strong and keep the faith!

Click here to download the 90's Girl (Encore Extended Alternate Remix) with three additional songs. (Thanks to The Soul Vendor!)

Click here to download BlackGirl's 1994 album, Treat U Right, via MEGAUPLOAD

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BlackGirl 90s Girl

posted by Soulfull @ 10/19/2008 , , , links to this post

Making Promises, Promises with Christopher Williams

Somewhere between the way yesterday ended and today, I'm feeling a new sense of direction, or better yet, a sense of rejuvenation. Wait, let me put it this way, a sista is getting her groove back, but unlike Stella, this smooth groove didn't come from the Caribbean. Instead, I have Mr. Christopher Williams to thank for my renewed stride and subtle confidence.

Christopher Williams (born Troy Christopher Williams on August 22, 1967, in The Bronx, New York, U.S.) is an American R&B singer and actor. Williams, who emerged during the late 1980s as a recording artist for Geffen Records, has scored many hit singles, notably "Promises, Promises" (1989), "Talk to Myself" (1989), and "Every Little Thing U Do" (1993). The single "I'm Dreamin'" (1991), from the New Jack City soundtrack, became a #1 single on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts. After a six-year hiatus from recording music, he returned to the music scene with Real Men Do on the indie label Renegade, in 2001. It received a glowing, flattering review in Ebony Magazine that summer.

In between solo pursuits, he has been a contributor to Alex Bugnon's "As Promised," with a jazzed up version of Mary J. Blige's "All That I Can Say"; featured on "In Your World" with Twista & The Speedknot Mobstas, a very up-tempo track on the soundtrack of "Doctor Dolittle"; and on the Cafe Soul All-Stars CD with a single titled "Used To Be." Although he has been considered "out of the game" by some, there are numerous artists from several genres who give full credit to him for writing lyrics, performing, producing, editing, collaborating, and simply "doing a favor for a friend." In 2005, it was reported that Williams died of an unknown illness, but this ended up just an Internet hoax.

See with the music of Christopher, I'm remembering the innocence of my youth, enjoying daydreaming back to the sweet memories when I first heard his voice coming through the radio. The year was 1989 and I was a wannabe grown girl, trying to hit the "OOOOOOOOOOO" notes in this song right along with him. Not to mention, this dude was (and still is) FINE! But now, instead of being a young girl making promises, promises that I don't keep, I'm feeling the need to attack my life with a ferocity that's unknown. Shit, I'm approaching the BIG 3-0 and I really don't have time for the same silly game of procrastination. Now, don't wake me if I'm dreamin', but all I see is a future where every little thing I do is a step towards my true purpose in this crazy world.

Click here to download Promises, Promises, from Christopher Williams

posted by Soulfull @ 10/18/2008 , , , links to this post

Back Down Memory Lane With Minnie Riperton

Evening music lovas. It's almost midnight here in DC and I'm making my way back to blogging. It's funny because I've been creeping onto my own blog, reading some of the older posts and it got me to thinking about Ms. Minnie Riperton and soon, I needed to stop creeping over here and start writing again about the music that I love so much. These months away have truly been a roller coaster ride and like Minnie said, "I feel the happiness... I feel the pain... Here am I... back down memory lane... I'm in the sunshine... I'm in the rain..."

And as I get back to remembering my favorite genre of music, I can only hope that memory continues to serve me well...