Tag: 1988

Don’t Be Cruel: The 30th Anniversary

Continuing on the subject of New Edition’s 30th anniversary of “Heart Break”, Bobby Brown, who at the time was no longer a part of the group, released his sophomore breakout album the same day. “Don’t Be Cruel” was not only a mega hit for Bobby, but the album was stamped as one of the staples for the New Jack Swing movement at the time in R&B music. Also stamped as one of the greatest albums in R&B history, Bobby was on top of the world. Winning awards, killing stages, music videos, and doing interviews, it was a great time in R&B music to witness something that big. To be a huge success outside of your group while they’re also getting bigger with a new member, it’s hard to ignore the slight competition that was going on and placed on the fellas by the industry. This was all just a master plan to see who would flop and who wouldn’t. Pure R&B brilliance. “Don’t Be Cruel” was done by the man himself, Teddy Riley. The man who at the time was with Guy and their album was just out weeks ago. The album also gave birth to and open doors for future R&B acts like Usher, Omarion, and Chris Brown. 30 years of pure greatness and it’s still untouched. An album that signifies a revolution in a young man’s rise to the top. Reminding the world also that it’s his way, it’s his prerogative and that’s the way he just wanna live. Not giving a care about what others say but unapologetically just being Bobby Brown, the original bad boy of R&B. 

Heart Break: The 30th Anniversary

The group that we all were used to in the beginning were the bubblegum pop little boys from Boston, Massachusetts. They were from the ghetto but the music never reflected that. Their first four albums were all teeny boppish/R&B music until one member was replaced and they were much older. With a new member in the group and a new sound and image, the masterpiece was their fifth album. On June 20th, 1988, New Edition released their highly anticipated fifth album “Heart Break.” With an already steady and heavy fanbase, the fellas really came back more mature and polished with a sound to reflect that and it was far away from what their fans were used to. With Johnny Gill on board now, it was bound to be a smash, a hit. The fellas could do absolutely no wrong this time around. Between 1988 and 1990, the album had six singles and it went double platinum by RIAA. The masters behind the sound of the album were none other than the super producer team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The same guys who were responsible for giving Janet Jackson “Control” and helping Janet become a breakout superstar. The team had the magic touch to give the same energy to New Edition. On this album, Johnny does most of the lead vocals besides Ralph, another thing that fans weren’t used to. The group was not only a success with this album but now their careers were much bigger and headed down a different direction. Crazy enough, the same day this album dropped, Bobby Brown also releases his breakout sophomore album called “Don’t Be Cruel.” A master plan to garner the success and attention the same time as your group to see whether or not who would flop. In the end, this was a memorable day for New Edition fans. A memorable day in R&B history. It’s just like when A Tribe Called Quest dropped “Midnight Marauders” the same day Wu-Tang Clan’s debut album “Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” but for R&B. 

Strictly Business: The 30th Anniversary

Coming all the way from Long Island, NY, these two gentlemen came together to join forces and then became one of hip hop’s best to ever do it. Their names are Erick Sermon aka E Double and Parrish Smith aka Parrish Mic Doc and together they are EPMD. Eric And Parrish Making Dollars. On June 7th, 1988, they released their debut album “Strictly Business.” It is an essential hip hop classic and it is a first of its kind. With a sound that’s heavy bass with funk and rock samples and DJ scratches, they had heavy hits that can turn a party out. With four official singles, “It’s My Thing”, “I’m Housin’”, “Strictly Business”, and “You Gots To Chill”, EPMD became an instant hit. The album peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard 200, the album went gold four months after its release and The Source gave it a five mic rating, making it one of the 43 albums to ever receive this rating. 30 years later, the duo were recently seen at the Yo! MTV Raps: 30th Anniversary Show at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn performing their classics and even brought along K-Solo from the Hit Squad performing his classic “Spellbound.” These fellas have not lost their touch or step. I even had the opportunity to meet Parrish downtown at a spot on Houston Street called SOB’s for a Jam Master Jay birthday celebration and he was most definitely cool and a humbled guy. EPMD’s music hands down is one of the best and a must have in a hip hop collection. Album after album, they came with hits for years and even have merchandise but who in hip hop doesn’t have merchandise. Overall, when they come together on that stage, it’s all BUSINESS and no play.