New jack swing, new jack, or swingbeat is a fusion genre of the rhythms and production techniques of hip hop and dance-pop, and the urban contemporary sound of R&B. Spearheaded by producers Teddy Riley, Bernard Belle, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, new jack swing was most popular from the late 1980s to early 1990s.
Bell Biv DeVoe, also known as BBD, is an American music group from Boston, Massachusetts, formed from members of New Edition, consisting of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe.
"Tom's Diner" is a song by American singer and songwriter Suzanne Vega. Written on November 18, 1981, it was first released as a track on the January 1984 issue of Fast Folk Musical Magazine. Originally featured on her second studio album, Solitude Standing (1987), it was released as a single in Europe only in 1987 following the success of her single "Luka". It was later used as the basis for a remix by the British group DNA in 1990, which reached No. 1 in Austria, Germany, Greece and Switzerland.
"Escapade" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). It was written and produced by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The song was released on January 8, 1990, by A&M Records as the third single from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). "Escapade" became the third of the historic seven top-five singles released from the Rhythm Nation 1814 album, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a duet between American singers Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson, recorded for the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced soundtrack to the 1992 American film Mo' Money, starring Damon Wayans. The song was composed by Jam, Lewis, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch. The song was released as the soundtrack's lead single on May 12, 1992, by Perspective Records and A&M Records. Additionally, the song was remixed by David Morales, Frankie Knuckles, and CJ Mackintosh. The duet became a major hit in several countries, peaking at number two in Australia and the United Kingdom, number six in Ireland and New Zealand, number eight in Canada and Germany, and number 10 in the United States. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
"Poison" is the debut single of American vocal group Bell Biv DeVoe, released as the first single from their debut album of the same name. The song, in the style of new jack swing, a late-1980s/early-1990s hybrid of R&B, hip hop and swing, was the group's most successful.
"Hit Me Off" is a song by American R&B group New Edition, released in July 1996 as the first single from the group's sixth studio album, Home Again (1996), as well as their first single in seven years. Featuring lead vocals from all six New Edition members, it samples "Storm King" by Bob James, "I Got Cha Opin" by Black Moon, and "One Nation Under a Groove" by Funkadelic.
Taste of Chocolate is the third album by American rapper Big Daddy Kane, released in October 1990 on Cold Chillin' Records. The album reached No. 10 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 37 on the Billboard 200 chart.
"Rise" is an instrumental written by Andy Armer and Randy 'Badazz' Alpert, first recorded in 1979 by trumpeter Herb Alpert. Released as a single from Alpert's solo album Rise, the song reached #1 on the Billboard charts. It is the instrumental sample for The Notorious B.I.G. hit "Hypnotize".
"B.B.D.?" is a new jack swing song by Bell Biv Devoe. Released as the third single from the album Poison, it spent one week at number one on the US R&B chart, and peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.
Home Again is the sixth studio album by American R&B/pop group New Edition. Released on September 10, 1996, it is the only album to date to feature all six members of New Edition—Bobby Brown, who had left the group in 1985, rejoined the lineup—and was their final recording for MCA Records. Highly anticipated, and being their first album since, Heart Break (1988), the album debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number one, becoming the group's first album to open at number one, selling 227,000 in its first week sales. It also topped the Irish Albums Chart, and the US Billboard R&B Albums Chart as the group's first album in twelve years to do so since their self titled album in 1984. The album's success spawned four singles that collectively received moderate Billboard chart success. It was certified double platinum by the RIAA, for sales and shipments of over two million copies on February 4, 1997.
"Candy Girl" is the debut single by New Edition from their debut album Candy Girl. It was released as a single in late February 1983 and the song hit number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the 31st-best-selling single of the year. It also peaked at number 1 on the Hot Black Singles chart, passing Michael Jackson’s song "Beat It" on May 14, 1983.
"Cool It Now" is a 1984 hit single by American group New Edition, and is the first single from their eponymous second album, New Edition. In the US, the song entered the Hot Black Singles chart on September 1, 1984. The song peaked at number 4 in January 1985 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Lyrically, the song depicts a guy professing his love for a girl, despite growing concerns from his friends.
"Motownphilly" is a song by American vocal harmony group Boyz II Men, released in 1991 as their first single from their debut album, Cooleyhighharmony (1991). The song was a success, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael Bivins, who co-wrote the song, provides a guest rap during the bridge. The song's title is a portmanteau of two of the group's main musical influences: 1960s Motown and 1970s Philly soul.
Poison is the debut studio album from American R&B/hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe, released March 20, 1990 on MCA Records.
WBBD - Bootcity!: The Remix Album is a remix album released by R&B group Bell Biv DeVoe. It was released on August 27, 1991 via MCA Records, and was composed of remixes of songs from the group's debut album Poison. The album reached No. 18 on the Billboard 200. It was certified gold on October 23, 1991.
Hootie Mack is the second studio album released by R&B group, Bell Biv DeVoe. It was released through MCA Records on June 1, 1993, and featured production from the group itself and some of R&B's top producers such as Chris Stokes, L.A. Reid and Babyface. As the follow-up to the group's quadruple platinum debut album, Poison, expectations were high. Although Hootie Mack was not as successful as Poison, the album peaked at 19 on the Billboard 200 and 6 on the Top R&B Albums. Two singles made it to the charts—"Something in Your Eyes" and "Above the Rim", the former making it to 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified gold on August 25, 1993.
"Something in Your Eyes" is a song co-produced and performed by American contemporary R&B group Bell Biv DeVoe, issued as the second single from the group's second studio album, Hootie Mack. It was the only song from the album to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 38 in 1993.
Three Stripes is the fourth studio album by American R&B trio Bell Biv DeVoe. It was released on January 27, 2017 through Entertainment One. Recording sessions took place at 916 Music Studios, at Divine Mill Studios in New Jersey, at Hot Beats Studios and Studio Crib Zeno in Atlanta, at The Lab in New York City, at Nu Shoez Studios, at Forge Recording in Oreland, at Studio At The Palms in Las Vegas. Production was handled by several record producers, including Carvin & Ivan, Cyrus Deshield, DJ Battlecat, Doug E. Fresh, Erick Sermon, KayGee, Lil' Ronnie, LRoc, Rance, and BBD member Michael Bivins, with associate co-producer Gee Spin. It features guest appearances from Boyz II Men, Doug E. Fresh and SWV. The album peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200, number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and topped the Independent Albums in the United States.
"Finesse" is a song by American singer Bruno Mars from his third studio album, 24K Magic (2016). The song was written by Mars, Philip Lawrence, Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Jonathan Yip, Ray Romulus, Jeremy Reeves and Ray McCullough II. The former three produced it under the name Shampoo Press & Curl, along with the latter four, as the Stereotypes. The song was composed after a jam session as Mars wanted to recreate the "new jack swing sound". Atlantic Records released a remix version, featuring verses from American rapper Cardi B, as the album's fifth and final single on January 4, 2018. Musically, it is a new jack swing, hip hop soul and funk song with a light influence of R&B. The lyrics demonstrate the happiness of being with who one loves and the positive outcome of that for them and others.
