Mtume was an American funk and soul group that rose to prominence during the early 1980s and had several R&B hits during its career. Its founder, former percussionist James Mtume, previously played and toured with Miles Davis in the early 1970s. Other members of the group included Reggie Lucas, Philip Field, and vocalist Tawatha Agee. Mtume also gained recognition after having its hit single "Juicy Fruit" extensively sampled by many hip-hop artists, most notably by the Notorious B.I.G. in the 1994 hit song "Juicy".
James Forman, known professionally as Mtume or James Mtume, was an American jazz and R&B musician, songwriter, record producer, activist, and radio personality.
"Can't You See" is a 1995 song by American R&B girl group Total, released as their debut single. The track was released from the New Jersey Drive soundtrack and also later appeared on their debut album, Total. After making their recording debut on his tracks "Juicy", "One More Chance" and "One More Chance" ", The Notorious B.I.G. returned the favor with an intro rap verse to the song. The track was written and arranged by Terri & Monica's Terri Robinson, produced entirely by Sean "Puffy" Combs with instrumentation provided by associates Rashad Smith, Herb Middleton and Chucky Thompson and contains a sample from James Brown's "The Payback". The track was a success both on the mainstream US Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number thirteen and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it made number three. The song also peaked at number forty-three on the UK Singles Chart, where it charted for two weeks.
"Let It Go" is a song by American R&B singer Keyshia Cole featuring American rappers Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim. It was written by Cole, Jack Knight, Cainon Lamb, Lil' Kim, and Missy Elliott for her second album Just Like You (2007) and samples "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume, and "Don't Stop the Music" by Yarbrough and Peoples, while also interpolating "Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G., who also sampled "Juicy Fruit." An uptempo song written by all three artists with Jack Knight, Cainon Lamb and James Mtume and produced by Lamb and Elliott, it marked the first collaboration between any of the three artists with one another.
"The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" is the debut solo single by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was written and composed by Don Bryant, Bernard "Bernie" Miller, Elliott, and producer Timbaland for her debut album Supa Dupa Fly (1997) and contains a sample of Ann Peebles' 1973 single "I Can't Stand the Rain", whose lyrics serve as the chorus.
Juicy Fruit is a 1983 album by R&B group Mtume. It contains their No. 1 R&B hit, "Juicy Fruit". It was their third album for Epic Records.
"Game's Pain" is the lead single from The Game's third studio album LAX.
"Jump to It" is a 1982 song by American recording artist Aretha Franklin. The track is from her Gold-certified 1982 album of the same name, produced by Luther Vandross. The song was written by Vandross and Marcus Miller and features background vocals performed by Vandross and Cissy Houston. The single reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, remaining there for four consecutive weeks.
"You Know How to Love Me" is a song by Reggie Lucas and James Mtume, most notably recorded by Phyllis Hyman and released on Hyman's fourth studio album of the same name, released in 1979.
"Do You See" is a song by American hip hop artist Warren G. It was released in November 1994 as the third and final single from his debut album, Regulate...G Funk Era. "Do You See" found some success in the United States, reaching number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song found more success in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1995.
"Somethin' 4 da Honeyz" is the second single released from American singer-songwriter Montell Jordan's debut album, This Is How We Do It (1995). Produced by Oji Pierce, the song was the follow-up to Montell's number-one hit, "This Is How We Do It" and was released in July 1995 by Def Jam and Island. It became his second consecutive hit, peaking at 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in September 1995 for shipments of over 500,000 copies. The official remix entitled the "Human Rhythm Remix" was produced by Derrick Edmondson and featured an appearance by Redman. Both the original and remix had promotional music videos released. The track sampled "Summer Madness" by Kool & the Gang.
"Falling" is the second single released from Montell Jordan's second album, More.... Like the previous single, "I Like", "Falling" was co-produced by Derick "D Man" McEleveen and James Earl Jones, who sampled MC Eiht's "Streiht Up Menace". "Falling" is the most successful of the three singles, making it to 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified gold on December 3, 1996, for individual sales of 500,000 copies. The official remix featured a guest appearance from rapper, Flesh-n-Bone.
"Get It Right" is an R&B song written by Luther Vandross and Marcus Miller that was a hit for Aretha Franklin in 1983. Released from the album of the same title, it reached number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart in August 1983 and peaked at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single reached number nine on the Hot Dance Club Play chart and number 74 on the UK Singles Chart.
Sweet Sensation is the fourth album by American R&B and soul singer Stephanie Mills. Released in 1980, produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas. The album features her biggest hit, "Never Knew Love Like This Before" which peaked within the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 and won two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female and Best R&B Song, the former becoming her first career Grammy win. Sweet Sensation received gold status by the Recording Industry Association of America for sells over 500,000 copies.
"Two Hearts'" is a hit duet sung by American R&B singers Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass, from Mills' fifth studio album Stephanie (1981). The song was written and produced by James Mtume, Reggie Lucas and Tawatha Agee. Released in January 1981, the single reached number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1981. On the US Billboard R&B chart, "Two Hearts" reached number three.
Tawatha Agee is an American vocalist and songwriter. Her voice has been described in The New York Times as an "acrobatic, gospel-charged soprano." She was the lead singer of funk and soul band Mtume; her soulful lead vocals are featured on their 1983 R&B hit "Juicy Fruit".
"I'd Rather" is a song by American singer Luther Vandross. It written and produced by Shep Crawford and recorded by Vandross for his eponymous album (2001). The song was released as the album's third and final single. "I'd Rather" became a top twenty hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart and reached the top forty on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. It also topped the US Adult R&B Songs chart, the second single from Luther Vandross to do so.
"Juicy" is the first single by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. from his 1994 debut album, Ready to Die. It was produced by Poke of the duo Trackmasters and Sean "Puffy" Combs. "Juicy" contains a sample of Mtume's 1983 song, "Juicy Fruit", though it is directly sampled from the song's "Fruity Instrumental" mix, and has an alternative chorus sung by Bad Boy Records cohorts, the girl group Total and label founder, Combs. The song is widely considered to be one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time.
"Perfect" is a song by American rapper Logic from his sixth studio album No Pressure (2020). It was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on August 11, 2020. The song features uncredited vocals from rapper Juicy J, and was produced by 6ix, FnZ and Keanu Beats. The official remix of the song was released on September 24, 2021, featuring American rappers Lil Wayne and ASAP Ferg.
"Still Believe in Love" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman, DJ Cassidy, Bradley Thomas, Jr., Eliott Trent, and guest vocalist Vado, while production was helmed by Cassidy and Gitelman along with Kuk Harrell and Jelli Dorman. The song contains a sample from "C.O.D. " (1984) by American R&B group Mtume. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Mtume band members James Mtume and Tawatha Agee are also credited as songwriters.
