The Past, the Present, the Future is the fourth studio album from American R&B group Jodeci, released on March 31, 2015 on Sphinx Music Entertainment and distributed through Epic Records. It is the group's first studio album in 20 years.[6][7][8]
On October 20, 2014, it was announced by Centric and BET that Jodeci would be making their way back onto the music scene after a hiatus of nearly two decades at the 2014 Soul Train Awards by performing a medley of their hits, and also debuting a new song titled "Nobody Wins", their first single in 18 years, which features rapper B.o.B. Group member Mr. Dalvin explained the long-awaited release of their new music to Yahoo Music.[9]
"'Sometimes it’s just the wrong timing,' said Mr. Dalvin explaining why the group has not released any new music since 1996's “Get on Up.”
"You can fall into the trap that a lot of artists fall into by just putting records out there because fans are excited and start tarnishing your legacy and body of work you’ve created. People waited all these years for some quality music – not just throwing music out there."
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Mr. Dalvin stated that despite recording dozens of songs together over the last 18 years, the group did not feel that they had a cohesive body of work for their fourth studio album. "We've recorded hundreds of songs, even if it's bits and pieces and fragments of songs that we could probably live off of for the rest of our lives. But when creating this album, we chose a body of work that really represents us as a group and represents what people are expecting to hear from Jodeci as a group. People will be pleasantly surprised. Fans can expect to hear their artistic growth. Some fans want 'Come and Talk to Me' Part 2, and that's not what it is, and we don't get pigeonholed by the radio and let our fans grow with us. As with their earlier work, most of the music would be self-produced. However, Dalvin confirmed that Timbaland, who was discovered by DeVante, will collaborate. "Timbaland, who started with us, I know he's going to be somehow involved in the project," he revealed.[13]
In a fan chat on February 3, 2014 Timbaland revealed that he's reuniting with DeVante and lending his production to the new Jodeci project.[14]
“People who follow Timbaland from day one, I met with DeVante and I’ma help work on the new Jodeci album, just for y’all. That’ll be my career coming in full circle, connecting back with DeVante.
However, Dalvin made it clear not to expect to hear the sound that Timbaland has created for Justin Timberlake and others recently.[15]
“It couldn’t be a Timbaland type of project. A lot of people don’t know, my brother Devante really showed Timbaland how to produce records. We had our sound mixed with his sound. It would never be in one direction. It’s going to be a mix of Devante and Timbaland.”
“We finally came together and we had a nice body of work that we felt was a great album”. “With K-Ci & JoJo touring as well as Devante and myself doing production and other business ventures going on, we finally came together and we put together an album that we love.”
"The album was already in the works, but we were aware everyone was asking us for a date and time. We didn’t want to keep saying “It’s coming!” so we figured if we backed up off it, everyone would back up off us. The ball was always rolling though. We just didn't have a time frame though. People were like “You said this date, you said that date!” We didn't have a date and we wanted to make sure the time was right. Now is the right time, so we’re on the fast lane moving towards the release of the single and album."
In a pre-Grammy interview February, 2015 DeVante was asked about Timbaland's involvement in the project. "Maybe, we'll see. I don't know as of this point right now, but he's there. That's a friend, that's family you know."[16]
In an interview with group member JoJo, he stated that before the group became known as Jodeci, the original song Jennifer, written by DeVante, was responsible for forming Jodeci as a group, bringing in K-Ci for the song.[17] DeVante stated in a Vibe interview, I wrote a song about a girl I liked; the chorus was, "Where could I go wrong…" JoJo sang the song. People were saying we should do something with it.[18]
On February 24, 2015, Jodeci revealed the artwork and track list for the album, titled ‘The Past, The Present, The Future’, executively produced by Louis Burrell, Lajuanna Burrell, Breyon Prescott and DeVante Swing with Timbaland co-producing two songs: “Incredible” and “Those Things“. Also featuring Mila J, Liana Banks and rappers B.o.B & AV. A promotional track for the album, “Checkin For You” was released as part of the album's pre-order package.[19]
For this album, it marks the first time that DeVanté Swing would be featured in the writing credits using the moniker "X1500."
Singles
On December 21, 2014, Jodeci released the full-length version of the new song, “Nobody Wins,” along with a lyric video that features Domestic Violence hotline information.
"Domestic violence has always been an issue in relationships, but because of the caliber of people being charged recently, it's being brought to the forefront," Dalvin said about the song's content in an interview with Rolling Stone. "It's definitely something people are going to listen to because domestic violence should not be tolerated in any situation, not just between men and women, but people in general."[13]
After the release of "Nobody Wins", Jodeci returned with their official lead single "Every Moment" on January 28, 2015 followed by the announcement of signing an exclusive deal with Epic Records and an album release under Louis Burrell's label, Sphinx Music Entertainment.[20] with Burrell being the executive producer for the album and also the brother and former manager of rapper MC Hammer.[21][22]
The music video for “Every Moment" debuted on February 25, 2015. It was directed by Hype Williams in Aspen, Colorado. Williams previously directed the group's video for "Feenin'".[23][24][25][26]
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and at No. 2 on R&B Albums chart, selling 27,000 copies.[27]
Critical reception
The Past, The Present, The Future received generally favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 69, based on seven reviews.[28]
Anupa Mistry from Pitchfork, wrote that Jodeci, led by producer/singer DeVante Swing, remains a group of soul classicists, thematically inspired by the intimacy and lewdness of sex and buttressed by the aesthetic and energy of hip-hop."[29]
Jon Caramanica of The New York Times, described the best Jodeci songs as "slick marches that focus on the body, like this album’s “Checkin for You” and “Stress Reliever.” Atop it all is K-Ci. He may have roots in the church, but the Lord's favor isn't what his music typically craves. When K-Ci is seducing, he's pleading and moist. And he gets better as he devolves, his finest moments less about lyrics than postverbal utterances. One exception here is “Jennifer,” an anguished ballad that shows off some of K-Ci and JoJo's peak harmonizing."[30]
Jim Farber of New York Daily News, gave it four out of five stars, writing "The Past, The Present, The Future” reconstitutes a particular blend of voices that helped define early 1990s R&B." The new Jodeci songs aren’t just about recalling the past. There’s a sense of the present in the production of Timbaland and group member DeVante Swing. It gives the voices a richer, deeper setting than they had way back when. One song — “Jennifer,” written by Swing — breaks with this essential style with a pure pop melody the group has rarely allowed."[31]
Andy Kellman from Allmusic, described the album as "a confident, refined return -- a necessary one in a field starving for group harmony singing. It's as solid as a reasonable longtime fan could expect." With the past and present indeed woven together throughout.[32]
Jodeci is an American R&B quartet consisting of members DeVanté Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci, and JoJo. Formed in 1989 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jodeci's members began their musical careers as two duos of brothers and, after years of limited success, joined forces. After signing with Uptown Records in 1991, the group began to work on their debut album, Forever My Lady, which brought them mainstream success with the Billboard Hot 100 single "Come and Talk to Me" and the album's titular track.
Diary of a Mad Band is the second studio album from American R&B group Jodeci, released December 21, 1993, on Uptown Records and distributed through MCA Records. The album also featured the first-ever album appearances from Timbaland, Missy Elliott and Sista, two years before the latter group became known in the music industry. New Jersey rapper Redman also makes a guest appearance on the album. It was Jodeci's second album to reach number one on the R&B album chart, where it stayed for two weeks. It spawned the number 1 R&B hit "Cry for You"; the number 2 R&B hit "Feenin'", and the Top 15 R&B hit "What About Us". Despite not being released as a single, the album's opening track, "My Heart Belongs To U", was also an urban radio hit with it peaking at #55 & charting for 20 weeks on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. To date, the album has sold over four million copies in the United States and six million worldwide.
K-Ci & JoJo is an American R&B duo, consisting of brothers Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey and Joel "JoJo" Hailey. Natives of Monroe, North Carolina, they are also the lead singers of the chart-topping R&B group Jodeci with the DeGrate brothers—Donald and Mr. Dalvin.
Donald Earle DeGrate Jr., better known by his stage name DeVanté Swing, is an American record producer, singer, rapper and songwriter. He is the older brother of fellow Jodeci member Dalvin DeGrate.
Dalvin Ertimus DeGrate is an American R&B and soul musician, singer and rapper, best known for his days as Mr. Dalvin, one-quarter of the R&B group Jodeci.
The Show, the After-Party, the Hotel is the third studio album from American R&B group Jodeci, released July 18, 1995, on Uptown Records and distributed through MCA Records. The album was recorded at Dajhelon Studios in Rochester, New York.
"Forever My Lady" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci from their debut album of the same name (1991). The song was the second single released in promotion for the album in August 1991. "Forever My Lady" was the first of five number one R&B hits for the group, spending two weeks at number one on the US R&B chart and also peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was written and produced by member DeVante Swing and singer/producer Al B. Sure!. The song was dedicated to Al B. Sure!'s then girlfriend Kim Porter, as well as their newborn son Quincy.
"Cry for You" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their second album, Diary of a Mad Band (1993). The song was released as the album's lead single in November 1993.
"Come and Talk to Me" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci from their debut album Forever My Lady (1991). The song was the fourth single released in promotion for the album in March 1992. As the third number one R&B hit for Jodeci, "Come and Talk to Me" spent number 1 on the R&B chart for two weeks and peaked at 11 on the Hot 100. The song also topped the R&B year-end chart for 1992.
"Stay" is a song by American group Jodeci from their debut album Forever My Lady (1991). The song was the third single released in promotion for the album in December 1991. "Stay" was the group's second number one R&B hit, spending two weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart and peaked at number forty-one on the Billboard Hot 100. As this, it is also the opening track from Forever My Lady.
Love Always is the debut album of American R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo, released on June 17, 1997, by MCA Records. It was recorded at various studios in New York and the Los Angeles area in 1996 and 1997. It was produced by JoJo and several others, including DeVante Swing, Jon-John Robinson, James Mtume, and Jeff Redd. The duo were originally a part of Jodeci before this album.
"Feenin'" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci, recorded for their second album, Diary of a Mad Band (1993). It was released as the second single from the album in March 1994.
"Gotta Love" is the debut single by American R&B group Jodeci. It is from their debut album Forever My Lady. The song was released on February 24, 1991. The music video uses the "New R&B Edit" version of the song instead of the album version.
"I'm Still Waiting" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci from their debut album Forever My Lady (1991). The song was the fifth and last single released in promotion for the album in August 1992. The "Swing Hip Hop Mix" version is the version of the song used in the music video instead of the album version.
"What About Us" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their second album Diary of a Mad Band (1993). The song was released as the third and final single for the album in August 1994.
"Freek'n You" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their third album, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel (1995). The song, released as the album's first single, peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995. Listed by Billboard magazine as one of the best selling singles of 1995, it was certified gold by the RIAA for sales in excess of 600,000 units.
"Love U 4 Life" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their third album, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel (1995). The song was released as the second single for the album on Halloween 1995, and peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Get on Up" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their third album, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel (1995). The song was released as the third and final single for the album in 1996. "Get on Up" contains the sample of the 1981 song from Quincy Jones featuring Toots Thielemans' "Velas". Produced by Mr. Dalvin, it is the only Jodeci single to date that was not produced or written by group leader DeVante Swing. It was also the last Jodeci single released in 18 years before the group returned in 2014 with the single "Nobody Wins". The group performed the song when they guest starred in a season one episode of the UPN sitcom Moesha.
4 All the Sistas Around da World is the debut and sole studio album recorded by American R&B group Sista, released September 20, 1994, on Elektra Records. One of the group members at the time was future rap star Missy Elliott.
Cedric Renard Hailey, known professionally as K-Ci, is an American singer, songwriter and member of K-Ci & JoJo and Jodeci.
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