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Adezwe
@adezwe
Gamer 🎮 I Tech Enthusiast l Entrepreneur l Regulatory & Policy Analyst l Poultry Farmer 🐔I Web designer 🖥 I 80s & 90s R&B & New Jack Swing enthusiast
Johannesburg, South Africa
Joined November 2011
401 Following
410 Followers
262 Posts
Sign the Petition Compatriots! This two pot is an infringement of our civil liberties and financial agency; it impacts entrepreneurs read the petition for more detail on these points
Petition to Rescind the Two-Pot Retirement System in Favour of Upholding Civil Liberties - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/9YStUBI4iH via @ChangeorgSA
Petition to Rescind the Two-Pot Retirement System in Favour of Upholding Civil Liberties - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/9YStUBI4iH via @ChangeorgSA
Petition to Rescind the Two-Pot Retirement System in Favour of Upholding Civil Liberties - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/9YStUBI4iH via @ChangeorgSA
@Seba_S_M Having a little knowledge is dangerous, all contributions made before 1 March 2024 will not be impacted! Meaning that only monies saved from the 1 March will be subject to the new regime.
I introduced a lucerne hay bale this past weekend to discourage pecking amongst the hens, and give them an activity to keep then busy. Contrary to popular belief these creatures are very intelligent they know their exact feeding time and recognising faces of people on the farm.
Ran some errands for the farm with my one month old son. We teach em young 😆 #youngfarmers #youngfarmer #babyfarmer
LETS GET THIS WORK!!!! consistency, persistence, dedication. Do what you love and you'll never work a day. #rufflesomefeathers
Don't sell excuses to your customers if you do so regularly they'll lose confidence in you & pull back support...my current flock doesn't meet the demand for eggs instead of making excuses I buy stock from one of the big guys to service the demand & keep my clients happy.
90s NOSTALGIA: PM Dawn 'Set Adrift' (released in 1991) sampled from Spandau Ballet is more than just a song, it has enduring popularity among music lovers.
Soul for Real (also known as Soul 4 Real and Soul IV Real) is an American R&B group from Wyandanch, New York, currently living in Atlanta, Georgia made up of brothers Christopher Sherman Dalyrimple a.k.a. Choc (born April 30, 1971), Andre "Dre" Lamont Dalyrimple a.k.a. KD now (born April 4, 1974), Brian "Bri" Augustus Dalyrimple (born December 14, 1975), and Jason "Jase" Oliver Dalyrimple a.k.a. Jase4Real (born May 10, 1980).
The group was best known in the mid-1990s for their gold-certified hit songs "Candy Rain" and "Every Little Thing I Do" and minor R&B hit "If You Want It" from their platinum-selling debut album Candy Rain.
“Candy Rain” was a hit song by R&B group Soul IV Real, made of four brothers from the Dalyrimple family. The smash single produced by rapper Heavy D and production team Trackmasters topped the Billboard R&B charts in 1994. “Candy Rain” rose as high as #2 on the Billboard Pop charts, only held back by Madonna’s smash Babyface-penned ballad “Take a Bow.”
The song features a sample of Minnie Riperton’s “Baby, This Love I Have.” Heavy D makes a cameo in the music video.
This song debuted in early 1995 while signed to Uptown Records, by the end of the year, the album had gone platinum and reached number 23 on the album charts.
After touring both America and overseas, the group worked with producers Heavy D. and Sean "Puffy" Combs to record For Life. 1999 saw the release of a third album, Heat.
Where are they today?
Jason "Jase"
Jason, better known as Jase is the lead singer of Soul for Real. He is best known for singing lead on "Candy Rain"; the group's biggest hit to date off the album of the same name. He went on to pursue a solo career, releasing a few solo projects under the name of Jase4Real. Other than music, Jase established his own independent production company, Jasemakermusic LLC., based in Atlanta, Ga. In addition, he also started his own label: BEA Music Ent., on which he will release his future projects and collaborate with other upcoming artists.
Chris "Choc"
Choc is best known for singing lead on "Every Little Thing I Do" the group's second hit off their "Candy Rain" album. In 2001, Choc pursued a solo career and released a debut single "Crazy" which failed to achieve any level of success. Later in 2001, he released yet another single, "Make My Move" which had the same result as the debut single of the unreleased album "Choc A Lot". This disappointment made Choc delay music and he began to focus on his personal life. In 2017, in an effort to make a comeback, Choc-boy released a new single entitled "Want U2 Know", later in the year, Choc4Real released "American Girl" as his second single.
Brian "Bri"
Brian is quietly residing in Las Vegas, NV. He is now proud owner of Naomi's Island Cafe. In 2009, Brian Dalyrimple was indicted on 145 counts of aggravated identity (mortgage) fraud, none of his brothers were involved. Following Brian's arrest, the other three brothers, KD (Andre), Jason "Jase" Oliver and Choc (Chris) remained as members of the group and continued on as Soul For Real.
Andre "Dre"
In the early 2000s Andre ('Dre) ran an independent production company: Uncle Dre Day Embroideries LLC On his MySpace, he released some solo music under his alter ego Uncle Dre. Now Andre "Dre" is known as KD.
From 2012 to 2023
In 2012, they announced that they were in the studio working on their fourth studio album, and have revealed the album title to be The Evolution: Journey. They released a new single titled "Can't Leave U Alone". That same year, the youngest member Jase, went by the name of Jase4Real as a solo artist.
In 2016, Soul For Real released a new single "Love Again" and Jase released a solo single titled "If You Feelin' Like Me (IYFLM)" with a video available on his YouTube channel. The following year, the group released the official video for "Love Again" and premiered it on their VEVO channel. In that same year, Jase4Real also released his third solo effort If You Feel Like Me: The Mixtape.
In 2019, they released two holiday songs "Silent Night" and "Christmas Time is Here".
In 2020, Soul for Real issued their first single in 4 years, "Love on Me" shortly after, Jase as well released a new single titled "Due Better"
In November 2021, Soul for Real released a music video for their new single titled "After The Rain", the song is in tribute to their mother who passed away within the past year, and you can see pictured on the single’s cover art. In December of that same year, "After The Rain" was released on all digital platforms.
In February 2022, Soul for Real announced on social media they will appear on TV One's Unsung scheduled to air in March. The episode aired on March 6, 2022. In July of that same year, Soul for Real was seen as a guest on Nick Cannon's Wild 'N' Out.
On June 10, 2023, Soul For Real was honored with the Key to the City of Wyandanch, NY
Jesse Powell, born on September 12, 1971, was an American R&B and soul singer discovered by Louil Silas Jr (a respected record label executive responsible for bringing Chanté Moore, Jesse Powell, Keke Wyatt, London Jones, and Tricky Stewart to prominence as well as working with Aaron Hall)
Jesse Powell is best remembered for his hit song "You," which peaked at No. 2 on the R&B chart and No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
He was 23 when he first released this song. The song was originally released on his self-titled debut album in 1996 and later featured on his second album, 'Bout It,' released in 1998.
This version of the song features the legendary saxophonist Gerald Albright
Sadly, Powell passed away on September 13, 2022, at the age of 51. Additionally, he had hits with "You" appearing on both his debut and sophomore albums.
He also released four studio albums, with his last two, "JP" and "Jesse," in 2001 and 2003 respectively.
He is also related to the duo Trina and Tamara.
We would welcome any additional information people may have on the life and times of Jesse Powell.
Growing up I always thought is was a lady’s vocals that laced this track, this just shows you the range of Jesse's voice.
Soul for Real (also known as Soul 4 Real and Soul IV Real) is an American R&B group from Wyandanch, New York, currently living in Atlanta, Georgia made up of brothers Christopher Sherman Dalyrimple a.k.a. Choc (born April 30, 1971), Andre "Dre" Lamont Dalyrimple a.k.a. KD now (born April 4, 1974), Brian "Bri" Augustus Dalyrimple (born December 14, 1975), and Jason "Jase" Oliver Dalyrimple a.k.a. Jase4Real (born May 10, 1980).
The group was best known in the mid-1990s for their gold-certified hit songs "Candy Rain" and "Every Little Thing I Do" and minor R&B hit "If You Want It" from their platinum-selling debut album Candy Rain.
“Candy Rain” was a hit song by R&B group Soul IV Real, made of four brothers from the Dalyrimple family. The smash single produced by rapper Heavy D and production team Trackmasters topped the Billboard R&B charts in 1994. “Candy Rain” rose as high as #2 on the Billboard Pop charts, only held back by Madonna’s smash Babyface-penned ballad “Take a Bow.”
The song features a sample of Minnie Riperton’s “Baby, This Love I Have.” Heavy D makes a cameo in the music video.
This song debuted in early 1995 while signed to Uptown Records, by the end of the year, the album had gone platinum and reached number 23 on the album charts.
After touring both America and overseas, the group worked with producers Heavy D. and Sean "Puffy" Combs to record For Life. 1999 saw the release of a third album, Heat.
Where are they today?
Jason "Jase"
Jason, better known as Jase is the lead singer of Soul for Real. He is best known for singing lead on "Candy Rain"; the group's biggest hit to date off the album of the same name. He went on to pursue a solo career, releasing a few solo projects under the name of Jase4Real. Other than music, Jase established his own independent production company, Jasemakermusic LLC., based in Atlanta, Ga. In addition, he also started his own label: BEA Music Ent., on which he will release his future projects and collaborate with other upcoming artists.
Chris "Choc"
Choc is best known for singing lead on "Every Little Thing I Do" the group's second hit off their "Candy Rain" album. In 2001, Choc pursued a solo career and released a debut single "Crazy" which failed to achieve any level of success. Later in 2001, he released yet another single, "Make My Move" which had the same result as the debut single of the unreleased album "Choc A Lot". This disappointment made Choc delay music and he began to focus on his personal life. In 2017, in an effort to make a comeback, Choc-boy released a new single entitled "Want U2 Know", later in the year, Choc4Real released "American Girl" as his second single.
Brian "Bri"
Brian is quietly residing in Las Vegas, NV. He is now proud owner of Naomi's Island Cafe. In 2009, Brian Dalyrimple was indicted on 145 counts of aggravated identity (mortgage) fraud, none of his brothers were involved. Following Brian's arrest, the other three brothers, KD (Andre), Jason "Jase" Oliver and Choc (Chris) remained as members of the group and continued on as Soul For Real.
Andre "Dre"
In the early 2000s Andre ('Dre) ran an independent production company: Uncle Dre Day Embroideries LLC On his MySpace, he released some solo music under his alter ego Uncle Dre. Now Andre "Dre" is known as KD.
From 2012 to 2023
In 2012, they announced that they were in the studio working on their fourth studio album, and have revealed the album title to be The Evolution: Journey. They released a new single titled "Can't Leave U Alone". That same year, the youngest member Jase, went by the name of Jase4Real as a solo artist.
In 2016, Soul For Real released a new single "Love Again" and Jase released a solo single titled "If You Feelin' Like Me (IYFLM)" with a video available on his YouTube channel. The following year, the group released the official video for "Love Again" and premiered it on their VEVO channel. In that same year, Jase4Real also released his third solo effort If You Feel Like Me: The Mixtape.
In 2019, they released two holiday songs "Silent Night" and "Christmas Time is Here".
In 2020, Soul for Real issued their first single in 4 years, "Love on Me" shortly after, Jase as well released a new single titled "Due Better"
In November 2021, Soul for Real released a music video for their new single titled "After The Rain", the song is in tribute to their mother who passed away within the past year, and you can see pictured on the single’s cover art. In December of that same year, "After The Rain" was released on all digital platforms.
In February 2022, Soul for Real announced on social media they will appear on TV One's Unsung scheduled to air in March. The episode aired on March 6, 2022. In July of that same year, Soul for Real was seen as a guest on Nick Cannon's Wild 'N' Out.
On June 10, 2023, Soul For Real was honored with the Key to the City of Wyandanch, NY
Jesse Powell, born on September 12, 1971, was an American R&B and soul singer discovered by Louil Silas Jr (a respected record label executive responsible for bringing Chanté Moore, Jesse Powell, Keke Wyatt, London Jones, and Tricky Stewart to prominence as well as working with Aaron Hall)
Jesse Powell is best remembered for his hit song "You," which peaked at No. 2 on the R&B chart and No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
He was 23 when he first released this song. The song was originally released on his self-titled debut album in 1996 and later featured on his second album, 'Bout It,' released in 1998.
This version of the song features the legendary saxophonist Gerald Albright
Sadly, Powell passed away on September 13, 2022, at the age of 51. Additionally, he had hits with "You" appearing on both his debut and sophomore albums.
He also released four studio albums, with his last two, "JP" and "Jesse," in 2001 and 2003 respectively.
He is also related to the duo Trina and Tamara.
We would welcome any additional information people may have on the life and times of Jesse Powell.
Growing up I always thought is was a lady’s vocals that laced this track, this just shows you the range of Jesse's voice.
90's NOSTALGIA- ITS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC
Born in Havana, Cuba in 1961, Jon Secada emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of nine. He would earn both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from the University of Miami.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Jon Secada is a prolific songwriter who has written hits for Gloria Estefan and Ricky Martin.
Secada co-wrote six songs for Gloria Estefan's 1991 album Into The Light, including her #1 hit "Coming out of the Dark." He even toured with her as a backing singer before launching his own career.
The album Just Another Day, released in 1992, became one of the biggest albums of the year, selling over 6 million copies worldwide. The hit single "Just Another Day," written by Jon Secada and Miguel Morejon, was released on March 24, 1992, through SBK Records.
The track, produced by decorated Cuban-American musician Emilio Estefan, falls under the categories of Latin pop and R&B fusion.
Gloria Estefan sang backup on "Just Another Day," showcasing the collaborative spirit among Cuban-American musicians. The song garnered significant critical acclaim, earning Jon Secada the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Jon Secada's musical journey is a testament to his diverse talents and cultural influences, making a lasting impact on the world of Latin pop and beyond.
#podcastandchill #adultingshowmax
90's NOSTALGIA- ITS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC
"Before You Walk Out of My Life"- Monica
In the mid-'90s, a young talent emerged onto the R&B scene, capturing hearts with a voice that belied her age. Monica, at the tender age of 14, introduced herself to the world with her debut album, "Miss Thang," which would become the canvas for one of her most iconic tracks, "Before You Walk Out of My Life."
The journey begins with a teenage sensation, Monica, navigating the intricate world of R&B. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Monica Denise Arnold was discovered at the age of 11 and quickly signed to Rowdy Records. It was evident from the start that she possessed a vocal maturity beyond her years, setting the stage for a remarkable career.
"Miss Thang," released in 1995, marked Monica's debut album. It was a collection that not only showcased her vocal prowess but also hinted at a depth of emotion rare for someone so young. Among the gems that adorned the album, "Before You Walk Out of My Life" emerged as a standout, a poignant ballad that would resonate with listeners to this day!
The song's chart success was a testament to Monica's undeniable talent. Soaring to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Before You Walk Out of My Life" solidified Monica's place as a rising star in the R&B universe.
A noteworthy aspect of the song is its musical lineage. "Before You Walk Out of My Life" artfully samples the 1981 DeBarge track, "Stay with Me," this made the song instantly resonate across generations. This connection to the past adds layers to the song, making it a timeless piece that bridges the old and the new.
As Monica continued her journey in the music industry, "Before You Walk Out of My Life" became a pivotal moment in her career. The success of the single paved the way for subsequent albums, collaborations, and accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for her iconic duet with Brandy, "The Boy Is Mine."
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IMITHANDAZO- Kabza de Small & Mthunzi, ft Young Stunna, DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine & Umthakathi Kush
Though I am not a die-hard fan of the genre- this song resonates with me on a number of levels. It depicts the ardent and fervent aspirations of young people in South Africa navigating the challengers and aspirations of life.
The songs pleas for opportunities (education, business) and otherwise to be met- appear to go unnoticed, by a government that seems to be indifferent to the needs of the youth, especially the black youth. Our government in recent years has failed, and continues to fail in creating conducive environments that would see more job seekers finding employment. Adding an emotional depth to the narrative, the song intricately incorporates lyrics from our national anthem, a poignant homage to the work of Enoch Sontonga, a true Son of the Soil.
The parallels with our national anthem can be found in the lyrics below- the pray in the song specifically asks God to send down the ‘spirit of success’ or let us be filled with the sprit of success.
Yizwa imithandazo yabantwana bakho
Yelhis' umoya wakho we mphumelelo
Yizwa imithandazo yabantwana bakho
Nkosi, sikelela
The truth of the matter is that this is more than just a plea for help! It’s a song that expresses, though inadvertently, discontent for the current status quo.
One line I like in the song is ‘Lento ngeyethu sinikiwe’, and its unapologetic lyrical acknowledgement of the concepts of birthright and destiny. In recent years the South African youth collectively have achieved remarkable achievements in global sporting tournaments, earning accolades on international stages- and continue to leave an indelible mark on the world.
"The strength of the lion lies in its youth; the vigor and energy of the young lead the pride."- African Proverb
What does this song mean to you?
#SenzoMeyiwaTrial #Kanye #JobSeekersSA #TracyChapman #StateoftheNationAddress #AdultingShowmax
90's NOSTALGIA- ITS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC
Montell Jordan – ‘This Is How We Do It’ (1995)- this is an R&B/New Jack Swing masterpiece that continues to reign supreme! Montell skillfully and also effortlessly blends hip-hop and R&B. Jordan wrote the song with his producer, Oji Pierce, who also worked with Kenny Lattimore and CeCe Peniston (deceased). Personally, he’s delivery of this song is reminiscent of talent demonstrated by artists like Chris Brown in recent times.
The song is based on Slick Ricks Childrens Story (please do listen to it to understand what inspired this song). At 2:39, Montell pays homage to Slick Rick by channeling his style, structure, cadence, and tone, showcasing a deep respect for the song that inspired his own. (Slick Rick is also credited as a writer because of the sample). Now I understand what he means when he says ‘Let's flip the track, bring the old school back (this is how we do it)’ in the Chorus! Dope reference!
The song is heavily influenced by the sound and style of West Coast Hip-Hop at the time, making the musical cousin of this song Dr Dre’s Nuthing by A G Thang (Baby).
I haven’t heard this song in ages, and it still hasn’t faded from my memory. The success of his first album, and notably This Is How We Do It’ paved the way for a string of hits, including “Somethin’ 4 da Honeyz” and “Get It On Tonite.”
Here's another interesting fact about Jordan: he's got them book smarts too! He pursued a bachelor's degree in communications at Pepperdine University in California, where he graduated summa cum laude. Additionally, he was a state finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship.
In 2010, he put music aside to become a minister. Jordan (now 55) is now a born-again Christian and can be seen at Victory World Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he lives and worships with the church team called Victory World Music.
YO MONTEL- YOU’LL NEVER COME WACK ON N OL’SKOOL TRACK!!!
"This Is How We Do It" shows up a lot in movies and TV shows. Movie uses include:
· The Drop (2022)
· Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
· Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (2020)
· Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
· Step Brothers (2008)
· 8 Mile (2002)
· How High (2001)
· Multiplicity (1996)
· The Nutty Professor (1996)
· Abbott Elementary ("Teacher Conference" - 2023)
· That '90s Show ("Lip Smackers" - 2023)
· Euphoria ("You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can" - 2022)
· Yellowjackets ("Blood Hive" - 2021)
· Fresh Off the Boat ("Family Business Trip" - 2015)
· Orphan Black ("Variations Under Domestication" - 2013)
· It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia ("Paddy's Pub: Home of the Original Kitten Mittens" - 2009)
· Glee ("Acafellas" - 2009)
#Spar #sparlady #AFCON2024 #JHBTraffic
90's NOSTALGIA- ITS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC
Pittsburgh-born Shanice Williams first won her way into people’s hearts with her singing at a very young age. The daughter of singer Crystal Wilson, at age two she was already joining her mother on stage during performances. By age eight she sang alongside jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald in a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial. And before turning 12 she’d already signed her first record deal after wowing TV audiences with her performances on Star Search.
After winning Star Search, her 1987 debut Discovery produced two top-ten R & B singles, “Can You Dance” and “No 1/2 Steppin’.” A 9th grader at the time, Shanice admitted that her newfound fame was difficult despite enjoying the spotlight.
"I Love Your Smile" was released in October 1991 as the lead single from her second studio album, Inner Child (1991). single “I Love Your Smile” became the album’s mega-hit and went on to peak at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song features a saxophone solo by Branford Marsalis as well as laughter from Janet Jackson and René Elizondo Jr. near the end of the song. It was produced by Narada Michael Walden, and the radio version of the song removes the rap bridge from the album version. To date, "I Love Your Smile" is Shanice's best known and most successful hit.
It peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 on February 1, 1992, and it topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for 4 weeks in December 1991 and January 1992. In Europe, "I Love Your Smile" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart after being remixed by Driza Bone and reached the top of the Dutch Top 40 in the Netherlands. In 1992, it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Shanice performed the song as the first musical guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 25, 1992. A music video was produced to promote the single, featuring Shanice in a studio having pictures taken by a photographer. The music video was uploaded on May 12, 2023 on Shanice's official YouTube channel.
As Shanice adjusted to the life of a professional artist, her career continued to evolve and lead to new opportunities. Her decision to sign with Motown and work with producer Narada Michael Walden on her second album brought her music to the next level. Walden, who produced several hit records for Whitney Houston (“How Will I Know and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”), co-wrote eight of the twelves songs on Shanice’s platinum Motown debut Inner Child. Walden didn’t mince words when asked about Shanice’s talents in a 1993 issue of Ebony.
Other interesting facts:
· American singer Chris Brown sampled this song in his 2019 song “Undecided“.
· The iconic American jazz instrumentalist, Branford Marsalis, plays the famous saxophone solo on “I Love Your Smile”.
· The laughter you hear towards the tail end of the song is from American singer Janet Jackson and Mexican dancer René Elizondo Jr. At the time of the recording of this song, Janet Jackson and René Elizondo Jr. were married to each other. Their marriage lasted from 1991 to 2000.
90's NOSTALGIA- ITS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC
Hi-Five, is a R&B group from Waco, Texas in the United States, rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s. "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" became a defining moment in their career, propelling them into the spotlight and earning them a dedicated fan base.
“I Like The Way (The Kissing Game),” is the only #1 hit from the group. In 1991, when the new jack swing era was still near its peak, Hi-Five worked with genre architect Teddy Riley, and they built on the sound of the moment by taking it back to an earlier time.
When they found their way to the top of the Hot 100, the members of Hi-Five were young. Hi-Five lead singer Tony Thompson, who grew up between Waco and Oklahoma City, was a gospel prodigy. When he was as young as eight, Thompson was singing in churches and local talent shows, building a rep for himself. Thompson’s cousin was a singer in Ador, an R&B group signed to Jive Records. When Thompson was 12, Ador’s manager Vinnie Bell signed Thompson to a production deal and built a group around him. Thompson recruited Toriano Easley, a friend from Oklahoma City. Three other young singers from Waco joined up, and the new group signed with Jive. Initially, the group called themselves the Playmates, but Hugh Hefner’s people threatened legal action, so they became Hi-Five instead. (At first, Hi-Five’s logo was styled as “Hi-V,” until someone pointed out that it looked too much like “HIV.”)
Vinnie Bell brought Hi-Five to New York, where they recorded their self-titled debut album. The group made a few tracks with Teddy Riley, the young producer who’d revolutionized R&B by injecting it with a clattering physicality, imported from rap and dance music. By that point, Riley had already made hits with people like Bobby Brown, Al B. Sure!, Heavy D, and his own group Guy.
Getting to work with Teddy Riley was a big deal for Hi-Five. With his regular collaborator Bernard Belle, Riley co-produced and co-wrote Hi-Five’s debut single, the funky and propulsive “I Just Can’t Handle It.” (Bernard Belle, incidentally, is the brother of R&B star Regina Belle. “I Just Can’t Handle It” sounded extremely New York, but Hi-Five recorded the video in Waco, making sure to present themselves as small-town kids. “I Just Can’t Handle It” made it to #3 on the R&B charts, but it missed the Hot 100 entirely.
“I Just Can’t Handle It” was a good start, but before Hi-Five’s album even came out, the group’s story took a sad and bleak turn. Toriano Easley went back to Oklahoma City to visit friends, and while he was there, he got into a fight and shot someone to death. Easley, 17 at the time, was charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded down to manslaughter and got sentenced to 10 years in prison. Hi-Five needed to find a new singer quickly, so Vinnie Bell recruited Treston Irby, a teenage gospel singer from the Bronx. Irby started appearing in the videos, but his voice wasn’t on Hi-Five’s first LP. A few months after the release of the album, the group released “I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)” as their second single.
Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle co-wrote “I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)” with studio engineer Dave Way, and Riley produced it himself. Compared to most Teddy Riley tracks from that era, “I Like The Way” eases off the gas pedal. The song isn’t a ballad; all of Riley’s tracks moved. Riley built “I Like The Way” on a bubbling, tumbling, intricate drum-machine beat, layering airy synth chords and pubescent harmonies all over it. It’s a track built for dancing, but it’s also a lost, dreamy crush song. When the single came out, Tony Thompson was still just 15. If anything, he sounded even younger.
“I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)” is a slight update on New Edition’s ’80s teen-pop R&B formula, and it gets closer to that sound than fellow New Edition imitators New Kids On The Block ever managed. Tony Thompson’s voice was thin and squeaky, but he knew how to control it. This was the early Mariah Carey moment, when R&B singers were just starting to go crazy with runs/vocal embellishments. Thompson could do that, though his take on the sound was relatively raw and unpolished. If anything, though, that added to the appeal of “I Like The Way.” In Thompson’s dizzy tenor delivery, you could hear slight echoes of young Michael Jackson, filtered through the prism of New Edition and new jack swing.
“I Like The Way” is a simple song, and it’s not exactly a work of art, but it’s effective for what it is.
Around the same time that “I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)” reached #1, the song went gold, and so did Hi-Five’s debut album. As a very young boy band with a chart-topping single, Hi-Five easily could’ve become one-hit wonders. Maybe things would’ve turned out better for the members of the group if they’d disappeared into obscurity after “I Like The Way” fell from #1. But that’s not what happened. Hi-Five followed “I Like The Way” with the ballad “I Can’t Wait Another Minute,” which topped the R&B chart and made it to #8 on the Hot 100.
Another song from Hi-Five’s debut was “Too Young.” Hi-Five never released that one as a single, but a remixed version showed up on the Boyz N The Hood soundtrack in the summer of 1991. That remix featured the first commercial appearance of a very young Queens rapper named Prodigy, who would later become half of Mobb Deep.
In 1992, Hi-Five followed their self-titled album with Keep It Goin’ On. That album also went gold, and the deeply funky lead single “She’s Playing Hard To Get” peaked at #5. The group also worked on that album with songwriter and producer R. Kelly.
Despite all their success, Hi-Five weren’t getting paid much. Russell Neal, another member of the group, got mad about money and left Hi-Five in 1993. Hi-Five quickly replaced both Clark and Neal, but their third album, 1993’s Faithful, tanked. That album’s biggest hit was “Never Should’ve Let You Go,” which got a boost from appearing on the soundtrack of Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit. The song peaked at #30, and that was Hi-Five’s last appearance on the Hot 100.
Hi-Five eventually fired manager Vinnie Bell and left Jive for Giant Records. But Giant really wanted a Tony Thompson solo album, and the label kept the group on the shelf. In 1995, Thompson released his solo album Sexsational. That album featured contributions from a bunch of people who were on their way to becoming stars: Mary J. Blige, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Missy Elliott, Faith Evans. It still bricked. The single, the Babyface-written “I Wanna Love Like That,” made it to #59, but that was it. At the time, Thompson was already deep in the throes of cocaine addiction. While he struggled, Hi-Five broke up.
In the late ’90s, Tony Thompson signed with Bad Boy Records, which was exactly the place where a fading R&B star should’ve been able to revive his career. It didn’t happen. Possibly because of his addiction problems, Thompson’s time on Bad Boy amounted to nothing. Eventually, Thompson formed a new version of Hi-Five, and they released an album on Thompson’s own label in 2005. But some of the other former Hi-Five members sued over the rights to the name, and the album was pulled.
Two years later, Tony Thompson died outside an apartment building in Waco. He’d been huffing freon from the air conditioning unit, and it killed him. Thompson was 31. It doesn’t stop there, either. In 2014, police arrested former Hi-Five member Russell Neal for murder. He had stabbed and beaten his wife to death. Neal was deemed unfit to stand trial, and he was institutionalized. That means two of the five singers on “I Like The Way (This Kissing Game)” are murderers, one is paralyzed, and one is dead.
A few other former Hi-Five members have put together a new lineup of the group, and they even released an album in 2017. In the Unsung episode dedicated to Hi-Five a few years ago, those guys said that they were doing it to keep the music alive and to honor Tony Thompson’s memory. I get it. But if I were those guys, I’d want to get as far away from Hi-Five as possible. Hi-Five had a nice little two-year chart run, but even while that was happening, their story was full of all sorts of impossible misery.
Source: Tom Breihan, 2021
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