It’s April 2017.. A long way from the record store days. When most of us snuck out to our favorite record store at midnight. Just to get an album before your friends did. Or, camped outside for two days just to meet your favorite artists. At an in-store appearance. Now albums drop basically any day of the week. Most of the artists you can’t understand. What it is they’re saying. Folks now camp outside for sneakers. Today’s favorite artists will shade a fan. Or, try to get your number. Groupies are more vile than ever. Let’s go back a bit.
Growing up in the 90s.. I’m not speaking to those born in say 92-98. Y’all should just take notes.
We had a heavy R&B group craze back then. En Vogue, TLC, Xscape, SWV, Jodeci, After 7, Jagged Edge, Jade, Boyz II Men, and Total. Just to name a few. We were some loyal fans back then. Some of us have remained loyal. Hoping that some of these groups reunite and save us from the music of today. Surprisingly… Some of them never left. For some the line up may have changed. However, their still putting out music and touring. Sometimes in your own city. For instance, En Vogue. Dawn and Maxine are no longer in the group. They’ve added Rhona Bennett. Cindy and Terry are still in the group touring all over the world. The EV3 lineup not to confuse with the 1997 album. Actually dropped a new song and an album is expected sometime this year. SWV, reunited in 2007 is currently touring. Dropped two albums and was nominated for a Grammy. TLC.. Many say that this group had broken up. No they lost a member. Due to an untimely death and has continued to tour and make appearances. This month they dropped a new single “Way Back” featuring Snoop Dogg and have an album coming in June. Yaaaassszzzzz!!!! After 7 went their separate ways in 1997. Reunited in 2006 and is now a quartet. Melvin’s son has joined the group. After Melvin had a stroke. Melvin has since rejoined the group and they released an album titled Timeless in 2016. Jagged Edge has never disbanded and is working on their ninth album and still touring. Jodeci, came back together and released a critically acclaimed album in 2015. Titled The Past, Present and Future. We did get our lives when Kima, Keisha and Pam came back to together for the Bad Boy Reunion Tour. We’re hoping for an album!! Meanwhile Kima and Pam are currently touring. Keisha does make appearances. Lets hope for a Total album. Boyz II Men became a trio after 2003. When Mike left the group.. He was on Iyanla recently… get that tea. They’re still touring and putting out music. Jade disbanded in 1997 . Since then Joi became a solo artist and author, Di began touring with Rod Stewart and other artists. Tonya became a interior designer and has done many of your favorite celebrity homes. In 2013 Joi and Tonya recruited Myracle Holloway and released a single titled “Baby Luv”. Here comes the “Look At God!!!” moment. Xscape has announced their reuniting. This is absolutely everything!!! When folks mention 90s music. An Xscape song will definitely be mentioned. After years of not speaking… etc… You can see it on Unsung. They recently were at a radio station doing an interview telling us what to expect. This is music to everyone’s ears. I would give anything to see TLC, SWV, En Vogue and Xscape in concert. It would be a long show but definitely worth it. Here’s what some of your favorite groups look like today.
