Album Review • Donald “Devante Swing” DeGrate, Dalvin “Mr. Dalvin” DeGrate, Cedric “K-Ci” Hailey, and Joel “JoJo” Hailey always stood out from other male R&B groups of the 90’s.You would never know K-Ci & JoJo grew up in a Pentecostal church as a gospel duo, which is how they met Devante and Mr. Dalvin who were also in a gospel group. From their baggy leather fits to the combat boots and baggy jeans, their fashion is one of the qualities that separated them from the rest.
Jodeci gave the industry edge along with amazing music, which gave them the nickname “Bad Boys of R&B.” The ladies loved them and the fellas wanted to be them. Their third studio album “The Show, The After Party,The Hotel” gave fans sultry hip hop hits. With the pen game of Devante, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and Stevie J, “The Show” shook up the R&B world with it’s provocative and sexually explicit sensibilities.
The moment K-Ci came out the gate with “Every time I close my eyes, I wake up feeling so horny” you knew ish was about to get real. Their first single “Freek’n You” gave R&B a new look because lyrics like this were only being heard from rappers. This hit gave the group leverage over other male groups in the 90’s, as the others were sticking to the clean route of ballads.
Although majority of the album gave us lustful vibes like “S-More” & “Let’s Do It All.” The 2 sets of brothers still showed us a softer side with their second single “Love U 4 Life.” I’m sure you heard this ballad at all the 90’s weddings and you may still hear it today. This is still one of my favorite Jodeci cuts because it gives that 90’s feel that made you daydream of that crush you wanted to walk down the aisle with. In the music video you can catch Dalvin’s then girlfriend T-Boz as the leading lady of the video as they are the couple getting married.
“Get On Up” the final single released from the album brought the up-tempo vibes that could be heard at all the cookouts in the 90’s. Containing a sample of Quincy Jones “Velas,” this hit felt like a good game of spades being played in the backyard while your uncle firing up the grill. This is the only single to date that Devante did not produce or write for the group.
Overall, this album showed the range of Jodeci and how they could switch it up but still give the fans what they want. “The Show” brought in new fans while still satisfying their day ones.
