R&B Encores: Do You Really Want More? - Page 9

For an artist at their peak, the shine is brighter than the rays of summer. But the sun always sets. That hasn’t stopped some of our favorite R&B stars from attempting encores to put them back in the spotlight. Let’s take a look at some recent comebacks to the game by those who step to the mic and say that they never really left.

Boyz II Men

In the early 90’s, Boyz II Men helped define R&B, carrying the torch of the MoTown era. Michael, Nathan, Shawn and Wanya were our Fab Four but in recent years, they became a trio. Michael joined competing R&B group AZ Yet and feuded with his former soul brothers. The remaining Boyz released Twenty last year, but it just wasn’t the same. The Cooley High Harmony was gone.

New Edition

New Edition, led by bad boy Bobby Brown, peaked in the 80’s. Their ego’s drove them apart as there were many line up changes and solo careers. They reunited in 1996 for the Home Again tour but they were still a house divided. Bobby and crew gave it another go last year by embarking on their 30^th anniversary celebration of “Candy Girl.” So far, all the members are getting along and that’s as good as it gets.

SWV

These Sisters with Voices brought us “I’m So Into You,” “Weak” and “Can We.” In 1997, they went silent and admitted that they were not speaking to each other at one point. Now, however, their voices have jelled again with the just released “I Missed Us.”

Ginuwine

The bachelor’s smooth falsetto made him a sex symbol in the 90s. There were so many women who wanted to ride his pony as he topped the charts. His handsome looks have remained but he called out uber producer Timbaland for giving hits to the likes of Justin Timberlake while he struggled for one. He tried getting back on that horse by putting out new albums, but a lot of folks have left his rodeo.

Lionel Richie

The world is seemingly in and endless love affair with the R&B crooner. Lionel didn’t have a lot of hype and fanfare reserved for some of the other shining stars of the 80s who just dropped albums. Still, he managed to say hello again to the top of the charts.

Ashanti

In 2003, it was an Ashanti world. She reigned supreme as the ‘Princess of R&B.’ And then Beyoncé went solo. Her title was gone and she became an afterthought in recent years. Ashanti put out “The Woman You Love” in advance of her upcoming fifth album and time will tell if there’s still a place for her in the kingdom she once ruled.

Sade

Front woman Sade Adu is Sade. She may not be a 24/7 media machine but this is one smooth operator that knows she has an audience that will wait for her R&B grooves. Like a fine wine, she only gets better with age. As do her sales.