Boyz II Men article from Vibe

[bigted]

I checked out the latest issue of Vibe (December 2006, with Em and 50 on the cover) and I came across this piece on Boyz II Men, who always remain my favorite r&b group, I remember singing to their songs at a young age, I actually won a singing contest at a school dance singing "End Of The Road" when I was 12 years old at my elementary school, really I wanted to be a singer first instead of rapper originally 'cause of them, check it out, btw really whatever happened to Uncle Sam? I actually was listening to his '98 self titled album today and it still blows me away like when I first heard it, he really needs to put out more music for real, he's a great singer, him and Shawn seemed to have good chemistry too, did Boyz II Men ever sign anymore artists to Stonecreek or was Sam the only one?:

"Not Too Hard, Not Too Soft"

by Laura Checkoway

-They've sold more records than any group in the history of Philadelphia, they're the most commercially successful R&B act and they specialized in harmonies to make your heart hurt. But where are they now?

-Growing up in the 1970s, Boyz II Men's Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, Michael McCary, and Wanya Morris were immersed in Philadelphia soul. While housecleaning on weekends, each of their single mothers blasted the sounds of the O'Jays of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, featuring Teddy Penergrass-artists who turned out hits for Philly's R&B legends Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. "It was on the radio every day," recalls Morris, who was raised in North Philly's Richard Allen Projects.

After graduating from Philly's famed High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, where they were classmates with ?uestlove and Black Thought of The Roots, Boyz II Men, then known as Unique Attraction, were signed by New Edition's Michael Bivins, BIIM's clean-cut image was a refreshing shift from the bump-'n'-grind R&B that ruled the early '90s, but the group had its misgivings. "We were a little apprehensive about walking the streets in Philly with that preppy Alex Vanderpool bive on," Wanya says, "but we had to live it."

Boyz II Men did more than live it-they lived it up. Their '91 debut, Cooleyhighharmony, sold 12 million records, and Geno's Steaks of South Philly became an instant tourist attraction after appearing in the video for the group's No. 1 Pop Single "Motownphilly." The Babyface-penned ballad of 1992, "End Of The Road" was one of the biggest hits in music history, spending 13 weeks at No. 1, braking Elvis Presley's 35-year-old record of 12 weeks at No.1. To date, the group has sold a stunning 45 million records worldwide.

But after 5 years of nonstop touring, problems set in. Mike, suffering from back spasms due to scoliosis, had to travel with a team of doctors just to keep him upright on stage. And the group was on the verge of their own breakdown. "We were at one another's throats," says Morris. "We were multimillionaires, there were a lot of girls-same stuff everybody goes through. But ours was on the low 'cause we wore bow ties." When they returned after a two-year hiatus with 2000's underrated NathanMichaelShawnWanya(Universal Motown), the musical climate had changed. Hip hop had completely taken over. R&B stardom was becoming very here today, gone tomorrow, and Boyz II Men- as we'd all come to know them-had been gone.

Today the boys are married men with families, save the still-single Nathan. Shawn, Wanya, and Nathan are planning to open a casino in Philadelphia, complete with cheesesteaks and local music memorabilia. Fifteen years after ushering in a new generation of Philly soul, the group continues to record and to tour without Mike(a new album, The Remedy, is due in '07), and though they haven't had a hit record in a while, it's really not so hard for the Boyz to say good-bye to yesterday. "We don't need to be on everybody's red carpet of radio station," Nathan says. "When it comes to Boyz II Men, you want to hear us sing, and that's where we want to be."

[bigted]

So what does everybody think about this article?

[JumpinJack AJ]

I have that issue...so i already read it...ha ha. I'm glad 2 see the new album is slated 2 drop in the US. I'm probably still getting the Japan release cuz i can't wait...and it has 2 bonus trax. I'm sure the packaging (and maybe even the tracklisting) will be different.

[bigted]

Yeah I've had the issue for awhile but I haven't been able to look at it until last weekend 'cause I've been so busy lately, lol, it's gonna be great to have another Boyz II Men disc, they're awesome, you can't get enough real soulful artists in your life, btw is there a great deal somewhere online for the imported version? I don't think I could wait any longer either, lol, btw I tried putting a Boyz II Men avatar in but I wasn't allowed to, does anyone know where I could get a get a good one to put in? EDIT: I just got one but it looks kinda small right? Is there a way somebody could find a lil' bigger one?

Edited December 12, 2006 by bigted

[Turntable]

Thanks or this. I'm glad they still release.