The year was 1995, and I was a braces-wearing pimply-faced fourteen-year-old. The premiere R&B groups were Boyz II Men and Jodeci, basking in their third album’s success. The Thanksgiving movie season was getting ready to kick off with Toy Story and Goldeneye on track to do huge numbers. Around the same Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson would reunite for their third film, Money Train.
Growing up as a film connoisseur in the nineties, one of my favorite things about movies was the soundtrack. Sometimes an introduction to a new artist would come through a soundtrack appearance. In particular, the Hip Hop and R&B ones. My pick for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday is an R&B group whose music I first discovered on a soundtrack.
Most people think 112’s debut song was the classic “Only You” the group’s first recording was actually “Making Love” from the Money Train soundtrack. Up-and-coming producers Tim & Bob produced the song in addition to co-writing it with the members of 112. Q, Mike, Slim, and Daron were in their late teens when recording the track, and the group’s signature harmony comes across effortlessly. Q handles the first verse, with Slim coming in on the second verse. However, each member gets a chance to shine on the song. Concurrently the group’s church roots come across in the bridge.
While “Cupid,” the group’s signature ballad, would start a great run of hit slow jams for them, “Making Love” is a personal favorite. Along with “Why Didn’t You Love Me,” the song is one of the 112 rare ballads from the group’s early days that deserves more recognition.
Final Grade: A
“Making Love” from the Money Train soundtrack is available on YouTube.
Growing up in the nineties, movies aimed at a melanin audience often featured soundtracks that had to be just as flavorful as the films themselves. This week, for Slow Jam Saturday, I want to take a trip back to 1993 and highlight one of the slow jams from the soundtrack of “Menace II Society”.
Last week marked two significant anniversaries for one of the greatest artists of all time, Mr. Prince Rogers Nelson. It’s only fitting that I show him some love for Second Listen Sunday. The first anniversary was on the 21st, commemorating nine years since his passing. The second anniversary was on the 22nd, celebrating the 40th anniversary of his seventh studio album, “Around the World in a Day.”
One of my most significant decisions late last year was to pledge to Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. At the time of this writing, I am in Atlantic City for my fraternity’s Regional Conference, where I will represent my chapter, Beta Alpha Omega. In that regard, I believe the perfect song for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday is “The Best Man I Can Be.”