In addition to offering scene-stealing moments in the first two House Party films, Hip Hop and R&B group Full Force made a name for themselves as in-demand producers. Initially, the group crafted tracks for artists such as UTFO, Doctor Ice, Samantha Fox, Patti LaBelle, The Force M.D.s, and of course, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. Those records would lead to the group working with icon artists Bob Dylan, Patti LaBelle, and James Brown. When the resurgence of teen pop arrived in the late nineties, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and ‘N Sync were all blessed with the Full Force magic.
Full Force has ten albums in their discography, and I wanted to give them some flowers for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday. Naturally, I could’ve gone with “All In My Mind,” one of the group’s biggest hits from 1987’s Guess Who’s Comin’ to the Crib? Instead, I chose “Your Place Or Mine” from the group’s sixth album, 1992’s Don’t Sleep.
The group switched labels for this album and primarily handled the production once again. The song starts with a little bit of a jazzy vibe before a transition into that signature nineties R&B sound. The group vocals stay within their natural register, and the lyrics are relatable.
Ideally, the song is about a man who has been dating a lady for a while. He’s ready to take the relationship to the next level as long as she’s ready for that type of physical intimacy. Credit to the group for crafting a mature song that sets the mood that acknowledges it’s always a woman’s choice.
Although the music was quality as a group, Full Force never had the same success they did when producing for other artists. Nevertheless, “Your Place Or Mine” is one of many impressive slow jams in their catalog.
Final Grade: B+
“Your Place Or Mine” from Don’t Sleep is available on all streaming platforms.
This weekend is about celebrating the King of Pop, Mr. Michael Jackson, and his legacy. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to highlight his debut solo album, “Got To Be There,” which was released on January 24th, 1972.
Fifteen years after his untimely passing, the King of Pop’s music continues to resonate with us, a testament to its timeless appeal. As we honor his heavenly birthday this past Thursday, I wanted to pay tribute to him with ‘Loving You’ for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
When we reminisce about the potential of lead singers who could have been iconic solo acts, the name Sisqó immediately springs to mind. The front man for R&B quartet Dru Hill, Sisqó, stormed onto the scene in 1999 with his solo debut ‘Unleash the Dragon.’ The success of the singles ‘Incomplete’ and ‘Thong Song’ propelled Sisqó’s solo debut to sell a staggering five million copies in the US alone, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry.