Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe, famously known as Bell Biv DeVoe, are taking a break from their tour to join the latest episode of Behind the Music from the comfort of your home. The iconic music trio will share their inspiring story in the second episode of the newest season of the beloved music series. The show captures all the highlights, including the group’s early struggles with record labels, Bobby Brown’s exit from New Edition, and Johnny Gill’s joining to BBD’s solo success.
In the latest episode of “Behind the Music,” we get an in-depth look at the personal stories of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe. The documentary becomes more intriguing when we hear from the group’s former manager, Hiram Hicks, and those involved with the group’s breakthrough debut album, “Poison.” As a diehard fan of New Edition and its extended musical branches, I was fascinated to learn about Bell Biv DeVoe’s fusion of R&B, hip-hop, and new jack swing, which created a unique sound that resonated with audiences worldwide.
However, the real focus of “Behind the Music” is the behind-the-scenes drama that Bell Biv DeVoe faced. The group members had to overcome skepticism from critics and industry insiders who doubted their ability to break away from the shadow of New Edition and establish themselves as a successful group in their own right. The documentary also sheds light on the mental health struggles, suicide attempts, and in-fighting that the group endured.
One issue with the episode was that the group could have spoken more about the music from their lesser-selling albums. While the documentary does highlight the success of “Poison,” I would have loved to hear their insights on the second, third, and fourth BBD albums, which were not as well-received. Nevertheless, the latest episode of “Behind the Music” should offer enough for diehard New Edition fans who want to learn more about the group’s extended musical branches and their impact on the music industry.
Final Grade: A-
Bell Biv DeVoe: Behind The Music is available to stream now on Paramount+.
My introduction to Nate Dogg goes back to Dr. Dre’s 1992 debut, The Chronic, and the song “Deeez Nuuuts.” Even then, something about Nate’s voice set him apart from everybody else. He wasn’t just singing on rap records. He was bringing soul, gospel, street knowledge, and West Coast cool into the same space. He set the standard for hook singers in hip-hop, and dare I say, he’s still vastly underrated.
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to give Stevie Wonder his due as he prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his masterpiece, “Songs in the Key of Life,” on tour. While the easy choice could have been “Knocks Me Off My Feet”—a classic that still resonates fifty years later—I chose “From the Bottom of My Heart,” the second single from his twenty-third studio album, “A Time to Love,” released in 2005.
It’s hard to believe that an iconic singing competition like American Idol has produced only two Black male winners in its more than two-and-a-half-decade history. Jamal Roberts made history last year when he won the show, following Ruben Studdard’s well-deserved victory in Season Two.