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+.
Nineties R&B was home to many female groups, so standing out took more than good looks and a major industry endorsement. I still remember seeing Allure in a Vibe ad and thinking how gorgeous those four women were. The question was whether they had the talent to compete in the music scene.
In 1996, I first heard the Houston quartet Ideal on the Original Gangsters soundtrack. Their interpretation of Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues,” featuring the Chi-Lites, caught my attention.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.