As my avid readers know, I immensely love the nineties R&B sound. While SWV, TLC, and Xscape were the premier girl groups until Destiny Child hit the scene, I wanted to show some love to Bad Boy’s female R&B trio Total.
After signing with Bad Boy Records, the group made an uncredited appearance singing the hook on The Notorious B.I.G’s “Juicy” in 1994. Frank White would later return the favor providing a memorable Hot 16 to the group’s debut single, “Can’t You See,” which would start building momentum for the group.
Hip Hop vibes continued with the second single, “No One Else.” However, the album’s third single, “Kissing You,” put the group in a different light for me. The legendary Raphael Saadiq wrote and produced this bop which showcased the trio’s voices. When creating the song, Saadiq wanted to represent NYC and linked up with guitarist Brian Julian.
Group member Keisha handled the first verse and the bridge. Pam sang the second verse while Kima joined in on the hook. I’ve always loved the song because it reminds you of the newness in a relationship. I was in middle school when the song hit the airwaves, so naturally, I felt like the trio was singing to me.
It would be a crime if I didn’t mention Puff Daddy’s remix of the song “Kissin’ You/Oh Honey.” Puff was already known for using samples to make hits, and for this remix, he used Delegation’s 1978 hit “Oh Honey” to create an even mellow vibe that tops the original.
F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch, she blossomed for him like a flower, and the incarnation was complete. I think that quote effectively solidifies Total’s “Kissing You.”
Final Grade: A
“Kissing You” and the remix are available on all streaming platforms.
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.”