Bell Biv Devoe

Bell Biv DeVoe was hatched in the minds of its members, New Edition's
Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe, upon the departure of lead
singer Bobby Brown in 1986. But it wasn't until after New Edition completed
its supporting tour for the album Heart Break in 1988 that the trio gave in to
the urgings of Heart Break producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and
decided to chart its own course. Bell Biv DeVoe enlisted a variety of
producers for its debut album, including Jam and Lewis and Public Enemy
producers Hank and Keith Shocklee. The results were quite unlike anything
in New Edition's repertoire: The beats were funkier, the lyrics and vocals were
sexier, and the overall sound had a harder, hip-hop-tinged edge. The album's
title track, "Poison," became a number three smash, and it was followed by the
equally successful "Do Me!" and the R&B hits "B.B.D. (I Thought it Was
Me)," "When Will I See You Smile Again?," and "Dope!" The album itself went
on to sell over three million copies and was followed by a remix album the next
year.
Meanwhile, Bivins took some time off to assemble the so-called East Coast
Family, discovering and producing debut albums for Another Bad Creation
and Boyz II Men. Hootie Mack, Bell Biv DeVoe's second proper album, was
released in 1993 but didn't make as much of an impact. In 1996, all three members
of Bell Biv DeVoe participated in a reunion of New Edition.
In the meantime Michael Bivins kept himself busy as a producer working with new
R&B groep The Transistions releasing their album "Back In Tha Days" early 2001.
December 2001 saw the release of Bell Biv DeVoe's third album BBD.

Discography  :