Bell Biv DeVoe
Encyclopedia
Bell Biv DeVoe is an American R&B musical group which branched off from New Edition
. It consists of three of New Edition's previous members, Ricky Bell
, Michael Bivins
, and Ronnie DeVoe
. Although the group peaked in popularity in 1991, with their debut album, Poison
, they still continue to perform as a group today.
. The album has been credited as pioneering the "New Jack Swing
" sound of the early 1990s, combining hip-hop, funk, soul, and pop music. This fusion of styles helped to expose them to a fan base who prefer a harder edge sound, while at the same time helped pave the way for future R&B acts. Poison reached number 1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and its title track
, along with its second single, "Do Me!", both reached number 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Not soon there after, Richard Wolf
and Epic Mazur
were responsible for the stunningly infectious remix of "Do Me!" (which hit Number One on the dance charts). Poison also spawned other significant hits which include "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?", "When Will I See You Smile Again?", and "She's Dope!". Poison sold over three million copies, and was followed up by a remix album titled WBBD-Bootcity. Richard Wolf
and Epic Mazur
who - with their special blend of rhythm and blues, pop and rock - created a singular style that helped create BBD's premiere album, and Poison achieve triple Platinum success .
Bell Biv Devoe went on to release Hootie Mack in 1993, on MCA Records, and the more hardcore rap/R&B influenced BBD in 2001, on Biv 10 Records. Neither album was as successful as Poison. Despite the fact that their last album was released in 2001, the members of Bell Biv Devoe continue to perform together as a group. They also participated in several New Edition reunions, and continue to perform with them on occasion.
, the character Christopher Turk
(played by Donald Faison
) dances to Bell Biv DeVoe's song "Poison
".
In another episode of Scrubs
, Elliot Reid
says she loves Bell Biv DeVoe, and she and Carla Espinosa
sing a few words of the same song, "Poison
".
In one 2011 episode of the animated FX network series "Archer" titled "Jeu Monegasque", the opening sequence features the Grand Prix of Monaco. The winners of the first qualifying heat of the Grand Prix are listed at the conclusion of the heat as 1) Bell, 2) Bivens +3.420, 3) Devoe +3.691. The Jackie Stewart-style announcer also mentions their names in his call of the heat.
In one episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" titled "The Butler Did It", the group records a music video in the Banks' residence.
In one episode of the "King of Queens" titled "Pour Judgment", the character Doug Heffernan (played by Kevin James
) refers to "Bel, Biv and Devoe" as being regulars in a nightclub called Poison at which he used to bounce and did a bar tending gig.
New Edition
New Edition is an R&B group formed in Boston in 1978. The group reached its height of popularity during the 1980s. They were the progenitors of the boy band movement of the 1980s and 1990s and led the way for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync...
. It consists of three of New Edition's previous members, Ricky Bell
Ricky Bell (singer)
Ricky Bell, nicknamed "Slick" is an American R&B singer best known as one of the founding members of New Edition and the lead singer of Bell Biv DeVoe...
, Michael Bivins
Michael Bivins
Michael Lamont Bivins, a.k.a. Biv , is the founder and member of the R&B group New Edition and the hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe...
, and Ronnie DeVoe
Ronnie DeVoe
Ronnie DeVoe, aka R.D., is one of the members of the R&B sextet New Edition....
. Although the group peaked in popularity in 1991, with their debut album, Poison
Poison (album)
-Album:-Singles:"—" denotes releases that did not chart.-Chart procession and succession:-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic and Discogs.*arranging – Carl Bourelly, Roney Hooks, Hank Shocklee*art direction – Bell Biv DeVoe...
, they still continue to perform as a group today.
History
After closing the doors for 1980's R&B act, New Edition, Bell, Bivins, and DeVoe went on to form Bell Biv Devoe, at the suggestion of producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Upon accepting the idea, MCA records wrote down the name "Bell Bivins Devoe", but Bivins suggested they remove the "ins" from his name and just call the band "Bell Biv Devoe." With help from Public Enemy producers Eric Sadler, Hank and Keith Shocklee, and several others, Bell Biv Devoe released their debut album Poison in 1990, on MCA RecordsMCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. The album has been credited as pioneering the "New Jack Swing
New jack swing
New jack swing or swingbeat is a fusion genre spearheaded by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle which became extremely popular from the late-1980s into the mid-1990s. Its influence, along with hip-hop, seeped into pop culture and was the definitive sound of the inventive Black New York club scene...
" sound of the early 1990s, combining hip-hop, funk, soul, and pop music. This fusion of styles helped to expose them to a fan base who prefer a harder edge sound, while at the same time helped pave the way for future R&B acts. Poison reached number 1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and its title track
Poison (Bell Biv DeVoe song)
"Poison" is a 1990 single by the New Edition spinoff group, Bell Biv DeVoe. This song—in the style of New Jack Swing, a late-80s hybrid of R&B and hip hop—was the group's most successful, and sings of the dangers of falling in love. "Poison" was the first single taken from Bell Biv DeVoe's debut...
, along with its second single, "Do Me!", both reached number 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Not soon there after, Richard Wolf
Richard Wolf
Richard "Wolfie" Wolf is a multi-platinum-selling music producer, songwriter and remixer, and an Emmy Award winning film and television composer....
and Epic Mazur
Epic Mazur
Epic Mazur is an American vocalist, rapper, and record producer. He is best known as a founder and frontman of Crazy Town.-Early life:...
were responsible for the stunningly infectious remix of "Do Me!" (which hit Number One on the dance charts). Poison also spawned other significant hits which include "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?", "When Will I See You Smile Again?", and "She's Dope!". Poison sold over three million copies, and was followed up by a remix album titled WBBD-Bootcity. Richard Wolf
Richard Wolf
Richard "Wolfie" Wolf is a multi-platinum-selling music producer, songwriter and remixer, and an Emmy Award winning film and television composer....
and Epic Mazur
Epic Mazur
Epic Mazur is an American vocalist, rapper, and record producer. He is best known as a founder and frontman of Crazy Town.-Early life:...
who - with their special blend of rhythm and blues, pop and rock - created a singular style that helped create BBD's premiere album, and Poison achieve triple Platinum success .
Bell Biv Devoe went on to release Hootie Mack in 1993, on MCA Records, and the more hardcore rap/R&B influenced BBD in 2001, on Biv 10 Records. Neither album was as successful as Poison. Despite the fact that their last album was released in 2001, the members of Bell Biv Devoe continue to perform together as a group. They also participated in several New Edition reunions, and continue to perform with them on occasion.
Awards and nominations
The timing of Bell Biv DeVoe's accolades corresponds directly with the release of their first album Poison. In 1991, they were recognized at the Soul Train Music Awards for Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year, Group, Band or Duo.Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thereshold) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
NZ |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
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| 1990 | Poison Poison (album) -Album:-Singles:"—" denotes releases that did not chart.-Chart procession and succession:-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic and Discogs.*arranging – Carl Bourelly, Roney Hooks, Hank Shocklee*art direction – Bell Biv DeVoe...
|
5 | 1 | — | 13 | 35 |
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... : 4× Platinum |
||
| 1993 | Hootie Mack Hootie Mack Hootie Mack is the second studio album released by R&B group, Bell Biv DeVoe. It was released in June 1993 through MCA Records and featured production from the group itself and some of R&B's top producers such as Chris Stokes, L.A. Reid and Babyface... |
19 | 6 | 3 | 33 | — |
|
||
| 2001 | BBD BBD (album) BBD is the third studio album by R&B group, Bell Biv DeVoe, their first recording since 1993's "Hootie Mack". In his review of the record, Jason Birchmeier gave it 2.5 stars, and said "It all amounts to an unapologetically brash album, one that turns seduction into sport... Universal Records Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:... |
— | 62 | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Remix albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
Certifications (sales threshold) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US R&B |
|||
| 1991 | WBBD-Bootcity!: The Remix Album
|
18 | 18 |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales threshold) |
Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
US Dance |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
NZ |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
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| 1990 | "Poison Poison (Bell Biv DeVoe song) "Poison" is a 1990 single by the New Edition spinoff group, Bell Biv DeVoe. This song—in the style of New Jack Swing, a late-80s hybrid of R&B and hip hop—was the group's most successful, and sings of the dangers of falling in love. "Poison" was the first single taken from Bell Biv DeVoe's debut... " |
3 | 1 | 7 | — | 3 | 19 |
|
Poison |
| "Do Me! Do Me! "Do Me!" is a song by hip hop/R&B group Bell Biv DeVoe. The song was released in 1990 as the second single from the group's multi-platinum debut album, Poison. A remix is included on the group's WBBD-Bootcity!: The Remix Album, released in 1991.... " |
3 | 4 | 6 | — | 8 | 56 | |||
| "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)? B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)? "B.B.D. ?" is the title of a number-one R&B single by Bell Biv Devoe. As the third single from the album Poison, the hit song spent one week at number-one on the US R&B chart and peaked at number twenty-six on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.... " |
26 | 1 | 16 | — | 37 | 86 | |||
| 1991 | "When Will I See You Smile Again?" | 63 | 3 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "She's Dope!" | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | WBBD-Bootcity | ||
| "Word to the Mutha!" (featuring New Edition New Edition New Edition is an R&B group formed in Boston in 1978. The group reached its height of popularity during the 1980s. They were the progenitors of the boy band movement of the 1980s and 1990s and led the way for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync... ) |
13 | 1 | — | — | 11 | — | |||
| 1992 | "The Best Things in Life Are Free The Best Things in Life Are Free "The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a song by Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson.-Song information:Released in 1992, the song was originally recorded for the Mo' Money soundtrack... " (Luther Vandross Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times... featuring Janet Jackson Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years... , BBD and Ralph Tresvant Ralph Tresvant Ralph Tresvant , aka Rizz, is an American tenor singer, best known as one of the lead singers in New Edition.-New Edition:Tresvant sang lead on many of the New Edition lead singles including "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now" and "If It Isn't Love"... ) |
10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | Mo' Money Mo' Money (soundtrack) Mo' Money is a 1992 soundtrack for the movie Mo' Money. The soundtrack was very successful, it reached and peaked at number six on the US Billboard 200, and peaked at number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart... |
|
| "Gangsta" | 21 | 22 | — | 17 | 11 | — | Hootie Mack | ||
| 1993 | "Something in Your Eyes" | 38 | 6 | — | — | — | 60 | ||
| "Above the Rim" | — | 81 | — | — | 15 | — | |||
| 2001 | "The Hot Shit" | — | — | — | — | — | — | BBD | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
In popular culture
In one episode of the comedy-drama TV-series ScrubsScrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
, the character Christopher Turk
Christopher Turk
Christopher Duncan Turk, M.D., is a fictional character played by Donald Faison on the American comedy-drama Scrubs. Turk has appeared in every episode except three Season 8 episodes, "My Saving Grace", "My New Role" and "My Lawyer's in Love". Donald Faison is the only original cast member,...
(played by Donald Faison
Donald Faison
Donald Adeosun Faison is an American actor, comedian, and voice actor best known for his role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC comedy-drama Scrubs and as Murray in the film Clueless and the subsequent television series of the same name.Faison has also co-starred in the films Remember the Titans ,...
) dances to Bell Biv DeVoe's song "Poison
Poison (Bell Biv DeVoe song)
"Poison" is a 1990 single by the New Edition spinoff group, Bell Biv DeVoe. This song—in the style of New Jack Swing, a late-80s hybrid of R&B and hip hop—was the group's most successful, and sings of the dangers of falling in love. "Poison" was the first single taken from Bell Biv DeVoe's debut...
".
In another episode of Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
, Elliot Reid
Elliot Reid
Dr. Elliot Reid is a fictional character played by Sarah Chalke in the American comedy-drama Scrubs. She has appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons except two Season 8 episodes, "My Last Words" and "My Lawyer's in Love"....
says she loves Bell Biv DeVoe, and she and Carla Espinosa
Carla Espinosa
Carla Espinosa, RN is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama Scrubs, portrayed by Judy Reyes.Carla has appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons except three Season 8 episodes, "My Happy Place", "My Cookie Pants" and "My Full Moon"...
sing a few words of the same song, "Poison
Poison (Bell Biv DeVoe song)
"Poison" is a 1990 single by the New Edition spinoff group, Bell Biv DeVoe. This song—in the style of New Jack Swing, a late-80s hybrid of R&B and hip hop—was the group's most successful, and sings of the dangers of falling in love. "Poison" was the first single taken from Bell Biv DeVoe's debut...
".
In one 2011 episode of the animated FX network series "Archer" titled "Jeu Monegasque", the opening sequence features the Grand Prix of Monaco. The winners of the first qualifying heat of the Grand Prix are listed at the conclusion of the heat as 1) Bell, 2) Bivens +3.420, 3) Devoe +3.691. The Jackie Stewart-style announcer also mentions their names in his call of the heat.
In one episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" titled "The Butler Did It", the group records a music video in the Banks' residence.
In one episode of the "King of Queens" titled "Pour Judgment", the character Doug Heffernan (played by Kevin James
Kevin James
Kevin James is an American playwrite, actor, writer, and producer. He is widely known for playing Doug Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens. He is also known for his lead roles in the comedy films I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Grown Ups, The Dilemma, and...
) refers to "Bel, Biv and Devoe" as being regulars in a nightclub called Poison at which he used to bounce and did a bar tending gig.