Juanita Stokes
Encyclopedia
Juanita Stokes, currently known as Needa S. (formerly Smooth), (born 1971) is an American
singer, rapper and actress. She is the daughter of actress Irene Stokes and younger sister of music executive Chris Stokes.
produced
by Chris Stokes called, Smooth & Legit
in 1990. This album released two singles
which did not do well on the charts
. After having established the then pre-teen R&B trio Immature
in the early 1990s — Stokes, now a fledgling music executive, focused his attention on producing Stokes' second album. Using the moniker Smooth, her first single, 1993s "You Been Played," was featured on the soundtrack to Menace II Society
. Her album of the same title
was released the same year on TNT/Jive Records
.
Smooth's eponymous third album was released in 1995. The album featured a cameo appearance by 2Pac. Its lead-off single, "Mind Blowin'
", was well received by radio, while the video garnered spins on MTV
and BET
. The song peaked at #7 on US
Billboard
Hot Rap Songs
chart. The album fared slightly better than its predecessor. The same year, however, she performed a rap cameo in Immature's single, "We Got It." Shortly thereafter she left TNT and Jive Records, signing a new recording contract
with Perspective/A&M Records
.
Smooth's final album, Reality, was released in March 1998. It was fashioned with a wide array of record producer
s including Stokes, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
, Lance "L.A." Alexander, and Brion James.
Although the first single, "Strawberries" (which featured a sample
loop of Patrice Rushen
's "Where There Is Love"), charted in the upper half of the Billboard Hot 100
, album sales were not as high as with her previous album. The second single "He Thinks She Don't Know" went virtually unnoticed. When Perspective Records was folded into its A&M parent, they did not opt to keep Smooth on the roster.
In 2002, Smooth signed to her brother's label, TUG Records
, accumulated a new style by adopting a new stage name, "Needa S.", and had begun work on an LP tentatively titled, What?
The project was to feature production by Platinum Status, Chris Stokes, Jermaine Dupri
, Troy Taylor and Marques Houston
, alongside guest appearances by Da Brat
, Jhené, Marques Houston, B2K
and Mila J. Two singles ("Sensitive" & "Baby's Mama") were put out in early 2003 in promotional advance to attract buzz, but when the singles failed to make an entry on the Billboard charts
, the album was shelved.
By late 2003 and early 2004, Smooth provided background vocals for TG4
and Jhené's unreleased debut albums.
In 2006, Smooth launched an official MySpace
profile page, revealing a cancelled EP that was set to be released in order to generate further buzz for What?; the same year, she was featured alongside former Immature
member, Young Rome
on the track, "Silly of Me", which has been speculated to be her last known musical effort.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, rapper and actress. She is the daughter of actress Irene Stokes and younger sister of music executive Chris Stokes.
Music career
She was first known as MC Smooth, releasing an albumAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Chris Stokes called, Smooth & Legit
Smooth & Legit
Smooth & Legit is the debut album by MC Smooth. It was released on April 27, 1990 through independent label, Crush Music and was produced by her brother Chris Stokes and former N.W.A member, Arabian Prince...
in 1990. This album released two singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
which did not do well on the charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. After having established the then pre-teen R&B trio Immature
IMx
IMx , are an American R&B group, managed by record producer Chris Stokes. Its members include Marques "Batman" Houston , Jerome "Romeo" Jones , and Kelton "LDB" Kessee , all natives of Los Angeles, California, where the group was formed...
in the early 1990s — Stokes, now a fledgling music executive, focused his attention on producing Stokes' second album. Using the moniker Smooth, her first single, 1993s "You Been Played," was featured on the soundtrack to Menace II Society
Menace II Society
Menace II Society is a 1993 urban crime drama and the directorial debut of twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes. Menace II Society is set in South Central Los Angeles and follows the life of a hoodlum named Caine Lawson and his close friends. The film gained notoriety for its frequent scenes of...
. Her album of the same title
You Been Played
You Been Played is the second album by Smooth. It was released on August 24, 1993 through Jive Records and was produced by Juanita Stokes and her brother Chris Stokes...
was released the same year on TNT/Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
.
Smooth's eponymous third album was released in 1995. The album featured a cameo appearance by 2Pac. Its lead-off single, "Mind Blowin'
Mind Blowin' (Smooth song)
"Mind Blowin" was the lead single from Smooth's self-titled third album, Smooth. The song became a hit for Smooth, making it to four different Billboard charts, find the most success on the Rap charts where it peaked at #7....
", was well received by radio, while the video garnered spins on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
. The song peaked at #7 on US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Rap Songs
Hot Rap Songs
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
chart. The album fared slightly better than its predecessor. The same year, however, she performed a rap cameo in Immature's single, "We Got It." Shortly thereafter she left TNT and Jive Records, signing a new recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Perspective/A&M Records
Perspective Records
Perspective Records was an American record label, launched in 1991 by the producing team Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, through a joint venture with A&M Records—which Jam/Lewis had had a prosperous working relationship with throughout the 1980s, with several of its major acts including Janet Jackson, The...
.
Smooth's final album, Reality, was released in March 1998. It was fashioned with a wide array of record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s including Stokes, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Terry Lewis
Terry Lewis may refer to:*Terry Lewis, member of American R&B and pop songwriting team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis*Terry Lewis , former Queensland police commissioner who was convicted and jailed for corruption...
, Lance "L.A." Alexander, and Brion James.
Although the first single, "Strawberries" (which featured a sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
loop of Patrice Rushen
Patrice Rushen
Patrice Rushen is a Grammy Award-winning African American R&B and jazz vocalist, composer and pianist.-Biography:...
's "Where There Is Love"), charted in the upper half of the Billboard Hot 100
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...
, album sales were not as high as with her previous album. The second single "He Thinks She Don't Know" went virtually unnoticed. When Perspective Records was folded into its A&M parent, they did not opt to keep Smooth on the roster.
In 2002, Smooth signed to her brother's label, TUG Records
The Ultimate Group
TUG Entertainment , is a record label that is home to such artists as Omarion, Marques Houston, Mila J, O'Ryan, 2 Much and NLT.TUG CEO Chris Stokes is responsible for many films involving TUG roster members e.g...
, accumulated a new style by adopting a new stage name, "Needa S.", and had begun work on an LP tentatively titled, What?
The project was to feature production by Platinum Status, Chris Stokes, Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...
, Troy Taylor and Marques Houston
Marques Houston
Marques Barrett Houston is an American R&B singer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. A member of the R&B singing group Immature/IMx until 2002, he went solo in 2003. He is also the cousin of J-Boog, former member of the R&B/Hip-Hop group B2K....
, alongside guest appearances by Da Brat
Da Brat
Shawntae Harris , better known as Da Brat, is an American rapper and actress. Her debut album, Funkdafied, sold one million copies, making her the first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album.-Early life:...
, Jhené, Marques Houston, B2K
B2K
B2K was an American R&B music group. The group met in 1998, established in 2001, and managed by music producer Chris Stokes with Lil' Fizz, J-Boog, Raz-B, and Omarion as members. The group disbanded in 2004 due to internal disagreements.-2001-2002: B2K:...
and Mila J. Two singles ("Sensitive" & "Baby's Mama") were put out in early 2003 in promotional advance to attract buzz, but when the singles failed to make an entry on the Billboard charts
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, the album was shelved.
By late 2003 and early 2004, Smooth provided background vocals for TG4
Tom Gurl Four
TG4 was an all girl R&B quartet. The group consisted of membersKeisha Henry, Davida Williams, Amber Streeter, and Ashley Gallo.- Music career :...
and Jhené's unreleased debut albums.
In 2006, Smooth launched an official MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
profile page, revealing a cancelled EP that was set to be released in order to generate further buzz for What?; the same year, she was featured alongside former Immature
IMx
IMx , are an American R&B group, managed by record producer Chris Stokes. Its members include Marques "Batman" Houston , Jerome "Romeo" Jones , and Kelton "LDB" Kessee , all natives of Los Angeles, California, where the group was formed...
member, Young Rome
Young Rome
Jerome Isaac Jones , better known by his stage name Romeo/Young Rome, is an American rapper, singer and actor. He is a former member of R&B singing group Immature/IMx and released his solo debut album, Food for Thought, in 2004....
on the track, "Silly of Me", which has been speculated to be her last known musical effort.
Albums
| Year | Title | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. 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... |
U.S. Heatseekers Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
||
| 1990 | Smooth & Legit Smooth & Legit Smooth & Legit is the debut album by MC Smooth. It was released on April 27, 1990 through independent label, Crush Music and was produced by her brother Chris Stokes and former N.W.A member, Arabian Prince...
|
72 | – |
| 1993 | You Been Played You Been Played You Been Played is the second album by Smooth. It was released on August 24, 1993 through Jive Records and was produced by Juanita Stokes and her brother Chris Stokes... Jive Records Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African... |
77 | – |
| 1995 | Smooth Smooth (album) Smooth is the self-titled third album by Smooth. It was released on August 1, 1995 through Jive Records and was produced by Chris Stokes. Smooth made it to #35 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #17 on the Top Heatseekers.... |
35 | 17 |
| 1998 | Reality Reality (Smooth album) Reality is the fourth album by Smooth. It was released on March 10, 1998 through Perspective Records and featured production from Chris Stokes and the production duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis... Perspective Records Perspective Records was an American record label, launched in 1991 by the producing team Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, through a joint venture with A&M Records—which Jam/Lewis had had a prosperous working relationship with throughout the 1980s, with several of its major acts including Janet Jackson, The... |
48 | 32 |
| 2003 | What?
The Ultimate Group TUG Entertainment , is a record label that is home to such artists as Omarion, Marques Houston, Mila J, O'Ryan, 2 Much and NLT.TUG CEO Chris Stokes is responsible for many films involving TUG roster members e.g... |
– | – |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 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... |
U.S. 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,... |
U.S. Rap Hot Rap Songs Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
UK Singles Chart 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 ... |
|||
| 1995 | "Mind Blowin' Mind Blowin' (Smooth song) "Mind Blowin" was the lead single from Smooth's self-titled third album, Smooth. The song became a hit for Smooth, making it to four different Billboard charts, find the most success on the Rap charts where it peaked at #7.... " |
75 | 31 | 7 | 36 | Smooth |
| 1995 | "It's Summertime (Let It Get Into You)" | – | – | – | 46 | Smooth |
| 1996 | "Love Groove (Groove With You)" | – | – | – | 46 | Smooth |
| 1995 | "Undercover Lover Undercover Lover (Smooth song) "Undercover Lover" was a single from Smooth's self-titled third album, Smooth.-Single track listing:# Undercover Lover 3:39# Undercover Lover 5:47# Undercover Lover 6:10... " |
– | – | – | 41 | Smooth |
| 1998 | "Strawberries Strawberries (song) "Strawberries" was the lead single released from Smooth's fourth and final album, Reality. The song became the most successful of Smooth's career, making it to 49 on the Billboard 200 and 17 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.... " |
49 | 17 | – | – | Reality |
| 2003 | "Sensitive" (featuring Da Brat Da Brat Shawntae Harris , better known as Da Brat, is an American rapper and actress. Her debut album, Funkdafied, sold one million copies, making her the first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album.-Early life:... & Jhené) |
– | – | – | – | What? |
| "Baby's Mama (Carrying Your Baby)" (featuring Marques Houston Marques Houston Marques Barrett Houston is an American R&B singer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. A member of the R&B singing group Immature/IMx until 2002, he went solo in 2003. He is also the cousin of J-Boog, former member of the R&B/Hip-Hop group B2K.... ) |
– | – | – | – |