Bell Biv DeVoe - Poison (1990)

Although a lot of folks may think of Bell Biv DeVoe’s Poison and chuckle, that album (and its smash title track) has turned out to be more influential than most people will give it credit for. From the risqué lyrical content to the uncompromisingly hip-hop production, these dudes were as street as pop music got back in the day. Not bad for a project that essentially started as an accident.
The year was 1989. Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe were best known as the Tito, Jackie and Marlon of teen idols New Edition (lead singers Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill were Michael and Jermaine, respectively). The tour in support of N.E.’s multi-platinum 1988 album Heart Break had just ended, and Gill and Tresvant had made the decision to concentrate on solo albums. As legend has it, the other three group members were trying to figure out what to do with their idle time when legendary production team Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis suggested that they record an album. Dumbfounded that they hadn’t thought of that themselves, Bell Biv DeVoe was born, and wound up selling more records than Tresvant and Gill’s subsequent solo efforts - combined.

At any rate, the evolution of hip-hop soul had a lot to do with BBD’s success, in more ways than one. It’s hard to imagine acts like Mary J. Blige and Jodeci existing without Bell Biv DeVoe’s success. Hell, TLC was created as a female answer to BBD. By himself, Michael Bivins also pretty much created the artist/mogul template that most current R&B/hip-hop big willies aspire to these days, discovering and grooming acts like Another Bad Creation and Boyz II Men. It’s hard to imagine there being a Jermaine Dupri or a Puff Daddy without there being a Michael Bivins. The influence that Bell Biv DeVoe had on the contemporary scene in their brief time can't be underestimated.

That, and the title track is still memorable and relevant today.

- FVHK5K

TLC - Ain't Too Proud To Beg (1991)

Another track that helped new Jack Swing cross over into the mainstream and yet another track that has never left the FVS playlist since it's release.
TLC's debut single and taken from the album, Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip. The song reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.2 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, becoming their first single to reach the top ten on both charts. Also one of the first acts on LaFace Records (L.A. Reid & Babyface's brainchild), they not only helped the label climb to unprecedented heights, they also paved the way for a slew of female R&B acts to have a more affirmative image, i.e. not feeling they had to dress as sex symbols.
Having sold an estimated 32 million albums and 20 million singles worldwide, they are the best selling female group of all time. They released four multi-platinum studio albums and in 2008, the group was inducted into the All Time Hot 100 Artist Hall of Fame by Billboard magazine, (at 56th place). At the end of 1999, the band was ranked (again by Billboard) as the seventh most successful act of the 1990's.
This success was unfortunately cut short by the tragic death of Lisa 'left Eye' Lopes in a car accident in Honduras in 2002. Tionne 'T-Boz Watkins and Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas have since reformed as a duo (having vowed to never replace Lopes in their line-up) and plan to record new material.

Boyz II Men - Motownphilly (1991)

Boyz II Men were formed in 1988 at Philadelphia's High School of the Creative and Performing Arts. Founding members Nathan Morris and Marc Nelson had been singing together for several years, but had trouble keeping a group together simply due to members graduating. Things finally stabilized when they hooked up with Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and bass vocalist Michael McCary; calling themselves Unique Attraction, the quintet performed a well-received Valentine's Day show for their school and developed a repertoire that leaned heavily on New Edition songs (one of which, "Boys to Men," gave them their name). Their big break came in 1989, when they snuck backstage at a Bell Biv DeVoe concert and wowed group member Michael Bivins (also formerly of New Edition, and a budding music entrepreneur) with an a cappella version of New Edition's "Can You Stand the Rain." Bivins offered them a deal right there, but Nelson would not stick around to be part of it; personality conflicts led to his departure soon after (he later resurfaced as a member of Az Yet).
"Motownphilly" is Boyz II Men's 1991 debut single for their debut album Cooleyhighharmony. The single was a success peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael Bivins, who co-wrote the song, provides a guest rap on the song. The group gives credit to New Jack Swing groups Another Bad Creation and Bell Biv DeVoe in the lyric "Boyz II Men, ABC, BBD."

Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy (1991)

Arguably one the best songs of the 90's, Massive Attack's Unfinished Sympathy combined elements of soul, hip-hop and orchestral strings to give an unprecedented sound which put Massive Attack's name on the map. Shara Nelson's moving vocal performance on this track is enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. Great song, great record sleeve, great video, great album; seems to tick every box. Also the Oakenfold remix was as good as the original and they are both on a par for me. A truly breathtaking piece of music.
The percussion loop on the original version is sampled from the song Parade Strut by J.J. Johnson from the 1974 soundtrack of Willie Dynamite. The voice at the beginning of the song is a sample from John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra's Planetary Citizen.

The Paul Oakenfold mix:

Incidentally, the reason why the group were called 'Massive' at the time was because the name 'Massive Attack' was deemed by EMI as being insensitive seeing as the First Gulf War was going on.

And you thought political correctness was a new thing...

The Winstons - Amen Brother

Never heard of this track? Oh yes you have, or at least a small part of it. The drum solo at 1:27 - 1:33 was sampled; music history made in 6 seconds and spawned several entire subcultures.
But first, let's shed a little light on The Winstons themselves.
They were a 1960s soul/funk group, based in Washington, D.C., who are most notable for recording a track called Color Him Father recorded in 1969, backed with a B-side entitled Amen, Brother, with that sample in question.
It's probably the most sampled record of all time. The drum solo (performed by G.C. Coleman) that has been sampled and used in thousands of hip-hop, pop, drum and bass and jungle tracks. This beat is known as the Amen break, after the song.

Can't hear it? let's make it simpler:

The musicians must be rolling in it, yes? Er, no. Neither the Winstons, Coleman, nor the copyright owner Richard L. Spencer have ever received any royalties or clearance fees for the use of the sample, nor have they sought royalties.
If you're of a mind to, get comfy and watch this, it explains the sigificance of Six Short Seconds: