By: Isha “Ice” Cole
With love songs like "Poison,” "Do Me," and "Dope," it might be hard to recall why Bell Biv DeVoe [BBD] was a wildly popular group from the early '90s. BBD was a Hip-Hop flavored R&B group derived from New Edition, one of the biggest groups in history. Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe, came together forming this new R&B/Hip-Hop union, hence the titles of their songs.
Although they stepped on the scene nearly two decades ago, one thing is for certain - BBD still receives their much-deserved respect. Their debut album Poison went on to sell over three million copies, and the lead single “Poison” is still banging in the clubs today.
This year, Bell Biv DeVoe intends to return to the limelight, promising to cook up some of that dope music that we’re used to. Despite a change in the time, Ronnie, Ricky and Mike, have no problem rocking to some of the current R&B artists including Keyshia Cole, Brandy, Jaheim, The-Dream, Rihanna, Beyonce and Slim of 112.
AllHipHop.com caught up with BBD and spoke to them about relationships, their top five R&B and Hip-Hop joints and the new Bell Biv DeVoe project, "Welcome To My Heart."
AllHipHop.com: First things first. Since today is all about love and relationships, can you give us the Bell Biv DeVoe Top Five R&B/ Hip-Hop songs for Valentine’s Day?
[In no particular order]
Method Man Feat. Mary J Blige “You’re All I Need”
Just to keep the party rocking, Valentines Day doesn’t have to be about the slow jams all the time. For Method Man to link up with a person who's on the heels of Aretha Franklin, the woman of soul from our generation, Mary J Blige.
Jodeci Feat. Raekwon & Ghostface “Freakin’ You” Remix
Nobody has ever heard an MC rock over that slow tempo, like how they did on the remix. It was like the ultimate merge of the Shaolin Crew going in with the grimy boys from North Carolina.
Lil Wayne Feat. Babyface “Comfortable”
The whole collaboration just came out of left field. To hear Babyface singing over a Hip-Hop beat, he’s just one of the best artists of all time.
Carl Thomas Feat. Faith Evans “Emotional”
This record was crazy, it's simple, but it was knocking.
Notorious B.I.G Feat. 112 “Only You”
Bad Boy, Diddy, Biggie, 112, the room is packed, the energy is great! That collaboration was so right there, for an era of Hip-Hop.
AllHipHop.com: One of the biggest news stories right now is the Chris Brown and Rihanna situation. When do you each feel it is time to call it quits in a relationship?
Ron: Once you get past the lovey dovey touchy feely stuff, it’s about a work in progress. There’s some times when you might not be feeling it, but something in your spirit tells you that she [he] can be your wife [husband]; then it's just about patience. I can’t speak for anyone else about what to do and consequences, because I think there are personal issues and a lot of baggage. Relationships have a lot to do with what you’ve gone through as an individual.
Mike: When you get angry in a relationship and we all do, you never want to let it get to where it becomes physical. So at any point when it becomes that, you have to question if it’s the right balance for you. You don’t want to get into a situation like that ever again and you have to evaluate and make sure that it doesn’t. You don’t want to be beating each other up; that’s the case at the end of the day. You have to be willing not to push each others' buttons, to the point where you could potentially take it there. Relationships are not about that on either side, men or the women.
Ricky: See I think it has more to do with the individual than it has to do with those two people actually together. When you get to the point where you put hands on each other, to me, I think that’s more personal. No matter who you’re with, if the situations are not working out, you need to say it’s yourself.
AllHipHop.com: Now let’s talk about BBD, what are you guys working on currently?
Mike: We’re back in the studio, continuing to do shows around the country, and putting together another tour right now. As far as the music, we’re putting out the ballad “Welcome To My Heart” and after that a song titled “You,” which is kind of like a Hip-Hop and R&B joint. We're just still in the studio working with writers and producers; hopefully we'll have ten to eleven songs by this summer and have something out by the fall. (Click here to here and buy “Welcome To My Heart” and “You” from
)
AllHipHop.com: Will it be difficult to live up to the high standards that may be set after having such classic hits?
Mike: For a group, we were very successful with our first album; “Poison” is so infectious even until this day. For us we need some records right now that are in that tempo, but it’s still a part of the BBD arsenal. So we do want to let you all know that we’re definitely going to be coming with the headbangers.
Ronnie: We’re moving and shaking you know, it’s a whole new time in the industry and in Hip-Hop. So we’re grinding, we got our music, we’re rocking from state to state. It’s a constant grind for Bell Biv DeVoe; the good thing is we came out at a time where we still have a loyal following.
AllHipHop.com: With so much longevity in the music industry, what are some of the differences that you see in R&B/Hip-Hop music today?
Ronnie: It’s free, that's the first big difference! The whole game is so different because of technology, the downloading and the way it's setup. Now you have to really figure out how to have a 360 campaign, it’s not only about just making money off your record.
There are so many different things you have to do to put yourself on. You almost have to be on television in the form of maybe a reality show or something. You have to be connected to the internet. It’s different than the experience when we came through; you had to go to the record store to by the joint!
Mike: And it seems like the age of music is changing people from our era, where we’re from, it’s almost like you have to fight to still be a part of that music. I just never thought that after you became a certain age in R&B and Hip-Hop music; that you were considered older than the music.
The Rolling Stones can do 300 million; in the Pop/Rock culture they don’t age them. When those artists age it’s almost like they cherish it! When we age it’s almost like we’re too old to make anymore music and you should roll over. There’s too much judging and radio should just play great music.
Ricky: So it’s a constant balance of trying to stay true to who you are as an artist, what your style and gifted talent is, while walking that line of what’s going on today. It's like a whole process you have to walk through before the sound actually gets to the people, it’s a whole other game that you have to play.
AllHipHop.com: Finally, can you give a special Bell Biv DeVoe message to all of the single ladies out there, who may be feeling a little lonely on this Valentine’s Day?
Bell Biv DeVoe: Don’t sit in the room with any male bashers! Doll yourself up real nice and just go dance the night away, where they're playing good music. Take the night for what it's worth and don’t be a victim of being by yourself, be a victim of spreading good energy. Don’t beat yourself, treat yourself, love yourself, God loves you and don’t settle for the sake of “oh I need to have somebody for Valentine’s Day.” If you’re not with anyone right now, it’s because you just haven’t met the right person.”