| Bell Biv Devoe | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | BBD |
| Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
| Genres | R&B New jack swing Hip-Hop |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | MCA Records Biv 10 Records |
| Associated acts | New Edition Boyz II Men Another Bad Creation TLC |
| Members | |
| Ricky Bell Michael Bivins Ronnie DeVoe |
|
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.
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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."[1] 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 Records. The album has been credited as pioneering the "New Jack Swing" sound of the early 1990s, combining hip-hop, funk, soul, and pop music.[2] 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.[1] 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 remix of "Do Me!" (which hit Number One on the dance charts)[3]. 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!".[4] Poison sold over three million copies, and was followed up by a remix album titled WBBD-Bootcity.[5][6] 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[7].
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.[8] They also participated in several New Edition reunions, and continue to perform with them on occasion.
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.[9]
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thereshold) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [10] |
US R&B [10] |
AUS [11] |
NZ [12] |
UK [13] |
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| 1990 | Poison
|
5 | 1 | — | 13 | 35 | |||
| 1993 | Hootie Mack
|
19 | 6 | 3 | 33 | — |
|
||
| 2001 | BBD
|
— | 62 | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
Certifications (sales threshold) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [10] |
US R&B [10] |
|||
| 1991 | WBBD-Bootcity!: The Remix Album
|
18 | 18 |
|
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [15] |
US R&B [15] |
US Dance [15] |
AUS [16] |
NZ [17] |
UK [13] |
||||
| 1990 | "Poison" | 3 | 1 | 7 | — | 3 | 19 | Poison | |
| "Do Me!" | 3 | 4 | 6 | — | 8 | 56 | |||
| "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?" | 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) | 13 | 1 | — | — | 11 | — | |||
| 1992 | "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (Luther Vandross featuring Janet Jackson, BBD and Ralph Tresvant) | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | Mo' Money | |
| "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 | |||||||||
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