| Zhané | |
|---|---|
Jean Norris-Baylor of Zhané by Simba Madziva. |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Genres | R&B, Soul, Neo Soul, Jazz, New Jack Swing, Hip Hop Soul |
| Years active | 1993–1999 |
| Labels | Flavor Unit/Epic Motown |
| Associated acts | Queen Latifah |
| Past members | |
| Renee Neufville Jean Norris-Baylor |
|
Zhané (pronounced Jah-Nay) was an American R&B/hip hop soul duo, best known for their 1994 hit "Hey Mr. D.J.", which reached #6 in the U.S. Other popular hits include "Groove Thang" (U.S. #17) and minor hit "Sending My Love," both released in 1994. The group was part of Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit collective.
Contents |
Given a high-profile spot on the all-star compilation Roll Wit tha Flava as their first recording opportunity, Zhane lived up to the pressure and came away with one of the hip-hop party anthems of all time, "Hey, Mr. D.J." Jean Norris and Renee Neufville initially met while both were studying music at Philadelphia's Temple University (Norris is originally from Rhode Island, Neufville from Jamaica). After meeting Naughty by Nature member Kay Gee, Zhane impressed the producer enough to go right into the studio to record for Roll Wit tha Flava. When "Hey, Mr. D.J." was released as a separate single as well, it hit number six on the pop charts and earned the group a contract with Motown in 1994. Their debut album, Pronounced Jah-Nay, produced two further Top 40 hits ("Groove Thang," "Sending My Love") and went gold by the end of the year; it achieved Platinum status 2 years later. Zhane kept busy during 1995-1996 with spots on tracks by Busta Rhymes and De La Soul as well as new songs of their own on the NFL Jams and NBA 50th Anniversary compilations and the soundtracks to Higher Learning and A Low Down Dirty Shame -- the latter, "Shame," became their fourth Top 40 hit.
Norris and Neufville released the follow-up album Saturday Night in 1997, co-produced by Kay Gee, Eddie F., and themselves. The release featured the hit single "Request Line." A remix with different lyrics and raps by Queen Latifah followed. It peaked just outside the Top 40.
Since the group's dissolution, Jean Baylor released the independent solo album Testimony: My Life. Renee Neufville became involved in Roy Hargrove's RH Factor project.
| Year | Album | Chart positions[1][2] | US certifications[3] |
Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
UK | ||||
| 1994 | Pronounced Jah-Nay | 37 | 8 | — | Platinum | Motown |
| 1997 | Saturday Night | 41 | 8 | 52 | — | |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified | ||||||
| Year | Single | Chart positions[2][4] | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
US Dance |
UK | ||||
| 1993 | "Hey Mr. D.J." | 6 | 3 | 2 | 26 | Pronounced Jah-Nay | |
| 1994 | "Groove Thang" | 17 | 2 | 13 | 34 | ||
| "Sending My Love" | 40 | 5 | — | — | |||
| "Vibe" | 119 | 33 | — | 67 | |||
| "Shame" | 28 | 12 | 46 | 66 | A Low Down Dirty Shame soundtrack | ||
| 1995 | "You're Sorry Now" | — | 38 | — | — | Pronounced Jah-Nay | |
| 1997 | "Request Line" | 39 | 9 | — | 22 | Saturday Night | |
| "Crush" | 106 | 24 | — | 44 | |||
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | |||||||
| Year | Single | Chart positions[4] | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
||||||
| 1997 | "Saturday Night" | — | 69 | Saturday Night | |||
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | |||||||
| Year | Single | Artist | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
UK | |||||
| 1995 | "Freedom (Theme from Panther)" | Various Artists | 45 | 18 | — | Panther soundtrack | |
| 1996 | "It's a Party" | Busta Rhymes | 52 | 27 | 23 | The Coming | |
| 1997 | "4 More" | De La Soul | — | — | 52 | Stakes Is High | |
| 1999 | "Jamboree" | Naughty by Nature | 10 | 4 | 51 | Nineteen Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury | |
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | |||||||