This group of smooth and adventurous R&B stars found success just as new jack swing took off in the late '80s. They mined the sounds of the emerging pop-rap scene (“Feels Good”) while perfecting their balladeer chops (“Me and You”). As the ‘90s progressed, the band led the way toward a more organic fusion of modern hip-hop and vintage soul. With catchy melodies and smooth grooves, they used live instrumentation on singles like “Thinking of You”, prefiguring the late-'90s neo-soul movement in which group member Raphael Saadiq played a key role.