Bell Biv DeVoe

Formed by members of the R&B boy band New Edition, Bell Biv DeVoe arrived in the early ’90s with a sound they described as “mentally hip-hop, smoothed out on the R&B tip with a pop feel appeal to it”. This innovative approach yielded such hits as “Poison” and “Do Me!” • Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe formed BBD while New Edition was on hiatus in 1990. They did so at the suggestion of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who’d become superstars on the strength of their work with Janet Jackson. • BBD’s 1990 debut album, Poison, hit No. 1 on the R&B chart, reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum within weeks. (It’s since been certified quadruple platinum.) A 1991 remix album, (WBBD-Bootcity!: The Remix Album ), went gold. • Poison’s title track topped the R&B singles chart and crossed over to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up, “Do Me!”, also reached No. 3 on the Hot 100. • The trio’s 1993 sophomore album, Hootie Mack, yielded a minor pop hit with “Something In Your Eyes” and managed only gold sales. • While balancing New Edition reunions and other projects, Bell Biv DeVoe explored a more hip-hop-oriented sound on their third album, 2001’s BBD. The LP made the lower reaches of the R&B charts. • BBD returned in 2017 with Three Stripes, which went Top 10 on the R&B charts and Top 20 on pop.