In the early 1990s, hip-hop and R&B were just discovering each other in a new genre called new jack swing, which combined drum machine loops with light melodies and contemporary vocal stylings. The genre’s harbingers were super-producers Babyface and Teddy Riley, but its breakout stars were the boys from Jodeci.

Like many stars of the time, new jack swing boy band Jodeci was pushed to fame by Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs (now known as Diddy). Donald “DeVante Swing” DeGrate, Dalvin DeGrate, Cedric “K-Ci” Hailey and Joel “Jo-Jo” Hailey, two sets of brothers from the South, brought soulful songs and a bad boy swagger to the dull musical landscape of 1991.

Forever My Lady, the group’s debut, became a smash hit, spawning singles like “Come and Talk to Me” and “Stay.” Their second album, Diary of a Mad Band, was just as successful, and it seemed Jodeci would dominate the decade’s R&B charts. DeVante DeGrate began grooming other artists to join his “Swing Mob,” including Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Tweet and Ginuwine. DeVante also began producing tracks for Tupac Shakur.

Just as Jodeci seemed poised for the top tiers of success, it all came crashing down. The group released its final record, The Show, The After Party, The Hotel, in 1995, and just as their record label folded, the members of Jodeci set out to develop their own careers. DeVante DeGrate continued producing records for other artists, and K-Ci and Jo-Jo became a successful singing duo.

Ten years later, the DeGrates and the Haileys reunited for a greatest hits album, called Back to the Future: The Very Best of Jodeci. A reunion tour took three more years to organize, but now the men of Jodeci are back to prove the original new jack swing stars still have what it takes.

Jodeci performs at the House of Blues March 8 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $37, $50 and $60.

By Casino Connection Staff