Celebrating Black Music Month: Trendsetting R&B Male Groups/Artists: Public Announcement

Continuing our celebration of Black Music Month, this week Singersroom digs into the 90's vault for the best and most memorable R&B male artists and groups. From Jodeci to Silk and Brian McKnight to Usher, discover what made these artists hot and find out what they are up to today.

Public Announcement & R. Kelly

Formed in 1989 by a then unknown R&B singer, Robert Kelly, Public Announcement released their debut album “Born Into The 90's” via Jive Records. Unbeknownst to the group, this would be their first and final album before Robert Kelly aka R. Kelly would embark on a chart-topping, Grammy and BMI Award winning journey.

‘Born Into the 90's’, continued the new wave of trendsetting and stereotype breaking.. Hip-Hop Soul with elements of New Jack Swing began by Teddy Riley and Uptown Records acts Mary J. Blige and Jodeci. The album quickly became an international hit, spawning the classic singles “She’s Got That Vibe,” “Dedicated,” “Slow Dance,” and “Honey Love.” The latter of the hits, “Honey Love” became a no.1 R&B single, spending two weeks atop the US R&B chart and was also featured in the 1993 classic film “Menace II Society.”

Despite the group’s success, R.Kelly pursued a solo career shortly after the albums promotional tour, releasing his solo debut 12 Play in 1993. Since then R.Kelly has been infamous for his collection of chart topping, sexually laced, lyrically consistent and trendsetting hits, selling over 33 million albums in the U.S. alone. In just over 15 years, the “R in R&B” has released nine multi-platinum selling albums including 1998's “R.” which is certified 8 X Platinum. A legend in his own right, the undisputed King of R&B has also penned hits for some of the world’s top entertainers including Britney Spears, B2K, and Michael Jackson.

As for Public Announcement, the group reunited with a new member in 1998 and have since released three albums including 1998's All Work, No Play which spawned the groups biggest hit since Kelly’s departure "Body Bumpin' (Yippie-Yi-Yo),” a top 10 Billboard Hot 100 and R&B hit. Their latest effort, When the Smoke Clears was released in 2006 via Boss Entertainment.

What was your favorite Public Announcement record?

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