NEXT (BAND)

'Next' are an American R&B trio with members Robert "R.L." Huggar, and brothers Terry "T-Low" Brown and Raphael "Tweety" Brown. The group was brought together by the brothers uncle, a local gospel choir director. They began performing under the name Straight4ward. The group trained under and was managed for a time by Ann Nesby from the group Sounds of Blackness. Next was discovered in their home town of Minneapolis, Minnesota by producer/DJ KayGee (of Naughty By Nature). After signing with KayGee's newly formed label Divine Mill (distributed through Arista Records), Next scored mainstream success in the late 90's and early 2000's.

Contents

History

Debut Album: Rated Next

Welcome II Nextasy

R.L. Goes Solo

Together Again

After J Records

Next's Return

Discography

Albums

Singles

Trivia

Awards/Nominations

External links

History

Debut Album: Rated Next

They scored a number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with the Kaygee & Darren Lighty Produced "Too Close" (1998), later covered by the British boyband Blue in 2003 and reaching number one in the UK. It samples the 1980 song "Christmas Rapping" by Kurtis Blow. Next also released singles for the song "Butta Love" and "I Still Love You". Both songs got the remix treatment from Naughty By Nature on the first and Big Punisher on the latter. The album featured appearances by RnB songstress Adina Howard, as well as newcomers Koffee Brown, Duganz Shalont, Castro and an appearance by Naughty By Nature. The song "Butta Love" was the first, albeit less successful, single from the album and was certified gold only a month after their albums release. When Next released "Too Close" it helped push both album and single platinum in the same month. The single for "I Still Love You" reached gold status as well.
Next topped the Billboard Year-End Charts as the Top New Pop Artist, Top Hot 100 Singles Artist - Duos/Group, Top R&B Artist - Duos/Group (singles & albums), Top New R&B Artist, Top Hot R&B Singles Artist, Top Hot R&B Singles Artist - Duos/Group, and with the Top Hot 100 Single, Top Hot R&B Single, and Top Hot R&B Single Airplay. The album eventually reached double platinum and the group was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group. [1]
R.L. first branched out as a solo artist in 1999 on Deborah Cox's hit "We Can't Be Friends." Next also appeared on Destiny's Child second CD The Writing's on the Wall on the song "If You Leave Him". It was rumoured that Destiny's Child would collaborate on a Next song as well, however nothing came from this. Next also contributed to the Violator album compilation with rapper Mysonne on the song "Nobody".
Next also reached a personal goal with a 1998 collaboration for the NFL Jams album with the song "Whatever You Want" featuring Curtis Conway and one of the groups idols, Michael Jackson.

Welcome II Nextasy

Next's follow album was entitled "Welcome II Nextasy" and included the singles "Wifey" (2000), and "Beauty Queen" (2001), both singles reaching the Billboard top twenty. Next were nominated for both a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo and a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Group - R&B. The album reached gold status, but was unfortunately not able to garner the success that their first cd achieved. The album boasted a more well known guest list, including 50 Cent (pre G-unit), Beanie Sigel, reggae artist Red Rat and Renee Neufville from Zhane. The album continued with its predecessors role of being sexually explicit, including such subject matters as masturbation and cybersex (the latter cd including the topic of phone sex). Next released another version of ''Welcome II Nextasy'' in 2004.
According to Next's official MySpace page, there is a remix to the song Wifey featuring Big Punisher, but it has not surfaced online. It is assumed, however, that it will become playable on their MySpace at some point. Noticeably on this album, there was no appearance by then labelmates Naughty By Nature, although it is not clear as to what the reasoning may be.
Next also collaborated at this time with new labelmate Jaheim on his single/video "Anything" as well as several background vocals on his debut CD Ghetto Love. After this album Next moved record labels to the newly formed J Records, leaving Arista when label president Clive Davis was removed from his position after nearly 26 years. Next also appeared on the Bad Company soundtrack with the song "Tonite".

R.L. Goes Solo

In 2002, R.L. began work on his solo career. His first release was the single entitled "Good Love" from the Brothers original soundtrack. The song was a departure from Next's overly sexual image and surprised many longtime fans. R.L. than collaborated with rappers Snoop Dogg and Lil' Kim on the Dr. Dolittle 2 soundtrack with the song "Do You Wanna Roll". Next also appeared on the CD with the song entitled "Looking For Love" featuring rapper Lil' Zane (who appeared in the movie). It was rumoured that "Do You Wanna Roll" would be released as a video and a vinyl single was released, however the video never saw the light of day.
It was then that R.L. began work on his solo album, '', without the knowledge of his bandmates (according to member Tweet on his song "Keepin' It Real"). The song "Ghetto" leaked on the internet featuring Jermaine Dupri, however it was re-recorded and eventually featured the rapper Postaboy. Around the same time, a song entitled "Model Chick" leaked, believed to be the first single. The song was eventually scrapped and completely re-worked into the albums official first single "Got Me A Model" featuring Eric Sermon. A remix to the song was also recorded and featured producer Jermaine Dupri.
The album was released in April of 2002 and unfortunately did not sell as well as expected. A second single and video was released entitled "Good Man". This was the first album released by a member of Next without the direction from longtime collaborator Kaygee.

Together Again

In late 2002 Next reformed and released the album "The Next Episode". This album featured no collaborations outside of labelmates and backing vocals by members of rnb girlgroup Lovher. Prior to the recording of the album T-Low had undergone throat surgery and it was a concern that he may not be able to sing again. There was also turmoil within the group due to rumours flying the R.L. had left the group to go solo and that Tweety had left to pursue a movie career. The group, however, resolved their differences for the time and created the album.
The first single was entitled "Imagine That", and much like R.L.'s solo singles, was a step in a very different direction for the group, containing no sexual lyrics. The CD however, remained in the same vein as it's predecessors but not as explicit as past efforts. The album failed to chart well and the groups record deal eventually dissolved. Whether due to sales or if other factors were involved was not made clear.

After J Records

In late 2005, Next's then record company Interscope Records released details of the band's first album in four years. According to reports, Award Winning producers Jermaine Dupri and Rich Harrison would be providing the melodies along with respected songwriters Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Jon Bryant to write lyrics. Next was only briefly signed to Interscope however (under the G-Unit moniker) before the deal dissolved for unknown reasons.
In 2006, while still under the G-Unit/Interscope label, Next released two mixtapes with G-Unit DJ "Whoo Kid." These mixtapes, "The Moisture Mixtape," and "The Next Level" were recorded under the name ''The New Next''. A song by Next, although often mistaken for a song done by R.L. alone, emerged through YouTube entitled ''Hater In You''. Many have taken it is an "R&B diss" towards 112 and Jagged Edge. R.L. claims it wasn't a diss, rather just showing a little healthy competition and letting other R&B groups out there to be acknowledged of Next's return. R.L. says it wasn't necessarily about 112 and Jagged Edge, just that he was expressing his anger for the music industry and says "the game" is messed up. ''Hater In You'' uses the instrumental of Destiny's Child's "Cater 2 U." The song said that Next is going to reemerge in the R&B scene, crushing the competition. [2]

Next's Return

In 2006, Next signed to Mathew Knowles' Music World Entertainment label. On April 2, 2007, R.L. revealed on the ''Wanda Morning Show'' in Atlanta, on his 30th birthday, that their new album would be entitled ''SexToy'' but Next has now changed it to ''Next, Lies, & Videotape''. R.L. has confirmed that there will be a new member in Next named Deponce due to Tweety choosing not to stay with Next even though R.L. wanted Tweety to stay. The album is almost complete and was slated for a July 2007 release but may have been delayed possibly due to recording the album with Tweety and then having to re-record it with Deponce. R.L. is also working on his second solo release, entitled ''Important''. It was originally meant to be released in Japan but R.L. hinted that it may be released in the States as well, on his MySpace page.

Discography

Albums

★ 1997: ''Rated Next''

★ 2000: ''Welcome II Nextasy''

★ 2002: ''The Next Episode''

Singles

★ 1997: "Butta Love"

★ 1998: "Too Close"

★ 1998: "I Still Love You"

★ 2000: "Wifey"

★ 2000: "Beauty Queen"

★ 2001: "Jerk (Digital Video on Official site at the time)"

★ 2002: "Imagine That"

Trivia

★ The band's name ''Next'' is an acronym for "No one ever expected this."

★ Next's motto is "We don't want fans, we want friends."

★ R.L., T-Low, and Tweety all have the ''Next'' logo tattooed on their right arm.

★ Next were on an episode of MTV's FANatic where they met and talked to a Next fan who was dying to meet them.

★ R.L. loves to write and has written songs for many artists such as Jamie Foxx, Usher, Jaheim, Destiny's Child, Luther Vandross, and Ideal.

★ T-Low and Tweety starred in the 2001 movie ''Jacked Up'' with RonReaco Lee, Alexis Fields, Anna Maria Horsford, and Bizzy Bone.

★ Next has a new member named Deponce who replaced Tweety.

Awards/Nominations

★ American Music Awards

★
★ 1999, Favorite R&B/Soul Band,Duo or Group: (Nominated)

★
★ 1999, Favorite New R&B/Soul New Artist: (Nominated)

★ Soul Train Awards

★
★ 2001, Best R&B/Soul Album by a Band, Duo or Group: Welcome II Nextasy (Nominated)

★
★ '1999, Best R&B/Soul Single by a Band, Duo or Group: "Too Close" (Winner)'

External links

★ Official Myspace

★ Fansite