Rated Next is the debut studio album by American musical group Next. After forming, the trio recorded several songs with record producers Prof. T. and Lance Alexander before catching recording artist and producer Keir "KayGee" Gist of American hip hop trio Naughty by Nature's attention. He signed Next to his record label Divine Mill, with most of Next's debut album being recorded in Gee's in-home recording studio and the remaining was recorded at Ken Johnston's Perfect Pair studio located in East Orange, New Jersey. Rated Next was eventually released on September 30, 1997 in the United States, under Divine Mill and Arista Records.
Upon its release, Rated Next received generally favorable reviews from music critics, though it received negative criticism for the sexual innuendo within the lyrics. The album peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200 and was certified two times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned three singles: "Butta Love", "Too Close" and "I Still Love You". "Too Close" topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. "Butta Love" and "I Still Love You" peaked within the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and were both certified gold by the RIAA. "Butta Love" was produced by Lance Alexander of the group Lo-Key.
Next was formed in 1992 by brothers Terrence "T-Low" and Raphael "Tweety" Brown, in addition to Robert "R. L." Huggar. The trio was trained and managed by T-Low's godmother, Ann Nesby, during the group's formation.[1] While performing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Next collaborated with record producers Prof. T. and Lance Alexander. They began recording music in the Flyte Tyme recording studio. A demo that the trio recorded caught the attention of recording artist and producer Kay Gee of Naughty by Nature.[1] He called Next three days later and signed the group to his Divine Mill record label.[1][2] Managed by the Flavor Unit,[1]Rated Next was recorded in Gee's in-home recording studio.[3] The trio recorded several songs during this time, including "Phone Sex" and "Sexitude". During a "growth period", Next recorded "Butta Love", in which group member Tweety described as "the difference in the freedom we were feeling".[1]
Marketing promotionedit
Next released the album's lead single, "Butta Love", in August 1997.[1] According to Arista Records senior vice president of black music Lionel Ridenour, the success of the single "kept growing to the point where we had worked it from July through December".[1] In order to give the group exposure, Arista promoted Next by having them speak in several radio stations and perform on television programs.[1] The album's second single, "Too Close", topped the Billboard Hot 100[4] and was certified platinum by the RIAA, going on to sell 2.1 million copies.[5][6] "Butta Love" and "I Still Love You" peaked in the top 20 of the Hot 100 and were certified gold by the RIAA.[4][7][8] The two singles sold 900,000 and 700,000 copies, respectively.[6][9]
"Butta Love" was the lead single and was released August 19, 1997. The song charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at 16 and on the US R&B/Hip-Hop at 4. The second single was "Too Close"; it was released on January 27, 1998.[10] The song charted at 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and on the US R&B/Hip-Hop. The final single was "I Still Love You"; it was released July 21, 1998. The song charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at 14 and on the US R&B/Hip-Hop at 4
Rated Next received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Leo Stanley of Allmusic described the album as "an impressive collection of contemporary hip-hop-influenced urban soul". He felt that the group "may get a little too 'risqué' for some tastes", but stated that the lead singer R. L., was "so smooth and charismatic that he can seduce unwilling listeners".[11] Melanie Mcfarland of The Seattle Times noted that the group "swings between party anthems and tender ballads with a sexy flow" on the album.[13] The album received negative criticism due to the sexual innuendo in the lyrics of the songs. Tweety noted that one review wrote: "Even if Next never made it as singers, they could still make it as exotic dancers."[1]Robert Christgau called the album a collection of "cute pop songs about... their erections and her clitoris".[14]
^"Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. 110 (5). BPI Communications Inc.: 76 January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
^Reece, Doug (March 21, 1998). "Next Gets Boost from Singles". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 12. p. 20. 'Too Close,' which has sold more than 193,000 units since Jan. 27
^ abStanley, Leo. "Next - Rated Next". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-11-05. Rated Next is an impressive collection of contemporary hip-hop-influenced urban soul
^Mcfarland, Melanie. "So Hot It's Cool — Kube Summer Jam Turns the Gorge into an Oasis of Hip-Hop and R&B". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
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Rated Next is the debut studio album by American musical group Next After forming the trio recorded several songs with record producers Prof T and Lance Alexander before catching recording artist and producer Keir KayGee Gist of American hip hop trio Naughty by Nature s attention He signed Next to his record label Divine Mill with most of Next s debut album being recorded in Gee s in home recording studio and the remaining was recorded at Ken Johnston s Perfect Pair studio located in East Orange New Jersey Rated Next was eventually released on September 30 1997 in the United States under Divine Mill and Arista Records Rated NextStudio album by NextReleasedSeptember 30 1997Length72 28LabelDivine MillAristaProducerLance Alexander amp Prof T Eddie BerkeleyDeedee GistSheldon GoodeWesley HodgesKayGeeDarren LightyMufiFrank ReynoldsMr WaltNext chronologyRated Next 1997 Welcome II Nextasy 2000 Singles from Rated Next Butta Love Released August 19 1997 Too Close Released January 27 1998 I Still Love You Released July 21 1998Upon its release Rated Next received generally favorable reviews from music critics though it received negative criticism for the sexual innuendo within the lyrics The album peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200 and was certified two times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America RIAA The album spawned three singles Butta Love Too Close and I Still Love You Too Close topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA Butta Love and I Still Love You peaked within the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and were both certified gold by the RIAA Butta Love was produced by Lance Alexander of the group Lo Key Contents 1 Conception and recording 2 Marketing promotion 2 1 Singles 3 Reception 4 Track listing 5 Personnel 6 Charts 6 1 Weekly charts 6 2 Year end charts 7 Certifications 8 References 9 External linksConception and recording editNext was formed in 1992 by brothers Terrence T Low and Raphael Tweety Brown in addition to Robert R L Huggar The trio was trained and managed by T Low s godmother Ann Nesby during the group s formation 1 While performing in Minneapolis Minnesota Next collaborated with record producers Prof T and Lance Alexander They began recording music in the Flyte Tyme recording studio A demo that the trio recorded caught the attention of recording artist and producer Kay Gee of Naughty by Nature 1 He called Next three days later and signed the group to his Divine Mill record label 1 2 Managed by the Flavor Unit 1 Rated Next was recorded in Gee s in home recording studio 3 The trio recorded several songs during this time including Phone Sex and Sexitude During a growth period Next recorded Butta Love in which group member Tweety described as the difference in the freedom we were feeling 1 Marketing promotion editNext released the album s lead single Butta Love in August 1997 1 According to Arista Records senior vice president of black music Lionel Ridenour the success of the single kept growing to the point where we had worked it from July through December 1 In order to give the group exposure Arista promoted Next by having them speak in several radio stations and perform on television programs 1 The album s second single Too Close topped the Billboard Hot 100 4 and was certified platinum by the RIAA going on to sell 2 1 million copies 5 6 Butta Love and I Still Love You peaked in the top 20 of the Hot 100 and were certified gold by the RIAA 4 7 8 The two singles sold 900 000 and 700 000 copies respectively 6 9 Singles edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Butta Love was the lead single and was released August 19 1997 The song charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at 16 and on the US R amp B Hip Hop at 4 The second single was Too Close it was released on January 27 1998 10 The song charted at 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and on the US R amp B Hip Hop The final single was I Still Love You it was released July 21 1998 The song charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at 14 and on the US R amp B Hip Hop at 4Reception editProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 11 Robert Christgau nbsp nbsp 12 Rated Next received generally favorable reviews from music critics Leo Stanley of Allmusic described the album as an impressive collection of contemporary hip hop influenced urban soul He felt that the group may get a little too risque for some tastes but stated that the lead singer R L was so smooth and charismatic that he can seduce unwilling listeners 11 Melanie Mcfarland of The Seattle Times noted that the group swings between party anthems and tender ballads with a sexy flow on the album 13 The album received negative criticism due to the sexual innuendo in the lyrics of the songs Tweety noted that one review wrote Even if Next never made it as singers they could still make it as exotic dancers 1 Robert Christgau called the album a collection of cute pop songs about their erections and her clitoris 14 Track listing editRated Next track listingNo TitleWriter s Producer s Length1 Intro KayGee1 002 Too Close Darren LightyDenzil MillerJ B MooreKeir GistKurtis WalkerLarry SmithRobert Ford Jr Robert L HuggarD LightyKayGee4 193 Butta Love Arkeida ClowersLightyLance AlexanderHuggarTony TolbertD LightyKayGeeAlexanderProf T 4 564 My Place Interlude GistDarren LightyHuggarKayGee2 185 Cozy AlexanderHuggarTolbertAngela WinbushAlexanderProf T 4 106 Penetration featuring Naughty by Nature Anthony CrissBobby RobinsonClifton LightyD LightyDelvis DamonKevin MorseGistD LightyKayGee4 327 You Are My High Interlude Andrea SmithCharlie WilsonRonnie WilsonD LightyKayGeeEddie Berkeley2 058 I Still Love You ClowersDarnell BristollD LightyKenneth EdmondsRaphael BrownHuggarSid JohnsonTolbertD LightyKayGee4 139 Stop Drop amp Roll ClowersChuck DavisMelvin L DinkinsKayGeeMufiSheldon Goode5 0310 Represent Me C LightyEric WilliamsFrank ReynoldsJoe SampleMelvin LewisKayGeeC LightyReynolds4 3111 Next Experience featuring Adina Howard and Castro D LightyGistHuggarWilton FelderD LightyKayGee4 5712 Problems featuring Koffee Brown C LightyDarryll BarksdaleDavid ReevesJesse WileyWalkerWalter DewgardeWilliam WayMr WaltKayGee3 4813 Do You Think About Me AlexanderHuggarTolbertAlexanderProf T 5 4114 Admit the Rat Interlude KayGee1 5615 Sexitude Kevin PierceAlexanderTolbertAlexanderProf T 4 3116 Taste So Good AlexanderTolbertAlexanderProf T 5 1317 Phone Sex AlexanderTolbertAlexanderProf T 5 1918 Rock On D LightyGistDinkinsHuggarD LighyKayGeeProf T 3 56Personnel editAs credits listed on AllMusic 15 Lance Alexander producer engineer Michael Benabib photography Eddie Berkeley producer Marcus Blassingame stylist Coffey Brown vocals background vocals Mike Campbell guitar Ian Dalsemer assistant engineer Clive Davis executive producer Chris Gehringer mastering Deedee Gist associate producer Sheldon Goode producer engineer Anthony Harrison Jr art direction Carlton Hitchcock engineer Wesley Hodges producer Adina Howard performer Ken Johnston engineer Kay Gee producer engineer executive producer mixing Lamar Kronick vocoder Cliff Lighty producer Darren Lighty producer engineer Mike T mixing Mr Walt producer Mufi producer Next background vocals Kevin Pierce guitar Angela Piva engineer mixing Prof T background vocals producer engineer Frank Reynolds producer Andy Salas mixing assistant Vernell Sales background vocals Duganz Shaloni rap Steve Sola mixing assistant Kieran Walsh mixing Charm Warren associate producerCharts editWeekly charts edit Weekly chart performance for Rated Next Chart 1997 1999 PeakpositionAustralian Albums ARIA 16 57Canadian Albums Billboard 17 20US Billboard 200 18 37US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 19 13 Year end charts edit 1997 year end chart performance for Rated Next Chart 1997 PositionUS Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 20 411998 year end chart performance for Rated Next Chart 1998 PositionUS Billboard 200 21 79US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 22 35Certifications editCertifications for Rated Next Region Certification Certified units salesCanada Music Canada 23 Gold 50 000 United States RIAA 24 2 Platinum 2 000 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone References edit a b c d e f g h i Reece 1998 pp 13 20 Allen 1998 p 52 Naughty by Nature Throws Homecoming Party for Next MTV News August 31 1998 Retrieved 2009 11 05 a b Rated Next gt Charts amp Awards gt Billboard Singles Allmusic Retrieved 2009 11 05 American certifications Next Too Close Recording Industry Association of America a b Best Selling Records of 1998 Billboard 111 5 BPI Communications Inc 75 January 30 1999 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved May 31 2015 American certifications Next Butta Love Recording Industry Association of America American certifications Next I Still Love You Recording Industry Association of America Best Selling Records of 1997 Billboard 110 5 BPI Communications Inc 76 January 31 1998 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved May 9 2015 Reece Doug March 21 1998 Next Gets Boost from Singles Billboard Vol 110 no 12 p 20 Too Close which has sold more than 193 000 units since Jan 27 a b Stanley Leo Next Rated Next AllMusic Retrieved 2009 11 05 Rated Next is an impressive collection of contemporary hip hop influenced urban soul Christgau Robert Next Robert Christgau Mcfarland Melanie So Hot It s Cool Kube Summer Jam Turns the Gorge into an Oasis of Hip Hop and R amp B The Seattle Times The Seattle Times Company Retrieved 2009 11 05 Christgau Robert Robert Christgau CG Next robertchristgau com Retrieved 2009 11 05 Rated Next gt Credits Allmusic Retrieved 2009 11 05 Ryan Gavin 2011 Australia s Music Charts 1988 2010 PDF ed Mt Martha Victoria Australia Moonlight Publishing p 202 Next Chart History Canadian Albums Billboard Retrieved October 18 2021 Next Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved January 7 2020 Next Chart History Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Retrieved January 7 2020 Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Year End 1997 Billboard Retrieved November 30 2020 Billboard 200 Year End 1997 Billboard Retrieved January 8 2020 R amp B Hip Hop Albums Best of 1998 Billboard Retrieved January 8 2020 Canadian album certifications Next Rated Next Music Canada Retrieved January 7 2020 American album certifications Next Rated Next Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved January 7 2020 External links editAllen Harry February 1998 Next It s like Butta Baby Vibe 6 1 Vibe Media Group ISSN 1070 4701 Reece Doug March 21 1998 Next Gets Boost from Singles Billboard 110 12 Nielsen Business Media ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rated Next amp oldid 1180006096, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
