the chal banz blog

Cheryl Lynn, known primarily in R&B circles released her hit song, "Encore" in 1983. In 1984(the year I was born :), the song peaked at #1 on the R&B charts becoming Lynn's second #1 R&B hit. On the Pop charts the song peaked at #69 and #6 on the Dance charts. The song was produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and this marked their first #1 R&B hit as a duo.

It's hard to believe but its been 24 years since Janet released her single Come Back To Me . It was one of the many singles released from Janet's 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814 . Janet is currently working on new music and hopefully we will hear new music before the year is out.

In 1999 Tracie Spencer returned after several years out of the spotlight with It's All About You(Not About Me). The song appeared on her 1999 album Tracie. What Tracie is up to these days, no one knows but I wouldn't mind her coming back to bless us with new music.

In 1987 George Michael released his #1 Pop hit Father Figure . I remember this song pretty well from seeing it on VH1 and MTV back in the day. I've always been intrigued by the song's video more than anything. I truly never paid attention to the lyrics but I'm tempted to look them up and understand the real meaning of the song.

Make It Hot was the debut video and release from Nicole. The song was written and produced by Missy & Timbaland.

In 1988 Paula Abdul released the video to her #1 Pop hit Straight Up which features a cameo from her rumored lover at the time, Arsenio Hall. For some reason in this clip, he is blurred out. Straight Up also went to #2 on the R&B charts. Straight Up was most famously sampled by J. Cole on his 2011 hit, Work Out .

 Talk About Our Love appeared on Brandy's 2004 album Afrodisiac . TAOL is one of my favorite Brandy songs. I was mortified that its one of Brandy's least favorite songs. I remember her saying something along the line of the song and its meaning and what was going on in her personal life triggers bad memories. Oh shucks! 

Download I think is the last big hit for Lil' Kim. Many thought the rapper was returning with a new album with the release of Download . The song was simply being released so Kim could get out of a nasty contract she was in and things haven't been right since.

I Still Believe appears on Mariah Carey's #1s album released in 1998. The album featured...you guessed it Mariah's #1 hits from over the years. Interestingly enough I Still Believe was originally covered by Brenda K. Starr; who Mariah Carey sang background for.

R. Kelly was to thank for the career resurgence of The Isley Bros. He introduced them to a younger generation and they kept the hits coming through the early 2000s.

There are unconfirmed and confirmed reports stating that singer and rapper Natina Reed f rom the group Blaque has died. Apparently she was inv olved in a hit and run accident while crossing a street in Atlanta.  Natina Reed is best known for her work with th e group Bla que. Natina Reed c o-wrote the group's most popular single 808 produced by R. Kelly.  In later year s when Blaque disbanded (before reuniting in later years) sh e dated rapper Kurupt and toge ther they share a child.  R.I.P. Miss Natina R eed  

Sparkle is best known for her duet with R. Kelly Be Careful which was released in 1998.  Her debut album Sparkle was released in 1998 and went Platinum. 

Bell Biv DeVoe released their hit single and video When Will I See You Smile Again? back in 1990.    Bell Biv DeVoe comprised of New Edition cohorts Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe. New Edition holds the distinction of being one of the very few groups where every member has has been successful outside of the group.

Ginuwine's collaboration with Sole on the single It Wasn't Me was the beginning of a love affair that started 12 years ago.  Sole starred as Ginuwine's love interest in his video None Of Ur Friend's Business .  Ginuwine and Sole eventually married and are still together today. They frequently pop up together at award shows.  It Wasn't Me appears on Sole's one and only album Skin Deep which was released in 1999. 

Toni Braxton released the single Just Be A Man About It in 2000. It was the second single from her 2x Platinum album The Heat . The video features appearances from Dr. Dre(who guests on the track) and Q-Tip.  Toni Braxton is currently working on a long overdue duet album with Babyface titled Love Marriage Divorce . You can also see her on a new season of Braxton Family Values airing August 16 on WE.

Monica released the video for All Eyez On Me in 2002. The song was produced by Rodney Jerkins. The song didn't exactly set the charts on fire. It resulted in the album being reworked and later retitled to After The Storm . Fast forward to 2003 and All Eyez On Me is nowhere to be found on the new album but some of the tracks intended for All Eyez On Me ended up on After The Storm .  A few months ago Monica released her most recent album New Life which basically came and went. Not even her duet with Brandy; It All Belongs To Me could save the album.  I believe Monica is content with being a mother and a wife right now and may possibly be looking towards recording a new album. 

Foxy Brown released the video for the song Tables Will Turn in 2001. It was the third video to be released from her gold album Broken Silence also released in 2001. Def Jam didn't fund the video so Foxy paid for the video out of her own pocket.

I Changed My Mind was the first song released from Keyshia Cole's debut album The Way It Is . The song was produced by Kanye West. Keyshia Cole is set to release her new album Woman To Woman this Fall. Her newest single Enough Of No Love features Lil' Wayne.