R&D! -HOP Bell Biv Devoe Returns Trio Regenerates Musical Legacy With Universal Debut, `BBD' BY GAIL MITCHELL 1990's "Poison," "Do Me!," and `BBD energy that's not out there right now." LOS ANGELES -It's been eight (I Thought It Was Me) ?" "So we Bivins adds, "We just made sure years since they last recorded a stu- began throwing ideas in the pot, we had the right rhythms and lyrics. dio album as Bell Biv DeVoe -the knowing that once we got a couple We wanted to keep it simple but and The Blues,. 1993 MCA set Hootie Mack. Now of tracks done, we'd be on our way." leave room for others to work with members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, us and make a record that will also MIAMI -BOUND: The third annual Bill- Tamia, and others -to a worldwide and Ronnie DeVoe have finally appeal to the younger [generation]." board R &B/Hip -Hop Conference and publishing pact. Jones himself record- scratched their recording itch with In addition to Rockwilder, others second annual R&B/hip-hop music ed the Carter- penned "I'm Yours" for the Dec. 18 release of the trio's Biv stepping up to the production plate awards will take place next year in his From Q, With Love album ... Ex- 10/Universal Records debut, BBD. include DJ Tivinz ( "Sic Wit It "), Heavy Miami, Aug. 7 -9. The conference site Temptations member Ali 011ie Wood- "I've just been waiting for the day D and Tony Dofat ( "Breezy "), Junod will be the city's Eden Roc hotel, while son has recorded his first solo project, to get back into the studio," says an Etienne ( "Pesos" and "Dance B * * * * "), the awards ceremony will be staged at Right Here All Along. The 14 -track set enthusiastic DeVoe, who notes that and Them Damn )wins (Jagged Edge's the Billboard Live club. is available through London -based the group spent a couple of years Casey brothers on "In My Crib "). Expansion Records, distributed by the extricating itself from its MCA con- Bell describes the overall sound of MR. LOVERMAN RETURNS: The slow, Entertainment Network/3MV. tract before moving over to Univer- BBD as "very reminiscent of the flavor sexy one is back. Reggae singer/rapper sal. "Figuring how to get out of that of `Poison.' I think we've done a good Shabba Ranks, the subject of a recent FIGHTING HIV THROUGH R &B: That's situation without too many hassles job of reinventing ourselves without Sony /Legacy greatest -hits compila- the name of a concert ticket giveaway was the most challenging part of going too far from what we're known tion, is recording a new album after a initiated by Tony Wafford, communi- this [journey]. But being in the stu- for musically: being straight ahead and six-year self -imposed hiatus. Slated for ty outreach coordinator for HIV Pre- dio and recording again was a whole funky. Lyrically, we're still controver- early 2002, the as-yet- untitled set is vention Trials Network Los Angeles, new energy. Singing, being on stage, sial and daring. Musically, we're right being released through L.O.Y. Enter- and developed in conjunction with and doing videos runs in our blood." The trio's 11 -track outing features there with what's happening now." tainment, whose principal, Horatio concert promoter Al Haymon's Hay- For Bell, the main challenge was lead single "Da Hot S . (Aight)," a From a retail perspective, Jim Hamilton, will also co- produce the mon Entertainment and Agouron finding the right musical groove. pulsating collaboration between co- Ogletree, head buyer for Music Net- project with Ranks. Pharmaceuticals. Haymon is giving "We know the elements of a hit," he writers BBD and producer Rockwilder work in Atlanta, agrees. "I think a "I haven't really been away," says the away free concert tickets to people says about the group who notched (Janet Jackson, Destiny's Child). return to [musical] substance is Jamaica -based Ranks, whose last who voluntarily undergo testing in such R &B /pop crossover smashes as DeVoe says, "This first single has an happening, which is refreshing for album was the 1995 Epic projectAMi order to foster HIV/AIDS education, both the industry and consumers," Shabba. "It's just that I haven't been treatment, and prevention. he notes. "And I feel that with this Launched in September in tandem album, Bell Biv DeVoe will help con- with a Destiny's Child performance in Irvine, Calif., has since DECEMBER 8 tribute to that in a big way." the campaign 2001 KIVID 10[04 Armed with a video for the single included stops on Luther Vandross' produced by the Brothers Strause current Take You Out tour. Wafford m Compiled by SoundScan from a national subset panel of core R &B /Hip -Hop stores. ® 6115116617 (Linkin Park), Universal Records' says, "Response thus far has been N director of marketing Katina Bynum tremendous," so much so that it is pre- LABEL Artist 5 TITLE IMPRINT & NUMBER/DISTRIBUTING coordinated a promotional tour that dicted that an estimated 4,000 partic- NUMBER 1 kicked off in mid -November, as well as ipants will have been tested by the end 1 1 DANSIN WIT WOLVEZ (WHERE MY TRIBE AT ?) Strik 9ine FADE 34239'/ECMD 0 O Q a national club tour, various TV of Vandross' tour. Wafford expects that 3 GET MO Sherm Featuring Bigga Figgas appearances (Soul Pain, Ricki Lake, more than 8,000 people will be tested DEAN'S LIST 001 0 O BET's 106 & Park), print and billboard next year in light of Haymon's corn - Q 17 SPECIAL DELIVERY G.Dep 9 BAD BOY 79409' /ARISTA O advertising, and online fan chats and mitment to donate more than 4 2 GROUND ZERO (IN OUR HEARTS YOU WILL REMAIN) Cash & Computa SELECT 25076 0 0 interviews. Bynum observes, "The idea $500,000 worth of concert tickets in 15 THINK BIG Crimewave `4 is to let old fans familiar with the BBD rolling on the international level. On 2002. For more information, contact o CRIMEWAVE 72002 0 0 legacy is and also local level, I'm very much alive. I Wafford at 213- 625 -7307. 1 1 ALWAYS ON TIME Ja Rule Featuring Ashanti 9 know the group back the MURDER INCJDEF JAM 588795'/IDJMG O introduce BBD to new fans." never stopped making music. I just AS I COME BACK Busta Rhymes J 21118'0 Part of the BBD legacy is the trio's went underground." KUDOS: To North Hollywood, Calif. - 3. 22 ROCK EM Boobakaw And Tha Wild Younginz Featuring Vita stint as members of the pioneering Describing the new album, Ranks based Heartless Records (The Donz, WHITESTONE 12770 8 GOTTA HAVE IT Chocolate Bandit '80s boy band New Edition ( "Candy notes, "It's going to be the same Shab- 'Ma & Brando), which was named by 0 COUNTRYBOY 303/WARLOCK 0 Girl" and "Cool It Now "), which also ba but with more maturity. Forget the the national Black Programmers tED 14 PLAYA PLAYA (PLAYING THE GAME RIGHT) Minott Featuring Kurupted Seed WORLD BEAT 90003' 0 included Bobby Brown and Ralph Tres - imitators. It's time for the real origi- Coalition as the most -accomplished 11 6 I'M YOUR GIRL Dena Cali '9 vant in its original incarnation before nality. I also have a couple of local independent record label for 2001. ES3 m 19/TREYDAN 0 GO PO' PUNCH Po' White Trash And The Trailer Park Symphony Johnny Gill replaced Brown in 1988. Jamaica acts that I'm getting ready to - POCKET CHANGE 21210 All six members reunited in 1996 for a set down on the American side." ON THE MOVE Industry sales and mar- 13 10 JUMP UP IN THE AIR Original P Introducing Hyped Up Westbound Soljaz V WESTBOUND 555 0 tour and the MCA album HomeAgain. Regarding the recent hits collection, keting veteran Lanetta Kimmons l0 23 BURN Mobb Deep Featuring Noyd & Vita 9 "New Edition is still very much in Ranks frankly states, "Greatest hits is (Radio & Records, Gavin) is pursuing LOUD /COLUMBIA 79669'/CRG O 15 13 WE THUGGIN' Fat Joe Featuring R. Kelly z our plans," Bell says. "We're going to for when you're in a wheelchair. I'm new endeavors. She may be reached at TERROR SQUAD /ATLANTIC 85174'/AG O do a movie, book, the whole nine. It all still here with the energy, intention, 310 -281 -7415. 16 5 AIN'T NOBODY (WE GOT IT LOCKED!) The Rawlo Boys Featuring TORO. And UI' Smoke 9 HOUSE OF FIRE 1285 0 0 0 has to do with timing." A step in that and motivation to do more." 17 4 NOTHING'S WRONG Won -G Featuring DJ Quik direction can be heard on the new Indeed, setting the stage for his CONDOLENCES: To the family, friends, TNO 70021/DNA O 18 20 FATTY GIRL Ludacris, LL Cool J & Keith Murray 9 album: The aforementioned track "In return, Ranks has been doing spot and associates of singer O.C. Smith, FB 015283'NNIVERSAL O My Crib" sports guest vocals by Jagged dates, including this summer's Sashi who was found dead Nov. 23 (see Life- 19 7 BUSTER Dennis Da Menace The 65- year-old singer, I ST AVENUE 0001 0 Edge and New Edition cohort resvant. Experience 2001 in Jamaica, which lines, page 82). 43) 25 YOUNG'N (HOLLA BACK) Fabolous 9 In the meantime, however, Bell Biv also featured Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. best-known for the R &B /pop crossover DESERT STORM/ELEKTRA 67265'/EEG O also 21 9 RAISE UP Petey Pablo 'Q DeVoe is concentrating on getting The show, the culmination of an annu- hits "Little Green Apples" (1968; JIVE 42937'(LOMBA 0 O BBD heard by old and new fans alike.