Color Me Badd: A Look Back at the Iconic 90s R&B Group
The Beginnings of Color Me Badd
In the early 90s, four young men from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, came together to form the iconic R&B group Color Me Badd. The group was comprised of Bryan Abrams, Mark Calderon, Sam Watters and Kevin Thornton. The guys were all fans of classic R&B acts like Boyz II Men and New Edition, and they dreamed of creating their own brand of music.
The band had a unique look and sound that set them apart from other bands of the era. They sported colorful clothing, slick hair and their music was a blend of R&B, soul and hip hop. They soon caught the attention of record executives and were signed to Giant Records in 1991.
The Group’s Success
The group’s first single, “I Wanna Sex You Up,” was a huge hit and catapulted Color Me Badd to stardom. The song was a smash hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 and earning the group a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance. The song was featured in the hit movie New Jack City and was even performed by the group on Saturday Night Live.
The group’s debut album, C.M.B., was released later that year and was a huge success. It spawned four more hit singles, including “All 4 Love,” “I Adore Mi Amor,” “Thinkin’ Back” and “Slow Motion.” The album went triple platinum and sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of the 90s.
The Group’s Later Years
Color Me Badd released their second album, Time and Chance, in 1993. The album was not as successful as their debut, but it still went double platinum and featured the hit single “The Earth, the Sun, the Rain.”
The group’s third album, Now & Forever, was released in 1996 and featured the hit single “Sexual Capacity.” The album was a moderate success and the group went on an extensive world tour to promote it.
In 1998, the group announced a hiatus and went their separate ways. They reunited in 2010 and have since gone on a few tours, but the group has not released any new music since 1998.
Legacy of Color Me Badd
Color Me Badd is remembered as one of the most successful R&B groups of the 90s. They had a unique sound and style that set them apart from other groups of the era. The group had five top 10 singles, eight top 40 singles and sold more than 8 million albums worldwide. They were nominated for two Grammy Awards and won multiple American Music Awards.
The legacy of Color Me Badd lives on today. Their music is still played on the radio and their videos are still seen on television. They are remembered as one of the most influential and successful R&B groups of the 90s.