Ellie said:

Were you asleep the whole decade? If Troop is the worst '90s R&B group you've heard, you missed most of the decade (Next, F.S. Effect, Me 2 U, Classic Example, Entouch, 7 Mile, Jamaica Boys, Rude Boys, Men at Large, Another Bad Creation, Ex-Girlfriend, Color Me Badd, Riff, Special Generation, One Cause One Effect, Game, LaRue, etc.). Anyway, Troop is mostly well known for the #1 hits "Spread My Wings" and "All I Do Is Think of You." Their cover of "Sweet November" was their third #1, but I think their debut single "Mamacita," which peaked at #2, is probably more well known than that one.

AlexdeParis said:

I totally agree. If you think Troop is the worst, you must have never heard any of the above groups or even Yours Truly?.

AlexdeParis said:

They never had any hits outside the USA as far as I know. Don't even think they released any singles. Half those other ones you listed didn't either. I think only the good stuff made it overseas, although we did get fucking shite like Jodeci and Immature too, unfortunately.
[Edited 8/19/08 15:12pm]

daPrettyman said:

Of course, the funny part is like at least one song by all of those groups.

Thanks for mentioning Yours Truly. I loved "Come and Get It" back then, but I never bought the single or the album. I passed up a chance to buy it in college back in '96 and I haven't heard it in forever (although it pops in my head whenever someone says "come and get it"). Thanks to the magic of YouTube, I can listen to it again!



Two of my other favorite '90s flops:


Ladae! featuring Chubb Rock - Party 2 Nite (Fabulous! Flava)
Note the sample of my favorite Jacksons song, "Show You the Way to Go"


7 Mile - Do Your Thing

Ellie, you aren't saying you'd take Immature over Troop, are you?

J5. Troop almost basically sang it exactly like it was on the record. Dude even tried to sound like MJ.

Stymie said:

Troop and Chuckii changed something in virtually every part of the song. There's the piano intro, additional harmony parts from the very beginning, the guitar and piano in the verses taking center stage, the cool silence at the beginning of the verses, the removal of the random Jermaine ad-libs...

I've finally figured out what really bothers me about the original: the backing vocals. They are terrible! I don't know how I didn't notice it before, but they are just so far below the level the J5 usually did that it's astonishing.
[Edited 8/19/08 18:22pm]

AlexdeParis said:

the singing sounds just alike to me, like steve and nem didn't add anything special to the song.

Stymie said:

Interesting.

J5 all the way!

dude, i was way over here! ! ! !

Cinnie said:

YEEEEEAH!!!!!

ALTHOUGH I LIKE TROOP'S VERSION.....
J5!!!!! HANDS DOWN!!!!!
SHUT IT DOWN!!!!!

AlexdeParis said:

TROOP WERE VERY GOOD SINGERS & DANCERS!!!!!
PLUS.....THEY CHANGED THE "CURL GAME"
AFTER TROOP HIT THE SCENE, NOTICE HOW READY FOR THE WORLD & FULL FORCE AND EVERYONE ELSE STARTED "FADING" THEIR CURLS!!!!!
BETWEEN CHUCKII BOOKER'S PRODUCTION
AND THE LATE GREAT GERALD LEVERT,
WASN'T NOBODY FU**IN' W/TROOP!!!!!

Immature were poo as well. I think could only count the R&B groups I truly liked outside of 1 or 2 singles in the 90s on one hand.

J5 on the Mike Douglas Show

Cinnie said:

"Stop what you're doin', this is Broken Equipment!"

I loved how they just CLOWNED Lil' Wayne on this. And Kanye?

Some folks thought they "stole" this from J. Dilla.

bboy87 said:

Shiiiit!!!! That fucks Troop's version up.

J5.....and it's not even close.

bboy87 said:

The harmony parts are a little more prominent, but I think Mike sounds better on the record. Either way, it still doesn't hold a candle to the Troop version.

Christopher said:

same here
so I'll just go with Troop's version

though I'm listening to J5's now and I like it too

J5's version is great. So is Troop's. They are both great, so it's hard to choose. I just can't.

Definitely the J5 version. The lead singing in the Troop version is a little over the top for me.

Cinnie said:

I love J5 version. I have it on my ipod. Troop did a good job but J5 for me. I love that live performace someone put up also.

J5!

But Troop for me is one of the biggest underrated R&B groups of the late 80's -early 90's!

J5!

But Troop for me is one of the biggest underrated R&B groups of the late 80's -early 90's!


Also Troop's version is one of the best covers ever!

AlexdeParis said:

Troop's versions of both songs trump the originals. In the case of All I do Troop's version is better musically and vocally. Michael must've been in those 'tween years because his voice isn't the perfect instrument it usually is, and his brothers.... Let's just say that they wouldn't even cut it as background singers for Troop.

Troop wins despite the sorry haircuts.