UB Celebrates: 35th Anniversary of Bobby Brown’s ‘Don’t Be Cruel’

Today June 20th, marks the 35th Anniversary of Bobby Brown‘s sophomore solo album release “Don’t Be Cruel,” originally released June 20th 1988.

The album was released on the same day, as group members New Edition‘s biggest selling album “Heart Break.”

“Don’t Be Cruel” was produced by Bobby, L.A. and Babyface, Teddy Riley, Gordon Jones and Larry White.

“Don’t Be Cruel” was a hit out the gate, first with the single and later the album, which went to #1 on the Billboard charts and generated four Top 5 singles, “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Roni,” “My Prerogative” and “Every Little Step.”

“Every Little Step” earned Bobby a 1989 Best R&B Vocal Performance Grammy Award.

“It’s really about me having worked for what I’ve got rather than just being pushed out there in the public eye, which is how some people used to think of me and New Edition. I feel like I should have the freedom to make my own decisions and use what I earn however I see fit,” stated Bobby to Billboard.

“One of my band members, Gordon Jones, co-produced “I’ll Be Good To You” with me,” one of the unreleased gems on “Don’t Be Cruel.”

Bobby recorded a whole album of his own compositions prior to working on the “Don’t Be Cruel” album. “Since being a producer and writer is something new for me, we decided that I’d slide into it just a little bit at a time rather than putting out a whole self-produced album now.”

The album received a Soul Train Music award for R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year, Male in 1989 and American Music Awards for Favorite Soul Album & Favorite Male Pop Vocalist in 1990, among a trophy case of other honors.

The albums phenomenal success jettisoned Bobby Brown whose rep as a dynamic stage performer, preceded him into a whirlwind headlining world tour.

Followed by a well received cameo in the 1990 movie “Ghostbusters II” and a hit single, “On Our Own,” from the soundtrack album.

With the success of “Don’t Be Cruel,” a collection of remixed versions of the singles were released, “Dance …Ya Know It!,” the remix album reached #9 on the Billboard pop chart.

During that era, Bobby also opened Bosstown, a state-of-the-art recording studio in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was based, and still found time to make cameos , appearing on the single and in the video of Ralph Tresvant’s “Stone Cold Gentleman” and Bell Biv DeVoe’s remix hit, “Word To The Mutha.”

“We all feel that there’s room for all of us,” Bobby stated. “I grew up with those guys, so they are always going to be my brothers. Naturally, I miss them individually, but we stay in touch. Ralph [Tresvant] and I talk a lot. Maybe at some point in time we’ll do some things together again.”

Bobby despite what many think, didn’t intentionally plan to leave NE, even after the release of his first solo album “King of Stage.” “But after I did the album, I wondered what it would be like to be out on my own. Then, when “Girlfriend” went to #1, I realized I was not a group person and that I’d stay solo. I didn’t know how the public would react or if it would work out, but now I’d say I love being a solo artist.”

UB has Spoken to the R&B King over the years, check out some excerpts!

UrbanBridgez.com: You clearly have very tough skin due to the fact that people always seem to have something negative to say about you, but yet you rarely respond and you just let them go with it. How do you do that, I think I would be snappin off left and right?
Bobby Brown: Yeah that’s my mother man. My mother always told me, just stay down to earth and don’t let what people say bother you. You know, I just hold my head up despite of everything. I know who I am, so it makes no difference to me what people think.

UrbanBridgez.com: R&B is at such a crossroad right now in regards to the direction it’s been headed in current years, what’s one of your biggest issues in the direction it’s been headed?
Bobby Brown: I think R&B is coming back man, I think it’s needed out there for the masses. Everybody needs to be talking about love and not booty shake here and booty shake there and suck you right here. I mean music just needs to go somewhere else now. I’m glad I’m apart of trying to take it somewhere else.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s your opinion on current various successful R&B artists, now recording more pop/dance albums than R&B when it was R&B music that led to their success to begin with?
Bobby Brown: Well R&B ain’t nothing but Pop music anyway. Popular music isn’t anything but R&B music. Hey, to each it’s own. If you want to crossover, crossover. I think everybody wants their music to be heard by the masses. R&B is just the worlds music.

UrbanBridgez.com: When are we going to see you in some new films, you have played some great roles in the past?
Bobby Brown: As of right now, I don’t have any roles coming up. I’ve been looking at some scripts. I’ve been thinking about doing this or that, but as of right now I’m just concentrated on promoting this album and staying on the road doing the touring. And later on down the line I will absolutely be doing more acting.

UrbanBridgez.com: Speaking of artists that are influenced by you and who show you mad love, Bobby V has released his new single “Rock Witcha” a remake of your classic. Have you heard and if so what do you think?
Bobby Brown: I’m suppose to do something with him in the near future. I think it’s George Lopez (Tonight), we’re going to perform together. I appreciate anybody that covers my songs, you know. As long as you don’t butcher it like Britney Spears did.

UrbanBridgez.com: (laughs)
Bobby Brown: (laughs) I mean when something isn’t broke, don’t try to fix it. But I’m looking forward to performing with Bobby. That sounds like I’m saying I’m looking forward to performing with myself (laughs). But he’s a great guy out of Atlanta. I love all of the new kids and all of the music that they’re doing. As long as you stay true to your craft man, I’m with you!

UrbanBridgez.com: Speaking of your songs, if you had to choose your top favorite 3-5 that you’ve recorded throughout your career, what would they be?
Bobby Brown: Wow, I wouldn’t be able to (laughs). I really wouldn’t be able to because I love everything that I’ve done. Every album meant something to me at that time in my life. So I wouldn’t be able to choose, I think the next one will explain everything that I’m talking about. I’ve written for this album for the last ten years. I just really think it’s the best work I’ve ever done.

UrbanBridgez.com: Who are some of the current artists right now that you think will have longevity in this business like you have?
Bobby Brown: I think Ne-Yo, he has longevity. Usher, definitely does! Jazmine Sullivan, I love her, I mean I just love her totally! Her voice, the way she writes, we’re actually working together for this album. So something is soon to come with me and Jazmine Sullivan.

UrbanBridgez.com: Looking forward to that! What’s the biggest misconception you think people have about you?
Bobby Brown: Wow, let’s see. They think I’m crazy! Well I say I’m crazy (laughs). But let’s see I don’t think that’s the biggest misconception. I don’t know, hum. They know I like to fight, they know that. But I think the misconception is because when I’m at home, I’m very shy. When I’m outside it’s like I’m showing off. So I don’t know, that’s a good question though. Well that I’m a bad boy and I’m really not a bad boy. I’m only a bad boy on stage! Other than that, I’m a cool kat I get along with everybody, until you get on that last nerve.

UrbanBridgez.com: I’m the same way (laughs)
Bobby Brown: (laughs)

UrbanBridgez.com: From the biggest misconception to the biggest lesson, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in this business?
Bobby Brown: The biggest lesson I’ve learned in this business is stay focused! You gotta stay focused on what you do. And watch your money sh*t (laughs)!

UrbanBridgez.com: Do you ever get offended or angry when blogs put stuff up about Bobbi Kris, I know you don’t care about what they say about you, but now they’re starting to post things about her?
Bobby Brown: I take it extremely offensive when they say things about my children. My children don’t have anything to do with them! I’m an artist and her mother is an artist but that doesn’t give you the right to blog about my daughter. My daughter is a beautiful girl, 17 and she’s growing up. She’s growing up great you know. We’re raising her to be the woman that she is. And the woman that she becomes – the future is thick for her. She’s an incredible talent! I mean to have pipes like her mother and to have legs like me, you can only imagine what she’s gonna be and what she’s gonna become. Y’all wait for the future, then talk about her.

UrbanBridgez.com: Do you have any last words for your millions of fans?
Bobby Brown: I would just like to say, thank you for my past. Look forward to my future and in the present time I’m going to give you all of the entertainment that I can possibly give you!

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with “Don’t Be Cruel”