Celebrating Ginuwine’s Double Platinum ‘100% Ginuwine’

UrbanBridgez.com March 16, 2018

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Ginuwine was born in Washington, D.C., he fell under the spells of Prince and Michael Jackson as a child. By the time he was 12, the aspiring musician had started performing with a local hip-hop group, the Finesse Five.

As time went on, he sang with another D.C. group, Physical Wonder, and even entertained folks as a nimble MJ imitator. In 1996, Ginuwine was discovered by Jodeci and, after traveling to New York City, met Timbaland, a then up-and-coming producer. Together they cut the edgy track “Pony,” which lead to a deal with Sony Music.

His debut CD, Ginuwine…The Bachelor hit the streets in late ’96 and “Pony” quickly became a #1 R&B and #6 pop chart/radio sensation. The album would go on to double-platinum status, driven by popular cuts like “Pony,” “Tell Me Do U Wanna,” “I’ll Do Anything/I’m Sorry,” “Holler” and “Only When Ur Lonely“. With his stylized dancing and creamy vocals, Ginuwine emerged as one of contemporary R&B‘s biggest rookies and also a major sex symbol. In 1998, he released “Same Ol’ G” (from the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack), which resulted in yet another chart hit.

Album: “100% Ginuwine”
Release: March 16, 1999
Label: Epic/550 Music
Producers/Artists: Timbaland, Barry Hankerson, Aaliyah, Johntá Austin, Static.

In 1999, Ginuwine would release his second double-platinum album “100% Ginuwine,” which turns 19 years old today. The album entered the pop charts at #5. The first single “So Anxious,” became a massive crossover hit, while “What’s So Different?” and “None of Ur Friend’s Business” scored on the R&B charts.

The classic 14-track album boils over like a cauldron of lyrical passion, accentuated by bomb beats, clever and sensuous scenarios, and the charismatic singer’s soulfully sincere delivery. Kicking things off is the blazin lead single “What’s So Different,” produced by prolific hit-maker Timbaland and accompanied by a striking video directed by Francis Lawrence.

For his labels bio Ginuwine noted, “Tim produced my first set, considering how good that turned out, and that we’re close friends with strong, productive studio chemistry, he had to be down on this one too. He’s about the best in the business, and helped make 100% Ginuwine the best record I’ve ever made.”

“What’s So Different,” he continued to say, “It’s about a girl I was involved with who had another man at the same time, and lied about dropping him. So the song is saying What’s so different about me that if I were the first guy on the scene, that she wouldn’t have done the same thing. And you can flip it to reflect what the ladies go through. Let’s face it, women get cheated on too.”

“When Timbaland and I do a song, he works on the music by himself, then he leaves the room. Then I write the lyrics by myself. By the time we get in the studio we have a great song. That’s how “Pony,” “What’s So Different,” and most of both albums were created.”

This personable and distinctive style of storytelling is the foundation of “100% Ginuwine.” Some of a few of the album’s highlights:

“Two Sides To A Story,” a heavyweight heartfelt ballad of extreme quality and substance;
“Wait A Minute,” a pulsating love lost anthem and the world¹s first blues-R&B-rap song;
“So Anxious,” a lament of carnal anticipation;
“Same Old G,” Ginuwine‘s Top Ten airplay cut from the platinum Dr. Doolittle soundtrack;
“Final Warning,” a powerful duet between Ginuwine and the late R&B princess Aaliyah;
“She’s Out Of My Life,” an inspired cover of the Michael Jackson classic;
“I’m Crying Out,” just a bomb ass track.

With “100% Ginuwine“, he was inspired from the two artists who influenced him most, Michael Jackson and Prince. He stated “I liked the fact that both of them gave everything of themselves in their performances. So when I got the chance to do it, that’s how I approached singing and performing too. It had to be 100% or nothing.”

Ginuwine didn’t travel alone on his road to stardom. He, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot and Timbaland helped hone each other¹s skills, and shared dreams that one day each would reach the top. “We’ve been friends for a long time,” Ginuwine recalls. “Back in the day when we were all trying to get a deal, we swore that when one of us got signed, he or she would make sure the others were down with the project too.”

In all, the album hit the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and reached #2 on the R&B Albums chart. The album went on to sell over two million copies.

Take a trip down memory lane with Ginuwine‘s career defining album “100% Ginuwine.”