UB Celebrates: 30th Anniversary of Xscape’s ‘Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha’

Today marks the 30th Anniversary of the debut album for one of our favorites, Xscape.

Jermaine Dupri‘s So So Def is celebrating their 30th Anniversary and this was their first album release!

“Hummin’ Comin’ At Cha” was released October 12th, 1993 via So So Def/Columbia. It’s tracks range from gospel-flavored ballads to up-tempo kickers and soulful swayers.

Xscape started coming together in the early 90s, when Kandi Burruss suggested the idea of starting a group to her friends the Scott sisters, Tameka & LaTocha.

Later, they auditioned Tameka Cottle, who they knew from middle school. At first the group harmonized in church and at school step shows. The women chose the name Xscape “because we appeal to everyone, and we’re escaping out of stereotypes.

We’re not a regular girl group,” stated LaTocha Scott at the time to Billboard. “We’re not checkin’ to be frilly fashion plates, just down to earth sisters, who can all sing lead.”

The group got their break when they sang “Happy Birthday” at producer Jermaine Dupri‘s 19th birthday in 1991. “He liked the way we sounded,” stated Kandi. “He said he’d put us on once Kris Kross was established. They blew up, he got a label, and here we are.”

In 1993, Jermaine Dupri launched his label So So Def and the first act to emerge was Xscape. Kandi Burruss, 17; Tameka Cottle, 18; LaTocha Scott, 20; and her sister Tamika, 18.

The girls played the Greekfest at Long Island‘s Jones Beach, in front of thousands of young people. Not to mention New York Live, at the Jack The Rapper convention, and as part of BET’s ‘Unity In The Community’ tour. All this before any music ever came out.

The group’s debut single, “Just Kickin’ It was released in the summer of 1993. The single went #1 on the Hot R&B Singles chart and was been certified gold after just nine weeks.

“Just Kickin’ It” benefited from a remix that looped the Staple Singers’ “Let’s Do It Again.” Both interpretations were embraced by radio, and the the girls shot videos for both versions, that stayed in heavy rotation on THE BOX (a video pay/request network) & BET.

The group appeared on “Teen Summit” with Kris Kross and Jermaine Dupri on a show dedicated to teen entrepreneurs. Xscape also booked “The Arsenio Hall Show” and “Soul Train,” during their debut roll-out.

The album “Hummin’ Comin’ At Cha,” bulleted in the Top five on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. The album, whose title was inspired by a line from Cypress Hill’s “I Could Just Kill A Man,” was recorded in one month, February of 1993.

The Platinum-selling 1993 debut album, released 30 years ago today and hit #3 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album spawned five singles including two #1 R&B hits; “Just Kickin’ It” and the vocal powerhouse ballad, “Understanding.”

“Love on My Mind” and “Tonight” were also released, along with the “Just Kickin’ It” Remix.

That success was eclipsed by their explosive sophomore release “Off The Hook,” which was released in 1995. Like it’s predecessor, “Off The Hook” would go platinum while yielding three gold hits, “Feels So Good,” “Who Can I Run To?” and “Do You Want To.”

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with “Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha!”

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