5 Times 90s R&B Revamped Remix’s…Were as Hot as The Original
Many music anthologists, feel the 1990s were the last decade of true great R&B music. We here at UB, tend to agree!
It was a time where artists not only took chances on new sounds, but labels pushed albums & remixes just as hard as singles. There were soundtracks filled with new music from various artists released often, not to mention concert tours that would feature all of your favorites on one bill.
Remixes were more exciting as well. More than a few extra previously scrapped adlibs and an additional baseline to the production, producers like Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Brian Morgan, Jermaine Dupri and more, were cutting remixes into new tracks that were totally revamped from the original.
We’ve compiled a list of five of the hottest 90s R&B singles, that showcase this. The unique thing is all are ballads/mid-tempos remixed into dance tracks!
Check out 5 Times 90s R&B Revamped Remix’s…Were as Hot as The Original.
(In order of year released)
1. “Are You Ready?” – Pebbles
(March – 1995)
Singer Pebbles known for her hits “Girlfriend,” “Mercedes Boy,” and “Giving You the Benefit,” returned in 1995 with her third album, “Straight from the Heart.” The album featured contributions from such producers/songwriters as Diddy, Kyle West, Mario Winans and Organized Noize.
“Are You Ready,” peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Part II of the single features Mario Winans who produced it, the ballad is just as hot as the upbeat versions. There are actually three different versions!
Video Directed by Daniela Federici.
2. “Sexuality (If You Take Your Love)” – Terri & Monica
(July – 1996)
Terri and Monica in 1992, were original members of the short-lived late 80s R&B Uptown Records group The Gyrlz.
As a duo Terri & Monica released their debut album “Systa” in September of 93‘ on Epic Records, the albums songs were all co-written by the ladies, with additional writing credits from Horace Brown, Gordon Chambers and Bryce Wilson. The album featured the hit singles “Uh-Huh” and “I’ve Been Waiting” also included on the “Poetic Justice” soundtrack.
In July of 1996 Terri & Monica returned with the single “Sexuality (If You Take Your Love),” one of the hottest singles that year. The release included a remix produced by Timbaland and features a rap by Missy Elliott. Both versions are fire! The duo planned to release their sophomore album “Suga,” however the album wasn’t released and shelved in the U.S. and only released overseas.
3. “In My Bed” – Dru Hill
(December – 1996)
Four childhood friends from Baltimore – Sisqo, Nokio, Jazz, and Woody known as Dru Hill, took the music industry by storm in the ’90s with a combination of old school vocal harmonies and effortless charisma.
Their debut album produced four top charting singles – “Tell Me”, “Five Steps”, “Never Make a Promise”, and the mega-hit “In My Bed.”
“In My Bed” is one of those songs that is perfection as it is, so when Jermaine Dupri remixed the single and added rhymes from Brat as well as him, that set the summer of 1997 off! The remix unlike the original is a uptempo that samples Le Pamplemousse‘s “Gimmie What You Got.”
Video(s) Directed by Bille Woodruff and Darren Grant(remix)
4. “No, No, No” – Destiny’s Child
(October – 1997)
Destiny’s Child‘s original lineup of Houston singers and songwriters were Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett. They released their debut single 25 years ago, the #1 debut single, “No, No, No Part 2” featuring its co-producer Wyclef Jean.
The original ballad version was released prior, Wyclef gave them a remix nothing like it that set them up for superstardom!
The million-selling single hit #1 R&B and heralded their self-titled debut album released February 1998.
Video Directed by Darren Grant
5. “Gotta Leave” – 702
(November – 1999)
Originally started as a quartet. A chance performance in Atlanta at a music convention caught the eye of New Edition’s Michael Bivins. Signed to his label BIV 10, he immediately got them in the studio with Subway on the hit “This Lil’ Game We Play.”
702 quickly distinguished themselves from the rest of the femme pack. For over 6 months, their platinum single “Where My Girls At” was one of the most heard songs in the country, reaching over 100 million radio listeners. The contagiously up-tempo jam peaked at the #4 spot and sat in the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 charts for more than 30 weeks.
However it was the second Missy Elliott single released from the same album “Gotta Go,” that we seen the ladies transform musically from girls to women.
Video Directed by Darren Grant.
5 UB Honorable Mentions:
- “Lady” (Remix) – D’Angelo featuring AZ
- “Freak’N You” (Remix) – Jodeci featuring Raekwon and Ghostface Killah
- “Always Be My Baby” (Mr. Dupri Mix) – Mariah Carey featuring Xscape and Da Brat
- “I Wanna Be Down” (Human Rhythm Hip Hop Remix) – Brandy featuring MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Yo-Yo
- “Right Here” (Human Nature Mix) – SWV
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