Yahoo Entertainment Jodeci to Reunite at Soul Train Awards 2014
The Soul Train Awards 2014 is prepping arguably the biggest reunion in hip-hop/R&B history: Jodeci. The North Carolina quartet that scored five No. 1 1990s R&B hits, including "Stay," "Forever My Lady," and "Come and Talk to Me," will perform during the award show taping in Las Vegas on Nov. 7.
According to a spokesperson for the event, the act will perform a medley and a snippet of the brand-new single, its first effort since 1996's "Get on Up." The group that includes two sets of brothers, Cedric "K-Ci" and Joel "JoJo" Hailey, as well as Dalvin "Mr. Dalvin" and Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate, has not taken the stage together in the U.S. since 2006.
"Soul Train was a critical platform in the beginning of our career, so it only makes sense that our return to the stage be during Soul Train Awards 2014," the group said in an exclusive statement released to Yahoo Music. "We're humbled by the loyalty of our fans who have asked for a reunion and look forward to giving them a show as only Jodeci can. #JODECIforever."
In 1997, K-Ci & JoJo reemerged as a duo, releasing five albums and winning the Favorite R&B Band/Duo/Group American Music Award. Jodeci, one of Sean "Diddy" Combs's first successes as an executive for Uptown Records, made their debut with 1991's Forever My Lady, which topped the R&B charts and reached the Top 20 on the pop charts. DeVante Swing discovered and groomed a number of artists, among them Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and Ginuwine, and produced for 2Pac, Mariah Carey, and Michael Jackson.
Though the group was rumored to part ways due to internal squabbling and bouts with drugs, K-Ci says they never disbanded. "We are not getting back together, simple reason is we never broke up," he told Huffington Post's Black Voices in 2013. "We have a vault of CDs that we could just put out at any moment."
In February, Timbaland hinted that he was working with the group on new material. "By the way, people who follow Timbaland from day one, I met with DeVante and I'mma help work on the new Jodeci album," he told fans during a chat. "That will be my career coming full circle, working with DeVante again."
Last year, K-Ci, JoJo, and Mr. Dalvin played a 1990s gig at London's Wembley Arena, along with other acts from the era: Blackstreet, Dru Hill, SWV, and Changing Faces.
Jodeci's music continues to impact contemporary artists. Drake samples Jodeci's "My Heart Belongs to You" on his latest release "How About Now," and last year he paid homage to the band with the track "Jodeci Back (Freestyle)" featuring J Cole.
The Soul Train Awards 2014 will also feature performances from Aloe Blacc, Nico & Vinz, Jeremih, Lisa Stansfield, Kem, and Liv Warfield. Trey Songz, Boris Kodjoe, Laila Ali, and Wolf Blitzer will present at the ceremony hosted by Wendy Williams.
The Soul Train Awards 2014 will air on Centric and BET Networks on Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
