Much like Young Money, MMG, Taylor Gang, and other music camps dominate today's Billboard charts, at one moment in time it was TUG. B2K, TG4 (Sevyn), Marques Houston, IMX, O'Ryan, Mila J (Jhene's real sister), and of course Jhene, were in all of the teen magazines, appearing in blockbuster movies and being hailed as the legends of tomorrow. However once B2K disbanded, and the young girls who once went wild over Omarion and the boys grew up, TUG quickly folded in the midst of scandal.
Raz-B who hopefully is somewhere getting the much needed help he needs, began to cry that he was raped by TUG head Chris Stokes, and went even further by alleging that Omarion, Bow Wow, Marques Houston, and Chris Brown were all gay.
Staying away from the drama--R&B songbird Jhene went underground after her debut album My Name Is Jhene, never saw the light of day. During her extended break she gave birth to her son with Omarion's brother O'Ryan, and revealed that herself and B2K member Lil Fizz were not actually cousins. Soon she reemerged with the same ole youthful appearance, but with the soul of a woman wise beyond her 24-years.
Her 2011 mixtape Sailing Soul(s) became an instant hit, with it's soulful-melodic feel, thanks to producers Fisticuffs. The singer-songwriter credits Beyonce, Sade, Brandy, and John Mayer for being her musical inspirations, influences which were heard on the project. Jhene's music is no longer about what goes on in school hallways between classes, evolving into more mature subjects. Matters of the life of a young mother living in L.A. who has experiences that she would like to share with the world. Her airy vocals soar on the bass-heavy tracks, similar to the earlier works of Ameriie. Now, the voice of the young women who once screamed for B2K, are now the age of Jhene and learning lessons about love and self acceptance.
"Boy" was one of the unreleased tracks that was supposed to appear on her debut album years ago, a track that immediately caught my attention then, and still holds it to this day. If one listens to the song, you can clearly see what the Def-Jam signees' music would sound like in the future. I'm so glad she has gotten a second chance, a real chance at making quality music that is true to her aesthetic, and not what is popular by anyone's standards but her own.