Then:
It wasn’t just D’Angelo’s music that kept us glued, it was also those abs and those lips…oh my! Despite his success, “D” took a 10-year sabbatical from music, leaving us all craving new material.
The beloved singer will be making his big comeback at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival after a 10-year hiatus.
Then:
The ’fro, the impeccable style, the beautiful lyrics… what was not to love about Maxwell back in the day?
Now:
Four multi-platinum selling albums later, Maxwell still makes us weak, certifying him as a heartthrob for life.
Then:
Whether acting or rapping, Will Smith, aka “The Fresh Prince” always had the girls swooning.
Now:
This ‘90s cutie grew up to be one of the world’s most successful actors. He’s also a fantastic father and husband to Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Then:
Al B. Sure’s sexy swag and 1988 debut had every girl singing “I can tell you how I feel about you Nite and Day.”
Now:
Al continues to make music (his last album was released in 2009) and works as a radio personality.
Then:
We first fell in love with Tyrese when he sang on the back of a bus in the now famous Coca-Cola commercial. He would go on to release four albums, one of which (his debut) went platinum.
Now:
Can we just say, “Black don’t crack”? The sexy singer transitioned into acting and has starred in a string of blockbusters.
Then:
On hits like “Make it Last Forever” and “Keep it Coming” Keith’s famous moan kept us coming back for more.
Now:
We can still hear Keith’s sexy voice on the radio every night as he hosts a nationally syndicated “Quiet Storm” radio show.
Then:
Ladies Love Cool J… what more can we say? On songs like “Around the Way Girl” and “I Need Love” this Queens emcee always let us know he loved us.
Now:
Lucky for us, we get to swoon over a more mature (and finer) LL Cool J every week on NCIS: Los Angeles.
Then:
Boyz II Men’s MotownPhilly sound kept us glued to our radios. It also helped that this awesome foursome were so easy on the eyes.
Now:
Now a trio, Boyz II Men (minus Michael McCrary) is all grown up and still making sweet music. They recently released the album Twenty to commemorate their two decades in the music industry.
Then:
We’ll never forget El’s legendary falsetto on now iconic songs like “Who’s Johnny” and “Love Always.”
Now:
After a few years off and bouts with drugs, El is back to making music. He made his first post-rehab performance at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.
Then:
Thanks to Bobby Brown, years later, we’re still talking about wanting to be someone’s “tenderoni.” Brown’s “Don’t Be Cruel” will always be a classic.
Then:
Even with Bobby Brown gone, New Edition still had plenty of eye candy, and hit songs, to keep us happy.
Now:
Now husbands and fathers, New Edition reunited at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival, and has been on tour ever since. It’s always good to have them back.
Now:
Now 35, Tevin continues to make music and has starred in the Broadway musical, “Hairspray.”
Then:
Ginuwine came into the music business with a bang with his 1996 hit, “Pony.” He’s had our attention ever since.
Now:
With his last album, titled Elgin released in 2011, this R&B crooner continues to make grown and sexy music.
Then:
Oh Johnny! This D.C. native’s romantic ballads became the soundtrack to our lives.
Now:
Johnny reunited with New Edition at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival and recently signed a record deal.
Now:
Jagged Edge is still churning out beautiful songs. They recently released The Remedy their seventh studio album.
Now:
After a rocky marriage to Whitney Houston, problems with drugs and arrests in the early ’00s, Bobby Brown has changed his life and is back to his jovial fun-loving self. He recently married his manager, Alicia Etheridge, with whom he has a four-year-old son named Cassius.
Now:
Now a trio, Boyz II Men (minus Michael McCrary) is all grown up and still making sweet music. You can bet we’ll be on the front row to catch them at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival.
