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Next (American group)

{{Short description|American R&B musical group}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Infobox musical artist

|name = Next

|background = group_or_band

|image =

|caption =

|origin = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.

|genre = R&B

|years_active = 1992–present

|label = {{hlist|Arista (1997–2000)|J (2001–02)|Interscope (2005–06)|Music World/Universal (2006–07)}}

|associated_acts =

|website =

|current_members = Robert "R.L." Huggar
Terry "T-Low" Brown
Raphael "Tweety" Brown

}}

Next is an American R&B musical trio, popular during the late 1990s and early 2000s. They are best known for their Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit single "Too Close". They are also known for "Wifey", "Butta Love" and "I Still Love You", all of which still receive frequent airplay on Urban Adult Contemporary radio stations in the U.S. and internationally.

History

=1992–1999: Early beginnings and breakthrough=

The group was formed in 1992 by Robert "R.L." Huggar and brothers Raphael "Tweety" Brown and Terry "T-Low" Brown in Minneapolis, Minnesota after being introduced by the Brown's uncle, a gospel choir director. Originally, they were a quartet known as Straight4ward, and at one point managed by Sounds of Blackness' Ann Nesby, but changed their name to Next after one of their members left.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/next-mn0000391177/biography|title=Next | Biography & History|website=AllMusic}} After their demo tape caught the attention of Naughty by Nature's KayGee, he took the group to his Arista label Divine Mill, and they began work on their debut album.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

They released their debut single "Butta Love", produced by KayGee, D. Lighty, Lance Alexander & Prof. T in September 1997, which became a big R&B hit for the group peaking at No. 4 (and hitting the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart). Soon after, their debut album, Rated Next was released on September 30, and sold moderately. It was followed in 1998 by the release of their biggest hit to date, "Too Close", which hit No. 1 on both the R&B and the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Sales of their debut album surged, helping the album peak at No. 13 R&B and No. 37 on the Billboard 200, eventually being certified double platinum, and earning them American Music Awards, Billboard Awards and Soul Train Awards nominations.{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-n/next.htm|title=Next|publisher=Rock On The Net|access-date=2013-12-05}} A third single "I Still Love You" garnered the group another Top 5 R&B hit and a Top 20 on the Hot 100 charts.

=2000–present: Label changes and hiatus =

In 2000, the group released the lead single "Wifey" ahead of their second album for Arista. The song became another No. 1 R&B hit for the group and also featured singer Lil' Mo on background vocals. Their second album, Welcome II Nextasy, was released in June 2000 and was certified gold on the strength of the lead single. A second single "Beauty Queen" received moderate airplay, peaking at No. 48 on R&B and No. 59 on the Hot 100. After the album's cycle, the group took a break, leading RL to record and release his debut solo album RL:Ements for Clive Davis' then-new J Records label in 2002, which achieved moderate success with the singles "Got Me a Model" and "Good Man".{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

The group also joined the J Records label, and released their third studio album The Next Episode in December of that same year. It featured the lead single "Imagine That" which peaked at No. 66 R&B and No. 91 on the Hot 100. Also, they collaborated with Jaheim on his single "Anything" off his debut album Ghetto Love which earned the group another Top 10 R&B hit. After leaving the J Records label, they briefly aligned with 50 Cent's G-Unit and with Matthew Knowles' Music World labels, but did not release any music. The group later broke up due to internal conflicts and member T-Low suffering from a career-ending throat condition, but eventually reunited in 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://singersroom.com/content/2011-06-04/rb-group-next-reunites-after-failed-label-deals-group-conflicts-illness/|title=R&B Group Next Reunite After Failed Label Deals, Group Conflicts & Illness|date=June 4, 2011}}

In 2014, the group began and completed work on a new album titled Next, Lies, & Videotape (originally titled Music 101) but it was ultimately shelved.{{cite web|last=Hanna |first=Mitchell |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10984/title.tuesday-rap-release-dates-drake-tha-dogg-pound-joell-ortiz |title=Tuesday Rap Release Dates: Drake, Tha Dogg Pound, Joell Ortiz | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2010-04-06 |access-date=2013-12-05}} In 2016, the group was featured on TV One's "Unsung" series which prompted another reunion for the group after a couple years of being distant.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/71218/20160612/r-b-group-next-squashes-beef-reunites-bring-more-great.htm|title=R&B Group Next Squashes Beef, Reunites to Bring More Great Music|first=Music|last=Times|date=June 12, 2016|website=Music Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TheGroupNext_/status/741781608319975424|title=#NEXTISBACK #NOE @TheGroupNEXT_ @TweetfromNext @JustRL @TLowFromNext #BESTLIFEEVERpic.twitter.com/2QYqJXaKth|date=June 11, 2016}} In March 2018, the group premiered their new single "Want It" to UAC radio.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/login|title=Login to All Access | Breaking Radio News and Free New Music | AllAccess.com|website=All Access}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf-LWZaFRIZ/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bf-LWZaFRIZ |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=limited|title=Tweet From Next on Instagram: "The day is finally here!!! After a long hiatus #NEXT💋 @thegroupnext_ is finally back w/ our new single "Want It". PLEASE call your local…"|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album details

! scope="col" colspan="5"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Certifications

style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/next/chart-history/tlp/|title=Next Chart History (Billboard 200)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130113953/https://www.billboard.com/music/next/chart-history/TLP|archive-date=January 30, 2020}}

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US R&B
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/next/chart-history/blp/|title=Next Chart History (R&B/Hip Hop Albums)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130013227/https://www.billboard.com/music/next/chart-history/BLP|archive-date=January 30, 2020}}

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|AUS
Peaks in Australia:

  • All except noted: {{cite Ryan|page=202}}
  • "Too Close" and "I Still Love You": {{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Next|title=Discography Next|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=September 2, 2022}}

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|CAN
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/next/chart-history/cna/|title=Next Chart History (Canadian Albums)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216173842/https://www.billboard.com/music/next/chart-history/CNA|archive-date=February 16, 2020}}

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|UK
{{cite web|title=NEXT - full Official Chart History |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3778/next/|website=Official Charts Company|access-date=30 November 2021}}

scope="row"| Rated Next

|

  • Release: September 30, 1997
  • Label: Arista
  • Formats: CD, digital download

| 37 || 13 || 57 || 20 || —

| align="left"|

  • RIAA: 2× Platinum{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Next&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=Gold & Platinum|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)|access-date=April 9, 2016}}
  • MC: Gold{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=next|title=Music Canada|date=June 17, 1998 |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)|access-date=September 14, 2019}}
scope="row"| Welcome II Nextasy

|

  • Release: June 20, 2000
  • Label: Arista
  • Formats: CD, digital download

| 12 || 4 || 74 || — || 85

|

  • RIAA: Gold
  • BPI: Silver{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|artist=Next|access-date=May 29, 2022}}
scope="row"| The Next Episode

|

  • Release: December 17, 2002
  • Label: J
  • Formats: CD, digital download

| 120 || 27 || — || — || —

| align="left"|

colspan="11" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

=Singles=

==As lead artist==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! align="center" rowspan="2" width="200"| Title

! align="center" rowspan="2" width="10"| Year

! align="center" colspan="4" width="20"| Peak positions

! align="center" rowspan="2" width="170"| Certifications

! align="center" rowspan="2"| Album

style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| US
{{cite web|title=Next Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography |url=https://www.musicvf.com/Next.art|website=Music VF|access-date=30 November 2021}}{{cite web|title=Anything (song by Jaheim) |url=https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Anything+by+Jaheim&id=20539|website=Music VF|access-date=30 November 2021}}

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| US R&B

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| AUS

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| UK
{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006| title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=394}}

scope="row"| "Butta Love"

| rowspan="2"| 1997

| 16 || 4 || — || —

|

  • RIAA: Gold

| rowspan="3"| Rated Next

scope="row"| "Too Close"

| 1 || 1 || 12 || 24

|

  • RIAA: Platinum
  • ARIA: Gold{{cite certification|region=Australia|certyear=1998|access-date=September 5, 2022}}
  • BPI: Silver
scope="row"| "I Still Love You"

| 1998

| 14 || 4 || 31 || —

|

  • RIAA: Gold
scope="row"| "Wifey"

| rowspan="2"| 2000

| 7 || 1 || 64 || 19

|

  • BPI: Silver

| rowspan="2"| Welcome II Nextasy

scope="row"| "Beauty Queen"

| — || 48 || — || —

|

scope="row"| "Imagine That"

| 2002

| — || 66 || — || —

|

| The Next Episode

scope="row"| "Leaving with Me"

| 2014

| — || — || — || —

|

| rowspan="3"| non-album singles

scope="row"| "Want It"

| 2018

| — || — || — || —

|

scope="row"| "That's Me"
(with Naughty by Nature)

| 2022

| — || — || — || —

|

colspan="11" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

==As featured artist==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! align="center" rowspan="2" width="200"| Title

! align="center" rowspan="2" width="10"| Year

! align="center" colspan="4" width="20"| Peak positions

! align="center" rowspan="2"| Album

style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| US
{{cite web|title=Next Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography |url=https://www.musicvf.com/Next.art|website=Music VF|access-date=30 November 2021}}{{cite web|title=Anything (song by Jaheim) |url=https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Anything+by+Jaheim&id=20539|website=Music VF|access-date=30 November 2021}}

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| US R&B

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| AUS

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| UK
{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006| title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=394}}

scope="row"| "Anything"
(Jaheim featuring Next)

| 2002

| 28 || 6 || — || —

| Ghetto Love

scope="row"| "Girl I'm So Excited"
(with TXAS Renegade)

| 2022

| — || — || — || —

| rowspan="2"| non-album singles

scope="row"| "Too Close"
(with Sonny Noto & Lotus featuring Mac Russo)

| 2023

| — || — || — || —

colspan="11" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

  • Billboard Awards
  • 1998 Top New Artist (winner)
  • 1998 Top Hot 100 Singles - Duos/Group (winner)
  • 1998 Top R&B Artist - Duos/Group (winner singles & album)
  • 1998 Top New R&B Artist (winner)
  • 1998 Top Hot R&B Singles Artist (winner)
  • 1998 Top Hot R&B Singles Artist - Duos/Group (winner)
  • 1998 Top Hot 100 Single (winner)
  • 1998 Top Hot R&B Single Airplay (winner)
  • American Music Awards
  • 1999, Favorite Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group (nominated)
  • 1999, Favorite New Soul/R&B New Artist (nominated)
  • Soul Train Awards
  • 2001, Best R&B/Soul Album by a Band, Duo or Group: Welcome II Nextasy (nominated)
  • 1999, Best R&B/Soul Single by a Band, Duo or Group: "Too Close" (winner)

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=next|bio=true}} Billboard.com - Biography - Next]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20120304142910/http://www.colossoul.com/ Next in London, UK 29th April 2010]
  • [http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1998/dec/08/next-is-big-winner-at-billboard-awards/ Next is big winner at Billboard Awards - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper]

{{Next (group)}}

{{Billboard Year-End number one singles 1980–1999}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Next}}

Category:African-American musical trios

Category:American contemporary R&B musical groups

Category:Musical trios from Minnesota

Category:Arista Records artists

Category:J Records artists

Category:Interscope Records artists