Rated Next

Next was formed in 1992 by brothers Terrence "T-Low" and Raphael "Tweety" Brown, in addition to Robert "R. L." Huggar. The trio was trained and managed by T-Low's godmother, Ann Nesby, during the group's formation.{{harvnb|Reece|1998|pp=13, 20|Ref=none}} While performing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Next collaborated with record producers Prof. T. and Lance Alexander. They began recording music in the Flyte Tyme recording studio. A demo that the trio recorded caught the attention of recording artist and producer Kay Gee of Naughty by Nature. He called Next three days later and signed the group to his Divine Mill record label.{{harvnb|Allen|1998|p=52|Ref=none}} Managed by the Flavor Unit, Rated Next was recorded in Gee's in-home recording studio.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432609/19980831/naughty_by_nature.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030824202231/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432609/19980831/naughty_by_nature.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 24, 2003|title=Naughty by Nature Throws Homecoming Party for Next|date=August 31, 1998|publisher=MTV News|accessdate=2009-11-05}} The trio recorded several songs during this time, including "Phone Sex" and "Sexitude". During a "growth period", Next recorded "Butta Love", in which group member Tweety described as "the difference in the freedom we were feeling".

Next released the album's lead single, "Butta Love", in August 1997. According to Arista Records senior vice president of black music Lionel Ridenour, the success of the single "kept growing to the point where we had worked it from July through December". In order to give the group exposure, Arista promoted Next by having them speak in several radio stations and perform on television programs. The album's second single, "Too Close", topped the Billboard Hot 100{{Cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r314916|pure_url=yes}}|title=Rated Next > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2009-11-05}} and was certified platinum by the RIAA, going on to sell 2.1 million copies.{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=Next|title=Too Close}}{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Q0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA75 |title=Best-Selling Records of 1998 |magazine=Billboard|publisher=BPI Communications Inc.|date=January 30, 1999 |accessdate=May 31, 2015 |page=75 |issn=0006-2510|volume=111|number=5}} "Butta Love" and "I Still Love You" peaked in the top 20 of the Hot 100 and were certified gold by the RIAA.{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=Next|title=Butta Love}}{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=Next|title=I Still Love You}} The two singles sold 900,000 and 700,000 copies, respectively.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76 |title=Best-Selling Records of 1997 |magazine=Billboard|publisher=BPI Communications Inc.|date=January 31, 1998 |accessdate=May 9, 2015 |page=76 |issn=0006-2510|volume=110|number=5}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2019}}

"Butta Love" was the lead single and was released August 19, 1997. The song charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at 16 and on the US R&B/Hip-Hop at 4. The second single was "Too Close"; it was released on January 27, 1998.{{cite magazine|title=Next Gets Boost from Singles|last=Reece|first=Doug|magazine=Billboard|volume=110|number=12|page=20|date=March 21, 1998|quote='Too Close,' which has sold more than 193,000 units since Jan. 27}} The song charted at 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and on the US R&B/Hip-Hop. The final single was "I Still Love You"; it was released July 21, 1998. The song charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at 14 and on the US R&B/Hip-Hop at 4

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rated-next-mw0000595583|title=Next - Rated Next|last=Stanley|first=Leo|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=2009-11-05|quote=Rated Next is an impressive collection of contemporary hip-hop-influenced urban soul}}

| rev2 = Robert Christgau

| rev2Score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm2}}{{cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=next |title=Next |publisher=Robert Christgau |date= |accessdate= }}

}}

Rated Next received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Leo Stanley of Allmusic described the album as "an impressive collection of contemporary hip-hop-influenced urban soul". He felt that the group "may get a little too 'risqué' for some tastes", but stated that the lead singer R. L., was "so smooth and charismatic that he can seduce unwilling listeners". Melanie Mcfarland of The Seattle Times noted that the group "swings between party anthems and tender ballads with a sexy flow" on the album.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19980730/2763752/so-hot-its-cool----kube-summer-jam-turns-the-gorge-into-an-oasis-of-hip-hop-and-rb|title=So Hot It's Cool — Kube Summer Jam Turns the Gorge into an Oasis of Hip-Hop and R&B|last=Mcfarland|first=Melanie|work=The Seattle Times|publisher=The Seattle Times Company|access-date=2009-11-05}} The album received negative criticism due to the sexual innuendo in the lyrics of the songs. Tweety noted that one review wrote: "Even if Next never made it as singers, they could still make it as exotic dancers." Robert Christgau called the album a collection of "cute pop songs about... their erections and her clitoris".{{Cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=next|title=Robert Christgau: CG: Next|last=Christgau|first=Robert|publisher=robertchristgau.com|accessdate=2009-11-05}}

{{track_listing

| headline = Rated Next track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Intro

| writer1 =

| extra1 = KayGee

| length1 = 1:00

| title2 = Too Close

| note2 =

| writer2 = {{hlist|Darren Lighty|Denzil Miller|J.B. Moore|Keir Gist|Kurtis Walker|Larry Smith|Robert Ford, Jr.|Robert L. Huggar}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|D. Lighty|KayGee}}

| length2 = 4:19

| title3 = Butta Love

| writer3 = {{hlist|Arkeida Clowers|Lighty|Lance Alexander|Huggar|Tony Tolbert}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|D. Lighty|KayGee|Alexander|Prof T.}}

| length3 = 4:56

| title4 = My Place (Interlude)

| writer4 = {{hlist|Gist|Darren Lighty|Huggar}}

| extra4 = KayGee

| length4 = 2:18

| title5 = Cozy

| writer5 = {{hlist|Alexander|Huggar|Tolbert|Angela Winbush}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Alexander|Prof T.}}

| length5 = 4:10

| title6 = Penetration

| note6 = featuring Naughty by Nature

| writer6 = {{hlist|Anthony Criss|Bobby Robinson|Clifton Lighty|D. Lighty|Delvis Damon|Kevin Morse|Gist}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|D. Lighty|KayGee}}

| length6 = 4:32

| title7 = You Are My High (Interlude)

| writer7 = {{hlist|Andrea Smith|Charlie Wilson|Ronnie Wilson}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|D. Lighty|KayGee|Eddie Berkeley}}

| length7 = 2:05

| title8 = I Still Love You

| writer8 = {{hlist|Clowers|Darnell Bristoll|D. Lighty|Kenneth Edmonds|Raphael Brown|Huggar|Sid Johnson|Tolbert}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|D. Lighty|KayGee}}

| length8 = 4:13

| title9 = Stop, Drop & Roll

| writer9 = {{hlist|Clowers|Chuck Davis|Melvin L. Dinkins}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|KayGee|Mufi|Sheldon Goode}}

| length9 = 5:03

| title10 = Represent Me

| writer10 = {{hlist|C. Lighty|Eric Williams|Frank Reynolds|Joe Sample|Melvin Lewis}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|KayGee|C. Lighty|Reynolds}}

| length10 = 4:31

| title11 = Next Experience

| note11 = featuring Adina Howard and Castro

| writer11 = {{hlist|D. Lighty|Gist|Huggar|Wilton Felder}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|D. Lighty|KayGee}}

| length11 = 4:57

| title12 = Problems

| note12 = featuring Koffee Brown

| writer12 = {{hlist|C. Lighty|Darryll Barksdale|David Reeves|Jesse Wiley|Walker|Walter Dewgarde|William Way}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Mr. Walt|KayGee}}

| length12 = 3:48

| title13 = Do You Think About Me

| writer13 = {{hlist|Alexander|Huggar|Tolbert}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Alexander|Prof T.}}

| length13 = 5:41

| title14 = Admit the Rat (Interlude)

| extra14 = KayGee

| length14 = 1:56

| title15 = Sexitude

| writer15 = {{hlist|Kevin Pierce|Alexander|Tolbert}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Alexander|Prof T.}}

| length15 = 4:31

| title16 = Taste So Good

| writer16 = {{hlist|Alexander|Tolbert}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Alexander|Prof T.}}

| length16 = 5:13

| title17 = Phone Sex

| writer17 = {{hlist|Alexander|Tolbert}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Alexander|Prof T.}}

| length17 = 5:19

| title18 = Rock On

| writer18 = {{hlist|D. Lighty|Gist|Dinkins|Huggar}}

| extra18 = {{hlist|D. Lighy|KayGee|Prof T.|}}

| length18 = 3:56

}}

As credits listed on AllMusic.{{Cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r314916|pure_url=yes}}|title=Rated Next > Credits|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2009-11-05}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Lance Alexander – producer, engineer
• Michael Benabib – photography
• Eddie Berkeley – producer
• Marcus Blassingame – stylist
• Coffey Brown – vocals, background vocals
• Mike Campbell – guitar
• Ian Dalsemer – assistant engineer
• Clive Davis – executive producer
• Chris Gehringer – mastering
• Deedee Gist – associate producer
• Sheldon Goode – producer, engineer
• Anthony Harrison, Jr. – art direction
• Carlton Hitchcock – engineer
• Wesley Hodges – producer
• Adina Howard – performer
• Ken Johnston – engineer
• Kay Gee – producer, engineer, executive producer, mixing

{{col-2}}

• Lamar Kronick – vocoder
• Cliff Lighty – producer
• Darren Lighty – producer, engineer
• Mike T. – mixing
• Mr. Walt – producer
• Mufi – producer
• Next – background vocals
• Kevin Pierce – guitar
• Angela Piva – engineer, mixing
• Prof. T. – background vocals, producer, engineer
• Frank Reynolds – producer
• Andy Salas – mixing assistant
• Vernell Sales – background vocals
• Duganz Shaloni – rap
• Steve Sola – mixing assistant
• Kieran Walsh – mixing
• Charm Warren – associate producer

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Rated Next}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album |region=Canada|artist=Next |title=Rated Next |award=Gold |certyear=1997 |relyear=1997 |access-date=January 7, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album |region=United States |artist=Next |title=Rated Next |award=Platinum | number=2 |certyear=1997 |relyear=1997 |access-date=January 7, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom| nosales=true}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Cite journal|last=Allen|first=Harry|date=February 1998|title=Next - It's like Butta Baby|journal=Vibe|publisher=Vibe Media Group|volume=6|issue=1|issn=1070-4701}}
• {{Cite magazine|last=Reece|first=Doug|date=March 21, 1998|title=Next Gets Boost from Singles|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|volume=110|issue=12|issn=0006-2510}}

{{Next (group)}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1997 debut albums

Category:Next (American group) albums

Category:Albums produced by KayGee