Best Bell Biv Devoe Podcasts (2025)

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One Hit Wonder?: Sir Mix-A-Lot (Remix) 29:35

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23d ago29:35

29:35

Originally released in November 2021, here’s another episode that we’ve taken from the vault and remixed. We're taking a look at the career of Sir Mix-A-Lot, and discussing whether or not he has been unfairly stamped as a one hit wonder, due to the massive popularity of "Baby Got Back." Around these parts, we don’t consider him a one hit wonder, an…

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Let It Be Known Then!: The 1995 Source Awards (Remix) 49:15

2M ago49:15

49:15

In honor of today being the 30th anniversary the original airing, we’re revisiting one of our early episodes, where we reviewed the controversial 1995 Source Awards. The show itself became secondary to the many explosive moments that happened on stage. From the so-called east coast/west coast rivalries playing out in front of the world, to Andre 30…

1
Tupac Shakur: Poetic Justice 55:27

3M ago55:27

55:27

In our last episode, we broke down the music of 2Pac, now we're flipping the script (see what we did there?) and diving into the film career of Tupac Shakur. We rewatched his entire filmography and reviewed every role, from the iconic to the...not so great. From his chilling performance as Bishop in Juice to his nuanced portrayal of heroin-addicted…

1
2Pac: Me Against The World 49:25

3M ago49:25

49:25

On this episode, we're getting into the musical evolution of 2Pac, one of hip hop's most complex and controversial voices. From the militant and revolutionary 2Pacalypse Now through the paranoia and revenge themes of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. We get into our favorite songs and talk about how each album reflected who 2Pac was at that pa…

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Next Stop, Uptown 50:05

4M ago50:05

50:05

In this episode, we're discussing how Uptown Records reshaped that sound and style of a generation. From the rise of new jack swing with Teddy Riley and Guy, to Mary J. Blige and Jodeci redefining what R&B could be, Uptown didn't follow trends, it set trends. Uptown also helped to bring Black culture to both big and small screens with the film Stri…

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White People Jams 1:01:29

5M ago1:01:29

1:01:29

Teena Marie. Jon B. Lisa Stansfield. Bobby Caldwell. What do these people have in common? Yes, they're white, and they made some jammin' ass songs. In this episode, we're diving into our favorite "White People Jams." The kind of songs that you can slide into a playlist between Mary J. Blige and Janet Jackson without skipping. Joining us on this mis…

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Thank God It's Friday 27:10

5M ago27:10

27:10

On this episode, we’re talking about the 1995 classic Friday, starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker. A film that’s still serving up laughs and quotables 30 years later. We get into what set Friday apart from the other so-called “hood” movies of the ’90s and early 2000s. While most leaned into violence and heavy drama, Friday took a different route, sp…

1
Where Are My Background Singers?!?! 43:31

6M ago43:31

43:31

A lot of people that we now call stars, were once background singers and backup dancers. If you listen to some of your favorite songs or watch some videos you’ll recognize some voices and faces that you may have never noticed before. But not all of these stories have a superstar ending. A lot of people were able to carve out solid and recognizable …

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Bell Biv DeVoe: Hip Hop Smoothed Out... 52:53

6M ago52:53

52:53

This week we're discussing 3 brothers from Boston, Massachusetts, who were able to bridge the gap between hip hop and R&B in a way that hadn’t been done up until that point. Their music was “mentally Hip Hop, smoothed out on the R&B tip, with a Pop feel, appeal to it.” We're talking about Bell Biv Devoe. Made up of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and R…

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Sumthin' Sumthin' 1:01:25

7M ago1:01:25

1:01:25

We are having a conversation about the golden era of Neo Soul on this episode. We get into some of our favorite albums and artists, discuss some lesser known acts, as well as talking about the non-musical influences on fashion, movies and television. We close the episode by putting together a hypothetical tour with 4 different acts from the era, an…

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B-Side: Gogo Jason Waterfalls 16:25

9M ago16:25

16:25

This week, we're dropping another B-Side, a little quickie companion piece to episode 74, Gogo Jason Waterfalls. Due to time constraints, there were some songs that needed to be cut from the original, but this segment was too good to leave on the hard drive, so here it is! These are the songs that we're discussing in this episode: Tweet - Oops, Oh …

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Where to Find Episodes 2-7 0:53

9M ago0:53

0:53

Binge all episodes of Jacked exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/jacked-rise-of-the-new-jack-sound/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

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Kelis: Kaleidoscope 25th Anniversary 28:12

10M ago28:12

28:12

This week, we're doing another anniversary episode, and this time we're celebrating the anniversary of Kelis' debut album, Kaleidoscope. With her colorful hair and punk attitude, she literally burst onto the scene screaming "I hate you so much right now!" backed by the sounds of Chad Hugo & Pharrell Williams, aka The Neptunes. We get into how this …

1
Mary J. Blige: My Life 30th Anniversary 38:15

10M ago38:15

38:15

On this episode, we're discussing one of our favorite albums, My Life by Mary J. Blige. If you're anything like us, you've been bumping this consistently for the past 30 years. Yes, 30 years! Originally released on November 29, 1994, this album is a reflection of Mary's struggles with heartbreak and depression. Her vulnerable lyrics paired with lus…

1
Shake It Off 1:00:50

10M ago1:00:50

1:00:50

On this episode we’re talking about comebacks and reinventions with three legendary albums: Black Messiah by D’Angelo, Mama Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J and The Emancipation of Mimi by Mariah Carey. These albums proved that each of these artists could come back from a down period in their careers and deliver some of their best work. Yeah, we sho…

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Never Thought That Hip Hop Would Take It This Far 42:45

11M ago42:45

42:45

The reports of hip hop’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. In the past few months, we’ve read and heard about its supposed decline, yet these articles look past its influence across other genres. It can be found in K-pop, country and mainstream pop. Hip hop has become so ingrained in our culture that now that it’s no longer viewed as “undergrou…

1
Gogo Jason Waterfalls 55:00

12M ago55:00

55:00

Not every song can be uplifting like Queen Latifah's "U.N.I.T.Y." or "Optimistic" by Sounds of Blackness. A lot of times, we listen to and love songs with questionable themes and lyrics, and sometimes we just misinterpret the meanings. So, on this episode we're taking a look at some of the songs that made us do the Wee Bey face. How old were you wh…

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Amy Winehouse: What Kind Of F*ckery Is This? 43:35

1y ago43:35

43:35

In this episode, we are talking about singer known for her distinct singing voice, candid songwriting style and very personal lyrics. Her impact and legacy on the world of music is why we're discussing the late, great Amy Winehouse. An artist who was rooted in jazz, but had R&B sensibilities with a sprinkle of hip hop. Her debut album Frank showed …

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B-Side: A Tribe Called Quest 10:30

1y ago10:30

10:30

This week, we're dropping our first B-Side of 2024. A little quickie companion piece to episode 64, A Tribe Called Quest: Electric Relaxation. We didn't get a chance to talk about our favorite Tribe songs from each album during the episode, so you get to hear it now. We also drop our thoughts on which album that we think is better, The Low End Theo…

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Jeffrey Wright: This is Egyptian Cotton... 36:53

1y ago36:53

36:53

In this episode we're discussing an actor who you may know from television shows like Boardwalk Empire and Westworld, or his film roles in The Hunger Games and James Bond franchises. You may know him from Angels in America, which earned him a Tony award for the Broadway show and an Emmy award for the TV adaptation. He's played historical figures su…

1
Teddy Riley: Teddy's Jam 2 35:35

1+ y ago35:35

35:35

In our previous episode, we covered Teddy Riley's influential production career. In this episode, we focus on his journey as a performer, starting from his pioneering new jack swing days with Guy, a brief stop with his brother's group, Wreckx-N-Effect and finally to his Blackstreet era. Teddy's run as both a producer and performer is one that few a…

1
Teddy Riley: Teddy's Jam 34:25

1+ y ago34:25

34:25

On this episode, we’re talking about a producer, songwriter, sometime singer and rapper. He’s done songs for Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick, Heavy D, Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, Keith Sweat, Al B. Sure!, Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson and more. He's done albums for himself as a member of Guy & Blackstreet, and he was ind…

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Heavy D: Nuttin' But Love 38:25

1+ y ago38:25

38:25

On this episode we’re talking about Mr. Big Stuff, The Heavster, The Overweight Lover, out of Moneyearnin’ Mount Vernon, the diddly, diddly, diddly, diddly, diddly D. One of a small number of people who have done a song with both Michael and Janet Jackson. The man who is pretty much responsible for kicking off Uptown Records, since he was the first…

1
Hey Ladies 43:20

1+ y ago43:20

43:20

It's been a while since we've dropped an episode about the ladies, so on this one we're talking about 8 of them. Yes, 8. We're diving into the world of R&B with a spotlight on some of our favorite voices. First up, we have the First Ladies of Bad Boy, Total. Kim, Keisha and Pam. Then we're heading north of the border to talk about two vocal powerho…

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OutKast: Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik 30th Anniversary 32:17

1+ y ago32:17

32:17

On this episode, we had a conversation about OutKast’s debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. This is an album that helped redefine the sound and identity of Southern hip hop, and played a significant role in introducing the world to the unique sound and culture of the “Dirty South.” This album laid the foundation for OutKast's legendary car…

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New Edition: Boys To Men 52:50

1+ y ago52:50

52:50

On this episode, we are having a conversation about the 40+ year career of one of the greatest R&B groups of all time, and the inspiration for all of the boy bands that followed their blueprint. From direct descendants like New Kids On The Block and Boyz II Men, to current day acts like BTS, New Edition is “where it all started.” We talked about th…

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Usher: Confessions 20th Anniversary 33:00

1+ y ago33:00

33:00

On this episode, we are having a conversation about Usher's 2004 album, Confessions. It's been 20 years since its original release, so we're discussing the impact of the album, how it dominated the Billboard charts, as well as some of the misconceptions about the content. We got into Confessions a little bit in July 2021 in our Usher episode, but f…

1
A Tribe Called Quest: Electric Relaxation 40:40

1+ y ago40:40

40:40

On this episode, we're having a conversation about one of our favorite groups, one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time, A Tribe Called Quest. Join us as we discuss their body of work and their legacy. Head over to our website, troypodcast.com to check out footnotes, a playlist and a transcript for this episode. While you're here, make sure t…

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Introducing: Queue Points Podcast 41:16

2y ago41:16

41:16

They Reminisce Over You will be back with new episodes Spring 2024, but in the meantime, we wanted to share with you an episode of a show that we love, Queue Points, hosted by the homies Jay Ray & DJ Sir Daniel. We did an episode of Queue Points last year, and they were on our show earlier this year, so go back and check those out if you haven't al…

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Christmas Rappin' 26:35

2y ago26:35

26:35

So, we've reached that time of year that no matter where you are, in a mall, grocery store, movie theater, watching TV and hearing a commercial, Christmas music is everywhere. So, it is officially holiday music season. So, that's what we're gonna be talking about on this episode. We're talking about Christmas songs and the ones we like, the ones we…

1
This Is The Remix 50:11

2y ago50:11

50:11

This week we are talking about something that we've mentioned on this pod a lot. How many times have we talked about a song that we love that wasn't the original, it wasn't on the album, but it was on the cassette or the CD single? Or sometimes it was a music video. Yeah, it was similar, but there were some differences that made it stand out, and m…

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Giancarlo Esposito: Hey Sal, How Come You Ain’t Got No Brothas Up On The Wall? 45:40

2y ago45:40

45:40

On this episode, we're talking about a man whose career spans decades. A versatile actor who has the range to play a menacing drug kingpin as well as a talking mirror. He's probably best known for his role as Gus Fring on Breaking Bad & Better Call Saul. You may also know him as Buggin' Out from Do the Right Thing or more recently, Moff Gideon in T…

1
Trackmasters: Respect 37:17

2y ago37:17

37:17

This week we’re talking about a production team that had a major influence on a time in hip hop that we spoke about in the last episode, the so-called “jiggy, shiny suit, bling bling era.” Even though they had been around since 1990 doing tracks for act like Chubb Rock, Kool G. Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante and The Real Roxanne, 1994 is when …

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73 'til Infinity - Part 2: A #HipHop50 Conversation 46:25

2y ago46:25

46:25

A couple weeks ago we did an episode dedicated to the first 50 years of hip hop. There was a lot to go over and a lot to cover, so we had to break it up into two episodes. We're only gonna get about 8% of it. But we are back on this episode to pick up where we left off. We finished up the last episode talking about the Golden Era, and on this episo…

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Ms. Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary 48:39

2y ago48:39

48:39

This week, we're discussing the 25th anniversary of Lauryn Hill's solo debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. This classic album was released on August 25, 1998, and features a number of standout tracks like "Doo Wop (That Thing)," "Ex-Factor," "Lost Ones," "To Zion" and more. She won five Grammy's for this album, making her the first woman …

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73 'til Infinity - Part 1: A #HipHop50 Conversation 44:20

2y ago44:20

44:20

On this episode, we are discussing something that's been a part of our lives as far back as we both can remember. It's influenced the way we dress, the way we talk, the music we listen to. It's what makes us who we are. In 2023, we're celebrating 50 years of this culture that we call hip hop. We were originally gonna do just one episode, but realiz…

1
SWV: Right Here 44:30

2y ago44:30

44:30

On this episode, we are talking about an R&B trio from New York City. Peers and contemporaries of groups like Xscape, Jade, Total, Destiny's Child, 702. You know, all the ’90’s girls. One of the biggest selling girl groups of all time, and that's globally. They've sold 30 million records. We're talking about Taj, Lelee, and Coko and her long ass na…

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In Living Color: Homey Don't Play That! 40:50

2y ago40:50

40:50

On this episode, we are going to talk about a TV show that ran for five seasons on Fox from 1990 to 1994. Created by Keenen Ivory Wayans, it launched the careers of some of the biggest names in show business like Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, Shawn and Marlon Wayans, Rosie Perez and more. It was a sketch comedy unlike anything that had co…

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Tony! Toni! Toné!: Feels Good 43:10

2+ y ago43:10

43:10

On this episode, we are talking about one of the greatest groups of '90s R&B, actually '90s music in general. They brought you songs like "The Blues," "Feels Good," "Whatever You Want," "Anniversary," "Let's Get Down. " All the jams that you know and love. From Oakland, California. Tony! Toni! Toné! We get into our favorite songs from their albums,…

1
The Many Faces Of Steven Yeun 45:30

2+ y ago45:30

45:30

On this episode we're gonna talk about an actor who got his big break playing a “plucky pizza delivery guy” turned badass survivalist in The Walking Dead for six long seasons. He then went on to play a wide range of characters in critically acclaimed movies such as Nope and Minari. The latter, which he was also an executive producer and earned him …

1
What You Say About My Mama?: Menace II Society 30th Anniversary 37:00

2+ y ago37:00

37:00

This week we are discussing the debut film from The Hughes Brothers, Menace II Society. We briefly mentioned the movie in our Larenz Tate episode (also named What You Say About My Mama?), so we decided to drop our thoughts on the cast, our favorite scenes, and whether or not it holds up today. May 26th will mark the 30th anniversary of its release …

1
Classic Material: A #HipHop50 Conversation With B. Cox Of The Vault 1:00:40

2+ y ago1:00:40

1:00:40

2023 marks the 50 year anniversary of what is widely accepted and agreed upon as the birth of hip hop, August 11, 1973. We are celebrating those 50 years with a series of conversations with some our favorite podcast hosts. With hip hop being the most influential and dominant musical genre of the past two decades or so, we believe it's important to …

1
New Hip Hop For Old Heads 27:10

2+ y ago27:10

27:10

This week, we're revisiting a theme that we explored in episode 43, "New R&B For Old Heads," but this time, we're shifting our focus to hip hop. For almost two decades, people have been claiming that hip hop is dead, but like with R&B, we don't agree. In fact, we think there are a lot of new artists who are pushing the genre forward and keeping it …

1
TLC: What About Your Friends? 42:55

2+ y ago42:55

42:55

This week, we'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting one of the most iconic girl groups of all time - TLC. In this episode, we'll explore the group's journey to fame, starting with their debut album "Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip." We'll then dive into their second album "CrazySexyCool," which sold over 10 million copies in the US alone…

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Naughty By Nature: Hip Hop Hooray 37:35

2+ y ago37:35

37:35

On this episode, we're diving into the world of one of the most legendary hip-hop groups ever: Naughty By Nature. Formed in East Orange, New Jersey in the late 1980s, the trio of Treach, Vin Rock, and DJ Kay Gee came onto the scene as The New Style with their debut album, "Independent Leaders," in 1989. With their high-energy performances and infec…

1
A #HipHop50 Conversation With Queue Points Podcast 1:03:00

2+ y ago1:03:00

1:03:00

2023 marks the 50 year anniversary of what is widely accepted and agreed upon as the birth of hip hop, August 11, 1973. We are celebrating those 50 years with a series of conversations with some our favorite podcasts. With hip hop being the most influential and dominant musical genre of the past two decades or so, we believe it's important to refle…

1
Morris Chestnut: Ricky!!! 24:20

2+ y ago24:20

24:20

This week we're discussing Morris Chestnut. One of the most popular Black actors of the past 30 or so years, you know him from such movies like Boyz n the Hood, Two Can Play That Game, The Brothers and The Best Man as well as his roles on hit TV shows like Nurse Jackie, The Resident and most recently, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. This man is a…

1
B-Side: SZA 11:14

2+ y ago11:14

11:14

When we recorded our "New R&B For Old Heads" episode, SZA's SOS album release date hadn't been announced yet. Ironically, it came out on the same day that we released the episode. So, we had to go back in and record this B-Side the next day with some new information that had been presented to us via the album. Christina gives us what might be a con…

1
Dr. Dre: The Chronic 30th Anniversary 28:50

3y ago28:50

28:50

This week, we're discussing the 30th anniversary of Dr. Dre's groundbreaking solo debut album, The Chronic. This classic album, which was released on December 15, 1992, features a number of notable, but then unknown artists, including Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G. In this episode, we will explore the making of The Chronic and its lasting imp…

1
New R&B For Old Heads 41:35

3y ago41:35

41:35

This week, we're discussing a topic that gets brought up on social media whenever a publication or random celebrity is looking for clicks (we see you, Diddy.) Is R&B dead? We don't think so, and we're here to talk to you about a few artists that we enjoy. Also, we take a crack at deciphering SZA lyrics and Miguel explains how any issues with curren…