His 1996 platinum debut album Ginuwine The Bachelor, with
its million-selling single ³Pony,² established 550 Music
recording artist Ginuwine as one of the industryıs most exciting
new stars. Now the Washington, D.C. native returns to the
spotlight with a potent new sophomore set that is simply 100%
Ginuwine.
This fierce 14-track disc boils over like a cauldron of lyrical
passion, accentuated by bomb beats, clever and sensuous
scenarios, and the charismatic singerıs soulfully sincere
delivery. Kicking things off is the blazinı lead single ³Whatıs
So Different,² produced by prolific hit-maker Timbaland and
accompanied by a striking video directed by Francis Lawrence,
whose lens credits include Wyclefıs ³Gone Till November² and
Timbalandıs own ³Here We Come.²
³Tim produced my first set,² notes Ginuwine. ³Considering how
good that turned out, and that weıre close friends with strong,
productive studio chemistry, he had to be down on this one too.
Heıs about the best in the business, and helped make 100%
Ginuwine the best record Iıve ever made.²
³Whatıs So Different,² he continues, ³is about a girl I was
involved with who had another man at the same time, and lied
about dropping him. So the song is saying whatıs so
differentı about me that if I were the first guy on the scene,
that she wouldnıt have done the same thing. And you can flip it
to reflect what the ladies go through. Letıs face it, women get
cheated on too.²
This personable and distinctive style of storytelling is the
foundation of 100% Ginuwine. Here are a few of the albumıs
highlights:
³Two Sides To A Story,² a heavyweight heartfelt ballad of
extreme quality and substance;
³Wait A Minute,² a pulsating love lost anthem and the worldıs
first blues-R&B-rap song;
³So Anxious,² a lament of carnal anticipation;
³Same Old G,² Ginuwineıs Top Ten airplay cut from the
platinum Dr. Doolittle soundtrack, which The Village Voice
called ³the most beautifullest [sic] song of the year²;
³Final Warning,² a powerful duet between Ginuwine and r&b
princess Aaliyah; ³Sheıs Out Of My Life,² an inspired cover of
the Michael Jackson classic.
The Story So Far
Ginuwine was born and raised in Washington, D.C. (he now
lives in Maryland), and grew up listening to a wide
cross-section of music including R&B, hip-hop, jazz and
gospel. ³The two artists who influenced me most were Michael
Jackson and Prince (n/k/a The Artist). I liked the fact that both
of them gave everything of themselves in their performances.
So when I got the chance to do it, thatıs how I approached
singing and performing too. It had to be 100% or nothing.²
Ginuwine graduated from Prince Georges Community College,
where he studied for and received a paralegal degree. ³Law
was something I had been very interested in,² he says. ³See,
although I knew that music was going to be my life, my mother
taught me that nothing is guaranteed, so having something
substantial to fall back on was essential. It was hard going to
school and breaking into the music business, but so far both
have worked out pretty good.²
Ginuwine didnıt travel alone on his road to stardom. He, Missy
³Misdemeanor² Elliot and Timbaland helped hone each otherıs
skills, and shared dreams that one day each would reach the
top. ³Weıve been friends for a long time,² Ginuwine recalls.
³Back in the day when we were all trying to get a deal, we
swore that when one of us got signed, he or she would make
sure the others were down with the project too. Itıs a promise
weıre still keeping.
³And we still basically work the same way in the studio too.
For instance, when Timbaland and I do a song, he works on
the music by himself, then he leaves the room. Then I write the
lyrics by myself. By the time we get in the studio we have a
great song. Thatıs how Pony,ı Whatıs So Different,ı and
most of both albums were created.²
Ginuwine The Bachelor was released on 550 Music in
October, 1996. Featuring the No. 1 R&B/No. 6 Pop platinum
single ³Pony,² the album reached No. 19 among Billboard
R&B Albums and No. 45 on the Top 200; SoundScan sales
were over 1.5 million in the US, with worldwide sales of more
than 2 million copies. The singer was all over the airwaves
with subsequent radio hits like ³Tell Me Do U Wanna,² ³I'll Do
Anything/I'm Sorry,² and ³Only When U R Lonely.² He
performed numerous club dates and large-scale concerts,
including (in August 1997) a major US arena tour co-starring
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, and Dru Hill.
In its review of one of these shows, The Dallas Morning News
called Ginuwine ³the star of the show,² adding ³he might be the
most valuable new singer in hip-hop, but he proved himself to
be a master showman, too.²
³Performing live is why I got into this business,² Ginuwine
admits. ³Being able to touch people, especially the ladies, with
my voice, turns me on too. Itıs a pretty good feeling knowing I
can do that. In fact, when Iım out there doing my thing on
stage, I feel more at home than any place else.²
In November 1998, Ginuwine made his dramatic acting debut
in the CBS action series ³Martial Law.² He plays Zeke, a
singer and the nephew of Arsenio Hallıs character. ³Acting is
something that has interested me for a long time, and Iım very
excited about getting the chance to do it,² says Ginuwine. ³But
on the real, musicmy first lovewill always be my career
priority.²
³Longevity is the key,² he insists. ³Recording good, memorable,
heart-and-soul songs, that people everywhere can relate to,
puts the odds in my favor that me and my music will be around
for a very long time to come.²
100% GINUWINE: Accept no substitutes!
Biograpghy courtesy of 550 music/Sony Music
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