Jodeci
USA, 1991–now
American quartet of two pairs of brothers, led by DeVante Swing. Forever My Lady (1991) roughened R&B singing with hip-hop clothes, church melisma and open sexuality, and the template ran straight into Mary J. Blige and Usher.
MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Jodeci and 2 artists Jodeci influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Jodeci?
- New Edition — New Edition is the group Jodeci's own vocal arrangement comes out of, roughened and slowed.
- Marvin Gaye — Marvin Gaye is the older model behind Jodeci's slow, explicit ballads.
Which artists did Jodeci influence?
- Mary J. Blige — Jodeci came up alongside her at Uptown and their roughened, hip-hop-clothed singing is the immediate model for hip-hop soul.
- Usher — Jodeci's roughened, hip-hop-clothed R&B is the immediate template for the singers who followed, Usher among them.