Jody Watley’s “Larger Than Life” peaks at #16 on the Billboard 200.
A platinum-certified follow-up to her GRAMMY-winning debut as Best New Artist, cemented her legacy as a music, fashion & artistic visionary, and continued to broadened her scope as songwriter, co-writing 11 of the albums songs.
Hits:
• “Real Love” Certified Gold – #2 Hot 100 | #1 R&B | #1 Dance – 6 MTV Award Nominations
• “Friends” ft. Eric B. & Rakim – A pioneering R&B/hip-hop collab permanently changing the landscape of popular music and crossover Rap/Sung Collaborations with full verses reaching the Top 10 on multiple charts.
Jody Watley celebrates the incomparable Stevie Wonder on his 75th birthday today May 13. It was a true honor to work with him, twice so far in my career. Stevie being one of my all time favorite artists, writers and producers of all time. I was invited to join him on his 1988 MTV Special Characters. We sang one of my solo debut hits “Some Kind Of Lover” together. Later in the special when he performed one of his classics “Superstition” I joined him for a rousing rendition that included other guests on the special the legendary blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn, Salt -N- Pepa with Spinderella and bassist BrownMark from The Revolution. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Watch video clips on the Official Jody Watley Youtube Channel: Here
In 2022, Stevie phoned me with an invite to perform at his annual House Full of Toys Concert at The Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles. If you’re familiar with the Jody Watley album “Intimacy” you’ll know I covered his composition “Too Shy To Say” – one of my favorite songs.
Happy Birthday to the 8th Wonder of the World – Stevie Wonder. Thank you for being such a positive inspiration and force in music; a brilliant example of artistic growth, longevity and humanitarian actions.
April 15, 1989 “Friends” by GRAMMY winner Jody Watley ft. Eric B and Rakim was released. A groundbreaking R&B/Rap/Pop/Dance collaboration. “Friends” made history as the first pairing to hit the Top 10 on multiple charts. It reached #3 R&B, #7 Dance, and most notably, #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. This monumental event paved the way for future genre-blending hit crossover hits. This monumental event in R&B/Rap collaboration history has largely gone overlooked decades after the fact.
Nowadays, Rap and R&B go hand in hand-in-hand. But this wasn’t always the case. Let’s go back to the late 80’s. At that time, rappers and R&B/Pop singers never collaborated. Check out the origins: Ten Songs That Kicked Off R&B Rap Collaborations.
Sources:
Dart Adams, (2018) OkayPlayer, “Ten Songs That Kicked Off R&B Rap Collaborations”
Mickey Hess, (2007) “Icons of Hip Hop: Sn Encyclopedia of The Movement, Music, Culture Vol. 1 (Jody Watley, Eric B. & Rakim “Friends” page 154, Greenwood Press
William Jelani (2007) To The Break Of Dawn: A Freestyle on The Hip-Hop Aesthetic; Jody Watley, Eric B & Rakim, “Friends” page 142, NYU Press
Stream this timeless Jody Watley ft Eric B. & Rakim classic; add to your playlists via streaming platforms of your choice.
Jody Watley born on January 30 in Chicago, Illinois is a GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer and style icon whose impact spans decades. Named Best New Artist in 1988—only the third Black artist to receive the honor at the time—she’s one of Billboard’s Top 60 Female Artists of All Time.
With 6 Top 10 Hot 100 hits (including “Looking for a New Love” and “Friends” ft. Eric B. & Rakim), 7 No. 1 Dance singles, and genre-defying work across multiple decades from R&B, Pop, Dance, Electronica, Jazz, and more, Watley continues to break boundaries.
Her music legacy is active and evolving—most recently with her 2024 release “Everlasting” and remixes heating up dance floors now. From MTV to underground clubs, from the charts to her own label, she remains a trendsetter and trailblazer.
Jody Watley‘s “Flower” Album Turns 27: Timeless Music Of Growth and Renewal. The Grammy winner came together with an esteemed array of collaborators for her 6th solo album. From select members of Organized Noize (Ivan Matias), Masters at Work (Louie Vega, Kenny Gonzalez), Tony! Toni! Toné! (D’Wayne Wiggins and Randall Wiggins) and Groove Theory (Bryce Wilson) as well as Rahsaan Patterson, Malik Pendleton, Cassandra Lucas, Phil Galdston, Deric Angelettie, and Derrick Edmonson all assembled to get down to the business of record making. Out of all these new faces, Edmonson was the only carry over from Flower’s antecedent Affection, as a Watley co-writer, co producer, the first release of Jody Watley’s independent offering from her Avitone Recordings, established in 1995.
While it’s true that the genesis of Flower had a bumpy start, the project eventually took on a joyful upswing during its creation. All of those assembled respected Watley’s progressive form of soul and sought to make it accessible to the black radio format of the late 1990s. Obvious hooks are planted among the fluid funk of Flower, none of them blocking the intelligence or sexiness of the lyrical thrust of the LP.
Watley’s way with a groove, whether a simmering midtempo (“Flower,” “Everything You Do”) or a punchy uptempo aimed squarely for the dancefloor (“Baby Tonight,” “I Don’t Want You Back”), was second to none. “Off the Hook” functioned at both paces on the affair, becoming its launching single. It’s original incarnation favors Quiet Storm posture, whereas its secondary shape—the D-Dot Remix—is that of an undeniable hip-hop banger that reunites her with one of that movement’s defining voices after their inaugural partnership on “Friends” in 1989: Rakim.
There are at least four formal downtempos on Flower, all of them prepossessing, but it’s the acoustic warmth of “16” that rises above that pretty pack to become not only the best ballad on the set, but one of the standout entries in Watley’s entire discography. On “16,” Watley writes and sings for young womanhood and captures all of the feelings of that unique, if sometimes bittersweet, journey. A year after its release on Flower, it found its way onto The Writings on the Wall (1999) as “Sweet Sixteen,” the second LP from a soon-to-be iconic girl group known as Destiny’s Child. – Quentin Harrison, Albumism –
Singles: Off The Hook
# 1 Hot Dance Club Play (Remixed by Masters At Work & D-Dot Hip Hop Remix)
# 23 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles
# 73 Hot 100
“If I’m Not in Love” (The Remixes)
# 2 Hot Dance Club Play
It’s Spring – be like a “Flower – continue to bloom and grow.
Revisit or Listen for the first time! “Flower” is streaming at all digital platforms. Learn more about the Jody Watley Discography.
Jody Watley “Larger Than Life” Cover Art. Photography by Steven Meisel.
On March 27, 1989, Jody Watley, fresh off her GRAMMY win for Best New Artist, delivered her second solo album, “Larger Than Life.” More than just an album, this platinum-certified solid follow up showcased her evolution as a visionary in music, fashion, and artistry. Jody Watley co-wrote 9 of the ten songs, produced by Andre Cymone. “The concept of the album is about not playing yourself small – make it larger than life, go big, do it up!” Watley has stated.
Let’s break down the hits:
“Real Love” – A high-energy dance-pop anthem that became one of her signature hits, earning a Gold certification and an unforgettable MTV presence with its trendsetting video which remains one of the most nominated music videos in VMA Awards History.
“Friends” (ft. Eric B. & Rakim *groundbreaker one of the first R&B/Rap collaborations to reach Top 10 on multiple charts including the Billboard Hot 100). A pioneering crossover hit, blending R&B and hip-hop in a way that helped lay the foundation for future collaborations across genres; a fact largely overlooked to this day in mainstream media, R&B and Hip Hop Media. The video was also quietly notable for it’s inclusion of hip hop B-Boys, true NYC underground club kids, and iconic figures like Connie Fleming, Codie Ravioli, voguers, drag queens, transgender, combined making a mix of club goers co-existing at her Club Couture.
“Everything” – A beautifully heartfelt ballad that became another major hit, showcasing her versatility.
Cultural Impact:
Beyond the charts, Larger Than Life solidified Jody Watley’s influence on music, fashion, and visual storytelling. From the iconic style moments, the forward thinking collaborative approach with Eric B & Rakim, she set trends that artists still draw from today.
Revisit this classic album by downloading or streaming from the digital platforms of your choice: or discover it for the first time. Great music has no expiration date!
In June 2022, Jody Watley was honored with Jody Watley Day at the Georgia State Capitol, recognizing her impact not just in music but in culture and humanity. Trailblazer. Icon. Inspiration.
Jody Watley with Rep. Billy Mitchell, Dr. Jacqueline Mohair and Dee Dawkins-Haglier
The Grammy winning artist also received the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to community service in making a difference through arts and entertainment as a positive influence.
Jody Watley Day at Georgia State Capitol.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month we honor women like Jody Watley-paving the way for next generation of contemporary artists and women breaking barriers, and continuing to inspire generations.
Jody Watley – Jody Watley Day At Georgia State Capitol
March 18, 1989, marked the release of Jody Watley’s 6th smash hit solo single “Real Love” a song that solidified her status as a music and style icon.
The second single from her platinum selling Larger Than Life album dominated the charts, hitting #1 on both the Billboard R&B AND Dance charts and soaring to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single also achieved Gold certification, selling nearly a million copies. The song was written by Jody Watley and Andre Cymone and produced by Cymone for MCA Records.
Beyond its chart success, “Real Love” made history at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards earning six nominations – one of the most nominated in the award show’s history. The stylish high fashion visuals directed by David Fincher, showcased Watley’s trendsetting influence, cementing her as a force in both music and fashion.
Decades later “Real Love” remains a timeless anthem of empowerment and independence. As we celebrate this milestone, it’s clear Jody Watley’s impact is as powerful as ever.
Download, Stream, Watch the Official Video – AGAIN on YouTube and work that runway walk!
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we celebrate Jody Watley. Learn more about the ongoing and diverse Jody Watley Discography
Jody Watley“Dance To Fitness” was not just a hit but a cultural milestone; a groundbreaking moment, proving that a Black woman and recording artist could lead in this space championing fitness, inner peace, wellness and self-care.
In the late 1980’s and early 90’s, the fitness video market was largely dominated by celebrities like Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons and fitness powerhouse Denise Austin.
Her video provided much needed representation in the fitness and wellness industry. She showed that health, dance and exercise are for everyone, inspiring many who had never seen themselves reflected in mainstream fitness culture.
As a Grammy-winning artist and style icon, Jody Watley in the Creative Concept role as well, choosing to incorporate her own music from her first two blockbuster solo albums. “Most all music in fitness videos were generic due to copyright and licensing restrictions.” The approach for “Dance To Fitness” was making fitness fun and accessible for everyone to popular music. This mindset was a catalyst influencing later celebrity fitness projects that combined non-generic music and exercise. That fact that it reached #1 underscores its mass appeal and commercial success. Jody’s trailblazing opened doors for future Black entertainers to the fitness and artist branding space from workouts to other celebrity driven brands, endorsements and products.
Furthermore, the fact that it reached #1 underscores its mass appeal and commercial success. It wasn’t just a niche project-it resonated widely, proving that there was a strong demand for diversity in fitness media.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we look back and celebrate this trailblazing achievement for a true trailblazer and her commitment to representation in the wellness, self-care, fitness arena and artists taking advantage of branding and opportunities on the entrepreneurial and business side.
Watch New Video Short of “Dance To Fitness” : Jody Watley Youtube Channel – Here
Grammy winning artist Jody Watley, known for her genre-defying artistry, took a reggae classic and transformed it into a sultry, jazz Bossa nova infused masterpiece.
Her interpretation brought a fresh and sophisticated elegance to “Waiting In Vain”, showcasing her ability to reimagine timeless songs while staying true to the emotional essence. The video, released in 2018, “Waiting In Vain” marked a significant chapter in pop, R&B, dance music, she seamlessly stepped into the jazz world again (decades after her her rendition of Cole Porter’s After You Who? for Red, Hot & Blue in 1990), proving her versatility and ability to captivate across genres. The song became a smooth jazz radio favorite reaching the Top 20 and Top 25 Billboard Jazz, cementing her credibility in the jazz space. It resonated with both longtime fans and new listeners with what Soulbounce called her elegant cool and refined vocal delivery.
In an era when music video compilations were not as commonly recognized as albums, Jody Watley achieved success with her Video Classics Vol. 1. The collection was certified Gold, another major achievement as a solo artist.
Jody Watley was among the first black female artists to have a music video compilation achieve this level of success. The video featured short insights from Watley throughout discussing her inspirations, concepts and collaborations with the directors.
It demonstrated the strong demand for her visual artistry beyond the music. This underscored her impact as both music and visual trendsetter and style icon; proving her influence extended beyond radio hits. Her music videos highlighted her trendsetting fashion, free style movements. From “Real Love” to “Friends” ft Eric B & Rakim and “Looking For A New Love” she set trends that influenced a future generation of artists.The Gold certification validated her work as a visual innovator in the MTV Era, helping to pave the way for future artists to release similar projects. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we note that this cultural milestone, Jody Watley Video Classics Vol. 1 reinforced her status as a multi-dimensional artist with staying power beyond the charts.
During the late 80’s and early 90’s music videos were primarily seen on MTV, BET, VH-1 or Friday Night Videos on WTBS. The commercial success of Video Classics Volume 1, helped solidify music video compilations as a viable product, paving the way for future artists to release similar projects.
Did you / Do you have the collection on VHS / Laserdisc?!
