Tag Archives: Rakim

Jody Watley’s Flower 1998 Spotlight In Hidden R&B Gems

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Album cover of Jody Watley titled 'Flower', featuring a close-up of Watley resting her chin on her hand against a green chair.

Happy Anniversary to Jody Watley ‘Flower‘Released on this day — March 31, 1998 (UK) via Atlantic Records — and later finally made available across digital platforms, Flower didn’t meet commercial exceptions for the album due to delayed worldwide release but remains a standout her ongoing discography.

A forward-thinking blend of R&B, soul, and dance, the album features production from an all-star lineup including D’Wayne Wiggins, Malik Pendleton, Jamey Jaz, Masters At Work, Andrea Martin, Bryce Wilson, along with Watley herself and Derrick Edmonson (Affection album collaborator).

✨ Highlights include:

• “Off The Hook” — #1 Billboard Dance, #23 R&B, Hot 100 entry (D-Dot Remix featuring Rakim.

• “If I’m Not In Love” — #2 Billboard Dance

• “Loving You So” — featuring Rahsaan Patterson, included on Dr. Doolittle Soundtrack starring Eddie Murphy.

“16,” written by Watley 1 of several of her compositions for the album, was later covered and reimagined as “Sweet 16” by Destiny’s Child on their multi-platinum album ‘The Writings On The Wall.

The album also includes “Just One More Time,” originally recorded as a group collaboration with members of Shalamar. The label ultimately opted for a different direction, leading to Watley re-recording the track as a solo version for the final album release.

A group of four individuals posing in a music studio, with a recording console in the foreground.
Producer Jamey Jaz, Jody Watley, Howard Hewett Jeffrey Daniel. 1997 Westlake Studio. Recording “Just One More Time for Jody Watley’s “Flower” album.

The label ultimately opted for a different direction, leading to Watley re-recording the track as a solo version for the final album release.

The album was supported by numerous music magazine covers geared to the R&B demographic including Blues & Soul, women’s magazine BE (Black Elegance), the UK’s Black Echoes.

There were many high profile television appearances including the top shows of the 90s including The Rosie O’Donnell Show, an hour special on BET’s Planet Groove bookended by an radio promotional tour to the urban market targeted for this album.

🌸 “Flower” is a true gem of late ‘90s contemporary R&B/Soul, dance and continued evolution for the singer, songwriter, producers independence, and commitment to artistry, not remaining stagnant or stuck in the past.

Revisit • Explore • Stream Flower at the digital platforms of your choice.

Check out the new video collage celebrating the anniversary release on Jody Watley YouTube: Here

#JodyWatley #FlowerAlbum #MusicAnniversary #90sRNB #DanceMusic #RnBClassic #WomenInMusic #AtlanticRecords #NowPlaying #MusicHistory

About The Artist:

Jody Watley is a GRAMMY® Award–winning Best New Artist and 3x nominee, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and style icon. 

Renowned as one of the most defining female artists of the 80s and 90s with Top 10 hits including the iconic hits “Looking for a New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Friends” ft. Eric B. & Rakim, and the gold-certified “Real Love,”  + more. 

6 Top 10 Hot 100 Hits, 13 #1 Dance Hits, 15 top 40, 2 #1 R&B Singles & Albums, 3 #1 Dance / Electronic Albums.

Jody Watley has built a genre-spanning, critically acclaimed catalog across R&B, Pop, Dance, Jazz, Electronica — from the 1980s to today. Her latest release, Let’s Dance Vol. 1, reached #1 on iTunes Top Dance Albums in July 2025.

An award-winning songwriter (BMI Medal of Honor, Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame), Watley is ranked by Billboard among the Top 25 Dance Artists of All Time and Top 65 Hot 100 Female Artists of All Time. Her honors include Black Music Honors Crossover Icon and the 2022 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Chicago native is also celebrated as a fashion and cultural trailblazer, Watley has been featured in GAP & SAKS 5th Avenue ad campaigns, VOGUE, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, People Magazines Most Beautiful Issue and more. 

A pioneer at the intersection of music and style, Jody Watley’s multi-decade, multi-generational career continues to evolve with a legacy of sound, fearless authenticity on her path; not chasing trends or charts just quality timeless music – with a style and spirit that endures.

Jody Watley’s “Friends” – A Genre Bending Milestone

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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.

On This Day. Jody Watley “Off The Hook” Remixes Go Number 1 Billboard Dance

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Jody Watley – Off The Hook

#OTD March 7, 1998

“Off the Hook” (D-Dot Remix feat. Rakim)

The original recording was written by R&B duo Changing Faces and produced by Malik Pendleton.

Peaked at #1 on the Billboard Dance chart! The #1 single also featured dance remixes by MAW – Masters At Work, Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” Gonzales. To date Jody Watley has had 13 Number 1 Dance Singles on Billboard putting her on the list of Top 25 Female Dance Artists Of All Time according to the magazine.

Listen to the mixes at the digital platform of your choice.