His 1996 platinum debut album Ginuwine The Bachelor, with
its million-selling single �Pony,� established 550 Music
recording artist Ginuwine as one of the industry�s 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 singer�s soulfully sincere
delivery. Kicking things off is the blazin� lead single �What�s
So Different,� produced by prolific hit-maker Timbaland and
accompanied by a striking video directed by Francis Lawrence,
whose lens credits include Wyclef�s �Gone Till November� and
Timbaland�s own �Here We Come.�
�Tim produced my first set,� notes Ginuwine. �Considering how
good that turned out, and that we�re close friends with strong,
productive studio chemistry, he had to be down on this one too.
He�s about the best in the business, and helped make 100%
Ginuwine the best record I�ve ever made.�
�What�s So Different,� he continues, �is 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 �what�s so
different� about me that if I were the first guy on the scene,
that she wouldn�t have done the same thing. And you can flip it
to reflect what the ladies go through. Let�s face it, women get
cheated on too.�
This personable and distinctive style of storytelling is the
foundation of 100% Ginuwine. Here are a few of the album�s
highlights:
�Two Sides To A Story,� a heavyweight heartfelt ballad of
extreme quality and substance;
�Wait A Minute,� a pulsating love lost anthem and the world�s
first blues-R&B-rap song;
�So Anxious,� a lament of carnal anticipation;
�Same Old G,� Ginuwine�s Top Ten airplay cut from the
platinum Dr. Doolittle soundtrack, which The Village Voice
called �the most beautifullest [sic] song of the year�;
�Final Warning,� a powerful duet between Ginuwine and r&b
princess Aaliyah; �She�s Out Of My Life,� 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. �The 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, that�s how I approached
singing and performing too. It had to be 100% or nothing.�
Ginuwine graduated from Prince Georges Community College,
where he studied for and received a paralegal degree. �Law
was something I had been very interested in,� he says. �See,
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.�
Ginuwine didn�t travel alone on his road to stardom. He, Missy
�Misdemeanor� Elliot and Timbaland helped hone each other�s
skills, and shared dreams that one day each would reach the
top. �We�ve been friends for a long time,� Ginuwine recalls.
�Back 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. It�s a promise
we�re still keeping.
�And 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. That�s how �Pony,� �What�s So Different,� and
most of both albums were created.�
Ginuwine The Bachelor was released on 550 Music in
October, 1996. Featuring the No. 1 R&B/No. 6 Pop platinum
single �Pony,� 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 �Tell Me Do U Wanna,� �I'll Do
Anything/I'm Sorry,� and �Only When U R Lonely.� 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 �the star of the show,� adding �he might be the
most valuable new singer in hip-hop, but he proved himself to
be a master showman, too.�
�Performing live is why I got into this business,� Ginuwine
admits. �Being able to touch people, especially the ladies, with
my voice, turns me on too. It�s a pretty good feeling knowing I
can do that. In fact, when I�m out there doing my thing on
stage, I feel more at home than any place else.�
In November 1998, Ginuwine made his dramatic acting debut
in the CBS action series �Martial Law.� He plays Zeke, a
singer and the nephew of Arsenio Hall�s character. �Acting is
something that has interested me for a long time, and I�m very
excited about getting the chance to do it,� says Ginuwine. �But
on the real, music�my first love�will always be my career
priority.�
�Longevity is the key,� he insists. �Recording 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.�
100% GINUWINE: Accept no substitutes!
Biograpghy courtesy of 550 music/Sony Music
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