Rated Next

Rated Next is the debut studio album by American musical group Next. After forming, the trio recorded several songs with record producers Prof. T. and Lance Alexander before catching recording artist and producer Keir "KayGee" Gist of American hip hop trio Naughty by Nature's attention. He signed Next to his record label Divine Mill, with most of Next's debut album being recorded in Gee's in-home recording studio and the remaining was recorded at Ken Johnston's Perfect Pair studio located in East Orange, New Jersey. Rated Next was eventually released on September 30, 1997 in the United States, under Divine Mill and Arista Records.

Rated Next
Studio album by Next
Released	September 30, 1997
Recorded	1996–1997
Genre	R&B[1] soul[1]
Length	72:28
Label	Divine Mill Arista
Producer	Clive Davis (exec.) KayGee (exec.) Lance Alexander & Prof. T. Eddie Berkeley Deedee Gist Sheldon Goode Wesley Hodges Cliff Lighty Mr. Walt Mufi Frank Reynolds
Next chronology
Rated Next (1997) Welcome II Nextasy (2000)
Singles from Rated Next
"Butta Love" Released: August 19, 1997 "Too Close" Released: September 30, 1997 "I Still Love You" Released: July 21, 1998

Upon its release, Rated Next received generally favorable reviews from music critics, though it received negative criticism for the sexual innuendo within the lyrics. The album peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200 and was certified two times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned three singles: "Butta Love", "Too Close" and "I Still Love You". "Too Close" topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. "Butta Love" and "I Still Love You" peaked within the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and were both certified gold by the RIAA. "Butta Love" was produced by Lance Alexander of the group Lo-Key.

Conception and recording

Next was formed in 1992 by brothers Terrence "T-Low" and Raphael "Tweety" Brown, in addition to Robert "R. L." Huggar. The trio was trained and managed by T-Low's godmother, Ann Nesby, during the group's formation.[2] While performing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Next collaborated with record producers Prof. T. and Lance Alexander. They began recording music in the Flyte Tyme recording studio. A demo that the trio recorded caught the attention of recording artist and producer Kay Gee of Naughty by Nature.[2] He called Next three days later and signed the group to his Divine Mill record label.[2][3] Managed by the Flavor Unit,[2] Rated Next was recorded in Gee's in-home recording studio.[4] The trio recorded several songs during this time, including "Phone Sex" and "Sexitude". During a "growth period", Next recorded "Butta Love", in which group member Tweety described as "the difference in the freedom we were feeling".[2]

Marketing promotion

Next released the album's lead single, "Butta Love", in August 1997.[2] According to Arista Records senior vice president of black music Lionel Ridenour, the success of the single "kept growing to the point where we had worked it from July through December".[2] In order to give the group exposure, Arista promoted Next by having them speak in several radio stations and perform on television programs.[2] The album's second single, "Too Close", topped the Billboard Hot 100[5] and was certified platinum by the RIAA, going on to sell 2.1 million copies.[6][7] "Butta Love" and "I Still Love You" peaked in the top 20 of the Hot 100 and were certified gold by the RIAA.[5][8][9] The two singles sold 900,000 and 700,000 copies, respectively.[7][10]

Singles

"Butta Love" was the lead single and was released August 19, 1997. The song charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at 16 and on the US R&B/Hip-Hop at 4. The second single was "Too Close"; it was released on September 30, 1997. The song charted at 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and on the US R&B/Hip-Hop. The final single was "I Still Love You"; it was released July 21, 1998. The song charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at 14 and on the US R&B/Hip-Hop at 4

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	[11]

Rated Next received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Leo Stanley of Allmusic described the album as "an impressive collection of contemporary hip-hop-influenced urban soul". He felt that the group "may get a little too 'risqué' for some tastes", but stated that the lead singer R. L., was "so smooth and charismatic that he can seduce unwilling listeners".[1] Melanie Mcfarland of The Seattle Times noted that the group "swings between party anthems and tender ballads with a sexy flow" on the album.[12] The album received negative criticism due the sexual innuendo in the lyrics of the songs. Tweety noted that one review wrote: "Even if Next never made it as singers, they could still make it as exotic dancers."[2] Robert Christgau called the album a collection of "cute pop songs about... their erections and her clitoris".[13]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"		KayGee	1:00
2.	"Too Close"	Darren Lighty Denzil Miller J.B. Moore Keir Gist Kurtis Walker Larry Smith Robert Ford, Jr. Robert L. Huggar	D. Lighty KayGee	4:19
3.	"Butta Love"	Arkeida Clowers Lighty Lance Alexander Huggar Tony Tolbert	D. Lighty KayGee Alexander Prof T.	4:56
4.	"My Place (Interlude)"	Gist Darren Lighty Huggar	KayGee	2:18
5.	"Cozy"	Alexander Huggar Tolbert Angela Winbush	Alexander Prof T.	4:10
6.	"Penetration" (featuring Naughty by Nature)	Anthony Criss Bobby Robinson Clifton Lighty D. Lighty Delvis Damon Kevin Morse Gist	D. Lighty KayGee	4:32
7.	"You Are My High (Interlude)"	Andrea Smith Charlie Wilson Ronnie Wilson	D. Lighty KayGee Eddie Berkeley	2:05
8.	"I Still Love You"	Clowers Darnell Bristoll D. Lighty Kenneth Edmonds Raphael Brown Huggar Sid Johnson Tolbert	D. Lighty KayGee	4:13
9.	"Stop, Drop & Roll"	Clowers Chuck Davis Melvin L. Dinkins	KayGee Mufi Sheldon Goode	5:03
10.	"Represent Me"	C. Lighty Eric Williams Frank Reynolds Joe Sample Melvin Lewis	KayGee C. Lighty Reynolds	4:31
11.	"Next Experience" (featuring Adina Howard and Castro)	D. Lighty Gist Huggar Wilton Felder	D. Lighty KayGee	4:57
12.	"Problems" (featuring Koffee Brown)	C. Lighty Darryll Barksdale David Reeves Jesse Wiley Walker Walter Dewgarde William Way	Mr. Walt KayGee	3:48
13.	"Do You Think About Me"	Alexander Huggar Tolbert	Alexander Prof T.	5:41
14.	"Admit the Rat (Interlude)"		KayGee	1:56
15.	"Sexitude"	Kevin Pierce Alexander Tolbert	Alexander Prof T.	4:31
16.	"Taste So Good"	Alexander Tolbert	Alexander Prof T.	5:13
17.	"Phone Sex"	Alexander Tolbert	Alexander Prof T.	5:19
18.	"Rock On"	D. Lighty Gist Dinkins Huggar	D. Lighy KayGee Prof T.	3:56

Personnel

As credits listed on AllMusic.[14]

Lance Alexander – producer, engineer Michael Benabib – photography Eddie Berkeley – producer Marcus Blassingame – stylist Coffey Brown – vocals, background vocals Mike Campbell – guitar Ian Dalsemer – assistant engineer Clive Davis – executive producer Chris Gehringer – mastering Deedee Gist – associate producer Sheldon Goode – producer, engineer Anthony Harrison, Jr. – art direction Carlton Hitchcock – engineer Wesley Hodges – producer Adina Howard – performer Ken Johnston – engineer Kay Gee – producer, engineer, executive producer, mixing

Lamar Kronick – vocoder Cliff Lighty – producer Darren Lighty – producer, engineer Mike T. – mixing Mr. Walt – producer Mufi – producer Next – background vocals Kevin Pierce – guitar Angela Piva – engineer, mixing Prof. T. – background vocals, producer, engineer Frank Reynolds – producer Andy Salas – mixing assistant Vernell Sales – background vocals Duganz Shaloni – rap Steve Sola – mixing assistant Kieran Walsh – mixing Charm Warren – associate producer

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997–98) Peak position Canadian Albums (Billboard)[15] 20 US Billboard 200[16] 37 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[17] 13

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position US Billboard 200[18] 79 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[19] 35

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[20]	Gold	50,000^^
United States (RIAA)[21]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References

1. Stanley, Leo. "Next - Rated Next". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-11-05. Rated Next is an impressive collection of contemporary hip-hop-influenced urban soul
2. Reece 1998, pp. 13, 20
3. Allen 1998, p. 52
4. "Naughty by Nature Throws Homecoming Party for Next". MTV News. August 31, 1998. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
5. "Rated Next > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
6. "American certifications – Next – Too Close". Recording Industry Association of America.
7. "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 111 (5): 75. January 30, 1999. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
8. "American certifications – Next – Butta Love". Recording Industry Association of America.
9. "American certifications – Next – I Still Love You". Recording Industry Association of America.
10. "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 110 (5): 76. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
11. Christgau, Robert. "Next". Robert Christgau.
12. Mcfarland, Melanie. "So Hot It's Cool — Kube Summer Jam Turns the Gorge into an Oasis of Hip-Hop and R&B". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
13. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Next". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
14. "Rated Next > Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
15. "Rated Next - Next (1997)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
16. "Next Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
17. "Next Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
18. "Billboard 200: Year End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
19. "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Best of 1998". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
20. "Canadian album certifications – Next – Rated Next". Music Canada. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
21. "American album certifications – Next – Rated Next". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 7, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 

External links

• Allen, Harry (February 1998). "Next - It's like Butta Baby". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. 6 (1). ISSN 1070-4701.
• Reece, Doug (March 21, 1998). "Next Gets Boost from Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 110 (12). ISSN 0006-2510.