5 Questions With… Boyz II Men
Published:Sunday | October 27, 2024 | 3:34 PM
Legendary R&B group, Boyz II Men, makes their return to Jamaica to put on a special performance on the Lawns of the UWI Mona. The concert is being presented by Live and Direct Promotions.
The American vocal harmony group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is known for its timeless, soulful classics, holds a special place in the heart of Jamaicans far and wide.
Boyz II Men’s first performed in Jamaica in 1991.
Known for hits such as End of the Road, I’ll Make Love to You and On Bended Knees, the multi Grammy Award-winning group is looking forward to putting on a spectacular performance for their Jamaican audience, as well as enjoying the true and authentic Jamaican culture and cuisine during their brief time on the island.
Their bio states that in addition to their music career, Boyz II Men has also made their mark on the entertainment industry with appearances in films and television shows. They have appeared in movies such as Lethal Weapon 4 and Soul Men, and have made guest appearances on television shows such as How I Met Your Mother and Scrubs. They also had their own successful Las Vegas residency at the Mirage Hotel and Casino.
Boyz II Men has also used their platform to give back to their community. In 2000, they established the Boyz II Men House, a mentoring programme for at-risk youth in their hometown of Philadelphia. The programme provides a safe and nurturing environment for young people to receive academic support, mentoring, and guidance to help them reach their full potential.
Boyz II Men has been honoured with numerous accolades, including four Grammy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and they have also been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the R&B Music Hall of Fame.
5 Questions With… spoke with the iconic group ahead of their performance on Saturday, October 26 on the Lawns of UWI.
1. What are you most excited about for your upcoming performance in Jamaica?
It’s been a while since we’ve been to Jamaica, and although we’re not going to be there for a long time, we’re looking forward to hanging out for a little bit, enjoying the weather, the sights and just having a great time. We’re gonna sing our hearts out and hopefully the people will enjoy it.
2. What do you like most about Jamaica, having visited the country back in 1991?
The food! I’m pretty generic so my favourite Jamaican food to have is jerk chicken, rice and peas with cabbage and plantains. Whenever we’re here we always try to get some authentic Jamaican food. You know, the food, the culture, the people, it’s always a fun time. The music and energy is always alive, so we always appreciate the country.
3. If you could collaborate with any Jamaican artiste, who would it be and why?
We are not one up on too many of the newer acts, but we love dancehall, we love the music in Jamaica, and if it makes sense, if it’s something heartfelt and soulful, we don’t care who it is. Young or old, as long as it’s dope, as long as it’s something that connects with the people and is authentic.
4. Can you share with us how you decide which songs to perform during your live shows?
Some songs aren’t hard to pick, there are some songs that if we don’t do there might be a riot. As for the ones in between, the ones we feel most connected to as singers, and it might not necessarily be songs of our own, it can be songs, just songs that we like to sing. But for the most part, we know there are certain songs that people want to hear and so we give it to them.
5. Tell us about one memorable moment etched into your mind.
That’s a hard one, but recently we just sang at Usher’s show. He invited us on stage, we sang End of the Road and a couple others. It was pretty cool to know that in 2024 you still have kids and younger folks who still connect with our music. They were all singing along so that made us feel really good.