NEXT
Next are an American R&B trio with members R.L. Huggar, T-Low and Tweety. NEXT was discovered in their home town of Saint Paul, Minnesota by Producer/DJ KAYGEE (of Naughty By Nature). After Signing with KAYGEE’s then newly formed label DIVINE MILL & Possessing a sound similar to Dru Hill and BLACKstreet, Next scored mainstream success in the late 90’s and early 00’s,
They scored a number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with the Kaygee & Darren Lighty Produced “Too Close” (1998), later covered by the British boyband Blue in 2003 and reaching number two in the UK. It samples the 1980 song “Christmas Rapping” by Kurtis Blow. Next’s follow up singles “Wifey” (2001), and “Beauty Queen” (2001) (also Produced By KAYGEE) reached the Billboard top twenty. Both of the later singles were featured on the group’s platinum selling sophomore album Welcome II Nextasy
In 2002, R.L. released his solo debut RL: Ements which featured the singles “Good Man” and “Got Me A Model”. without Direction from longtime collaborator KAYGEE, The album however was poorly received both critically and commercially.
In late 2005, Next’s record company Interscope Records released details of the band’s first album in four years, which has yet to be given a title. The album is slated for a March 2007 release, with Interscope Records employing Award Winning producers Jermaine Dupri and Rich Harrison to provide the melodies along with respected songwriters Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Jon Bryant to write lyrics.
In 2006, Next released two mixtapes with G-Unit DJ “Whoo Kid.” These mixtapes, “The Moisture Mixtape,” and “The Next Level” were recorded under the name “The New Next,” with Tweety apparently no longer involved in the group.
R.L. also recorded a song entitled “Hater In You” which was an R&B diss torwards 112 and Jagged Edge for rumors he heard about them saying that Next is a “has-been” group. The song mentioned an alliance with G-Unit but R.L. stated that he recorded the song a long time ago and that Next was not joining G-Unit. The song also said that Next was going to reemerge in the R&B scene and crush the competition.”