Not every R&B group has the chops to call itself Naturally Smooth, but that's not an issue for the trio of Raymond Patterson (Champsta), Marty Robinson (Nez) and Dorian Brew (Doe).
The group lives up to its name and then some on "Juicy," the single from its upcoming CD. The song has conquered St. Louis urban radio with Jagged Edge-style vocals and a beat that evokes both vintage Mtume and a classic Notorious B.I.G. tune.
As a result of "Juicy," the group is experiencing one of its first real tastes of hometown success after a long start-up period that has included opening a show for Nelly in St. Louis and performing at an NBA All-Star party a few years ago.
Naturally Smooth started out when the members were still youngsters, a mere 10 years old, mimicking New Edition and singing "Candy Girl," "Is This the End" and "Mr. Telephone Man" at the wedding reception of Robinson's brother. The group was five members deep back then and went by the name Explosives.
Those innocent days didn't last, however.
"Group members have died," he says. "A lot has happened."
By the time the Kinloch natives got to McCluer North High School, before going on to college, they decided it was time to take their craft seriously.
Robinson, who selected the group's name, says, "We changed the name and tried to perfect our harmonies. Music is a craft, and it takes time to perfect a craft. I was still trying to be New Edition, picking anything with two words in it - Naturally Smooth, New Edition. That sounded good to me."
The sound they decided to call their own was "hip-hop smoothed out on an R&B tip with a pop appeal ... with ghetto in it." Sound familiar? That's largely how '90s trio BBD, the edgier New Edition offshoot, described itself, though Naturally Smooth added "ghetto" to the mix. The group members also like the tag "ghetto soul," though they're quick to point out they can mix street smarts with book smarts in what they do. "I guess you can call us well-rounded," Patterson says. "We can talk about thug affairs or domestic affairs."
Having found a sound and a name, Naturally Smooth began paying its dues.
"We've been sacrificing our money, saving our money, trying to get studio time, working to get on TV shows, radio stations and newspapers - anything we thought could help us advance in the music business," Patterson says.
In the process, he says, the members have faced "bankruptcy, cars getting repossessed, getting kicked out of apartments and relationships going bad."
Patterson says the group watched its "ship sinking" for a long time.
"We were going back and forth to New York, getting doors slammed in our faces because our music wasn't on industry level," he says. "They want your stuff already ready, and they'll shine it up for you.
"We had to take a step back and criticize ourselves and say, 'OK, we're not good enough.' We had to grow and get it to industry level. That's the problem with most groups when they break up. They can't critique themselves. If it just sounds good to us but it's not at the level of Usher, we're kidding ourselves."
Naturally Smooth is standing on solid ground with "Juicy," about a curvaceous woman with a little extra "shape," and other songs from their upcoming CD, including "Don't Go," "Hold" and "Remy Red." The group members did all the writing and producing on the CD, thanks to a mixture of self-teaching and formal lessons.
Robinson says the CD will mostly focus on relationships.
"All ages can relate to this, no matter what age you are, from 15 to 115," he says. "We're all dealing with relationships in some form or fashion, and these songs will touch someone."
Patterson says: "The CD has all the ups and downs you go through in relationships. My personal favorite is 'Don't Go,' but I'm really touchy about that song because I had to give up something to do this. The CD is about love: girls getting their hearts broken, guys getting their hearts broken, men seeing girls they like and wanting to treat them good."
Naturally Smooth knows that the CD will face challenges once it arrives in stores: When it comes to urban music, St. Louis is known for rap, not R&B. And R&B music in general often takes a back seat to rap.
"The R&B market just demands more," Robinson says. "Competition is so great. There hasn't been a male R&B group that really made noise in a while besides Jagged Edge or 112. And here in St. Louis, you have to have an edge to compete. People want the edge. And if you're bringing out an R&B song, it has to be something people can groove to."
http://www.discogs.com/Naturally-Smooth-Juicy-Makin-Love-Dont-Go/release/1766941
