Released September 25, 1990 Length 51:39 | Recorded November 1989–1990 Label Jive | |
Genre Dance-pop, soul, R&B, new jack swing Producer Teddy Riley, Bernard Belle, Eric Foster White, Dave Way, Alvin Moody, Vincent Bell, Carl Bourelly, Kevin Johnson, Frankie Smith, William Walton | ||
Hi-Five is the eponymous debut album by the American R&B vocal group Hi-Five. Released on September 25, 1990, The album peaked at number thirty eight on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Driven by the hit singles "I Just Can't Handle It" (R&B #10), "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" (#1 R&B/Pop), "I Can't Wait Another Minute" (R&B #1, Pop #8) and "Just Another Girlfriend" (R&B #41), the album received an RIAA platinum certification. Also, Hi-Five is the only album to feature original Hi-Five member Toriano Easley, who was later arrested for both first-degree murder (after a confrontation with an acquaintance) and manslaughter. Also, Easley had previously marked his both only single cover and music video appearances from the debut album with the group, "I Just Can't Handle It" before his expulsion from the group. Toriano is the co-lead singer on "The Way You Said Goodbye," "Rag Doll," "I Can't Wait Another Minute," and "I Know Love." In the video for "I Can't Wait Another Minute", Treston Irby (who is Easley's replacement) co-leads with Tony.
Background
The song, "Too Young" (in a single edit version), also appeared on the soundtrack to the 1991 John Singleton film Boyz N the Hood. It is the first recorded appearance of Mobb Deep rapper Prodigy, which he revealed in his book My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep's Prodigy.