Rated Next

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. 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. He called Next three days later and signed the group to his Divine Mill record label. Managed by the Flavor Unit, Rated Next was recorded in Gee's in-home recording studio. 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".

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 in the US on September 30, 1997, and worldwide on January 27, 1998. 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

Marketing promotion

Next released the album's lead single, "Butta Love", in August 1997. 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". In order to give the group exposure, Arista promoted Next by having them speak in several radio stations and perform on television programs. The album's second single, "Too Close", topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA, going on to sell 2.1 million copies. "Butta Love" and "I Still Love You" peaked in the top 20 of the Hot 100 and were certified gold by the RIAA. The two singles sold 900,000 and 700,000 copies, respectively.

Reception

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". Melanie Mcfarland of The Seattle Times noted that the group "swings between party anthems and tender ballads with a sexy flow" on the album. 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." Robert Christgau called the album a collection of "cute pop songs about... their erections and her clitoris".

Track listing

1. "Intro" – 1:00
2. "Too Close" – 4:19
3. "Butta Love" – 4:56
4. "My Place (Interlude)" – 2:18
5. "Cozy" – 4:10
6. "Penetration" with Naughty by Nature – 4:32
7. "You Are My High (Interlude)" – 2:05
8. "I Still Love You" – 4:13
9. "Stop, Drop & Roll" – 5:03
10. "Represent Me" – 4:31
11. "Next Experience" featuring Adina Howard and Castro – 4:57
12. "Problems (featuring Koffee Brown)" – 3:48
13. "Do You Think About Me" – 5:41
14. "Admit the Rat (Interlude)" – 1:56
15. "Sexitude" – 4:31
16. "Tastes So Good" – 5:13
17. "Phone Sex" – 5:19
18. "Rock On" – 3:56

Personnel

As listed on Allmusic.