Boyz II Men’s sophomore album, II, came out 25 years ago, on August 30th, 1994. The album cemented the then-quartet status as the leading R&B act of the ’90s. Among other memorable achievements, II is renowned for providing two consecutive No. 1 singles, an accomplishment previously performed only by Elvis and The Beatles!
The band, missing Michael McCary who left in 2003 and consisting of Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris, and Nathan Morris, gave a special interview to Billboard commemorating the 25th anniversary of II:
“The world was pretty much our backyard,” said Stockman about the success that came with II. “We traveled and did things that were so beyond my expectations that it was normal, if you know what I’m saying? We thought that this was what everybody goes through, this is the business. You go here, you pick up an award, you get a Platinum record — all right, cool.” He went on to reflect: “We were so young and impressionable that it didn’t dawn on us until much later how significant our efforts and our movements were.”
“I think we had pressure, period,” Morris added his perspective. “Everybody talks about that sophomore jinx. At the end of the day, we just did what we did with the first album and recorded songs that we felt good with and we loved. We figured that if we loved them, the audience would as well.”
And love them we did — in fact, we still do. So join us in digging up your old II CD tonight, and rockin’ it like it’s 1994 all over again!
