Boyz II Men

Black Eyed Peas, Backstreet Boys Head To Malaysia For Tsunami Relief

03 Mar 2005 17:51:00 EST

Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean will also play Force of Nature Aid Organization benefit.
By Jennifer Vineyard

Photo: Getty Images

Black Eyed Peas, Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean are teaming up to raise money for tsunami victims by throwing a concert in a nation within the devastated region: Malaysia. Organizers hope that the Force of Nature concert reminds people not only that the relief effort is far from over, but also that a bigger power than the tsunami could be the human spirit. "Sometimes things are about money, and sometimes things are about building communities, reconstructing, restoring people's ways of life that were taken away from them by nature," Will.I.Am said. "Think about a little kid, 4 years old, whose parents were in the tsunami. He doesn't understand what's going on," Fergie said. "This child is going to need help; this child is going to need nurturing, just like every other child is going to need. We need to do something to help fund programs so that these children can get through life." The concert, which will take place March 18 at Kuala Lumpur's Stadium Putra, springs from a local nonprofit organization called Force of Nature Aid Organization, which is raising funds and awareness for victims of natural disasters. Since this concert is being underwritten by a consortium of Malaysian private enterprises, 100 percent of the proceeds from the show will go toward the long-term regeneration of Malaysia's neighbors. On the committee to spread the word are Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh and Harvey Weinstein.

Tsunami Relief: What You Can Do To Help

This isn't the first benefit that Black Eyed Peas have played for tsunami relief (see "Peas, Timberlake And James Brown Get Funky For Tsunami Relief"), but the group said that it is involved — and will stay involved — because it remembers how many people pitched in to help America after September 11. "We know what that's like to have fear: 'Oh my God, what is tomorrow going to bring?' " Taboo explained. "To express that, to connect to people who have that fear, but of nature, we just share sympathy for them. We feel a lot of remorse that they lost a lot of people, and so we do what we do and try to create some magic." "We believe in aiding people in need and utilizing what we do for a living and for fun to help people out," Will.I.Am said. "When you perform, you can take them away for an hour of their life to think about something else," Apl de Ap said. "We have the power to deliver a message, to change, to bring help. It's a good power." For MTV's firsthand coverage of the aftermath of the tsunamis, see "MTV News Presents: After The Tsunami." To find out more about how you can help, see "Tsunami Relief: What You Can Do To Help."

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Justin Bieber Recruits Boyz II Men For Christmas Album

14 Sep 2011 11:58:15 EDT

Pop star credits R&B group's albums with teaching him how to sing.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber performs at Madison Square Garden
Photo: Larry Busacca/ Getty Images

Justin Bieber promised that his forthcoming Christmas album will be chock-full of original tunes, but what may be even more exciting for his fans of all ages is the list of collaborators he's lining up for the project. Via Twitter, Bieber and his team have indicated that Sean Kingston and Taylor Swift have recorded songs with him, and on Tuesday, he tweeted that Boyz II Men are joining the mix. "2day i woke up and realized that the group that made me want to sing @BoyzIIMen are now on the christmas album singing with me. #DREAMBIG," Bieber wrote. "i used 2 listen to their music and practice the runs. that is how i learned how to sing. now im in the studio with them making music 2gether. "im telling you...never say never...never stop dreaming....never give up," he continued. "#DREAMBIG. @BoyzIIMen Im honored and blessed. thank u." The love didn't end there. Members of the group also took to Twitter to give the 17-year-old some props for extending an invitation to them to work with him on their album. "it was a pleasure! Remember what we talked about in the studio Lil bro! Let's do it again sooner than later!! ... We got love for u lil bro!! Thank YOU, and Thanx for everything u do for ur fans!! I KNOW they appreciate it." It's not the first time Bieber and the Boyz have worked together. The iconic '90s R&B group appeared in his 3-D flick, "Never Say Never," earlier this year. When the film was released back in March, the singer cited the group as one of his favorite musical influences. "My fans inspire me, as well as my mom inspires me and my dad and God inspires me," he said. "I've looked up to a lot of musicians, like Michael Jackson and Boyz II Men. ... I met Boyz II Men. I didn't get to meet Michael Jackson." No official date for the Christmas album has been announced yet, but Bieber did tweet this hint: "thinking about starting christmas early...like november. #newmusic."

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Justin Bieber Records With Boyz II Men: The Photo Evidence!

15 Sep 2011 09:52:00 EDT

Check out a photo of Bieber and Shawn Stockman recording together.
By Jocelyn Vena

Shawn Stockman and Justin Bieber
Photo: LiveWire Entertainment

As if the Twitter back-and-forth weren't enough to get fans excited for their Christmas-themed collaboration, MTV News now has photo evidence of Justin Bieber and Boyz II Men singer Shawn Stockman in the studio together. In the photo, both guys are seen looking casual in baseball caps and T-shirts. They shared a high-five in the studio, which was even decorated with Christmas lights. The guys had a bit of a Twittermance post-session that had the veteran Boyz reminding the teen phenom to never forget the wisdom they shared with him. And whatever that advice was, it certainly made an impression on Bieber. "I'm not gonna forget. THANK U!!" he tweeted. Bieber has a busy fall ahead of him. As he readies the release of his Christmas album, he's also getting ready to hit the road in South America and Mexico. "Back in the studio putting the finishing touches on this Christmas album and getting the tour stuff together," he tweeted. The tour will kick off later this month in Mexico and will make its way around South America, including stops in Brazil and Argentina. He'll wrap up the stint at the end of October. He's pretty much off the road until December and January, when he has two stops planned in Illinois. "Seeing all the love for the S AMERICAN fans ... tour is less than a month away. Who got tickets in BRAZIL? in Argentina? in Mexico? in Chile?" he tweeted.

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Justin Bieber: Boyz II Men 'Perfect' For Christmas Song

20 Sep 2011 16:45:09 EDT

Holiday collabo is called 'Falalalala,' group reveals to MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Boyz II Men
Photo: MTV News

After a photo surfaced online of Justin Bieber and Boyz II Men singer Shawn Stockman in the studio together, Beliebers were pretty excited about the Christmas track they were putting together. Bieber had his musical heroes in mind when he heard the song — called "Falalalala," the group revealed to MTV News — for his upcoming holiday album.

"He thought we'd be perfect for it," Stockman said. "And we went in and locked in." When the Boyz stopped by to talk about their October album Twenty, Wanya Morris recalled meeting the teen star for the first time way back before they all worked together. "We met him in the hotel, at the Le Montrose, in L.A. and the dude, he had a cast on at the time," Morris remembered. "And he stepped up and said, 'Oh my God! Boyz II Men, you're my favorite group!' And we're like, 'Oh, OK,' and at the time, we didn't know who he was. He was a new dude, and the next thing you know, he's huge. And I'm like, 'That's the same guy!' " Bieber was a fan of Boyz II Men from when he was a kid, but there was one track that wasn't allowed in the Bieber household. "He told us his mom didn't want him to sing 'I'll Make Love to You,' so he'd sneak and go sing it somewhere," Morris said. "It's also good to know we've influenced such a good artist. It's something that makes us feel we've accomplished [something and] we're doing our job, [that] a guy so young and so into his craft [is] influenced by three guys from Philadelphia that love to sing." What are you expecting from Bieber and Boyz II Men's Christmas collabo? Let us know in the comments!

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Beyonce's Boyz II Men Sample On 'Countdown' Is 'Clever' Band Says

21 Sep 2011 12:25:05 EDT

'I guess you can say we finally got our duet with Beyoncé,' Wanya Morris tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Nathan Morris and Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men
Photo: MTV News

When Beyoncé dropped 4 earlier this year, she paid homage to her roots by sampling Boyz II Men. The singer used the countdown portion of their track "Uhh Ahh" on her I'm-so-in-love party track "Countdown."

The song is all about the rapture of true love, with Beyoncé happily declaring her devotion to that special man in her life. So were the guys happy about her decision to include them on the album? "I thought it was very clever," Wanya Morris told MTV News earlier this week when he stopped by to chat about the latest Boyz II Men album, Twenty. "She's a clever artist. She's one of the best in the business right now. I guess you can say we finally got our duet with Beyoncé." The guys are certainly having a moment this year, thanks to the sample and their work with Justin Bieber. They say that Beyoncé's decision to use their song on the lively track was pretty surprising, even though they have a bit of history with Queen B. "It wasn't something we expected, but we do have a bit of a relationship," Nathan Morris explained. "A lot of people don't really know that when they had Destiny's Child, the first time they went on tour they opened up for us for quite a long time. And we tried our best to look after them and make sure everything was good. And back then they were incredible." Even that long ago they knew Beyoncé stood out from the pack. "We all saw that she would wind up doing her thing," Morris added. "There is a connection, and at the end of the day we didn't know she would use that record. Game respects game, I guess you would call it."

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Boyz II Men Want To Do What They Do Best

21 Sep 2011 15:54:51 EDT

Photo:

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Justin Bieber 'Has His Head On Straight'

20 Oct 2011 16:25:14 EDT

'You don't hear anything bad about this guy,' Boyz II Men's Nate Morris says of teen superstar during 'MTV First: Justin Bieber.'
By James Dinh, with reporting by James Montgomery

Justin Bieber in "Mistletoe"
Photo: Island Def Jam

Justin Bieber is bridging the generation gap with his star-studded holiday album, Under the Mistletoe. He's collaborated with a string of stars like Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes and Usher for the November 1 LP. But it's the Biebs' pairing with Boyz II Men that's sure to expand the teen star's fanbase.

We spoke to BIIM's Nate Morris via Skype during our special "MTV First: Justin Bieber" this week, and he shared his thoughts on the young singer as well as their holiday collabo "Falalalala." "We respect him, man," the R&B crooner told MTV News' James Montgomery. "I watch what he does, I watch what the people around him do, and they're guiding him in the right directions. You don't hear anything bad about this guy. He has his head on straight." JB's team includes his mother, Pattie, who Morris said clearly has Bieber's best interests at heart. "His mom has got his focus in the right direction and as long as she does that, he'll be just fine," he added. So will Boyz II Men head to the studio again with the pop superstar? Morris was optimistic, saying, "Oh, without a doubt. We just have to figure out the right circumstance. This was perfect for us because, you know, we wanted to try to make sure that the first song we did together was something that people could accept the two artists doing together. ... If there's a soundtrack or whatever that comes along that we can create something special, that'll be hot." BIIM's team-up with JB is just one of many treats the group has planned for their comeback. On October 25, they're set to drop Twenty, a new double-disc set that features both brand-new tracks and re-recorded classics. "It's a collection of our best work, we think," Morris admitted. "I mean, 20 years is a long time to be in this business, so we tried to encompass a little bit of everything. ...We wanted to bring everything together all on one [album] even for those young Bieber fans who may not know all the Boyz II Men records — they can get all the history and today's music on one CD." Are you excited to hear JB's collabo with Boyz II Men? Tell us in the comments below!

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Boyz II Men Celebrate Twenty Years With New Album

25 Oct 2011 06:53:14 EDT

'We're trying our best to transcend time,' Wanya Morris tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Boyz II Men
Photo: Sandy Young/ Getty Images

Boyz II Men came on the scene 20 years ago with their debut album, Cooleyhighharmony. That's right: 20 years ago. To put that in a pop-culture timeline: that's three years before Justin Bieber was born, and seven years before Destiny's Child released their first album.

That's important to note because this year not only are the guys releasing a new album, the aptly titled Twenty, they also appear on Beyoncé's "Countdown" and will be featured on Justin Bieber's Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe. In addition to all the love from this new crop of pop stars, Boyz II Men enthusiasts should enjoy their latest endeavor. Twenty is a mix of eight old-school classics, like "End of the Road," as well as 12 new tracks. That's 20 songs, for those keeping count. "Twenty is our latest effort," Wanya Morris explained to MTV News. "It consists of the span of 20 years of our career. It's been seven years since we did an album with our own music; it felt like it was time to put our efforts and our maturity and all of the things we gained through the 20 years on this album. We're trying our best to transcend time, but at the same time maintain our integrity and allow people to see the maturity as well." Nathan Morris admits that while they're not the fresh-faced kids they were two decades ago, they aren't that different from the rookies who declared "Motownphilly" a thing. Or, at least their music hasn't strayed much from that R&B sound that made them famous.

"Music is who we are. Our concepts may be different; obviously, it's 20 years later, [and] we've grown. But the music itself is the constant," Nathan said. "It's the only thing that has really kept us here for 20 years. The concept of music is still the same, but what we write about and what we think about nowadays is a little different. We're a little older, but the main objective is still all about love." In the end, the men, who know a thing or two about performing love songs both happy and sad, hope to capture that spirit again. "I think we're most excited for people to hear the whole album," Wanya added. "We have a lot of different new songs and styles that will actually show the growth of Boyz II Men. At the same time, we still kept the same vibrations, the same integrity. Nate's idea, and all of our idea, is just keep it love and try and be ambassadors. We might not do it all that well, but we love love." What's your favorite classic Boyz II Men jam? Tell us below!

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Justin Bieber, Boyz II Men Shoot 'Fa La La' Video

02 Nov 2011 11:49:00 EDT

Clip was filmed after they performed the holiday track on 'Dancing With the Stars' Tuesday night.
By Jocelyn Vena

Photo: Island/Def Jam

Justin Bieber has given fans the video for "Mistletoe" and teased his clip for "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (in photos and in some behind-the-scenes footage, where he dons some funky garb and plays the drums). Now the singer has banked another video off his Under the Mistletoe album.

Bieber tweeted that he and Boyz II Men just shot the video for their song "Fa La La." The news came on the same night that Bieber and the group appeared on "Dancing With the Stars," where they performed the R&B holiday tune. "Killed it with @BoyzIImen on DWTS and then just shot a video for our song #FALALA with @colintilley - great night! living a dream. Thanku," he tweeted. The shoot took place after the guys took the stage on the hit ABC show. In a photo posted on Twitter, Bieber, with his new spiky haircut, chills out on a front stoop, while the three guys in Boyz II Men stand around the teen star. Colin Tilley, who has worked with Bieber on videos for "Next 2 You" (with Chris Brown), "Never Let You Go" and "U Smile," gushed about the shoot. "Just wrapped @justinbieber & @BoyzIIMen video!" he tweeted. "We got some fire! Tiz the season!" Of course, Bieber kicked off the holiday season much earlier than most when he went into the studio earlier this fall to work on the album with folks like Boyz, who described working with the teen star. "He told us his mom didn't want him to sing 'I'll Make Love to You,' so he'd sneak and go sing it somewhere," Wanya Morris told MTV News. "It's also good to know we've influenced such a good artist. It's something that makes us feel we've accomplished [something and] we're doing our job, [that] a guy so young and so into his craft [is] influenced by three guys from Philadelphia that love to sing." Under the Mistletoe, which dropped this week, features original holiday tunes by Bieber as well as reimaginings of classic tunes like Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas." In addition to Carey, Bieber is joined by Boyz II Men, Usher, Busta Rhymes and the Band Perry on the album.

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Justin Bieber And Boyz II Men Unwrap 'Fa La La' Video

23 Nov 2011 14:45:56 EST

Black-and-white video showcases Bieber's heartfelt singing with his idols.
By Rob Markman

Shawn Stockman and Justin Bieber
Photo: LiveWire Entertainment

Christmas is right around the corner, but the Biebs is already in the holiday spirit. On Wednesday (November 23), Justin Bieber dropped the video for "Fa La La" with Boyz II Men. There are no reindeer or presents under the tree; instead, Justin and the Philadelphia R&B outfit sing of a warm love that will endure through the holiday season.

The black-and-white clip begins in an empty loft, where Bieber sings alone, with his arms flailing and face slightly scrunching every time he hits those heartfelt notes. Justin's solo intro leads way to a collaborative bridge, where Boyz II Men join in. "Baby you de-serve eve-ry-thing you want/ It's your night," they all sing in harmony as the "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" vocalists join the teenage star in song on the front porch of a brick house. No elaborate set needed. With an empty city as their backdrop, the four crooners throw down in an old-fashioned sing-off. As the track builds, BIIM's Wanya Morris really gets into it, pounding his chest and kicking one leg up to accentuate his performance. Bieber, who is dressed in a white tee and slim-cut leather jacket, tugs on his collar to let you just how much his words mean to him. On November 1, Bieber teased the clip when he tweeted, "Killed it with @BoyzIImen on DWTS and then just shot a video for our song #FALALA with @colintilley - great night! living a dream. Thanku," in reference to his appearance on "Dancing With The Stars" and the Colin Tilley-directed "Fa La La" video.

Maybe some of Boyz II Men's subject matter was a bit mature for the pint-size Bieber, but they influenced him nonetheless. "He told us his mom didn't want him to sing 'I'll Make Love to You,' so he'd sneak and go sing it somewhere," Wanya Morris told MTV News. "It's also good to know we've influenced such a good artist. It's something that makes us feel we've accomplished [something and] we're doing our job, [that] a guy so young and so into his craft [is] influenced by three guys from Philadelphia that love to sing." Yes, "Fa La La" is the latest single from JB's holiday LP, Under the Mistletoe, but Tilley and company didn't overload the video with Christmas themes as to so implicitly tie it to December 25 -- after all, true love should last all year 'round. What do you think of the video? Let us know in the comments!

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