Bryce Wilson
Encyclopedia
Bryce Wilson also formerly known as Bryce Luvah, is a record label executive/producer
, actor
, musician
, and former emcee
. He was formerly half of late 1990s
contemporary R&B
duo Groove Theory
, and emcee/keyboardist
for early 1990s dance music
/electro funk
/old school hip hop
group Mantronix
.
/old school hip hop
group Mantronix
's original rapper MC Tee
, Wilson, (then known as Bryce "Luvah", or MC Luvah), and D.J. D
, the cousin of the remaining Mantronix member, Kurtis Mantronik, joined Mantronix for 1990's This Should Move Ya
. The album spawned two top-10 hits on the British singles chart
, "Got to Have Your Love
" at #4, and "Take Your Time" at #10. In the United States, the album reached #61 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart. Wilson was the primary rapper on all of the rap-based tracks that appeared on the album, and was responsible for the lyrical content.
Mantronix's final release, with vocalist Jade Trini
replacing D.J. D, was The Incredible Sound Machine
in 1991. The Incredible Sound Machine, which tended to favor R&B, new jack swing
and house music
over hip hop, was considered both a critical and commercial disappointment. Shortly after the tour and promotion related to the release of The Incredible Sound Machine, Mantronix disbanded.
to form the contemporary R&B
duo Groove Theory
. In 1995
, the group released its self-titled debut album Groove Theory
. The album featured the hit, gold certified single "Tell Me" which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100
and #3 on the R&B chart
.
Larrieux left the group to pursue a solo career in 1999
, and was replaced by Charlotte
-bred singer Makeda Davis. The duo originally signed with Epic Records
but left the label in 2001
. Subsequently, Wilson signed Davis to a solo deal with Interscope
and then DreamWorks Records
.
The Makeda Davis-Bryce Wilson Groove Theory line-up released one EP
, 4 Shure, in 2000
, which was the last recording released by the group.
, Wilson collaborated with legendary R&B/pop hitmaker Babyface, and the two co-produced "You're Makin' Me High
," a smash hit single for Toni Braxton
that went #1 on both the R&B and Pop
charts. He also appeared in the video as Toni's love interest. Rumors of a romance between the two were unconfirmed. Wilson then went on to produce such acts as Mary J. Blige
, Amerie
, Whitney Houston
, Mýa
, Changing Faces, and many others. Wilson's production sales have exceeded 50 million as well as 2 Grammy Awards.
Wilson produced for singer-songwriter
Brandy Norwood
's fifth studio album, released in 2008.
on an episode of the television drama New York Undercover
, Wilson has acted in a variety of films and television shows. Most notably, Wilson appeared as James, in the 2005 film Beauty Shop
, which starred Queen Latifah
.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, actor
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, and former emcee
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
. He was formerly half of late 1990s
1990s in music
For music from a year in the 1990s, go to 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99This article includes trends in popular music in the 1990s....
contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
duo Groove Theory
Groove Theory
Groove Theory is an American R&B duo, with former member, singer-songwriter Amel Larrieux and songwriter/producer/actor, Bryce Wilson. The group is best known for their 1995 pop/R&B hit, "Tell Me," which reached the top five of Billboard 's Hot 100 and the US Billboard R&B chart.-Early years:The...
, and emcee/keyboardist
Electronic piano
An electronic piano is a keyboard instrument designed to simulate the timbre of a piano using analog circuitry....
for early 1990s dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
/electro funk
Electro (music)
Electro is a genre of electronic dance music directly influenced by the use of TR-808 drum machines, Moog keytar synthesizers and funk sampling...
/old school hip hop
Old school hip hop
Old school hip hop describes the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music , and the music in the period preceding it from which it was directly descended . Old school hip hop is said to end around 1983 or 1984 with the emergence of Run–D.M.C., the first new school hip hop group...
group Mantronix
Mantronix
Mantronix was an influential 1980s hip hop and electro funk music group founded by DJ Kurtis Mantronik , and rapper MC Tee...
.
Mantronix MC and keyboardist
Following the departure of electro funkElectro (music)
Electro is a genre of electronic dance music directly influenced by the use of TR-808 drum machines, Moog keytar synthesizers and funk sampling...
/old school hip hop
Old school hip hop
Old school hip hop describes the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music , and the music in the period preceding it from which it was directly descended . Old school hip hop is said to end around 1983 or 1984 with the emergence of Run–D.M.C., the first new school hip hop group...
group Mantronix
Mantronix
Mantronix was an influential 1980s hip hop and electro funk music group founded by DJ Kurtis Mantronik , and rapper MC Tee...
's original rapper MC Tee
MC Tee
Touré Embden , known by the stage name MC Tee, is a Haitian-American emcee and co-founder of the 1980s old school hip hop and electro funk group Mantronix.- Early years :...
, Wilson, (then known as Bryce "Luvah", or MC Luvah), and D.J. D
D.J. D
D.J. D, or alternatively, D.J. Dee, was an American DJ and briefly a member of the old school hip hop/electro funk/dance music group Mantronix during the group's later years. D.J...
, the cousin of the remaining Mantronix member, Kurtis Mantronik, joined Mantronix for 1990's This Should Move Ya
This Should Move Ya
This Should Move Ya is the fourth album by old school hip hop/electro funk group Mantronix, and the second Mantronix album released on Capitol Records. This Should Move Ya featured new members Bryce “Luvah” Wilson and Kurtis Mantronik’s cousin D.J...
. The album spawned two top-10 hits on the British singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, "Got to Have Your Love
Got to Have Your Love
"Got to Have Your Love" is a song by American old school hip hop/electro funk group Mantronix that was released as a single in 1990. It was taken from their fourth studio album This Should Move Ya. The original song featured Wondress as a vocalist. The single reached number four in the UK Singles...
" at #4, and "Take Your Time" at #10. In the United States, the album reached #61 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart. Wilson was the primary rapper on all of the rap-based tracks that appeared on the album, and was responsible for the lyrical content.
Mantronix's final release, with vocalist Jade Trini
Jade Trini Goring
Jade Trini Goring , formerly known by the stage name Jade Trini, is an American contemporary gospel music singer. Goring was also briefly a member of the electronic dance/house music/old school hip hop group, Mantronix, in 1991....
replacing D.J. D, was The Incredible Sound Machine
The Incredible Sound Machine
The Incredible Sound Machine is the fifth, and final, album by old school hip hop/electro funk group Mantronix, and the third Mantronix album released on Capitol Records. The Incredible Sound Machine featured new member, vocalist Jade Trini, who replaced D.J. D...
in 1991. The Incredible Sound Machine, which tended to favor R&B, new jack swing
New jack swing
New jack swing or swingbeat is a fusion genre spearheaded by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle which became extremely popular from the late-1980s into the mid-1990s. Its influence, along with hip-hop, seeped into pop culture and was the definitive sound of the inventive Black New York club scene...
and house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
over hip hop, was considered both a critical and commercial disappointment. Shortly after the tour and promotion related to the release of The Incredible Sound Machine, Mantronix disbanded.
Groove Theory
Following the demise of Mantronix, Wilson paired with Amel LarrieuxAmel Larrieux
Amel Larrieux is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter and keyboardist. Larrieux rose to fame in the mid 1990s as a founding member of the duo Groove Theory along with Bryce Wilson. After leaving the group in 1999, she released her debut solo album Infinite Possibilities the following year on...
to form the contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
duo Groove Theory
Groove Theory
Groove Theory is an American R&B duo, with former member, singer-songwriter Amel Larrieux and songwriter/producer/actor, Bryce Wilson. The group is best known for their 1995 pop/R&B hit, "Tell Me," which reached the top five of Billboard 's Hot 100 and the US Billboard R&B chart.-Early years:The...
. In 1995
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
, the group released its self-titled debut album Groove Theory
Groove Theory (album)
-Album:-Singles:"—" denotes releases that did not chart.-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic.*a&r – Paris Davis*art direction – Carol Chen*bass – Darryl Brown, Eric "Ebo" Butler, Kirk Lyons*design – Sean Evans*drums – Ralph Rolle...
. The album featured the hit, gold certified single "Tell Me" which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and #3 on the R&B chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
.
Larrieux left the group to pursue a solo career in 1999
1999 in music
-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
, and was replaced by Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
-bred singer Makeda Davis. The duo originally signed with Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
but left the label in 2001
2001 in music
See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
. Subsequently, Wilson signed Davis to a solo deal with Interscope
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
and then DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
.
The Makeda Davis-Bryce Wilson Groove Theory line-up released one EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, 4 Shure, in 2000
2000 in music
See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List....
, which was the last recording released by the group.
Record producer
In 19961996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
, Wilson collaborated with legendary R&B/pop hitmaker Babyface, and the two co-produced "You're Makin' Me High
You're Makin' Me High
"You're Makin' Me High" is the lead single from Toni Braxton's second studio album, Secrets . A joint collaboration between the Grammy Award-winning producer Babyface and Bryce Wilson resulted in this mid-tempo song...
," a smash hit single for Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide...
that went #1 on both the R&B and Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
charts. He also appeared in the video as Toni's love interest. Rumors of a romance between the two were unconfirmed. Wilson then went on to produce such acts as Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, Amerie
Amerie
Amerie Mi Marie Rogers , known professionally as Amerie or Ameriie, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She debuted in 2002 with the album All I Have, primarily co-written and produced by Rich Harrison, and was well-received in the urban market...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Mýa
Mya
-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...
, Changing Faces, and many others. Wilson's production sales have exceeded 50 million as well as 2 Grammy Awards.
Wilson produced for singer-songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Brandy Norwood
Brandy (entertainer)
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
's fifth studio album, released in 2008.
Acting
Since 1995, when he made a guest appearance with Groove TheoryGroove Theory
Groove Theory is an American R&B duo, with former member, singer-songwriter Amel Larrieux and songwriter/producer/actor, Bryce Wilson. The group is best known for their 1995 pop/R&B hit, "Tell Me," which reached the top five of Billboard 's Hot 100 and the US Billboard R&B chart.-Early years:The...
on an episode of the television drama New York Undercover
New York Undercover
New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to...
, Wilson has acted in a variety of films and television shows. Most notably, Wilson appeared as James, in the 2005 film Beauty Shop
Beauty Shop
Beauty Shop is a 2005 American comedy film, directed by Bille Woodruff. The film is a spin-off of the Barbershop film franchise, and stars Queen Latifah as Gina, a character which was first introduced in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business...
, which starred Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
.
Film and television work
- Jury Of Our Peers (2008) (as Vic)
- Stick Up Kids (2007) (as Hands)
- Show Stoppers (2007) (as Fabian)
- The System Within (2006) (as Rollins)
- Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz ClubBelly 2: Millionaire Boyz ClubBelly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club is a 2006 film and the direct-to-video sequel starring The Game and Shari Headley, directed by Cess Silvera.-Plot:...
(2006) (as Amp) - Beauty ShopBeauty ShopBeauty Shop is a 2005 American comedy film, directed by Bille Woodruff. The film is a spin-off of the Barbershop film franchise, and stars Queen Latifah as Gina, a character which was first introduced in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business...
(2005) (as James) - All Shades of Fine: 25 Hottest Women of the Past 25 Years (2005)
- Hair ShowHair ShowHair Show is a 2004 comedy film directed by Leslie Small that stars Mo'Nique and Kellita Smith.-Plot:Peaches , a hair stylist from Baltimore, and her estranged sister, Angela , the owner of an upscale salon in Beverly Hills, get reacquainted when Peaches decides to attend a celebration for Angela...
(2004) (as Drake) - Retrosexual: The 80's (2004)
- Guilty by AssociationGuilty by AssociationGuilty by Association is the debut studio album by State of Shock. This album was only released in Canada. The album includes the singles "Wish I Never Met You","If I Could", and "So Many Times"...
(2003) (as Kenny) - Weekend Vibe (2002)
- TroisTroisTrois is a 2000 thriller directed by Rob Hardy. This movie stars Gary Dourdan, Kenya Moore and Gretchen Palmer. The film was one of the highest grossing African-American films of 2000...
(2000) (as Robert) - New York Undercover... aka Uptown Undercover-Grim ReaperNew York UndercoverNew York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to...
(1997) (with Groove TheoryGroove TheoryGroove Theory is an American R&B duo, with former member, singer-songwriter Amel Larrieux and songwriter/producer/actor, Bryce Wilson. The group is best known for their 1995 pop/R&B hit, "Tell Me," which reached the top five of Billboard 's Hot 100 and the US Billboard R&B chart.-Early years:The...
)