Playa (band)
Encyclopedia
Playa was an American
R&B/hip-hop group. Composed of Smoke E. Digglera (also known as Smokey), Digital Black (also known as Black), and the late Static Major
(also known as Stacks), Playa is best known for their 1998 hit album, "Cheers 2 U", produced by longtime collaborator Timbaland
. Static was notable for being a successful songwriter of hit singles and album tracks for artists such as Ginuwine
, Aaliyah
, Truth Hurts
, Lil Wayne
and Brandy
.
, and formed while the guys were still in high school. Smokey and Digital Black met through a mutual friend who thought the guys would sound good together, while Smokey and Static met in church while performing in a gospel group. Alongside other guys, the three men that would eventually form Playa created a group called A Touch of Class.
label with Elektra Records
in 93/94. Magazines such as Vibe or The Source attribute the signing to Static's close friendship with the boss and producers of the DeVante Recording Label. The group finally became Playa after DeVante heard the guys sing and called them "lil playas."
, Timbaland & Magoo
, Ginuwine
, Tweet
, and Renee Anderson. By 1996, most of the Swing Mob artists—Playa included—had left DeVante for better luck elsewhere. They participated in the production of Jodeci's The Show, The After Party, The Hotel
album in 1995. During this time, the men of Playa learned production and built up a catalogue of material that would later be released as part of their Cheers 2 U album.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B/hip-hop group. Composed of Smoke E. Digglera (also known as Smokey), Digital Black (also known as Black), and the late Static Major
Static Major
Stephen Ellis Garrett also known as Static Major, was a Grammy Award-Winning American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Louisville, Kentucky. He was a member of the R&B trio Playa. Static Major gained posthumous fame for appearing on Lil Wayne's 2008 album Tha Carter III on the...
(also known as Stacks), Playa is best known for their 1998 hit album, "Cheers 2 U", produced by longtime collaborator Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
. Static was notable for being a successful songwriter of hit singles and album tracks for artists such as Ginuwine
Ginuwine
Elgin Baylor Lumpkin , better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990's...
, Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
, Truth Hurts
Truth Hurts
Share Watson , known as Truth Hurts, is an American Contemporary R&B singer-songwriter.-Albums:-Singles:* 2002: "Addictive" Share Watson (born October 10, 1971, St. Louis, Missouri), known as Truth Hurts, is an American Contemporary R&B singer-songwriter.-Albums:-Singles:* 2002: "Addictive"...
, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
and Brandy
Brandy Norwood
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....
.
Early years
Originally rappers, The three members of Playa all originate from Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, and formed while the guys were still in high school. Smokey and Digital Black met through a mutual friend who thought the guys would sound good together, while Smokey and Static met in church while performing in a gospel group. Alongside other guys, the three men that would eventually form Playa created a group called A Touch of Class.
Joining Swing Mob
As A Touch of Class, the men impressed DeVante by performing a cappella versions of Jodeci songs backstage after a concert in 1991/1992. The guys were then signed onto DeVante's Swing MobSwing Mob
Swing Mob consisted of members of the various collectives and/or record labels associated with Missy Elliott and Timbaland. Elliott with the group Sista, Timbaland, Magoo, Ginuwine, Playa, Darryl Pearson, Tweet with the group Sugah, Majik, Jimmy Douglass Stevie J., Maija Max, Bazaar Royale and Chad...
label with Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in 93/94. Magazines such as Vibe or The Source attribute the signing to Static's close friendship with the boss and producers of the DeVante Recording Label. The group finally became Playa after DeVante heard the guys sing and called them "lil playas."
Part of Swing Mob
Other members of Swing Mob were young hopefuls such as Missy ElliottMissy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, Timbaland & Magoo
Timbaland & Magoo
Timbaland & Magoo are a rap duo consisting of producer/rapper Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley and rapper Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff who is of African American and Native American descent.Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, the duo first met when they were teenagers...
, Ginuwine
Ginuwine
Elgin Baylor Lumpkin , better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990's...
, Tweet
Tweet (singer)
Tweet is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.-Early years:The youngest child of Tom and Shirley Keys, Tweet was born in Rochester, New York on January 21, 1972, and grew up singing in the church along with her parents and her four older siblings...
, and Renee Anderson. By 1996, most of the Swing Mob artists—Playa included—had left DeVante for better luck elsewhere. They participated in the production of Jodeci's The Show, The After Party, The Hotel
The Show, the After Party, the Hotel
-Album:-Singles:"—" denotes releases that did not chart.-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic.*Arranging: Dalvin DeGrate, Missy Elliott*Art Direction: Robert Reives*Bass: Darryl Pearson...
album in 1995. During this time, the men of Playa learned production and built up a catalogue of material that would later be released as part of their Cheers 2 U album.
Cheers 2 U
In 1998, Playa released their album, Cheers 2 U. The album featured production by Timbaland and had two singles. The album's first single, "Don't Stop The Music" reached #26 on the R&B charts, while the second single, "Cheers 2 U" reached #10.Albums
- 1998: Cheers 2 UCheers 2 UThe album peaked at eighty-six on the U.S. Billboard 200 and reached nineteen on the R&B Albums chart.Leo Stanley at Allmusic called the album "a promising debut" and also referred to the work as "a debut of enormous potential."-Track listing:-Album:...
(Def Jam) - 2003: Never Too Late (shelved) (BlackgroundBlackground RecordsBlackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
/Def Jam) - 2009: Unreleased Compliation
- 2012: We're Back N Business
Singles
- 1997: "Don’t Stop the Music"
- 1998: "Cheers 2 UCheers 2 U (song)"Cheers 2 U" is a song by American R&B group Playa recorded for their debut studio album of the same name . The song was released as the album's second single in March of 1998.-Personnel:Information taken from Discogs....
" - 1998: "I Gotta Know" (featuring Foxy Brown, from the How to Be a PlayerHow to Be a PlayerDef Jam's How to Be a Player is a 1997 comedy film, starring Bill Bellamy, Natalie Desselle and Bernie Mac. The film was directed by Lionel C. Martin, and written by Mark Brown and Demetria Johnson...
soundtrack) - 1999: "Your Dress" (from the Dr. DolittleDr. Dolittle (film)Dr. Dolittle is a 1998 American family comedy film starring Eddie Murphy as a doctor who discovers that he has the ability to talk to animals...
soundtrack) - 2000: "Woozy" (from the Romeo Must DieRomeo Must DieRomeo Must Die is a 2000 martial arts film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Starring Jet Li, Aaliyah, Anthony Anderson, Delroy Lindo, Isaiah Washington, Russell Wong, and features action and fight choreography by Corey Yuen...
soundtrack) - 2001: "Incense Burning"
- 2002: "Wrong Side Of Tha Bed"
- 2002: "Lust"
- 2003: "Island Girl" (ft. TimbalandTimbalandTimothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
) - 2003: "I'm Available"
- 2003: "Never Too Late"
- 2003: "Weekend" (ft. Lil' FlipLil' FlipWesley Eric Weston, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil' Flip, is a American multi-platinum hiphop artist best known for his singles Sunshine, "Game Over" and Rollin on 20's from the 2 Fast 2 Furious Soundtrack....
) - 2003: "Grateful"
- 2009: "On The Downside" (Smoke E. Digglera ft. Static Major)
- 2009: "The Luv That I Bring" (ft. BlackFace)
Soundtrack and compilation contributions
- 1997: "Joy", from Welcome to Our World by Timbaland & MagooTimbaland & MagooTimbaland & Magoo are a rap duo consisting of producer/rapper Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley and rapper Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff who is of African American and Native American descent.Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, the duo first met when they were teenagers...
- 1997: "Smoke In 'Da Air", from Welcome to Our World by Timbaland & MagooTimbaland & MagooTimbaland & Magoo are a rap duo consisting of producer/rapper Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley and rapper Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff who is of African American and Native American descent.Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, the duo first met when they were teenagers...
- 1998: "Birthday", from Tim's Bio: From The Motion Picture: Life from Da BassmentTim's Bio: Life from da BassmentTim's Bio: Life from da Bassment is a 1998 album released by Blackground Records. Though nominally the debut solo album by R&B/hip-hop producer Timbaland, the LP is technically a compilation of tracks produced by Timbaland and often - though not strictly - featuring his vocals...
by Timbaland - 1998: "Your Dress", from the Dr. DolittleDr. Dolittle (film)Dr. Dolittle is a 1998 American family comedy film starring Eddie Murphy as a doctor who discovers that he has the ability to talk to animals...
soundtrack - 1999: "Playboy Like Me", from the Blue StreakBlue Streak (film)Blue Streak is a 1999 American action comedy film directed by Les Mayfield and starring Martin Lawrence. The film is a remake of the 1965 British film The Big Job, although the original film is uncredited...
soundtrack - 2000: "Woozy" from the Romeo Must DieRomeo Must DieRomeo Must Die is a 2000 martial arts film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Starring Jet Li, Aaliyah, Anthony Anderson, Delroy Lindo, Isaiah Washington, Russell Wong, and features action and fight choreography by Corey Yuen...
soundtrack - 2001: "Incense Burning" from the Exit WoundsExit WoundsExit Wounds is a 2001 action film based on the book of the same name by John Westermann. The book takes place on Long Island, while the film is set in Detroit. The film was directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, and stars Steven Seagal as an urban detective notorious for pushing the limits of the law in...
soundtrack