New Horizons

New Horizons were an R&B/funk band that consisted of the Thomas brothers: singer Mark, keyboardist Varges, bassist Bart and drummer Art along with their cousin, guitarist Timothy Abrams.

In 1983, the band released their debut album “Something New” on Columbia Records, which peaked at #51 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.

The only single to chart from the album was “Your Thing is My Thing” which peaked at #39 on Billboard’s Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 14 weeks.

The song was produced by late musician/producer, Roger Troutman (of R&B band, Zapp).

In 1984, New Horizons released their follow-up album, “Gonna Have Big Fun” which didn’t appear to make much impact on the charts.

After that, it seemed as if the band had faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from them since.

To see a fan-made video for “Your Thing is Your Thing,” go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYSNUamWzXA

No Half

No Half was a hip-hop duo that consisted of Mark Sexx (born Mark Skeete) and Kavon Shah (born Shawn Tyrone). They merged social commentary hardcore with explicit party rap.

In 1990, the duo released their only album “Wake Your Daughter Up” which peaked at #73 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.

Their first single “Strictly Rated X, Y’All” which didn’t appear to make the Billboard charts at all.

The second single “Half” (featuring Ed Lover) peaked at #47 on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.

The last single from the album “Fake Hair Wearin'” (featuring the 2 Live Crew) failed to make any impact on the Billboard charts at all.

No Half released two more singles: “Payback (Is a Mutha)” in 1993 and “No Brothas Allowed” in 1994 before fading into obscurity.

Kavon Shah worked with the Soul Society who remixed songs for artists such as En Vogue, Lil’ Kim, Busta Rhymes, Noreaga, Ray J., Syleena Johnson, Old Dirty Bastard, Tweet and Yolanda Adams.

Kavon has also written songs for Public Enemy. Mark Sexx also wrote and produced songs during the early ’90s.

To see the music video for “Half,” go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73VBuAqx_rw

To see the music video for “Fake Hair Wearin’,” go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FRZ_aZFClQ

To see the music video for “No Bruthas Allowed,” go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWhQVTZKzG8

Nonchalant

Nonchalant (born Tanya Pointer on October 18, 1970 in Washington, D.C.) was a female rapper\songwriter that was signed to MCA Records.

In 1996, Nonchalant released her debut single, “5 O’Clock” which peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100, topped Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart, #5 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, #33 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Top 40 chart and #8 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks. In the U.K., the song managed to peak at #44 on the U.K. Singles chart.

In March of that same year, she released her debut album, “Until the Day” which peaked at #94 on the Billboard 200 and #20 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.

The title song managed to peak at #25 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart and #88 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for only 4 weeks. After that, Nonchalant was featured on the “Dangerous Ground” movie soundtrack with female rappers MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, and Bahamadia with the track, “Keep on Pushin’.”

In 1998, Nonchalant released the single, “Take It There” which peaked at #8 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart and #56 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 4 weeks. She made her last appearance on the “Half Baked” movie soundtrack with the song, “Flyin'” before fading into obscurity.

To see the music video for “5 O’Clock,” go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQy1knJmGXg

To see the music video for “Until The Day,” go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbQM9WFhin0

To see the music video for “Take It There,” go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68_KMl66ITg
 

Maurice Massiah

Maurice Massiah was a male R&B/dance singer from the early 80s. Not much information is given about him, but he was signed to Quality Records.

In 1982, he released his only album, “Seventh Heaven.” It’s unknown how or if the album made the charts.

Maurice charted with the single, “We Can Go To Your House/50\50 Love” which managed to peak at #33 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart.

His last musical appearance was in 1991 on Carl E.’s single, “Friends.” After that, it seemed as if Maurice had faded into obscurity.

To see a fan-made video for “We Can Go To Your House,” go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxMOirxKBSQ

To see a fan-made video for “50/50 Love,” go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S2BfvJInYQ

L.A. Style

L.A. Style were a dance music/techno duo from the Netherlands that consisted of producers/musicians Denzil Slemming (or Michiel Van Der Kuy) and Wessel Van Diepen (or Maxx Mondino).

In 1991, the duo released their debut single, “James Brown is Dead” which peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100, #4 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and #14 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. 

Internationally, the song was successful, topping the charts in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain and reached the Top 10 in Australia, Germany, Sweden, Italy, and Switzerland.

In 1992, L.A. Style released their debut album, “The Album.” When the album was released in the United States a year later, it managed to peak at #21 on Billboard’s Heatseekers albums chart. It also marked the first appearance of female trip-hop vocalist Nicolette as a featured singer and lead artist FX (or Frans Zid Merkx).

The duo’s follow-up single, “I’m Raving” peaked at #20 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and #9 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. Despite L.A. Style’s international success, they faded into obscurity in 1995 after FX left.

In recent years, there have been rumors of L.A. Style being reformed with FX, but since then, Wessel van Diepen works as a popular DJ in the Netherlands while FX has has been working with the main producer and old friend behind DJ Chukie Fabian Lennsen.

To see the music video for “James Brown Is Dead,” go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN8e9b2ON8s

To see the music video for “I’m Raving,” go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1omnXnz0ejo

Sudden Change

Sudden Change was a female R&B trio from New Jersey that consisted of Linne & Jesse Modestin and Katia Pinard.

In 1994, the trio released the single “Comin’ on Strong” which peaked at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks.

Their follow-up single “Nodd Your Head” failed to make any impact on the charts at all.

According to Allmusic.com, the trio’s debut album “All of a Sudden” was released in April of 1995, but I can’t seem to find any other information confirming it.

After that, it appears as if Sudden Change has faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from them since.

To see the music video for “Comin’ on Strong,” go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpo-P_Aiqhc

To see the music video for “Nodd Your Head,” go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0mS-53z1Y8

[Updated on 12\29\2015]

Trinna

Trinna was an R&B singer from the 80s. Not much information is given about Trinna, but she was signed to Sun Valley Records.

In 1983, she released the single, “For Everlasting Love” which didn’t appear to make the Billboard charts at all.

After that, it seemed as if Trinna faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from her since.

[There are no videos available for this entry]

Pamela Nivens

Pamela Nivens (born in 1960 from Kansas) was a female R&B singer from the early 80s. Not much information is given about her, but she was signed to Sun Valley Records.

In 1983, she released her only single “It’s You I Love (So In Love)” which peaked at #58 on Billboard’s Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 8 weeks.

After that, nothing much was heard from Pamela and she had seemingly faded into obscurity.

To see a fan-made video for “It’s You I Love (So In Love),” go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG4Wshe8ePQ

Nu Romance Crew

Nu Romance Crew was an R&B trio from New Jersey featuring Fa Mtume, the son of musician James Mtume. Not much information is given about them, but they were signed to EMI America Records.

In 1987, the trio released their debut album “Tonight” which didn’t appear to make the Billboard album charts.

The title song managed to peak at #59 on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 8 weeks.

After that, it seems as if Nu Crew Romance has faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from them since.

To see a fan-made video for “Tonight,” go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmJNvZQ5RE4

Lois Lane

Lois Lane [not to be confused with Superman’s girlfriend] (born in Memphis, Tennessee) was a female hip-hop/R&B artist from the 90s.

In 1998, Lois released her only album, “The Adventures of Lois Lane” which didn’t appear to make the Billboard album charts at all.

The only single to chart was “Chinese Checkers” which peaked at #82 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 7 weeks.

To see a fan-made video for “Chinese Checkers,” go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gihXB4NxAX4