Al B. Sure! is using his 50th birthday to clear the air about some misconceptions about his contributions to Jodeci.
Days before he was going to hit the half-century mark, the “Nite and Day” singer put the group he helped put on the map on blast. According to Al B., whose birth name is Albert Joseph Brown III, he hasn’t gotten the credit he deserves for putting “Forever My Lady” at the top of the R&B charts.
“Thank you for the Love & Light you’ve all shown this week RE the 27th Anniversary release of the Multi-Platinum group #JODECI’s 1991 debut album #ForeverMyLady which populated FIVE (5) No.1 R&B @Billboard Songs thanks to YOU!” he wrote on Instagram May 30. “The @Uptown_Records_ Album Written & Produced by #DeVanteSwing & Al B. Sure!… Exec Producers @OfficialAlBSure @AndreHarrell & Diddy.
“Note 📝 to self. It’s amazing when I hear👂🏼in the wind that there is a JODECI ‘Life Story’ slated to be produced for a major network (i.e. that brilliantly produced #TheNewEditionStory @BET prod by @jessecollinsent),” he added. “I haven’t heard a peep from the writers or producers to date. Note 📝 You will NOT have the accurate story or history if you don’t speak with yours truly. If you’ve rocked w/ me over the years you know I stay silent and let the work speak for itself. I only mention this after being quietly silent for so long and seeing so many inaccurate TV Docs or Film productions when mentioning the group JODECI & how it all came to fruition… 📝 This is my new ‘I’m turning 50′ purging correcting all of this #SelectiveAmnesia people seem to have in the entertainment industry as time passes Lol…”
Al B., who turned 50 on June 4, accompanied his message with an early 1990s interview where he explained how he met with record producer DeVante Swing to put the hit album together.
And Jodeci isn’t the only big name act Al B. has produced or written songs for. The Quincy Jone protégé also contributed to Faith Evans — who he met through church — Tevin Campbell, Case, Timbaland and Usher.
In response to the singer making sure this overlooked music fact has been brought to light, several fans sang his praises.
“Well, it’s time to set them straight and get it right @officialalbsure.”
“Let ’em know @officialalbsure I remember when #WHUR was the only station in D.C. that played ‘Stay,’ & I KNEW it was produced by @officialalbsure & #kylewest.”
“GEMINI LET EM KNOW HISTORY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF ♊♊♊♊🎉🎉🎉🎉🙏🏽🙏🏽🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥PEOPLE SEEM TO FORGET WAKE UP TIME RESPECT THE OG.”
