With so many faceless, sound-alike albums having come out of the "new jack swing" hybrid in the late '80s and early to mid-'90s, it's important to give credit to the form's more creative and imaginative figures. Along with Guy and Bobby Brown, Bell Biv DeVoe (a New Edition spin-off trio comprised of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe) delivered some of new jack swing's most worthwhile material. A hard-edged, tough-minded blend of R&B/funk and hip-hop, Poison was (like Brown's Don't Be Cruel) a radical departure from the Jackson 5-influenced "bubblegum soul" New Edition was originally known for. Defined by their urgency, rawness, and vitality, "Poison," "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?," "Dope!," and "Do Me!" are considered new jack swing classics and are indeed among the best the style has to offer. Taking a break from the CD's overall aggression, BBD moves closer to New Edition's sound with the decent, though far from outstanding, ballads "When Will I See You Again?" and "I Do Need You." While other "new jacks" were content to simply emulate Guy, the distinctive BBD deserves applause for daring to stake out its own territory. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Dr. Freeze (Multi Instruments), Dan Wood (Mixing), Keith Shocklee (Producer), Howard Hirsch (Associate Producer), Bell Biv DeVoe (Multi Instruments), Carl Bourelly (Arranger), Louis Silas, Jr. (Executive Producer), Bell Biv DeVoe (Vocals), Richard Wolf (Multi Instruments), Rod Hui (Mixing), Louis Silas, Jr. (Remixing), Christopher Shaw (Editing), Ronnie DeVoe (Vocals), Ricky Bell (Mixing), Hiriam Hicks (Producer), Ricky Bell (Vocals), Jay Henry (Engineer), Dan Wood (Engineer), Carl Bourelly (Keyboards), D'La Vance (Producer), Peter Arata (Remixing), Rod Hui (Engineer), Bell Biv DeVoe (Vocals (Background)), Ken Felton (Assistant Engineer), Steve Hall (Mastering), Bell Biv DeVoe (Vocal Arrangement), Jean-Paul Bourelly (Guitar), Louis Silas, Jr. (Producer), Jamey Staub (Mixing), Jamey Staub (Engineer), Ronnie DeVoe (Mixing), Hank Shocklee (Remixing), Hank Shocklee (Producer), Kirk Yano (Mixing), Alton "Wokie" Stewart (Vocals (Background)), Angelica Chaplin (Photography), Dr. Freeze (Producer), Timmy Gatling (Drum Programming), Nick Sansano (Engineer), Nick Sansano (Mixing), Kurt Upper (Engineer), Angelica Chaplin (Make-Up), Chris Floberg (Programming), Sherman Foote (Programming), Bell Biv DeVoe (Producer), Bell Biv DeVoe (Design), Dr. Freeze (Mixing), Timmy Gatling (Keyboards), Kirk Yano (Engineer), Hank Shocklee (Arranger), Howard Hirsch (Keyboards), Michael Allaire (Assistant Engineer), Bell Biv DeVoe (Mixing), Howard Hirsch (Drum Programming), Carl Bourelly (Producer), Bell Biv DeVoe (Art Direction), Michael Bivins (Vocals), Jay Henry (Mixing), Barbara Milne (Engineer), Roney Hooks (Arranger), Bell Biv DeVoe (Remixing)
Poison is the first album by Bell Biv DeVoe, an R&B/hip-hop group composed of three of the original members of New Edition. The album peaked at #5 and the single Poison peaked at #1 in the U.S. R&B Billboard charts. It also reached #3 on the Billboard pop charts. Second single "Do Me!" also reached #3 on the Billboard pop charts. The album was certified 4x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA on April 28, 1995.
