Jagged Edge 'Jagged Edge' album

Identical twin brothers Brian Casey and Brandon Casey, Kyle Norman, and Richard Wingo--known collectively as Jagged Edge--have built the group's career and reputation from one simple premise: make great music and make sure the music's for real. The tabloids are full of urban artists acting flash and talking trash, but while it might be fun to give good copy today, it's far better to give people music that touches their souls deep enough to last a lifetime.

Jagged Edge began recording that special blend of deep soul music with the group's debut single, "The Way That You Talk," in 1997 and inaugural album, A Jagged Era, in 1998. And now, on the fifth Jagged Edge album, the group delivers its most refined and soulful set yet. Like a fine vintage wine, JE's music grows richer and fuller in time, becoming more subtle and complex with each album. "We try and make an album that is totally made up of singles," says Brian with complete candor. "No filler material. Just solid songs that expand upon what we've done before and allow our fans to witness and hear our growth."

Jagged Edge, the group's fifth album, was executive produced by JE's Brian and Brandon Casey. The album features production by Jermaine Dupri, Chad Elliot, Don Vito, Brian and Brandon Casey, as well as contributions from Snoop Dogg, Killer Mike, and John Legend.

Jagged Edge premieres lush studio versions of a set of songs that rank among JE's finest compositions and performances, which they credit to renewed sense of confidence and a willingness to take creative chances. "I'm proud of all of the albums we've done," Brian says," but this time we stepped out on our own and fine tuned things without a lot of outside help, did the majority of the work. I really think that this is one of our best albums."

You can hear that creativity and confidence in the lyrics, which Brian allows are a bit more suggestive than previous efforts. The reason? "During our career we've made positive, meaningful and uplifting songs like 'Lets Get Married' and 'Promise,' and we're very proud of that," says Brian, "but no matter what your forte might be, if you're a true artist you get to a point where you want to step out of your box a little bit. So this time you're hearing a different side of Jagged Edge. We're never going to forsake our classic sound. We're just going to present it in a new way."

Case in point: the explosive first single "Pour a Lil Liquor," which features high octane cameos from Snoop Dogg and Killer Mike. Produced by JE, the song is a bass-blessed tribute to beloved Cali anthems like Tupac's "Still Ball'in" (sampled on "Pour A Lil Liquor"), Snoop's "Gin & Juice," and Dogg Pound's "Big Pimpin."

The motivation? "We realized that we don't put out a lot of party records and we wanted to get back into that vibe again," Brian offers, "as well as show love to the music that influenced usas we were coming up."

A different type of love song--directed not at a culture but at a female--is the frank and sexy "Good Luck Charm." Produced by Chad Elliot and Don Vito, "Good Luck Charm" is an unabashedly emotional ode to that special lady who's often in your bed and always in your corner.

Equally sexy and ever so spicy is "So Amazing," one of two tracks produced by long time collaborator Jermaine Dupri. Another steamy shout-out to that special woman who rocks your world, "So Amazing" is infused with reggaeton's red-hot rhythms and smoothed out with JE's R&B finesse. The result is a song Brian declares is "Super hot and really unique because of the way all of the different elements are combined."

Another collaboration that will please the fans is "Seasons Change," featuring Columbia labelmate John Legend. "Recording that song was beautiful," says Brian. "First to walk into a room with a guy that you respect and then to find out that the feeling is mutual. Right away the project and relationship is uplifted. Plus, every singer does a song these days with a rapper but how many R&B acts get to record with another singer, and one who can deliver as good as we can? It was a great match."

Jagged Edge first exploded onto the urban contemporary music scene in 1998 with the group's debut album A Jagged Era, which established them as the "Kings of Hip-Hop/Soul." Jagged Edge's breakthrough second album, 2000's J.E. Heartbreak, achieved RIAA double-platinum status, driven in part by the singles "He Can't Love U," "Promise," and the smash "Let's Get Married." A year-and-a-half after its release, the album was still on the Billboard 200 album chart. The group's next platinum album, Jagged Little Thrill, featured their raucous hit "Where The Party At" (featuring Nelly) which reached #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Chart and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The next Jagged Edge album, Hard, earned the group its fourth consecutive RIAA gold award certification while the album's first single, "Walked Outta Heaven," become the #1 best-selling single, according to SoundScan, on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart for seven weeks in a row. To date, the best-selling hip-hop/soul group has earned nine gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA.

To support Hard Jagged Edge took their show on the road, thrilling audiences worldwide as part of the sold-out Seagram's, 112 and Ginuwine tours. Once the tour schedule eased up, the group headed back into their Atlanta studio to begin work on their fifth album.

When asked to sum up JE's legacy, Brian offers, "From album and day one we have been a group that gives you consistency. We've never stopped growing. We're always pushing ourselves and we're extremely appreciative of the fans who have stayed by us from the beginning."

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Jagged Edge - Jagged Edge