Week 1: Music Group Xscape

Xscape is a female American R&B quartet that had a string of hit songs during the early and mid 1990s. The original lineup of the group consisted of sisters LaTocha Scott ("Meatball") (born October 2, 1973) and Tamika Scott ("Juicy") (born November 19, 1975), along with Kandi Burruss (born May 17, 1976) and Tameka Cottle ("Tiny") (born July 14,1975).

The quartet was discovered by Jermaine Dupri while singing at an annual Martin Luther King Jr. festival in Atlanta. Dupri immediately signed the group to his up and coming So So Def label. He debuted the quartet at his birthday party in 1991. The group released their debut album, Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha, on October 12, 1993. The first single, "Just Kickin' It", reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The singles, "Tonight", "Understanding", and '"Love on My Mind'" were also released.

In July 1995, Xscape released their second album, Off the Hook , which featured the song "Who Can I Run To" (a cover of the song originally recorded by the Jones Girls) and also reached #1 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs singles chart. Three other singles, "Feels So Good," "Can't Hang," and "Do You Want To," were released from the album. . During those three years, the group occasionally appeared on soundtracks and made cameos on MC Lyte's Keep On Keepin' On, which appeared the Sunset Park soundtrack and Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby (Mr. Dupri Mix)" .

On May 12, 1998, Xscape released its third album, Traces of My Lipstick, and released the singles, "The Arms of the One Who Loves You," "My Little Secret," "Am I Dreamin'," and "Softest Place on Earth." After the release of this album, the group began to part ways.

After a five-year hiatus, sisters LaTocha and Tamika Scott reunited with Tameka "Tiny" Cottle. They replaced lead singer Kandi Burruss with Kiesha Miles to sing background to record a fourth album, Unchained, that was never released. However they did release one single, "What's Up" . It was once rumored that singer Tamar Braxton would join Xscape as a 5th member but nothing else has been heard of

that.

 

(Understanding)

What I need from you is understanding,
How can we communicate,
If you don't hear what I say.
What I need from you is understanding,
So simple as 1-2-3,
Understanding is what we need.

[Verse One (Tiny):]
You don't really know me,
You just wanna do what you wanna do.
That's not the way it should be,
No, you should listen to me boy.
I try so very hard to make you understand,
But the choices you make, baby they're all demands.

[Break:]
[Kandi]
I try so very hard to keep our love alive,
But you don't wanna meet me half way,
Then the understanding dies.
[Tamika]
There's no way that we can work it out,
If we don't pull together.
I don't mean to be demanding,
But I want some understanding,
I want to be with you.

[Repeat Chorus]

[Verse Two (LaTocha):]
I listen to you baby,
And I know the things you're going through.
I try to understand,
That's why I'm still here with you, baby.
See everyday we're living,
Is one thing that will always be unsure.
That's why I need you baby, pleading baby,
Please let our love endure.

[Repeat Break & Chorus (x2)]

[Repeat Chorus to fade]