Mentally Gifted Men (MGM) - Why You Wanna Play Me 12" J Ci Swing Club Remix (New Jack Swing)

Mentally Gifted Men (MGM) - Why You Wanna Play Me 12" J Ci Swing Club Remix (New Jack Swing) produced by R. Kelly 1990. Mentally Gifted Men are: Robert Kelly, Marc McWilliams, Vince Corey Walker & Shawneth Brooks. Here is a link to Marc McWilliams website: http://www.luckyentertainment.biz/
MGM's Bio
MGM (Mentally Gifted Men) wasn't founded unlike many of the industry's most popular
male groups. Most expectedly, it originated while the members were in high school and
developing their dreams of success in the music industry. It all began when the group's
spearhead, McWilliams, was shopping R. Kelly around for a record deal, but with little
success. For various reasons, Kelly's appeal was not picking up with anyone, and it
became clear to both he and McWilliams that to find success, an alternate route would
have to be taken.

McWilliams and Kelly tossed around the idea of forming a group after several of their
friends suggested the idea, but the birth of MGM wasn't immediate. While the duo
continued their pursuit of a deal for Kelly, they also worked as background singers in
several of the Chicago studios to support themselves financially during what McWilliams
refers to as the "interim phase" of their careers. One night, while in the studio for a
background session, McWilliams and Kelly spontaneously teamed up with two other
Chicago singers, Vince Walker and Shawneth Brooks, for an impromptu group
performance. At this moment, as onlookers in the studio witnessed a magical chemistry
between these four talents, R. Kelly & MGM was born as the newest soon-to-be "it
group".

That week, the four members began intensive rehearsals, practicing for 10 to 12 hours
at a time, five days a week... at the very least. When they finally had their act perfected,
they entered the weekly talent show at the Regal theater. When their debut performance
date arrived, so did a major obstacle. Walker and Brooks, who had traveled upstate to
visit friends, had car troubles on their journey back to Chicago on the night of the show,
leaving McWilliams and Kelly to present themselves to the audience without their two
comrades. Despite their prediction that the show would be a disaster, they tore down
the house and won 2nd place. A week later, the group returned to the Regal stage
(Walker and Brooks intact) and took first place in the show. Chicago was now crazy for
the boys of R. Kelly & MGM.

As they continued to pursue their dreams of success, big players in the industry began
to pursue the group. After receiving a videotape of a backyard performance of MGM,
David Hyatt flew the group to New York, where they were signed to Tav Dash records.
Shortly after, they were featured in a string of opening act performances, serving as the
concert appetizers for such artists as Heavy D and the Boys. It wasn't long until the
group received a call from Natalie Cole's nationally televised talent show "Big Break",
requesting that they enter as contestants on the program. Without hesitation, they did...
and won the $100,000 grand prize, as well as a slew of industry attention. Immediately,
the group was flooded with calls from record labels across the nation, including Quincy
Jones' label and Jive Records. Several companies fought for the boys, but it was Jive
who won in the end. Tav Dash sold the group to Jive for $300,000, even though Qunicy
Jones had put in a higher bid. Perhaps that was foreshadowing for what was about to
occur...

Tensions quickly rose between Kelly and his band-mates, as debates over the group's
earning distribution came to the surface. Combined with unresolved personal matters,
the group's once-perfected chemistry was deteriorating before their eyes. Not wanting
to deal with the "drama" within the group, Jive decided to "shelf" McWilliams, Walker,
and Brooks, replacing them with three others who would later come to be known as
"Public Announcement". Kelly remained the front-man and prized possession of the
label, as his former group members were stuck in a contract with Jive, but without any
opportunity to perform. Upon the release of R. Kelly & Public Announcement's "Born into
the 90s" album, the MGM component was finally released from their contractual
obligations with Jive Records.

Though McWilliams, Walker, and Brooks had been offered several other deals and
opportunities after splitting from Jive, they decided to refuse them all, exhausted from
the stress of the group. Instead, they went their separate ways, pursuing their individual
goals and leaving MGM as an artifact of their past. Despite the group's early demise,
McWilliams, Walker, and Brooks still remain great friends to this day and continue to
collaborate on creative projects together... an MGM reunion? Guess you'll just have to
wait and find out...

http://www.marcusdarc.com/

Category:

Music

Tags:

• MGM
• Why
• You
• Wanna
• Play
• Me

[musidavid]

R.Kelly came in first place on that show

[rkellymgm]

OK, I only got that information from Marc McWilliams website.

[JCiSwing2]

Thanks love it.

[rkellymgm]

Thanks

[TheShoshizzle]

Cool... I doubt I would find this elsewhere so thanks for uploading. This might be my favorite. Nothing and no one compares to R. Kelly when it comes to music.

[bugstrut]

Worst name for a group ever!!

[FireeGee]

We Need Dis R. Kelly Back....It would be tha best thang for R&B Today....

[devaunrashard]

woooow! straight back in the day CHI-TOWN!

[rkellymgm]

I added the James Brown DJ samples.

[aivrsn75phila]

LOL this is nice...your FAVORITE song from R. in his whole career?? wow...