Inspired by @Bushmanate

Throughout most of my life, I've always heard the term underground float around certain genres. Hip Hop, Rock, Electronic, and Jazz are musical forms that are well known to have underground scenes and at times anti-mainstream. Interestingly, I never thought of an underground scene for R&B. You're seeing it now with the rise of the internet allowing you to carve your own niche. However, I never seen it applied to R&B pre-2010s. Most of us have witnessed the different forms on a commercial level. However never underground on a sense of independent label. Thanks to the internet, we've seen the rise of indie R&B taking place. And with crate diggers bringing history to the digital stage, some scenes/artists forgotten in time are getting discovered (ex. City Pop, Richard Marks, etc). One artist in particular that fits this bill is none other than a man that brings the ivory touch.

Hailing from Stanford, Florida. Steve "Bogie" Ivory has amassed a career of song crafting and producer for over 30 years. There hasn't been much info circulating on his beginnings, but we do know he was on indie labels such as Pallas Records. He also had a minor stint with Loud Records (through DJ Funkmaster Flex). The Ivory himself fortunately is still around and has dropped material sporadically. He most recently goes by the name GreyStorm. Not to be confused with the well renowned black music journalist, Steven Ivory, which might have clouded folks hearing the artist.

I think the closest comparison to S. Ivory that actually had a similar vibe would be Kenny Greene of Intro. A fellow contemporary, both had an apprecation for songcrafting. While G-Luv was more of a songrwiter, Ivory was involved with production aspects as welll. In Addition, Ivory was drenched in the now, current compared to G-Luvs vocal callbacks to older forms of R&B. It is also noted that he is very adept about microphones which might explain why the vocals can blend so easily with the soundscapes. One thing to notice that in each R&B era he's been in (NJS, Hip Hop Soul, Ghetto Fabolous, Snap&B, etc.), Steve always had that particular sound. A sound that you know it's him. I would describe a beach, jeepish R&B sound that he employs. It can be an upbeat Hip Hop influenced banger and then it could be a straight up sunset groove track. His voice is succinct and nimble showcasing his ability to use his voice in cool ways. Certain songs such as "What Position" and "Close 2 You" have this on full display.

The always fresh yet sentimental brother is an artists' artist. A muse that can adapt to the changing landscape but can still retain his identity. If Early 90s - Late 2000s Indie R&B had a sound, then it was definitely Ivory's trademark beach jeep soundscape that defined it. I would not be surprised if there were mainstream R&B artists who were either inspired or influenced by him during that time. A pure artist who could do it all, this man was a force to be reckoned with through and through.

Recommend starting:
The Ivory Touch (1994)

Examples

Production for others

For those that love:
INTRO
Static Major/Playa
Benito Glosson
Sir Charles Jones
Donell Jones
Chuckii Booker
Jon B
Lorenzo Smith
Brian Alexander Morgan

@Oblivion99

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@AudioConsulting @proper @Prosper @mdmadon @Rockman

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You could do a YT channel or be a writer for some magazine with all that heat

Ironically, I'm actually an intern for an online journal site

Hopefully, it leads to something bigger

Yep. Him!!

Yeah you gonna be doing big things soon

Ngl I had a hard time finding his bio. Super hard to research

i’m tight this isn’t on streams!

Always hated how certain songs and remixes don't get put on streaming platforms. A lot of musical history gets lost in transition unfortunately

wait you be writing for other sites? you should share those fam. thanks for this btw, that first demo was the cool lemonade on a scorching day i needed rn

It honestly has that vibe, the fact he was able to keep that while still expanding is impressive. I wish he had some actual backing tho. Dude was so talented.

He produces, song writes, and makes his mvs. Pretty dope artist