What is a coed group? Self-explanatory: a vocal group that includes both male and female singers. It's not surprising to see mixed gender groups in an international setting. Specifically, in the pop realm where acts such as Ace Of Base and S Club 7 garnered success in Europe. One could argue that the international music scene deems those acts as flash-in-the-pan due to being corporatized (Ex. K-Pop)

Yet, it's rare to see a mixed gender vocal group in R&B. Sure, you have the duos, quartets, and bands. But they're either mostly dominated by one gender, or the sole female singer surrounded by said ensemble. Very rarely, you have a R&B group consisting of two boys and two girls. Let alone feel like a gimmick, and that's where this group shines and thrives.

Repping from ATL, Georgia. Co-Ed consisted of Jeffrey Bowden, Jeffrey Coleman, Kanika Gresham, and Bianca Spear. In Late 1999, the group made a 3-song demo that was picked up by Rubicon Entertainment Group executive: BJ Kerr. The pairing shopped their songs to major record labels to no fanfare. In response, Rubicon decided to release the ballad single "Roll With Me" independently. ATL loved the hell out of this song and by the Summer of 2000, it spread like wildfire in the third coast: selling 30,000 units total. This led to Co-Ed signing with Universal Records....a death sentence for HipHop/R&B acts. Co-Ed released their first and last album, Utopia(2001). Nothing was heard from them since

Not only were they a novelty, but Co-Ed's chemistry was off the chain. The group truly commits to their Utopia philosophy. In which everyone, regardless of their tone or style comes together in harmony and melodies. This is especially true in songs such as "Sumthin On U", "1st Time", and "Where U Are". Everyone has their chance to shine and it doesn't derail the songs momentum. Their vocals are pristine and cool often mirroring singers after them such as Ciara and Lloyd.

Plus, these guys are ATLien as hell In "Roll With Me", one of the singers says:
- "I want to take you to Parisan
Buy you all the things you want "

              - Co-Ed (2000-2001)

In the Late 90s - Y2K era, Parisan was considered a bougie store So, you know it was expensive. In Addition, I find it refreshing how hard they repped their city. Sure, you had R&B artists such Usher and Monica show love to their hometown, but they started showcasing their roots by the time the Crunk era rose to mainstream, national prominence in the mid 2000s. These guys shouting out Piedmont Park, Intermezzo, Decatur, Lennox Mall is as homegrown as one gets.

Soundscape wise, it is rather Utopic. Sometimes, it has shades of that early Y2K R&B but I often hear traces of trunk rattling Crunk (Ghetto Dreams, Roll With Me), Japanese R&B (Sumthin On U), and 80s Jazz Fusion (Where U Are). All together it's combined to create a hi-tech glossy yet upbeat sound: Ghetto Royalty. Joking, but I often find songs like "Been Around Town" and "1st Time" to not be out of place in the Late 2000s. Even Three 6 Mafia sampled these guys on their 2005 song "Pussy Got Ya Hooked".

In my opinion, these guys were "the bridge". For an album dropped in 2001, it mostly sounded like they came out in the 2005-2009 period. The way they approached their music sounded eerily similar to what Ciara, Lloyd, Pretty Ricky, and other Southern R&B artists would delve into. It's sad how record labels really dropped the ball on these guys. They could dance and sing yet no one knew what to do with them. Co-Ed could have done the independent route as the South, especially ATL f***ed with them hard, but we'll never know how their success could've panned out.

Much love to all ya'll! We back with another and more content will be on the way!

Examples:

Similar Artists
Ciara
Cherish
Bobby Valentino
Lloyd
Pretty Ricky
Oobie
Trey Songz
Nivea
Cupid
Keyshia Cole

Recommended
UTOPIA(2000)
youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_krligBaN4fK6rV_LsuBH70PjqEKxybmgU&si=d0qsoJ69iYetE6Nb

@xxxkiraxxx @Oblivion99 @BIGGWAVE @Sir_Swagalot @Ultimate_Warrior @CliCity @Jbreezyondeck @HavenPB @degenwokemoralist @Brave @knova @2words @Mac_Wit_Da_Cheese @tomonthekeys @Water_Giver @Vox

@AudioConsulting @proper @Prosper @mdmadon @Rockman

@xingu @Slingshot @slime_wrld @t3st1ng @lonny860 @BM_ @Impossible @SignedTwice @user_offlineforeve @ShinNohara @LastCall

@HALLEBERRY

@Sk8brdKee

@GREEDISGOOD @Lord_Quas @SwilloLoubeaux @JR @JaeRell

@Heatwaves @carbonfiber @Hefstan

@Plight2 @spongebob @Experiment626

@Warren_Peace @Embezzle

@Throkaaa @Zoobooks @MikesVeryOwn @Cole2

@browser @Mastiff @Valentine @RVI

@TUNDRAIV @AvenueJones @Beach_kneega

@lightmagic @gnarlynasty @Ikki14 @Notmyfirst @NoFace @KIR @Adam

@Flaphead @Slapfiendd @BernieX @Mitchell

@twinkletoez @KILLACAM300 @9thWonderful

@Elemental @offline @DownTheDrainPapi @Thread @NoGoodNamesLeft @atthepyramids @sentient_sherm_bag @aauraa @Ron_James @Prince @Bushmanate @nightingalexo @SOLARIS

@lgbtq_God @rhinocerosbeetle

@mozumozu @Mac45 @heatwaves @hotpancakes @carbonfiber @johnmilton @ryuH

@Snowboy @Jim_Halpert_ @Malakas @GreedyFatApe @provider

proto crunk and b

That's right

they dont even know i got the early exclusive for this thread a couple days ago in the discord dms

Bout to start a Patreon rn

Will check out

Smooth af

Great thread as usual

So good

And you know I had to supply ya'll

Did Timbaland/JT just riff off of Roll With Me for Cry Me River?

The other videos have been made unavailable

What a lovely write up! Eager to check utopia out

Good job OP

Thank you so much for tuning in!

And I love your name too

I see where you're coming from doubt it but I was thinking Cry Me A River sounded more Been Around Town in terms of vocal arrangement imo.

I gotta add you to the tag list now too

@XantaClaus @cotton_dockers @mentalcase402 @localblaccmane @Vlonely

@chloehotline @surf @hejustlikemefr

In

The videos are working for you guys?