From 1983 to 1995, if it was unapologetically black and cool, Harrell had a hand in it. He oversaw the explosion of Teddy Riley’s new jack swing sound (personified on Guy’s eponymous 1988 debut), a swaggering, sexy amalgamation of soul and gospel that would attract the attention of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, a few years later.

Harrell signed a fun-loving rap crew from #MountVernon, New York, billed as Heavy D & The Boyz, who were led by a charismatic, rotund emcee respected by both hard-core heads and parents who viewed hip-hop as too profane.

More platinum hits came with R&B heartthrob Al B. Sure!He recruited an around-the-way girl from #Yonkers, New York, named Mary J. Blige, who arguably became the seminal female vocalist of her time.

Between Harrell, the queen of hip-hop soul and a young Uptown intern-turned-starmaker named Sean “Puffy” Combs, they merged two stylistically clashing genres and made R&B cool again….

Via: Editor Brian Harrod’s Yonkers Newwire Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/YonkersNewswire/permalink/2658237061100522/