Zhané

Renée Neufville and Jean Norris aka former R&B/soul duo Zhané initially met in the early 1990s and recorded their first track together for DJ Jazzy Jeff that found itself on the same album as “Summertime”. Zhané’s 1994 jam “Hey Mr. D.J.” was a smooth R&B party-starter that captured the burgeoning sound of neo-soul. The song was recorded for the Philadelphia pair’s debut 1994 album, Pronounced Jah-Nay, and was certified gold by the RIAA for selling 500,000 copies in the US. It peaked at Number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sampled Michael Wycoff's 1982 post-disco gem "Looking Up to You," while also featuring a rap cameo from Rottin’ Razkals member Fam. Zhané’s follow-up and final album Saturday Night dropped in 1997 – co-produced by Naughty by Nature member Kay Gee who the pair had met some years before – alongside Eddie F and the pair themselves. The album spawned the popular single "Request Line”, which was given the remix treatment with different lyrics from rap icon Queen Latifah. Zhané disbanded in 1999 in order to focus on solo projects.