The Weakest Link: Your Favorite Group And Their Dead Weight
Xscape
Year they debuted: 1993
LaTocha, Tameka, Tiny and Khandi came out kicking it; the first singing group under So So Def mastermind Jermaine Dupri. Soon it became clear that the quartet was really a dope singing trio + 1.
Weakest Link: Tiny
Now you know her as a reality TV starlet and T.I’s baby mama but back then Tiny was only known as “the light skin one” in Xscape. Only after the group disbanded did her talents as a producer become known. She and former groupmate Khandi Burruss won a Grammy for writing TLC’s smash hit “No Scrubs” in 1999.
Boys II men
Year they debuted: 1988
One of the best selling male R&B groups of all-time, brought us to the “End of the Road” and topped the charts for a record number 13 weeks defeating Elvis’ record. The group featured amazing vocalists and one…
Michael "Bass" McCray
Weakest Link: Michael “Bass” McCary
… spoken word artist? Michael was better known for his deep baritone voice that either intro’d the track or garnished the bridge in the middle. He was lovingly referred to as “the one with the cane”. He left the group in 1999 due to health issues.
Jodeci
Year they debuted: 1990
Two sets of brothers. Bad boy mentalities. Groupie love. Tattoos. Shagging pants. Drug and alcohol problems. Great songs. K-Ci, JoJo, Devante and…
Weakest Link: Mr. Dalvin
You never heard him talk or sing. Even his brother talked –ish on the records. They did let him take a lead acting role in the “Love You For Life” video.
Wu Tang Clan
Wu-Tang
Year they debuted: 1992
There is way too many of these dudes to name but we can all agree that we know Method Man, Raekwon, RZA, GZA, Old Dirty Bastard, Ghostface…even some of the more obscure ones get respect on a good day but there’s one that has been named as the weakest link for lack of skills.
Weakest Link: U-God
Can you recite any of his rhymes?
702
Year they debuted: 1996
Comprised of two sisters and a real singer, the platinum-selling R&B group has some memorable hits. Honestly, we barely recall any of their names however…
Weakest Link: Irish
Irish is without a doubt the greatest unknown. She was “the one with the long hair”.
3LW
Year they debuted: 1999
Just think a clone of 702. Three girls, only one could sing. You know the drill.
Weakest Link: Kiely
One word: “Spectacular”
B2K
Year they debuted: 2001
Not since New Edition had a black teen boy group drove millions of girls wild. Too bad their reign only lasted four years.
B2K The Rest of Them
Weakest Link: Everyone except Omarion
Lil' Fizz, J-Boog and Raz-B now playing…nowhere.
Pretty Ricky
Year they debuted: 2005
Not since B2K had a black boy group drove millions of girls wild. (Editor’s Note: We still get handwritten letters requesting another story and photo shoot with Spectacular in swim trunks).
Pretty Ricky - The rest of them
Weakest Link: Everyone except Pleasure P
Marcus "Pleasure P" Cooper got it right when he left in 2007 to pursue a solo career. The other guys tried to keep the show going but their ridiculous stage names and simulated sex are a bit WTF.
Young Money
Year they debuted: 2009
Lil Wayne is the star. Nicki Minaj is the bad ass chick. Drake is the ringer. The rest well…
Weakest Link: T-streets
He only has two appearances on the entire Young Money album.
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
1st Line Up Year they debuted: 1997
When they first debuted there were high hopes that this girl group would have what it takes to last. Then Beyoncé stood out as the lead singer. We wouldn’t know how talented the other girls were until after the group changed line-ups.
Weakest Link: Latavia
Of the original line-up, Kelly and Letoya Luckett have gone on to release solo albums with some success. Leaving us to wonder what Latavia “the short one” is up to.
New Edition
Year they debuted: 1978
These fellas had classics. The biggest teen black boy group since the Jackson 5. Bobby Brown left to go solo but his leads were classic. Ricky, Ralph and Mike all go their shine leaving…
Weakest Link: Ronnie
Poor Ronnie wouldn’t show his “range” until he got to BBD but we still don’t know what that range included.
En Vogue
En Vogue
Year they debuted: 1989
Simply put: They're Dope.
Weakest Link: There wasn’t one but Max was a close second but only because the other ladies were so beautiful.
SWV
Year they debuted: 1990
This trio captured the 90’s. Sisters With Voices has, hands down, one of the best love ballads in R&B (“Weak”). Coco was the lead and rocked the crazy long nails. Taj sang a little bit but…
Weakest Link: LeLe
We don’t know what LeLe did. Do you?
Total
Year they debuted: 1994
Bad Boy’s bad girls were clad in leather at all times and mean mugging while trying to seduce you. Weird combo. Keisha was the lead. Pam was the strong arm and …
Weakest Link: Kima
She was known as “the skinny one”.
112
Year they debuted:1995
Another Bad Boy signee, named after a famed nightclub in ATL, the quartet of Slim, Daron, Mike and Q burst onto the scene with “Only You” and soon the high falsetto of Slim became their signature sound.
Weakest Link: Q Parker
He might have been a looker but sadly we never heard his voice.
Dru Hill
Year they debuted: 1992
They literally jumped onto the scene. Go look at their video for their first single “Tell Me” and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Sisqó stole the show with his platinum blonde air and belly ring. Jazz was the second lead, hitting the high notes. Nokio, we gave him a pass cause he produced a lot of the tracks.
Weakest Link: Woody
The man quit the group not once, but twice. Both times they replaced him without much fanfare.
Danity Kane
Year they debuted: 2005
So what, they are the failed project of Diddy and the MTV “Making the Band” franchise. They did have a platinum debut album, which is more than most people can say. When the –ish hit the fan on the TV series everyone had something to say with the exception of …
Weakest Link: Shannon
We’ll refer to her as “the non-trashy blonde one”.
Day 26
Year they debuted: 2007
The brother band to Danity Kane they were doomed from the start. There was the lying and cheating, fights, etc. At the end of most of the groups problems…
Weakest Link: Que
If you want to know why things fell apart Youtube Que. His explanation and leaked nude pics are legendary.
The Fugees
Year they debuted: 1994
Lauryn was the lone sister with crazy skills both as an MC and singer. Wyclef was the wild one whose passion outweighed his vocal talent. Then there’s…
Weakest Link: Pras
We’ll give him credit for his single smash “Ghetto Superstar”. So happy that moment came and went.
G Unit
G-Unit
Year they debuted: 2002
The four-man army stepped on necks with their war tactics but one was clearly lagging behind.
Weakest Link: Tony Yayo
Thanks to his release from prison we were introduced to the hand shaking of Tony Yayo. Thank you 50, thank you. SMH.
The Firm
The Firm
Year they debuted: 1996
They were supposed to be the great mega rap group featuring Nas, AZ, Foxy partnered with Dr. Dre’s production.
Weakest Link: Nature
He was good but they were all better.
THREE 6 MAFIA
Three 6 Mafia
Year they debuted: 1991
The Oscar winning rap group had lots of members come and go but just when we thought they got it settled with three…
Weakest Link: Crunchy Black
Juicy J and DJ Paul kicked Crunchy Black to the curb. Guess they were tired of paying dead weight.
Black Eyed Peas
Black Eyed Peas
Year they debuted: 1995
World superstars. Millions of albums sold. Still we only know will.i.am and Fergie by name.
Alp.de.ap
Weakest Link: Alp.de.ap
It came down to rock, paper, scissors and Taboo won so…Alp.de.ap aka “the one with the Mohawk” gets the title.
Onyx
Year they debuted: 1988
There were four members in the group. Sticky Fingers and Fredro Star became actors. The other two…not so much.
Weakest Link: Sonsee
We bet you didn’t even know his name.
Dipset
Year they debuted: 2002
Harlem World’s finest. Cam’ron, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana carved out a niche for themselves. Don’t have to love 'em but you will respect 'em.
Freaky Zeeky
Weakest Link: Freaky Zeeky
Best thing about him is his skits.
