The group, originally comprised of then adolescent; Aqil Davidson, Brandon Mitchell, Markell Riley, and Keith "K.C." Hanns, was formed around 1988 as Wrecks-n-Effect. Their first release, an eponymous EP of six tracks for Atlantic Records, included the singles "Go For What You Know", "Let's Do It Again" (which sampled The Staple Singers hit song), and a self-titled track sampling Jimmy Castor's "Bertha Butt Boogie". They received little promotion from Atlantic however, and, with the help of one-time manager and alleged gangster Gene Griffin, jumped ship for Motown Records. When they released their self-titled debut album the following year, "K.C." had left and the group had become a trio. Wrecks-n-Effect was produced by producer/songwriter Teddy Riley (brother of Markell Riley), and rapper/producer Redhead Kingpin; reached #16 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #103 on The Billboard Top 200 chart, while its singles "Juicy" and "New Jack Swing" met a similar fate with the exception of "New Jack Swing" becoming a #1 single on the Billboard Rap chart. Tragically, Mitchell was killed in a shooting incident shortly after its release in 1990.
The group, now a duo of Aqil Davison and Markell Riley, changed the spelling of their name from Wrecks-n-Effect to Wreckx-n-Effect (the "X" symbolizing the loss of Mitchell) and followed up their first self titled album with 1992's Hard Or Smooth on MCA Records. Hard Or Smooth fared far better than their debut, selling just under 2 million copies and reaching #9 on the Billboard Top 200 and #6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
The album also produced the multi-platinum, #2 hit single "Rump Shaker", kept at bay on the charts only by Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", from her best-selling The Bodyguard Soundtrack. The accompanying video received substantial criticism for its "exploitation" of women in bikinis, despite its setting of a fun day at the beach, the New York Daily News referring to Wreckx as "Horny Little Rap Kids". "Rump Shaker" is also notable for featuring a verse (performed by Teddy Riley) written by a young Pharrell Williams, who, along with fellow future-Neptune Chad Hugo, contributed additional production work as Teddy Riley's then-protรฉgรฉs.
Wreckx-n-Effect had by this point seemingly reached the peak of their career as a group. Their long-delayed third album, 1996's Rap's New Generation, was not well-received or supported by their label MCA, who had grown weary of internal differences between the Riley brothers and Davidson. Not long afterwards the group disbanded.
In 2003 Aqil Davidson launched the indie label Control Records, and continues to perform under the name EmperA.
In October 2004, "New Jack Swing" appeared in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on the in-game New Jack Swing radio station, CSR 103.9.
New Jack Swing
Wreckx-N-Effect Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In full effect!
(Burn it up!)
[Verse 1]
It's the New Jack Swing
Was it something wrong that she can clean?
All you gotta do is c'mon and sing
And if you feel the swing in your body
When you step in cool inside a party
Watching all the girls just bumping like hotties
They have humps that's better than Ferrari's
So I gotta try these
Dancing with a girl on my lap
I was chancing, hoping she was the type for romancing
But my rap needed a little enhancing
Because this girl needed some answering
Nothing I said, I started to complain and turning red
Then I told her just to be about Ted
She gave a wink
But can't believe a thing about the New Jack Swing
Chorus:
[singers in background]
Can't believe a thing about the New Jack Swing
[Verse 2]
1-2-3 I named it New Jack Swing
Yes, T.R., is my name
Making you girls, do my thing
It's the way, I entertain, baby
I'm on the beat you like
Yes, that's right, it's outta sight
All the bumps are very high
Yes, T.R. is grooving it right
I got Keith Sweat, Heavy D.
To-day, Mo Dee
B. Sure, and my man Bobby Brown
I got Cinnamon, Redhead
Boy George, James
Deejay, and my hooome-booooys Guy
[Chorus - singers sing in background and Teddy "yep-yep"-ing ]
Can't believe a thing about the New Jack Swing
(burn it up!)
[Verse 3]
Back to the matter, The New Jack Swing
It's the sound that can flatter
Even if the sound around town doesn't give a
Same type of feeling that this one delivers
So your body shivers
So bad, so dope big metal thing you wish you had
Bumping your feeling from glad to sad
But your not getting offensive
Just chill and get whipped by the New Jack Swing
Chorus:
[singers in background]
Can't believe a thing about the New Jack Swing
The lyrics to Wreckx-N-Effect's song New Jack Swing describe the new music style that has just hit the town. The song claims to be introducing a new trend of music, the New Jack Swing, and invites people to join in and embrace it. The lyrics speak to how people can't resist the beat when they hear it, especially at parties where the girls are dancing and bumping along to the sound. The song also details one of the band member's failed attempts at romancing a girl while dancing to the New Jack Swing. He admits that his rap needed some enhancing, and the girl wasn't convinced by his charm. However, he suggests that people should just chill and enjoy the sound of the New Jack Swing, even if it's not for everyone.
The song also name-drops some artists who were popular at the time and were associated with the New Jack Swing, such as Keith Sweat, Heavy D, B. Sure, Bobby Brown, and Guy. These artists played a significant role in the development of the New Jack Swing genre of music. The song also emphasizes the quality of the basslines in the New Jack Swing and states that it can make people's bodies shiver with pleasure.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo Wreckx-N-Effect
Hey there, it's Wreckx-N-Effect
In full effect!
We're here and ready to go!
(Burn it up!)
Let's heat things up with this music!
It's the New Jack Swing
This is a new type of music style called New Jack Swing
Was it something wrong that she can clean?
Is there anything I can fix to make this girl like me?
All you gotta do is c'mon and sing
Just join in and sing along with me
Word for word, all the lyrics that I bring
I'm bringing all the lyrics and you can sing along with each one
And if you feel the swing in your body
If you can feel the beat and rhythm of the music
When you step in cool inside a party
When you enter a party looking and feeling cool
Watching all the girls just bumping like hotties
Observing all the attractive girls dancing and moving to the music
They have humps that's better than Ferrari's
They have curves that are more attractive than a Ferrari
So I gotta try these
I have to try and dance with one of these girls
Dancing with a girl on my lap
Dancing with a girl seated on my lap
I was chancing, hoping she was the type for romancing
I was taking a risk, hoping she was interested in a romantic connection
But my rap needed a little enhancing
But my words and delivery needed some improvement
Because this girl needed some answering
Because she had some questions that needed answering
Nothing I said, I started to complain and turning red
I couldn't say the right things and started getting upset
Then I told her just to be about Ted
Then I changed the subject and told her to focus on something else
She gave a wink
She responded with a flirtatious gesture
But can't believe a thing about the New Jack Swing
But didn't understand or believe in the music style
[Chorus]
The background singers repeat the phrase 'Can't believe a thing about the New Jack Swing'
1-2-3 I named it New Jack Swing
I came up with the name for this new music style, New Jack Swing
Yes, T.R., is my name
My name is T.R.
Making you girls, do my thing
I know how to get the ladies to move and dance
It's the way, I entertain, baby
My way of entertaining and keeping the party going
I'm on the beat you like
I'm on the beat that you love and enjoy
Yes, that's right, it's outta sight
That's right, it's amazing and incredible
All the bumps are very high
All the beats and rhythms are energetic and exciting
Yes, T.R. is grooving it right
I'm doing the right moves and dancing with the beat
I got Keith Sweat, Heavy D.
I have famous artists like Keith Sweat and Heavy D. on my side
To-day, Mo Dee
And today, Mo Dee is here too
B. Sure, and my man Bobby Brown
Also, B. Sure and my friend Bobby Brown are part of this
I got Cinnamon, Redhead
I have female vocalists named Cinnamon and Redhead
Boy George, James
Even Boy George and James are joining in on this music style
Deejay, and my hooome-booooys Guy
And we have famous DJs and other close friends named Guy
[Chorus]
The background singers repeat the phrase 'Can't believe a thing about the New Jack Swing'
Back to the matter, The New Jack Swing
Let's get back to discussing the music style, New Jack Swing
It's the sound that can flatter
It is a sound that can make you feel good about yourself
Even if the sound around town doesn't give a
Even if the other music around town isn't as good
Same type of feeling that this one delivers
The same kind of feeling that this New Jack Swing music delivers
So your body shivers
It makes your body move and shake with excitement
So bad, so dope big metal thing you wish you had
It's so good that it's like having a nice car that you desire
Bumping your feeling from glad to sad
It can change your feelings from happy to sad, and back again
But your not getting offensive
But don't take it in a negative way
Just chill and get whipped by the New Jack Swing
Just relax and enjoy the New Jack Swing music
[Chorus]
The background singers repeat the phrase 'Can't believe a thing about the New Jack Swing'
Contributed by Xavier A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Real Life
FROM DANCING AT PARTIES EVERYWHERE TO PLAYING BALL ALL OVER HARLEM,,,,BEST SHAPE OF MY LIFE!!!!!
SHOUT TO ALL THE PARKS IN HARLEM,,,
RUCKER PARK
ST. NICK PARK
BATTLE GROUNDS
KINGDOME
BRADHURST PARK!!!!
ALL THE CLUBS
MARS 2112
ROSELAND
ROOFTOP
SKATE KEY ON ALLERTON AVE.
HARLEM WORLD
ROXY
LATIN QUARTER
BENTLEYS
AMAZING TIMES!!!
Chelle Williams
Fun Fact: That's Teddy Riley's BM next to him in the red. Mother of his successful daughters Deja, Taja, and Bobbi๐ค
michelle daytz
I โค๏ธ Love this Still. I am 60 yrs old. I worked in tge Entertainment industry.
To me we all look the same.... ๐ enjoy
Kirby Douglass Carter ( He / Him )
does anyone listening to this with headphones not hear the audio in the left ear-bud for the first few seconds of the video (before the song talks and theryre talking)
I dont think its because of the headphone or device im using, ive listened to this on my laptop and on my smart-phone with different headphones and its still there
Dio Mysterio
Teddy Rileyโs verse was one of the craziest flexโs in music historyโฆhe didnโt have to go that hard lol
King Sports
On God strength he didn't ๐คฃ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฏ he murder them rappers who wrote it tho
Jeffrey Smith
He also worked with Big Daddy Kane & Jane Child during that period. Teddy is man!!!!
The Intelligent Brother Mr G
Big facts
ahmad moore
T'was a mere reminder for all to respect the brand LOL!!!
Yvette Adams
Nawww fr!
Oppo Pina
U never gain weight in this era. The dancing alone was more than standing around. Your whole body moved.