They say that "if it ain't broke, then don't fix it." Yet, according to the best-selling R&B groundbreaker Ginuwine, there's a corollary to that time honored adage: namely, just because it ain't broke don't mean you can sit around and rest on your laurels. If you're an artist, you've got to push yourself. Mature. Expand your creative horizons. And make sure your fifth album is at least as memorable and important as your first -- and give it all the show-stopping soul power you've got.
Born in Washington, D.C., Ginuwine fell under the spells of Prince and Michael Jackson as a child. By the time he was 12, the aspiring musician had started performing with a local hip-hop group, the Finesse Five. As time went on, he sang with another D.C. group, Physical Wonder, and even entertained folks as a nimble MJ imitator. In 1996, Ginuwine was discovered by Jodeci and, after traveling to New York City, met Timbaland, a then up-and-coming producer. Together they cut the edgy track "Pony," which lead to a deal with Sony Music.
His debut CD, Ginuwine?The Bachelor hit the streets in late '96 and "Pony" quickly became a #1 R&B and #6 pop chart/radio sensation. The LP would go on to double-platinum status, driven by popular cuts like "Pony," "Tell Me Do U Wanna," "I'll Do Anything/I'm Sorry," "Holler" and "Only When Ur Lonely". With his stylized dancing and creamy vocals, Ginuwine emerged as one of contemporary R&B's biggest rookies and also a major sex symbol. In 1998, he released "Same Ol' G" (from the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack), which resulted in yet another chart hit.
In 1999, Ginuwine proved that lightning sometimes strikes twice with his second double-platinum LP, 100% Ginuwine, which entered the pop charts at #5. The first single "So Anxious," became a massive crossover hit, while "What's So Different?" and "None of Ur Friend's Business" scored on the R&B charts. In 2001, Ginuwine dropped The Life, which, as he'd done previously, entered the charts in the Top 5 and went platinum-plus (to date, all four Ginuwine albums have achieved that prestigious mark). The set's second single, "Differences," triumphed as Ginuwine's biggest pop hit yet, hitting #4 on the Hot 100. The following year, "G" displayed his versatility by making his feature film debut in the 2002 comedy "Juwanna Man." Over the past several years, he's also appeared in other TV and film projects, including "Half & Half" and "Honey." "I love acting! I love doing sitcoms; that's something I really want to do more of," exclaims the multi-faceted R&B superstar. With 2003 came the release of The Senior, which resulted in another R&B chart/radio hit ("In Those Jeans"), another platinum certification and a sold-out Ladies Night Tour (also featuring Brian McKnight, Joe and label mates Jagged Edge).
With ten years in the game, Ginuwine is as hungry as ever, yet grateful for what he's accomplished. "My career has been a blessing," he says. "I know that some folks thought that after 'Pony' I was just a novelty and they wrote me off, but I am living proof that you can do it."
