Diddy is entangled in a mountain of legal woes. The former head of Revolt TV has been accused of sex trafficking, sexual assault, abuse, and more. Since the allegations surfaced many industry insiders have attempted to create distance from him as not to be found guilty (in the public’s eyes) by association.
Yesterday (November 11), Sting did just that when asked about the controversy surrounding Diddy. During an interview with LA Times, Sting shut down the idea that The Police’s hit “Every Breath You Take” has been soiled as a result of Diddy.
“No,” he said. “I mean, I don’t know what went on [with Diddy]. But it doesn’t taint the song at all for me. It’s still my song.”
The interview argued with Sting’s response, saying: “And people still love to hear it.”
“Absolutely,” chimed Sting.
Given that The Police’s “Every Breathe You Take” was already a chart-topping global smash back in 1983 and has maintained critically praise over the decades, Sting seems to have a point in many supporters eyes.
The iconic R&B group 112 went from the heart of Atlanta to the top of the R&B charts. After their debut in 1996, it didn’t take long for the group to gain acclaim and popularity. Since then, 112 has left an indelible mark on the music scene. Although their widespread popularity has since waned, while they were under the spotlight, they worked with the likes of The Notorious B.I.G. and Monica, among others.
Over the years, the group navigated through changes in lineup and the evolving landscape of R&B. However, they did so while continuing to captivate audiences with timeless hits like “Cupid,” “It’s Over Now,” and “Peaches & Cream.” It’s been almost three decades since their debut, and some fans have not heard about them in a while. Here’s what the members of 112, the flashy R&B group, have been up to since.
112 was formed in 1991, and the group was originally named “Forte,” comprising five members. Daron Jones, Michael “Mike” Keith, Reginald Finley, Aldon Lagon, and Marvin “Slim” Scandrick were the original members in 1991. Following their audition for Sean “Diddy” Combs in 1993, Quinnes “Q” Parker joined the lineup, and they were signed to Bad Boy Records. However, Finley and Lagon were unfortunately dropped from the group. As a result, the group became a quartet, and adopted the name of the club where they auditioned for Combs, “112.”
Subsequently, they went on to have a notably successful career, making waves in the R&B scene. They even won a Grammy Award in 1997, and received another nomination for the 2002 ceremony. In February 2002 however,112 left Bad Boy Records, and the group signed with Def Jam. Under their Def Soul imprint, the group released Hot & Wet (2003), and Pleasure & Pain (2005). Afterwards, in 2007, 112 launched their label, One Twelve Music Group, but they went on hiatus soon after. Although they reunited and released another album, Q Mike Slim Daron, in 2018, Q and Daron soon left the group. While there are just two members left in 112 now, they are still functioning as a group. On September 4, 2020, they released a 9-track project titled Forever.
Marvin “Slim” Scandrick
VANCOUVER, BC – AUGUST 28: Singers Marvin ‘Slim’ Scandrick of 112 performs on stage at PNE Amphitheatre on August 28, 2018 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images)
With his impressive high tenor voice, Slim has been the lead singer of 112 since he joined. However, soon after their hiatus in 2007, Slim released his solo debut album Love’s Crazy (2008). The album’s lead single “So Fly” appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 49. It remains Slim’s only solo song to appear on the chart. In 2016, he followed his debut album up with a second project titled Re-Fueled, which unfortunately did not chart. As aforementioned, he reunited with the other members of 112 in 2018 and released an album with them. Now, he is one of the group’s two last remaining members.
Michael Keith of the group “112” attends the 112 20 year celebration at Aroma Lounge on March 15, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Another founding member of 112, Mike has been present since the group was known as Forte back in 1991. Like Slim, Mike went solo following the group’s hiatus. Unlike Slim, however, Mike left because he believed a former member of the group had been stealing his money. Subsequently, in 2008, he released his solo debut album Michael Keith, but only as a digital download through iTunes and Amazon. After some time had passed, he returned and reconciled with the rest of the group in 2010. Alongside Slim, he is now the last remaining member of 112, as Q and Daron seem to have left the group for good.
Quinnes “Q” Parker
ATLANTA – NOVEMBER 22: Singer Q. Parker, co-star from “A Mother’s Love” poses for red carpet photos for “A Mother’s Love” stage play at the Rialto Center For The Arts in Atlanta, Georgia on NOVEMBER 22, 2013. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
Before finally leaving 112 in 2018, Q had already ventured into acting, appearing in the 2015 film My First Miracle. Since then, he has starred in a handful of other movies, including Cheating in the Next Room (2021) and Christmas Ringer (2023). As he seems to be getting more into his acting bag, we may see more of him on-screen in the coming years. Surprisingly, in September 2023, following the death of singer Irish Grinstead, Q openly called out to Mike and Slim for a reunion. It remains to be seen if the two current members of 112 will pay him any heed.
Daron Jones
Daron Jones of the Group “112” attends the 112 20 Year Celebration at Aroma Lounge on March 15, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Daron Jones has the most extensive solo discography of all four 112 members. Since 2015, he has released several singles and projects. These include Christmas in Atlanta (2015), The Unofficial Diary Of Daron Jones, Vol. 2 (2017), and Human (2019), among others. Besides his music, the singer has kept a low profile over the years. Like Q, he left 112 seemingly for good in 2018, and has since focused on his solo career.
R&B singer of popular singing group 702, Irish Grinstead, has died at the age of 43 years old. The news of the singer’s death has brought a call for reconciliation amid this tragic loss. Gone Too Soon: Irish Grinstead Irish Grinstead, a prominent figure in the 90s music scene as a member of R&B group […]
On this day in Hip-Hop history, Notorious B.I.G. released his second album, Life After Death. The double LP was released posthumously by Bad Boy Records. Biggie, who was killed two weeks prior to its release, was nominated for three Grammy’s for this project: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for “Hypnotize” and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Mo Money Mo Problems.”
Featuring artists like 112, Jay-Z, Lil’ Kim, Ma$e, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort and R. Kelly, along with tracks like “Kick In The Door,” “What’s Beef,” “Notorious Thugs,” “Ten Crack Commandments” and “Sky’s The Limit,” it can be said that Life After Death is one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the US Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. It went diamond (that’s 10,000,000 copies sold) in the United States alone, double platinum in Canada, and platinum in the UK. Life After Death has also made appearances on top music charts across the globe. The album has been ranked by countless publications as one of the top rap and Hip-Hop albums of all time (The Source ranked it as #8 in 2005).
Salute to Diddy and the rest of the Bad Bot family for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!
Our React Like You Know series is a hit. In the last episode, we quizzed today’s generation of rappers on the hip-hop cult classic track “Get Money” by Junior Mafia featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Lil Kim. Now, we’re testing a range of Gen-Z recording artists on their knowledge of ’90s R&B, starting with 112’s 1997 song, “Cupid.”
Up to put their musical wits to the test are 2Rare, TiaCorine, Lil Zay Osama, TraTwoThree, Kalan.FrFr, Nascar Aloe, Raiche, Kyle Banks, Bolsen, Pheelz, and more. While many had a laugh about the video’s dated look, comparing it to a 90s Black Harry Potter film, they unanimously agree that the platinum plaque hold record is undeniably smooth.
Rapper 2Rare’s look for the song went a step further as he sampled the song on his breakout single, “Q-Pid” featuring Lil Durk. You can watch his performance of the record as part of our UPROXX Sessionshere.
When asked about what about the song made him want to sample it, 2Rare replied, “I’ve been wanted to sample it. I’ve always loved the song. So, when I heard the sample [from DJ Smalls 732], I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s the one,’” he added. “It’s a great song. It’s one of those ones. It makes you feel good.”
You can watch our panel react to the “Get Money” video above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Drake paid homage to Fabolous for his influence and impact on his career.
Fabolous is a rapper’s rapper in many ways. Though he’s far from the commercial heights he was once at, there’s really no doubt how impactful he was to the game. From his wordplay to his swag and laidback demeanor, Fab had the game on lock at one point in time.
Over the weekend, Drake hit Instagram with a tribute post to Fab, giving the Brooklyn rapper credit for shaping his style and sound. The rapper posted two throwbacks of Fab in the early 2000s, stating that he “wouldn’t be anywhere without this guy.”
“Real shit @myfabolouslife was really just taking in how much you influenced everything for me,” Drizzy wrote.
In a subsequent post, he shared his love for 112. “Wouldn’t be shit without this,” he added.
Drake hasn’t shied away from embracing Fab’s influence on him in the past, either. During a 2018 birthday party, Drake dressed up as Fab, donning a blue Kobe Bryant LA Lakers jersey with a matching fitted cap and a bandana tied on top of it.
The two previously worked together on the “Throw It In The Bag (Remix).” However, there was speculation that there was tension between them after Rolling Stone published an interview with Drake in 2014. Drake appeared to take shots at Fab in discussing Ye’s polarizing Yeezus album.
“There were some real questionable bars on there,” Drake says in the interview. “Like that Swag-hili line? Come on man, man. Even Fabolous wouldn’t say some shit like that.”
Wale attend Kevin Durant‘s 25th Birthday Party at Avenue on September 22, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)” class=”wp-image-621416″ srcset=”https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-181649202.jpg 3000w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-181649202.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-181649202.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-181649202.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-181649202.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-181649202.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-181649202.jpg?resize=1500,1000 1500w” sizes=”(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px” />NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 22: (L-R) Drake, Fabolous and Wale attend Kevin Durant’s 25th Birthday Party at Avenue on September 22, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
But, the Brooklyn rapper quickly chalked it up to sensationalized media. He said that he chopped it up with Drake, who apologized for dragging his name into the interview, following the incident.
“It’s over. It’s under the bridge. I got a lot of respect for what Drake does and he’s expressed to me personally, so we move on from there.”
We’ll keep you posted if Fab responds to Drake’s shout out.
J.I. brought a healthy dose of nostalgia with the release of his latest single, “It’s Officially Done.”
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – OCTOBER 29: J.I the Prince of N.Y attends Power 105.1 Powerhouse 2022 at Prudential Center on October 29, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Today, the “Toxic” rapper returned with his first offering of the new year. “It’s Officially Done” brings a classic New York swag to the forefront with a bit of modernization. The rapper takes on a sample from 112’s “It’s Over Now” and transforms it into a smooth banger. His melodies shine on the record but he also showcases his growth and maturity over the years.
J.I.’s kept a consistent stream of music on hand in the past few years since releasing Welcome To GStarr Vol. 1 in 2020. He dropped off the third installment in the Hood Life Krisis series shortly after before releasing Young & Restless Vol. 1 Baby Don last year. During that time, he expanded well-beyond New York with collaborations alongside artists in the UK and even Spanish-speaking rappers.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 01: J.I the Prince of N.Y attends Happy Munkey 5 Year Anniversary Rebrand Celebration on October 01, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
J.I. certainly came a long way since his appearance on The Rap Game — the same show that gave Latto her big break. The rapper’s gone onto earn co-signs from artists like Drake and Roddy Ricch while carving his sound out further. We’re excited to hear what he has up his sleeve this year.
Check out his new single below.
Quotable Lyrics Before you last a day inside these kicks, you gotta polish ’em I could make you wet but I can’t make no promises 40 thousand dollars on my wrist to see what time it is When you was fucked up, who you called on? When you slip up, who you fall on?
A quarter century ago today in Hip-Hop history, Notorious B.I.G. released his second album, Life After Death. The double LP was released posthumously by Bad Boy Records. Biggie, who was killed two weeks prior to its release, was nominated for three Grammy’s for this project: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for “Hypnotize” and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Mo Money Mo Problems.”
Featuring artists like 112, Jay-Z, Lil’ Kim, Ma$e, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort and R. Kelly, along with tracks like “Kick In The Door,” “What’s Beef,” “Notorious Thugs,” “Ten Crack Commandments” and “Sky’s The Limit,” it can be said that Life After Death is one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the US Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. It went diamond (that’s 10,000,000 copies sold) in the United States alone, double platinum in Canada, and platinum in the UK. Life After Death has also made appearances on top music charts across the globe. The album has been ranked by countless publications as one of the top rap and Hip-Hop albums of all time (The Source ranked it as #8 in 2005).
Salute to Diddy and the rest of the Bad Bot family for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!
Wale attend 
