112 (album) - Background

Background

Originally known as Forte and still in their teens, the quartet enlisted the professional management services of Courtney Sills and Kevin Wales, who in turn brought the group to producers Tim & Bob where they eventually contacted Sean Combs. While the group was performing at the Buckhead 112 Club in Buckhead, Georgia, Combs Invited the group to New York at Combs's studio, called Daddy's House, where they began recording in August 1995, the song "Why Did You Love Me" a b-side track - being recorded at their first meeting, with engineer Steve Dent. Combs signed the group to his, Bad Boy Records. Thereafter known as 112, named after 112 Club. The debut single, "Only You," was released in the summer of 1996. It hit number 13 on Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. A remix version of the song was later released featuring label mates Mase and the late The Notorious B.I.G.. In July the song was certified gold, and preceded the self-titled debut album in August. Faith Evans, B.I.G., and Craig Mack contributed cameos on 112, which achieved gold-volume sales by the end of its first week. One of the tracks, "Come See Me," was released as the second single and reached number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 33 on the Hot 100 by January 1997. The third single "Cupid" was released in May 1997, which also made the top 40 and was certified gold in the same month and by August the song went platinum. The group toured with the Isleys, Keith Sweat, and New Edition, as well as with Puff Daddy and the Family, totaling four separate tours. The group spent 18 successive months on the road fulfilling tour commitments.

"Cupid" was performed on a 1997 episode of the Nickelodeon show All That and in a 1996 episode of Moesha where 112 appeared as Q's cousins who performed "Only You" for Kim Parker and Niecy Jackson.