Introducing: The Boys

Ebony, March, 1989

INTRODUCING: THE BOYS

Four boys sneak into the balcony of an abandoned theater. A spotlight appears and illuminates the empty stage below. As if inspired by the moment and shared but unmentioned dreams of stardom, they begin to sing "Dial My Heart," a pre-teen tune that recalls the Jackson Five. Suddenly, as if by magic, their casual hip-kid clothes are transformed into show-stopping suits, and they sing and twirl as if before a crowd of thousands. But only a lone security guard witnesses the performance. He simply smiles and gives an approving nod, for he knows he has seen young stars on the rise.

If you haven't seen this music video yet, then met The Boys--Khiry, 15, Hakeem, 14, Tahj, 12, and Bilal, 10. They are Southern California's newest brotherly foursome whose debut album, Messages From The Boys, is off to a promising start.

Newfound fame for the group has taken them across the country to perform, sign autographs, host radio talk shows and encourage teenagers to stay in school and away from drugs. They appear in Stevie Wonder's Skeleton video, as well as in an Earth, Wind and Fire video. They've showcased their acting abilities on television's 227 and Amen. They've performed in Europe and Japan. And they were musical guests on Dance Party USA, Soul Train and Showtime At The Apollo.

The Boys' parents, Angela and Jabari Abdul-Samad, say their primary concern is that their academically gifted children remain in a wholesome and stimulating environment. To maintain that atmosphere on the road, The Boys' entourage includes their immediate family, an academic tutor and 21-year-old Juan (Big Gee) Baptiste, their next-door neighbor and personal bodyguard.

"I travel with them because I know that it is ultimately my responsibility to make sure they keep their feet on the ground and that they say their prayers," says Mrs. Abdul-Samad. "I want them to enjoy this time, but if it ends tomorrow, I want them to gain equal pleasure from something new."

The brothers-four got their start in 1985, singing and dancing on a Venice Beach corner trying to raise money to treat their dad to a Father's Day dinner. Taking note of the unusual street performers who frequent the beach, the enterprising youngsters developed their own act and began to perform eight boardwalk shows for huge crowds every Saturday and Sunday.

As their popularity increased, so did their coffers. With the earnings, they formed an entertainemnt company, The Boys Party-Time Affair. They sang at weddings, bar mitzvahs and civic functions--and to anyone who would lend an ear. Eventually, a demo-tape and news of The Boys' local success reached Dick Griffey, president of Solar Records, who asked them to sing at his son's birthday party. He offered them a record deal, and within a week they had three more offers. But The Boys sealed a deal with Jheryl Busby of MCA, who soon left the company to head Motown, but not without taking the quartet along.

Since the release of their album, The Boys' success has snowballed. They have spent only a week at Valley Professional, a school for talented teens (but they are tutored daily). And besides their musical pursuits, they tumble with Compton College's gymnastics team, and each has a yellow belt in karate. Khiry, who hopes to be a film director, has his own production company, Young Einstein Enterprises. Hakeem, an aspiring actor who doubles as the group's sound engineer and choreographer, has appeared in Ernest Goes To Camp and Wildcats, as well as Diff'rent Strokes and Amen, and numerous national commercials. As a baby, Tahj appeared in the television movie Roots, and later, Cagney and Lacey, and St. Elsewhere. But Bilal has the most ambitious desire--to be president of the United States.

"We always told them that they were the greatest kids on the planet," says their father, a construction ironworker who also operates a carpet cleaning business. "Obviously, they believed us."

When The Boys are not travelling, they can be found doing everyday boyish things. They play basketball or pinball and tend to their kitten, Nelson Mandela. Despite their youth, occasional childhood jealousy has yet to affect them. They are bound by blood and linked by music. "Yeah, we fight, all the time," says Khiry, "but we always make up."