K-Ci and JoJo Hailey enjoy success as duo with new image, new album 'Love Always.'

Jet, Nov 24, 1997

K-Ci and JoJo Hailey wanted to make sure that their first project as a duo consisted of songs that would be inviting for the entire family.

The brothers' responsible efforts apparently have worked. Loue Always, their first project as a duo, has already been certified gold. The LPs debut single release, You Bring Me Up, and the second single, Last Night's Letter, are both gold.

Perhaps best known as members of the quartet Jodeci--dubbed "the bad boys of hip hop soul"--the Haileys' gutsy vocals, coupled with brothers Mr. Dalvin and Devante Swing's production-musical genius, helped earn the group three multiplatinum albums.

This project was a purposeful departure from that "bad boy" image, says the soulful siblings.

"We grew up a lot," explains JoJo to JET. "We wanted to do an album that everyone could listen to. We had this `bad boy' image, and we're trying to get around that. This album is more us than anything that we've ever done."

Since maturing lyrically and visually, JoJo points out, "We don't get as much attention as we used to get now that we're doing right."

Recently, they appeared in the movie, Soul Food, as a part of the group Milestone, which consists of hit-maker Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and his brothers, After 7 group members Kevon and Melvin Edmonds.

Milestone performed its love ballad I Care 'Bout You in the movie, and the song is on the platinum soundtrack for the flick.

"We just thank God that we got a chance to work with Babyface and his brothers. It's like everything that we do is with brothers," adds K-Ci.