Brutha (group)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Brutha


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Los Angeles, California, United States
Genre = R&B
Years_active = 2002–present
Label = So So Def
Associated_acts = Canela Cox, The Nade, Jermaine Dupri
URL =
Current_members = Grady Harrell
Cheyenne (aka Papa) Harrell
Jacob (aka Jake) Harrell
Jared (aka JR) Harrell
Anthony Harrell
Past_members =

Brutha is a R&B vocal group from Los Angeles, California signed by Jermaine Dupri to his So So Def imprint. The group include brothers Grady, Cheyenne (aka Papa), Jacob, Jared (aka JR) and Anthony Harrell.

History

The Harrell brothers came to the entertainment world at a young age, out of a 4 generations musical family. At 5 and 6 years old, Anthony Harrell and Grady Harrell III hooked up with their first cousin Canela Cox and formed the group Papa’s Results, being trained and teached by Grady Harrell II, who was then signed to MCA Records. The children appeared in his 1989 R&B hit single “Sticks and Stone” and did many local shows throughout California.

The group lasted until Canela eventually moved to Holland when she was 14 to follow her mother's musical career. They filled her spot with family friend Jeff Lee and changed their name to Serenade. The trio had a well noticed beginning. They appeared on episodes from Saved By The Bell and Moesha and signed a record deal with Dr Dre's Aftermath Records. But the record deal went nowhere, and, in 1998, the group shortened its name to Nade and signed with Elektra Records. Again deceived by music executives who always wanted to change their image, the Nade decided to do music their way, under their own terms. As a duet comprising the 2 Harrell brothers, they put down 2 independent albums, in 1999 and 2001.

In 2002 they were joined by their brothers JR, Jake and Papa and formed Brutha. The group was discovered by Brian McKnight who introduced them on the 2003 Soul Train Holliday Special. They then did a lot of performances, including at Michael Jackson 45th Birthday party, while still working on solo projects like an independent rap album for JR, a duet with Kenya Hattaway for Grady and acting performances for Anthony, who had led the role of Eric Little from 1996 to 2000 in the NBC series .

In 2008, their uncle Donny "Drano" Harrell, CEO of Goodfellas Entertainment and Shakir Stewart, senior vice president of A&R at Island Def Jam, invited the group to Atlanta to do a filmed audition in front of Jermaine Dupri and a range of producers. It resulted in a one-hour original special TV show called "Jermaine Dupri presents : Brutha", broadcasted March 24 on Peachtree TV. The group caught the attention of Jermaine Dupri who signed them to the Island Def Jam Music Group. [http://sandrarose.com/2008/03/21/jermaine-dupri-presents-brutha/]

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20041109013247/www.angelfire.com/music4/thenade/main.html http://web.archive.org/web/20041109013247/www.angelfire.com/music4/thenade/main.html]

References