Bell Biv Devoe

Formed by members of the R&B boy band New Edition, Bell Biv DeVoe arrived in the early ’90s with a sound they described as “mentally hip-hop, smoothed out on the R&B tip with a pop feel appeal to it.” This innovative approach yielded such hits as “Poison” and “Do Me!” • Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe formed BBD while New Edition was on hiatus in 1990.

They did so at the suggestion of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who’d become superstars on the strength of their work with Janet Jackson.

• BBD’s 1990 debut album, Poison, hit No.