Fortunately for me, it was during this period that the trio of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe released the monumental LP Poison. As a kid who was beginning to understand my place in the world, and not just inside my home, artists like LL Cool J, Nice & Smooth, and Bell Biv DeVoe were essential in providing the slang, fashion, and attitude my friends and I could aspire to and often emulate.Īll we knew was that there was something infectious about a beat that almost seemed better suited for Heavy D or Salt-N-Pepa rather than an R&B group offshoot. I still remember my own journey through this stage and can reflect on how music was impactful in shaping my worldview. Psychologists refer to the period between the ages of six and eight years as “middle childhood.” It’s an important stage in childhood development when children are expected to achieve milestones with social interaction while building their confidence and independence. There are certain albums that automatically help you understand an entire generation better. The impact they have is indelible, and they are remembered for contributing to a culture’s defining trends, as they relate to music, fashion or otherwise. Happy 30th Anniversary to Bell Biv DeVoe’s debut studio album Poison, originally released March 20, 1990.

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