Classic Throwbacks: Cezame’s New Jack Swing – 1987-1994

Musical trends are constantly changing. The merging of genres paves the way for new sounds that take over the airwaves and lock themselves into pop culture. 

Popular music in the 1980s was a melting pot of Rock, Pop, R&B, and the newly emerging genre of Hip Hop. Musical experimentation was accepted more than ever, which helped birth a new blend of pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop called New Jack Swing. Some of the biggest hits that defined the genre are Poison by Bel Biv DeVoe, My Prerogative by Bobby Brown, and Feels Good by Tony! Toni! Toné!. 

Cezame has captured the production of the New Jack Swing sound as if they found a time capsule of undiscovered hits. We spoke with composer Ian Lewis about his take on the genre. 

Listen to our exclusive Sound ScreenPodcast interview with Iain Harper, composer/prodcuer of the Cezame album, New Jack City,

By Sarah Scarlata and Ted Reyes