This was an article I wrote for Sister 2 Sister, which they refused to pay me for. So now I own the copyright.
Manny Otiko
October 2014
Long-time music fans will remember the hip-hop/ R&B group Full Force, who shot to fame in the 1980s with the success of Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam’s “I Wonder If I Take You Home.”The group also produced the hip-hop classic “Roxanne, Roxanne” by UTFO.
Full Force has a new album called Full Force: With Love From Our Friends which is set to be released on Aug. 26. The new album can be preordered on iTunes and Amazon.com. The new album is dedicated to group member Paul Anthony, who was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in 2006. The disease is currently in remission.
Although Full Force is not as famous as they were in the ‘80s, they have not gone away. They have stayed busy by touring, writing and producing for other artists such as the Backstreet Boys, Justin Timberlake and Rihanna. “We have been doing a lot of live events, writing and looking for new artists,” sad Paul Anthony. “I’m glad to see we are back now.”
Bowlegged Lou, who is Paul Anthony’s brother, said the new album was inspired by Quincy Jones’ classic album Back on the Block which featured a host of artists. Full Force: With Love From Our Friends, features 36 artists such as Tisha Campbell-Martin, Faith Evans, Sheila E, Samantha Fox, Vivica A. Fox, Big Daddy kane and Tevin Campbell.
Paul Anthony said the new album, which took a year to complete, covers a variety of genres such as hip-hop, R&B, pop, dance and spoken word.
As 30-year veterans, Full Force has seen a lot of changes in the music industry. Bowlegged Lou said the most significant change he has noticed is social media. “Back in the ‘80s we didn’t have social media,” he said. “Social media is another big part of getting music out.”
