Smooth's junior album, Reality, was released in March 1998.
The same year, however, she performed a rap cameo in Immature's top 10 pop single, 'We Got It.' Shortly thereafter she left TNT and Jive Records, signing a new deal with Perspective/A&M Records. Though the album fared slightly better than its predecessor, thanks to 'Mind Blowin' (which includes references to fellatio),' its sales were also underwhelming. The song ultimately peaked at #7 on Billboard's Rap Singles Chart. It's lead-off single, the sexually-charged 'Mind Blowin',' was well received by radio — while the video garnered spins on MTV and BET. A sleeker produced, raunchier-themed set — the album features a cameo appearance by her then TNT-labelmate, 2Pac. Smooth's eponymous sophomore album was released in 1995.
In spite of receiving minor attention and airplay, You Been Played, failed to reach a wide commercial audience. Although Juanita trailed in the wake of Queen Latifah and TLC in combining rapping and singing abilities, she and fellow R&B teen sensation Aaliyah were pioneers in the use of jailbait gimmicking, that is, performing grown-up explicit material while underage. Her album, of the same title, was released the same year on TNT/Jive Records. Using the moniker, Smooth, her first single 1993s 'You Been Played' was featured on the soundtrack to Menace II Society. After having established the then pre-teen R&B trio Immature in the early 1990s — Chris, now a fledgling music executive, focused his attention producing Juanita's second album under just Smooth. Attention was then given to Immature, which went on to be very successful. This album released two singles which did not do well on the charts.
She was first known as MC Smooth, releasing an album produced by Chris Stokes called, 'Smooth & Legit' in 1990. These varied influences subsequently resulted in Juanita's later being a two-way artist, a slang for an artist who could rap equally as well as she could sing. As a child, she sang in the church choir and was influenced by Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, as well as pioneering female rap artists such as Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah and MC Lyte. Christened 'Smooth' because of her skillful raps and jazz-tinged, mezzo soprano, she is best known for her hits: 'You Been Played,' 'Mind Blowin'' and 'Strawberries.' She has one child, and currently performs under the name Needa S.īorn in 1979, Juanita grew up with huge aspirations toward the entertainment business. She is the daughter of actress Irene Stokes and younger sister of music executive Chris Stokes. 1.) Juanita Stokes (aka Smooth and 'The Female Mack') is an American singer and actress.
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