Milestone – I Care ’Bout You – 1997

Put K-Ci & JoJo from Jodeci in a group with Kevon and Melvin Edmonds from After 7.
Then add their brother, Babyface.
Now, come on.
You already have my attention. 🎧

Two sets of my favorite singing brothers, plus one of my favorite songwriters, producers, and artists of all time.
When you have this lineup, you have the absolute best of the best.
Milestone.

They came together for the 1997 movie Soul Food, appearing as a group connected to the storyline of Miles, an aspiring musician played by Michael Beach.
The group was created for the movie.
But there was nothing imaginary about all that talent. 🎤

The moment I heard I Care ’Bout You in that film, I fell in love with it.

Instantly.
This went directly onto my Quiet Storm way back then, and it’s still on my personal playlist now.
That was an easy decision.
Y’all already know what a slow jam like this does to me. 💜

Babyface wrote and produced the song, and he gave those voices something worth coming together for.
It’s a man trying to reach somebody who’s pulled away, wondering how to make her believe that he cares.
He’s offering reassurance, but he needs to feel some love coming back, too.

And listen to how they carry that conversation.
The softer phrases.
The pleading.
Then those harmonies coming in behind the lead.🗣️
You can enjoy the whole blend and still hear the individual personalities inside it.
That’s a big part of why this combination works so well for me.

Even the musicians deserve a little attention here.
Greg Phillinganes on piano.
Nathan East on bass.
Babyface on keyboards and drum programming.
They gave the singers a beautiful setting without making the track too busy.

Now, don’t even get me started on the movie, Soul Food.
That movie is one of my favorites, too.

That CAST.
Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Michael Beach, Mekhi Phifer, Jeffrey D. Sams, Gina Ravera, and Brandon Hammond.
And Irma P. Hall as Big Mama.
You can’t leave Big Mama out. ❤️

The family, the Sunday dinners, the arguments, and everybody’s business finding its way to the table.
Plenty going on before we even get to the music.

The soundtrack gave that film another life outside the theater. 🎬
Released on September 16, 1997, it eventually earned a double-platinum certification from the RIAA.
I Care ’Bout You was part of that success, alongside records from Boyz II Men, Dru Hill, and Total.

Im going to do a post for this soundtrack one of these days.📀

But here’s what still irks me.
We never got a Milestone album.
No follow-up studio single from these five together.

I mean, you’re talking about one of the most talented lineups of all time.
The possibilities were RIGHT THERE.
I would’ve loved to hear what they could’ve done across a whole album.

I mean I should be happy that they gave us this perfect collaboration and song.
And I am.
But all that talent, and y’all only gave us ONE song?

I’m grateful.
I’m also still mad.
And don’t ask me when I’m getting over it.
I’m not. 😡

DJZ7

Direct Listening Links 🎧
Spotify: I Care ’Bout You
YouTube: Official music video
Apple Music: Official music video

#TheSoundtrackofWhoIBecame #Milestone #ICareBoutYou #Babyface #KCiAndJoJo #After7 #Jodeci #SoulFoodSoundtrack #90sRnB #QuietStorm