Whatever Happened to Public Announcement? The R&B Group That First Introduced R. Kelly to the World

#NOLAZINE - During the early 1990s, Public Announcement helped introduce a new sound that blended traditional R&B harmonies with hip-hop production and new jack swing. The Chicago group became nationally known after joining forces with an emerging singer named R. Kelly, appearing alongside him on the successful 1992 album Born Into the 90’s.

Together, R. Kelly and Public Announcement delivered songs such as “She’s Got That Vibe,” “Honey Love,” “Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)” and “Dedicated.” However, the partnership did not last very long.

After R. Kelly separated from the group to begin his solo career, many listeners assumed Public Announcement had disappeared. The truth is that the group continued recording, rebuilt its lineup and eventually produced its biggest pop hit without him.

So, whatever happened to Public Announcement?

The Beginning of Public Announcement

Public Announcement was formed in Chicago in 1991. The original lineup included Earl Robinson, Andre Boykins and Ricky Webster, with other members participating during the group’s early period.

The singers became connected with R. Kelly while he was preparing to launch his professional recording career. Instead of being marketed immediately as a solo artist, Kelly was introduced as the lead singer of R. Kelly and Public Announcement.

Their debut album, Born Into the 90’s, was released through Jive Records in January 1992. The project arrived at the perfect time, as new jack swing was beginning to merge into the smoother and more hip-hop-influenced R&B sound that would dominate the decade.

The album reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart and No. 42 on the Billboard 200. It was eventually certified platinum.

“She’s Got That Vibe” Introduced Their Sound

“She’s Got That Vibe” became the group’s first major single. The upbeat production, coordinated dancing and combination of lead vocals with group harmonies introduced R. Kelly and Public Announcement to a national audience.

They followed it with “Honey Love,” a slow and sensual R&B record that became another major success. The song demonstrated that the act could move between energetic dance records and romantic ballads.

“Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)” continued building momentum, while “Dedicated” gave the album another memorable slow jam.

Although R. Kelly handled most of the lead vocals, Public Announcement contributed harmonies, background vocals and the visual presence needed to present the act as a complete male R&B group.

The success of Born Into the 90’s appeared to be the beginning of a long partnership, but major changes were already approaching.

Why Did R. Kelly Leave Public Announcement?

Following the promotional run for Born Into the 90’s, R. Kelly separated from Public Announcement and launched his solo career.

In 1993, he released his first solo album, 12 Play, which included “Bump N’ Grind,” “Your Body’s Callin’” and “Sex Me.” The project turned him into one of the biggest R&B artists of the decade.

As Kelly’s solo career grew, Public Announcement was left in a difficult position. The group had received national exposure, but much of the audience associated its name and sound with its former lead singer.

Rebuilding without the person most listeners viewed as the face of the act would require a new lineup, a new record deal and a new musical identity.

For several years, Public Announcement remained outside the mainstream spotlight. Many fans believed the group had ended permanently.

Public Announcement Returned Without R. Kelly

Public Announcement eventually reorganized with singers Feloney Davis, Euclid Gray and Glenn Wright joining the group. Feloney Davis became the new lead vocalist and helped Public Announcement develop an identity separate from R. Kelly.

In 1998, the group returned with the album All Work, No Play through A&M Records.

This comeback carried considerable risk. Six years had passed since Born Into the 90’s, and Public Announcement had to prove that it could succeed without the singer who had become an international superstar.

The group answered those questions with “Body Bumpin’ (Yippie-Yi-Yo).”

“Body Bumpin’” Became Their Biggest Pop Hit

Released in 1998, “Body Bumpin’ (Yippie-Yi-Yo)” became a major crossover hit. Powered by Feloney Davis’ strong lead vocals and an infectious chorus, the song reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Remarkably, it became Public Announcement’s highest-charting pop single—even higher than the songs the group released with R. Kelly.

The record introduced a different version of Public Announcement to listeners. The group still delivered smooth harmonies and romantic R&B, but it no longer sounded like a backing act attempting to replace its former lead singer.

“Body Bumpin’” gave Public Announcement its own identity.

The success of the single demonstrated that the members possessed talent beyond their original collaboration. It also created one of the great R&B comeback stories of the 1990s.

The album All Work, No Play reached No. 81 on the Billboard 200 and No. 14 on the R&B Albums chart. Although it did not match the commercial performance of Born Into the 90’s, the project successfully reestablished the group.

Another Hit With “Mamacita”

Public Announcement returned in 2000 with “Mamacita,” an upbeat record that combined R&B vocals with Latin-influenced flavor and dance production.

“Mamacita” reached No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to No. 7 on Billboard’s R&B chart. It became the group’s final Top 40 pop hit and proved that “Body Bumpin’” was not simply a lucky comeback.

The song appeared on Public Announcement’s 2001 album Don’t Hold Back. The project also included “John Doe,” featuring Lelee from SWV, and the emotional record “Man Ain’t Supposed to Cry.”

“John Doe” approached relationships from the perspective of a woman confronting an unfaithful man, while “Man Ain’t Supposed to Cry” challenged the expectation that men should hide emotional pain.

Although these records received attention from R&B audiences, the album arrived during another major transition in popular music. Younger solo artists were beginning to dominate, while traditional male R&B groups were receiving less support from major labels.

Changing Members and Music-Industry Challenges

Public Announcement experienced several lineup changes throughout its career. Earl Robinson remained connected to the group for many years, while singers including Feloney Davis, Glenn Wright, Euclid Gray, Ace Watkins and others participated during different periods.

Frequent lineup changes can make it difficult for any group to maintain a consistent identity. Each new member brings a different voice, personality and creative direction. Fans may remember the name but become uncertain about who currently represents it.

The decline of major-label support for R&B groups also affected acts such as Public Announcement. By the mid-2000s, labels were investing more heavily in solo singers, rappers and artists who could be marketed without the expense or complications associated with managing a group.

Public Announcement released another album, When the Smoke Clears, in 2006. However, without the promotional power that supported its earlier projects, the album did not achieve comparable mainstream success.

Did Public Announcement Break Up?

Public Announcement never experienced one clear, highly publicized breakup. Instead, the group’s activity slowed as members changed and the music industry moved in a different direction.

Different versions of Public Announcement continued performing and preserving the group’s catalog. Music databases still identify the act as having remained active into the 2020s, although the lineup has continued to evolve. AllMusic

Like many R&B groups from the 1990s, Public Announcement found an audience through nostalgia concerts, old-school R&B events and listeners rediscovering its music on streaming services.

Songs such as “Body Bumpin’,” “Mamacita,” “John Doe” and the Born Into the 90’s records continue attracting listeners who remember when male vocal groups were a major part of R&B.

The Complicated R. Kelly Connection

Any discussion of Public Announcement’s history must acknowledge that its early catalog remains closely connected to R. Kelly.

Kelly was later convicted of serious federal crimes and received lengthy prison sentences. Those convictions changed the way many people view his music and career.

For Public Announcement, that creates a complicated legacy. The group’s introduction to the world came through its association with Kelly, but its members were separate performers with careers and contributions of their own.

It would be unfair to discuss Public Announcement only as R. Kelly’s former background group. Their post-Kelly success proved they were capable of creating hit records without him.

“Body Bumpin’” reaching No. 5 on the Hot 100 remains the strongest evidence of that independence.

Public Announcement’s Lasting Legacy

Public Announcement deserves recognition as one of the resilient R&B groups of the 1990s.

The group experienced platinum success with Born Into the 90’s, lost its lead singer to a massive solo career and then returned years later with an entirely new lineup. Most acts would not have survived that transition.

Instead, Public Announcement produced “Body Bumpin’,” the biggest pop hit of its career, and followed it with another successful single in “Mamacita.”

The group’s story is not simply about what happened after R. Kelly left. It is about rebuilding after the public believed the most important part of the act was gone.

So, whatever happened to Public Announcement?

The group continued recording, performing and evolving through multiple lineup changes. Although it eventually faded from mainstream radio, its music never completely disappeared.

Public Announcement will always be remembered for helping launch the Born Into the 90’s era, but the group should also be celebrated for proving it could stand on its own.

More than three decades later, “She’s Got That Vibe,” “Honey Love,” “Body Bumpin’” and “Mamacita” remain part of the soundtrack of classic R&B—and Public Announcement’s place in the genre’s history deserves to be remembered.