Next is an American R&B musical trio, popular during the late 1990s and early 2000s. They are best known for their Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit single "Too Close". They are also known for "Wifey", "Butta Love" and "I Still Love You", all of which still receive frequent airplay on Urban Adult Contemporary radio stations in the U.S. and internationally.
History
1992–1999: Early beginnings and breakthrough
The group was formed in 1992 by Robert "R.L." Huggar and brothers Raphael "Tweety" Brown and Terry "T-Low" Brown in Minneapolis, Minnesota after being introduced by the Brown's uncle, a gospel choir director. Originally, they were a quartet known as Straight4ward, and at one point managed by Sounds of Blackness' Ann Nesby, but changed their name to Next after one of their members left. After their demo tape caught the attention of Naughty by Nature's KayGee, he took the group to his Arista label Divine Mill, and they began work on their debut album.
They released their debut single "Butta Love", produced by KayGee, D. Lighty, Lance Alexander & Prof. T in September 1997, which became a big R&B hit for the group peaking at No. 4 (and hitting the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart). Soon after, their debut album, Rated Next was released on September 30, and sold moderately. It was followed in 1998 by the release of their biggest hit to date, "Too Close", which hit No. 1 on both the R&B and the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Sales of their debut album surged, helping the album peak at No. 13 R&B and No. 37 on the Billboard 200, eventually being certified double platinum, and earning them American Music Awards, Billboard Awards and Soul Train Awards nominations. A third single "I Still Love You" garnered the group another Top 5 R&B hit and a Top 20 on the Hot 100 charts.
In 2014, the group began and completed work on a new album titled Next, Lies, & Videotape (originally titled Music 101) but it was ultimately shelved. In 2016, the group was featured on TV One's "Unsung" series which prompted another reunion for the group after a couple years of being distant. In March 2018, the group premiered their new single "Want It" to UAC radio.
Discography
Studio albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album details
! scope="col" colspan="5"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Certifications
|-
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br />
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US R&B<br />
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|AUS<br />
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|CAN<br />
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|UK<br />
|-
! scope="row"| Rated Next
|
- Release: September 30, 1997
- Label: Arista
- Formats: CD, digital download
| 37 || 13 || 57 || 20 || —
| align="left"|
- RIAA: 2× Platinum
- MC: Gold
|-
! scope="row"| Welcome II Nextasy
|
- Release: June 20, 2000
- Label: Arista
- Formats: CD, digital download
| 12 || 4 || 74 || — || 85
|
- RIAA: Gold
|-
! scope="row"| The Next Episode
|
- Release: December 17, 2002
- Label: J
- Formats: CD, digital download
| 120 || 27 || — || — || —
| align="left"|
|-
| colspan="11" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}
Singles
As lead artist
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! align="center" rowspan="2" width="200"| Title
! align="center" rowspan="2" width="10"| Year
! align="center" colspan="4" width="20"| Peak positions
! align="center" rowspan="2" width="170"| Certifications
! align="center" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| US<br />
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| US R&B<br />
- BPI: Silver
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| US R&B<br />