Jagged Edge become Hard 'Hard' album

In R&B there are groups that move well, groups that look fly, groups that write, groups that produce, and groups that take harmonies to soaring heights. There are love men, party playas and round-the-way dudes who have the ability to tell stories that everyone can relate to. In other words, there's Jagged Edge.

The members of Jagged Edge have set themselves apart not with flash or scandal but with skills and songs that can be neither denied nor ignored. Consisting of twins Brian and Brandon Casey, Kyle Norman and Richard Wingo, Jagged Edge has sold millions of records by doing what they do better than any one else. With an incredible musical range running from heartbreaking ballads to rump-shaking bangers, Jagged Edge has carved out a unique niche by remaining true to the group's collective vision. That vision comes to a funky fruition on Hard, Jagged Edge's eagerly-awaited fourth album.

You'd think that after three highly-successful albums--1998's A Jagged Era, 2000's multi- platinum J.E. Heartbreak, and 2002's crossover smash Jagged Little Thrill (which contained the top ten single "Where the Party At")--there might not be much left to know about Jagged Edge. Yet Hard is the album that the group has been aiming for its entire career. Featuring songs by the Casey brothers, Noontime's Brian-Michael Cox and production from St. Nick, Jermaine Dupri and Jagged Edge, Hard finds the group taking its sumptuous trademark R&B/pop to a whole other level with an album that is romantic, respectful, raw, honest and undeniably Jagged Edge.

Asked about the album's title and Brian offers, "Everything in life worth having is hard. Hard to obtain and maintain. That's why we called the album Hard because we had to go through our own little struggles in order to make it.

"We wrote everything on the first three albums," Brian continues. "So in terms of what people consider vintage JE it's all still here. We've always had a hand in production so as far as our sound, I'd say it remains pretty consistent." Jagged Edge is ready to fulfill the promise of the group's earlier recordings. "Any transition we've had to go through has been smooth and honestly this record feels a whole lot better than past ones."

You can hear the confidence and the creative integrity on the album's first single, the evocative ballad "Walked Outta Heaven." Written by JE and produced by longtime collaborator Brian Michael Cox, "Walked OuttaHeaven" is an emotionally raw and musically persuasive examination of how one feels after the loss of love. "We wanted to sum up that emotion when you lose things or people that we loved or thought we loved. When a relationship ends its like you just walked outta heaven."

Another heartfelt ballad is "Hard," the seductively lovely title track. "The guy is saying to his woman instead of us fighting so hard, I should have been loving you hard. It's a really special song to us, particularly because it's one of the first songs we produced."

Also close to the group's heart is the "They Ain't JE" remix featuring rap trio Street Katz, the first signing to JE's 581 Records. "These guys are really talented," Brian explains, "and in terms of rapping they're unique because they're not talking about all that gangsta, gun-popping stuff. They just rap about what people do everyday. We've known them for years and been their friends and for us not to recognize the talent, we would have to have been blind."

Being able to drop both party anthems and romantic ballads with equal skill and conviction is part of the key to JE's sound and success. While Brian admits that while Hard showcases Jagged Edge's patented ballads, the group is comfortable with any mood. "I love the energy of a fast record and the fun you have performing it on stage. But with a ballad you put all your feelings into it and people give you all their feelings right back. I think that sort of connection that we're able to create with our fans is really one of the reasons we've enjoyed a successful career. We're so grateful to the fans for always sticking by us and welcoming what we have in store."

Like many of R&B's great artists, Jagged Edge has roots in gospel music. In fact, it was at a church-sponsored youth rally that the Casey brothers, who had relocated from Connecticut to Atlanta in 1990, laid the foundation for what would become Jagged Edge. The Caseys sung at that rally with a group they'd put together a mere three weeks earlier. In the crowd was Kyle, who urged the Caseys to drop the other singers and join forces with him. Within a week of that suggestion, Brian, Brandon and Kyle were rehearsing together. Eventually two members dropped out, a new member was recruited, and the act was named "Twin AK."

A demo financed by the Casey's supportive father made its way to then Xscape member (and now songwriter) Kandi Burruss (who'd gone to high school with Richard Wingo). After Kandi took the demo to Jermaine Dupri, the So So Def producer/label head summoned Twin AK to audition for him and, shortly thereafter, offered the group a deal and a new name.

Jagged Edge exploded onto the urban contemporary music scene in 1998 with the group's debut album A Jagged Era. The album was certified RIAA gold in December of that year, establishing twin brothers Brian and Brandon Casey, Kyle Norman, and Richard Wingo as the "Kings of Hip-Hop/Soul." So So Def/Columbia released Jagged Edge's breakthrough second album, J.E. Heartbreak in January 2000. Driven in part by the singles "He Can't Love U," "Promise," and the smash "Let's Get Married," J.E. Heartbreak went on to achieve RIAA double-platinum status. A year-and-a-half after its release, the album was still on the Billboard 200 album chart.

To date, Jagged Edge has earned seven gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA. The group's last platinum album, Jagged Little Thrill, featured the raucous hit "Where The Party At" (featuring Nelly) which was a #1 Most Added record at both Urban and Crossover radio.

Asked if the group felt any pressure to top themselves on Hard, Brian is philosophical. "We don't make records with that idea," he says. "We go in to make a great record and if it tops the previous one that's cool. Our goal is to just keep making great records."

With the group's latest album, Jagged Edge has made a record that's as strong as it is Hard.

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Jagged Edge become Hard - Hard