The story of New Edition is one of reinvention, reunion, and resilience – uniting superstar individuality with unmatched group synergy. They fused the sounds of 1960s Motown and 1970s Philly Soul – and remixed it for the BET generation – creating the blueprint for countless artists, including New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys, and Destiny’s Child. Today, their influence is deeply woven into Black culture – their choreography is commonly taught in schools – and they are cherished as elder statesmen and architects of modern R&B.

New Edition formed in 1978 in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood, when elementary school classmates Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Bobby Brown started singing in talent shows. They soon expanded to a quintet with the addition of Ralph Tresvant and Ronnie DeVoe. In 1982, their debut album, Candy Girl, yielded the catchy title track – which reached Number One on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart – and the heartfelt ballad “Is This the End” – which hit Number Eight. Their sophomore album, New Edition (1984), included additional R&B chart-toppers “Cool It Now” and “Mr. Telephone Man.” Subsequent albums introduced a more mature sound and saw the departure of Bobby Brown for a successful solo career. In 1988, New Edition welcomed powerhouse Johnny Gill and released their groundbreaking double-platinum album Heart Break. Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the album leaned heavily into New Jack Swing, blending smooth R&B with hip-hop production.

At the peak of their career, the group disbanded, with all members quickly achieving success separately with platinum releases by Gill and Tresvant as well as Bel Biv DeVoe’s quadruple-platinum Poison. Soon after, Bivens signed protégés Boyz II Men, who infamously named themselves after a New Edition song. But they weren’t done – in 1996, New Edition reunited and released Home Again, their first – and only – album to feature all six members. It became the best-selling album of their storied career. They earned accolades producing the BET miniseries The New Edition Story and are currently packing arenas on their New Edition Way tour.

New Edition revolutionized the modern R&B sound with their tight choreography, lush harmonies, coordinated fashion, and universal appeal – influencing artists from NSYNC to K-Pop. During a career spanning nearly five decades, they transitioned from youthful pop stars to sophisticated R&B trailblazers – at each step, deepening their cultural influence.

Nominees: Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant