Whenever discussions about contemporary R&B of the '90s arise, no other act embodied the sonic and aesthetics of the era quite like Jodeci. Comprised of two sets of brothers, Mr. Dalvin (Dalvin Ertimus DeGrate) and DeVante' Swing (Donald Earle DeGrate Jr.), JoJo (Joel Hailey) and K-Ci (Cedric Renard Hailey) from two different gospel groups, they created a musical blueprint that has been emulated by so many and is still revered more than three decades after their debut. During an era that boasted numerous male groups such as Boyz II Men, Mint Condition, Blackstreet, Shai, and Silk, Jodeci stood out from the crowded scene with innovative musicality,  impeccable harmonies, and the incorporation of elements of new jack swing. Seeking to cement their place in the pantheon of R&B greats, Diary of a Mad Band, the group’s sophomore effort is a case study of musical excellence.

Released on December 21, 1993, on Uptown/MCA Records, the album follows the group’s multi-platinum debut Forever My Lady, whihc was hailed as an instant classic upon its release. Intent on proving that their success was not a fluke, the group went back to the lab where they would masterfully implement cutting-edge production ideas and other-worldly vocal arrangements, bequeathing a sound all of their own. The “Bad Boys of R&B” exuded an aura that was iconoclastic,  unapologetically sexual, and Diary of a Mad Band was the personification of their modus operandi.

For the album’s lead single, the group unleashed “Cry For You” on the world, an epic, seductive ballad drenched in soul. K-Ci and JoJo’s passionate pleas fit seamlessly over Devante's riveting piano and Mr. Dalvin’s precise percussion. In the video for the song, the four members of the group are alone in the desert, with only DeVante's piano conveying the desperation of the song’s lyrics.  On the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at number 15 and remained number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart for four weeks. Without question, “Cry For You” is one of Jodeci’s most herald compositions and arguably the best ballad from the 90s.

“Feenin’,” the second single from the album, is another masterpiece. When K-Ci begins with ‘Take my money/My house and my cars/For one hit of you/You can have it all, baby/Cause makin' love/Everytime we do/Girl it's worse than drugs

Cause I'm an addict over you,’ he had everybody in a chokehold with a delivery that you can only get from the Black Church. Capturing the song's essence, the accompanying music video was filmed in a mental institution where group members were patients and the direction of a young Hype Williams. 

The Top 15 R&B hit "What About Us” was the third single from the album and is another slow-burning track that features the vocal prowess of JoJo.

On an LP with many standouts, "My Heart Belongs To U," the album's opening track, received heavy airplay on Black radio, and it is still a favorite of die-hard Jodeci fans.

Diary of a Mad Band also features some notable contributions from Redman on “You Got It” and the first-ever appearances from Devante’s Swing Mob collective members. Timbaland debuted on “In the Meanwhile” and Missy Elliott (credited as Misdemeanor), a member of the girl group Sista on “Won’t Waste You.”

Aside from garnering critical acclaim, the album was a commercial success, becoming Jodeci's second album to reach number one on the R&B album chart, where it stayed for two weeks To date, Diary of a Mad Band has sold more than four million copies in the United States and six million worldwide.

Of all the 90’s super producers, DeVante' Swing is one of the most underappreciated sonic masters of the craft. Unlike those before him and those who came after him, he melded the musicianship of Prince, his main inspiration,  with the rhythms of Black Pentecostalism that haven’t been duplicated since. He also formed the Swing Mob, where he cultivated the talents of Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Magoo, Ginuwine, the late Static Major, and the rest of Playa, Darryl Pearson, Tweet, Stevie J, and Chad "Dr. Ceuss" Elliott, who all went on to have successful careers in the music industry.

If Forever My Lady was Jodeci’s introduction to the world, then Diary of a Mad Band was their attempt to take the over the world. The album was ashowcase of Jodeci at the pinnacle of their creative powers, and their aspirational energy is felt on every track. Each song has its own identity as they experimented  with new sounds and expanded upon their vocal ingenuity.

30 years later, Diary of a Mad Band has aged exceptionally well. Jodeci was not just the best group of their time: They were far ahead of their time.