Word to the Mutha!

"Word to the Mutha!"
Single by Bell Biv DeVoe featuring Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill
from the album WBBD-Bootcity!: The Remix Album
Released	1991
Format	12" 7" CD cassette
Recorded	1990
Genre	New jack swing R&B
Length	6:38
Label	MCA
Writer(s)	Ricky Bell Michael Bivins Ronnie DeVoe Bret "Epic" Mazur Richard Wolf[1]
Producer(s)	Bret "Epic" Mazur Richard Wolf[2]
Bell Biv DeVoe chronology
"She's Dope!" (1991) "Word to the Mutha!" (1991) "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (1992)
Bobby Brown chronology "Stone Cold Gentleman" (1991) "Word to the Mutha!" (1991) "Humpin' Around" (1992) Johnny Gill chronology "Wrap My Body Tight" (1991) "Word to the Mutha!" (1991) "Giving My All to You" (1991) Ralph Tresvant chronology "Stone Cold Gentleman" (1991) "Word to the Mutha!" (1991) "Do What I Gotta Do" (1991) WBBD-Bootcity!: The Remix Album track listing "Intro/D.J. Opening" (1) "Word to the Mutha!" (2) "Ain't Nut'in' Changed" (3) Music video "Word to the Mutha!" on YouTube

"Word to the Mutha!" is a song co-written^[1] and performed by American contemporary R&B group Bell Biv DeVoe. It originally appeared on their debut studio album Poison under the title "Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, Ralph and Johnny (Word to the Mutha)!",^[3] but the title was shortened and a remixed version of the song was issued as the only official single from the group's remix album WBBD-Bootcity! The song features vocals from Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill; and it was the first recorded song to feature all six members of New Edition;^[4] although Brown, Tresvant and Gill are credited separately on the single rather than collectively as New Edition.^[5]

The song samples "A Star in the Ghetto" by Average White Band and "The Jam" by Graham Central Station.<ref name"whosample">"Word to the Mutha! (Remix) - Bell Biv DeVoe feat. Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant | WhoSampled". WhoSampled. Retrieved April 16, 2015.</ref>

A music video was filmed in and around the Roxbury Housing Projects in Boston, where all of the New Edition members grew up.

Chart positions

Chart (1991)	Peak position
New Zealand (RIANZ)[6]	11
US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[7]	37

References

1. "Word to the Mutha! - Bell Biv DeVoe | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
2. "Bell Biv Devoe Featuring Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill - Word To The Mutha! (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
3. "Poison - Bell Biv DeVoe | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
4. Goldstein, Sjarif (June 18, 2012). "Review: New Edition puts star power on display - Honolulu Pulse - Hawaii Entertainment, Food and NightlifeHonolulu Pulse – Hawaii Entertainment, Food and Nightlife". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Black Press. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
5. "Image". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
6. "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
7. "Bell Biv DeVoe Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Radio Songs for Bell Biv Devoe.

External links

• "Word to the Mutha!" at AllMusic
• "Word to the Mutha!" at Discogs (list of releases)
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics