STEVIE J MET PUFF DADDY THROUGH JODECI
Stevie J‘s first big break came after he was discovered by Mr. Dalvin of Jodeci. He went on to play in their live band and co-produced two songs on their 1995 album The Show, The After Party and the Hotel. It was through that relationship that he met Sean “Diddy” Combs.
It started my senior year of high school. My brothers were all going to Buffalo State and University of Buffalo — and I got kicked out of high school — left school early without telling them, and they were like, ‘Yo, you got suspended.’ My brother was like, ‘You sing — we might use you in these talent shows, and we can win all these talent shows. Call it the Jordan Brothers.’ All of my brothers could play instruments and sing too, so I started singing at these shows, and we won everything. When people would come over to hear the beats I started making, they’d be like, ‘Hell, this sounds like it need to be on the radio!’ When Jodeci came out, I was doing the same type of material they were doing. So everybody was like, ‘You got to get out of Buffalo, man. It’s too small for you.’ I went back to Rochester for a fashion show and it was like a dull crowd in there. So I went to the bar, got a drink, came back, and it was packed. They said a special guest was in the house … Jodeci!
I was singing and they had my beats, so when it was over, K-Ci, JoJo, and Mr. Dalvin came up to me like, ‘Yo, you nice. Who did the beats?’ And I was like, ‘Me.’ They were like, ‘Yo, get out of here!’ So I was like, ‘There’s a piano in the back. I can play all y’all joints.’ I went to the back and started playing and singing their songs and they were like, ‘You ain’t never going home. You’re staying with us!’ I ended up working on their The Show, The After Party The Hotel album. I stayed with them for a year and a half. Then I met Puff after that.
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