Are they headed for mainstream success?
By Charles E. Rogers
 

The proliferation of White, multi-platinum pop boy groups, such as 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, and 98 Degrees, hs, for the most part, eluded the Black side of the equation. Sure, in the '90s, Boyz II Men broke through, breaking sales and chart records in the process.  But on the real side, young, male urban acts like Immature, Soul IV Real, and even the relatively hot Imajin have failed to make across-the-board strides up the pop charts.  The question is why?

Lets face it, Imajin sings twice as soulful as the Backstreet crew.  And aren't their dance steps, stage presentation and records far better than the sugar coated "soul" of 'N sync and 98 Degrees? Damn right! Still, breaking down the walls that separate them on the basis of race, money and narrow casting by radio programmers, record labels, video outlets and concert promoters, plays a deeper role in the process.

That said, it's quite commendable that after facing such odds, Imajin has been able to reach the impressive heights it has.  And, even more important, is that they realize that without their core African-American support, they wouldn't be where they are today.  "Hey, it would be great to have mainstream success," says Imajin's Jamal Hampton, "but we're happy and proud that our own people keep giving us so much love.  In fact, even if and when we do get the pop attention we know we deserve, we'll never turn our backs on the Black community.  They're the ones who gave us our start, blew us up first, and stuck with us all the way."

Jamal's point is well taken.  Considering that since the release of the groups first hit, the irascible single, "Shorty (You Keep Playin' With My Mind)," it's been the urban video network, BET, MTV's rare "urban" show airings, and the rash of local Black video outlets that have nurtured Imajin's ever increasing popularity.

Indeed, group members Jamal, Talib Kareem, Olamidé Faison, and John Fitch, are treating their stardom on a realistic, tempered basis. "It would be stupid for us to think we've..uh..made it, knowing that there is still so much for us to accomplish," Talib wisely notes. "But don't get me wrong, we're having a good time.  Still, for us to act like we're bigger than we are would be mad ill, a big mistake."

"Yeah, that would make us feel like we don't have to keep working hard, that there still aren't mountains for us to climb," Olamidé adds. "Although there's alot happening for us," he adds, "if we take it easy now, all this could be gone tomorrow.  That's why we take things one day at a time.  It's about growing and building on all of our experiences, especially the positive ones."

Averaging in age from 15 to 17 years old, Imajin has been burning the midnight oil by polishing their stage show, making personal appearances nationwide, and trying to expand their fan base.  "We've worked on shows with some of the biggest R&B and hip-hop names in the business," John says. "What we try to do is turn those experiences into school. By studying the real good acts, we learn from them.  Then we translate what we learn into the Imajin mode.  That's how we make the group better, more professional.

Source: Word Up magazine.