Boy bands hit like Beanie Babies in the 1990s. There were so many bands back then, that it was hard to keep up with who to like. That could be because fans were obsessed with *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Hanson, 98 Degrees, among others.
The best thing about the '90s is that boy bands were not afraid to test the waters in the music industry. Even if the band didn’t last, at least they tried. (And maybe will make a comeback one day.)
This is dedicated to the forgotten boy bands. Let’s see how many you can remember. And many you remember loving.
1990s boy bands you may have forgotten about
Dream Street (Years active: 1999-2002)
Dream Street was anything but a dream being that they were short-lived. The group didn’t last long due to some of the band members’ parents believed their children were exposed to alcohol, women, and pornography. This was taken to court and when the judges ruled in favor of the band, they were released from their contract. There was one silver lining: Jesse McCartney.
Another Bad Creation (Years active: 1990-1993)
New Edition member Michael Bivins was all about his business when New Edition first split. While it’s known that he discovered Boyz II Men, many may not remember he also discovered the group Another Bad Creation. His vision with this group was for them to be the next Jackson 5 of hip hop. With a hit like “Iesha”, one would think this group was on its way to the top. Unfortunately, their run was short-lived. No one knows what happened to them.
3T (Years active: 1995-2003)
Being born into music royalty has its perks. Case in point: 3T. 3T are brothers Taj, Taryll, and T.J.; their connection? Their Father is Tito Jackson, their Aunt is Janet Jackson and their uncle was the late, great Michael Jackson. It’s a recipe for What made this work in a sense is that every member of the Jackson Family can sing (at least hold a note). So of course, giving a music career a shot is the norm. 3T gave it a shot. One successful single is better than none, right?
5ive (Years active: 1997-2001)
The male version of the Spice Girls. That was the vision for these 5 guys from the UK. Despite selling 10 million albums across the UK/US, they couldn’t top the success of their first album. Here’s a fun fact: "Bye, Bye, Bye" was written for this group, but they turned it down. Boy, wonder what happened to that song?
BBmak (Years Active: 1996-2003)
The best thing about '90s boy bands is this: they all have one song that was hard to escape. In this case, it was BBmak’s "Back Here." This song was played everywhere. Aeropostale, Abercrombie & Finch, Claire’s, Icing, and Limited had this song on repeat in their stores. It was fun, it was lighthearted, and every teeny bopper’s dream. Sadly, they were unable to top that success. We’ll never forget you all.
Shai (Years Active: 1992-1993, present)
Remember this lesson. If you ever fall in love again, make sure they’re just your friend. Wise words from the R&B group Shai. This group had the makings to be one of the best R&B groups of all time. However, their debut album didn’t quite reach the success of “If I Ever” and “Baby I’m Yours." Despite of, it’s good to hear that they’re still together and doing shows.
All-4-One (Years Active: 1993-present?)
Didn’t think it would be possible to call a group that won a Grammy “forgotten”, but alas, here we are. All-4-One is another one of those groups that oozed potential. Their style was a jazzy version of those “under the streetlights” quartets.
As mentioned, one hit is better than no hits, and boy did they drop a timeless classic in “I Swear”. Engagement videos, first dances, and high school crush dedications were all attached to this song. All-4-One snagged a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 1995 and unfortunately, that was pretty much it. They still tour and create music, but nothing has been able to rise above the 1994 hit.