MoKenStef
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Defunct | 2000 (initially) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 2000, reunited in 2014 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
MoKenStef was a female R&B trio originating from Los Angeles, United States, active between 1994 and 2000. The name of the group is a combination derived from the first syllables of each member’s given names: Monifa, Kenya, and Stefanie. Their debut album, Azz Izz, was released in 1995 and featured their most successful single, "He's Mine", which climbed to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and briefly appeared at number seventy on the UK charts. Their subsequent release, "Sex in the Rain," reached number forty-one on the US R&B chart.
History
The formation of MoKenStef dates back to 1990 when Kenya Hadley (born September 21, 1972) and Stefanie Sinclair (born September 27, 1972), who were friends and cheerleaders at Morningside High School in Inglewood, sought a third member to complete their hip-hop dance crew. Monifa Bethune (born September 28, 1972), a student at Hollywood High School, joined after winning an audition. Initially, the trio performed as dancers for hip-hop artists such as AMG with "B**** Betta Have My Money" and Big Daddy Kane’s "This Is for the Lover in You" before honing their singing abilities. Early in their career, they encountered challenges including an unfruitful contract with a local production company and difficulties with management agreements while juggling college and other employment.
Their significant break occurred in 1994 when they caught the attention of Greg Jesse and Anthony Lewis, owners of Outburst Records, during a recording session with rapper AMG. Signing with Outburst under Def Jam’s umbrella, they commenced work on their album. The last planned single was a rendition of Smokey Robinson’s "Baby Come Close," which was also remixed into "I Can't Help It," a cover of Michael Jackson’s song. Both versions were distributed as promotional releases accompanied by a music video directed by Cameron Casey but did not receive an official commercial launch.
In 1995, MoKenStef actively promoted "He's Mine" through appearances on television programs such as Soul Train, All That, and Video Soul.
Post-Azz Izz Activities
In 1996, MoKenStef contributed the track "Jock'n Me" to the soundtrack of the film Phat Beach. Later, in 1999, they released "He Say She Say" to support Cool Dre’s compilation album Hits 4 the New Millennium, although it did not achieve commercial success. The group officially disbanded in 2000 but reunited in 2014 and continue to engage with fans via Instagram under the handle Therealmokenstef.
Album
- Azz Izz (1995)
Singles
- "He's Mine" (1995)
- "Sex in the Rain" (1995)
- "Baby Come Close" (1995) (promotional release)
- "He Say She Say" (1999) (promotional release)