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Total (group)

From Alfawiki
Total
Company typeMusical group
IndustryMusic
Founded1994
Headquarters
New Jersey
,
United States
ProductsMusic albums, singles

Total is a prominent American R&B girl group that played a significant role within the Bad Boy Records roster during the mid-1990s. The ensemble consists of original members Kima Raynor, Keisha Spivey, and Pamela Long. Total gained widespread recognition through their feature on Mase's track "What You Want" as well as their own popular singles such as "Kissin' You", "Can't You See" featuring The Notorious B.I.G., "What About Us?", and "Trippin'" with Missy Elliott. Additionally, Pamela Long provided the chorus vocals for The Notorious B.I.G.'s hit "Hypnotize", although she was not officially credited. Total's initial appearance was on the hook of The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut single "Juicy", widely regarded as a classic in hip-hop history.

In 2019, Pamela Long revealed she was working on her first solo album and released a music video for her single "Why".

Career

The group first attracted attention by performing the chorus on The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut single, "Juicy". They also appeared on both the original and "Hip Hop Remix" versions of his subsequent single "One More Chance". Shortly afterward, they collaborated with Bad Boy Records founder Sean Combs to develop their debut album. Their initial single, "Can't You See?", featured The Notorious B.I.G. and was included on the New Jersey Drive soundtrack; it reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to number 2 on the R&B chart. Nearly a year later, their self-titled debut album was released, yielding two additional R&B top ten hits: "No One Else"—including a remix with Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, and Da Brat—and "Kissin' You", which also had a remix featuring Sean Combs. This album earned platinum certification from the RIAA.

While preparing their sophomore album, Total appeared on several top ten tracks such as LL Cool J's "Loungin (Who Do Ya Luv)", Foxy Brown's "I Can't", and notably on Mase's "What You Want" featuring Keisha Epps. Pamela Long contributed uncredited vocals to the chorus of The Notorious B.I.G.'s hit "Hypnotize". The group also released the single "What About Us?", produced by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, which appeared on the Soul Food soundtrack.

Their follow-up album, Kima, Keisha, and Pam, was met with positive critical reception and achieved solid commercial success, earning gold status from the RIAA. The lead single, another collaboration with Missy Elliott, titled "[[Trippin' (Total song)|TrippinTemplate:' "]]," secured a spot within the US Billboard Hot 100 top ten. The subsequent single, "Sitting Home", reached the top 10 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart but did not gain substantial radio airplay despite heavy rotation of its music video; a remix version featured rapper Shyne.

Following Kima, Keisha, and Pam, Total lent their vocals to rap duo Gang Starr's 1999 track "Discipline" and were featured on Tony Touch's 2000 single "(I Wonder Why) He's the Greatest DJ". They also contributed songs to movie soundtracks including 3 Strikes with "Crave" and Bait with "Quick Rush".

Their final official collaboration came in 2001 with Da Beatminerz and Talib Kweli on the track "Anti-Love Movement" from the album Brace 4 Impak.

Comeback

In 2014, Long and Dyson reunited to reform the duo known as "Total." On November 30 of that year, they appeared at the 2014 Soul Train Music Awards performing "Not Tonight (Ladies Night)" alongside Lil' Kim, Da Brat, Missy Elliott, and a posthumous appearance by Lisa Lopes via video. Angie Martinez was notably the only original member who did not participate.

By May 2015, Total joined R. Kelly on the Funk Fest tour. The following year, Keisha Spivey returned to join the nationwide Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour.

Currently

Since 2006, Keisha Spivey has been married to actor Omar Epps and lives in California with their two children as well as Omar’s daughter from a prior marriage.

Pamela Long continues to reside in New Jersey and is actively involved with the Agape Family Worship Center located in Rahway. In 2021, she made an appearance on BET Presents: The Encore.

Kima released a song titled "What U Want," which features her sister Vita, a rapper; this track surfaced online through a leak.

In 2024, Epps and Dyson reunited for the Queens of R&B Tour, performing without Long. The tour also included acts such as Xscape, SWV, 702, and Mýa.

Discography

Studio albums

Videography

References

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