112 (band)

112 (pronounced "one-twelve") is an American R&B quartet from Atlanta, Georgia. Formerly artists on Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy Records, the group signed to the Def Soul roster in early 2002. They had great success in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Bad Boy Records and success
The group members met while attending high school. The group was originally called Forte and the original members were Gabriel.V, Dylan Maher Daron Jones, Michael Keith, and Reginald Finley. The group added a fifth member, Aldon Lagon, to have a bass in the group. They later added one more, Marvin Scandrick, because of his high falsetto. After Marvin's mother used her son to jerk the group members around the other guys decided to replace Marvin with fellow schoolmate Quinnes Parker. When Marvin's mom saw the replacement move they where pulling she straightened up and Marvin stayed in the group. The group was now a sextet but not for long. The guys voted to have Aldon leave the group because he couldn't keep up with the group's harmonies. The group soon started to grow apart and they decided to focus on other interests because they felt that they weren't serious about a singing career at first so Reginald Finley left the group and decided to enter the military after high school. The group decided to give it one last shot and performed at a talent show in 1994. Reginald was on military leave so he performed at the show with members Quinnes, Daron, and Mike. Marvin wasn't able to perform at that particular show. At the show they were discovered by would-be managers Courtney Sills and Kevin Wales of Worldwide Entertainment and they decided to search for a record deal for the group. Reginald however had to fly back to Germany because he was under a contract with the government to return to the military. Marvin continued with the group after Reginald had to leave again and Courtney Sills and Kevin Wales still liked the group's sound without Reginald. Reginald later appeared on the TV show Wife Swap and has his own radio show called the Infidel Guy. They brought the group to the attention of producer and Bad Boy Records CEO Sean "Puffy" Combs, who was a friend of Kevin Wales. The group, now comprised of Quinnes Parker, Daron Jones, Marvin Scandrick, and Michael Keith, sang outside of Club 112 in Atlanta for Combs and he was impressed and quickly signed them to his label Bad Boy Records. He changed the group's name to 112 after Club 112.

In 1996, the group released their first single, "Only You" featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and hit the Top 40 and topped the Billboard Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales chart for a week before being certified gold. The release their debut album, self-titled debut album, performed well, and eventually went double-platinum. It featured the hit singles "Only You" and "Cupid," both of which peaked at #13 on the Hot 100 as well as reaching #3 and #2 on the R&B charts respectively.

In June 1997, 112 hit the Top 40 helping out Puff Daddy and Faith Evans with "I'll Be Missing You" (from Puff Daddy's No Way Out) and the song went Top 10 by the end of the month. "I'll Be Missing You" topped the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart for 11 weeks, the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart for 9 weeks, the Billboard R&B Singles chart for 8 weeks, the Billboard R&B Singles Sales chart for 8 weeks, and the Billboard Rap Singles chart for 8 weeks.

In 1998, the group released their second double platinum album, Room 112. The album's biggest hits were "Love Me", featuring rapper Mase, reaching #8 on the R&B charts, and "Anywhere", which reached #5.

Their third album, Part III, was released in 2001 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. They then topped the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart for 2 weeks, the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for 2 weeks, and the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart for 3 weeks with "It's Over Now", and became their only number one hit on the R&B charts. This then led to the album topping the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for a week. By June 2001, the group had topped the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart for 6 weeks with "Peaches & Cream" and managed to reach #4 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B charts. The album went triple-platinum.

In February 2002, 112 were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Peaches & Cream"). Puff Daddy received a temporary restraining order to help stop Def Jam Records from reportedly trying to 'steal' 112 away from Bad Boy Entertainment, but inevitably the group did join Def Jam on a joint-deal with Bad Boy and Def Soul.

Def Jam and U Already Know
In 2003, the group left Bad Boy Records, releasing their fourth album Hot & Wet on Def Soul. The album didn't carry the same success as earlier efforts and failed to make any noticeable impressions on the charts. From the album they released "Na, Na, Na" featuring Dancehall legend Supercat.

Pleasure & Pain, the group's fifth album, was released in 2005 and saw more success. The album eventually reached platinum status and featured the popular single "U Already Know." The album is their first to come with a parental advisory sticker, reportedly caused by a rap from Three 6 Mafia.

One Twelve Music Group, The Inc. and solo projects
Recent reports have announced that Daron Jones is no longer a member of the group and is embarking on a solo career. 112 have also formed their own label One Twelve Music Group. 112 continues to do shows world-wide as well as in the States. While touring, Slim, Q and Mike seem to be embarking on their own solo projects also anticipated to come out in 2007. Mike goes by "Dangerus" and has a website called Dangerusonline.com, and has two songs that have leaked "she's my superstar and "Sexy". Slim is featured with Three 6 Mafia on 8Ball & MJG's 2nd single "Cruzin'" on the new album "Ridin High", and there have also recently been rumours that he has signed a solo record deal.

Discography

 * 1996: 112
 * 1998: Room 112
 * 2001: Part III
 * 2003: Hot & Wet
 * 2005: Pleasure & Pain
 * 2008:  The Classical

Grammy Award history

 * 1997: Best Rap Performance by A Duo Or Group: "I'll Be Missing You" (Puff Daddy, Faith Evans and 112)
 * 2001: Best R&B Group or Duo: "Peaches & Cream" (nominated)mms