STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Living In The Spotlight Featuring SWV

Things you may or may not know about one of our all-time favorite groups. Everybody loves them some SWV!
  1. Get To Know: SWV

    Sisters With Voices, better known as SWV (Cheryl "Coko" GambleTamara "Taj" Johnson and Leanne "Lelee" Lyons), is an American female R&BGrammy Award-nominated vocal trio from New York City. Formed in 1986 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. 

  2. Making It To the Spotlight

    Photo by Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

    The group was created by Lelee and Coko as founding members. After getting their demo together, the trio sent out demo tapes along with bottles of Perrier to catch the attention of record execs all over America. In 1991, after being invited to sing live in front of RCA executives, SWV was signed to an eight-album record deal. In 1998 the group parted ways and the members began leading their own careers. In 2005, SWV reunited and announced plans to record a new album and in 2007 the group began performing together again.

  3. Debut Single

    SWV, 'MCE (Man Crush Everyday)' - Although a new track from the sisters with voices, it takes on vintage '90s sounds of love. (Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
    SWV, 'MCE (Man Crush Everyday)' - Although a new track from the sisters with voices, it takes on vintage '90s sounds of love. (Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

    It's About Time is the debut studio album by American female R&B trio SWV, released by RCA Records on October 27, 1992 (see 1992 in music). It was certified multi platinum by the RIAA for more than two million copies shipped to stores. SWV's first single, "Right Here," was released in the fall of 1992, reaching No. 13 on the R&B charts. 

  4. Coolest Connection

    The Neptunes
    The Neptunes - The Neptunes were one of pop music's most in-demand production teams when they laced Jay with four tracks for The Blueprint 2, including the hit single "Excuse Me Miss." They aren't dominating things the way they were back then, but the pair is still landing big credits in 2012, producing for Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, Stalley and Usher—though most of these were credited to either Pharrell or Chad Hugo individually, not as The Neptunes. Hmm.   (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

    SWV's second single, "Use Your Heart," saw the debut of the super producers The NeptunesThe Neptunes are an American production duo, composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip-hop and R&B artists in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 

  5. Best Collaboration

    "Someone," off of SWV's third album, Release Some Tension, featured one of the biggest producers/artists, Puff Daddy, reaching No. 19 on the Billboard charts, which sampled The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ten Crack Commandment's and Les McCann's "Valantra." 

  6. Exclusive Info

    In an exclusive interview with The Breakfast Club, SWV dished out about info on their TV show with Baller Alert. SWV talked their album "Still," their new reality TV show, on WETV, and the drama that comes with being a part of a girl group. 

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.