1998 Rewind: Remembering Xscape’s Traces of My Lipstick

I’ve been very vocal about my love for the year 1998 – I believe it’s one of the last great years in R&B and hip-hop history. Since 2023 marks 25 years since those magical 12 months, 1998 Rewind will look back at some of the best (and most underrated) albums of that time.

Today we’re joined by my homie and fellow Va native Darius Keeton to discuss Xscape’s final LP. Forget about the reality show drama, this was truly the ladies at their peak.

Take us back and share your memories of first listening to this album.

Darius: Its funny cuz my older cousin, shoutout to my cousin Trina, was a HUGE So So Def fan in the mid to late 90s growing up and was a Da Brat stan before stanning was even a thing. But very strangely enough, Xscape flew on my radar many years later around 2006/2007 when I had to abruptly move from my hometown of Emporia, Va to Charles City County with my paternal grandmother. My aunt was also living there at the time and she had a nightstand full of 90s CDs and this bright red CD caught my eye. It was indeed Traces Of Lipstick. I put it in my CD Player and was immediately obsessed. It really became my comfort CD while I was still getting used to my new environment. Side note: I’m still confused on the hate of Kandi’s voice because at my first listen, she was immediately my favorite voice out the group but that’s just me.

Edd: I’ll probably talk about this a lot during this series, but in 1998 College Edd doing a lot of driving from my job at Babbage’s – what you gamers know today as Gamestop – to my parents’ new home, which was nearly an hour away. Those loooong commutes meant I spent a lot of quality time with these 98 albums, and it’s why I can recite all of ‘em down to the ad-libs. Traces of My Lipstick was my soundtrack on many long nights. I just threw the CD in my Discman, put that ragged little cassette adapter into my Chevy Cavalier’s deck and listened to Tocha n’ dem yell all night. Great times.

Talk about your pick for best song

Darius: “Softest Place on Earth”

Best song has to go to “Softest Place on Earth.” When a song can take you to another place while only using harmonies and lyrics with a lush yet smooth production, you can never go wrong. Still upset that the group’s tension was so high that we couldn’t get a music video. I bet the visuals would have been dope.

Edd: “Am I Dreamin”

I know y’all are gonna see this and say ‘OF COURSE HE PICKED A KEITH SWEAT SONG.’ To the haters I say, “well, OBVIOUSLY,” but bias aside, “Am I Dreamin” is an incredible remake of an already-incredible song. The vastly underrated Ol Skool have so much chemistry with the ladies on this track; it just oozes with emotion. No shade at all to my girl Sharon Bryant from Atlantic Starr but this version gets verrrrrrrrrrrry close to topping that original classic.

Which song featured had the best video?

Darius: “Am I Dreamin”

Even though this is an Ol’ Skool & Xscape video, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes did a really good small acting job in this video. Lord rest her beautiful soul. It was nice seeing a girl group member in another girl group’s video. The video was kinda a typical 90s love plot video with acting but everyone looked great in the video. For some reason this video reminds of a random episode of a 90s Black love sitcom. Overall it’s still a great video.

Edd: “Am I Dreamin”

Yes, I’m going with the King Keef track again, give me a break. But to be honest, the pickings are very slim. “The Arms of the One Who Loves You” rehashes the A Different World wedding scene. There’s barely anything going on in “My Little Secret” besides uncomfortable close-ups and Kandi sliding down walls. And I could have SWORN there was a video for “Softest Place on Earth” but it doesn’t exist – guess it’s the Mandela affect, like thinking that Sinbad had a Shazaam movie or Big Sean ever rapped on beat. So “Am I Dreamin” wins by default, even though outing your homie’s girlfriend as a secret stripper seems pretty shady. Points for creativity, I guess?

What’s your pick for best songwriting on the album?

Darius: “Softest Place on Earth”

Easily again, “Softest Place on Earth.” Joe’s pen was strong on this track. He can write a sensual ballad about love making with metaphors that ain’t too vulgar. I swear this single deserved way better. Again shoutout to the R&B veteran Joe for giving this song to the girls.

Edd: “Softest Place on Earth”

Earlier this week there was a convo on Twitter asking if music was raunchier today than in the past. In terms of hip-hop, it’s absolutely tamer. There’s no way Too Short or Akinyele survives in THIS climate. But R&B? I do think it’s raunchier today because we’ve lost the art of artistic writing. This song is a perfect example. Joe Thomas (yep, that Joe), wrote a song about digging around in some lady’s vagina but he does it with such grace and beauty. Sex in R&B ain’t new but I miss when there was a bit of poetry to it.

Best production goes to…

Darius: “I Will”

I’m actually gonna show love and highlight one of my favorite uptempo’s on the album, “I Will.” Jermaine Dupri in his So So Def manner, flipped a Thug Life sample and made it into a dope hip hop soul banger. I love bopping my head like that Jay-Z meme every time I get to that track on my rotation and I love how JD utilizes those signature 90s So So Def hi-hats on the sample.

Edd: “The Runaround”

Tough choice but I’m giving props to Daryl Simmons for “The Runaround.” Maybe it’s because the album is so mellow but hyperactive production matches the urgency of the song’s lyrics. I’ve said a million times that a great song tells a great story, and the production has to be a character in that story itself. The rising tempo adds to the ladies’ frustrations. Also shout out to Leferron Miles and Tamika Scott’s simplistic but catchy bounce on “All I Need.”

Which song should have been the next single?

Darius: “One of those Love Songs”

“One of those Love Songs” has Urban AC Radio written all over it. Another one of my favorites. I kept thinking in my head when I very first heard this track “I have heard this song before, it wasn’t a single ever?” Then I realized….Mariah’s “Thank God I Found You” (iykyk). This would have easily been a radio hit but also would be great paired up as a Double A-side with “I Will” for the uptempo lovers and Mainstream Urban radio.

Edd: “The Runaround”

Even though I ranked “Your Eyes” above it, “The Runaround” should have been the next single. Most of the singles from this album were pretty mellow – “The Runaround” is midtempo but full of the 90s drama straight from daytime talk shows. The should have had a Jerry Springer-themed video. Couldn’t age any worse than the “Am I Dreamin’” video.

Which of the ladies had the album’s standout performance?

Darius: Tiny

Now we know Tocha is basically the powerhouse of group but I feel Tiny had a great contribution vocally to this album. She sounded great on the bridge of “Softest Place on Earth,” taking the top note with Tocha on the bridge of “One of Those Love Songs,” and almost singing entirely lead on a couple of other songs, and of course my favorite, her beautiful adibs on the outro of “Hold On.” We don’t give her enough credit and I used to see people online claim that she couldn’t sing….CHILE BYE! She is currently holding down Tocha’s verses on “Softest Place on Earth” on tour. Nasally where?

Edd: Tocha

I know the current wave is to wish ill upon LaTocha (and I get it, that Queens of R&B reality show did her NO favors) but let’s not rewrite history, the woman can blow. She can bring the power “The Runaround” or scale back way back and get sensual on a track like “Softest Place on Earth.” Her range is impressive and she’s the signature voice of the group. Dems the facts.

The infamous Queens of R&B reality show – does it help, harm or have no effect on Xscape’s legacy?

Darius: I honestly wouldn’t necessarily say it tarnished their legacy but I do hate how it tarnished their friendship with SWV. I was very excited for the show but you know reality television….less reality, more drama. But hey, LaTocha and Coko still seem to be close, obviously. I think I’m just gonna step away from reality shows that deal with my favorite Icons from the 90s and the 2000s for now on. But they’re still selling out shows to this day so their legacy still stands.

Edd: WHEW PLAYA. I held off on watching that show for months because I knew it would depress me, and man was I right. Nothing says 90s R&B girl group like ridiculous bickering and money drama. I think short term it will do a number on their image but I don’t think it will change their standing among longtime fans, and it certainly won’t erase what their hits did for genre. But let’s keep the drama at home next time, please.

Is Traces of My Lipstick Xscape’s best album?

Darius: Hands down yes! They had a great first 2 albums but this was probably their coming of age album. Its very well polished and has the heavy hitters on the writing and production, i.e., Diane Warren, Babyface, Daryl Simmons etc. giving them a sound that is very much them. There are a few albums I can listen to with no skips and this is one. Even though we didn’t know this was to be their last album, they went out with a bang!

Edd: There is no bad Xscape album, the ladies went three-for-free for platinum selling, four-star albums. But yes, I think their final album was their most complete. Sure, it could have used another uptempo cut, but there isn’t one bad song here and the album flows expertly. I hate that we lost Xscape when they still had gas in the tank but at least they went out on top.

Who got it most right, Darius or Edd? Share your memories of this great album below.