1999 Rewind: Remembering Ginuwine’s 100% Ginuwine

Are y’all ready to party like it’s 1999? We all love the 90s here at Soul In Stereo, so it’s only right to revisit albums that are marking 25 years in 2024. 1999 Rewind looks back at all your old faves and see how well they hold up.

Twenty-five years ago today, we were, ahem, so anxious for the follow up to Ginuwine’s debut album. The Supafriends clique was on an incredible role and we just knew that Timbaland would take G to the promise land once again. And that’s exactly what happened. Derrick Dunn stops by to reminisce about Ginuwine’s sophomore effort. Is it his best work? Let’s see.

Tell the good people your memories of first hearing this album.

Derrick: My memories of 100% Ginuwine go back to hearing the first single “Same Ol G” in the summer of 1998. If memory serves, Ginuwine performed the song on Planet Groove and mentioned he was back in the studio working on a new album. I wasn’t that big on the second single “What’s So Different,” but shout out to Timbo for a creative sample of a song by The Monkees.

Edd: Here’s something that will blow your minds – it’s no secret that I’m the biggest stan of Missy Elliott and Timbaland’s Supafriends collective that you’ll find, but in the late 90s, I never purchased Ginuwine’s albums for some reason. I was certainly a fan and enjoyed all his singles but hey, we didn’t have all our faves’ music available online FOR FREE like y’all do today. If we wanted an album, we had to drop that $15.99 ($9.99 on release day!) if we wanted to those cuts. You had to spend your coins wisely back then. I didn’t purchase a Ginuwine album until The Life in 2001, which, not shockingly, was when I started my full-time career. I would’t hear 100% Ginuwine in full until the early 2010s when I signed up for Spotify. It was one of the very first albums I heard when I got the app, and I was not disappointed. Wish I copped it back in 99 like everyone else.

Time to talk best song! What’s your pick?

Derrick: “So Anxious”

“So Anxious” exuded sex appeal without ever crossing into crass R. Kelly terrority. Ginuwine could have easily come off as a poor man’s Keith Sweat with the begging he’s doing in the song, but the late great Static’s pen was so strong that it works. It’s suitable musical foreplay and it works.

Edd: “Same Ol’ G”

Funny that you compared “So Anxious” to King Keef because I definitely got those vibes in 99. Before I sat down to listen and rank these songs I would have assumed “So Anxious” would top my list too. But there’s something so smooth and simplistic about “Same Ol’ G” that constantly makes me come back for more. “So Anxious” is a signature hit, but “Same Ol’ G” is just so heartfelt and real. It tops the list for me.

What’s the best video from this project?

Derrick: “None of Ur Friends Business”

For me, the best video was “None of Ur Friends Business” since it paid homage to the enjoyably cheesy “Breakin.” I also liked the concept he cooked up about friends always being in your relationship business.

Edd: “None of Ur Friends Business”

Find me another video where a man dances this hard with a broom. Nothing else comes close.

Which album cut should have been a single?

Derrick: “Final Warning”

While I don’t think it would have made a considerable chart dent, “Final Warning” with Aaliyah is my pick. I would have loved to see the choreography in the video alone. If I get another pick, I’m going with “All Day All Nite” as a Quiet Storm promo single.

Edd: “Final Warning”

“Final Warning” all day. Obviously, a radio cut would be required to tighten things up but between Aaliyah’s star power, her chemistry with G, Static Major’s plantinum pen and harmonies, and a built-in storyline that’s tailor-made for a crazy Hype Williams video, this had a hit written all over it.

Tim was in his bag on the beats. Which song features the best production? And what about best written song?

Derrick: “So Anxious”

From a writing standpoint, I must go with “So Anxious.” Black and Static wrote the hell of that one. Production wise is a tough one. As you mentioned, Timbo was really in his bag. Even if the songwriting didn’t always hit, the production is A1 here. So, in that regard, if I can change it up, I’ll say the worst produced song is the arrangement on “She’s Outta My Life.”

Edd: “So Anxious”

Almost went with “Final Warning” again, but that’s personal preference. If I’m to retain my status as the last Unbiased Album Reviewer alive, “So Anxious” is the way to go, both in terms of production and writing.

G’s achingly passionate performance doesn’t work without lyrics to compliment it and that sultry Timbo productio. Shout out to those Playa boys for making magic with the lyrics. Also it will always be hilarious that Ginuwine paged his woman at 9 p.m. and an hour later he’s LOSING HIS MIND because she hasn’t hit him back. Calm down, homie, she’s probably in the shower. You still have until 11:30 to talk dirty or whatever.

100% Ginuwine was the last album that heavily featured Timbaland’s input. Should Tim have hung on for future projects, or was it the right strategy to move away?

Derrick: This is a tricky question. As the fans know, he lost both his parents within a year after this album came out. They wouldn’t have found a creative gel where he was mentally and where Timbo was going creatively. However, I have often wondered how G’s voice would have sounded in the songs Mr. Mosley produced for Justin Timberlake’s solo debut under the pen game of the late great Static Major.

Edd: Derrick brings up an important piece of the puzzle – the death of both of Ginuwine’s parents took a very heavy toll on him, which would cause a career redirection in the coming years. We were always going to see a different G coming out of that tragedy regardless. That aside, I do think Ginuwine should have moved on to explore other sounds and producers outside the Supafriends bubble – but not that soon. It would have been dope to have at least one more Timbaland and Static-helmed project before venturing off. Again, the impact of his parents’ death changed everything, but one last album with the homies would have been a blessing.

Whom should Ginuwine have toured with in this era?

Derrick: Ideally, I think a co-headlining tour with Jagged Edge and Destiny’s Child as special guests would have done solid numbers. However, if Timberland had served as musical director for a tour that featured Playa, Ginuwine, and Missy, we might still be talking about that tour today.

Edd: I always wanted a Supafriends tour and I’m sad we never got it, especially with the hindsight of losing Aaliyah, Static and Magoo FAR too soon. Even in 2000, when their careers were still relatively fresh and new, I would have LOST MY EVER-LOVING MIND seeing my favorites all united. If we couldn’t make that happen, sign up G for a tour with Jagged Edge and Joe headlined by Keith Sweat himself. BEGGING BOYS 2000 would be an instant sellout.

What are your thoughts on G’s legacy today?

Derrick: I feel that Ginuwine’s legacy is intact; however, I wish he had leaned more into the vibes he presented on The Life. G is 52 now, and like Usher, he needs to focus on that Urban AC lane and less on the commercial lane.

Edd: I’m often frustrated with Ginuwine’s legacy today. Some paint him as a one-hit wonder due to the monumental success of “Pony,” forgetting that he has a gang of platinum and gold albums, a bunch of top 10 singles and, if you want to be technical about it, “Differences” chartered higher on the Billboard 100 than “Pony” anyway. Respect his catalog. But since he’s been relatively under the radar for the past decade – besides the silly concert memes – there’s a generation that underestimates just how good he really is. I got some heat a few years back for not naming him one of the best R&B artists of the 90s – which is no slight to him, there were just LOTS of incredible artists in that era. Everyone can’t be top 5. But in terms of vocal ability, choreography, critical and commercial success, he was a total-package player. We cannot forget how influential and great he was at his peak.

Is Ginuwine underrated, overrated or properly rated?

Derrick: He is appropriately rated, as he can go anywhere worldwide and perform “Pony” and “Differences” to secure an easy bag. Some artists shall remain nameless and can outsing and perform Ginwuine but don’t have songs as big as the previously mentioned ones.

Edd: These are always tricky questions because it depends who is doing the rating. I’ve seen die-hard fans overrate him a tad, often calling 100% Ginuwine a 5-star classic. That’s … a bit much, playa. Meanwhile the usual brainless talking heads on Twitter vastly underrate him because he’s not currently doing features with Summer Walker or SZA. I’ll say he’s slightly underrated by the masses who overlook his non-“Pony” successes.

Is 100% Ginuwine his best album?

Derrick: It’s not his best album. While he had four hit singles and double platinum sales, the sequencing of interludes after “None of Ur Friends Business” and “All Nite All Day” is still annoy 25 years later, especially when I was trying to make Slow Jam mixes for the ladies.

Edd: When I ranked all of G’s albums a few years back, I debated a long time over 100% Ginuwine and The Life for that coveted top spot. The Life is certainly my favorite G project and the themes hit a lot harder when you learn of the personal challenges he was going through at the time. But I think the highs of 100% Ginuwine soar a bit higher than The Life, even though the latter is often a more consistent listen. It’s really close, but I’ll go with 100% Ginuwine as his top effort. It’s no question it’s his defining release.

OK, who did the G justice, Derrick or Edd? Let us know below and share your Ginuwine memories too.