Brothers Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, along with Keith Mitchell, a friend of the Edmonds, created the American R&B group After 7 in 1987. The group’s moniker and record deal with Virgin Records in 1988 were facilitated by pop/R&B singer-songwriter and record producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, who is also the group’s older brother. In 1989, After 7 published their self-titled debut album, which went platinum-selling and gave rise to the hits “Heat of the Moment,” “Ready or Not,” and “Can’t Stop.” Both “Ready or Not” and “Can’t Stop” peaked at No. 1 R&B and in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
Their 1992 LP Takin’ My Time, which also achieved platinum status, featured the R&B hit mashup “Baby, I’m for Real/Natural High.” Reflections, a 1995 album by After 7 that went gold, served as their final release before the group split up in 1997. Years later, the trio resumed their tour with Jason Edmonds, Melvin Edmonds’ son, taking the place of his father. Melvin later returned to the group for their successful 2016 comeback album Timeless, which featured three adults R&B top 10 hits: “Runnin’ Out,” “I Want You,” and “Let Me Know.”
