112

Formed in the early 1990s in Atlanta, Georgia, the R&B quartet 112 centers on singers Daron Jones, Michael Keith, Quinnes “Q” Parker, and Marvin “Slim” Scandrick, emerging from a milieu shaped by gospel, new jack swing, and the nascent hip-hop movement. Discovered by Sean “Puffy” Combs at an Atlanta club whose name they adopted, 112 joined Bad Boy Records and became part of New York’s R&B and hip-hop soul scene. The group released a self-titled debut in 1996, followed by Room 112 in 1998, which established their blend of slow ballads, mid-tempo cuts, and more dance-oriented tracks, distinguished by ensemble vocals, tight harmonies, and rap-influenced rhythms. With Part III in 2001 and Hot & Wet in 2003, 112 solidified this mix of contemporary R&B and hip-hop soul while multiplying collaborations within the Bad Boy orbit. A move to other Def Jam–affiliated imprints led to Pleasure & Pain in 2005, before a period of more fragmented activity between solo projects and reunion tours. After several years of relative discographic quiet, 112 reconvened in the studio and released Q, Mike, Slim, Daron in 2017, extending their formula of melodic R&B infused with gospel influences, slow grooves, and duets with the American rap scene.