| Total | |
|---|---|
| [[Image:|220px| Total: Kima (bottom), Pam (top), Keisha (right)]] Total: Kima (bottom), Pam (top), Keisha (right)
|
|
| Background information | |
| Origin |  United States |
| Genre(s) | R&B, Hip hop soul |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Label(s) | Bad Boy/Arista |
| Members | |
| Keisha Epps Pamela Long JaKima Raynor Unknown |
|
Total is an American R&B girl group and one of the signature acts of Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records during the 1990s.
Contents |
Biography
Emergence & Total
Total made their first appearance singing the hook on The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut single, "Juicy". Garnering attention for the new group, they were also featured on the original version and "Hip Hop Remix" of his next single "One More Chance". They then immediately hit the studio with Bad Boy Records CEO Sean "Puffy" Combs and began work on their debut album. The first single "Can't You See?", had The Notorious B.I.G. returning the favor with a guest rhyme. Despite collaboration with their now big-star labelmate and the track's appearance on the "New Jersey Drive Soundtrack", the single only peaked at #44 on the Billboard Hot 100. It did however enter the top ten of the R&B Charts and after their self-titled debut album was released shortly thereafter, they produced four more R&B top ten singles, "No One Else" (and its remix featuring Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim and Da Brat) and '"Kissing You" (and its remix featuring Sean "Puffy" Combs). The album was certified platinum by the RIAA.
Guest Appearances & Kima, Keisha, and Pam
While recording their second album, they appeared on numerous top ten singles, including LL Cool J's "Loungin'/Who Do U Love?", Foxy Brown's "I Can't", and Mase's "What You Want" and Pam sang the chorus to the massive "Hypnotize" by The Notorious B.I.G.. The group also released another single, the Missy Elliott and Timbaland track "What About Us" from the Soul Food soundtrack. Their follow-up album, Kima, Keisha, and Pam, debuted to strong reviews, sales, and was certified gold by the RIAA. The first single, another Missy Elliott collaboration, "Trippin'", reached the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their next release, "Sitting Home", didn't garner the same attention. Despite this, in Bad Boy tradition it did get a second life in the hip hop community when a remix of the track featured controversial artist Shyne.
Return of the Bad Girls?
After the release of Kima, Keisha, and Pam, the girls sang the chorus to legendary rap duo Gang Starr's 1999 single "Discipline" and in 2000 they were featured on the Tony Touch single "(I Wonder Why) He's the Greatest DJ". They also contributed to a couple of year 2000 soundtracks ("Crave" from 3 Strikes & "Quick Rush" from ""Bait) and in their last official appearance together were thanked in the credits for their collaboration with Da Beatminerz and Talib Kweli - Anti-Love Movement in 2001. After no output from the group for four years, in 2005 Pam released a solo track on the SynCity "2AM Heat, Vol. 2" mixtape called "Lose Control", announcing she was "doing it big right now". Her claims were unfounded however, as the track did not go beyond this mixtape release. Most recently, it is rumoured that Kima has rejoined the group and an additional fourth member has been added and that Total are now at work on a new album. Keisha (Now known as Keisha Epps) is happily married to actor Omar Epps, and is living in California. Pamela Long still lives in New Jersey and she is a faithful member at Agape Family Worship Center located in Rahway, NJ.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | U.S. | UK | RIAA cert. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Total | 23 | - | Platinum |
| 1998 | Kima, Keisha, and Pam | 39 | - | Gold |
| 2008 | The Irreplaceable | - | - | - |
Videography
- From Total (1995)
- No One Else
- No One Else (Puff Daddy Remix)
- Kissin' You
- Kissin' You / Oh Honey
- Can't You See
- Can't You See (Bad Boy Remix)
- Do You Think About Us
- From Kima, Keisha, and Pam (1998)
- Trippin'
- Sitting Home
- Other
- What About Us? (1997)
- As Guest Artists
- LL Cool J - Loungin' (Who Do U Love?) (1995)
- Ma$e - What U Want (1997)
- Foxy Brown - I Can't (1998)
- Tony Touch - I Wonder Y (He's The Greatest DJ)
- Cameos
- Craig Mack - Flava In Ya Ear (Remix) (Keisha from Total) (1994)
- The Notorious B.I.G. - One More Chance/Stay With Me (1994)
- 112 - Only You - Bad Boy Remix (Keisha from Total) (1996)
- Missy Elliott - The Rain (Supa Supa Fly) (1997)
- Jerome - Too Old For Me (Keisha from Total) (1997)
- Lil' Kim - Not Tonight (Remix) (1997)
