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The Rude Boys were discovered by Gerald Levert in the late ’80s in their native Cleveland, Ohio. Levert became their mentor and got them signed to Atlantic Records. Rude Awakening was their first album and “Written All Over Your Face” thrust them into the commercial stratosphere by giving them Billboard’s R&B song of the year in 1991. The song hit number one along with “Are You Lonely For Me” establishing lead singer Joe N Little III’s voice as one of the most outstanding of the era. Their Rude House sophomore album yielded “My Kinda Of Girl” which was remixed by hip-hop DJ/producer Clark Kent and featured an unknown Jay-Z. The up and coming rapper’s performance with The Rude Boys made the song popular in the rap world. “Go Ahead and Cry” was the other hit from their second effort. The group’s contract with Atlantic ended and Joe Little recorded a solo album for Atlantic in 1994 titled Puttin It Down. They reunited to release Rude As Ever in 1997. Joe Little has been involved in several entrepreneurial ventures and is the co-founder of the Beanz Coffee Club. Little has reformed The Rude Boys with new members Gee Labeaud and Keni Myles. Their new single, “S.E.X.Y” is the first leak from an untitled forthcoming project.