Superfriends Clique

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (March 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

The Superfriends Clique (also known as the Supafriends and Super Friends) is a collective of Virginia-based rappers and R&B singers all closely associated with each other through shared history, branched off DeVante Swing's Swing Mob label and collective. The members frequently appear on each other's albums, songs, and share production with primary producer, Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley.

The Clique consists of

Producer/songwriter/rapper: Timbaland
Rapper Magoo
Rapper/producer/songwriter/singer Missy Elliott
Singer/songwriter/actor Ginuwine
Singer/model/dancer/actress Aaliyah
Boygroup Playa
Singer Nicole Wray

Associated with the Superfriends

Singer/actress/model/songwriter Brandy
Singer Tweet
Rapper Bubba Sparxxx
Singer Kiley Dean
Rapper Ms. Jade
Rapper/actor Ludacris
Singer Nelly Furtado
Singer Justin Timberlake

The members of the clique frequently appear on albums and songs by other members of the clique, similar to works by members of the Wu-Tang Clan. To a lesser extent, artists such as Lil' Kim, R. Kelly and Jay-Z, are also associates of the Superfriends.

[edit] History

Mosley grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, where he became acquainted with Missy Elliott and Magoo. Mosley made hip-hop backing tracks on a Casio keyboard he owned as a disc jockey known as "DJ Timmy Tim". Elliott heard his material and, taken by Mosley's unique sense of rhythm, immediately began working with him. After several collaborations, the trio moved to Suffern, NY.

Timbaland & Magoo, as well as Elliott (with her female group Sista), became part of DeVante Swing's stable of Swing Mob signees known as "Da Bassment" crew, where they joined artists and groups such as male singer Ginuwine, male vocal group Playa, and the girl group Sugah.

By 1995, most of DeVante's acts had broken ties with the producer and went their own ways. Elliott, Timbaland, Magoo, Playa, and Ginuwine continued to collaborate, and began working on projects together.

Aaliyah became a member of the collective in 1996, when she worked with Timbaland and Elliott on her second album, One In A Million. It went on to become Aaliyah's breakout album, selling over three million copies, and garnering mass critical acclaim for Aaliyah, Timbaland, and Elliott.