Way Back: 100% Ginuwine (1999)

On March 16, 1999, Ginuwine released his second studio album, 100% Ginuwine.

While the recording and distribution of his second project would come more than two years after his debut, much of the formula was the same. Timbaland returned to produce all but 3 of the album’s 16 tracks. Of course, his presence was much of what made Ginuwine so successful the first time around. The 90’s had plenty of strong male vocalists, but few could boast the consistently headnotic production of a young Timbaland.

The first single was “What’s So Different?”, an upbeat track with a sample of Godzilla’s roar playing throughout the chorus. Here, Ginuwine lambasts an unfaithful lover, even though he’s the one helping her to maintain her infidelity, a veteran move.

Written by the late Static Major, “So Anxious” was the album’s second and possibly most recognizable single. At a slow tempo, G tells his lady just how much he awaits her arrival that night. This would be the album’s biggest hit, peaking at #2 on US Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

“Same Ol’ G” finds our star in an introspective state. Ginuwine reflects on his fame, maturation, and how he’s grown to value his privacy and individuality in stardom.

“I used to be the main one clubbin’
But now I choose to stay at home
Most of my friends still thuggin’
This time the G’s full grown”

One of the real treats of Timbaland’s early production was when he’d completely switch the beat up on the back half of a song. He did that on both “Do You Remember?” with a sample of Queen’s “Flash Theme” and again on “None of Your Friends Business” with some heavy jazz vibes.

“Final Warning” features the late Aaliyah. It’s a silly track that shows the two Swing Mob affiliates finishing one another’s lines. This collective, that also included Missy Elliot and Magoo over Timbaland’s beats, provided consistent heath throughout the late 90’s. This would be one of the last songs that they’d collaborate on before Aaliyah’s passing.

100% Ginuwine went on to go double platinum, his second such album in two tries. Still, Ginuwine’s name wasn’t mentioned in any of the “King of R&B” debates a few months ago. A proficient dancer and singer with the requisite hits came up in a stacked era and probably peaked too far ahead of the internet and social media. But those facts can’t combat what may’ve been his best work. Spin 100% Ginuwine to celebrate this classic project’s 20th anniversary.