Don't Be Cruel

by Bobby Brown

Overview

Don't Be Cruel was to Bobby Brown what Control was to Janet Jackson -- a tougher, more aggressive project that shed his "bubblegum" image altogether and brought him to a new artistic and commercial plateau. With "My Prerogative" and the title song, Brown became a leader of new jack swing -- a forceful, high-tech blend of traditional soul singing and rap/hip-hop that's also associated with Guy and Brown's New Edition colleagues, Bell Biv DeVoe. Brown had been a strong advocate of rap since his days with New Edition, and on Cruel, he did even more rapping than before. But for all the tough-mindedness he exhibited on his new jack hits, the charismatic Bostonian hadn't lost his love of sentimental, old-fashioned R&B romanticism -- and he definitely excels in that area on his hits "Every Little Step," "Roni," and "Rock Wit'cha." Much of Cruel was produced by the ubiquitous production/songwriting duo L.A. Reid and Babyface, who've often been accused (and rightly so) of taking a formulaic, cookie-cutter approach to R&B. But here, their work is never less than inspired. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/1990
Label:	Mca
UPC:	0076742218522

Tracks

1. Cruel Prelude
2. Don't Be Cruel
3. My Prerogative
4. Roni
5. Rock Wit'cha
6. Every Little Step
7. I'll Be Good to You
8. Take It Slow
9. All Day All Night
10. I Really Love You Girl
11. Cruel Reprise

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bobby Brown   Primary Artist,Rap,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Kayo   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Karyn White   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Dewayne Sweet   Synthesizer Bass,Drums,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Lee Peters   Vocals (Background)
Ollie Bolds   Vocals (Background)
Bernard Bill   Vocals (Background)
Emilio Conesa   Guitar
Kirk Crumpler   Bass,Synthesizer,Synthesizer Bass
Richard Aguon   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Ruben Laxamana   Special Effects
Tommy Brown   Finger Snaps
Gordon Jones   Multi Instruments,Vocals (Background)
Ervilinda Nasaira Hill   Vocals,Finger Snaps
Mel Jay   Finger Snaps
L.A. Reid   Rap,Multi Instruments
Ronnie Watkins   Vocals (Background)
Flip Kirby   Drums
Teddy Riley   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Babyface   Multi Instruments,Vocals (Background)
Larry White   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Percy Scott   Keyboards
Portia Griffin   Vocals (Background)
Michael Denten   Vocals (Background)
Daryl Simmons   Rap,Vocals (Background)
Aaron Hall   Vocals (Background)
Melecio Magdaluyo   Sax (Soprano)
Lee Drakeford   Vocals (Background)
Ben Rayes   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Lee Peters   Composer
Julie Moss   Design
Kirk Crumpler   Composer
Fred Howard   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Jay Logan   Composer
Dennis Wadlington   Composer
Darnell Bristol   Composer
Ja   Art Direction
Richard Aguon   Drum Fills
Todd Gray   Photography
Ruben Laxamana   Engineer
Tommy Brown   Production Coordination
Dennis Mitchell   Mixing,Mixing Engineer,Mixing,Engineer
Edward Theodore Riley   Composer
Louil Silas Jr.   Producer,Remix Engineer,Executive Producer
Gordon Jones   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Phil Waters   Engineer
Jim Hanneman   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Paul Einger   Mixing Assistant
Bill Dirks   Editing
L.A. Reid   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Gene Griffin   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Remix Engineer
Joe T. Vannelli   Producer,Remix Engineer
Howard Johnston   Engineer
Dennis Austin   Composer
Mitch Gibson   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Dennis Wadington   Composer
Dewayne Sweet   Composer
Teddy Riley   Mixing,Composer
Bobby Brown   Composer,Producer
Babyface   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Larry White   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Remixing,Assistant Engineer
Jon Gass   Mixing,Editing,Engineer,Special Edits,Mixing Engineer
K2   Remixing,Assistant Engineer
Mark Slagle   Remixing,Assistant Engineer
Markell Riley   Drum Programming
Michael Denten   Mixing,Engineer,Drum Technician
Daryl Simmons   Composer
Kenneth Edmonds   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Steve Hall   Mastering
Louis Silas, Jr.   Producer,Remixing,Executive Producer
Don Emerson   Assistant Engineer
Toni Greene   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
John Guggenheim   Assistant Engineer