They call themselves R. Kelly and MGM-that`s short for Mentally Gifted Men.
After taking the South Side club scene by storm with their version of hip hop/street funk, the Chicago group recently pocketed $100,000 as ”Artist of the Year” on Natalie Cole`s ”Big Break,” a weekly talent contest (shown at 11 p.m. Saturdays on WFLD-Ch. 32). With a high-energy and highly choreographed delivery of their song ”Giving All My Love,” they beat out nine other finalists to win the grand prize.
”We enjoy building the intensity of the crowd. That`s the most exciting thing,” said lead singer and songwriter Robert Kelly. ”We like to create an image that makes people want to see us real bad.”
In a volatile industry where packaging can make or break a group, image is everything-and Kelly, 23, and the Mentally Gifted Men (Vince Walker, 21, Shawn Brooks, 21, and Marc McWilliams, 22) know it. They`re packaging themselves in an image that screams ”clean-cut” yet ”street.” And it all starts with their name.
”It really says a lot,” said Walker, referring to the acronym MGM and alluding to their ”rough” growing-up years. ”What it says is that as much as we`re musically gifted, we`re mentally gifted-keeping drug free, staying above the average group and going in the positive direction. Definite role models.”
They`re careful about what they wear on stage. On ”Big Break,” their look was sophisticated street: Oversized black suede suits with satin collars and rhinestones on the arms were done by Chicago fashion designer Barbara Bates, whose clients also include Kool Moe Dee, Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston.
”Walking around with beepers and with hats turned to the side, you`re labeled a gangbanger,” said Kelly, about looks they consider taboo for the stage. ”I think it`s very important the image you portray. Kids identify with it. On stage you have to be careful.”
Music with a message
In addition to their dress, Kelly, Walker, Brooks and McWilliams-who, collectively, compile an eclectic list of musical idols: Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, New Edition, the Beatles, Michael McDonald, Kenny Rogers and, yes, the Carpenters-are conscious of what their music says.
”The music that they do-fast or slow-really has a message-strong lyrics,” said Eric Payton, the group`s manager. They sing about racial harmony in ”We Are Family” and about the danger of drugs in ”Let`s Get It Together.” In ”Give Us Some,” they sing about respect.
Kelly pens many of the songs. Formerly a full-time street performer, he perfected his ”craft” in downtown subway stations, ”testing” his music on the commuter crowd and on a good day, pulling in $300 or $400.
”It was like a little chain reaction,” said Walker, explaining how the group came to be. ”I knew Shawn. Shawn knew Marc. And Marc knew Robert.”
And they all shared a common interest in music.
Walker, Brooks and McWilliams, who now share a condo in Hyde Park, formed MGM 2 1/2 years ago, and they played primarily in small clubs. Kelly joined the group, attaching his name as lead singer, six months later.
As a fledgling foursome, they practiced eight hours a day-”like basic training,” said Payton. In good weather, practice was held on the rocks at Lake Michigan in Hyde Park. In bad, their ”studio” was the basement at Payton`s house.
”We always found a way to rehearse-nothing could stop that,” said Payton.
After meeting with initial success on the local club scene, the four quit their daytime jobs to devote themselves entirely to music. (Besides Kelly who was the street performer, Walker worked as a telemarketer, Brooks as a food service worker and McWilliams as an entrepreneur in the balloon business.)
The black Beatles
Talent shows proved a boon to their success. They`ve won local contests and they`ve opened for major acts like En Vogue, Heavy D & the Boyz and Kool Moe Dee and have been known to electrify crowds all by themselves at the New Regal Theater and The Cotton Club.
Where do they go from here?
”Farther up,” said Kelly. An album will be released in June on Jive Records, and the group hopes to hit the road soon and play other cities.
”We don`t want to be a fly-by-night group,” said Kelly who notes their goal is to become the black Beatles. Not in terms of sound, that is, but in terms of appeal.
”There was something mysterious about them. And there was a chemistry,” said Kelly. ”They were just some guys. They got together and played the streets and all of a sudden they got super-stardom.” –
![Two men from Chicago and another from the west suburbs have each been sentenced to several years in federal prison after guilty pleas on robbery charges, including holding up a UPS driver in Oak Park and carjacking motorists there and in other nearby areas. Jaheim Henyard, 22, of Chicago, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison. Darius Young, 28, of west suburban Berwyn, was sentenced to four years. Xavier Tate, 27, of Chicago, was sentenced to seven years and nine months. The federal sentences were handed down this month by U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis, […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/05/44LNFP4QT5CLBETOX7QHYRYAG4.jpg?w=535 "Two men from Chicago and another from the west suburbs have each been sentenced to several years in federal prison after guilty pleas on robbery charges, including holding up a UPS driver in Oak Park and carjacking motorists there and in other nearby areas. Jaheim Henyard, 22, of Chicago, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison. Darius Young, 28, of west suburban Berwyn, was sentenced to four years. Xavier Tate, 27, of Chicago, was sentenced to seven years and nine months. The federal sentences were handed down this month by U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis, […]")
