When you look at the cover of this 12" for the first time, with this cat with curly hair and his leather jacket, you could think it could be some smooth RnB shit... but in fact, not at all !
"Keep It Real" is the first single released by Anthony Brownlee a.k.a Mellow T originally from Hartford Connecticut, then moved to New Jersey after being signed by Columbia in 1993. Mellow-T was discovered by Raymond Pouncey, the executive producer, in a talent show that he held. Mellow T was in an original group that he put together named The Little Rapscals.
"Keep It Real" is available on the wax in its LP & Remix versions, both produced by Greg Nice from Nice & Smooth. In terms of productions, the LP version contains samples from "Jamilah" performed Houston Person and from "I know You Got Soul" performed by Bobby Byrd.
"Keep It Real" was supposed to be part of Mellow-T's album entitled "The Best Kept Secret" produced by Greg Nice, Phat Kat and Tony Dofat, but it never came out unfortunately. Phat Kat in a recent chat, declared that the connection happened thru Greg Nice when he was working on "Paranoia" for Nice & Smooth, Ray Pouncey was looking for tracks for Mellow T's album. Phat Kat was surprised the album was shelved... Another interesting unreleased album I'd like to see coming out one day... fingers crossed !
After that, Mellow-T released the single entitled "Pressure" on Rugged Route Records in 1995... It was his last single before disappearing from the music scene ...
