Five Point Plan

During the early-2000s neo-soul wave, Five Point Plan first built a strong following in its hometown of San Francisco before its profile spread past the Bay Area. Fronted by lead singer Latrice Barnett, the ensemble aligned comfortably with peers such as Angie Stone and Macy Gray. In contrast to the solo female singer-songwriters who dominated the genre, Five Point Plan operated as a full band; alongside Barnett’s sultry femininity, its lineup featured Jordan Glasgow on keyboards, Tim Carter on drums and percussion, Michael Cruz on bass and background vocals, and David Metzner on guitar.

The band issued its self-titled debut album in 1999. While the record remained largely confined to San Francisco, it earned favorable local coverage from SF Weekly, Gavin, and Keyboard. By the time Five Point Plan delivered its 2002 sophomore effort, Rare, on the small indie imprint Kobi Records, neo-soul had reached its commercial peak, prompting the group to position itself alongside more established acts in the same vein.