Rahsaan Patterson

Rahsaan Patterson illustrates how an artist rooted in gospel and R&B can still push boundaries creatively. Following a 13-year stretch that included a lead role on Kids Incorporated, songwriting successes such as Brandy's "Baby" and Tevin Campbell's "Back to the World," plus assorted behind-the-scenes work, Patterson issued his first major-label solo project, the self-titled Rahsaan Patterson (1997). That release launched a steady run of moderately charting yet boldly exploratory studio albums. Across this body of work he has displayed his powerful, emotionally resonant tenor along with his production and arranging abilities, most notably on the independent releases After Hours (2004), Wines & Spirits (2007), and Bleuphoria (2011). Although new albums have appeared at intervals ranging from two to eight years, Patterson has stayed in demand as a featured artist and continues to perform regularly. His sixth proper studio album, Heroes & Gods (2019), arrived during his 35th year in entertainment.

Born in New York, Rahsaan Patterson sang in church from a young age. After being cast as "the Kid" on the music-focused children's series Kids Incorporated, he relocated to Los Angeles and entered the industry; the cast performed current hits each episode. He remained a co-star through the first four seasons (1984–1987) and recorded with the ensemble. Martika became the show's earliest solo success when her 1988 self-titled debut, which included the number-one pop hit "Toy Soldiers," enlisted Patterson and fellow cast members as backing vocalists.

Early the following decade Patterson sang lead on Stanley Clarke and George Duke's "No Place to Hide" and contributed background vocals to Martika's Prince-assisted follow-up, Martika's Kitchen. He also appeared on Les Pierce's Colour Club debut and joined writing sessions for Brandy's first album. Alongside Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones of Tease, he co-wrote "Baby," which topped the Billboard R&B/hip-hop chart and reached number four on the pop chart in 1995. Further songwriting credits arrived via Christopher Williams and Tevin Campbell; with Jamey Jaz and Mikelyn Roderick, Patterson co-wrote "Back to the World," a number-16 R&B/hip-hop single for Campbell in 1996.

After signing with RCA, Patterson began recording his debut solo album in 1996, enlisting Les Pierce, Keith Crouch, and Jamey Jaz as key collaborators. In a November Billboard profile, writer J.R. Reynolds characterized the project with terms such as alternative, progressive, and organic. Issued a few months later, Rahsaan Patterson achieved modest success and set the pattern that has defined his output ever since. Supported by the charting ballad "Where You Are," the album peaked at number 48 on the R&B/hip-hop chart. Although the phrase "neo-soul" had surfaced earlier, it gained traction later in 1997 when Kedar Massenburg adopted it for Kedar Entertainment acts Erykah Badu, Big Bub, and Chico DeBarge—an aesthetic Patterson would have suited well.

Between solo projects Patterson contributed to albums by Ray J and Jody Watley in various roles. He also co-wrote Chico DeBarge's "Give You What You Want (Fa Sure)," which charted around the same period as his second album, Love in Stereo. Its standout single, "Treat You Like a Queen," blended classic and modern elements with unusual seamlessness. Pierce and Jaz remained involved, while Van Hunt, still years from his own debut, co-wrote and co-produced one third of the tracks; the set reached number 51 on the R&B/hip-hop chart.

Although the intervals between releases lengthened during the 2000s, Patterson maintained artistic and commercial steadiness on Artistry Music (with Dome handling European distribution). Five years after Love in Stereo he returned in 2004 with After Hours, his most funk-oriented and live-sounding album to date. A full band supported highlights such as "I Always Find Myself" and "So Hot," spanning swampy, voodoo-inflected grooves and fusions recalling circa-1979 Rufus & Chaka Khan and Slave. Three years later Wines & Spirits covered even broader terrain, moving within three tracks from the euphoric contemporary-soul ballad "Feels Good" to "Pitch Black," a brooding piece evoking spiritually conflicted Prince alongside early Cure. Similar emotional and stylistic range marked Bleuphoria (2011), which included appearances by fellow Kids Incorporated alum Shanice, Jody Watley, Faith Evans, and Lalah Hathaway. Like the RCA sets, all three projects charted in the middle of the R&B/hip-hop survey, with Bleuphoria becoming his first to enter the Top 40. Crouch and Jaz continued their central involvement, joined by numerous longtime associates in smaller capacities.

Throughout this era Patterson became a fixture on the "grown folks R&B" touring circuit and contributed to recordings by Jimmy Sommers, Brian Culbertson, Trina Broussard, Boney James, Ledisi, and Hathaway (notably on "Let Go"). He also formed SugaRush Beat Company with Ida Corr and Jarrad Rogers; the trio released a self-titled album via RCA's U.K. division.

Patterson concluded a lengthy solo hiatus with Heroes & Gods. Issued by Shanachie in 2019 during his 35th year in the business, the album fused traditional and contemporary R&B, mature pop, and house music, drawing again on extensive work with Jaz plus contributions from Hathaway, Broussard, Rachelle Ferrell, and Joi Gilliam. Despite the nearly decade-long gap since his previous release, Patterson had remained active through live performances.