City High
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- This article is about the R&B trio. To see the article on their self-titled debut album, see City High (Album)
City High |
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City High was an American R&B/hip hop trio consisting of rappers/singers Ryan Toby, Robbie Pardlo and Claudette Ortiz. They are all from Willingboro Township, New Jersey and formed the group when they were attending Willingboro High School.[1]
City High's peak
The group recorded "What Would You Do?" two years prior to the release of their album, as it was featured in the Eddie Murphy film Life.[2] However, even though it could be heard a couple of years prior on the Life (soundtrack), it was not formally released as a remix until 2001.
In 2001, "What Would You Do?" was released as part of the band's eponymous debut to radio with a new mix that interpolated Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode" into the break. The song, a story seen from different perspectives about a young woman who becomes a stripper to feed her child, became a U.S. Pop #8 and R&B #13 hit. The band's follow-up single, "Caramel", found Ortiz singing lead and Pardlo on the bridge. In the original version, there is also a section where Ortiz sings en Espanol. For radio release, the song was remixed to include the rapper Eve. "Caramel" was a U.S. Pop #18 and R&B #9 hit. The remix was done by Trackmasters. The final single from the group's debut was "City High Anthem", which failed to make a big impact on urban and top 40 markets, but briefly cracked Adult Contemporary radio. Once again, however, a remix was released, featuring rapper Styles P.
In early 2002, City High shot several mini music video commercials for MTV based on their own songs promoting the 11th season of The Real World set in Chicago.[3]
Their debut self-titled album went double platinum and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003. Robby Pardlo was in a relationship with band member Claudette Ortiz, she broke up with him and married the other City High member Ryan Toby on October 14, 2004.[3]
City High disbanded in 2003.[3]
Robbie Pardlo will be appearing on A&E's Intervention on January 25, 2010 at 9pm/ET. (http://www.aetv.com/intervention/int_episode_guide.jsp) Robbie is an alchoholic.
Discography
Albums
Singles
- 2001: "What Would You Do?" (U.S. #8, U.S. R&B #13, UK Singles Chart #3, Rap #1)[4][5]
- 2001: "Caramel" (U.S. #18, U.S. R&B #9)
- 2001: "Caramel" (Trackmasters remix featuring Eve) (UK Singles Chart #9)[4]
References
- ^ "City High: Top of Their Class" (Biography). MTV. 2007. Retrieved 9 October, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Life Soundtrack". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ a b c Kaufman, Gil (2007-02-08). "Where Ya Been?: City High Drop Out, Crazy Town Stop The Insanity". MTV. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
The band appeared in a series of mini commercials/ music videos promoting 2002's "The Real World: Chicago" and then quietly disbanded a year later. That certainly wasn't the end for Toby and Ortiz. Oh no, they got married and started a family shortly after.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5jEt2oTnS) - ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 107. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Billboard Chart". Retrieved 2009-06-20.