When Boyz Become Men

When Boyz II Men first came up with their name, it was simply meant as an homage to New Edition's song of the same title. But through the course of three multi platnium albums, an unending stream of #1 hit singles and sold-out tours throughout the world, Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman have come to realize how prophetic their moniker really is. In short, they've grown up.

"Our lives have changed in every way," says Nathan. "They say the music industry doesn't have to change you, but it does. It changes everyone. It may not change you for the worst, but it changes you."

"Sometimes I think too much has happened to us too fast," Shawn admits. "It's so hard to really catch up with it, hard to grasp it."

But as mature as the guys have had to become since their early days at Philadelphia's High School of Creative and Performing Arts, there's still a bit of the boy in all of them.

"We may get a lot of attention when we're onstage," Michael says with a twinkle in his eye, "but when we get off we're just Shawn, Wanya, Nate, and Mike again."

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