It is moments after dusk in the lush life metropolis of Manhattan, and Total are preparing to record the last track for their highly anticipated second album Kima, Keisha & Pam. Chilling in the famed Daddy's House Studios (owned by their Executive Producer Sean "Puffy" Combs) while looking like a stylish '90s version of Three The Hard Way, group members Kima, Keisha and Pam all seem quite excited by their latest project. "I think both our fans and foes will all be surprised by the direction of this project," says the sexy Keisha of the album. "On this record we were determined to explore our various personal personas, yet still keep it pure Total."
Indeed, having worked with a stellar line-up of producers and songwriters including Missy Elliott, Puffy, Heavy D., Mario Winans, R. Kelly, Kelly Price, Diane Warren, Stevie J. and Chuckie Thompson, Kima, Keisha & Pam promises to be the perfect combination of electric-ladies soul and pre-millennium funk. In addition, the album features collaborations with label mates Mase ("If You Want Me"), 112 ("Giving You All Of Me") and Bad Boy newcomer Carl Thomas ("Press Rewind"). While specially crafted to socially define the future of America's girl group sound, Kima, Keisha & Pam has also been designed to zoom past what others might define as "the next level." Or, as Kima softly explains, "Our main goal with this album is simply to win."
On "Trippin'," the sassy first single to drop from the album, these three New Jersey natives high-heel stomp through the fiery sound-jungles constructed by their homegirl Missy Elliott. Taking the listener into a new dimension of rhythmic black noise, theirs is a collaboration that is simultaneously gritty ghetto and twilight zone otherness. "Missy's mind works differently from everyone else's," explains Pam. "When you first hear "Trippin'," the bassline just takes you to another place. At the same time, it just proves that no one can ever predict what we will do. People usually think of us as singing over hip-hop beats, but now we're representing the funk for real."
Although Total has had a personal friendship with Missy for a few years, their first professional teaming occurred on 1997's Platinum soundtrack to the hit flick Soul Food. "From the fans and the media to Puffy, everyone was feeling 'What About Us,' so we decided to continue working in that vibe. And, our friendship made it all a lot easier," explains Keisha. "Missy is willing to take chances that others won't."
Daring to be different and succeeding with a vengeance, Missy Elliot was commissioned to produce and write six steaming sides for Total. Opening with the crash of broken trust and cheating hearts, "I Tried" is an enticing web of deceit that is as compelling as an all-black version of an Alfred Hitchcock film. "As soon as I heard the track I told Missy, 'I'm loving this!'" explains Pam, whose smoky vocals lace the grooves. "It's basically a song about being in love with your friend's boyfriend, and though you know you're wrong... you just can't help it."
Unlike other girl groups currently riding the charts, these Total females were not thrown together as strangers after an audition and forced to be partners. "We'd known each other for five years before anyone even thought about giving us a deal," says Keisha. "What we have is a sisterhood, but what keeps us together is our ability to separate the business from the personal. When we're on stage or in the studio, we understand that it's work. It might be fun, but we're still working towards the same goals." It was this type of professional determination that landed them on the Bad Boy label, and allowed them to record their stunning self-titled gold debut, Total in 1996.
And, under the watchful ears and eyes of Puff Daddy, these three women have graduated from being dutiful students of the girl-group tradition to being partners in the Total enterprise. "When it comes down to Puffy there can be a lot of pressure, but he just wants us to better ourselves while reaching for perfection" laughs Kima. "Although we were all slightly intimidated while working on the first record, with Kima, Keisha & Pam we were in the same mind frame as Puffy when we're in the studio."
Pam says, "I think what separates Total from other girl groups is our attitude and how our songs represent every woman's feelings. We're those three girls who are not afraid to be honest. What I bring to the group is the funk, while Keisha delivers the sensuality and Kima is always the laid-back one. Those are the three elements of the Total sound.
On Kima, Keisha & Pam, their honesty is expressed through the total sexuality of the music and lyrics. "I don't know how to define sexy for anyone else, but for me, the sexiest tracks on our album are 'Move Too Fast' and 'Bet You Can't,' because both sound like pure aggressive honey coated desire," purrs Keisha.
The soaring set "Rock Track" was produced by Puff Daddy and new resident beat-master, Mario Winans, the latest bad-ass to join the ranks of Bad Boy's Hitmen. This simply titled track provides Total with a head-banging Brides of Funkenstein soundscape to explore there wildest bad girl wet dreams. Lines like "Meet me in the hotel lobby/I heard you're looking for a freak/Me and you kissing in the elevator/Come to room 343," stick in the roof of your brain like honey. "He's a drummer, he's a singer and a producer. Mario brought a lot to the table and taught us a whole lot," say Kima."
While its obvious that Total can be as down-right dirty as Millie Jackson, they can also be as romantic as new-jack Minnie Ripperton, as heard on the enchanting Heavy D. produced "Beautiful," which has the flavor of a chocolate bubble bath after midnight. "This was a song that I co-wrote with Heavy," says Pam. "In my head I was singing Prince's song 'Adore,' and then these words just started flowing onto the page. I admire songwriters like Diane Warren (whose trademark sound can be heard on "Smile") and Faith Evans, and hope to be able to compose lyrics like they do some day. For me, its still somewhat a hidden talent."
What's not hidden on Kima, Keisha & Pam is Total's ability to walk the musical highwire with out fear of falling, while still sounding like fierce flirts in mini-skirts. Or, as Keisha states, "Total means all in one. We're not just girls from next door who can sing pretty songs, we can do it all."
