songwriting and production team in contemporary popular music.
In die past. Jam explains, we havent become involved in soundtrack work mosdy
because wed have no real say in shaping the music; its always been a question of their
needing one song here and another one there. We were waiting for achance to get involved
form die ground up in a movie to which we thought our music might be able to lend a litde
something extra.
Enter Mo Money, a Columbia Picturescomedy/acoon/romance diat Damon W ayans,
of In Living Color and The Last Boy Scout fame, bodi wrote and stars in. If you go in
expecting Living Color skits, predicts Jimmy Jam, youll be surprised. Our take on it
was diat you start out watching a comedy that turns into a romance diat almost turns into
Die H ard at die end.
Because it wasnt just a comedy and also had action, we wanted some rap artists, some
Marlon Wayans stars as Seymour, a streetwise con man, in the action-comedy-
romance Mo Money, a Columbia Pictures Release.
Damon Hayans stars as a con man who isforced into the scam o f his life in the
action-comedy-romance MoMoney, a Columbia Pictures Release.
Stacey Dash stars as Amber, a beautiful career woman who inspires a con man
to try going straight to win her heart in the action-comedy-romance Mo Money,
a Columbia Pictures Release.
streetlevel people. Obviously we wanted die romantic element and a few things widi a
comedic tone, too.
Not a single act on the teams wish list of prospective participants didnt jump at die
chance to participate, even though that list included die preeminent practitioners of every
genre they thought should be represented on the soundtrack, from rap to gospel. In one
case, Jam & Lewis called on their former fellow member of The Time, Jellybean Johnson,
to help diem invent a group-die wryly named Harlem Yacht Club-when a scene late in
die film called for corrosive heavy metal.
I t sounds entirely too good to e true: Luther Vandross dueting widi Janet Jackson over
Public Enemy, MC Lyte, and Big Daddy Kane handle the rapping-die latter having
a groove custom fitted for them by the tu n men whove virtually defined modern R&B,
supplanted Damon Wayans himself on die hilarious A Job Aint N udiin But Work-
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis-widi Bell Biv DeVoe and Ralph Tresvant rapping along for
while die likes of Top 10 recording artists Mint Condition, Johnny Gill, and Caron
good measure.
Wheeler handle die ballads. Perspective Records own Sounds of Blackness raise die roof
The Best Things In Life Are Free isnt just a music lovers dream, diough-and neitlier
is the rest of die Mo Money soundtrack album , which features, well, virtually everyone
whos anvone in contemporary popular music, from rap giants Public Enemy, MC Lyte,
and Big Daddy Kane, to the Grammy-winning group Sounds of Blackness, to many of
Perspective Records most exciting young talents.
widi the gospel-styled Joy, while the current kings of dance pop, Color Me Badd, make
a memorable appearance, too. Ralph Tresvants propulsive Money Cant Buy You
Love is understandably slated forsingle release-just as soon as The Best Things In Life
Are Free vacates the top of the charts. Many fans are sure to feel as Wayans did when he
heard die track. W hen youre bona fide hitmakers, as Jimmy and Terry, Wayans
observes, you attract die best, so I wasnt surprised. 1 was overwhelmed. Who in their
Mo Money is die first complete soundtrack to which Jam & I x-wis liave applied their
wddest dreams could have imagined Luther, Janet, and Bell Biv DeVoe together on one
formidable talents over die course of their remarkable decade as the most successful
song'1
Coming Up In The
Hood... Big Bonk
Take Little Bank
By
E r ic
Is la n d
Dash; Amber, had a sassy supporting role diat enthused not only Johnny and Seymour
but die men in die audience as well.
MO Money stars tw obrothas who feel they must get paid. While selling kids books on
die street Johnny is calmly introduced to Amber. Intrigued by her beauty and frankness
he follows her to her job. Here die plot begins to thicken and arouse suspense. Widi a host
of eclectic scenarios, wild party jokes and a serious Mo Money plot Damon exemplifies
his acting versatility by not only being dramatic and tough in a gunfight scene but
managing to still create hum or widi great one-liners. Truly, comedy is Damons best
attribute and was the key to selling this film to me and many others. The movie was
unfadeable and simply a hit! raved one viewer as she walked out of die theatre.
Thursday, July 23rd. was the pre-screening of die new action-cornedy-romance Mo
Money. This movie is based on die streetwise antics of Damon 'J ayans, known as
It is true die liest things in life are free, but if the opportunity ever arises you must get
Johnny in the movie. Marlon Wayans made his debut as Seymour in a impressive
paid!! I encourage everyone, young and old, to see this movie. So dont go to work; take
fashion. Overcome by his characters lust for money, in search of die q u id buck and
diat special someone to see the action-cornedy-romance Mo Money because money-
overall childlike hum or kept die audience hysterical throughout die entire movie. Stacey
cant buy you love and a job amt nodiing but work.
August 1992
Metroriotion 5