As
the wise man once said, the race is not for the swift, but for those
who can endure it. The Grammy Award Winning, INNER CIRCLE is a living
testament to those words. INNER CIRCLE hails from Kingston, Jamaica
founded by brothers Ian and Roger Lewis, Bernard “Touter”
Harvey, who were later joined by Lancelot Hall, and Kris Bentley.
With their 20 year history, the quintet has sold over 8 million albums
and singles worldwide. Their infamous for their song, “Bad Boys”,
the theme song of the long-running Fox TV series Cops, which later
was
the title of the Will Smith/ Martin Lawrence action film. Also known
for their irresistibly upbeat dance number “Sweat (A La La La
La Long).” They received another Grammy nomination for Best Reggae
Album which featured the breezy “Summer Jammin’,” in
the sound track of Eddie Murphy’s film Beverly Hills Cop III.
"In the last three or four years, we've been everywhere in the
world, " says Roger Lewis. "Brazil, Guam, India, Taipei,
Beirut, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka…"Asia, and the United
Arab Emirates," continues Lancelot Hall. "It is
really a blessing
when any musician can say they are embarking on a world tour and people
know your songs, that in itself is a great achievement, any musician
would want this." "Traveling around the world, you really
learn that everybody's basically the same," observes Ian Lewis.
"We are all one, regardless of our different ideas, and music
is the best way to communicate that. Music is the highest language;
it transcends politics, geography, skin and color, it transcends all
the things that separate people."
In the new millennium,
this aura of all-embracing, positive, upbeat energy is palpable
and it reflects the message of unity that's more than just a slogan
for this durable, tight-knitted band. According to Touter Harvey,
"The name Inner Circle means family, and that's what we are.
We're all devoted to the band and each other, and that's what makes
us strong. We believe in the spiritual vibes of family and friends.
Our success is nothing without warm, genuine people around us to
share it. Being successful is day-to-day just trying to be happy
and keeping it real.
INNER CIRCLE
wears their heart on their sleeves. They dedicate much of their
spare time to different charities throughout the community. One
of their favorite charities is the University of Miami – Jackson
Memorial Hospital Children’s Day Care facility, where full-time
nurses take care of abandoned and abused children or children who
are with disabilities and parents can not afford regular medical
day care service. The band loves reading and singing for the little
children without fans or public knowledge. Here’s Help is another
charity which the band is actively involved with, donating their
talent and expertise in music classes for children in the Drug and
Rehabilitation Center, directed by John Cross (Footy) from Y-100.
Their involvement in the community perhaps is the reason why this
year on April 15th they were presented with the Heroes Award by
the Grammy Recording Academy for their outstanding contribution
to music and the music community, which was held in their honor
at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.
The band has
been keeping busy building their new Record Label “SoundBwoy
Entertainment”, developing new artist such as “Lil Kripto”
, “Bizerk” and the “Skool Boyz” and of course,
doing what they love best, making music. So, all you INNER CIRCLE
fans, get ready for their new hot album entitled, “KOOL OPERATOR”
featuring “the girls dem sugar”, Beenie Man and “the
ruff gargamel, Buju Banton on their own SoundBwoy label. This album
was recorded at the band’s own state-of-the-art private studio,
Circle House, in the quintet’s adopted hometown of Miami Beach.
Look out for INNER CIRCLE’s new album in stores MAY 21ST, 2002
with an in-store special guest appearance at 163rd Street at F.Y.E.
June 1st. As the shorty’s would say, “THIS IS NOT A GAME”.
