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At one point, after involving himself with gang culture, he decided to dedicate himself to music rather than the streets.
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Later, he began to fall victim to the temptations of Chicago's South Side, where he grew up.
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In addition to his own music, he also wrote songs for other urban artists such as Usher ("Think of You") and 702 ("Get It Together").īorn the son of a gospel singer, Jones immersed himself in music at a young age. In particular, the latter song, originally a Stevie Wonder song from Songs in the Key of Life (1976), became a substantial hit for Jones, climbing to the upper reaches of the Billboard R&B chart and driving the album up the charts as well. His first two singles - "In the Hood" and "Knocks Me Off My Feet" - established his reputation within the competitive urban market.
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Beginning with his 1996 album My Heart, singer/songwriter/producer Donell Jones recorded a jazzy and soulful style of urban pop for LaFace Records and scored a few modest singles in the process.
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