The Untold Story of A Few Good Men: Betrayed by the Industry

A Few Good Men, an R&B group handpicked and mentored by Babyface, seemed destined for greatness. Signed to LaFace Records during its peak, they had the smooth vocals, the polished image, and the backing of one of the most powerful labels in the industry.

Their debut album *Take a Dip* showcased romantic ballads and harmonies that aligned perfectly with LaFace’s reputation for producing timeless R&B acts. Despite all this, the group mysteriously disappeared before they could truly make their mark. Their downfall wasn’t due to a lack of talent or marketability—it was the result of label politics, bad timing, and a system that never intended for them to succeed.

At first glance, A Few Good Men were the perfect addition to LaFace’s roster. The label was already home to megastars like TLC, Toni Braxton, and OutKast, and the group’s mature sound offered a grown-up alternative to the edgier acts dominating the charts. Their singles *Have I Never* and *A Thing for You* gained some traction, with the latter receiving solid airplay on BET.

Fans assumed they were next in line for stardom. However, behind the scenes, the group was treated as a placeholder rather than a priority. LaFace Records didn’t sign A Few Good Men to make them stars—they signed them to fill space while focusing on their bigger names.

By the mid-90s, LaFace’s attention had shifted to grooming Usher for mainstream success, pushing OutKast’s rise in hip-hop, and preparing TLC for their iconic *CrazySexyCool* era. A Few Good Men were left in the shadows, receiving minimal promotion and virtually no support for their debut album.

The rollout for *Take a Dip* felt like an afterthought, with little marketing effort and no major push from the label. While their music was strong, the lack of exposure meant they couldn’t compete with the polished giants of the time, like Boyz II Men and Jodeci. The group was quietly shelved, not because they weren’t talented, but because they didn’t fit the label’s shifting priorities.

Adding to their struggles was internal tension within the group. Sources suggest disagreements over lead vocal duties created subtle divides among the members. These issues, combined with the rapidly evolving R&B landscape, left A Few Good Men stranded in a shrinking middle lane.

They weren’t edgy enough to appeal to the hip-hop crowd, nor mainstream enough to rival the genre’s biggest acts. Instead of helping the group pivot or rebrand, LaFace opted to ghost them entirely. No major push, no public explanation—just silence.

One of the most painful revelations is that A Few Good Men had a second album in the works. Tracks were recorded, demos were created, and collaborations were rumored. Yet, LaFace never moved forward with its release. Industry insiders claim the album’s masters remain locked away in a vault, collecting dust while the group’s momentum faded.

By then, LaFace was all-in on other projects, leaving A Few Good Men to quietly disappear. Their story is a classic example of how the music industry shelves artists without a trace, erasing their potential and leaving fans wondering what happened.

Even Babyface, the man who helped craft their sound and mentored them in the studio, didn’t intervene. When the label turned its focus elsewhere, Babyface followed suit, offering no public defense or final push to save the group’s career.

Fans have speculated that A Few Good Men were used as test subjects for Babyface’s own solo work, with parts of their production serving as trial runs for bigger artists. Whether true or not, the group was ultimately treated as expendable, a filler act in a crowded lineup of stars.

After their disappearance, some members tried to stay in the music industry, working behind the scenes as songwriters and producers. Others stepped away entirely, focusing on family or local projects. There were whispers of reunions and fan-led petitions online, but nothing materialized. Their second album remains unreleased, and their debut album has yet to receive the deluxe reissue treatment many fans hoped for.

A Few Good Men didn’t fail—they were failed. They had the talent, the mentorship, and the songs to build a lasting career. But in an industry driven by ego, timing, and profit margins, being good wasn’t enough. Their story is a reminder of how the music business uses artists, shelves them, and moves on without a second thought.

A Few Good Men were built to be timeless, but the industry had other plans. And in the end, their voices were silenced—not because they lacked potential, but because the machine didn’t see them as part of its future.