One of the most refined contemporary R&B vocal groups, After 7 arrived near the end of the 1980s and hit the Top Ten of Billboard's R&B/hip-hop chart with their first four albums, led by the platinum After 7 (1989) and gold follow-up Takin' My Time (1992).

While After 7's hot start occurred during the new jack swing era, the singers' easy harmonies and continued songwriting and production assistance from Babyface and L.A.