Wifey
by Next

Album: Welcome II Nextasy (2000)
Charted: 19 7
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Songfacts®:

  • Next had a #1 hit in 1998 with "Too Close," where the lady gets them conspicuously aroused on the dance floor. In "Wifey," they've put a ring on it (her finger, of course). The song explains all the reasons they made her their wifey - she's a trusted companion but also knows how to flip it street freak.
  • "Wifey" was written by group member RL Huggar along with Eddie Berkeley, KayGee and Gabriel Jackson. Berkeley's credits include "Made To Love Ya" by Gerald Levert and Fabulous by Jaheim. KayGee, a member of Naughty By Nature, produced the song with Berkeley. Next were signed to KayGee's label Divine Mill, an imprint of Arista.
  • The song is built on a sample from "You Know I Love You" by George Franklin Smallwood And Marshmellow Band, released in 1980.
  • Like "Too Close," "Wifey" was a #1 R&B hit. It also rose to #7 on the Hot 100, but it was their last hit. Next released another album in 2002, but that was their last (the didn't perform together from time to time). RL Huggar launched a solo career (as RL) and wrote songs for other artists, including Keith Sweat and Ginuwine.
  • "Wifey" is used in the 2007 movie This Christmas, starring Regina King.

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