What Happened to the R&B group City High???

They were considered the 2000s era of “the Fugees”. Ryan Toby, Claudette Ortiz, and Robbie Pardlo all three from New Jersey were formed by former Fugees member Wyclef Jean into a hip-hop and R&B trio called City High. During the 2000s, City High debut their singles “What Would You Do?” which became the number one song in the Billboard charts. Their song was nominated for a Grammy and their debut album was released in 2001. After their debut album, they were about to work on their second album but we haven’t heard from them since but why.......

Here’s what happened to City High

Ryan

Maurice Ryan Toby was born on November 26, 1978 in Willingboro,New Jersey to his parents Norman & Benzie Toby. When he was in his teens, He starred in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit alongside Whoopi Goldberg and Fugees member and New Jersey native Lauryn Hill, who was at the time her group the Fugees was signed to Ruffhouse Records.

Fun Fact: Before Fugees was signed in Ruffhouse, King of Pop Michael Jackson watched Lauryn in the Sister Act 2 and had interest in signing her in his own record label MJJ Records. He offered the deal to MJJ Records but she refused.

While he was in the film, he lent his voice on the films soundtrack including “Pay Attention” featuring Valerie Andrews who was also featured in the film.

After Sister Act 2, Toby haven’t had much acting gigs but has been getting the opportunity to write and produce music.

“ It was five years after the movie, I was in a tricky spot in my life, I didn’t have any big acting things going on, I was trying to get a record deal, I was having a hard time. I was signed to Jazzy Jeff’s A Touch of Jazz production company in Philly. I was working on my album back then and singing and rapping on my songs, and I couldn’t get a record deal because of that. Record companies were afraid to sign an artist that could sing and rap. Back then it wasn’t the cool thing to do. They wanted me to pick a lane, they thought it was confusing. Now every rapper can do both. I had all these songs and Will Smith had just finished the Men in Black movie. That was a huge hit. He had success with the “Men in Black” song for the soundtrack. So he came to the studio to do a comeback album, because Jazzy Jeff was his best friend. Jeff played him my stuff, because it had rapping. He heard some of my songs and asked who it was rapping. Then the chorus came on and I’d sing the hook, and they told him it was the same kid. He immediately fell in love with my sound and wanted to record a couple of the songs that I had for my project. Jeff called me, told me he wanted to do them, and we got in the studio and hit it off right away.”

Claudette

Claudette Ortiz was born on July 21, 1981 Willing,New Jersey. Ortiz and her family are Puerto Rican descent. She attended Willingboro High School (same with Ryan). While she was in high school, she met Robbie Pardlo (who was one year older than Claudette). They would share interest with each other and form a friendship. When Claudette was 16, the two would become an item. Around the time they were dating, they had their ups and downs. At first, Claudette sister who was in the same grade as Robbie was concern with Claudette dating him because he is an alcoholic. Claduette ignored her sister and continued on the relationship until.... she saw the reality shows her sister was right. During their relationship, it was filled with physical and emotional abuse, alcoholism and drug abuse. She told in an interview with iPowerRichmond:

“When I was 16 it was an abusive, crazy relationship. It was humiliating, and just an everyday torment. He had an alcohol and drug addiction. I couldn’t be in that situation but I still had this opportunity to be in this group and I made the decision to be in the group even though I knew he was going to be a part of it and I knew what I would have to deal with. I choose to not be in any type of romantic relationship with him, so I thought that would dissipate since we all had a goal in mind.”

Making of the Band

Former Fugees member Wyclef Jean was interested in Robbie was going to sign him as a solo artist in his own record label Booga Basement. Just when Robbie introduces Claudette performed for Wyclef was very interested in signing her as well. But then decided to make Pardlo and Ortiz a duo. Like pretty much like Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell unfortunately Booga Basement already had a duo. Until Wyclef Jean contacted Ryan about him joining the group to make it into a trio. He agreed to be a part of it. Ryan knew Robbie and Claudette. Obviously, they are from Jersey and they went to the same high school!!!

Together, the trio would be named “City High”.

They were signed to Wyclef’s record label and started working their debut album. During production, all three members did writing on the songs. Toby thought of an idea for their first single as a country song with a story.

“The contrast was like dark concept with happy music. Like “What Would You Do?” is upbeat and happy, but it’s the saddest story ever! It was me trying to be different and wanting to set apart from what everybody else on the radio was doing.” Ryan Toby on Live interview with YouKnowiGotSoul.com

Their first single “What Would You Do?” was released on March 27, 2001.

“What Would You Do?” was a hit making it number one in Hot Rap Singles and number eight in the Billboard charts. Their song would be featured on the Life film soundtrack. The song was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in the 2002 edition of the Grammys but lost to Destiny's Child's "Survivor".

Next single, “Caramel” featuring rapper Eve, another hit single was the most radio play in every hip hop stations. The song would be remixed and promoted for MTV reality show Real World Chicago.

Their debut self-titled album was released on May 22, 2001. It peaked number 34 on the Billboard charts, received favorable reviews and was certified Gold.

I have all of their songs from their debut album so if you would like to read the City High self titled debut album review 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

After the release of their debut album, things went chaos with the group. According to Ortiz told in interviews, Parldo was drinking heavily and abusing drugs. It so bad that Parldo would be hungover and the group would missed interviews and radio interviews. Plus, it got worse between Ortiz and Parldo, he was constantly cheating on her and physically abusive towards her. Ortiz couldn’t handle it and decided to leave him and leave the group. City High disbanded in 2003.

Post-City High

After Ortiz breakup with Pardlo, she started dating City High member Ryan Toby. The two would get married in 2004 and had two sons.

She did some singles including her single “Two Wrongs” with her mentor Wyclef Jean. Ortiz and Toby have tried working with other artists in the industry. After Ortiz singles have been released, she tried to work on her solo debut album unfortunately it didn’t happened until 2014.

Things didn’t go so well between Ortiz and Toby marriage and the two divorced in 2007. After City High disbanded, Pardlo disappeared off the map. He would later appeared on an episode of A&E Intervention. On the episode, Pardlo claims that that he fell into a downward spiral after Claudette broke up with him and started dating third group member Ryan. His family including his daughter demanded him to get some help. After the Intervention, He agrees to go to rehab and change for the better.

However, Ortiz tells her side of the story that everything Robbie said on the show wasn’t the case. According to an interview with Majic,

“Initially I wasn’t going to say anything and I think that stemmed from fear because of the relationship I had with Robbie – it was an abusive one. He portrayed it like it was a “lovely romance” and it wasn’t. I just want to move on & put things behind me. Other people may be in the same position I was in. If you don’t eventually stand up for yourself it can carry on for years. It was time to tell the truth – the truth that he so conveniently left out. I didn’t watch it, but then all this stuff started popping up on the internet. I’m being used as a scapegoat for his failure. He didn’t appreciate me or City High.” The rest of the interview is on the majicdc

Years later

20 years later after the album, City High self titled debut album is now streaming on including Amazon Music and Spotify. The most requested song that hwas “What Would You Do” alongside “Caramel” and “City High Anthem” . Ryan is still producing and writing music being successful. Claudette had starred in Vh1 R&B Divas and acted in Tyler Perry productions. She released her debut album but haven’t received much success. Robbie has been sober, working on producing other artists music. He did get featured in Situations song and was brought up the stage with lil Kim to sing “What Would You Do?” without his bandmates Ryan and Claudette.

Honestly the trio is like way messier than Fugees but they’re extremely talented. If they weren’t some entanglement situation and Robbie go, they would still been in group and still have a second album. Maybe one day they will reunite just like the Fugees and forget about this whole thing maybe work on a second album.

If you guys want to purchase stuff from Ryan Toby, check out Ryan Today Store website 👇👇👇👇

Source

https://shoutoutla.com/meet-ryan-toby-singer-songwriter-music-producer/

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/city-highs-robby-pardlo-faces-intervention-on-ae-959605/

https://mymajicdc.com/120981/city-highs-claudette-admits-robbie-was-abusive/

https://youknowigotsoul.com/ryan-toby-interview-solo-career-city-high-debut-album-writing-behind-the-scenes

https://ipowerrichmond.com/2594409/rb-diva-claudette-ortiz-opens-up-about-being-homeless-why-city-high-broke-up-and-more/amp/

YouTube

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