This singing group was founded in the early 1990s. An initial lineup of the group consisted of Josina Elder-Epps, Phaenicia Grant, Shiro Stokes, and Wendi Williams and their name was stylized as “4 Reel.” This incarnation has their first credit performing handclaps on soul singer Lalah Hathaway’s “U Godit Gowin On.”
By 1993, Grant and Stokes were out of the group and replaced with Latanyia Baldwin and Necia Bray-Gates. They signed with A&M Records sporting their signature barely-there hair cuts.
Their debut album It’s a Natural Thang appeared in 1994 lead by the single “You Don’t Wanna Miss.” That was followed up with Jason Hess-produced “Easy To Love” and the music-free standout “You Don’t Know Nothin'” that went on to become one of their most popular songs.