In 1978, an 11-year-old, Bobby Brown, convinced his friends Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Laila Williams, and Ralph Tresvant to perform at talent shows around Boston, Massachusetts. The group is soon discovered and signs a record deal, coming out with...
"Oh hell naw!" Mike and Bobby said at the same time. "You mean the little dude that be doing kung-fu?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, what's wrong with Ralph?" I asked the two. "He good people," said Ricky. "Can he even sing?" Bobby questioned. "Trust me, Bobby," I said, putting my arm around his shoulder. "Ralph can blow!"
"Every time I try to go up to him, he always kickin' or somethin'," Bobby said.
The four of us walked across the street to the other apartments, where we saw Ralph practicing his kicks and punches on top of a brick podium while "Kung Fu Fighting" was playing.
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"Hey, Ralph." I greeted him, bowing. Ralph bowed his head to me and went back to practicing. "Yo, what's up, Ralph?" Ricky said. "What up?" Ralph bowed his head again and continued his practice. Bobby and Mike watched him with confused looks.
Ralph looked to his side and saw a couple of girls playing double Dutch. One of them was smiling at him.
"Oh, man, why don't you just go over there and talk to her?" Ricky asked. Ralph hopped off the podium. "Nah, man, it's not the right time," Ralph said, facing the girl.
"Stay here, Bruce Lee. I'll go talk to her for you." Ricky says the girl was in the same spot before.
Ricky started talking with the girl before he started singing "Reasons" by Earth, Wind, and Fire.
"Now, I'm craving your body, is this real."
"Temperatures rising, I don't want to feel."
"I'm in the wrong place to be real."
"He just played you," Bobby said with his hand on Ralph's shoulder. "I know you're not just gonna take that."
Ralph takes Bobby's hand off his shoulder and runs towards Ricky and the girl. Ralph pushes Ricky away and begins to sing for her. She has a smile on her face.
"Whoa, when I'm longing to love you just for a night."
"Kissing and hugging, holding you tight."
"Please let me love you with all my might."
Ricky pushed back, and the two were now singing to her.
"Reasons, the reasons that we're here!"
"The reasons that we fear, our feelings won't disappear."