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Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, Tamara “Taj” Johnson and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons of SWV PHOTO BY STERLING PICS

Iconic R&B trio SWV is not only celebrating the 30th anniversary of debut album It’s About Time, but also the ladies’ steadfast bond. [EDITOR'S NOTE: This interview took place in May]

The ’90s gave way to some of music’s most iconic R&B groups, who helped skyrocket the genre into the international stratosphere. Among this talented crop was SWV (@officialswv): a trio of native New Yorkers whose fusion of R&B, rap and gospel led to a three-decade career and 30 million-plus records sold worldwide. Ahead of their Summer Block Party tour with Jodeci and Dru Hill, SWV goes down memory lane.

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Let’s get into 1993’s “Right Here” remix. That flip of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” is brilliant.

COKO: The remix was done by Teddy Riley in Virginia in his studio. I didn’t quite understand what he was going for. But once I got there, he made it make sense with how he wanted me to sing the ‘Human Nature’ song over ‘Right Here.’ I couldn’t figure it out. But once I got there, he showed me how to do it. And it actually turned out pretty well. I didn’t expect it to be as big as it still is to this day, but it was a hit.

Leanne “Lelee” Lyons, Cheryl “Coko” Gamble and Tamara “Taj” Johnson of SWV perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on September 3, 1993 PHOTO BY: MARGARET C. NORTON/NBCU PHOTO BANK/ COURTESY OF NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY IMAGES

Learning that Pharrell was on the remix was a mind-blowing revelation on social media. Did you all meet in the studio back then?

COKO: I didn’t meet him when he did the remix.

TAJ: But when he did ‘Use Your Heart’ [on 1996’s New Beginning], that’s what we were in the studio.

COKO: He lived in Virginia. And Teddy had him do a whole rap for that remix. He didn’t keep anything from that rap except the ‘S, The Double, The U, The V.’

SWV is celebrating three decades of music. STERLING PICS

LELEE: I remember he was so upset.

COKO: Who knew that to this day that one little part would become so big?

“Weak” from It’s About Time is a go-to cover ballad for rising R&B singers.

TAJ: When I heard ‘Weak’ for the first time, I loved the song. I thought it was so beautiful. Did I think it will become an international triple-platinum No. 1 song? Absolutely not. So that blows my mind. And I love the fact that it’s everyone’s go-to song. I think that’s so dope. It’s gonna keep us alive.

SWV visiting WGCI-FM radio in Chicago in April 1996 PHOTO BY SALVATORE DEMAIO

What songs mean the most to you?

COKO: My favorite song would be ‘You Are My Love.’ That was on the second album [1996’s New Beginning]. It was written and produced by Daryl Simmons.

TAJ: I love our Christmas album [1997’s A Special Christmas]. Sometimes I listen to it in July because I love it so much.

LELEE: My favorite one to perform is definitely ‘Anything’ with Wu-Tang Clan. I love ‘It’s About Time’ and ‘You Are My Love.’ Those are my two favorite SWV records. Those songs are so beautiful, plus I was in love with this jerk.

SWV visiting WGCI-FM radio in Chicago in April 1996 PHOTO BY SALVATORE DEMAIO

TAJ: The soundtrack of her life.

LELEE: Yes, I know right!

What are some lessons you’ve learned?

LELEE: One of the lessons I’ve learned is just to live life. As long as there’s humans, there’s gonna be problems, and I think it’s the maturity level that really matters. I learned how to deal with so many different personalities. And just because somebody doesn’t think like me, doesn’t always mean their ideas are wrong.

TAJ: Just every obstacle we’ve had to endure was a learning experience. From sunup to sundown, Monday to Sunday, it was always something [laughs].

The trio sporting classic ’90s outfits in 1996. PHOTO BY RAYMOND BOYD/MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

We had poor management. Our label was fledgling. It was just a little bit of everything that we had to endure, but you wouldn’t ever know it because the success of the songs was so huge.

Your group stands for “Sisters With Voices.” What has made your bond even stronger today?

SWV in 2023 PHOTO BY: STERLING PICS

TAJ: We love what we do, and we need each other to do it. I know I love performing onstage with them and shouting out to the crowd. I love when people walk up to me and say, ‘You’re Coko, right?’ [laughs]

“WE’VE BEEN CONNECTED LONGER THAN ANYTHING WE’VE EVER DONE IN LIFE.” -LEANNE “LELEE” LYONS

LELEE: The other day I was like, ‘Damn, I’ve been with them longer than I’ve been with anybody.’ We’ve been connected longer than anything we’ve ever done in life. So, of course, I can’t even imagine not being with them. And they get on my damn nerves sometimes, but they’re stuck with me to the hip. I’m gonna harass them the rest of their lives.

The trio at the Hyatt Hotel in Chicago in April 1996. RAYMOND BOYD/MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES