The New Edition member who launched a solo career with the 1988 album Don’t Be Cruel was Bobby Brown.
Brown left New Edition in the mid-1980s after tensions over the group’s management and his desire for a more mature, individual musical identity. He first released the solo album King of Stage in 1986, but it did not achieve the breakthrough he wanted. Don’t Be Cruel, his second solo album, changed that dramatically.
Released in 1988, Don’t Be Cruel became a landmark of new jack swing, combining R&B melodies with hip-hop-influenced rhythms and programmed production. The album produced major hits including “My Prerogative,” “Every Little Step,” “Roni” and its title track. It ultimately became one of the best-selling albums of the late 1980s and earned Brown a Grammy for “Every Little Step.”
The other choices had different career paths. Johnny Gill already had solo releases before joining New Edition, while Ralph Tresvant pursued a solo career after the group’s peak. Ronnie DeVoe later formed Bell Biv DeVoe with fellow New Edition members Michael Bivins and Ricky Bell.