Let’s be real for a second. If you grew up in the early 90s, you couldn't escape "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)." It was everywhere. It was the kind of track that defined a specific era of New Jack Swing—polished, catchy, and maybe a little innocent compared to what was coming down the pipeline from Jodeci. But here’s the thing: most people treat Hi-Five like a one-hit wonder or a footnote in the shadow of Boyz II Men.
That’s just wrong.
Hi-Five wasn’t just a group with a catchy hook and some colorful windbreakers. They were a vocal powerhouse out of Waco, Texas, that bridged the gap between the teeny-bopper soul of New Edition and the more mature, street-edged R&B that dominated the mid-90s. Led by the late, incredible Tony Thompson, this group had a trajectory that was as meteoric as it was tragic. To understand what happened to them, you have to look past the "Kissing Game" music video and get into the weeds of the industry, the talent, and the internal struggles that basically rewrote their legacy.
The Waco Connection and the Rise of Tony Thompson
Most R&B groups of that era were coming out of Philly, Atlanta, or New York. Seeing a group from Waco, Texas, break through was weird. It was unique. Hi-Five was formed in 1989, and while they had the look of a manufactured boy band, the talent was homegrown. You had Tony Thompson, Roderick "Pooh" Clark, Marcus Sanders, Russell Neal, and Toriano Easley.
Tony Thompson was the engine. Honestly, if you listen to those isolated vocal tracks today, his range was ridiculous. He had this raspy yet silky tenor that could pivot from a pop melody to a deep gospel run in a heartbeat. It’s why Jive Records jumped on them. They saw the potential for a "clean" version of the emerging New Jack Swing sound.
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Their 1990 self-titled debut didn’t just happen; it exploded. Produced largely by Teddy Riley—the architect of New Jack Swing himself—the album gave them the platform they needed. "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. People forget how hard that is for an R&B group. But beneath the surface, the lineup was already shifting. Toriano Easley was replaced by Treston Irby early on due to legal issues, setting a precedent for the instability that would eventually haunt the group’s later years.
Why "Keep It Goin' On" Was Actually Their Best Work
If you ask a casual fan about Hi-Five, they’ll hum "The Kissing Game." If you ask an R&B head, they’ll talk about Keep It Goin' On. Released in 1992, this was the album where they grew up. Sorta.
The standout was "She's Playing Hard to Get." It was funky. It was more aggressive than their debut. But the real gem? "Quality Time." That song showed that Hi-Five could handle a ballad just as well as the heavy hitters at Motown or LaFace. R. Kelly actually wrote and produced several tracks on this record, which, looking back through a modern lens, adds a layer of complexity to their history, but at the time, it was the gold standard for hits.
The vocal arrangements on this second album were significantly more complex. They weren't just singing in unison anymore. They were harmonizing in ways that felt intentional and mature. They were shedding the "kids from Waco" image and trying to compete with the big dogs. It worked, for a while. The album went gold, and they were staples on Soul Train and The Arsenio Hall Show. They were living the dream, but the industry was changing fast.
The Tragedy That Nobody Likes to Talk About
R&B history is littered with "what ifs," but Hi-Five’s story is particularly heavy. It’s not just about declining record sales or the rise of Hip-Hop Soul; it’s about a series of personal disasters that felt like a localized curse.
First, there was the 1992 car accident.
Roderick "Pooh" Clark was involved in a devastating crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down. This wasn't just a lineup change; it was a spiritual blow to the group. Pooh was a founding member, a friend. They tried to keep it moving with Faithful in 1993, which featured the hit "Unconditional Love," but the energy had shifted.
Then came the hiatus. Then the solo attempts.
Tony Thompson’s solo career didn't take off the way many expected. Despite his voice, the mid-90s were becoming grittier. The "pretty boy" soul of the early 90s was being pushed aside for the neo-soul movement and the "Bad Boy" era of R&B. Tony eventually moved back to Waco.
The real heartbreak came in 2007. Tony Thompson was found dead outside an apartment complex. The cause was accidental inhalation of toxic levels of freon. He was only 31. For fans, this was the final door closing on the classic Hi-Five era. You can’t replace a voice like that. You just can’t.
And the tragedy didn't stop there. In 2014, Russell Neal was charged with the murder of his wife. The headlines were gruesome and far removed from the "Kissing Game" image of the early 90s. It’s a stark, painful reminder that the people behind the pop hits are real humans dealing with real, and sometimes horrific, demons.
The Legacy Beyond the Headlines
So, why does Hi-Five still matter? Why should you care in 2026?
Because they represent a specific peak of vocal harmony that has mostly disappeared from the charts. Today’s R&B is often vibey, atmospheric, and solo-driven. Hi-Five was about the group sound—the blend of five voices working to create something bigger than themselves.
If you listen to modern acts like Silk Sonic or even some of the deeper cuts from Lucky Daye, you can hear the DNA of the New Jack Swing era. Hi-Five was a bridge. They took the blueprint laid down by New Edition and smoothed it out for a global audience. They proved that a group of teenagers from a small Texas town could dominate the world stage without a massive machine behind them initially.
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The Essential Hi-Five Listening Guide
If you want to understand their impact, don't just stick to the Greatest Hits. You have to dig a little.
- "I Can't Wait Another Minute": This is arguably their best ballad. It showcases Tony's ability to carry a song with pure emotion without over-singing.
- "She's Playing Hard to Get": The definitive New Jack Swing anthem. The swing beat is infectious, and the harmonies in the chorus are tight as a drum.
- "Quality Time": This is the song that proved they weren't just for kids. It’s sophisticated, slow, and perfectly produced.
- "Unconditional Love": From the Faithful album. It’s a bit more "adult contemporary" but shows the direction they were heading before things fell apart.
What Happened to the Surviving Members?
Treston Irby and Marcus Sanders have been the keepers of the flame. They’ve toured under the Hi-Five name with new members over the years, including Billy Covington and others. They even appeared on Unsung, the TV One documentary series that finally gave them the flowers they deserved.
They aren't playing arenas anymore, but they are performing for the people who remember when R&B felt like a community. They’ve embraced their status as "legacy" artists, and honestly, that’s a win. In an industry that eats its young, surviving for three decades is a feat in itself.
How to Support Their Legacy Today
- Stream the Deep Cuts: Every stream of Keep It Goin' On helps keep the estate of Tony Thompson and the surviving members relevant in the algorithms.
- Watch the Documentary: If you haven't seen their Unsung episode, find it. It’s a raw, honest look at the highs and the very deep lows.
- Share the Music: R&B survives through word of mouth. Introduce a younger listener to "I Like the Way" and watch their reaction when the beat drops.
Hi-Five wasn't just a boy band. They were a vocal powerhouse that survived tragedy, industry shifts, and the passage of time. They deserve to be remembered for the music they made, not just the headlines that followed.
Next Steps for R&B Fans:
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To truly appreciate the era Hi-Five helped build, you need to dive into the production styles of the early 90s. Start by researching Teddy Riley's production credits from 1988 to 1992. Understanding how he used the Akai MPC to create that signature "swing" will give you a new appreciation for the technical skill required to sing over those tracks. Additionally, look for the 2014 "Hi-Five" EP titled The EP to hear how the surviving members modernized their sound—it’s a fascinating look at how a legacy group attempts to stay contemporary without losing their soul. Finally, if you're interested in the business side, look up the history of Jive Records; their strategy with Hi-Five, Aaliyah, and later NSYNC changed how music was marketed to teens forever.