The same year, he was also awarded an American Music Award in the Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist category. In 2000, Jones recorded the song ' I'll Go' for the soundtrack of the romantic drama film Love and Basketball, which earned him a Black Reel Award nomination for Best Original or Adapted Song. The album produced three further singles, including 'Shorty (Got Her Eyes On Me)' and ' Where I Wanna Be,' the latter of which reached number two on Billboard 's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of 1.0 million copies. 'Where I Wanna Be' peaked at number six on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. In the latter country, 'U Know What's Up' entered and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for two consecutive weeks behind ' The Masses Against the Classes' by Manic Street Preachers and ' Born to Make You Happy' by Britney Spears. 'U Know What's Up' was a global hit, peaking within the top ten of the charts in Belgium (Flanders), the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Boosted by its hit single ' U Know What's Up,' which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1999, Jones enjoyed major success with the release of his second album, Where I Wanna Be. Its first two singles, 'In the Hood' and a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1976 ballad ' Knocks Me Off My Feet,' became top thirty hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs as well as the New Zealand Singles Chart. A moderate commercial success, it peaked at number 30 on Billboard 's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, but failed to reach the upper half of the US Billboard 200.

While most of the album was produced by Jones himself, it also featured help from Eddie Ferrell's Untouchables Entertainment production team, involving Mookie, Marks Sparks, Kenny Tonge, and Darin Whittington.

In June 1996, Jones released his debut album, My Heart, on LaFace Records. He later met DJ Eddie F of Heavy D and The Boyz and signed with Untouchables/ LaFace Records, writing hits for Usher and 702.ġ996–2007: Breakthrough with LaFace Jones is a son of a gospel singer and was raised in Chicago, IL.

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