VS (group)
British R&B and pop group with three UK hit singles.
VS were a UK pop and R&B act who scored three hit singles in Britain. The group was put together by Simon Webbe of Blue, who also managed them, along with Melody from DJ Pied Piper and the Masters of Ceremonies, and singer-songwriter Ali Tennant. Together they founded the production company Love for Music. The lineup featured singers Marvin Humes, Chinyere McKenzie, and Ryan Taylor, plus rappers Jaime Summaz and Blimi.
Jaime Summaz, a rapper, songwriter, and actress from Manchester, is close friends with Simon Webbe, who offered her a spot in the band. After VS split, she appeared on a remix of Blue’s “Breathe Easy” and later released a solo EP in 2007. Chinyere McKenzie, a choreographer and singer from Manchester, started her own dance school for underprivileged children at a young age. She was the lead female vocalist and handled much of the choreography for the group’s music videos. She now works as a radio presenter on 90.1FM and runs Muma Knows Best, an interactive platform where people share stories of self-discovery and motherhood. Blimi, a rapper from west London, met Webbe at a barbershop they both visited. Overhearing that Webbe was forming a band, Blimi auditioned. Before joining VS, he won the Tim Westwood Open Mic contest in 1997. Marvin Humes, a singer and actor, appeared regularly on BBC One’s *Holby City* before joining VS. Wanting a music career, he recorded tracks and met Webbe at the 2003 Soccer Six Industry Football match, handing him a demo. In 2008, Humes auditioned for *The X Factor* as part of JLS, who finished second and later had five UK number-one singles. Ryan Taylor, a singer and actor, had been singing from a young age and was close friends with Humes, who suggested he join VS as the fifth member. After the group disbanded, Taylor released a solo single and moved into acting, with roles in *The Bill* and *Silent Witness*.
In 2005, VS announced they would split after releasing their album *All Kinds of Trouble*. In December 2013, a reunion was announced, though Humes had not confirmed his involvement.
Quick Facts
- Background
- group_or_band
- Genre
- Pop, R&B, hip hop
- Years Active
- 2004–2005
- Label
- Innocent Records / EMI (2004)
- Past Members
- Jaime Summaz / Chinyere McKenzie / Blimi / Marvin Humes / Ryan Taylor
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
VS were formed by Simon Webbe, Melody, and Ali Tennant under the production company 'Love for Music'. The group's members were recruited through various connections: Jaime Summaz, a rapper and songwriter from Manchester, was best friends with Webbe; Chinyere McKenzie, a choreographer and singer, became the lead female vocalist; Blimi, a rapper from west London, met Webbe at a barbershop and auditioned after overhearing the band plans; Marvin Humes, a singer and actor, handed Webbe a demo tape at the 2003 Soccer Six Industry Football match; and Ryan Taylor, a singer and actor and friend of Humes, was suggested by Humes to complete the lineup.
In 2005, VS announced they would split after releasing the album 'All Kinds of Trouble'. In December 2013, it was announced that VS would get back together, although Humes has not yet confirmed whether he is returning.
Reader's Guide
VS represent a brief but notable chapter in mid-2000s British R&B and pop, achieving three hit singles in the UK before disbanding in 2005. Their formation by established industry figures—Simon Webbe of Blue, Melody of DJ Pied Piper and the Masters of Ceremonies, and songwriter Ali Tennant—highlights the collaborative nature of the era's pop production. The group's members went on to varied careers: Marvin Humes later found massive success as part of JLS, a boy band that finished second on The X Factor in 2008 and achieved five number-one singles; Chinyere McKenzie became a radio presenter and CEO; Jaime Summaz released a solo EP; Ryan Taylor turned to acting; and Blimi had won the Tim Westwood Open Mic contest before joining. The 2013 reunion announcement, with Humes's participation unconfirmed, leaves the group's legacy open-ended. Their story illustrates how short-lived pop acts can serve as launching pads for individual careers in music, television, and entrepreneurship.
Did You Know?
- Simon Webbe, a member of Blue, was the manager of VS and also part of the production company 'Love for Music' that created the group.
- Marvin Humes later auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 with JLS, finishing second and achieving five number-one singles in the UK.
- Chinyere McKenzie set up her own dance school in Manchester to work with under-privileged children.
More in British mixed-gender vocal pop groups 1-21
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