Absolute

Absolute, the duo of Carolyn Griffey and Tiara Le Macks, brought a high-pedigree soul lineage to the early ’90s R&B scene. As the daughter of Solar Records founder Dick Griffey, Carolyn Griffey was part of the next generation carrying the torch for one of the most influential labels in soul history. Their 1990 debut album, For All Seasons, released on the Solar/Epic imprint, was a definitive piece of New Jack Swing-era production. It perfectly captured the transition of the “Solar sound” from the disco and funk of the ’80s into the harder-hitting, hip-hop-influenced rhythms of the ’90s, all while maintaining the smooth, melodic vocal arrangements that were a hallmark of the label’s legacy.

The album remains a cult gem of the 1990 musical landscape, anchored by their standout single “Cheap Shot,” which perfectly blended street-level rhythmic toughness with polished R&B sophistication. Produced during the peak of the New Jack Swing explosion, Absolute’s work stood out for the vocal chemistry between Griffey and Le Macks and its direct connection to the storied history of the “Sound of Los Angeles Records.” For fans of the golden era, For All Seasons serves as an essential chapter in the story of how classic soul lineages adapted to the modern dancefloor, earning Absolute a permanent place in any comprehensive global soul and dance archive.