Onetime R&B session vocalist Dave Hollister first appeared on the soundtrack of #Boyz N the Hood, but got his big break as an original member of Teddy Riley's Blackstreet, performing on their 1994 debut album. He departed shortly thereafter to pursue a solo career, not only as a singer but also as a songwriter and producer. Hollister's first recorded effort as a solo act, the Erick Sermon/Redman collaboration "Weekend," was featured on the movie soundtrack The Ride and released as a single in 1998. His solo debut album, Ghetto Hymns, was issued in 1999. The autobiographical Chicago '85... The Movie followed a year later.