Game Changer II’s second single, which went top ten on the charts, is “Perfect.” Extolling the virtues of natural beauty, strength, and intellect, the sultry ballad reunites Gill with his New Edition bandmate Ralph Tresvant. But ballads weren’t the only thing on Gill’s mind while recording this project.

The 11-track set boasts several up-tempo, genre-bending tracks such as the Latin-spiced “Fiesta” featuring icons Carlos Santana and Sheila E., the reggae-tinged love song “Best Thing” as well as “Favorite Girl” – all produced by Grammy Award-winning producer/musician/songwriter Blac Elvis out of Atlanta. A surefire standout is “That’s My Baby,” a sumptuous tribute to one of Gill’s biggest heroes, Luther Vandross, produced by the late producer Ralph Stacy. Rounding out the guest cameos is After 7 lead singer Kevon Edmonds on “Home.” And on “So Hard,” Gill teams up again with legendary producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the masterminds behind his 1990 breakthrough hit “Rub You the Right Way.”

“I wanted to focus on including more tempo because I haven’t recorded those kinds of songs in a while,” says Gill of recruiting Jam & Lewis, Gregg Pagani, and Elvis “Blac Elvis” Williams, among other producers. “I like to party as well. So they came up with nice tempo records that allowed me to be Johnny without compromising who I am.”

As the formidable next chapter in Gill’s career, Game Changer II underscored once more why he is a long-distance legacy artist with a brand that’s ever-evolving. The album was built on the career renaissance that predecessor Game Changerushered in. That project detonated six R&B hit singles, including the No. 1 “This One’s for Me and You.”

In 2023, Johnny Gill marked his 41st anniversary as a professional entertainer, sealing his legendary status. Over the years, he’s been successful as a solo artist, as a member of several groups, and as the CEO of his own empire under the J Skillz mantle. Even as Motown celebrated its 60th anniversary, Johnny remains proud to have once been a part of that magical company’s golden legacy. “I was honored to be signed by Motown,” Johnny states. “No matter what era you’re in, Motown will always be a landmark in music. Not just for Black folks. Like Smokey said, ‘The Sound of Young America’ was made to cross over and touch everybody.” When he took his career into his own hands and started his J Skillz company, Johnny returned to music with every intention to be a soul survivor and a game changer. “If I knew then what I know now,” he says, shaking his head. “These years have been an experience I could never have paid for. It gave me another level of respect for the industry and what record companies did back then. Until you sit in that chair and realize all of the things that have to be done, it gives you a whole other level of respect. There’s no way my last album could have been as successful as it was if it hadn’t been my decision – and having the resources - to accomplish all we did. It’s been a blessing.”

In every arena he has entered, the volcanic-voiced Gill has been a game changer. Discovered at 16 years old, he released two albums through Atlantic Records. He next joined now-iconic boy band New Edition, helping them transition from novelty to longevity on timeless classics such as “If It Isn’t Love” and “Can You Stand the Rain.” As a linchpin of legendary Motown Records’ ‘90s comeback roster, Gill exploded as a solo artist with an indelible one-two punch from producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (“Rub You the Right Way”) and L.A. Reid & Babyface (“My, My, My”). Alongside Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat, Gill established L.S.G., the powerful R&B supergroup behind the sexy smash “My Body.” He also formed another supergroup, Heads of State, with New Edition peers Bobby Brown and Ralph Tresvant.

Johnny Gill is one of the few artists to score #1 hits with two different groups, a duo, and as a solo artist. He’s one of the top legendary artists to have hits on the top 10 R&B charts for three decades: the ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s. He’s accomplished a lot in his career as a veteran in this business and deserves a lot of credit for what he’s done over 40 years in this business.

After a 15-year solo hiatus, Gill made a stunning return to the game with 2011’s Still Winning. The album peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the magazine’s R&B album chart. Then came the pivotal Game Changer on Gill’s own record label J Skillz. That move also signaled another phase in Gill’s multi-faceted career: entrepreneur. With Game Changer and Game Changer II now under his belt, Gill and Tresvant did a joint-venture collaboration. The pair teamed up again for Ralph Tresvant’s single, “All Mine,” on Ralph’s 2020 solo project. After their partnership resulted in the 2019 hit “Perfect,” they saw no reason to mess with perfection. This time with Ralph taking the lead, of course. With production again from Gregg Pagani, “All Mine” is as cool and comfortable as any song ever recorded by either artist.

Following Johnny’s involvement in the 2017 television ratings bonanza The New Edition Story, Gill filmed a role in 2018 in the upcoming Spinning Gold, which is set for release in 2023. In the forthcoming biopic about Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart, Gill plays Clarence Burke Jr., the lead singer of the Five Stairsteps (known for the top 40 hit “O-o-h Child”).

A fervent believer in giving back, Gill is a longtime supporter of the L.A. Speech & Language Therapy Center, which provides treatment and services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other diagnoses. “Music is so universal and can be so healing to our souls,” says Gill. “I love watching these children work through their problems, evolve, and do things no one ever dreamed they could.” Gill performed with kids from the LA Speech & Language Therapy Center at the Special Olympics 2015 Opening Ceremony. After the huge success of the widely anticipated New Edition “The Culture Tour 2022,” Gill fulfilled an item off his bucket list by releasing a widely acclaimed Christmas song in November 2022 called “Bad Santa.”

Johnny Gill and his brothers in New Edition set out on the New Edition “The Legacy Tour” in February 2023 to help celebrate 40 years in the industry and to show fans how much they are appreciated. New Edition extended their Residency at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas through 2025 after selling out their six debut shows in March 2024 within an hour.

Whatever Johnny Gill has coming next, fans can rest assured of one thing: he never just plays the game. He changes it… every time.