The latter track sat on the Billboard charts for eight weeks and helped Jones win an American Music Award for Best New R&B Artist. Where I Wanna Be sold more than 1 million copies. 1 hits “Where I Wanna Be” and “U Know What’s Up,” which features TLC’s Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. He had quickly become recognized for his songwriting abilities, having written the 702 song “Get It Together” and Drea’s “Not Gonna Letcha.” With a successful songwriting career well underway, Jones returned in 1999 with Where I Wanna Be. It produced the No. It was anchored by the success of the Stevie Wonder cover “Knocks Me Off My Feet.” 30 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Jones’ debut album, My Heart, peaked at No. Reid and Babyface saw something in the young songwriter and gave him the green light to pursue a solo project. Jones went on to pen the 1994 Usher hit “Think of You.” LaFace execs L.A. Jones met Eddie “Eddie F” Ferrell, president of Untouchables Entertainment and former member of hip-hop group Heavy D & The Boyz, in the early ’90s, and the two formed a partnership with LaFace Records. His mother bought him an electric guitar when he was 14, which, according to Jones, helped reaffirm his passion for music and ultimately kept him off the streets. As he grew older, Jones became involved in the gang culture of Chicago’s infamous South Side. His father was a gospel vocalist who inspired his son to pursue his passion from a young age. Born in Chicago, Donell Jones grew up in a family of musicians.