Next's RL Huggar, speaking on a celly mid-transit, is a scream. Warm-hearted, funny and with an infectious laugh that makes you laugh along with him, he is a spontaneous interviewee. And it transpires that this self-proclaimed dreamer has his heart set on finding an Aussie lady. He's just feenin' for the chance to tour Down Under . . .

Life hasn't always been so sunny for RL (those initials, he teases, stand for 'Real Lovable'), the youngest member of the Minnesotan group. To begin with, all three members fought against the street life to become one of America's hottest new vocal groups. Although his strict father was not always in favour of his musical passion, RL has finally won him over with his stash of platinum plaques. But there are still other stresses.

While RL, 21, is a proud young father, he reveals that his baby mama has denied him access to his two-year-old son. And it's hurting. What's more, Huggar has also recently split with another lady love, rapstress Queen Pen, whose expected child he is said to have fathered. Apparently, they found it impossible to maintain their relationship with accelerating careers, so they amicably separated. Given the accumulative pressures of newfound fame, RL must indeed have a lot to bear. No wonder he likes the exotic fantasy of a Down Under romance. 'I've heard the women are so beautiful and so nice. I really believe I'm gonna marry an Australian woman. There was one at the video shoot the other day. She's a rapper -- one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. I loved the skin colour. I love the accent. I love everything. I can just hear her go, "Oh, RL . . . " YouknowwhatI'msayin'?' Hmmm, kinda.

RL is actually the group's sole Minnesotan native, since brothers Terrance ('T-Low') and Raphael Brown ('Tweety') hail from Gary, Indiana. And yet, all now regard the Twin Cities as their home.

Of course, Minneapolis was the centre for R&B back in the 80s. Prince and his stable spawned The Time, and with it, super-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Indeed, this pair have continued the metropolis' legacy into the 90s by taking under their wing acts like Sounds Of Blackness, Mint Condition and Lo-Key?. It seems as if Next (an acronym for No one Ever eXpected This to happen) belong to a new generation altogether. Still, RL doesn't necessarily place Next in the Minneapolis tradition. 'We look at the whole scale of things. We listen to country, rock, everything, so we can get a broader perspective on what we need to do to sell records. Of course, we take pride in the fact that we're from Minnesota, with the rich history that we have, but we listen to all types of music. That's one thing about being in the Mid-West -- we're right in the middle, so we get everything: East Coast music, West Coast music, all that good stuff.'

Next were already playing the Twin Cities circuit when they got their first real break. As things happened, two members of Lo-Key?, Lance Alexander and Prof T, offered to work with them in the studio. On one occasion, the Browns fortuitously bumped into Naughty By Nature's DJ-cum-producer, KayGee, in the city's famous Mall Of America when his group was in town. They passed him a copy of their demo -- despite the fact that the copyright details hadn't been finalised. Impressed with what he saw as the R&B version of Naughty, KayGee asked Next to wait for him to finalise his new label venture, Divine Mill, so he could sign them, which they  did. And, thanks in part to the New Jersey resident, Next were also picked up by Queen Latifah's Flava Unit Management. They sang back-up on Naughty's tribute to 2Pac, "Mourn You Til I Join You". And the rest is history.

And so, Next's debut LP, "Rated Next", features input from the two production houses, with the group themselves co-writing some of the songs (RL is Next's main songwriter). The album has already spawned three hits: "Butta Love", "Too Close" and "I Still Love You", all of which place the group firmly in the genre of hip-hop soul (Jodeci) as opposed to pop-R&B (Boyz II Men). "Rated Next" also boasts hot collaborations with Naughty ("Penetration", as first featured on the "Money Talks" soundtrack) and Adina Howard ("Next Experience").

As with Jodeci, Next apparently feel comfortable with sexually-charged material, such as "Penetration" (on which, to be fair, the hip-hop contingent deliver the nastiest words). But put this to RL and he challenges the use of the word 'sexual' in relation to Next. He much prefers to describe their music as 'sensual'. 'Sexual is something that can be disrespectful. I'll give an example. If a man says, "I want you to suck my blank," that's sexual. Sensual is, "I want you to taste me." It's all in the way that you say things. Sensual is good taste. Sexual is not always good taste. That's the difference.' Gotcha. 

Likewise known for her provocative routines on record is Ms Adina Howard. RL welcomed the opportunity to spar with the "Freak Like Me" singer on "Next Experience". 'I wrote the song. It was like a joke, 'cause she's always talking about what she does to men and how she's this and that -- like a dominatrix or sumthin'. What I did was I switched it around on her, so it would be like we're competing -- you know how people sit around and brag . . .'

Next are only too aware of the proliferation of male vocal groups in the 90s. They have their own favourites among the current crop. 'We like Jagged Edge, Public Announcement, Dru Hill, Boyz II Men . . . ,' says RL. 'I've just got off the phone to Public Announcement. Those are my friends. We listen to everybody. You listen to old music, which is cool because that's where you get your influences, but you've also gotta listen to new music in this business. It keeps you on your game.'

On the heels of their high profile support slot for Mary J Blige and Usher in the US, Next have lately finished touring with BIIM. 'It was beautiful. I mean, being on the road with one of the greatest groups ever . . . ,' RL breaks off in awe. 'They was so down-to-earth and they treated us like little brothers.'

Next haven't been complacent since blowing up. They guest on Queen Latifah's album. RL duets with Deborah Cox on her soph. For the "Slam" soundtrack, Next hooked up with Big Punisher on his "Sex, Money & Drugs" (conceivably in return for the rapper's appearance on their "I Still Love You" remix). But it is Next's latest song, "Splash", as heard on the "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" soundtrack, of which RL is most proud. 'I'm real excited about it, because I think it's one of the best songs I've written yet.'

RL loves writing songs. He sees it as an outlet for his emotional highs . . . and lows. 'I can be creative and express myself, and the whole world listens.' And RL is already looking ahead to Next's follow-up set, which will contain at least one number with a more serious tone. He confides sadly, 'I'm actually on my way to the studio -- I'm working on a new song today. I dedicated it to my son's mother. She won't let me see my son. I think I'm expressing something for all the good men out there that can't see their kids.'

Yet, those royalties, plus a new endorsement deal with Pepsi, have eased some of the burdens on these 'ghetto celebrities'. Mr Real Lovable perks up. 'I took my sister shopping the other day. I've never been shopping with a woman before! I picked out everything. Luckily, she liked it all, though. Even dresses! [laughs]. So when I find me an Australian woman to marry, I can shop for them. Let it be known.' "

Rated Next" is out through BMG.