City High

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American hip-hop group

title: "City High" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["alternative-hip-hop-groups", "musical-groups-established-in-1999", "musical-groups-disestablished-in-2003", "musical-groups-from-burlington-county,-new-jersey", "hip-hop-groups-from-philadelphia", "american-musical-trios", "1999-establishments-in-new-jersey", "interscope-records-artists"] description: "American hip-hop group" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_High" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American hip-hop group ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

FieldValue
nameCity High
originWillingboro Township, New Jersey, U.S.
genre
years_active1999–2003
label
::

| name = City High | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = | origin = Willingboro Township, New Jersey, U.S. | genre = | years_active = 1999–2003 | label = | website = | current_members = | past_members =

City High were an American hip-hop and R&B trio composed of Ryan Toby, Robbie Pardlo, and Claudette Ortiz. The group's biggest hit, the Wyclef Jean-produced 2001 single and MTV-staple, "What Would You Do?", peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards. Released in May of that year, the trio's sole studio album, City High (2001), earned critical praise, moderately entered the Billboard 200, and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 20 single "Caramel" (featuring Eve). Despite its relative success, City High disbanded shortly after.

Career

In 2001, City High released "What Would You Do?" from their self-titled album. Their follow-up single was "Caramel", with a remix featuring rapper Eve. The final single from the group's debut and only album was "City High Anthem".

Prior to the creation of City High, bandmates Claudette Ortiz and Robbie Pardlo dated throughout their high school years. After meeting and performing for Wyclef Jean, they were signed to his Booga Basement recording label. As Wooga Booga already had a duo, they invited Ryan Toby and became the City High trio instead. Following her breakup with Pardlo, Ortiz went on to date Toby. Ortiz and Toby married in 2004, but later divorced in 2007.

About the disbandment, Toby said: "We did a second album, it wasn't as good as the first album, it was a little rushed. There was some turmoil in the group, the vibe and chemistry was off. We decided to walk away."

Pardlo died in Willingboro, New Jersey, from heart failure on July 17, 2025, at the age of 46.

Discography

Albums

::data[format=table title="List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications"] | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | US | US R&B | CAN | GER | NZ | UK | UK R&B | City High | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | 34 | 23 | 55 | 82 | 11 | 89 | 14 | | | | | ::

Singles

::data[format=table title="List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name"] | Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | US | US R&B | US Rhyth. | AUS | CAN | GER | NZ | SWI | UK | "What Would You Do?" | "Caramel" (featuring Eve) | "City High Anthem" | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2001 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 24 | 20 | 7 | 3 | | City High | | | | | | | 18 | 9 | 3 | 47 | — | 70 | — | 72 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | 2002 | — | — | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

References

References

  1. "City High {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com".
  2. Sfetcu, Nicolae. (2014-05-07). "The Music Sound". Nicolae Sfetcu.
  3. Skripnikov, Ilya. (2010-01-26). "City High's Robby Pardlo Faces 'Intervention' On A&E".
  4. Smith, Kerry L.. "City High {{!}} Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates, Ringtones, and Lyrics {{!}} MTV".
  5. (2 February 2010). "Claudette Ortiz From City High Defends Herself From Wily Temptress Accusations".
  6. "Black Voices - Black News, Entertainment, Style and Culture".
  7. "Ryan Toby Interview". Randb.about.com.
  8. (2020-06-05). "Ryan Toby Talks Solo Career, City High Debut Album, Writing Behind The Scenes (Exclusive) - YouKnowIGotSoul.com".
  9. Bryant, Xaviera. (18 July 2025). "Robbie Pardlo, Former City High Singer, Passes Away At 46".
  10. "Billboard 200 – Week of June 9, 2021".
  11. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Week of June 9, 2001".
  12. (July 12, 2001). "Albums : Top 100".
  13. "Discographie von City High".
  14. "Discography City High".
  15. "City High".
  16. {{cite certification
  17. "City High – Chart History: Hot 100".
  18. "City High – Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs".
  19. "City High – Chart History: Rhythmic Songs".
  20. "Discography City High".
  21. "City High – Chart History: Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales".
  22. "Discographie City High".
  23. {{Cite certification
  24. {{Cite certification
  25. {{Cite certification

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

alternative-hip-hop-groupsmusical-groups-established-in-1999musical-groups-disestablished-in-2003musical-groups-from-burlington-county,-new-jerseyhip-hop-groups-from-philadelphiaamerican-musical-trios1999-establishments-in-new-jerseyinterscope-records-artists