Responsible for committing some of musicdom’s best-ever lyrics to record — “Never trust a big butt and a smile,” for the uninitiated — news broke yesterday that Bell Biv Devoe will perform on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon next Wednesday.

Those memorable words of warning appear in “Poison,” Bell Biv Devoe’s debut single from 1990. Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe spun-off the New Jack Swing trio from the ashes of their former group, New Edition, and reached #3 on their first at-bat. “Poison” remained at that chart position on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, the entire month of June 1990.

With Bell Biv Devoe being a brand-new entity, and wishing to create a musical identity separate from New Edition, this helpful all-caps description scrolls across the screen midway through the “Poison” music video: “OUR MUSIC IS MENTALLY HIP HOP SMOOTHED OUT ON THE R&B TIP WITH A POP APPEAL TO IT.”

I think that’s called covering one’s bases, but I’m not great with sports metaphors. But I know less-than-stellar grammar when I see it, and Bell Biv Devoe could have used a good proofreader.

Smack it up, flip it, rub it down, oh no!” — a lyrical gem from Bell Biv Devoe’s follow-up single, “Do Me!” — warrants at least an honorable mention, by the way.

While Bell Biv Devoe’s upcoming appearance on Fallon offers them some big national exposure and renewed attention, don’t call it a reunion. The trio never parted ways, performing together regularly and recording the occasional song or two. Ricky Bell tells Billboard.com that they’ve got a new EP planned for later this summer, and are in tour discussions. They’re also contributing music to forthcoming solo efforts from fellow New Edition alumni, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, and Ralph Tresvant.

Maybe a big butt and a smile still can’t be trusted, but the bond between some boys who grew up singing together remains unbroken.

Purchase Bell Biv Devoe – “Poison” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.