The Atlanta-based vocal group 112 parlayed a parking-lot audition for Puff Daddy into a pair of platinum-selling albums for his Bad Boy Records, led by the singles “Only You” and “Cupid,” starting in 1996. The quartet was reminiscent of the classic vocal groups of romantic soul, with a modern hip-hop edge (they provided the chorus hooks for lots of Bad Boy rappers’ singles, winning a Grammy for “I’ll Be Missing You,” as well as their own work).

Now a trio, 112 is spending 2008 focused on solo projects, according to lead singer Slim (also known as Marvin Scandrick). His own solo record, Love’s Crazy, comes out in September, and the first single, “So Fly,” came out two weeks ago. It blends Slim’s smooth, sweet tenor with a throbbing, club-ready bass, and guest rappers Yung Joc and Shawty Lo expound on the theme of getting ready for a night on the town.

Still, Slim says, the group is the thing for 112, whose latest record was 2005’s Pleasure and Pain. “Everybody’s individually expressing themselves,” he says, but the group is still busy, having just finished a European tour. “We stay overseas for the most part, but we’re always together.”

He says that a new 112 record is in the talking stages, but they haven’t started the actual process. “We want to be missed. We’re not the type of group that wants to do records for the sake of doing records. If people say they want to hear from you, or you’re missed, that gives us drive to get back in the studio together.”

Even the solo records are part of the group plan, he says. “We wanted to individually express ourselves, so that when we come back together, people will understand who we are individually, and what we bring to the group. Then it’s that much more special. You understand us as individuals.”

The first few 112 singles portrayed them as a clean-cut group singing about the more refined appeals of romance; as time went on, their material became — not exactly raunchy, but a little more contemporary, shall we say, such as “If I Hit” or “The Way.” Pleasure and Pain was the first 112 record to carry a parental-advisory label, though the guest appearance by Three 6 Mafia probably had a lot to do with that.

Slim says it’s just part of the maturation process. “It’s growing up a little bit, and it was in the choice of singles as well. … You watched us going from being young boys to — when you’re growing up, you’re gonna experience things in life. But we’re still the same clean-cut, church-going boys.”

And while a surprising number of their songs — “Damn, “What If,” “Cupid,” “Cheat on You” and plenty of others — deal with infidelity and its aftermath, Slim claims no special knowledge. “That’s just things that happen in life. It’s a part of life, and what we write about are things that anybody can relate to.”

With 112 on their own record label and Slim running his, he says the future looks bright.

“I’m blessed. I can’t complain for anything. Being in this game for 12 years — that’s not a long time considering we’ve been on tour with The Isley Brothers and Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson — but at the same time we count our blessings, because I can remember groups we started off with who aren’t in the situation we’re in.”

112 sings at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence, tomorrow night as part of the Providence SoundSession Festival. The show is at 8 p.m.; tickets range from $103 to $35; call (401) 421-2787.

rmassimo@projo.com