Sound-Savvy Goes One-on-One with Raheem Devaughn!!

With a soulful sound beyond his years and a penchant for making records that move the heart and the mind, Raheem Devaughn is on the brink of releasing his third album, The Love And War Masterpeace. Since his first major album in 2005 (The Love Experience) Devaughn has been known as one of the primary voices of the neo-soul movement, a feat that has garnered Grammy nominations as well as rave reviews of his studio music and his live performances – which are truly an experience. Radio Raheem (as he’s known to many fans) sat down with Sound-Savvy to discuss his new album, starting his own label, and the issues he’s faced as an artist with rejection on urban radio and lack of hometown support in the DMV area (DC, MD, VA). Find out what’s in store for you on The Love And War Masterpeace and his plans for the future…

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Sound-Savvy: It’s been two years since your last album, what have you been up to since then?

Raheem Devaughn: Man, I’ve started my own independent label, it’s called 368 Music Group. Got a real dope artist, his name is Phil Adé. He released his first mixtape this summer, it’s called Starting on JV.

SS: Yeah I’ve heard that, actually. I listened to it.

Raheem Devaughn: What did you think about it?

SS: Dope man, I’m from the DMV so I like to support all the talent. He’s a dope artist, in fact I actually posted the remix that you guys did to Pretty Girls, Wale’s joint (click here)?

Raheem Devaughn: Ahh, yeah cool.

SS: Yeah, I got a lot of good feedback on that, is that going to be an official remix or is that something you just did?

Raheem Devaughn: Man I don’t know what they do, I just put it out. I sent it to him first before and I got his blessing. I saw he retweeted it out and that type of thing so it’s cool. That’s the beauty of the internet, you can do whatever you want and just getr it out to the peopleand they can say “Yo we like this”. Dj’s will play it if they wanna play it and keep it moving ya know?

SS: Definitely.

Raheem Devaughn: Phil is 21, Nigerian, by way of Grenada. So I’ve been working on that. We got his new thing coming up soon. Been working of course on my album, The Love and War Masterpeace, it’s a double CD. That drops February 9^th, same day as Sadé (At press time, this date has changed to March 2nd). I’m real excited about that because from a retail standpoint, if I’m correct we’ll be lined up on the shelf right next to each other. So that kinda works out in my favor in a lot of ways. So The Love and War Masterpeace is a double-CD, half love – half socially conscious issues, and 20 songs in its entirety. The whole album is being narrated by Dr. Cornel West.

SS: Oh nice!

Raheem Devaughn: Yeah  and then on the album, feature-wise, this’ll be the first album where I have a lot of features. I have Ludacris of course who’s on the Bulletproof record, the first single. I got a record with Walé called Greatness. I think that record is gonna be real special. It’s like Woman Part II. So for all the fans out there that loved the record Woman which was on the last album, I think they’re gonna embrace that.

SS: You got nominated for a Grammy for that one too, right?

Raheem Devaughn: Yeah, exactly and that was my first number one record too.

SS: And what’s the name of this one with Walé again?

Raheem Devaughn: It’s called Greatness. I also have Damian Marley on the album, it’s a record called Can I Live. I have my artist Phil Ade on the album and I have a record with Bun B from UGK and that record is called Wing And A Prayer. Then I got another record that’s real special called Nobody Wins A War which features Jill Scott, Dwele, Anthony Hamilton, Bilal, Chico DeBarge, Chrisette Michele….

SS: All on the same track?

Raheem Devaughn: Yeah, yeah…

SS: Ahh that’s gonna be hot!

Raheem Devaughn: Yeah this is gonna be bananas. I’ve been U-Streaming and playing the records, so if you go through my logs of my previous U-Streams over the last couple of weeks you can actually hear some of the records. I played the record Nobody Wins A War and different stuff.

SS: So tell me about that track, Nobody Wins A War. From the title, it sounds like it’s on a We Are The World type level from the appearances on it and the title, so what’s the theme behind that song?

Raheem Devaughn: It’s basically just self-explanatory, nobody wins a war. I actually wrote it while Bush was in office. Now with Obama making the announcement that he’s sending in 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan, it’s right on time

SS: Yeah, I agree.

Raheem Devaughn: Yeah it’s right on time with the signs of the times, where we are as a people and where we are as a world. I just try to make music that reflects upon the time and get it out to the people and let them make their own observations. It’s a real dope record a basic common sense record when you get into the lyrical content. At the end of the day, who really wins?

SS: Each of your albums has a title with the word ‘Love’ in it, how important is the element of love to you when it comes to making your music?

Raheem Devaughn: Very! From a physical to a spiritual, to an existential level, it’s very important. I think it’ll be how we win the spiritual war in the end. It’ll be what prevails; I think we’re just in some real strange times so I try to push that constantly. I’m like a modern-day hippie without all those drugs.

SS: That’s wassup!

Raheem Devaughn: Yeah so that’s just my vibe.

SS: Your first single Bulletproof, like you said it features Ludacris and that got pretty popular. In fact, I gotta commend you on the video, excellent video (watch here). A lot of people really love it. What inspired you to do that kind of record?

Raheem Devaughn: Ahh man, just reflecting upon the times. I’ll be honest with you I’ve been working on this album since I was working on Love Behind the Melody. That record could’ve easily been on my last album. The last album could’ve easily been a double CD because all these records were recorded then. At the time, the label felt like that might’ve been a premature move in terms of my popularity and my movement still building so they held off. Here we are later, entering a new decade, first black president, and the country and the world are in a real crazy place right now. It’s right on time. One thing about me, I constantly record. When my spirit moves me to do something I just do it and I don’t worry about when it comes out.

SS: You’ve probably got a lot of unreleased stuff in your vault then, huh?

Raheem Devaughn: Ahhh man, I got a gang of stuff and if worst comes to worst, all I gotta do is upload and press ‘Send’.  (laughs) Ya know? They take too long on it or whatever, I’ll put out a free mixtape. The music is gonna hit the streets one way or the other these days, so it’s all good.

SS: I actually follow you on Twitter and I noticed how you talked about how the record Bulletproof just hasn’t really been added into rotation at a lot of the urban stations. Why do you think that is?

Raheem Devaughn: And it has, but surprisingly it could be a lot bigger. The movement could be a lot bigger. Especially in the city where I live, I live in the land of politics, I’m right in the DC, DMV area so when you get into the (local stations) 92Q, 93.9, 95.5, that’s directly on deck. You’re right there!

SS: Yeah, I couldn’t believe that WKYS wasn’t really trying to support the record, I saw you call them out. Have you gotten a response on that?

Raheem Devaughn: Nah, it is what it is. At this point, it’s a top 10 record in Chicago. They broke the record out in Chicago so it’s gonna do what it’s gonna do. Ultimately urban radio is shooting itself in the foot constantly. And if they continue to do so, it’s just suicide because the people are not feeling the same 20 records in an hour, 24 hours a day. Radio is the last place folks are going nowadays to get a source of music. So when they do a radio date, just that alone lets you know; you see the decline in the audience coming out. If they do like a “Back To School Jam” and it’s nobody in the joint… you’re suffering as a result. It’s the corporate structure, it has destroyed the artistic side of it. I’m not knocking it; I’m not knocking any of my fellow musicians, rappers, artists or whatever. At the end of the day, what I’m saying is it’s about balance. Keep that balance. Give variety and then you’re in-tuned with the people. If you ain’t in-tuned with the people then the people will go to U-Stream, Twitter or whatever to get to the music they wanna get to.

SS: It seems like urban radio shys away from the more socially conscious records, and like you said it IS about balance and sometimes that is what the people want and need to hear.

Raheem Devaughn: Yeah, I mean even the youth! I see the difference that it makes.

SS: I’m from the DMV myself and I know Wale is out of the DMV as well and he also complained about the lack of hometown support. Do you feel there’s a lack of hometown support from the DMV as well?

Raheem Devaughn: Oh definitely. In fact, I’m relocating to Atlanta, because of how they operate down there. It’s a whole other way they move, it’s a whole other love they show. In fact, Atlanta is the first place I ever been to in a club where the DJ didn’t have my record, he went online while he was DJ’ing at this packed club, downloads the record, stops the music  in the middle of the joint, puts the record on blast, puts me on blast.

SS: WOW!

Raheem Devaughn: He felt bad that he didn’t have it!

SS: That’s love…

Raheem Devaughn: But it’s like DJ’s that I come in contact with in my own city, they might not have the record, and it’s just like “I don’t have the record, whatever.” But at the end of the day, you don’t take it personal. It’s a business and everybody has their own agenda to do what they gotta do. My thing is, I’m making music and people will find it and connect to it. I must not be doing something wrong because the shows still selling out.

SS: You’re right!

Raheem Devaughn: Yeah, when we take it on the road, that’s the realest feeling ever – knowing that the love is still there.

SS: Yeah, in fact the first time I was introduced to you was the summer of 05 or 06 you were opening for New Edition and you had done a show here in Charlotte so I can definitely attest to your showmanship. Now are you planning to tour with the album or are you on tour now?

Raheem Devaughn: I’m gearing up to do some things. People always solicit me to come out and perform. We’re in transition of creating that Frankie Beverly and Maze movement. If I don’t put out anymore albums after this – bottom line after this album, I’m about to hit the streets. I’ll be able to tour for the rest of my life based upon what I got on this new album and what I’ve put out previously. But I do have a tour coming up and it looks like, God willing, I’ll be taking Melanie Fiona out with me on the road.

SS: Ahhh man! That’s gonna be hot!

Raheem Devaughn: I like her as an artist, so that’s what we’re trying to work out right now.

SS: That is gonna be a hot show, I love Melanie Fiona.

Raheem Devaughn: And from there, I’m tryna jump on the road with Sadé. That’s my personal wish, what I wanna do.

SS: Wow, that sounds big, both of those artists. Sade is legendary and Melanie Fiona is coming up making a huge name for herself right now. So either one of those…

Raheem Devaughn: Oh yeah no doubt. She just got her first number 1. We just gon’ grind it out…

SS: So is that to say that you’re not looking to put anymore albums out?

Raheem Devaughn: Nah, nah nah… I’mma put out. I’m about to start working on a new joint, I got the concept and everything. I’m just saying that I feel like since the label can’t keep up with the speed I put the stuff together, we can put it out and hit the streets. I would love to get in the rhythm of putting out an album once a year.

SS: You’ve nicknamed yourself the R&B Hippie Neo-soul rock star. Will the new album show more of the hippie-rock star side of your persona?

Raheem Devaughn: Oh definitely. I think from the ‘WAR’ aspect, it definitely captured the hippie side. I think this album is gonna show more of my R&B side too. I gave myself that title because each album is gonna more showcase the other sides of me. I think this next joint is gonna more showcase the rock side. It’s gonna be a lot more guitar-driven, the next album, my fourth one.

SS: Of course my female readers wanna know if there are any especially dedicated tracks to the females on this new album…

Raheem Devaughn: Oh yeah definitely. I got a joint dedicated to the females called My Wife. I got a joint called Microphone it’s dedicated to the females. I got a joint that’s called B.O.B. I ain’t gonna let the cat out of the bag just yet but those records I got a record called Bedroom dedicated to the ladies, I got a record called Black and Blue, The Greatness with Wale. So definitely when you get into the LOVE side of this album, it’s what I do, it’s consistent. It’s Raheem Devaughn, doing what he does consistently. I feel like I’m at my A-Game right now with it.

SS: So have you chosen a second single yet?

Raheem Devaughn: Yeah, a joint called – what I choose and what the label chooses, you gotta always hope we’re on the same page. Right now it’s looking like a record called I Don’t Care (listen here).

SS: Okay, and what’s the feel of that?

Raheem Devaughn: Oh it’s uptempo, real dope. I think it’s gonna be a huge record for me.

SS: Just to sum it up, what can fans expect from Raheem Devaughn with your future endeavors?

Raheem Devaughn: Man, so much. The album out, heavily touring, in the community, the whole nine. The whole Raheem Devaughn movement. When I’m back in the streets, I’m back in the streets. We bout to come back full steam for the 2010, the takeover is like… it is what it is. When the wings expand some of these cats gonna have to get out the way. It is what it is, it comes with the territory. I step back and let cats have their fun, but I think this album is definitely gonna separate the men from the boys.

SS: Are you listening to any other artists that have captured your ear? Who’s on your iPod?

Raheem Devaughn: Maxwell, I like the new Maxwell album. Dope joint, I gotta go check the concert out too. As far as male artists and music that’s out right now that’s what I’m feelin. And I got my little stash of music, stuff that I’m into.

SS: How do you feel about the Alicia Keys album?

Raheem Devaughn: I haven’t heard it yet. I plan on copping it, I’m gonna actually be doing an event with her in a day or two. Tomorrow we’re doing the Apollo together; she’s doing the Alicia Keys and Friends joint. With me, before I get an artists’ joint, I go to see it live. And then once I connect with it live, I’ll get it. So I’mma have the opportunity to hear her sing some of her new songs live tomorrow and I’m sure I’ll like what I see and then I’ll usually go and get the music.

SS: Cool, well on behalf of Sound-Savvy and Suavv magazine I definitely appreciate you taking the time out to talk to us about your new album The Love And War Masterpeace and it’s hitting stores February 9^th right? (At press time, this date has changed to March 2nd)

Raheem Devaughn: Yessir

SS: Cool, well Raheem, take it easy and from one DMV brother to another, I wish you all the best and much success. I’ve seen you on tour a few times so I’m definitely looking forward to your next round of shows so I can catch up with you in Charlotte.

Raheem Devaughn: Oh yes sir, let’s make it happen.