Sound-Savvy: So let’s talk about your album some more. The first single is called No More Tears, right?
Michael Keith: Yep, No More Tears.

SS: Tell me about that song, was that written for someone in particular? What inspired it, and did you write that?
MK: Yeah I pretty much wrote majority of the album. I wrote 95 % of the album. No More Tears is my interpretation of what I hear from women nowadays. It’s like we get such a bad rep for either being promiscuous or not being able to commit or just being this unscrupulous dude and I feel like there are still some good dudes out there. You don’t have to be a complete nerd but somebody who’s committed, somebody who’s a protector, a provider, somebody that can really show this woman that she’s all the woman that he needs. I felt like we needed a song out there that encompasses all that. So what I wanted to do was just let the world know and let these women know that there are a few good dudes out there man and I’m one of those good dudes. Have I done all that promiscuous stuff? Absolutely! I went out there and did it like everybody else did but I’m an older dude, I’m a wiser dude and it’s time out for all that play-play stuff. It’s real talk time and I just wanted to do a record to let these women know that there are some good dudes out there and I just so happen to be one of those dudes.

SS: Thank you for representin for the good dudes out here because we are still out here. I appreciate that, I listened to that song…
MK: We get a bad rep man! We get a bad rep, and I know you know what I’m talking about!! Everybody a dog, you a dog

SS: Exactly!
MK: What you doin and who you doin it wit? It’s like come on man, it ain’t like that. Just because I don’t pick up the phone at 10:00 just like you asked me to that I’m out screwin somebody. Let’s just cut that out. Go back to the basics. Let’s talk, let’s converse, let’s just get feedback from each other. Let’s talk to each other and not at each other. That’s basically what I’m trying to say.

SS: Hey I appreciate that dude. There was another track on the album, I’ve listened to it and I really liked it. You did a song called Father, a particularly strong track, is that something you’ve always wanted to do?
MK: Absolutely and that goes into my whole thing with the music and me wanting to come out with music of substance, and not slighting or taking anything away from 112, but our music as a group was more light hearted, more fun-loving. My voice is that type of voice that I command a lot of attention when I do sing, it’s almost “preacher” if you will, so I need to do records that are synonymous with that and conducive to that, words of substance. It’d be strange for you to hear a preacher preach about something that has absolutely nothing to do with saving your soul. So I wanted to do records that are about substance so when I did Father it was something that I always wanted to do but it just didn’t fit in the format of a 112 so I always put that on the backburner. Father is a record that’s about 3-4 years old, me and Daron did the record a long time ago but it just never fit the format of what was going on with 112. I always said “I’m Pro-112 anyway” but we just did the song just to do it but it had always been on the backburner. When I wrote Father with Daron, it was my way of getting it out of my system. I reconciled with my father four years ago and I really did not wanna go to him with all that “You wasn’t here!” and “Do you know the type of dude I am and the type of foods I like?” and “Why you do my momma like this?” It’s all in the past and regardless of what his answer might be, it’s still in the past and you won’t be able to take that back. So I was able to come to him as a grown man, with grown man issues, with grown man sensibilities and ways of thinking, and basically let him know “Look that was in the past, if you’re willing to start anew and start fresh, I’m willing to at least open the door and start to build a relationship so since then me and my father – he’s a barber, and every Friday or Saturday I go to his barbershop man, we sit and we converse and we talk about life and philosophy and spirituality and things that I know in my heart that as a child I would not have been able to comprehend but now that I’m a grown man, now that I’m a father those are the things that I need insight on because I really did need an older perspective, a wiser perspective on things and in turn I’m hoping I can shed some light in his mind, and in his life and his spirit. We’re so similar, we hold our hand the same way we look at things the same way. So I wanted him to understand. Did I need him in my life? Absolutely. It’s tough as a dude growing up, you need your father so let’s just cut the malarkey with it when it comes to that stuff. On the same token I wanted him to understand that because he wasn’t there, I’m the way I am now so I still do appreciate that as well. So when I wrote Father with Daron, I had to let him know I wasn’t lettin’ him off the hook, I’mma tell people what you didn’t do, but at the same time in the hook I’mma forgive you though. I’mma tell you whats goin on. My whole reason for that song was to let people know that they’re not the only ones going through a situation like that and hopefully it’s just a learning tool and a way for people to start a forum or a conversation, not even a worldwide forum maybe just something with you and your father or you and your mother. You may not have been able to say what you wanted to say for years but because you heard my song it’s like “If this dude can do it, I know I can”. And if I’m doin that then I feel like I’m doin God’s work. I really had reservations about it at first. When Daron came to me about the whole situation, cause I told him about it, he was like “Man, we need to write a song about this”. I was like “Man I don’t know if I’m ready to even talk about this. I don’t even know why I told you, let alone put it on a record.” But I felt like at that point it was God’s work and He in all his grace ?? We need to put it out there so it can start the healing process to those people that wanna be healed. So that’s one of the reasons that song is even on the album.

SS: Now when you guys wrote this song, had you reconciled with him?
MK: Yeah, I had told Daron that I had reconciled with him and that’s where the idea came up that I should write a song about it. Anybody that knows me knows that, contrary to the lifestyle that I live I’m a very private person. If I never sung about it, you would never know about it. You would never think that “okay this dude grew up without a father being there” because I don’t go around with a burden on my shoulder because my daddy wasn’t there. It was never like that, I grew up happy and loved. I just had mothers being the father figure as well. I just didn’t have time for all the self-loathing and trying to figure out why my father wasn’t there. He wasn’t there because God didn’t allow him to be there. He needed me to be the man that I am. So that’s why I did it, and I felt like it would be selfish of me to have it story in my heart and not share it because there are some people that need to be healed by it.

SS: I commend you for that, like I said it’s definitely a powerful song, so what’s on deck for your next single?
MK: Honestly, I don’t know. We’re trying to rock out No More Tears as much as we possibly can. Farina and I (head of the label) had a meeting today about the video concept, it’s gonna be illmatic man! It’s gonna be crazy. Real simple, but at the same time it’s gonna have a real impact. One of the slights that I feel as an artist that 112 had on us was video-wise you didn’t really get a sense of who we were as artists, or who we were as people. You knew we were this ultimate group but you didn’t know who Q was, who Mike was, who Slim was or who Daron was. This will definitely define me as Michael Keith. That’s what I’m about right now, building up this brand, keeping the whole machine going and letting the fans know that 13 years of being fans didn’t go away just cause I dipped out am no longer in the group.

SS: Yeah, because a lot of us had been wondering what was going on with 112. R&B has really faltered, especially in the area of male groups. Right now, you got Brutha, and Day 26. How do you feel about Day 26, the male R&B group over at Bad Boy?
MK: I honestly feel that these guys are very talented and Ifeel like if they were on another label they would definitely prosper. But being under the shadow of 112 like that, its hard for anybody to come after a machine like that. Not to discredit these dudes, because I’m pretty sure they’re some nice guys and they’re just as talented as I think they are from looking at Making The Band. But at the same time, when you have a machine the way 112 was a machine, everybody that’s there is gonna say “112 did it like this, or 112 sang it like that or 112 rocked it like this” the comparisons are always gonna be there. I mean for Christ’s sake they got two dudes in the group one named Q and the other named Mike!

SS: Ha ha haaaaa! I never thought about that!
MK: You know what I’m sayin’? Yeah you gotta think about that. Adding one more dude but you’re still gonna always be compared to 112. I don’t know for me if that’s something I would have been willing to do, to go out and be signed to that label. Maybe that was the only label that was gonna give them the opportunity to be a group and if that’s the case then so be it. But if everything was in a perfect world, I would have gone somewhere else because the machine that was left in their stead, that 112 machine… whew! We had our fanbase without a Making The Band 3 or Making The Band 4; we felt like we had put in that grind work, which I know these dudes did, ‘cause I don’t want it to seem like I’m dissing these dudes whatsoever. But it’s just, when you’re a part of creating something like what we did with the Bad Boy Era. To even say that... we were a part of that. That’s something you can hang your hat on and something that my kids can be proud of me for. The five original acts that were on Bad Boy was Faith, Craig Mack, Big, Total, and 112. Those were the ones that set that template. You either had to step up or step down. You comin after that, you comin after a machine like Craig Mack, Biggie, Faith, Total, 112… come on man…

SS: Yeah, y’all are a tough act to follow. My hats off to y’all and to Day 26 for trying to fill the shoes but 112 is a tough act to follow, it’s not going to be easy.
MK: It’s gonna be hard, it’s gonna be challenging for someone to come in and have that same kinda influence. That’s the biggest thing I see for these young guys like Brutha and Day 26. The biggest obstacle they’re going to have is getting over that hump of what people view as good music, because Jagged Edge and 112…

SS: That’s it!
MK: Those two groups right there represented for 5-6 good years strong. If you were an R&B group, between us two you couldn’t even stand on us. You gotta give credit where credit is due, 112 and Jagged Edge put it down for years. From the same city, we put it down! The biggest obstacle right now is to get past the old generation of 112 and Jagged Edge and create your own niche because trying to do what we did is counterproductive, it’s unintelligent. You always want to move forward. We fashioned ourselves between a mix of Boyz II Men and Jodeci. We wanted our image to be like the good guys, smooth harmonies from Boyz II Men but we had the vocal singing ability and the soulfulness of a Jodeci. We still had the black leather on and we were still kinda edgy but at the same time you could still take us home to momma. That was our niche. We knew we couldn’t be Boyz II Men, we knew couldn’t be Jodeci, so maybe a culmination of the two. That’s what these guys are gonna have to be, a culmination of Jagged Edge and 112 because those are the ones that were selling serious records! Honestly I can’t remember nobody else right now.

SS: Now you mentioned Total, have you heard from them? Where are they?
MK: It’s been some years, I know they’re married and happy right now.

SS: So they ain’t comin back!
MK: That’s the last thing I heard. I saw Keisha not too long ago. Kima’s been married for years, she’s happy. I haven’t really seen Pam. To be honest with you I miss the old crew. Seeing 'Notorious' (the movie) the other day, it really touched me in a way that unless you were there you won’t really get. It just reminded me of all those cold nights in the studio trying to figure out what the next hit was gonna be, and us livin with Faith and Faith livin with us and Total stayin in our apartment; those are things that you hold on to. Not necessarily goin’ out and being in the parties every night and seein what you can screw every night. It wasn’t really about that. It was about those memories that really make it worthwhile. It’s just, I miss the old crew, the whole Bad Boy thing I wish things would have lasted forever but when my man BIG passed it’s like everything just went south.

SS: Yeah I was gonna ask you, having worked with Biggie how you felt about the movie.
MK: I felt like the movie was a great representation I do agree with Lil Kim though, I don’t feel as though she was portrayed right in that movie. What I saw, she wasn’t like that. I guess you tryna do it so people will come see the movie and I understand that, but overall the movie was a great movie. Dude, he reminded me of BIG, he really reminded me of BIG. But honestly I couldn’t even watch the end. The whole truck situation, I had to get up and leave the theater. I don’t know how the movie ended ‘cause I just couldn’t - I know the story and how the story ends, but as far as the movie, I couldn’t watch it. I thought I had gotten past all that, but obviously not.

SS: Yeah it touched a lot of people especially the ending. Hip hop lost a great icon, a great guy with Biggie, and Bad Boy hasn’t been the same since. So getting back to the album, are you performing or touring right now?
MK: I have a show coming up on Valentine’s Day which I’m very excited about because that will be my first official show. I’m getting ready for that, and this is what I’m ready to do because I know that once I get out into the public and people start seeing how good of a performer I am. People know what I was able to do when I sung the Playa, and the Missin’ You and things like that, but it’s my full set. Just me singing my songs off my album, it’s gonna really show the world just how special this album is. That’s my whole campaign, that’s how I want to do this album, get out and sing and continue building. I am starting a promotional tour in addition to doing club dates and things like that. I’m planning on working out something with the USO (United Service Organizations). I’m really hoping that I can tour with these guys because our troops definitely need that inspiration and need to know that they’re forgotten. And anything I can do to boost that morale, I’mma get out there and do it because they sacrifice so much for us. Hopefully, God willing, the USO situation will happen. I think we’re close but I can’t get into the specifics but it’s something I’m working on. Just promote, promote promote!

SS: That would be a good look, performing for the troops. Man, you just gave me a moment, you said Playa and that totally took me back!
MK: Yeah man…

SS: I gotta hear that one as soon as we get done. So what are your plans for the future? Any other avenues of business?
MK: Absolutely, with the industry the way it is. When I started back in ’96 all you really could be was a musician. Nowadays, everything is so open. You have all these artists now like Ludacris and Nelly, and Will.I.Am in this new movie with Hugh Jackman. The doors are open now for everybody. I’m in the gym, pumpin up getting ready to go out to LA to start doing my acting thing.

SS: That’s wassup!
MK: Just trying to keep things moving. I do plan on doing more philanthropic situations, can’t get into specifics just yet, but I do wanna work with kids and do more philanthropy. I wanna do fundraising for different foundations and stuff. I’d like to find one foundation that I can really wrap myself around and really be a part of. So I definitely want tp be an icon, I want to be legendary. The way you do that is the way Bono does it, the way Sting does it the way Madonna does it. Anybody that’s heard and whose name is across all genres they do philanthropy. It’s not for publicity; it’s something I’ve really felt inclined to do as a member of 112. We used to do things for breast cancer, and the YMCA, but it never really got to a point where it was part of who we were as artists. I definitely want this to be something that is a part of me and a part of my legacy. I feel like its necessary and we are role models and it’s time for us to give back and not take all the time. So that’s what I plan on doing with the music, philanthropy and movies I’m trying to do as much as I can. In films, I definitely wanna direct, I’m co-directing the next video. It’s time.

SS: The show on Valentine’s Day, is that in Atlanta?
MK: Nah it’s in Auburn, Auburn University in Alabama. I don’t have all the specifics, but it’s gonna be a lot of women that’s ready to fall in love and my album is just what they need. I got everything they could possibly want and need as far as love is concerned.

SS: Do you have any favorite tracks?
MK: If you ask me Monday, I’ll tell you something different than I’d tell you Tuesday. I love the album so much because it encompasses everything that has happened to me in the last two years. On Monday, it might be Off Up in This Bedroom, Tuesday I might be feelin Love, Wednesday I might be feelin Picture Me Ridin'. It’s definitely my baby, my project, my baby. I put my ten fingers and 10 toes into it. I love the whole project but off the rip, I would say No More Tears I definitely feel and Love is a song I definitely feel, just off the rip.

SS: Those are two of my favorites along with Off Up In This Bedroom since you mentioned that one, I like that one...
MK: I definitely appreciate it man cause I can tell that you really listened to the album and that's what it's about.

SS: Oh yeah, Most def. So man I appreciate you taking the time out to talk to the Suavv Magazine audience and the Sound-Savvy audience today. We wish you the best with your project. Definitely wish you the best with the 112 situation, I see you guys coming back. You made a comment earlier - everybody I talk to and myself included, when we think of the best groups of the 90's 112 is probably the first group that comes to mind.
MK: I appreciate that

SS: I definitely put you guys up in the group with Boyz II Men and New Edition. 112 was the group that came behind that. After the Boyz II Men and New Edition Era there was 112.

When Sound-Savvy's got questions, we go find answers... that's what makes us Sound-Savvy! So, our question is... WHERE THE HELL IS 112?? I've been a fan of 112 ever since '96 when they were fresh to death with that CLASSIC self-titled debut (I know y'all got it...). In fact, my first concert was at the WKYS People's Expo '96 at the DC armory and it featured 112, among other acts including Donell Jones (still got my 112 autograph too!). Well, the last few years, they've been missing from the spotlight and I didn't know why, until now... I caught up with Mike, formerly of 112 (YEP, it says formerly) and we discussed quite a bit, including his departure from the group. Check out part 1 of our discussion and stay tuned for part 2, where he discusses his solo album, his plans for the future, and why it's "gonna be hard" for Day 26!!!

SS: Mike, whats goin on today?
MK: How you doin brutha? I’m glad to be here man and glad to do this interview today.

SS: That’s wassup. U in ATL right now?
MK: Better believe it folk!

SS: Aight, that’s where you’re originally from right?
MK: Yes sir, I am.

SS: So how long have you been singin and what types of music have you done besides R&B?
MK: Whew! How long I been singin, man it’s been over 30 years that I’ve been singin. I’ve was singin before I was able to really talk if you let my mother or grandmother tell it! It’s been a while. It’s something that is a part of me, something that’s intertwined in me, it’s in my genome. I’m just one of those types of dudes that music is in my heart. Right now I’m just focused on this solo project right now and I’m so happy to be able to express myself fully through my music.

SS: So your solo album, that’s self-titled, right?
MK: Yes, Michael Keith.

SS: And what inspired the content on the album?
MK: Just life, period. From the time that I started doing the solo project, which was about 2 years ago up until completion of that album, that was pretty much my influence for what was going on. A lot of people thought I was gonna speak about something that happened with 112 and the whole nine and things of that nature, but - my whole goal in life was to make sure that my music was synonymous with the legendary Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, and Stevie Wonder and the people of that nature. I just wanted to be in that hilt of that caliber of artists. So rather than hear talk about things that pretty much aren’t gonna be relevant 20 years from now, I wanted to talk about things that had substance to it. I spoke on things that we as people don’t really like to talk about. Our emotions are so locked away and we have reservations about expressing ourselves emotionally so I wasn’t afraid to come out and say “these are some of the questions that I have about love?” why does love hurt so bad why does this girl not love me the way I love her or why can’t I commit to this girl or why am I committed only to this girl. These are questions that I know al ot of people have and need answers to and I’m just willing to provide my perspective.

SS: That’s wassup. So what label are you with right now?
MK: I’m on an independent label, my label a joint effort with my manager/CEO Carlos J. and the label is called Farina Records. We’re just as happy as we possible can be in this scenario, for the simple fact that we have creative control, creative freedom. Anything we wanna do, we can do without the middle man or without somebody saying “This is over budget and we can’t do it. If itt feels good and if the music sounds right then that’s the direction we’re going in. And honestly I don’t think I could have done my album any other way but to have done it independent because of that fact. Because of the history I have, people automatically assume that my misic was gonna be synonymous with the other guys. My music is similar but it’s more – 112’s music was moreso fun-loving just lightheartedness versus my album which is about substance and talking about issues that are grown man and grown woman issues but I do it in a way that everyone can relate to. It’s a definite trade-off. I would definitely love to have the financial backing of a major label but you have to give up something and freedom is something I’m not really ready to give up

SS: I definitely commend you , it seems that a lot of artists are going the independent route these days just so they can have more control over their content and I commend you for taking that step. It definitely takes a lot to be brave enough to step in that direction. Like you said, finances aren’t always there but if you’re passionate about what you do, I think anybody can make it work.
MK: I absolutely agree with you man. But the key thing is, I don’t recommend this to everybody. The only reason why I did it was because I had a history, I had a fanbase and I knew that once people knew that my album was out then they would go out and get it. I don’t recommend that for everybody.

SS: Tru dat. And you gotta have a heart for it. It seems from the artists I’ve spoken with, it’s more of a commitment, more of a struggle. But you get back what you put out…
MK: Exactly. The bible says to whom much is given, much is required. So I’ve been giving a lot…

SS: Now you spoke about your fanbase, which is mostly from when you were with 112. What’s going on with 112? Do you guys still consider yourselves a group just working on solo projects or are you no longer a member of 112?
MK: I’m no longer a member of 112 and as far as what the current status is, I couldn’t tell you because like I said, I’m no longer a member. You would have to speak to one of the other guys to see exactly what’s been going on with them. For me, I just had to pretty much exit the whole situation because there were other things that were involved on a financial and on a business end that I just wasn’t cool with and I really felt like it was time for me – before it got even more gangsta - where I started losing love for these cats, let me just back away from the whole situation, step back, still respect these dudes from a distance, still love these dudes from a distance but at the same time go out and do my own thing now because the current state that 112 was in when I left was something that I didn’t want to be a part of anymore.

SS: So would you say it was over money that you guys aren’t together anymore?
MK: I would say that money and bad business were definitely the 2 mitigating factors for me making the move that I made. Pretty much, let’s just cut to the chase and I’ll just speak on it. Anybody that knows 112 knows that we are a unified front. In our heyday, we were so unified in everything that we did, it was almost like our niche so to speak. Yes we were great singers and the whole nine, but we were moreso a shining example that you could really be in the industry 10+ years without having ill will towards each other. And so, we just did everything as a unit. And, because of the situation we were in when we first signed, which was a real bad contract we decided that in order for us to benefit outside of touring we need to split everything 4 ways. So that was advances, show money, credit for any kind of writing whatsoever so through the course of the 10+ years, in the event that someone wrote something and the other guys didn’t write on it, you would still gain credit for it, because we all understood that without each other being there we would never have 112 to begin with. We all went under that premise. There was plenty of instances where I wrote a song and everybody got credit for it. Q wrote a song everybody got credit for it. Slim, etc. So it wasn’t like this situation came out of nowhere, this whole situation with the publishing check. It came out of nowhere in the sense of how we dealt with it. Now a publishing check came in by the company where it comes in 2 halves. Now if 2 members of the group got the first half then quite naturally if we’ve done it the way we’ve done it for 10 years, then the next half was owed to the other two right?

SS: Right that makes sense…
MK: Well that was the philosophy that we had been working under for 10 years. Why all of a sudden, this last check comes in and you guys don’t feel that way? You guys feel that “okay we need to take a lil bit from the second one as well because we’ve done more writing than the other 2 guys have” and I just really didn’t feel like that was cool as a brother or as a family member. I just felt like that was not cool and I just really had to speak my mind on it and try to figure out. We gotta come to some reconciliation, ya know some kind of way to work this out because even with all that we had said, it still was not bigger than 112 to me. It’s still not bigger than that and it’s still wasn’t worth ending everything the way that it had to end. I tried to work it out; we couldn’t come to reconciliation. They were steadfast on how they felt about it. I was definitely steadfast on how I felt about the situation, so before it got to a point where I had dislike for these guys, I said “Let me backup”, let me move away from this situation and start building my own situation so I won’t have to be dependent on someone else’s decision – whether or not they feel me worthy enough to have some money or whatever. So that was the whole situation

SS: Wow.
MK: That’s the way the whole situation was. Just to clarify also, because a lot of people when they first heard about the publishing check they were asking how was it that they were able to cash a check that was in my name and Slim’s name. The thing is this, anybody that has a company, if you are part owner of a company you can sign off on pretty much anything. If your contract is with the company it’s made that way so any one of us could have taken any one of those checks. Because they were not signed to us individually, they were signed to the company. With all of us being CEO’s of the company any one of us could have signed off on those checks. So just to clarify as well what a lot of people were trying to figure out how someone was able to steal a check from me. And pretty much how it would sound. It wasn’t like my name was on the check and then dude took it and then went in and committed fraud. It wasn’t anything like that but if you’re the owner off a company and the check was cut to the company. You have the right to take that check and do whatever you want with it. So in a nutshell that’s really what happened as far as that whole publishing situation went

SS: You guys had formed the One Twelve Music Group, is that where that whole situation stemmed from?
MK: It stemmed from our past writings for other artists and things of that nature. Once we started getting a taste of the outside scene as far as writing for other people and producing for other people we started realizing that this could be real lucrative for us to be writing for individuals. That’s where the problems started. As long as it was writing and producing for 112 everything was cool. But the minute that you started venturing out and doing things for other people, then that’s when it wasn’t cool. And let me just preface it; I don’t have no problems with a dude goin’ out getting’ money. My whole thing was honor your contract.

SS: Right, it sounds like you guys had an agreement…
MK: You gotta honor the contract. You can’t say this because I’m your homeboy. That would be even more of an incentive for me to honor the contract BECAUSE you my homeboy! Don’t discredit the contract because I’m your homeboy and you feel like I can get away with it. You can’t do it like that, especially for someone that you “love” or “got love for” and that’s your “brother”. So if the guys wanted to amend the contract to where it benefitted them, I would’ve had no problem with it; all we had to do was sit down and talk about it. But instead, it was like “we doin it and pretty much go to hell”.

SS: Wow….
MK: That’s the stance that was taken. It’s like a take it or leave it, we takin this money so what you gon do? Leave?” that’s pretty much how the whole situation went down. Throughout all this, I still have love for these dudes. I still wish the best for them, I still wish the most success because that one incident does not outweigh the amount of success that we’ve had and the amount of time and you can’t tell me that those dudes that did that was the same dudes that I grew up with. So everybody goes through something and if I was dependent on that check solely then I probably would have a much bigger issue but it’s all about Michael Keith right now and doing the solo project so really you live and you learn with it.

SS: I hear you man, and I don’t wanna dwell on the 112 issue too much but I’mma just say this as a fan. As a die-hard 112 fan, I really hope that we haven’t seen the last of 112 and you guys can work this out and come back together. I’ve been a fan since the first album. It’s sad to hear about things like that but hopefully this is an issue that can be worked out between you guys. It sounds like it was just an agreement that wasn’t honored. And you guys were friends before you formed 112 right?
MK: Waayyy waaaayyy before. I’ve known these dudes 20+ years. I’mma be honest with you, we can sit down and we can talk about it. Honestly, in my heart of hearts I don’t have any ill will towards these dudes, they’re minds just ain’t right as far as that situation is concerned. It’s nothing for me to sit down with these dudes when the time is right because right now I’m so focused on the solo project that I really wanna see now because I’ve had so much success with this, I wanna see how far I can take it. I’m a fan of 112 as well and I definitely feel like we have not reached that upper echelon of the Boyz II Men, the Jodeci, the New Edition where we’re referenced when you say R&B groups of the late 1990s to 2000s. I don’t feel like we’ve got to that point yet where the world recognizes us as that caliber of group. I still feel like we have a long way to go and a long way to record sales and I’m definitely a fan of 112 and would welcome that day to happen one day but everything’s gotta be worked out right. Our business has definitely gotta be worked right. But I’m one of those dudes that - I’ve lived long enough to never say never. If the guys are willing and all the stars and the moon and all that other stuff lines up correct then I’d be definitely willing to sit down with these dudes and rock out. I feel like we still have a lot more as a unit but ya know, that’s just me.

SS: Well I’m glad to hear you say that, and I definitely hope that one day we will see the return of 112. I hope everything works out with that.
MK: We’ll sit down and we’ll talk, once everybody humbles themselves in themselves and in the Lord and go back to what it really means. Once you realize how cold it can really be out here on your own, by yourself. When people realize what we had versus what we have now, I think everybody will be willing to sit down and put everything on the table and just start out fresh. I’m pretty sure because I didn’t leave under ill will with these dudes. I still got love for these dudes and I still wish the best for them so the reason I say it possibly could happen and more than likely we would definitely sit down one day and talk about this whole situation is because I didn’t leave on a bad note, I didn’t leave on a sour note I didn’t leave on a note like “okay well screw all yall. I’m go out here and do my own thing”. It wasn’t like that. It was like “okay when y’all ready to talk about this then come holla at me but until then I gotta go out here and do me”...