Shontelle Layne didn’t burst onto the music scene, rather she tiptoed in with her sweet vocals on her initial single T-Shirt in 2008. Since then, it’s been an uphill ride, taking Shontelle around the world and back again on tours with mega-stars including Akon, New Kids On The Block and the incomparable Beyonce. Signed to SRC/Motown, the beauty-from-the-Barbados is poised to follow-up her debut album Shontelligence with a more confident, more defining and more fulfilling sophomore project simply titled No Gravity. Her new single is riding up the airwaves (Impossible), and her story is a testament to the meaning of the song – that nothing is impossible. With so much to her credit, one might expect major ego and reservation – but to the contrary, Shontelle was very open, down-to-earth and very excited about her new project, as was I. She took questions from some special Twitter followers and even gave me the lowdown on her obsession with beating bloggers in Mario Kart! Check out our interview after the jump, full transcript and audio available AND listen to her new single after the interview… Read the rest of this entry »
When members of a group start releasing solo projects, it’s usually a sign that the end is near, right? That’s only part of what we discussed with Willie Taylor, one of the members of Grammy-nominated R&B group Day 26. His new solo project, The Sex Tape will be released Valentine’s Day 2010 and although it contains no nude media (cold shower ladies) it promises to help encourage a little nude activity on Cupid’s special day. The announcement of the project’s title turned heads, especially after the leak of Taylor’s nude photos onto the internet months ago. Check out the audio and full transcript of the interview, as we discuss Que’s departure from the group, the future of Day 26, and Willie’s HUGE plans for the future! Link to download THE SEX TAPE following the interview… Read the rest of this entry »
As a hip-hop artist, it takes a lot to step away from the stereotypical bullshit that’s considered HOT and be different. It takes even more heart and determination to just be you and be great at it. That’s how B.o.B. aka Bobby Ray approaches his music: a soulful hip-hop artist armed with a guitar, a comedic edge and music that bears some real messages. With his eclectic style, he fuses sounds from the alternative, reggae, soul and funk genres with his own hip-hop flavor to make music that’s balanced and unique. Sure he’s been compared to the likes of Andre 3000 and Cee-Lo, but he’s much more than what they’ve done in the past: Bobby Ray is the future of hip-hop. Yeah, I said it! Read the rest of this entry »
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…
When you think of R&B music, there’s no way you can forget about the voice, the lyrics, the sheer presence of Donell Jones. He led the way through one of the greatest era’s of the genre and he’s back to do it again. We sat down with Donell on the release date for his newest compilation album The Lost Files (available NOW via iTunes) to talk about that project, his upcoming all new album, and breaks down what he feels is lacking in R&B music these days. Also check out his thoughts on the current landscape of R&B and which artists he thinks are hot, and who’s not! Read the rest of this entry »
Sound-Savvy invaded the red carpet at this year’s Soul Train Awards and chopped it up with many of the musical performers, presenters and special guests. In Part 1 of our Red Carpet interviews, Letoya Luckett talked about her album and her new video, we got introduced to new artists Dondria and Priscilla Renee, and Sean Paul came by after winning the first award of the night and talked about his new music and his new Twitter account!
Make sure you tune in to the 2009 Soul Train Awards this Sunday, November 29 at 9PM on BET Centric to catch some great performances by some of your favorite artists and some all-star tributes to legendary performers Charlie Wilson and Chaka Khan! Make sure to stop by tomorrow for part 2 of the red carpet invasion!
Letoya Luckett SS: So tell me about the concept for the video Regret Letoya: Simple and sexy, that’s all I wanted. It was like we were at the club and someone just cut a camera on. SS: And how do you feel about the reception of your album? Some have said it’s one of the best female releases of the year… Letoya: Shut up, for real? SS: I think so, you should read Sound-Savvy, we wrote a review of it. Letoya: Well thank you, you know what, I’m happy to hear things like that. That’s why I make music. And I hope that the people that are listening to it, that they can relate to it and that when they’re going through that hard time – he gettin on her nerves, or she not bein appreciative, that they would listen to my album and be able to relate. SS: Lazy is my jam! Letoya: That’s your jam, heeey! It’s one of my favorites too! SS: Who are you looking forward to seeing tonight? Letoya: Fantasia, Chaka Khan… SS: Are you performing? Letoya: No, I’ll be working the red carpet… SS: And you’re workin’ it too, you look great! Letoya: *blushes* No, I’m actually workin. I’m about to be doin’ what you’re doin. I’m interviewing different entertainers coming down the red carpet. SS: Well it’s great seeing you and we love the album, Lady Love.
Dondria
SS: You’re working with Jermaine Dupri, right? Dondria:I am. SS: He’s known for making some megastars, do you feel any pressure to live up to that mantle that he’s set forth? Dondria:I don’t think so. I’m just very excited. I love to sing, this is what I love to do. I just wanna get out there and I want people to hear me. SS: I can tell, I’ve seen your Youtube videos. Dondria:Yeah… SS: So tell me about your album, when is it coming out? Dondria:My album, Dondria vs. Phatfffat will be coming out early 2010. SS: Phatfffat is the alter ego, right? Dondria:Yes SS: And your first single is…? Dondria:You’re The One and it’ll be released November 23 on the web. SS: Have you shot the video already? Dondria:Not yet SS: Do you have a concept in mind for it? Dondria:Not yet, I don’t think so. I just finished a photo shoot with Derek Blanks today, and I know it’s gonna be very mature. SS: One last question, you’re kinda young so what do you know about Soul Train? Dondria:I love all kinds of music. I always listened to what my parents listened to. The Chaka Khan, and I love Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Etta James. It’s just in my background. Well it was great talking to you and best of luck with your album!
Priscilla Renee
SS: You’re a new artist on the scene, right? Priscilla Renee:I am. SS: And it’s Priscilla Renee? Priscilla Renee:Yes SS: So you’re working on your first album, right? Priscilla Renee:My first album is completed, it comes out December 1st, it’s called Jukebox on Capital Records. I’m so excited about it. SS: And your first single is Dollhouse, right? Priscilla Renee:Dollhouse, yep. SS: What’s the feel of that record? Priscilla Renee:It’s very for the floor, dance pop. It’s o nly song on the record that sounds like that but it’s okay because the album is called Jukebox for a reason. There’s a plethora of different sounds – there’s a song where I’m rapping, there’s a song where I sound like Christina Aguilera, it’s like a ballad, slowed down. So there’s definitely something for everybody on the album. It’s called Jukebox. The first song is doing amazing! It’s number 36 on the top 40 Billboard charts. Great for me, I’m a new artist. SS: Where are you from? Priscilla Renee:I’m from Florida, but I live here now. SS: So how has the Atlanta music scene nurtured you? Priscilla Renee:When I first started, it was very intimidating. I thought that I had to look like every girl that came to the studio. I thought I had to have long hair down to my butt and wear tight clothes. But I soon learned that it’s not about how guys see you, it’s how you see yourself. Even this, what I have on now, if I walked into the studio they would look at me like I was crazy. But it’s because I don’t care, It’s what I wanna wear, I feel like I look good in it. I feel good. So, I’m doin me. SS: Embracing your differences, I like that! Priscilla Renee:Exactly! SS: How old are you? Priscilla Renee:21 SS: Cool, well I wish you the best on your new single and your new album. December… Priscilla Renee:December 1st. SS: And it’s called… Priscilla Renee: Jukebox…
Sean Paul
SS: So Sean, you were nominated for Best Reggae Artist, I’m assuming you won?
Sean Paul:Yes sir. This crazy heavy award! SS: I can carry it for you if you want! Sean Paul:You want? It’s a lotta pressure on my arm… (laughs) SS: So what you workin on now? Sean Paul:I got a new album out in the streets now called Imperial Blaze. I got my Twitter page up for the first time so I’m tryin to let people know about it. It’s really me, it’s been a lot of people on Twitter posing as me. I’m not really a computer dude, so I’m getting used to it. And I’m connecting with my fans. SS: Well set the record straight, what is your twitter account? Sean Paul:It’s @DuttyPaul. SS: And what’s the single that’s out right now? Sean Paul:The single that’s come out right now is called Hold My Hand and it features Keri Hilson so big things. SS: So who are you looking forward to see tonight? Sean Paul:I’m looking forward to seeing her perform. Beautiful, she’s down there on the red carpet, taking pictures.
I’m pleased to announce that this interview is Post #1000 for Sound-Savvy!!!
Once a member of Pretty Ricky, Pleasure P has stepped out from the fold and is blazing his own trail with his debut album The Introduction of Marcus Cooper (click here for the Sound-Savvy review). I got a chance to ‘hang with Mr. Cooper’ while he was on the America’s Most Wanted Tour and talk about his solo project, the split from Pretty Ricky and his sophomore album, which is already in the works. My apologies, but due to some technical difficulties, the audio for this interview is not available.
Sound-Savvy: So what are you listening to these days, what do you think is hot on the radio? Pleasure P: I don’t really listen to the radio. I don’t even know how many times my song is played. I stopped listening to the radio for a while because I’m back in the mode of working on my new album which is called Suppertime. I just started working on that, we gon’ drop that one top of the year. I just been listening to all old school stuff, ya know. Al B. Sure, and just old R&B shit.
SS: So is that where you’re trying to draw your influence from for the next album? Pleasure P: Nah, I’m just listening for different things, it’ a lot I gotta learn, ya know? It’s a way to express what you tryin to say and still make it sound good. Like when you go to a Beyonce concert, you hear that in her voice. She can just stand in one spot and sing, Jennifer Hudson, they can just stand in one spot and just sing. I’m trying to develop that, I’m learning to do that. Stand in one spot and sing and just connect people with your voice and try to learn to be an artist that really does that
SS: Yeah, I feel you on that. So you’re just taking some techniques from the old school greats and learning from that, I feel ya. Pleasure P: Yeah man, I’m locked in!
SS: So I gotta ask, how did you get the name Pleasure P and where did that come from Pleasure P: I mean, my voice give the ladies Pleasure and the homies call me P but ya know, I’m kinda older now and I’m growing out of that name, so that’s why I’m introducing the world to Marcus Cooper. That’s the guy you’re talkin to right now and that’s the guy that the world is gonna get to know throughout time.
SS: That’s wassup. So you are planning to switch over totally from Pleasure P to just Marcus Cooper? Pleasure P: Yeah, we goin there. Maybe he’ll be an alter-ego that comes out when it’s time to talk about songs about what fgoes on in the bedroom. But when it comes to relationship-stuff and all that which is what my next album is gonna be about, that’s what it is. My last album was about making love and all that, this time I’mma be looking for love. I’m at a point in time in my life where I’m successful, I got things so I’m just looking for that one, not to marry right now but just that one to build with. That’s what this album is gonna be about. It gets old and tiring going to different clubs every night thinking that the club is a place to look for women, or just in general running up and down messing with girl to girl I’m kinda tired of that life. It’s boring now, I just want that one girl that at the end of the night, I can call her and spend hours on the phone with her, ya know what I’m sayin? Love is a good thing if you got it, but when you don’t you think you don’t need it but you really do. You get tired of all the other shit
SS: Real talk, that’s wassup. Now your album The Introduction of Marcus Cooper was your first album as a solo artist. Besides the fact that it’s totally R&B, what about this album sets you apart from Pretty Ricky? Pleasure P: Just the sound, I’d have to say. When I was in Pretty Ricky my sound was a little different. This time I tweaked it and it’s more me now, ya know? Just the things that I’m talkin about and the base of the album, the foundation of the album, the way it was put together and stuff like that. Know what I mean? I got songs like Dream In the Air, an inspirational song on this album, it’s a good move, the album is a well-put together album, from front to back you can ride to it so ya know, the maturity, everything.
SS: I definitely agree, it’s a great album. Not sure if you’ve read the review on Sound-Savvy, but we’ve reviewed it and got a lot of great feedback on it. Just being honest, I was never a Pretty Ricky fan, so I was surprised at how much I liked your album. It was very good. Pleasure P: Preciate that bruh, I really appreciate that.
SS: So how hard was it for you to walk away from Pretty Ricky, the group that gave you your start? Was that a difficult split, a mutual decision? Pleasure P: It was a mutual decision on both parts. It just felt like, I didn’t wanna do that anymore, it wasn’t a good situation for me and it wasn’t a good situation for them either just because I wasn’t happy, so…I’ve moved on, they’ve moved on, and I’m doin y thing, they’re doing their thing. I wish them the best but I’m doing me right now so that’s what it is. Will there be a reunion, nope, I don’t think so.
SS: So is there any bad blood between you or is everything cool? You guys keep in contact? Pleasure P: Nah, it’s not even about that. It’s like why do people break up with their baby’s mothers? Why do people break up in relationships? It’s like some girls you got that chemistry with and you can get back together. And some girls it’s like we’re totally opposite and we just don’t work with each other, know what I’m saying. You might remain respectful to each other and cool on that term, but you probably won’t wanna deal with her after a while.
SS: I feel ya, so the album has been in stores for a couple months. How do you feel about the reception of the album? Pleasure P: Well, due to the facts of how the business works, I think it’s doing real good. I’m something new, some people don’t even know that I’m not in the group anymore. So we’re just building this brand new brand of Marcus Cooper and ya know, you gotta be consistent with music. First album, some people get lucky and sell a lot on their first album. Some people sell a couple hundred thousand. We’re selling consistently so that’s a good deal. But on my next album it’s gonna solidify me and it’s gonna keep getting better. You gotta understand where I came from, I didn’t have anybody to really stamp me like that. A lot of people got that kind of backing, that industry backing, the politics backing. I didn’t have nothing , I had to start from scratch and just turn people into believers. Like you said yourself, you wasn’t a fan of Pretty Ricky, a lot of people wasn’t a fan of Pretty Ricky, but a lot of people was. But, ya know we still gotta stick to this and let people see the real me. Right now I’m on the America’s Most Wanted tour and I am one of America’s most wanted and that’s what it is.
SS: Aight, so with Boyfriend #2, which was your second single from the album it has become one of the biggest radio hits of the year so far, did you expect it to be as big as it was? Pleasure P: When we recorded it, yeah, we knew. Cause that’s one of those records that everybody can relate to but the average R&B guy wouldn’t say it, ya know? And I actually said it, and that’s why I’m the new bad boy of R&B, I do my thing out here and only I did that. The third single Under is doing better than Boyfriend #2. Boyfriend #2 was my second record but it was my first number 1 record on the Urban charts. So I’m happy about that. I didn’t even get a #1 record when I was with Pretty Ricky so for me to do that as a solo artist, that’s good.
SS: So Under has been your most successful single… Pleasure P: Yeah Under is the single that’s out right now. We decided to go with a different sound – everybody else is going for this club sound. But just because you might not hear Under in the club doesn’t mean the ladies don’t like it. You gon’ hear it on the radio, in girls’ cars stuff like that. So I think that’s the good point of Under, it’s the laidback song for the summer that’s quickly building but it’s the one that people don’t expect for it to be what it is.
SS: You talked about another song on the album Dream In The Air, an inspirational song at the end. What was the inspiration behind that song? Pleasure P: Obama was the inspiration behind that song. I looked at my life when he achieved his goals. The Costars and Lonnie Bereal had this record and it just kinda reached out to me when I heard it. We all sat down and collectively did it and I can relate to it. I always had a dream of becoming this star and here I am on my way. I’m working hard towards it, I just keep working, stay humble and well-grounded and I’ll get there. Just keep making good music and be consistent. That’s what we’re doing right now.
SS: Are there plans for another single? Pleasure P: Yeah we’re actually about to shoot the video for a joint called Gotta Have You.
SS: Okay. Pleasure P: My boy R&B singer Tank produced that one, big ups to him. That song is a phenomenal song. I gotta lot of songs coming. I’m bout to do this Fat Joe video too, we got a new song together called Aloha so y’all look out for that. Go ‘head and support Fat Joe. Hurricane Chris, me and him got a song comin out, me and OJ Da Juiceman got a song comin out.
SS: Man you’re busy! Pleasure P: I got a few things comin out ya know? It’s crazy songs too. Me and Lil Jon got a song comin out, me Chris Brown and Bow Wow got a song comin out. It’s a lot of songs comin out in the near future so get ready for that.
SS: I can see you stay very busy. Your next album is called Suppertime? Pleasure P: Yeah, that album is dedicated to Static Major. That man was a big part of my life and my album. He passed in the middle of my album and he was a great part of this album. He’s always been there for me. He always taught me stuff musically so RIP to him this album is dedicated to him. It’s a lot of songs he had for himself. He recorded a lot of songs for himself but they never got to reach the light of day because he passed. So we’re gonna put a couple of those songs on it and dedicate the whole album to him. That was my boy
SS: Yeah, that’s wassup, Static Major was a huge loss to the industry and if we’re talking about losses, the industry just suffered another loss with the passing of Michael Jackson. Tell us about the impact that he had on your career and what song by him you would cover? Pleasure P: I used to listen to all of it. I Want You Back, ABC, and I had the Jackson CD when it was just Jermaine singing a song called Mama I Found That Girl. I’ve been listening to them since I was a little boy and he was one of the guys that inspired me to sing at a young age. I’ve been singing since I was 8 or 9 years old. He was a young guy that sang so I learned a lot by singing those songs when I was a young boy. I’d sing those songs at talent shows and win. As I grew older and came into a group, he and I had so much in common because he started in a group and went solo as well. We had a whole lot in common. Despite what he went through the music that he made, it was always music with a positive message like Beat It and We Are The World. I didn’t really understand them when he was alive, but now I’ve grown a little older and I’m able to listen to them now and it’s just crazy that he’s gone. It’s a tragic loss to everybody. Rest in peace to MJ, he’s inspired many of us and he’s gon’ keep on inspiring the newcomers into the world in their time and generation.
SS: Most def, well let’s wrap this up. You’re on the America’s Most Wanted tour right now, right? Pleasure P: Yes I am one of America’s Most Wanted. So how’s the tour going and what can fans expect from Pleasure P, performance-wise? Pleasure P: It’s going good, fans can look forward to 10-15 minutes of Pleasure P doing his thing, doing his hits, performing his ass off, energetic. Some good stuff for the ladies and some good vocals, good old fashioned fun. The tour is going well, we’re havin a good time out here. Wayne, all of us are like family. Everybody is involved in these BB gun fights and we just have a good time *laughs*
SS: Yeah I heard about the BB gun fights from Drake… Pleasure P: Yeah Drake, we all getting it in. Drake, Soulja Boy, everybody’s involved. It’s like everybody’s got their own special thing going on their bus. My bus might be partying, Wayne’s bus might be into sports cause all he do is watch ESPN. You might get a BB Gun fight or two outta him. Then you go to Baby’ bus you’ll get the knowledge over there. And a tattoo *laughs*. Then you go to Soulja Boy’s bus and everybody just has something going on. From the production crew to the promoters and LiveNation everybody’s doing their job. A real professional environment.
To say that Trey Songz has been on the grind for the past year would be a supreme understatement. Between mixtapes, leaks and pushbacks, Trey is finally READY to give the world his new project Ready. He talked with me about the project and what his life has been like making the best album of his career…
Sound-Savvy: You know who it is and what I do, it’s ya boy Mack from Sound-Savvy.com and Suavv Magazine talking today with the Prince of VA and one of the hardest working guys in R&B, Mr. Trey Songz!
Trey Songz: Preciate that!
SS: You’ve been putting out so much music lately, between your mixtapes and a new song via Twitter every Monday. Does it ever stop for you?
Songz: Man, ya know, not only is quantity important for me – because quantity can definitely be lame if it’s not quality as well so I try to flood the market in a good way. Whether it be another artist’s tracks or original tracks of my own. I think it’s important that people see that I can spread my creativity
SS: Most definitely, now you’re three albums deep into your career… did you feel the need to change up your formula at all to make Ready more successful than your first two albums?
Songz: I think the mixtapes were definitely more in abundance than ever before. You mentioned I did so many songs, I think that definitely played a part. Within the last year, I’ve put out more songs than I ever have. Between me putting songs out on my own and songs actually leaking that didn’t make the album, it’s probably over 80 songs that have come out. So I think that flooding the market was definitely essential to people hearing me and my buzz growing. Me cutting my hair, working out a little bit. Anticipation was something that I did new this time which is basically like a pre-album, which I actually dropped on one of the original dates for Ready; I dropped that on July 30, which was actually supposed to be one of the dates that the album came out. So I dropped Anticipation which was a full compilation of all original music and I think that changed people’s vision of me.
SS: Definitely I would agree. Anticipation was one of the most searched keywords on Sound-Savvy. I got a lot of feedback about that mixtape. A lot of listeners say it’s the best work you’ve ever done, even better than your first two albums. Would you agree and why do you think that’s the case?
Songz: I would agree it’s one of the best bodies of work that I’ve put together and if I was to pinpoint a reason, I would say that it would be unfiltered. It would be because there was no one else involved in the music-making process. It was me, my producer Troy Taylor and that’s all, it’s us making music at our leisure. That’s actually songs I went back in to create after I turned in, it’s songs I was making just for fun cause I said I was gonna put a mixtape out and it started to change the tone of the album. I’ve actually been making music like that my whole career, but when you have a label then you have a situation where you share creativity and you wanna make sure that everyone – and it’s not really that you share creativity because I could put an album together of everything that I want, even with my situation with Atlantic. But you want your label to be as excited about your music as you are. You want them to feel apart. So ya know, I take some risks and give some compromise to make sure that they’re happy and that’s been done on both albums. That’s even been done on this album. And I think that the difference with Anticipation is that it’s ALL me.
SS: Would you say you had the same amount of creative control with this album? I’m sure you have more on this one than your others…
Songz: Yeah, most definitely I had a lot more creative control with this one than I did on the others but it’s definitely still a compromise when you have a label involved because they want a part, they wanna feel apart and they have their vision for you just as well as you have your vision for yourself but I think what the mixtapes allowed me to do is show the label that I know what the people want from me, ya know?
SS: Right definitely, I agree. So far what we’ve heard from the Ready album is a range of music. There are the club songs like LOL Smiley Face and then you have the more sentimental ballads like One Love. When it comes to this album, did you find that it was more important to keep a balance between making timeless classics and keeping with the current trends like LOL Smiley Face?
Songz: LOL Smiley Face is kinda like the only record of its kind on the album and it’s not to say that it sticks out because the album flows cohesively. Sequence is very important. This album is full of classic music I’ll say. It’s full of easy going music, and I like to use this as a talking point lately: you can make love to it, I speak about love made, I speak about love had, love lost, things of that nature and it flows very cohesively from the beginning to the end. There’s another club record on there with Fabolous (Say Aah) , it’s Invented Sex on there with Drake which can be played in the club and you can also ride in your whip to it. So it’s a variety of records on there. If you love music, you’re gonna love this album because it touches so many areas.
SS: Aside from Drake and Fabolous who are the other collaborators on the album?
Songz: Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy Tellem of course on LOL Smiley Face. Outside of that Drake is on Successful on the album with a new verse from myself. I’m actually looking at the footage from the video we shot. And those are all the features as far as artists. When it comes to my albums, I try to make sure that it’s a lot of myself. I don’t wanna make a compilation of various artists, I want it to be definitive of me.
SS: Gotcha. Now I looked at your tracklisting and I noticed a track called Black Roses. Interesting title, what’s the concept behind that track?
Songz: Black Roses, actually shoutout to Bei Maejor, who has been a producer on every one of my albums. And Edrick Miles who’s the songwriter on that with myself. The concept is really love lost and the gift you’re giving is black roses. The symbolization of giving up on love. And the chorus sings:
*sings hook* “Black Roses, for this dying love, now we’re breakin up, since we’ve given up, black roses…”
SS: NICE!
Songz: You know what I mean? So it’s basically like the love is dying… it’s very metaphoric.
SS: So it sounds like we get a little deeper into Trey Songz as a man on this album. Would that be a fair statement?
Songz: Most definitely. I think I’ve grown a lot within the past year and it shows a lot in the music on this album.
SS: So you talked about Successful, you guys have shot the video for it, when will that be out?
Songz: Editing should be done very soon; we actually just shot it last week. I think it was last week to the day, or yesterday… Uhhh you know my days all run together now.
SS: I’m sure… you’re a busy guy.
Songz: Yeah, it should be out very soon.
SS: Successful was originally on Drake’s mixtape (So Far Gone). What was so special about that song that you wanted re-record it for your album?
Songz: I think the reason behind the song. Drake actually came to me with the idea of putting it on my album because he wasn’t putting it on an album. He didn’t really want it on Thank Me Later. So we said that we’d use it for something. It was just suggested that I have more presence on the song. If it’s gonna be on my album I had to have more presence on the song. A lot of my fans actually asked for that from me too. When the idea was initially brought to me I was like “Nah, that’s your song, that’s something that we share together, that’s something special and I love it the way it is.” But we went ahead and did it and we shot the video for that version. Its an added treat to Ready at this point.
SS: Are there any other additions to Ready, like anything from the mixtapes? Just to be honest, one of my favorite joints is Your Side of the Bed from Anticipation. Any chance that it may show up on the album?
Songz: That’s actually on the album. It’s a bit different than it was before, I changed a few ad libs and I sang a couple lines over and we mixed it differently. But it’s for the better. I’m in belief that it will be a single, I don’t know when it will be, but I love that song to death.
SS: It’s a huge fan hit, between Twitter and Sound-Savvy it’s probably a lot of listener’s favorites. Earlier you mentioned pushbacks on the album. Was it a matter of bad timing, last minute changes, what was the reason for that?
Songz: The first date was changed because I started making new music and a lot of that music ended up on Anticipation, which put me in a new space. And I wanted to make music more like that. I wanted to make sure the album was perfect and there was no rush. Outside of that I Need A Girl, which is my single – I’m very business-savvy on this album. I feel like I’ve learned a lot about the game and the game is changing dramatically with the digital sales and the whole digital world. I Need a Girl, I wanted it to be at a certain number of people in audience because audience is the only thing that we know for a fact that equates to album sales. Actual audience of people that have heard your song. In the time that I’ve pushed back my album from the date of July 30 to September 1st, I have now 4 songs on the radio in various cities. LOL Smiley Face wouldn’t have been out. The Successful version with my verse wouldn’t have been out. Invented Sex wouldn’t be where it’s at. So it’s a lot of looks that I‘m getting now, that before the album, I wouldn’t have had.
SS: With your album coming out on September 1st, same day as Whitney Houston, do you feel like that might stifle your success in terms of sales?
Songz: I feel like we have two different demographics. I have some fans that will definitely… ya know, I have older fans and—my demographic is so crazy because I have fans from 2-3 years old all the way up to grandmothers. Whitney is a legend and I feel like she’s definitely gonna do her numbers, ya know? But I’m not worried about her interfering with anything I got going on.
SS: Cool, now when it comes to collaborations, one thing we haven’t seen from Trey Songz is a lot of collaborations with female artists. Is there a reason for that?
Songz: No, there isn’t any specific reason for that right now. I would love to do duets and things of that nature. I’m waiting on those opportunities myself.
SS: Anybody in particular you’d like to work with?
Songz: Ahh man, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Keyshia Cole, Miss Keri Baby! I’d love all four of those.
SS: I could hear you with Keri…
Songz: I’m willing to work with anybody that goes hard. Mary J. Blige, I would love to work with any of those females I just picked.
SS: Would you ever do a duet album, with a rapper or another R&B singer and if so, who comes to mind?
Songz: Well my fans and Drake fans, they actually – I read about it and hear about it every day. “Are you and Drake gonna do an album?” We actually were supposed to do a mixtape this summer but both of us got so busy that we weren’t able to make it happen. But I think somewhere down the line that’ll be in the making.
SS: Another thing you’ve talked about a lot on Twitter is touring. You’ve mentioned the possibility of touring with Fabolous, or Mario or Day 26. Are there plans in the works for a tour with this album and who are you looking to tour?
Songz: We actually have the tour sealed, and as of now it’s myself, Day 26 and Mario.
SS: Okay, when does it start?
Songz: We’re waiting on actual dates right now, my dates in my head right now are so crazy because I’m dealing with promo right now but it will sometime in September.
SS: With a schedule as busy as yours, you do a great job at keeping in shape. What is your workout regimen like and how do you manage the time to do everything and still work out?
Songz: I’m still trying to figure out how myself. I don’t get to work out as often as I’d like to but I do the regular regimen of pushups and sit-ups. And I don’t get to eat regularly either so I’ve actually been losing weight since I’ve been out. I definitely try to hit the gym in the hotel when I have free time. My schedule is literally packed to capacity.
SS: So just to wind down, Successful is your next single, the video is on the way but what do you feel has been your key to being successful?
Songz: Being consistent, being persistent, and never letting up. Believing in myself even when no one else did.
SS: Okay now on the flipside, what would you say is the biggest downfall of being so successful?
Songz: The biggest downfall is you have to deal with people being let inside your world. The rumor mill goes around. When people say things about you that you know aren’t true or people have perceptions of you that you know aren’t true it hurts. You have to build a shell. I think that’s one of the toughest things, learning how to deal with people talking about you that don’t know you. And people that wanna see your downfall. But I think I’ve learned a way to deal with that. I got a tough shell, but even the toughest man can admit that people saying things about you that aren’t true hurts.
SS: In the position you’re in you have a lot of people looking at you so I can’t blame you, you gotta have a tough shell and I applaud you for that. I see the things that people say but you’re a good dude and you’re doing your thing.
Songz: I appreciate that man!
SS: So in closing, what would make Ready a successful album for you?
Songz: I think it’s already a success. The anticipation built up towards it, the way people perceive it and play it from beginning to end. If it’s in the hood, if it’s in hotel rooms late at night, if your grandma playin it and your daughter playin it at the same time. If I touch somebody out there with a word I said or they feel a way about something because of something I said. If I change someone’s life out there, if the struggle that I had to get to this point with ready, – like I’m already claiming that Ready is gonna be a successful album, really – if someone sees my struggle that I had to get here and that motivates them to do something with their lives then it’s successful.
SS: And one final question We just recently lost Michael Jackson a huge icon in music. What kind of influence did he have on your career and if you could cover a song by him, what would it be?
Songz: I may do She’s Out of My Life or Rock With You and as far as an influence on me, I feel like he’s influenced music as a whole. Myself personally, I’ve listened to him for voice inflections. Our vibratos are actually similar and his tone changes right in the middle of the song. The texture of his voice, I listen very closely to that
SS: Well I’m putting in the request for one of these music Monday releases on Twitter that you give us a Michael Jackson cover, I think your fans would appreciate that.
Songz: As soon as I get the time to, I’ve been wanting to for like a month now. I actually did the Mariah Carey joint Obsessed a few weeks ago..
SS: That’s actually on Sound-Savvy now, a lot of people have been feeling that!
Songz: That’s wassup man!
SS: Well on behalf of Sound-Savvy.com and Suavv Magazine, we definitely appreciate you taking the time out to do the interview with us today.
Songz: Oh nah, I appreciate the love man, good interview too!
Trey Songz’ third studio album, Ready is hittin’ stores September 1st and features the hit singles I Need A Girl, LOL , and a re-recorded version of Successful. Make sure you cop that and check out Songz on the blog spot at SeeFurtherThanIAm! Support real music, excellent R&B!
Chico DeBarge knows a thing or two about making a comeback. Following a prison sentence for drug trafficking in the mid-90’s, Chico re-emerged on to the music scene in 1997 with the classic soul album Long Time No See. His new album Addiction thrusts DeBarge back onto center stage after a 6-year hiatus that included battles with substance abuse, troubled relationships, and an incident that nearly claimed his life. The album is an open book of pain, victory and determination – a realization that you’re never too fargone to make a comeback. I had the opportunity to speak with Chico DeBarge about the new album and the events that brought him to where he now stands, on the threshold of a comeback.
Sound-Savvy:We’re talking today about your new album and your whole career. The 1st album I think I owned by you was Long Time No See from about 96-97…
Chico DeBarge:Yeah, that was around ‘97-‘98… early ‘98
SS:So between Long Time No See and now how is Chico DeBarge a different artist now between those albums back then and what you’re releasing now?
CD: Me as a person, I’m just a little more mature, more developed, I’ve experienced a lot more. And I think my music reflects that. So to answer your question I think Chico Debarge is just more mature.
SS:When you’re working on music for your albums, who are some of your influences and where do you draw your inspiration from?
CD: Lately, I haven’t really been able to do that musically; because I kinda shut the world off I haven’t really pulled from anybody. Initially, I pulled from my brothers a lot because it was so important to me to continue on what they had started so I would study them a lot, listen to them; and as far short as it might have fell, that was my interpretation of what I would have done had I been in the group or had I been a part of DeBarge and the legacy – I mean, I am a part of the legacy, the next generation musically. Long Time No See, believe it or not was my interpretation of Debarge (laughs). I figured it was a far shot away from it but that was my interpretation.
SS:Now we’re talking about inspirations, and as you know we just lost a musical legend and icon with the passing of Michael Jackson. Given your family’s relationship with the Jacksons, did you ever get to meet him and what type of influence did he have on your career, if any at all?
CD: Yeah, Michael… it was a strong relationship between my family and the Jackson family. First of all, they influenced us all their lives and then it was a blessing that God found it in His will to merge our families together. My brother Bobby, who was in Switch, dated Latoya and introduced James and Janet to each other. A lot of people don’t know that the Jacksons discovered my brothers. Jermaine discovered Switch, and had a pretty big influence. They showed us a lot about fame and about the music industry and how to live. Outside of the personal, they were just an influence on us musically from day one. As a family they were a tight family and still are and they were a class act. It goes more than just personal and musical influence. Just as a person as well as a people they are good people. Very God-fearing.
SS:Now between your last album, Free, there’s been about six years leading up to Addiction so what have you been up to in the meantime?
CD: Wow, well I’ve been through a lot of experiences in my life personally and then of course I stayed on it business-wise traveling to Europe as well as here. I stayed on the circuit and kept myself busy onstage. For the most part, I had a little trouble in my life that I dealt with. In 2003, I got stabbed in Philly it was a terrible stab that ended me up in the hospital with surgery, lost a lot of blood. But I came through, bounced back, and I was prescribed some prescription pills. Consequently because of that I developed an addiction towards them, and subsequent to that I was released from that addiction thank God. By the grace of God and his power I’m walking again in public and of course promoting my CD and still out on the road.
SS:And I’m assuming that’s why you titled the new CD Addiction?
CD: That’s correct.
SS:Yeah, so what was it like battling substance abuse and addiction, and what advice would you give someone dealing with that now?
CD: Wow. It was horrible, it was tormenting and torturing and I would say to someone going through that to just reach, reach for everything that you can that you know is good and don’t give up on what you believe is good. If you’ve already given up on what you believe is good – cause sometimes that’s part of the addiction and that’s why you’re addicted – then find somewhere inside yourself to find something good. If you’ve given up on everybody else, there is something good around you or within you. Find that, and have that. Reach for that and follow that. There’s a reason to live, if it’s nothing but to be a purpose for someone else to live. You can be hope, even if you don’t have hope you can be hope for somebody else. So you know, come out of the rain, don’t bow to the pain.
SS:Definitely. So let’s get into some talk about the album Addiction, it’s in stores now, available for purchase. A lot of fans are feeling Do My Bad Alone, and that’s one of my favorites too…
CD: *laughs*
SS:… So I gotta know, was that inspired by a true story?
CD: Oh boy… I think that and I’m Okay are probably the two truest stories that there is on my CD because Do My Bad Alone was about an incident I think that started my whole whirlwind of mess. Being in a relationship sometimes with an addict is worse than being an addict sometimes. I lived both sides. Doing my bad alone just basically means, believe it or not, making a determination. That’s the oldest song on the CD and that was one where I was just frustrated with love, with the relationship, with life. The girl that was just an alcoholic, she was very abusive and ya’ know I don’t just mean physically – I’m talking ‘bout mentally and verbally. I tried to love and stand still but ya know it got crazy and I decided to my bad alone cause I began to do bad and I didn’t wanna do bad with her cause then that’s double trouble. So that’s pretty much how that song came about. I think this whole CD is very honest, I tried to hide a whole lot of subliminal in it but I guess people are really gettin’ it and readin’ it. I guess the consumers and the listeners are a lot more in tuned than I thought they were.
SS:Yeah, I think a lot of people are drawing that to some of your past, more public relationships that were public knowledge like your relationship with Nona Gaye. So I’m not sure if the song was about that…
CD: I guess you can do your own work, huh?
SS:I guess so… well moving on. One of the few people you’ve collaborated with a lot over and over is Joe. You guys have a history together and you’ve recorded quite a bit together. How is it working with him and how was it recording Tell Ur Man?
CD: Tell Ur Man… it was great. Joe, he heard the song after I wrote it and he felt it was a good flashback to No Guarantee which we had done previously. And he wanted to jump on it and he was like “Listen man, this is something that I think they expect from me and you, just for us to be me and you and come together as brothers. I think that’s what’s missing in R&B.” And ya know, I think they respect our brotherhood, so let’s do it on this song. I had wanted Joe to do it on anything that he felt comfortable. I didn’t wanna push him but I definitely wanted him to be a part of my CD and this is one that he chose to be apart of, Tell Ur Man.
SS:So out of the songs on the album, do you have a favorite? I know that’s probably unfair because I’m sure you like all of them.
CD: Yeah, I’m Okay.
SS:Okay. So Oh No was your first single, is there a video coming for that?
CD: Yeah, actually we’re doing the video in two weeks. We have a different marketing plan than what people would usually do and that’s because for the most part, I’m an underground artist, so to speak, in the sense that I’ve always been underground, I’ve never really had a strong radio hit, but for some reason God blessed me enough, the people embrace me enough to keep me afloat and for the most part, that’s how we market everything – with an underground marketing plan. I kinda let it get a buzz and we let the music speak for itself. We try not to overpromote it or give it too much of a sales pitch because the sales pitch doesn’t really work. It can be overkill; we try to let the music sell itself. If the music is good then it should be able to sell itself.
SS:With you going the underground route, do you feel you have more creative control over what kind of music you put out as opposed to an artist that’s more controlled by their label and has the bigger radio hits?
CD: Well I am with Kedar Entertainment so it is a big label, He’s responsible for D’Angelo, he discovered Angie Stone, Erykah Badu, Kem, India Arie, he actually signed Amy Winehouse as well as myself. So I am with what they call a “mini-major” but at the same time he is considered someone as underground because he broke all of those artists from the underground first. He was kinda the mogul of neo-soul Kedar Massenburg, Kedar Entertainment. I respect his vision and I just follow that. That’s what he chose to do and so I’m rollin with it.
SS:Okay, so you come from a very musical family, the Debarge family name is synonymous with music and making hits. Do you ever feel any pressure to live up to people’s expectations of your family name when you’re producing your music?
CD: Yes, yes I do. Sometimes I get certain people that try to compare me or say, why don’t I sound like this… so yeah, I do.
SS:Do you ever miss performing with your family or hitting the stage with your brothers?
CD: Well I have done it, but I was never in the group so I never really got to do it on a level of where it was when I grew up watching it. I was just a spectator at that time. But I definitely want to do that with my family. Yeah, I wanna perform with them at some point.
SS:Now when it comes to performing, and this question actually came from one of your Twitter followers. I think it’s pretty safe to say that women view Chico DeBarge as a sex symbol, but at the same time you put a lot into your music. Do you ever find that some of your female fans are just more into your looks than your music and is that ever a point of frustration for you?
CD: Umm, I don’t know, yeah I guess. I guess they might cast me as that but I don’t wanna be typecast as that. Its okay for them to think I’m attractive but I wanna be taken for serious as a musician and an artist. I don’t wanna just be known as a sex symbol. For her to say that, that’s cool and that’s a compliment. I don’t view myself as that; I view myself as a serious musician.
SS:That actually came from @thicksational, she’s a good friend of mine we met at a concert last year. And while we’re speaking of Twitter, how do you feel about twitter? With you being gone and just really stepping back into the limelight, how has Twitter helped you reconnect with your fanbase?
CD: Believe it or not, as shy as I am I’m also a people person once I’m warm to somebody and I feel they come from a good place. I’m a very personable person. So being on Twitter, Myspace, Facebook all those things are good. I definitely am an advocate of it and I think that it’s something that people should do. It’s your way of communicating with your fans when you can’t. Traditionally when we communicated we couldn’t get away from them, because if you sat out and did the meet-and-greet and they would want too much and you were tired from getting offstage or whatever. Well, with Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, you can get offstage, get right on there, say what you wanna say and keep it moving. I think that’s a good vehicle to do that with. It’s a sort of meet-and-greet.
SS:So what’s up next for Chico DeBarge? What’s the next single? Plans for a tour?
CD: Yes, I am, I’ve been touring. I’ve been on the House of Blues Tour with Joe. Me and him did that together, now I’m doing my own thing. I’m gonna single out and do some things in DC as well as Baltimore. Cincinatti this weekend, it’s a bunch of dates lined up, I’m just squeezin’ them in. But me, Joe, Ginuwine and Keith Sweat are gonna do a run as well, I think this fall. I look forward to just touring a little bit and goin back into the lab again like I did before and taking my time and doing a nice CD. I wanna just do nice music.
Addiction, the new album from Chico DeBarge is in stores now, and features the lead single Oh No, and the hits Math (featuring Talib Kweli), Tell Ur Man, Do My Bad Alone, and I’m Okay.
So… earlier this week, a diss track aimed at Soulja Boy Tellem entitled Die Already leaked to the net and many of us (myself included) thought Eminem was the culprit behind the track – if you’ve heard it you’ll know why. But when rapper Nasty created Die Already earlier this week out of his frustration for Soulja Boy’s popularity despite his lack of meaningful content, Nasty claims it was never meant to reach the ears of the masses. In this interview, he also talks about the comparisons to Eminem, what sparked these ill-feelings, and what other rapper is on his radar! What you won’t hear on the interview is that Nasty says he previously had a deal with EMI Records that went sour and was also previously managed by the former manager of MC Breed. He’s currently living in Europe focusing on his rap career with plans to return to the States soon.
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