Lyfe Jennings never has been a punk about speaking his mind and he let the world know when he dropped "ABCs" where he called out a gang of R&B cats he respected. But what's up with those R&B artists he didn't call out or even cats that may have been offended? In order to find out what was up we talked to the source. Lyfe sat down and let us know what was on his mind and how he is looking at the game of R&B. Check it out.
State of R&B … I would say it is broken up into two parts. If I could add another label to it I would call it R&B/Hip Hop which is almost like Rap. There are really no cats that do R&B/Hip Hop that can really sing in my opinion. Then you have what people consider old school R&B which is where cats really have to sing and get their chops. R&B/Hip Hop is great but now it’s totally taken the place of what they call old school R&B. It becomes easier for a cat that doesn’t really sing now. Imagine comparing these cats to a Luther Vandross. When I talk to a lot of young cats I find that they are listening to really old stuff because the stuff that’s playing now is not what they will remember… it's not classic.
ABCs … I picked those artists for the “ABCs” because I respect those cats. Some people say I left some people out but I think those cats represent a genre of music. All of those cats can go from the streets, love to talking about something political. The old school R&B is falling behind so I did it to help us up the bar. I just basically pointed out people I respected but some cats took it the wrong way, got real sensitive and real girly.
Anthony Hamilton helped to start my career. He sat me down and talked to me. He helped to build my fan base. When you hear Anthony Hamilton you know it is him. If he talks about love or something political it doesn’t seem like he is trying to preach to you. He’s my James Brown. He has a classic voice.
Kem was a little tricky because I wasn’t always familiar with Kem at the beginning. But it is amazing how incredible his fan base is especially for an artist that some people may not know. For him to sell out four thousand to five thousand seaters (venues) he must have some type of power. Kem is super suave.
Raheem Devaughn … I just had a conversation with that cat just now and I don’t have nothing to say about cat. Nothing!
Musiq is like my little brother Musi is a singer. He has incredible range. He has songs everyone knows. Cats in the streets still know who Musiq is. I have to remind people what he has done for R&B.
Jaheim is street and the ladies love him. I liked his transition. When he first came out he was wearing the baseball cap and the timbs but as he got older he let his dress code and music reflect his growth. He wasn’t trying to stay in the Hip Hop clubs. We almost watched that guy grow up. He’s my Luther.
Why Not R Kelly … I think he is in a different zone. When I think of soul music I don’t think about superstars like him. Talking about R Kelly would almost be like me talking about Michael Jackson … not comparing R. Kelly to Michael Jackson. I am not talking about the ideological R&B. I took the street route. I was talking about artists that helped to shape peoples life in the streets … artists that can talk about love and politics.
Permission … I wanted to write about something besides love. I did "ABCs" to do something different. So I gave cats permission to write about something different with ABCs.
If you want to holla at Lyfe about “ABCs” hit him up yourself @Lyfeonline419 .
Album comes out October 8th, 2013.
Are you a fan of R&B music? Do you enjoy watching reality TV shows? If so, then you don’t want to miss this exclusive interview with Lyfe Jennings.
The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and star of the new series ‘ABCs … R&Beef or Challenge’ sat down with us to answer five burning questions about his latest project.
In this interview, Lyfe Jennings shares the inspiration behind ‘ABCs … R&Beef or Challenge’ and talks about his vision for the future of R&B music. Get ready to learn more about the show’s format, how contestants are chosen, and what makes it stand out from other reality TV competitions.
So sit back, relax, and get ready to dive into the world of R&B music with one of its most talented artists.
The Inspiration Behind ABCs … R&Beef or Challenge
So, you wanna know what inspired ABCs? Was it R&Beef or Challenge that got Lyfe Jennings in the zone?
Well, according to Lyfe, the inspiration came from both. He explained that the idea behind ABCs was to teach young men how to treat women with respect and dignity. He wanted to create a song that would inspire positive behavior and discourage negative attitudes towards women.
Lyfe also revealed that his own personal experiences with relationships played a role in inspiring ABCs. He shared that he had witnessed many instances of disrespect towards women and felt compelled to use his platform as an artist to speak out against it.
Lyfe’s inspiration for ABCs came from a combination of societal issues and personal experiences. His desire was to create a song that would encourage positive behavior towards women and serve as a message of hope for young men everywhere.
Lyfe Jennings’ Vision for the Future of R&B Music
Lyfe Jennings envisions a future for R&B music that incorporates elements of traditional soul and blues with modern production techniques. He believes that R&B music shouldn’t be defined by a specific sound or formula, but rather by its ability to convey emotion and connect with listeners on a deeper level.
In an industry where many artists are focused on chasing trends and trying to replicate success, Lyfe Jennings wants to stay true to his roots and create music that’s authentic and timeless. He sees R&B as the perfect genre for this approach, as it’s always been about telling stories and expressing emotions in a way that resonates with people from all walks of life.
Ultimately, Lyfe Jennings hopes to inspire other artists to take risks and push boundaries in their own music. He believes that there’s still so much potential for growth and innovation in R&B, and he’s excited to see where the genre will go in the years ahead.
With his unique perspective and unwavering commitment to artistic integrity, there’s no doubt that Lyfe Jennings will continue to be a major force in the world of R&B music.
Conclusion
So there you have it – an exclusive interview with Lyfe Jennings, where he shared his thoughts on the inspiration behind his latest album ‘ABCs … R&Beef or Challenge’ and his vision for the future of R&B music.
It’s clear that Jennings is passionate about not only creating great music, but also using it as a platform to inspire and educate his listeners. With lyrics that are both thought-provoking and relatable, Jennings has established himself as a unique voice in the world of R&B.
And as he continues to evolve as an artist, we can expect even more exciting things from him in the years to come. So keep your eyes (and ears) open for Lyfe Jennings – he’s definitely someone to watch in the world of music.