When you were younger, did you always think you’d want to grow up and be a singer? Not at all. I just kinda decided one day I would try it; I was probably like 14. In high school I spent a lot of time in Atlanta in and out of studios, building my demo. I went to New York to shop for a deal and signed with Jive Records. Wow, you make it sound like it was easy. With so many artists out there looking for deals, what do you think appealed to the labels about you? Well, when I got signed there was a lot of competition. There’s always a lot of artists trying to get on. I honestly don’t know what stood out about me. I think I just had a rawness; untapped, unpolished talent. I was real regular. I wasn’t a refined, polished mannequin. I wasn’t a programmed artist. I kinda had my own thing, and that was interesting to [the labels], I guess. Plus, on my demo, I had worked with Organized Noize and a lot of other producers, so I guess they were impressed with the people I’d worked with. I had so many different sounds and could go in so many different directions. How were you able to work with producers like Organized Noize? Just being in the right place at the right time; spending days in and out of the studio. Since you were still in high school while you were recording your demo, did you feel like it prevented you from doing other things that most teenagers would be doing? Actually, it didn’t really get hectic like that until near the end of my high school days. I did most of the things I wanted to do; I’d just find a way to fit it in. It definitely prevented me from doing some other extracurricular activities, though, like running track. I wanted to run track, but you have to spend days practicing after school and I just didn’t have time for stuff like that. When you were in school, did people treat you differently because you were a singer and working with known producers? I tried to keep it a secret. A lot of my peers didn’t even know I could sing. I was in chorus, though, and the teacher would always find some kinda way to make me sing. I had done something locally on a CD that came out and it kinda got around to the school. [My classmates] were like, “For real, for real?” I moved to Savannah for two years, too. I was there for 10th and 11th grade. I just kinda avoided the attention. I was real quiet and kept to myself. I didn’t like the news to spread around cause people treat you differently. I didn’t want that attention, at all. Personally, I really just enjoyed school.
like, “Don’t Mess With My Man?” Have you ever got in a fight over a guy? (laughing) In school, in the 8th grade, I got in a fight over a guy, but I guess that doesn’t really count. But yeah, my lil’ attitude is horrible. I’m married now, and when we go places the girls see my ring and still be lookin’ at me and trying to flirt with him. I get a lil’ attitude. I’m also pregnant, so I’m walkin’ around with my belly still ready to fight, like, “What you said?!?” That song is definitely me. “Don’t Mess With My Man,” all day. You’ve worked with Mystikal and R Kelly, who both have been accused of sexual criminal charges. Did you ever see that coming? Oh God, no. I think everybody was shocked about Mystikal. When I first came out I did the hook on [his song] “Danger,” and that’s what helped me blow up. The R Kelly songs I did came together a few years ago. There’s been a few female artists coming out lately with the “crunk & B” label. Do you think your single “Okay,” with Lil Jon, falls into that category? Actually no, the main thing we liked about that song was that it didn’t really sound like Jon’s other records. [My husband] Dream actually wrote the song, and when he sang it to me on the phone I loved it. We recorded it and sent it back to Jon, so that’s how it happened. It sounds so different. I don’t think it’s “crunk & B,” it’s more laid back. It’s a club record, of course, but ladies love it. The second single is “Okay Pt. 2,” but it’s not a traditional remix. It’s a whole new song I did with Dream. Who else is featured on the album besides Dream? Rasheeda, and of course Lil Jon and the Young Bloodz. R Kelly is on one song too. What’s the name of your upcoming album? It’s called Complicated. The songs on the album are definitely talking about different types of women. Some of the songs are not necessarily coming from me personally, but it’s just me writing from a different perspective. Some songs talk about how vulnerable a woman is; some songs talk about a woman cheating on her man, going through drama. I think women are complicated. Is the album geared more towards women? It is. It’s coming from a female voice, but it’s not male-bashing either. Man will love it too.
“Don’t Mess With My Man” was the song that really put you on the map, right? Yeah, my first single was actually “Don’t Mess With the Radio,” but the urban audience didn’t really catch onto it. “Don’t Mess With My Man” kinda spread to both the pop and the urban audiences. It was actually nominated for a Grammy. It was crazy to get that type of recognition, especially after I heard the process of how they vote.
When you say not all the songs are coming from you personally, what do you mean? Were they written by other songwriters, or it’s just you speaking from a different perspective? I wrote most of the songs on the album, but not everything on there is something I agree with or have personally experienced. There are a few songs where I’m definitely talking about me, like “Complicated,” that’s talking about where I am now. A few other songs, like “It’s All Good” and “No More” are talking about a lot of drama I’ve been through in this business. You can tell which ones are personal. Then, I have some songs which are basically the voice of other women. For example, I have a song with Jermaine Dupri called “Parking Lot,” which is a girl talking about cheating on her man. I don’t condone it at all, but a lot of women feel like that. There’s gangsta girl songs, party girl songs, all that.
Do you really have that attitude,
You were dating Lil Wayne for a while,
Do you still avoid the limelight? The attention is cool, but I’m real humble. People are cool, though, they approach me like a regular person.
weren’t you? A lot of people think that’s who I’m with, but it’s actually been like two years since we broke up. You know, a lot of women like Lil Wayne. What’s he like just as a regular dude, not a rapper? Really? Oh, that’s funny (laughing). He’s cool, I don’t know. Was it a bad breakup? Nah, we’re not on bad terms. We just don’t talk anymore. Was it difficult to date someone who’s also in the industry? No, not really. Actually, my husband now is a producer and a songwriter, and it actually makes it a little less stressful. He basically took over my project, and he’s managing me and doing production for me. He’s doing everything with and for me, so I can learn a lot from him. He’s somebody who can help me and guide me, and I know he’s got my best interest in mind. I’m blessed to have him. What if you’ve got personal drama at home and then you’ve gotta go into the studio together and act professional? Oh, we do that all the time (laughing). He executive-produced this album, so halfway through, we were going through our lil’ drama. We still got it done, though. He knows what to do. He’s so talented. I get frustrated cause I don’t get it as quickly as it comes to him. When we work together, we’re a great team. It’s good; I’m actually learning a lot from him. With a lot of female artists, it seems like they disappear if they get pregnant. In hip-hop it’s something that’s really not discussed very much. I know certain female artists try to hide their pregnancies or decide not to have a baby, but for me, I’m the happiest I could ever be in my life right now. I’m happy, I’m in love, I got a little girl on the way, so those are the two biggest blessings in my life right now. That means more to me than anything. God gave me the gift to be able to sing, and I’m glad I have a label that supports my decision. I’m happy talking about my pregnancy. I’m a grown woman, I have nothing to be ashamed of. I guess my situation is a little different. Was the label worried about how you would be able to promote an album and have a baby at the same time? I came to them and expressed how happy I was, and how much I still wanted to pursue my career. I definitely still wanna sing, and I’m gonna be doing this regardless. They couldn’t do anything but respect it. I’m ready for her to be here. I’ve even been performing all the way up to this point; I’m seven months pregnant now. So your baby and your album will be dropping at the same time. (laughing) Yeah. The album is slated for April 19th, and my due date is the end of April. Her name is Navy. Navy Nash. It’s different, huh? It seems like artists always name their children something different. Yeah, I guess it’s the creative minds. Is it going to be difficult to promote the album with a newborn baby? She’s definitely gonna be with me on tour. It won’t be difficult, though, we’re already setting up the tour dates. OZONE MAR 2005
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