Was it just us, or did we totally not see Lloyd’s immanent rise to the top of the R&B heap? Despite our blindness, he showed madd love to R.C. when we spoke to him about his new album, Street Love and the trappings of street life.
Rocka.Candy: There’s been some talk about what happened with you and The Inc…
Lloyd: Let me break this down to make a long story short. The song, “You” got recorded over a year ago in Big Reese’s basement. The most frustrating part of what I do is wanting to be in the game and contribute, and to sit on the sidelines watching my peers, it get’s very frustrating.
It was never anything personal, I was ready to go. So what I did was leak the record myself in Atlanta. It spread to secondary markets, Macon.. Savannah… Albany.
R.C.: People always say that, how you do you leak it yourself?
Lloyd: I have great relationships with the DJ’s here, Greg Street… J Smoking B. They’ve supported for the past 10 years, I’ve been doing music since age twelve. I put out my first album with a group N-Tune and these guys have supported me since then.
So when I brought it to them, I said if people request it, “Play it again”… if not scratch it. People started requesting it, then it got added into rotation and because of the buzz people started hitting my phone. Big people like Sylvia Rhone and Clive Davis.
So with all the hard work that me and my business partner Noonie over at Sho-Nuff put into the project, I decided to create my own production company, Young Goldie Music, and signed myself to myself. I executive produced this album.
R.C.: So I guess sitting out was a blessing?
Lloyd: Oh definitely, everything happens for a reason… everything.
R.C.: What was the last song you heard, that you wish were your’s?
Lloyd: Rich Boy’s, “Throw Some D’s”…
R.C.: Who… Is… That?
Lloyd: [starts singing] “Throw some D’s on it, Just bought a Cadillac”
R.C.: Don’t know that…
Lloyd: What c’mon…
R.C.: I live in NYC, no Cadillacs where I live.
Lloyd: Let me find something else, I would have to say “Promise,” by Ciara, the beat is very driving. It was actually written by the same guy who wrote “You,” his name is Jasper, he taught me how to write.
Or anything by Akon. We collaborated when I was 16. He was one of the first people to let me write for myself. Also Robin Thicke’s “Lost Without You.”
R.C.: My favorite cut on the album is “Get It Shawty,” tell me about the video?
Lloyd: Thanks man, we shot it in LA, the same set as Grease Lightening, and it’s got a lot more dancing than I’ve ever done, but I wanted to base my video on my live show.
R.C.: How do you feel about the current crop of male R’n'B singers?
Lloyd: I think we all inspire each other. We all come from the same thing, ultimately it’s too much negative energy in music. People want me to down my peers so I can be successful, but I think we’d be bigger if we worked together.
I just did a remix for Usher’s group One Chance. It features me Bobby Valentino and Trey Songs. Sammie and I have been friends for a long time.
R.C.: So your pretty kool with the R’n'B heads?
Lloyd: You wouldn’t believe who popped in on me in the studio, my good friend Usher. He played some of his new joints from his album he’s working on, and invited me to come to his house to record. So it’s all love.
R.C. Well man, I really loved the album.
Lloyd: I bet you say that to everybody.
R.C.: No, I didn’t say that to Tyrese.
Lloyd: Remember what I said man… We have to stick together.
R.C.: I stuck with him, even posted his interviews, just never told him I loved the album.
Lloyd’s album Street Love is in stores now, “Get It Shawty” video below.
Tags: Ashanti, Interviews, Lloyd
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