| Truth! Truly beautifully
she is, but don't let
the looks fool you for one minute! Falling amongthose
in the industry with true vocal skills that are sadly overlooked,
Truth is
back with a new attitude. She's got a strong grip
on the R&B world with her latest effort, "Ready
Now", and she ain't planning on lettng go any
time soon! Read what she has to say about her
new album, her triumphant move to Raphael
Saadiq's Pookie Entertainment, & much more!
Get Ready for the TRUTH.
First & foremost, thank you so much for talk-
ing to us right now !
Truth: No problem…..
I kinda wanna give people a look at you
from
the beginning until now. What was it like
growing up in St. Louis?
Truth: I pretty much came from a musicalbackground,
like jazz and blues. Just r&b. I don't know if you know at
the
time, St. Louis wasn't hip-hop, it had no influ
ence. So, pretty much just the music. I grew up
trying to be a performer. I started off in opera and
classical training, so growing up in that realm and
then kinda tranfering over. My dad's a local pro
moter. He brought different people to town like
Peabo Bryson, Anita Baker, Minnie Ripperton, &
The Pointer Sisters. So that was kinda like my
surroundings, seeing them and coming up in that vibe. So I started
singing at13. So you started at 13 years old ? Truth: Yes, I started
singing at 13, in a local band that
played like Downtown St. Louis. Actually
one of my cousins was in the band.
Pretty much getting into the music, that
was what I learned and that was what I
knew.
So when was it that you actually got with
Dr. Dre?
Truth: More like the mid nineties.
Well I'm feeling the new move to Pookie
Records and your
new album. How did you get together with Raphael Saadiq?
Truth: I hooked up with Raphael through
mutual friends
who were around his way. Actually one
of the producers on the album, Alonzo
Jackson, he and his wife are like veter
ans of the game. They knew Raphael
very well and got him to come to the stu
dio. I basically let him know I was very
intrigued by his sound and that I wanted
to get with him on some stuff. He felt that
there were some things that could have
been done while I was with Dre that
were'nt, and he wanted to add some of
that flavor to the new album. I felt as
though it should be an executive produc-
tion type deal, so he offer me the chance
to get down with what he was doing.
What do you think the biggest
change is in your music besides the
fact that you are not with Dre any
more?
Truth: Just the musical change,
there's more of a musical influence. It's
still me, subject wise amd melody wise,
but musically, you hear a little of him
obviously. That's the major difference.
What was the reasoning behind the
change in your name, dropping the
"Hurts"?
Truth: Just a transition. I just
wanted to represent the change. I feel
that every artist should reinvent when it's neces-
sary. It was necessary coming out of my last situ
ation, some thing fresh and new. I wanted to
drop something so I could feel a little it lighter,
like the load had been dropped. So you know,
and I actually didn't like the name to begin with.
When Dre and I first started talking about it, we
were talking about Truth, and I was feeling that
because that's where I was at the time. The
whole adding the hurts was a legal thing and I
wasn't with that. So I never wanted it, and I felt
that the more I grew into the shoes, I could just
drop certain things. I just want everyone to know
that it's still me.
I hear that you had more creative control
this go round! What all did you do behind the scenes with this
album?
Truth: Yes, I got into production and co-executive
pro -
duction. So yes, the whole feel. It was very new
for me and very frustrating at times. Because Dre
pretty much babied me. Like, I was so pampered
in the situation with him. He just kinda took over
the control and this time around, I had to step it
up. I had to be clear about what I wanted this
time around. So I had to bring into focus what I
wanted to work with.
The only guests on your new album are Raphael
Saadiq and Loon. Was this your decision, or did you
want to work with more people.
Truth: That was intentional. I don't think
it's neces-
sary. I think it was overdone on the first
album, so this time, I said let's kick back on that. After so
long,
it's no longer your album. It becomes their album.
What feel were you trying to get across
with this album and
the title track, "Ready Now”?
Truth: Well, actually none. Raphael
started writing that song. He started with the
hook, and then I came in on the rest of the song.
It was sexy, it was a groove, and it was more
my personality. It was more of a vibe. There was
nothing contribed about this record, and thet’s
what people try to get answers to. It's like, what
were you thinking? We weren’t thinking about
shit but doing the record. It was very natural,
which was good because we did a lot of over -
stepping and over-doing when I was with Dre
and it wasn't so natural. It was like you got to be
the next hit, you got to change R&B. Ain’t no
changing R&B. It is what it is. So this time I went
in with a vibe, and Raphael and I were totally
just vibing and just doing it.
My favorite track is Knock Knock. Please,
tell me that's gonna be your next single!!!!
Truth: I think it should be the second.
And whatI want to do, if I have my way, I would remix it and put
Mos Def on it.
That's if I had my way.
Stepping away from the album a little,
I hear that you've been doing more acting! What else have you
done since
appearing in The Wash?
Truth: Ooh gosh, I've
done a couple of independent films, Sticky
Fingaz and Freddro have a new film coming out.
I forget what it's called, but it's like a hip-hop
Romeo & Juliet! I'm in that, and then I did The
Parkers' since then, actually. Also, it's this indie
film that Larenz Tate and his brothers just did. I
love to see black people in hollywood like really
putting things together on the production side.
Well I kept the interview fairly short!
Did you
have any final points you wanted to make that
we didn't cover today?
Truth: No, you covered it.
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