Lloyd: Forever Thankful

On the Boulevard of broken dreams, R&B/Street crooner Lloyd has had a healthy serving of traffic jams and road blocks. At the age of 10, Lloyd Polite signed is first record deal as a part of the young trio, Ntoon on Dreamworks Records. Due to lack of experience in promoting R&B music on the hands of Dreamworks, the group dissolved. At age 14, Lloyd linked up with MCA records. And just when Lloyd had everything in place, the label dissolved into its parent label, Geffen which in return dropped a few artists including Lloyd.

In 2004, Lloyd finally got his chance to shine with his debut album release “Southside” on The Inc. (Murder Inc.). The Inc. was still fresh within its industry decline after their #1 bread-winner, Ja Rule lost a career battle to hometown foe, 50 Cent. The urban community already had its mind set in not taking the once mighty label seriously; Lloyd gained name value through his debut, but he was still a casualty of circumstance.

2006 has brought a clearing of the road in Lloyd’s career; a second chance that many of artists never have the chance of witnessing. ‘You’ featuring Lil’ Wayne hit the airwaves in the 4th quarter and has picked up a loyal following of fans as well as industry allure. With his sophomore album “Street Love” hitting shelves in March, Lloyd took time out of his schedule to talk directly to our XPOZ loyalists.

You have to talk to me about how it has been for you receiving the early success from your first single “You.” You just can’t keep that bright smile off your face, man.

Lloyd: Well first of all, I just want to thank you for requesting to sit down with me for this interview. It’s funny, because just a few months ago I was scratching my head or twiddling my thumbs wondering if I already had my chance to shine. I’ve just been so humbled; everything around me these days have humbled me. Having the opportunity to do this interview for XPOZ magazine is humbling; having the opportunity to work with some of my inspirations has humbled me a great deal. I think that being humbled might be the hardest part of being in this industry. You have to sit back and appreciate what is going on in your life. If you don’t allow for your successes to humble you, if only for one moment, you miss out on that special moment of accomplishment. But I’m just being myself, man.

It’s just nice to see when someone truly appreciates their success for what it is worth and not be afraid to express that to the world.

Lloyd: I see it as, not everyone is blessed like you and I to do what they love to do each and every day. I try not to take this for granted. When you go through a lot for a little, it just makes you appreciate everything a bit more.

When you hit the scene with “SouthSide” a few years back, there wasn’t as strong of a young R&B sound as there is now. Now that you have the next generation of superstar artists like Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, and Ciara, talk about how and where you fit in with the new era of R&B.

Lloyd: I’d like to say that people often ask me about my musical counterparts like Chris, Omarion, Trey Songz, Ne-Yo or Bobby Valentino. We are all good friends. I believe that we all work to inspire each other to be greater artists. People would often ask me about them in a negative way like, “What can you do that they can’t do?” It’s not necessarily about what I can do that they can’t do. For me, I’ve collaborated with Hip-Hop artists like 8Ball and MJG, and Young Jeezy for example. These collaborations have given me a different reign and has in returned gained me more acceptance in the streets. I’m able to sing songs about love on my records and then I’m able to talk about hustling on songs with Rick Ross.

Now Lloyd, we both know that Andre 3000 doesn’t work with just anybody.

Lloyd: You are so right about that…

How did the remix Mr. Ice Cold himself for ‘You’ come together?

Lloyd: Well Big Reese and I have been talking about working with Andre for months. Big Reese, who is my best friend in the world, produced my song. For those that don’t know, Big Reese got his start around the time that OutKast was coming up; when Organized Noize was coming up. See, I’ve ran into Andre a few times, but I didn’t really know him that well. What makes this collaboration even more special was the fact that he reached out to us saying that he really, really loved the song and that he just wanted to spit something on it – “Can somebody send me the beat?” he said. It was on Thanksgiving Day when the call was made. He told us that he had to go out of town to work on some movies. So we sent him the beat, he went into the studio on Thanksgiving and just gave us the craziest 24-bar verse for the remix. It was just an amazing experience…

Street Love hits stores in March. Talk about the concept behind the album.

Lloyd: The concept behind Street Love is very simple. It’s like you have Icy-Hot; you have Rhythm & Blues; you have Hip and Hop; and now you have Street Love. This project is something Big Reese, Jasper (Cameron) and I have concocted in our months of working together. I feel that I have the next Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in my corner with Big Reese and Jasper. What I feel separates my style from what people are currently enjoying is my take on how I infuse Hip-Hop and R&B together to make it easily acceptable to all. With this album, I wanted to find a way to connect with everyone, which is coming out great so far. I can’t let go all of the information on my collaborations, but I have worked with Jazzy Pha, Dallas Austin, Eric Hudson, Johnta Austin, Bryan Cox and I’ve also worked with J-Lack who is Usher’s little brother and is incredible.

Look man… everybody who knew that I would be interviewing you today all wanted to know about one thing – your hair.

Lloyd: Man, it’s all good. I feel that if I cut my hair, I’d be weak.

Dude, is your hair really coming out of your scalp that slick?

Lloyd: Yeah man, this is me - just juices and berries. My family is Creole, coming from New Orleans. My mom’s side of the family is where I get it from. And my father, well he has about as thick of an afro as you could get.

With Valentine’s Day on the way, would you like to drop a few lines of wisdom about love and relationships to our readers?

Lloyd: Yes I do. I don’t want for anyone to be afraid to follow their hearts. Never fake the funk – if you’re not feeling a situation, don’t lead the person on. Don’t look for love – just feel things out and allow for it to come to you…

In closing…

Lloyd: I do this because I love it. I love music and I have always been inspired by music.

Lloyd – “My Valentine” from the new album Street Love in stores March 13th. http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/labels/universalmotown/theinc/lloyd/audio/myvalentine_1000k.asx
http://boss.streamos.com/real/labels/universalmotown/theinc/lloyd/audio/myvalentine_1000k.ram

Lloyd Video promo link:http://video.umrg.com/lloyd/you/

Official Site: http://umrg.com/artist.aspx?aid=610

Lloyd MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/lloyd

k-os - ATLANTIS: Hymns For Disco (Tour Dates/Interview)

Remember that you've read it here first: k-os will be 2007's Breakthrough Artist of the Year or at least a major part of that class. The evolution of Hip-Hop music is boundless; just look at the likes of Outkast, The Black Eyed Peas, and Gnarls Barkley. k-os may have been below the radar in the states with his sophomore release "Joyful Rebellion", but ATLANTIS will prove to be his U.S. coming out party.

Below, you can take a look at an excerpt from our conversation, the video to his first single "ELEctrick Heat - the seekwiLL", and dates from his upcoming US tour.

By popular demand, there is a belief that it is the integrity of Hip Hop music at this particular time that raises the argument that Hip Hop is dead. Do you agree with that, and if not, talk about why you feel that Hip Hop is still alive…

k-os: That (death) is just part of life, which is one of man’s greatest ignorance’s – to fear that something has to die. That’s why man fears death so much because they feel that it’s the ending, when it is the beginning of something else. What that new beginning may be at this time, I can’t speak on or know. All that I do know is at in Hip Hop’s beginnings, you can remember lyrics from Rapper’s Delight like, “I don’t mean to brag, I don’t mean to boast / but I like hot butter on my breakfast toast.” Then years later, you can remember Nas reciting, “It ain’t hard to tell, I excel, then prevail / the mic is contacted, I attract clientele.” I’m sure that by a kid who grew up in the late ‘70s that in their opinion of ‘80s standard of Rap music, that Hip-Hop was dead when Nas first stepped on the scene in the early ‘90s. But I’m glad that Hip-Hop is dying in a way, so that it can be reborn again in a new form.

I feel that death is a part of life. I also feel that the more that we try to realize that, the more that we won’t have to panic when we see something from our youth dying. We then can talk to the younger generation and together, find a way to renew it for a new way of being.

Take this time out to talk about your new album, “Atlantis – Hymns for Disco”.

K-os: Atlantis is my Punk rock record and my non-fearful record. I choose to let the people describe my album. I believe that there are so many ways to create music. This record is about seeing what happens when you don’t allow for your influences to knock on your door all the time – you just let them be your houseguests that don’t make a lot of noise, they are just around. Your influences will sit down at the table with you and say, “What’s up, how are you doing?” opposed to saying that I’m a black man from the West Indies. This record is about making music. It doesn’t have to say that I’m a black man, or that I’m Canadian and this is how my music should sound. You can hear that in the way that I program my drums, in the way that I express myself. This record is about embracing my influences.

What lessons do you feel that “Atlantis” can teach to a culture that is presently at a loss of cohesive value?

K-os: It would be arrogant to say that my music can teach an entire culture anything. I just don’t see myself as a person who can teach a whole culture a lesson, but what has this album taught me; and if I am my culture, if the blood that runs through me is the culture of my people. I’ve learned that you can’t let people’s perception of who you are, rule you. You have to be the owner of your perception. I just believe that no matter who you are, you just have to get to the point where you can allow for who you are to shine. This is what Atlantis means to me. There are going to be some Hip-Hop heads that are going to listen to this album and say, “Yo’ K-os, how come your album isn’t pure Hip-Hop?” Then you are going to have some Rockers who are going to say, “How can you call yourself ‘Born 2 Run’, that’s Bruce Springsteen.” But I am going to have to answer those questions because I am just being myself. And that’s a huge lesson to be learned by all, because you’re going to have to stand up for what you put out there.

"ELEctrick Heat - the seekwiLL"



k-os Tour Dates (with Gym Class Heroes, RX Bandits and P.O.S.)

2/17 - Boston, MA - Avalon Ballroom
2/18 - Troy, NY - Revolution Hall
2/20 - Indiana, PA - Ohio Room - IU
2/21 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
2/22 - NYC - Webster HAll
2/23 - Rochester, NY - Douglas Hall - University of Rochester
2/24 - Pittsburgh, PA - Union Ballroom - Duquesne University
2/25 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
2/26 - Norfolk, VA - Norva Theater
2/27 - Jacksonville, FL - Freebird Live
2/28 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
3/1 - Orlando, FL - The Club at Firestone
3/2 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
3/3 - Nashville, TN - Rocketown
3/4 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's3
/6 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
3/7 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
3/8 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall
3/13 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
3/14 - Indianapolis, IN - The Irving Theater
3/15 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
3/16 - Sauget, IL - Pop's
3/17 - Lawrence, KS - Granada
3/18 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
3/20 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theater
3/21 - Salt Lake City, UT - Avalon Theater
3/23 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
3/24 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
3/25 - Orangevale, CA - The Boardwalk
3/26 - West Hollywood, CA - House of Blues
3/27 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
3/28 - San Diego, CA - Soma
3/29 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
3/30 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
3/31 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre
4/1 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
4/3 - Dallas, TX - Gypsy Ballroom
4/4 - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
4/5 - Houston, TX - Meridian
4/6 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues

Lil' Flip: New album "I Need Mine" will finally hit stores this March

Lil' Flip is back!! His new album, I Need Mine, is set to hit stores this spring and he's ready to reclaim his spot as the hottest artist coming out of Houston! Check out the video for the album's first single, "Ghetto Mindstate" featuring Lyfe Jennings.

Lil’ Flip feat. Lyfe Jennings – “Ghetto Mindstate”



Be on the Lookout for my exclusive interview with the Freestyle King in the near future...

Lil' Flip, Lyfe Jennings, Ghetto Mindstate, I Need Mine!

David Banner wins Humanitarian Award in '06 - May land a Producer slot on Britney Spears new album in '07

I can't lie to you - one of my favorite people in this entire industry is Mississippi's own, David Banner. I really wanted to bring to you some excerpts from our conversation this past December. And please, click the link below to watch as David Banner delivers a powerful speech in acceptance of the Visionary Award. And for those of you who have come across this blog for the Britney news, that's below as well...

We both know that positive news is often swept under the rug, so I wanted to give you this opportunity to talk about the amazing night you’ve just had in your home state of Mississippi.

David Banner: For the most part, the Black Caucus which consists of the black leaders in Congress, assembled in the state of Mississippi for the first time and rewarded me with the Humanitarian Award for all of the things that I have been doing from giving out scholarships, I’ve always had special outreach programs for children, and the personal time that I put in during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I was physically in the trenches with the people who affected by the different atrocities.

David Banner's Humanitarian Award Speech: http://www.wapt.com/video/10424269/index.html?taf=jac



I would like for you to talk about some of the good things that you have going on in your life right now.

David Banner: Everything happening in my life right now is positive. We have an opportunity after God blesses us to set our hopes so high, and understand once you get to a certain level, there is no failing. Four years ago, I was homeless, so everything in my life now is positive. I got a show coming out on the Cartoon Network called, “That Crook’d ‘Sip”. I got my first movie that I just completed called, “Black Snake Moan” starring Justin Timberlake, Christina Ricci and the magnificent Samuel L. Jackson. I just finished producing a song for Chris Brown. I’ve submitted some music to Britney Spears, and it’s looking like they are going to accept the submission. Everything in my life is positive right now, I can’t lie to you. I’ve just won this amazing award and even though there was some negativity surrounding me receiving the Humanitarian award, that negativity brought exposure to the dedication to my community that I’ve been putting in, all along as a philanthropist. I’m currently working on my fourth album on Universal, my fifth major release and ninth album overall, including my Independent releases. There’s not too many people that can say that they’ve release 9 albums and are still relevant.

Britney, Britney Spears, New Album in 2007, Britney is Back!