Jaheim | Interview (2005)

Aries (T M H): What's the biggest difference between your first album Ghetto Love and this new one?
Jaheim: The titles. Now I’m just letting people know that I’m still ghetto, at the same time it’s more of the same.

Aries (T M H): Because your first album was so successful and had 3 back to back hits did it allow you to have more control on this album?
Jaheim: Oh yeah. I did what I wanted to do. I went on a tour & basically got a lot of feedback from the fans.

Aries (T M H): How much of your personal experience went into each album?
Jaheim: It’s always me, from start to finish, all about Jaheim.

Aries (T M H): How did the callabo with Mary (J. Blige) come about?
Jaheim: Well my friends out in L.A told me Mary was on the radio & she said she was interested in doing a song with Ja. Of course I already wanted to work with her, so my manager talked to her boyfriend which they already knew each other & it came from there. I just want to big her up, she asked for me and that meant a lot, she always shows me love.

Aries (T M H): Mary recently stated to "Rolling Stone" magazine that you don't get enough recognition? How does it make you feel to get props from someone like Mary?
Jaheim: I love her, it’s still ghetto. I’m not afraid of losing again. I gotta big her up. Mary could of gotten way more love then she has in this industry. I mean way more love. Mary should get like two awards every year, just because she’s Mary. She deserves an award every year.

Aries (T M H): The title "Me & My Bitch" is already getting people talking about the song. After hearing it myself it's totally different then what I expected, why did you choose to name the last part bitch instead of lady which you also sing in the hook?
Jaheim: It’s a male figure of speech. You know like "I wish a nigga would disrespect me and my bitch." It’s what we do in the hood. I mean I hate saying the word, but it is what it is. It just means she’s mine, not in a disrespectful way.

Aries (T M H): Who else would you like to work with?
Jaheim: As long as they come off real like Mary it doesn’t matter. Anybody old or anybody new, they can be corny, it don’t matter. I mean you can learn a lot of things from a dummy.

Aries (T M H): Any last words for your fans?
Jaheim: Thanks to those who have been there. Keep ya heads up & put God first. Get your education and always put God first!