T M H (Josiah): What made you stray away from mainstream artist to work with artists like Floetry, Alexander O’ Neal and Glenn Lewis?
Mr. Cheeks: I mean it’s the flava I like ya know. They got the talent I’m looking for/to work with. Glenn Lewis album is hard, Floetry got flava, and Alexander O’Neal is like a legend, so I was like growing up listening to him. I got my manager to find him and after we found him we took it from there.
T M H (Josiah): What’s the latest with the Lost Boyz?
Mr. Cheeks: That latest with LB is that we still doing the damn thing. We tryin to drop this new album in June while we look for a distribution deal. It’s coming though in the summertime.
T M H (Josiah): How was it working with Alexander O’Neal and how did it come about?
Mr. Cheeks: My man Chucky Manners came through with the track; he did the “Sunshine” track. I was able to get the track from him. I got the track, I was like let’s find this man Alexander O’ Neal. We make a few phone calls and find him, so we flew him into New York, he sung the track for us and it was a beautiful thing.
T M H (Josiah): What makes the new CD different from the first solo disc?
Mr. Cheeks: Well you know, it’s like on the last CD I didn’t have that many guest appearances. I had a few, so I just took it to a different essence, R&B really. I mean I ain’t switching no styles, I just like making all type of music, so if I get a chance to do it, I’m going to do it.
T M H (Josiah): Everybody wants to know how it came about that you got Farrah Franklin to be your leading lady in the “Crush On You” video?
Mr. Cheeks: I know her manager, one night she came to one of my parties out in Philly and we bumped heads and she was like I like the song. So I was like yo, you wanna be the shorty that I got the crush on, and she was like no doubt.
T M H (Josiah): What artist and producers would you like to work with?
Mr. Cheeks: It’s a whole bunch of people out there, I ain’t really got no list of people I would like to work with. It just comes about really to me. I would like to work with my man’s Royez, Alicia Keys probably, I like her style, I like Eve, and 50 cent, we probably gonna do something since we both from Queens. We probably gonna jump into something. I’m not a list having type of cat.
T M H (Josiah): Any producers?
Mr. Cheeks: Not really. Whoever sends me the tracks, I’ll check them out.
T M H (Josiah): Can we expect to see Mr. Cheeks on any other projects besides rocking the mic?
Mr. Cheeks: Yeah, I got a little movie coming out with Trina that’s coming straight to DVD. It’s called “Miami Tales.” It’s about a shorty and her friends that team up against some guys but won’t give them any ass until they decide to put the guns down.
T M H (Josiah): What kind of tour can your fans expect this summer?
Mr. Cheeks: Right now, my management and Lil’ Kim management is trying to work on some tours right now. So I’m just laying it low right now. I’m just in the cut waiting for that album to drop March 18th.
T M H (Josiah): Any last words for your fans?
Mr. Cheeks: You just much love, thanks for the support. Keep riding with a nigga, we here.