RL | Interview (2002)

Aries (T M H): The whole "RL:ements" CD is tight. What process did you take to choose the final tracks?"
RL: I did 50 singles. I'm still hood, so I can't grasp the fact that my music is going to be heard mainstream. I'm use to it being heard by my homies, (and) girls you know? So I'm lucky people at the label (J-Records) knew which ones would fit best. I loved them all, but some didn't make the cut. Some people at the label loved some that didn't make the cut as well. In the end I think the best tracks were selected.

Aries (T M H): "K.N.O.W" seems to be the fans favorite so far.
RL: Oh really?

Aries (T M H): Oh yeah. What is your favorite or most personal track on the album?
RL: The intro is my most personal. It was real, I was actually crying, it wasn't written. Also the gospel interlude. In NEXT we always wanted to do a gospel song, but it didn't fit with our music & image. One minute we're bumping & grinding, then a gospel track? It wouldn't have matched.

Aries (T M H) : What's the next single?
RL: "A Good Man" is the next single. "K.N.O.W" will be the third & the one with ROC ("What I'm Looking 4") will be the fourth. The video for that one is going to be based on the movie "American History X." Have you seen that?

Aries (T M H) : Yes, that is a great movie.
RL: Right, so we're going to base the video on that.

Aries (T M H): Aries (T M H): You've written for Usher & Luther Vandross to name a few. What other artist have you been writing for, or will you in the near future?
RL: The Johnson Sisters, The Isley Brothers background singers. We're also trying to get Jamie Foxx to record another album. He's a friend of mines, so I would work on that. Ron Isley also, he's like a God father to me. I'm also working on Jaheim's & NEXT.

Aries (T M H): When will we get a new NEXT CD?
RL: End of the year.

Aries (T M H): What are Tweet & Terry (T-Low) up to?
RL: Tweet is doing the acting thing. T-Low is working on production stuff. Me, I'm the one that is sick when I'm not working. I feel like I'm not doing anything if I'm not in the studio working. So I had to get back into it.

Aries (T M H): What artist are you feeling right now?
RL: Brandy's CD (playing during the interview) & The Johnson Sisters. I love their sound because like I said I worked on it, but Tim & Bob did some tracks as well. I love new stuff & new sounds. Brandy, to me, has the most cutting edge CD out right now.

Aries (T M H): No doubt.
RL: It's hater proof.

Aries (T M H): What can fans expect next from RL?
RL: Alot of different sounds & music. I'm working on my next album. I love to create, I love to be different. The next record will be different. When people heard the IDEAL record ("Whatever"), they loved it but they thought it sounded like a NEXT record. I don't want to be known as the guy who has a certain sound.

Aries (T M H): Any last words for your fans?
RL: Thanks for their support. It's been a long time coming. We had to delay the album a few times. I hope they really enjoy the CD. I want them to open their minds & don't expect to hear NEXT when they play it. That's not what I wanted to create. I wanted to create my own style. If I was going to use that formula I could have just did another NEXT record. I want them to know I appreciate all the love & support.