Zane | Interview (2003)

Aries (T M H): How did you end up in Atlanta? I know you lived here in Minneapolis & your kids still reside here.
Ann Nesby: I was in Atlanta visiting my husbands sister, doing a promotion for a Christmas special for a pay-per-view Christmas show. We stayed through new years & we were out on her deck grilling new years eve with shorts on. That is how I ended up here. After that moment I was like I am here for good. That August we were here signing the papers for our home. I've been here four years this past February.

Aries (T M H): What are your favorite songs that you recorded on your new album?
Zane: "Bounce," Come Runnin," & "I.O.U." To be honest they are all my favorites, they're classics to me. This album is just the best work I've did. I really can't pick.

Aries (T M H): Envyi from "Shorty Swing My Way" success is featured on a few tracks on your new disc. How did that working relationship come about?
Zane: Man she's apart of Drama Family Entertainment and Big Chuck is her baby daddy. She's got a great voice and we just had a great working chemistry. She's a rider!

Aries (T M H): What other artists would you like to work with?
Zane: Jermaine Dupri again, Usher, Puffy again, I did a remix with him years ago but I want to do a real track. Missy, Alicia Keys, NAS, DJ Clue, Luda, so many more.

Aries (T M H): What was your experience working on the film "Fighting Temptations?"
Zane: It was hot, so many people were in the movie. Beyonce, Cuba Gooding, Faith, Angie Stone, The O'Jays, ole girl from The Golden Girls, Blanch. So many other people I forgot their names, it was a lot of fun. A lot of people don't know it but "Do It, Don't Stop" originally had The O'Jays in it, but we were both recording our albums and the labels didn't clear the collab, so we had to remove them from the track. This was the best movie I've did. I also just did Motives with Vivica Fox.

Aries (T M H): How was it working with two of the hottest current R&B singers around Beyonce & Faith?
Zane: It was hot! I couldn't take my eyes off of them. It was really nice, we all spent time together and hung out. I got to meet Beyonce's family, I got to meet Faith's family, her son with Biggie and her husband, it was really cool.

Aries (T M H): Are there anymore films in the near future for you?
Zane: Yeah Motives with Vivica Fox that I mentioned and I'm working on one now, but I don't want to talk about it yet till it's for sure.

Aries (T M H): What would you never talk about in TV or in print?
Zane: How much money I make (laughs). I will never talk about my moms or dad in a bad way. I mean I will discuss things we may have went though, but I would not diss them in anyway.

Aries (T M H): Monica named her latest album "After The Storm" due to the trails and tribulations she's dealt with over the last four years. You could have easily named your album the same title considering the experience of finding out the man you called your father all your life was not your biological father and to find out a child you thought was yours, was not. How did you deal with those situations and what did you take from them?
Zane: I'm a cancer, it was hard, but love got me through all of that. I could of named my album the storm, but with good comes bad & that would be like saying it's all bad. "The Big Zane Theory," reflects on it all, the good, the bad and the ugly. I want people to know what I've been though, but at the same time party and not to focus on negativity. Life is about up's and down's.

Aries (T M H): What is your opinion of the current state of R&B & Hip-Hop Music? What would you like to see more of and what would you like to see less of?
Zane: More creativity with lyrics. The same artists get one hit and they stick to that formula & it gets old. I mean on my new album "The Big Zane Theory," you hear a lot of stuff. I mean I don't go too far, but you hear a different sound and the songs are not the same.

Aries (T M H): What do you like to do in your spare time?
Zane: Just chill man and write. Travel, go to the beach, return to my hood. My old neighborhood. Just whatever comes up.

Aries (T M H): Is there a second single selected as of yet?
Zane: I'm going to let the fans choose. Personally I would go with "Bounce" or "Do It, Don't Stop." But I'm going to let the fans pick.

Aries (T M H): What are your plans for the future?
Zane: Just keeping busy, making more albums and movies. making this album as successful as possible. Doing interviews and concerts. Just try to stay in peoples faces. I mean with my movies I want to work with other huge stars, I've worked with Eddie Murphy, Forest Whitaker & Cuba Gooding, now I want to work with Martin Lawrence and do a sex scene with Halle Berry (laughs).

Aries (T M H): Any last words for your fans?
Zane: Yes, thank you for your continued support over my entire career. From the music to the movies. Continue to hit my website (www.lilzane.com) and just check me out, I will try to get back at you. I do this for the fans, it feels good to get so much love from them. The label isn't giving this album a lot of support right now, but thanks to people like you and T M H Entertainment, as long as the word gets out I'm very appreciative of it. I want the fans to know that because the label isn't promoting the album doesn't mean I'm not out trying to do what I can to let them know I appreciate them and I have a new album out. There isn't much press or ads because of the label, but hopefully that will change soon.