Not even two minutes into my phoner with R&B crooner Lloyd and I was under his spell. I quickly learned that not only is the Atlanta native a gifted singer, but he’s also a pretty smooth talker. “If you look anything close to how you sound you have to be the finest woman alive,” the singer flirted. “Are you trying to win me over already?” I replied, completely caught off guard by his charisma. “Most definitely,” he answered. ”I have an album coming out in two weeks. Why wouldn’t I try to win you over?”
That album? The upcoming The Inc/Universal Motown release Lesson In Love. The album will introduce to the world a more mature Lloyd. A Lloyd who’s done a lot of growing since 2007’s Street Love. Sure, that album produced some serious hits– “You” featuring Lil Wayne topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop charts and “Get It Shawty” climbed into the top 5, peaking at #4–but Lessons is without a doubt Lloyd’s most personal and heartfelt album–his most “unselfish” album.
Get the story behind the album’s R-rated subject matter, how Lloyd feels about cutting his gorgeous locks, and exactly what he would be doing if he wasn’t in the music business in this Neon Limelight exclusive interview. Trust me, you’ll soon be spellbound too.
tj: So like we’re totally friends on Myspace.
l: [Laughs] Word!?
tj: I noticed you’d post a lot of bulletins getting the fans really involved in the process–
l: I really like your bikini pics you got on there.
tj: [Laughs] Oh no! I don’t do that!
l: [Laughs]
tj: But you get the fans really involved in the process of the album. You asked them what should be the first single, what the name of the album should be… Why do you think it was so important to get the fans involved this time around?
l: Because they’re the fans! They’re the whole reason why we do this thing that we love so much. They’re the whole reason why when we go out to perform it’s worth while because there’s gonna be fans there to support and give energy and to make the moments special. The fans make the moments memorable. The coolest thing about today’s technology, you know, times are different from before. Society has changed completely. The environment is going through crazy stuff, you know? It’s just a different day and age.
tj: Yeah…
l: One of the coolest things that we still have is the internet. It’s the ability to be personable without actually being there. So I find it pretty cool to be able to challenge my fans to kind of test their skills. Check their support. You know, and just have fun in the process. I think that the coolest thing is that it gives me a chance to show my fans a piece of who I am outside of the videos and the radio.
tj: Yeah, and I was just about to say you started your youtube channel as well. Was that another effort to get your fans more of you, so they can see Lloyd is touchable?
l: There’s always like these memorable moments–there’s always like these really character-filled moments that I experience everyday that I sometimes wish I had someone to share it with. Like, “Damn! I wish someone would have saw that dude…” So, now I can actually just record it and post it on youtube and give people not only the sound of me but also let them see me in action off the camera kind of, but still on the camera. It’s kinda like that backstage feel. That private access kinda feel. And that’s really exciting. There’s also this thing called Kyte that’s taking off where you can actually stream videos live to the internet as they happen.
tj: Oh, ok!
l: Which is something that I’m getting into.
tj: I’m kind of new to that one. I’ve heard of it, but haven’t checked it out yet.
l: Oh.
tj: So, let’s talk about this album! I’m looking over the tracklist and it’s pretty heavy…
l: [Laughs]
tj: “Have My Baby,” “Loving Making 101.” Is it safe to say this is a more mature Lloyd we’re looking at on this album?
l: I think that is the safest thing to say. [Laughs]
tj: [Laughs]
l: You know, maturity means that you learn more about yourself and by learning more about yourself you can put into perspective what you’re looking for out of this thing called life. I think the coolest thing about “Lessons In Love” is that it’s a lot less selfish than all of my previous work. It’s not just about me and what I want from the girl and what I want her to do to me and what I want to do to her. It’s kinda more about me sharing the lessons that I’ve learned with my fans. My fantasy was to be a professor in a college room full of girls.
You know, I’m 22 now. If it wasn’t for music I would definitely be in college.
tj: What would you study?
l: Either one of two things: I would either take psychology because I’m just really fascinated by the human psyche and I always want to know what’s on the mind of of girls. But I would also like to be a pilot.
tj: Oh wow!
l: Fly the friendly skies with my captains hat on and stuff. [Laughs] You know so if it wasn’t for music I’d be in college. When I do my shows a lot of college kids come out. I do shows at a lot of colleges. A lot of black colleges. And I have a chance to speak to the kids to see where they are, what’s the hot topics. And you know sex has kinda been the hottest topic for a long time.
tj: It’s pretty universal.
l: Yeah. It’s on everyone’s brains. It’s just something I wanted to attack.
tj: With the more mature sound did you ever think of going for a more mature look? Like cutting your hair like everyone else seems to be doing now-a-days?
l: OH!!!!! OH GOSH!!!! No!!
tj: [Laughs] That’s a good answer because we wouldn’t want you to.
l: If Sampson cut his hair off, what would happen to him?
I actually had this conversation with Hype Williams over the course of shooting the video for “Girls Around the World” in Miami. He offered to have someone come and cut my hair in hopes for that more mature Lloyd. “Lloyd and Hype. First time. Let’s give them something they’re just never expecting. I think that that’s cool but…. I think that the coolest thing that you can do to be different is create stability. To have security. Making music is like making love. It’s like a relationship that I have with my fans. And the one thing I want that girl to know that’s listening to Lloyd is that I’m always gonna be there for her, whenever she needs to hear those words that make her feel better, you know, “I love you,” “I’m always there,” I’m that guy, and I’m never gonna change in a way that she won’t like.
I think that you have to know what people like from you.
tj: And we love your hair!
l: My hair, you know! “It’s long, it’s curly! I just wanna play!” And I understand that. I thought about cutting my hair just because I always like to change it up. But I’m in the process of being stable and I think to do something so drastic, it almost goes against that.
tj: Yeah… Good answer!
l: Yeah!
tj: So, what is the biggest lesson in love you’ve learned so far?
l: A couple! I learned a couple. One: lust is physical; love is emotional. You must know the difference. Two: I’ve learned that you have to take time to know yourself, to understand yourself and help put into perspective what you’re looking for before just jumping into something crazy. But then again I’ve also learned love has no limits, it can’t be defined by any words, or any definitions. Sometimes when you just jump into it, hey, it’s more exiting. The word is “unpredictable” is another lesson that I’ve learned. And I learned that you should turn your Blackberry off when your girlfriend’s over.
tj: [Laughs]
l: Put like a lock code on there…
tj: Yes!
l: [Laughs]
tj: Yes, yes, yes!
l: And I’ve also learned that good guys are hard to find, ladies. So, don’t be so quick to compare him to your ex; to that guy that hurt you.
tj: Trust us, we know! So, have you settled on a second single? I’m hearing that it will be “Year of the Lover” cus you know how we do on Myspace….I read your bulletin.
l: “Year of the Lover” is a song I’m really crazy about. Yes it is a potential next single.
tj: So, potential? Anything else you’re mulling over?
l: Yeah. I really like this song called “I Can Change Your Life” which was written by RL from Next.
tj: Wow! Haven’t heard from him in a minute!
l: Well, you know he’s been writing behind the scenes for a lot of people. Incredible song. We really took it there vocally in a way that we never did. It’s a very challenging song to perform, but it’s a really great song. I love that one. I really like “I’m Wit It” which is produced by my good friend J. Lack, Usher’s brother, who produced “Get It Shawty.” Incredible dance-floor song. Incredible night, city night light, Neon Limelight….
tj: Ha ha! I like that!
l: It’s like in the moment of being in a place that the mood is perfect and seeing that person of the opposite sex that stimulates your imagination. Being right there in that moment and not being afraid to get up and go. You know, if a girl asks you to dance you just get up and go do it. You see her over at the bar you walk over and actually speak . It’s just like, “I’m wit it.” It’s like, “Whatever you wanna do, I’m wit it.”
tj: You’re naming off all these great producers and writers but you’ve been doing a lot of that on your own. You produced “Girls Around the World,” correct?
l: Definitely! Not on my own. I didn’t produce it all by myself. I did co-produce it with my bestfriends Jasper and Big Reece.
tj: Oh, ok. But you’re getting into that?
l: Oh yeah!
tj: How important is it for you to be that involved in the creative process?
l: I mean why wouldn’t you wanna try to produce, and song write, and find other artists and give them a chance, and direct, and arrange, and compose, and you know, just truly push yourself. It’s just all about challenging yourself. I think that the coolest thing about being an artist is that you’re forced to challenge yourself more than anyone else challenging you. I mean beyond the fact that there are other artists out there that’s doing their thing, it’s really nothing to challenge me but my own imagination.
When I was a kid [in school] I fought with myself a lot over staying challenged. I remember my mom signed me up to do the Impact Classes, you know the advanced classes, and I would be in there and I would finish my work before anybody and then I would start picking on the other kids. I would get in trouble for being talkative and being kind of a nuisance. It was really just because I really wasn’t challenged enough.
So, now I’m in the position where I have everything I need. I have a studio. I have equipment. I have the talent that it takes. I have the knowledge of what sounds good, and it’s just about kind of applying myself.
I’m really excited about the idea of–through preparation I can perfect my music and give people a lot more than what they expect from Lloyd.
tj: I also think that it gives you longevity. Because that one guy can come out and he can sing, but that guy who can write, produce, whatever, he’ll stay in the game for a long time.
l: Oh yeah! That guy is the ultimate musician. It’s almost like all powerful; he’s the almighty. There’s nothing that he can’t do. There’s nothing he can’t conquer and no one can really tell him “No.”
tj: I think it’s really cool when a bunch of artists get together and form these supergroups.
l: Right!
tj: So, pick like 3 guys out right now. Who would be in your supergroup?
l: [Pause] Usher, Justin Timberlake, and Lil Wayne.
tj: Hawt! It’s funny that you’d say that because you and Lil Wayne seem to make some amazing songs together. Have you ever thought about doing a collaborative album with him?
l: I know I’ve thought about it, I don’t know if he has. [Laughs] I think that’s the beauty of working with someone so talented. They force you to want to work [with them] more especially when the chemistry is good. Me and Wayne have a great musical chemistry. Anything he ever needs from me, I got him! If I ever need something from him, I know he got my back. And it’s all good. I heard something about someone saying [we’re] making an album together. That’s just really a rumor. I think whatever happens, happens. We’re gonna continue to create together, fo’ sure.
tj: What are your sales expectations for this album? It seems like gold is the new platinum with the industry the way it is right now.
l: Well, you know…I’m not really big on numbers. I’m not nostalgic. Just because we went gold last year doesn’t mean it has to be a multi-platinum selling album. I think that what we’re trying to build here is longevity and stability. You just create great music that has the power to last through the times, through the seasons. I’m trying to make an album for the year, not just for the fall, not just for the winter. And if that means going platinum then that’s what we gotta do, and that’s what we came to do.
tj: Well, Lloyd! It was so great talking to you!
l: TJ, the pleasure was all mine.
tj: I’m sure you’re going to do big things with this album.
l: I hope so!! [Laughs]
tj: Thank you so much!
l: You’re welcome!
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Be sure to pick up Lloyd’s new album, Lessons In Love, when it hits stores August 5th.
Find out more about Lloyd and be his friend on myspace like me by going to his official myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/lloyd
Check out the video for the first single, “Girls Around The World” featuring Lil Wayne, on the other side.
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Author: TJ Tanner
