CL Smooth "American Me"
Jan/28/07 18:45 |
Music
Jibreel
and I were recently able to catch up with CL Smooth
to discuss his past trials and triumphs as well as
how he plans to takeover, after being considered the
underdog. And we are here to tell you...
C.L. amazed us. The
following is a recent interview with CL at the steps
of the Brooklyn Courthouse. his new album
American Me is
avaliable in stores nationwide.
STRIVE What does it mean to you to be a striver:
CL Smooth Striving is embedded in you, How you were rasied, Knowing that life is short and that you have to live for today and not tomorrow. That’s what inspires me.
STRIVE Where do you come from:
CL Smooth I was raised by my grandparents, coming from a young mom.
Even when I was in my 20’s I was like a 60 year old. Being raised by older people, I adapted what their personality and mannerisms.
STRIVE Who are your top 3 artist in Jazz
CL Smooth
Count Basie
Miles Davis
Billie Holiday- I patent myself after her, because of her voice and the message.
STRIVE Who is doing it today?
CL Smooth Honestly the artists I listen to are dead. Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye. What inspired me the most recently Janis Joplin. I listen to Bob Dylan. And actually when I talk about the music that I feel I am not prejudice. When it comes to the sound, it’s music. And every piece that is good has something to be appreciated. Even in the Star Spangled Banner you can get something out of it.
STRIVE What about the title of your new Album: “American Me”
CL Smooth In touring, I get asked many questions where people believe I represent all of America. There was one question that was asked nearly 20 times. “What do you feel about coming from America and America being the most hated country in the world?” All I can say is "the underdog”… you gotta put your money on the underdog. The odds are against me with this album but I am trying to pave the way for other artists who have done it like me and still love and know the game. When it boils down to it a lot of these new artists are trying to imitate what you have.
STRIVE Expound on the idea of you being the underdog.
CL Smooth Its like a boxer coming back after 10 years they are going to tell George Foreman you can’t do it. That’s why I am considered the underdog.
STRIVE How did it all start? What made you want to come back
CL Smooth People keep asking me when are you coming back. Why’d you leave. So I have to listen to the people and give them what they wanted.
STRIVE What did it take to secure the first deal?
CL Smooth I come from a small town. Having a Heavy D. and Al B. Sure and Eddie F and Pete Rock in your town calls for something great. Even the smallest artist could have made a hit being surrounded by these folks. It was easy for me because I enjoyed going into the baseent to make a hit record.
STRIVE What are your key 3 elements to make it in this business.
CL Smooth First of all my road should never be followed. It was my destiny to be here. It was my destiny to live and thrive in this moment. But for others.
But my three key tools to make it in this business:
1) Be connected and true to yourself
2) Know the street
3) Come to this game with your team and plan intact. When you are no-longer hungry can you still do it? That's the true test. 9 times out of 10 the eccentric people are the ones who are misunderstood, but they know what they really want. They aren’t accepted in any other circle but the circle they build.
STRIVE Tell us a true-to life story
CL Smooth A death that touched my generation and the young generation at the same time just occurred in my hood. Even his faults were legendary. He kept me on point. We’d debate and argue in a friendly competition. We'd go back and forth, "Oh you worked, but I worked for 90 minutes even harder."
That’s what this music is/was. It’s a friendly competition. It takes on the form of street. Unfortunately nowadays 9 times out of 10 these guys in music aren’t in the street. Music now is about who can fake it all the way to the last stop. I see artists that have 100 men surrounding them, but only 10 of those men are ready to go to war. Its all about the bluff.
American Me is talking about the political struggles in the campaign for me to be the new president of this game. Some hits are on this album too. There is a song on the album “Call on Me” which talks about how I lost everything. I am being real with you. Also on the album; “Heaven is Watching You” with Cocoa from SWV, a spiritual song about the struggles of the hood and learning about God.
STRIVE "They Reminisce over You". How did you come with those lyrics?
CL Smooth The true gangster of that song was the family. The family is where the strength exists. I am showing you the inside. When many of us get in trouble we call on the real power... the family. If we are in a serious bind we call our mother or grandmother or someone who can really pull through.
STRIVE Any final words for our subscribers
CL Smooth American Me is my greatest album yet. This is a true testament to what the catalogue of CL Smooth is all about.
STRIVE What does it mean to you to be a striver:
CL Smooth Striving is embedded in you, How you were rasied, Knowing that life is short and that you have to live for today and not tomorrow. That’s what inspires me.
STRIVE Where do you come from:
CL Smooth I was raised by my grandparents, coming from a young mom.
Even when I was in my 20’s I was like a 60 year old. Being raised by older people, I adapted what their personality and mannerisms.
STRIVE Who are your top 3 artist in Jazz
CL Smooth
Count Basie
Miles Davis
Billie Holiday- I patent myself after her, because of her voice and the message.
STRIVE Who is doing it today?
CL Smooth Honestly the artists I listen to are dead. Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye. What inspired me the most recently Janis Joplin. I listen to Bob Dylan. And actually when I talk about the music that I feel I am not prejudice. When it comes to the sound, it’s music. And every piece that is good has something to be appreciated. Even in the Star Spangled Banner you can get something out of it.
STRIVE What about the title of your new Album: “American Me”
CL Smooth In touring, I get asked many questions where people believe I represent all of America. There was one question that was asked nearly 20 times. “What do you feel about coming from America and America being the most hated country in the world?” All I can say is "the underdog”… you gotta put your money on the underdog. The odds are against me with this album but I am trying to pave the way for other artists who have done it like me and still love and know the game. When it boils down to it a lot of these new artists are trying to imitate what you have.
STRIVE Expound on the idea of you being the underdog.
CL Smooth Its like a boxer coming back after 10 years they are going to tell George Foreman you can’t do it. That’s why I am considered the underdog.
STRIVE How did it all start? What made you want to come back
CL Smooth People keep asking me when are you coming back. Why’d you leave. So I have to listen to the people and give them what they wanted.
STRIVE What did it take to secure the first deal?
CL Smooth I come from a small town. Having a Heavy D. and Al B. Sure and Eddie F and Pete Rock in your town calls for something great. Even the smallest artist could have made a hit being surrounded by these folks. It was easy for me because I enjoyed going into the baseent to make a hit record.
STRIVE What are your key 3 elements to make it in this business.
CL Smooth First of all my road should never be followed. It was my destiny to be here. It was my destiny to live and thrive in this moment. But for others.
But my three key tools to make it in this business:
1) Be connected and true to yourself
2) Know the street
3) Come to this game with your team and plan intact. When you are no-longer hungry can you still do it? That's the true test. 9 times out of 10 the eccentric people are the ones who are misunderstood, but they know what they really want. They aren’t accepted in any other circle but the circle they build.
STRIVE Tell us a true-to life story
CL Smooth A death that touched my generation and the young generation at the same time just occurred in my hood. Even his faults were legendary. He kept me on point. We’d debate and argue in a friendly competition. We'd go back and forth, "Oh you worked, but I worked for 90 minutes even harder."
That’s what this music is/was. It’s a friendly competition. It takes on the form of street. Unfortunately nowadays 9 times out of 10 these guys in music aren’t in the street. Music now is about who can fake it all the way to the last stop. I see artists that have 100 men surrounding them, but only 10 of those men are ready to go to war. Its all about the bluff.
American Me is talking about the political struggles in the campaign for me to be the new president of this game. Some hits are on this album too. There is a song on the album “Call on Me” which talks about how I lost everything. I am being real with you. Also on the album; “Heaven is Watching You” with Cocoa from SWV, a spiritual song about the struggles of the hood and learning about God.
STRIVE "They Reminisce over You". How did you come with those lyrics?
CL Smooth The true gangster of that song was the family. The family is where the strength exists. I am showing you the inside. When many of us get in trouble we call on the real power... the family. If we are in a serious bind we call our mother or grandmother or someone who can really pull through.
STRIVE Any final words for our subscribers
CL Smooth American Me is my greatest album yet. This is a true testament to what the catalogue of CL Smooth is all about.
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