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In the 80s and 90s, entertainment might have been dominated by the
likes of Michael Jackson or Prince, but the millennium belongs solely
to Ginuwine. His first album introduced him as the most eligible
Bachelor in the game, and he revealed 100% of himself
on the second album. Both releases were double platinum outings.
Now, R&B music welcomes its savior back with open arms, for
the release of his third album, The Life.
"The
Life is telling you where I'm from and what I do. Just getting
to this third album was a big step. I was under a lot of pressure
while recording this album," Ginuwine says reflecting on the
changes in his life since his last time out. "I had to put
mysellf in a mode. I locked the studio doors, and didn't let anyone
bother me. I just sat down and got into my vibe."
Though Ginuwine
has always mirrored himself in his music, The Life, as an
album, comes closest to Ginuwine, the person. When Ginuwine found
himself at the mercy of life's struggles, the R&B superstar
decided to devote all of himself to his music. The recent passing
of both his parents within a year of each other made Ginuwine dig
deep into his soul to find his most personal feelings. "With
the recent death of my parents, this album enabled me to say things
that most artists wouldn't say or let anyone know about. I wanted
to be truthful and say what I really felt. I'm glad that I'm able
to share these personal feelings with my supporters. It makes me
feel theat they really know me," says Ginuwine. On "2Reasons
I Cry," a dedication to his parents, Ginuwine opens the door,
and lets listeners into his life.
But even though
he reveals a more sentimental side to himself on The Life,
he's still the same ole G. The album's first single, "There
It Is," is in true Ginuwine fashion. The talented vocalist
pours his heart out over the bump-n-grindin" beat. The song
is destined to become the next anthem for hard workin' men, fed
up with their ungrateful women. On the chorus, he deductively sings,
"I'm not doing this shit for nothing/ I pay the car note, light
bills, house note/...what more do you want."
Unarguably
R&B's sexiest crooner, Ginuwine has no competition when it comes
to this brand of soul music. He flaunts his songwriting skills with
concepts that are brutally honest, and down-to-earth, in a way only
he can. On songs like "How Deep" and "Why Not Me,"
Ginuwine is destined to steal the hearts of all women, especially
those attracted to his ghetto realism. And it isn't just what he
says that attracts women. He explains, "It's all in how you
deliver it. At times, I am romantic, at times I have a sense of
humor, and at other times I'm spontaneous. A woman knows, by your
delivery, whether you mean what you say, so I try to make sure I
deliver my songs with that genuineness, that's how I got my name."
Though he reunited
with producer Timbaland for a number of the album's tracks, that
isn't to say that Ginuwine hasn't expanded his musical character
for this latest project. Ginuwine sought out the help of his friend
Raphael Saadiq to produce "2 Way," a song devoted strictly
to the 2way pager way of life.
The Life features
both breathtaking ballads and up-tempo grooves, illustrating the
many different sides there are to Ginuwine. "Whatever situation
you're going through, there's a song on this album that will relate
to that," Ginuwine insists, speaking of his latest LP. Limiting
the guest appearances to just one, Ginuwine teams up with Atlanta-based
rapper Ludacris for "That's how I Get down," a definite
club-banger.
Writing most
of the album's 16 songs, Ginuwine did enlist the help of prominent
songwriter Diane Warren for one special song, "Superhuman,"
a sure-to-be pop hit. The album's content highlights Ginuwine's
true personality, especially when he's as sincere as he is on "Show
After The Show," speaking of what goes on in an entertainer's
world.
As a performer,
Ginuwine puts total entertainment into each and every show. He literally
trains like a boxer, preparing for every performance by doing 500
push-ups and 500 sit-ups beforehand, to keep his endurance up. Even
James Brown acknowledged Ginuwine as one of the best performers
of his time. He comments, "It was an honor to hear that coming
from a legend like James Brown."
Ginuwine, the
entertainer, is on the verge of superstar-dom. Already a platinum-selling
recording artist; the singer is about to take his acting career
to the next level, as he prepares to star as the scarecrow in the
upcoming version of The Wiz. He also stars alongside Vivica
A. Fox in the October release Juwanna Man.
Among other
artists, Ginuwine is a trendsetter, whether it's using original
choreography on stage or recording cutting edge R&B music. "What
you see is what you get," he offers. "And you'll always
see 100%."
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