| 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 myself 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 that they really know me," says Ginuwine. On "2
Reasons 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 seductively 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 its 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%" |
