Exclusive: Lloyd Q&A

By Toshitaka Kondo

When The Inc. started to cave under pressure from CEO Irv Gotti's federal money-laundering case in 2005, many Inc. artists seemed to duck and cover – but Lloyd stayed busy. The 22-year-old New Orleans native sprinkled his feathery vocals on hooks for 8Ball and MJG, Young Jeezy and Rick Ross, and leveraged his relationships with various DJs to help “You,” featuring Lil Wayne, become one of 2007’s hugest hits. Along with the slinky second single, “Get It Shawty,” Lloyd catapulted into the “TRL” stratosphere, and Street Love went gold. Rhapsody caught up with Lloyd, eager to follow up on last year’s success, while in New York promoting “How We Do It in the A,” featuring Ludacris, the first single from his upcoming as-yet-untitled third album.

Rhapsody: Who are you working with on this album?
Lloyd: I went back to my home team, Jasper [Cameron] and [Big] Reese [who wrote and produced “You”]. We collaborated with Lil Wayne again. We’re bringing in Snoop Dogg and Fabolous for this monster song, and one with Nelly that was produced by Polow Da Don. I also had a chance to work with these kids, Woodwork, and young guys such as J-Lac, Usher’s brother.

How involved was Irv creatively for this project?
I’m the creative force behind my projects. I look at record labels almost like a bank whose job is to give a loan to fund for a project. I don’t look for a label to give me creative direction or a musical enhancement. Irv’s energy is really cool. I’m not really going towards reality series yet. Gotti’s got “Gotti’s Way.” I’m still in the lab.

So, he wasn’t really creatively involved?
Nah. Gotti will tell you himself that he likes for me to have creative space. He thinks that’s the only way I can become the greatest I can be.

At a certain point, you and Irv were having creative differences, right?
Yeah. I think me and Irv’s creative difference lied in Irv generally being hip-hop. He’s gangsta rap. He likes everything hardcore, in your face. Irv is like, “We should remake this ‘Eric B. for President’ beat or Snoop Dogg’s ‘Bitches Ain’t Sh*t’ song and put an R&B song to it.” But we always find a common median.

Although you and Wayne had been cool, how come “You” was the first time you actually released one of your collaborations?
At the time, I needed to get something out in the game. I have all these freestyles with Lil Wayne that nobody has ever heard. Me and Wayne had been close friends before “You.” Whenever he would come to Atlanta, he would come pick me up. We would play songs. I would say, “You know what my favorite Lil Wayne song is?” And I’d spit. Then he’d be like, “My favorite song you did ...” and it’ll be like a slow jam. It’d be all these hardheads in there and he’d be singing. After one concert in ‘05, he was so amped up, he was like, “Let’s go to the studio.”

Wayne comes into Dallas Austin’s studio with about 30 people. The studio manager freaks out and tells everyone, “If you’re not recording, you have to leave.” So Wayne gets furious. He’s like, “I don’t need this f*ck*ng studio. I don’t need no Dallas Austin. F*ck that sh*t. I’m a Cash Money Millionaire.” And he storms out. So the Outlawz opened up their studio. So I come out the booth. Weezy go in and do about 38 bars. The beat cuts off and he’s still rapping. He’s just killing it and I’m saying to myself, “Oh, this dude is incredible. I gotta work with this dude for real.” And from there, we started our relationship. We’ve even talked about doing an album together and calling it Best of Young Worlds.

Like Bow Wow and Omarion?
No. Lloyd and Lil Wayne is a different kind of intensity from Bow Wow and Omarion. We appeal to a much older crowd, and we a little bit more hardcore with our style. But yeah, we definitely thinking about it.

Both you and Wayne had fathers who were murdered. Your father was a saxophonist who directed a church choir. How did he end up getting murdered?
You’d be surprised. My father was from the worst housing projects in New Orleans, Calliope. He was like the shining star or the concrete rose. He met my mom in college at Xavier, which is an elite university. He founded a Kappa organization at Xavier. But you are the company you keep. A lot of his friends were still into a lot of bad things, and it caught up to him. And a lot of people say, “I’m sorry that you lost your dad.” And I say don’t be sorry. Growing up fatherless built my appreciation for women by having a strong mother; it also inspires me to be the father that I never had one day.

Watching “Gotti’s Way,” was there anything you found out that you didn’t know about Irv?
I always knew Irv was really big on his family. I always knew that Irv faced a lot of obstacles raising his stepdaughter. I always knew Irv’s fight to have a good relationship with his wife. At the same time, he’s Irv Gotti, the CEO of one of the hottest record labels. Temptation is always out there. I’m always the kind of guy that’ll come around and go, “You should get back together with her. She’s really good for you.” He’s just like, “Uh, you know, if I get back together with Deb, I just want to make sure that I don’t care about nothing but Deb. ‘Cause if we get back together, that’s it for me.” Irv’s still a kid at heart.

Did you attend Irv’s trial?
I was there up until the day they called the verdict and said, “Not guilty.” The tripped-out part is the when the verdict was actually announced, I couldn’t take it. I had to leave. I sat in the car and started writing.

What did you do to prepare in case Irv had to go away?
I prayed. I never thought “in case he goes away.” I always felt like he’s gonna be aright. My backup plan was … I guess people say I wanted to leave. I had a few offers. I met with Clive Davis, Craig Kallman, and Tom Wily over at Warner Brothers. I met with Capitol. When the trial was happening, I had just created “You.” At the time, Lil Wayne wasn’t on it. I was telling Irv, we need to put this out now. He goes, “My hands are tied. What do you want me to do? It’s federal.”

Did it bother you that Ashanti only attended the trial briefly for two days, according to Irv?
I was so wrapped up in my own crazy world. I didn’t even care to think about it. I didn’t even notice. The whole time I was in there, I was just like, “That’s my big brother. He’s facing 20 years.”

Do you feel like Ashanti turned her back on the Inc.?
I think Ashanti is a beautiful person inside and out. And I think she’s been through a lot with those guys. I think it comes a point in every person’s career when you have a fork in the road. Either you stay to the right or you go left. I just think Ashanti wants to try left.  I think whether she’s there or not, me and Ashanti are always gonna be close.

Are you kind of a mediator between Ashanti and Irv?
I’d like to think so. I’m more built on love. I’m not with the bullsh*t. I have a song on my album with Nelly. Irv’s arch nemesis? I don’t know. I don’t care. Nelly is one of the best rappers of my time.

Did Irv have a problem with you having Nelly on a song?
Um, no. When I played it, it was funny because Sylvia Rhone [president of Universal Motown Records] was like, “I don’t know if you should play it [for Irv].” I said, “Forget that. This is great music.” But she was a little apprehensive.

You were around when The Inc. was on top. What’s the difference between then and now?
I never got down with the Inc. when they were on top. When I came with the Inc., they were facing a lot. My whole attraction was that I could revive or breathe a little life into this place because it had great history. I was in a place that was built on love and I just wanted to bring some of that in there. Before Street Love, there wasn’t a lot of noise. But after, Ashanti put out a record and Ja put out a record. So it opened up the market for what we had. It’s like the Twin Towers. They knocked them down out of malicious intent and hatred. Those buildings were built on love, hard work, sweat and dedication. Same way with the Inc. When I came there, it was ash and rubble. I’m like, “I gotta restore this building”

A lot of people see you as the only thing poppin’ on the Inc. right now. Does that put pressure on you?
[Laughs.] Nah, not one bit. I know I’m one of the best and as good as all these guys that’s out here. Yet, I don’t tend to get a lot of the credit that I deserve. So, I feel the pressure of proving it. I’m not one to sit here and whine about it.

Did it bother you when 50 Cent said you looked like Santa’s little helper?
No. I think it’s funny. I think it’s kind of cool that he would mention me. I made a lot of noise. I think 50’s hilarious. My essence is not to get mad.

When you signed, would it have been conceivable that you could be the biggest star on the Inc. within five years?
Yeah, man. I did all kinds of talent shows around Atlanta when I was six or seven years old. I signed my first deal when I was 10. I’m like a child prodigy. I’m destined to be one of the young people on the forefront of this. I did doubt if I would get the chance that I deserved or if I would always have to be in the shadow of Ashanti and Ja or the shadow of Usher and whoever else was hot at the time. But, I never once have doubted my ability.

Comments

[condine]

dear llyod first of all u rock keep doing wht u do best and let the haters keep hating because it only makes you a stronger person than u r much love always strive for the best and reach 4the stars cant wait 4 u 2 drop ur album cause i wiil b the irst one 2 get it. love u always ur biggest fan condine

[chika]

I love Lloyd!!!!
he is GREAT!

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[Archelle Oneal]

Lloyd I think you are great keep up the good work.Peace your home girl from N.O. uptown.