Interview: Ginuwine - Singer and Songwriter - Page 6

The Life – I think – is one of your most underrated albums. As a matter of fact, there was something in the liner notes that I want to talk to you about. You said that you knew you had a purpose on earth and now you know there is a reason for you still being here. I know it was a traumatic experience for you just losing both of your parents. From there, what kind of strength have you gotten yourself after the fact?

Man, just knowing that life is going to throw you for a loop, putting obstacles in your way, in your path and you just jump over them and keep going. I live for my kids. You can't just say, "Man, I want to kill myself." I wanted to do that, too, but you're going to bring hardship to your kids, to your family and everybody. So why do that? It's not about you anymore. It's about you being there for your kids. Death is a part of life. You're never ready for it but you have to accept that it's coming for everybody. Once you realize that, of course you're going to be sad but you got to take it. Once you know that and understand it, it is what it is. It's just something that's going to happen to everybody. You just kind of be ready for it. That doesn't mean you have to shorten your life any time soon just because someone else is gone. You have to realize they wouldn't want you to do that and they want you to live your life to the fullest. That's pretty much what that note was – knowing that there is a purpose for me to move on and keep going and realize that life is going to end for all of us. You have to be there to do your part. That's pretty much what it was, man. 

What do you consider to be the wisest decision you ever made that prepared you to be in the music industry? Is there a particular moment where you were just like...

To leave, man. To just get out on my own and be able to withstand letdowns, you know what I mean? I left home early when I was fifteen or sixteen. I experienced many things. I saw many things. It's the situation that made me strong. My dad was really tough. That made me just strong. So I think leaving home at an early age – for some people, that may be bad – but I think for me, it made me stronger and a better man, a better person.

Article Author: Clayton Perry

Clayton Perry's mission parallels that of John Hope Franklin, Marcus Garvey and Carter G. Woodson. As the founder of the NUBIANO Project, Perry facilitates the design of projects that give voice to the Black diaspora, empower the Black community, …

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