We collectively agreed – after thirteen years professionally together and seventeen years just being together as a group – to exhale and stretch out a little bit and explore options individually. But for the record: 112 has not broken up. We are planning to release another 112 album—maybe at the end of 2009. We still tour together and we're very supportive of each other. A lot of times when people see a group and members have explored other options, the usual thought is, "They've broken up, they're not together anymore." We're one of the few groups that are able to step outside of the group and stand alone. The only other group that I can remember that did it successfully was New Edition. They all did their solo ventures but were able to come back and still be New Edition. I think 112 is capable of doing that. We're getting ready to show the world that we're capable.
Few people know that you are also an accomplished songwriter. One particular songwriting credit that I stumbled upon was "I Should Have Cheated" – a breakout single for Keyshia Cole. How did you become involved with that project?
Like you said, I've always been a songwriter – even with the 112 records. Keyshia Cole was recording. We got "I Should Have Cheated" to her manager and she came over and recorded it. It was the fifth single that she released on that album. We pressed and pressed and pressed for them to release it sooner, but I guess they played the popularity/celebrity game. Once they finally released our record, it really opened her up to the marketplace. It was successful for her and for us as well.
Were you at all surprised by the success?
You know, it's funny because nowadays you can't pick a record. You kind of just put it out there and see how it comes back. I'm always confident in my ability and in anything I'm a part of. I always knew that if they would just release it, it would do well.
When you're writing for a female artist, how did you approach the songwriting process? Was there anything different, or is a song just a song and you just put a face with it?
It's a different mindset and I think it's to my advantage. I grew up with a mother-and-father household. I'm very blessed to be able to say that. My dad, he's a provider. He worked all the time. My brother was the oldest of the four of us, and he was in the service. A lot of my high school career I was at home with my mom and my two sisters. I would hear my sisters talk about how their boyfriends did this or how they wish their boyfriends would do this. I learned a lot of things about women at an early age, growing up with two sisters and a mother. I'm able to fall back on that when it comes to writing lyrics because I believe as a man, it's very important to know what a woman wants to hear and to know how to present that. I think I've been blessed with that ability to know how to approach a woman in person or in song.
Article comments
1 - jpharraway
Hello Mr. Q, I'm still proud of your success. You may still remember me but if you have forgotton, I want hold it against you. Love ya, Mrs. Pharr, Long Middle School