Interview: Robin Thicke - Singer and Songwriter - Page 2

Based off the length of your hair, at that particular point, it is quite obvious that your career wasn't an "overnight success."

Oh, yeah. I have been making music for 15 years. Everybody in the business says, "Hey, man, you never stop." I have definitely paid my dues.

In the early part of your career, you had the chance to work with Brian McKnight. What impact did that experience have on your career?

I was the young Brian McKnight wannabe. As a matter of fact, all my friends used to call me "Brian McWhite." I was so inspired by Brian McKnight's first album that I reached out to him and tried to give my music to him. I was 14 years old at the time, but he got me in the studio and he got me a record deal. I had the opportunity to work with people like Brandy and Color Me Badd when I was 16 years old. After that, I was able to be very successful in songwriting.

A lot of your work deals with love and the struggles that men have with their emotions. How much of your art is a reflection of your own experiences?

Oh, every single word. That's one thing: I don't tell a story to get played on the radio. I just write songs about exactly what I've gone through.

Over the course of your career, several media outlets have branded your music as "blue-eyed soul." How do you feel about this term, since it's been used with Jon B, Michael McDonald and others?

I don't hear that in my circle, but I consider myself to be a soulful person, so I consider my music to be soul. And I have blue eyes, so… [laughing] My music has a little of The Beatles and Bob Dylan, also. Even though it's soulful music, it's a little bit different than everybody else.

That being said, we both know that true soul music doesn't really have a face, but you're often associated with a style that's typical of black folks. Do you ever find yourself encountering people or places where your integrity as an artist was questioned?

Yeah, that's part of the business. When you walk out on stage, you're already taking a chance. That's why people are willing to applaud artists that are willing to take that chance.

In recent years, you have had multiple collaborations with Lil Wayne - even before he became "the best rapper alive."

My wife says, "You called that 6 years ago," because I told everybody, "This guy is going to be the next big thing. He is it."

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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