And what about your recent success? How did you wind up singing the hook on Soulja Boy's "Kiss Me Thru the Phone"?
Well, I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. I was talking to him at a video shoot. And he was like, "I have this hook and it's the last one I'm doing for my album. I don't know if it's going to be a single but we can see what happens." He actually tried to do it himself, put the auto-tune on but he didn't like how he sounded. So we knocked it out in 20 minutes.
Fast forward three to four months, it was number one on the charts. God is good and I thank Soulja Boy for even choosing me to be a part of that with him. I'm happy for the both of us. It's the second single from his second album and the track has picked up substantially in sales. It's my biggest single since "I Like It," so it was just a great situation for the both of us!
Several days ago, I came across an old review for your sophomore album, Sammie, that was written by Andy Kellman of AllMusic. In his review, he noted that "[you] might as well be considered a new artist, not a returning one, despite [your] past success." What's your take?
To me, with every new project, you're a new artist. Do you know what I'm saying? Even more so now. It's so scary the way the music industry is going and music being so accessible in the internet. You never know what's going to stick, if you really have fans of Sammie or fans of Sammie's music. There's a substantial difference.
My goal is to make my fans fall in love with me, the person. That way, they'll take the journey. Whatever I want to talk about in my album, whatever I'm going through in my life, they're along for the ride. So I do feel like I was a new artist. It's not about what you've done, it's about what you have next. It's cliché but it's kind of really how the industry, in my opinion, operates. It was cool that I went platinum in 2000. All right, but what's next? And then, what's next? That's how the industry looks at you.
So I appreciate those times, those two projects, but once it's over, it's over and you have to move on to the next. I feel like every time I come out, I'm a new guy. I'm never the same. I got to reinvent myself. I got to catch up to what's hot right now. That's just how you create longevity and you stay around, reinventing yourself and keeping people interested.
Article comments
1 - Nowthebiz
Mr. Perry, this interview is incorrect, Sammie is currently signed to Empire Entertainment an Atlanta based Label, he may have started his own company, but it was clearly in 2009. Sammie is tring to get a release out of his current contract, his claim to be releasing an album is just that. I have followed his very short career from the beginning & would like the truth to be printed, Sammie being Un loyal to his fans for not telling the truth & to his Recording company that has supported him from his 5year break. Sammie is a has been & the only reason you are even talking to him is because of Soujia Boy's song.
2 - Miss M.
Great interview, Mr. Perry. I gave two different opinions about young Sammie and his plans to "come back"- I was impressed to hear him talk intelligently and coherently about his childhood, transitioning in the industry, and his plans to be the number on db artist out there. I worry though that like some other artists, he just doesn't have that 'it' factor right now. I mean, he's cute enough, his voice is nice enough, his swag is pretty generic... I want him to grow up a little more and do some self discovery. At 22, I didn't know who I was and at 25, I still don't. So all I'm saying is, before he starts referring to himself in the third person and owning labels, I really want him to get his feet firmly planted, get some well produced, well written, appropriately marketed track and a unique selling point that is truly his, and then he'll be ready. I love to see a young black man being positive and trying to make it... I want Sammie to do well and I think that if he's careful and meticulous and really works on his craft like he says he wants to, people will support him and really help him become to superstar he wants to be. Good luck, my Brotha!