R&B
wouldn’t be where it is now if it weren’t for the soulful tunes we grew up
listening to. Some artists focus on the modern formula of singing with fast
tempos, raunchy lyrics, and sub par vocals, while other artists remind us of the
good ol’ days. Anthony Hamilton is one of those artists that have walked us down
memory lane with his heartfelt lyrics and his soulful grooves reminiscent of your favorite classic R&B legends like Al Green and Bill Withers. The
North Carolina native effortlessly delivers melodies true R&B lovers look
for through songs like “Where Did It Go Wrong,” “Coming From Where I’m From,”
“Can’t Let Go,” “The Truth,” “Never Love Again,” and his rendition of “I Cry.”
Also playing a bridge between R&B Soul and Hip-Hop, Anthony Hamilton has
been a hot commodity rappers seek as the perfect touch to songs such as
Jadakiss’ “Why,” Young Jeezy’s “Everything,” and The Game’s “Hustler’s Dream.”
Hamilton’s
road to success hasn’t been an easy one. In the beginning of his career, he was
signed to Uptown Records, a label that once housed Jodeci, Guy, and
Monifah. Just as Anthony was getting his turn at fame, the label folded,
leaving the crooner stagnant. Hamilton never lost sight of his path as he sung
background for D’Angelo’s “Voodoo” Tour and appeared on Xzibit and Eve’s albums
as a featured artist. With hard work, he started to gain momentum in his career
with his Nappy Roots’ collaboration “Po’ Folks” which landed him his very first
Grammy nomination.
If
you’re a huge fan of his past projects like Coming From Where I’m From, Soul Life, and Ain’t Nobody
Worryin’,
then the six Grammy nominated artist has another treat for you. Out with a
brand new single featuring David Banner, “Cool”, Hamilton is giving his fans what they
all have been waiting for. Setting the platform for another joyous ride
through the storyteller’s soul is Hamilton’s newest project slated for a
December 2nd release called The Point Of It All. Although the project
is in its final stages, his collaboration with songwriters and producers like
Mark Batson (“Coming From Where I’m from” and “Charlene”) and Jack Splash
(Alicia Keys’ “Teenage Love Affair” and Jazmine Sullivan’s “Need U Bad”) The
Point Of It All
is destined to bring in the holiday with absolute pleasure.
AllHipHop.com
Alternatives:
You released a couple of albums in your career so far and I know it can be
exhausting when releasing a new album and releasing a new single. What does
that do for you as an artist?
Anthony
Hamilton:
Well, you have the anticipation of getting it out and getting it to the
people and making sure it’s the same quality work as it was before or even
better, but you have your times when it is difficult. You record a million
songs and you fall in love with most of them, and you don’t want to leave
anything out or leave anybody out. It has its good and bad, but for the most
part it’s beautiful. You have another chance to show another side of
yourself.AHHA: You had some struggles
in the past with Uptown Records and you survived so far. How does that make
you feel about your career right now? Are you where you want to be?
Anthony
Hamilton:
I feel like I’m where I am supposed to be. Even with the bad record
deals—I’m not even considering it a bad record deal. It’s just the timing,
the mistiming. Actually, everything is designed how it is supposed to be, to
be honest with you, and I’m a firm believer of that. I feel like it has
allowed me to grow musically and has positioned me in a place to where now I
feel like, “Okay, I can make it through it.” If anything goes wrong or if
anything seems to be a little shaky, I know how to have patience and work
through it and work around it, so I won’t get so flustered. It’s definitely
made me more appreciative with where I am and what I have and I know nobody
gave me anything. It was just hard work and divine timing that allowed me to
get where I am at, so I can feel good about being dedicated to something for so
long and really loving what it is I’m doing. And then I see it pays off.
AHHA: You’ve co-written some
songs in the past, so have you been diligently doing that now?
Anthony Hamilton: Actually yes, I have a
song that I co-wrote. [It’s] with Jeezy called “Everything.” I co-wrote two
songs for Al Green and I have a duet with Al Green on this new [album]. I
co-wrote on “Lay It Down.” I had co-written with T-Pain, Musiq, and Raheem
DeVaughn on this one song called “Reality Show.” I don’t think they are going
to use it, but I still did the work.
AHHA: Speaking of Al Green,
I know you sang “I’m So Tired Of Being Alone” on the BET awards. You did
justice to that song. Sometimes singers touch a song like that and don’t do
justice to it at all. Did Al Green tell you his thoughts about your
performance?
Anthony
Hamilton:
I was in the studio with him and he just appreciates what I’ve been doing and
what I’m bringing to the table. He knows that I’m a big, big fan of his and
I’ve learned a lot just listening and watching him. He just told me I did a
great job. He loved it. He was dancing and singing along. We just had a
great time. He really appreciated it.
AHHA: You recently performed
with Lalah Hathaway and Angie Stone. What was it like being on stage with
them?
Anthony
Hamilton:
Me and Angie did a whole tour together called “Silk & Sandpaper” Tour. Of
course I’m sandpaper because of the scratchy voice and she has the silky voice.
It was a successful tour, it was really amazing. Lalah Hathaway, I think we
shared the stage somewhere before doing a tribute to her father in Cleveland,
Ohio at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It’s always good to be around your
peers, especially with that much talent. I can appreciate what it is they do
and they can appreciate me, so we go out and have a good time. I also did a
tribute to Bill Withers in Philadelphia about a month ago at the Kimmel Center.
It was his first time singing in 20 years. It was pretty much like he’d do it
if I’d do it. That’s an honor for someone to really respect a young cat like
me who does Soul music and put that much faith in me.
AHHA: In the past you had a
popular hit with Jadakiss and now you’re coming out with David Banner with your
new single, “Cool.” What do you think it is about you that rappers who have a
rough sound gravitate to you for their music?Anthony
Hamilton:
They don’t have to pay for sample clearances and I sound just like the old
records. [laughs] Actually, my voice mimics those feelings that they heard
coming up as a child and that I heard coming up as a child and it’s genuine.
They can tell when it’s real. When I’m hitting it, I’m hitting it from a place
not about being commercial, not about being seen or heard, but it’s about being
felt. And that’s what some of those records need and I give that
unapologetically.
AHHA: You and Nappy
Roots have a good relationship as well when it comes to music. What is it like
working with Nappy Roots?
Anthony
Hamilton:
I think the country chemistry, [similar] personalities, and the kinship kind
of blends well. We have the same common goal. We have to be good and do well
in music, and just enjoy life.
AHHA: What other
collaborations did you do for your album?
Anthony
Hamilton:
Actually, I’m still in the process of finishing it up. I don’t know as of yet
who will it be. We’ve thrown names around such as Mary, Robin Thicke, Jennifer
Hudson, everything from Kanye to David Banner, Ashes Clay, who’s the original
writer on “Cool.”
AHHA: What do you want your
listeners to get out of your records, especially The Point Of It All that’s coming out in
December?
Anthony
Hamilton:
I want them to feel like, Man, out of all the records they didn’t want to buy
that this one is definitely well worth it, that it means something and makes a
difference in their life, and when they’re riding they are listening to them.
I want them to feel like nothing else matters. Not the bills, not the gas
prices, none of that stuff matters. I feel good right now and I feel like I
can make it through anything.
AHHA: Tell us what the title
of your album, The Point Of It All, means to you.
Anthony
Hamilton:
I think the The Point Of It All is the set up to figure out why you do what you
do. Why you react, why you grow, why you cut your hair, why you shave, why you
allow yourself to fall in love, to fall out of love, why do you protest, why do
you vote, anything! The reason we do what we do is to find love at some point
in our life and I think it’s all about love. The ultimate reason we do what we
do is because we love somebody, you’re in love with something, or you’re
searching for love, or you’re madly in love. It’s all for love.
AHHA: You’ve worked with so
many artists already, but if you had a choice who would you work with?
Anthony Hamilton: Oh man! I think I
would love to get in with Mary J. Blige. I think we can do something really
special. I think Prince and I could do something amazing. I would do
something with the Rolling Stones. Prince, Rolling Stones, Mary J. [Blige],
and Bill Withers.
AHHA: Your album, The
Point Of It All,
comes out December 2, 2008. Should we expect any performances?
Anthony
Hamilton:
Yes, I’m going on a promotional tour right after we vote. It’s on November 5th,
I start out. It’s six weeks straight hitting it and quitting it. I’m getting
a band and all that stuff together right now.
