(AllHipHop Features) Three-time Grammy Award winning songwriter, producer, and musician, Stevie J is back with season 2 of his VH1 spin off show, “Leave It To Stevie”.
The hit producer is not only focused on continuing to craft new music for veterans and new artists as he’s also focused on watching his kids pursue their passions while he teaches them the importance of hard work.
As always, Stevie is more than ready to focus on music, family and living the bachelor life to the fullest.
In both season 2 of “Leave It Stevie” and season 7 of “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” we expect to see Stevie attempting to avoid making previous mistakes as well as trying his best to keep business and pleasure separate.
Like every season, these seasons will give Stevie a fresh start and fresh experiences, where he forges deeper connections with his children, pushes them to step outside of their comfort zones, and he gets busy in the studio.
AllHipHop caught up with Stevie to discuss everything from the new seasons, his collaborations with Future & Young Thug, what he misses about 90s Hip Hop & R&B and more!
What can we expect from Season 2 of ‘Leave It To Stevie”?
“Well you can expect you know, my kids they want to finally work. You will see me showing them that I support them and that I’m behind them. I want them to make their own careers and have their own legacies. You’ll see me just pushing them to be the greatest they can be.”
We are in season 7 of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, what can we expect from this season? How have you grown since the first season to now?
“Well you know it’s a lot of growth. You should want to grow and not stay stagnant. All of the things I used to do, I’m not into anymore. I’m into now making sure the kids are good. Making sure that I’m back on point as a producer, I’m back on point as a business man, and those are the steps that I’m taking to make sure that the people are getting a glimpse of those things these days.”
One thing about you is you are always in the studio, what new artists are you working with currently?
“I just finished working on Scrappy’s album. We did it in 3 weeks. We completed a project and are shooting visuals. I just finished Kelly Price’s album. I did this duet with Faith, we shot the visuals for that. I’m working with my son Dorian J. I’m just working. I’ve been writing with Eric Bellinger. I’ve been working with Teyana Taylor. I’m just working man; I’m doing stuff with Future & Thug. Man I’m in my bag, in my producer bag.”
You’ve crafted so many hits, who is one artist that you haven’t worked with that you would like to work with?
“I would say Chris Brow. Although he’s sampled some of my music before, I think that with being in the studio with him, we would do some incredible work together.”
You’ve been in the game a long time, so what are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the music industry, and what are some of the negative ones?
“I just believe it’s all positive to see the youth finding something to do other than being in the streets. I just look at it from a positive standpoint. I’m grateful that there’s still a way for us to get out here and get some paper other than doing things that we don’t really want to do.”
You are a veteran in the music game, what do you miss most about 90s Hip Hop & R&B?
“The 90s R&B was that love making music. That was that Jodeci and all of that. I miss all of that. It was real musical. Even the Hip Hop was a little more musical, but we are bringing all of that back. I just miss the fact that….I miss the lyricism, the melodies that a lot of the rappers were using in the 90s. Now I can’t tell him from him right now. So I just like that the 90s was a little bit more diverse. Everyone sounded like themselves, they were the best version of themselves. Now everybody wants to sound like him and him. I can’t tell them apart.”
Who are your “Top 5” rappers dead or alive?
“Big, Jay, Nas, Pac, and Kendrick.”
Do you ever feel like your musical accomplishments take a back seat to what people see from you on reality TV?
“Well no it’s just different now. At first I did. But now. I’m grateful to have 7 successful seasons on Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. Actually 3 with my own spin-offs. It’s like people are now paying attention and they are googling me and seeing, and now all of these music cats are like hold on we can’t forget the dude that brought you 100 million hits and three Grammys. Those same cats in music are calling me up to make sure that my legacy isn’t left to be Googled, it’s here to be seen. So you know I’m back on that music thing, and I believe the youth and the people I grew up with will be happy about how I’m going to present this music to them.”
What’s next for Stevie J?
“Great question I’m actually starting “Sleezy J”, my pop up parties for a good time with my live band in different cities. The next one is in Houston. We did one in Atlanta. You know it’s like the Harlem Nights theme, everyone has to come dressed up dressed up to the T to the 9. You know we have different artists singing and all of the artists that I have performing. It’s just a great atmosphere for one to have a great time and to get dressed up and sexy and listen to some live music. I believe people love to see me in my musicianship. I have my guitar on. You might see me on the keys, you might see me on the drums, you might see me on the bass. Different instruments singing. It’s just fun; it’s just a fun night at Sleazy J’s.”
