Tyrese Gibson recently has been everywhere. You've seen him in Annapolis, Waist Deep, and soon to come Transformers. He's got an album out Alter-Ego which shows of the silky smooth side of Tyrese, and the Black-Ty that really shocked many in the music world. Tyrese Gibson is a triple threat as an actor, musician and a model he can break down even the strongest of people in many ways. Even more recently he's gotten himself more into the spot light and the light has become so bright on him, he's gained second billing in the largest summer blockbuster in years. Mr. Gibson has found the bigtime and found it in a big way. We at socialitelife were lucky enough to sit down with Tyrese for a 1 on 1 and to really get into his head!
Josh (ASL): Hiya Tyrese! How are you doin man? I know I caught you out on tour and all.
Tyrese: It's going good all man. Shows have been sold out, so when it's going it's been goin.
Josh: Alright, well lets break it right down man. You're a good actor, a musician and a model that women just flat out drool over. What is it like to be doing all three of those things at the same time?
Tyrese: It's nice. I love it. It's about getting it out of your system. When you're born with talent you try to get it out of your system. So many people do one thing because they make money at it. I'm beyond money, I'm just not motivated by money. At the beginning you want money to get by, but once you get a little into your pocket you lose that thirst for money and you do it to make yourself better. I do it for the challenge. I want to be the best.
Josh: What motivated you then to make a rap album then, as Black-Ty?
Tyrese: I used to rhyme in a rap group called triple impact, long before I did singing. This was even before my coke commercial. So I just pushed the hip hop thing to the side just so I could travel and do my thing R&B wise. Hip hop has always been in me and I just had to let it out.
More of A Socialite Life's exclusive interview with Tyrese Gibson, plus a free song, and find out how to personally interact (we've got the phone number) with Tyrese, after the jump.
Josh: So what are you doing now then? You're on the road right? Do you write on the road?
Tyrese: I don't write between each studio session. I really try not to, but I just finished a song on the bus recently. You know for the most part, I only write when I'm in a studio session.
Josh: Okay then, then that leads me to my next question. When do you find time for this shit? Fast and The furious 2, Waist Deep, Transformers, how do you find time to put two full cd's together?
Tyrese: It was actually 4 cd's because I released 2 mixtapes before my album even dropped. At the end of the day, if I'm writing an R&B song and hip hop lyrics consume me, I'm going to spit on the song. So I can really write anything when I'm in there and it just flows naturally.
Josh: Nice. So you've gone all over the USA for this tour?
Tyrese: I've been all in the US right now. We're going to a bunch of cities that people don't normally go to. People usually only go to the A markets. I'm going to those cities too, but I'm also going to the Akron Ohios, and Mount Pleasant Michigans. Places that people don't normally go to. That's where the fans are at though. When I come to the fans the shows are better. People look at me and don't believe I'm in their city. The energy in those cities make you feel appreciated.
Josh: You've been well known as a person who loves his fans and appreciates his fans. Do you really keep that in mind when you go out on tour?
Tyrese: The way I treat my fans, is old school. At the end of the day, people don't know how to treat their fans. There is so many people out with songs, and you don't know them. You read peoples bio's and you don't know the artists. People are going to attack you, so people hide. I don't want to hide. I want people to buy my album, and feel like they have a part of me. I have a voice mail service where you can call, leave me a voice mail and I'll hear it. I'll give you an instruction and you leave me a voice mail like it. Right now, I have 100,000 fans signed up for the voice mail service. It's whatever I feel like doing on a message, I'll leave. A week ago or so, I left a message about not knowing what my fans look like, so I said the fans need to text me pictures of themselves so I know what my fans look like so I can be closer to them. The photos were out of control.
Josh: Out of control? I bet you had some...
Tyrese: You better believe I got some wild pictures, but uh... we'll discuss that later.
Josh: Black-Ty was wild and different compared to everyone else, and expecting what you can do. What was it like working with Method Man, Snoop, Lil' John on your first mainstream rap album?
Tyrese: Well the thing is, most people get cocky about this. It really humbled me because I'm making a transition into hip hop. I don't care what kind of money you got, because we're all aware of rappers having a lot of money. Rappers don't believe in other rappers, so they don't end up doing songs with them. Everyone who heard my album believed in Black-Ty. I still look at the credits on my album and am shocked that people embraced my album. Method Man, Game, Manny Fresh just to name a few. It humbles me.
Josh: Where do you go from there? You've had successful albums already.
Tyrese: The next album is going to be called Black Rose. It's going to be one single album with 7 soulful songs, and 7 rap songs. It's going to be one piece of all of me.
Josh: Okay, I like to hear perspective on hip hop. Recently people have been rapping about money, and cars and girls. How do you feel about where hip hop is now?
Tyrese: Rap right now. If the song ain't gimmicky they don't work. If the words don't repeat themselves they won't work, like laffy taffy, or chicken noodle soup. You laugh at first, but you end up singing that shit in your head. You know? So it reminds me of the 69 boys era where everything was Tootsie Roll, or Kris Kross era. Right now hip hop is for the kids. What I did is I went back to the hip hop I know. You listen to my album, you feel like you know who I am. Everyone is rapping about jewelery, and the women they run through and their cars. You didn't hear me on the album rapping about what I have, and I have a lot more than most rappers. I own a lot of things, but I don't rap about it.
Josh: How do you keep out of beef then? Knowing all of that, how do you not end up talking about someone on a song?
Tyrese: I'm just blessed man. I've been around the worst of the worst at one time or another, and I just keep out of it. Most people don't know I'm friends with both 50 cent and Game. We just don't talk about it, I keep out of it. They're both my friends I'm cool with them, I'm not interested in negative energy. We've got all good energy, and it's about honestly, I love that I'm messing with the rap game. At the same time, I love the fact I'm making a transition into hip hop. They don't look at me like a rapper, They cant' do that to me. I'm coming with a white flag, and peace. I like Will Smith. He's had it all and done it all, he comes with a calmness and peace. He comes with no ego, and he always wants to be better.
Josh: Well, I know your busy and we need to cut this short.
Tyrese: Wait, before we do that, here is the voice mail number for the socialitelife fans. 818-206-9337. Just dial the number and it'll walk you through everything. You don't have to worry, it'll be a lot of fun.
Josh: Thanks Tyrese, from the readers of socialitelife and from me personally!
Tyrese was hilarious, funny, witty and sharp. Down to earth at almost a comical level. He really cares about and is interested in his fans. So much so, he even gave us a link to one of his songs that you may download for free!!! Also call the voice mail number and interact with Tyrese personally!
Free MP3: Black Ty: Gettin' Hi
Quicktime: HI MED LO
Windows Media: HI MED LO
Real Audio: HI MED LO
toni says:
well my mom really loves you and want to meet u wat can she do 2 meet u