jaheim: The Makings of a Man

Captivated is the best word to describe how we've felt watching singer Jaheim progress from a young man to a full-grown man. He premiered on Warner Bros. in 2001 with Ghetto Love, a platinum seller with the singles "Could it Be," "Just in Case" and "Anything." The follow-up, Still Ghetto (2002) was another platinum-seller that included the hits "Fabolous," "Put That Woman First" and "Diamond in da Ruff," earning Jaheim a BET Award for Best Male R&B Vocalist. Then after a 4-year wait, he dropped Ghetto Classics (2006), the closer of his "ghetto trilogy" that topped both Billboard's Pop and R&B charts, and boasted the highlights "Everytime I Think About Her," "The Chosen One" plus the clever album track "Like a DJ."

December 18th marks the release of the self-described "Thug Romeo's" fourth album, the start of a whole new chapter in the ghetto superstar's story. Titled The Makings of a Man, the next-level album finds the New Brunswick, New Jersey-born singer/songwriter joining forces with a variety of today's most innovative hit makers, including longtime collaborator KayGee (Naughty By Nature, Zhane'), Ivan Barias & Carvin Haggins of Karma Productions (Musiq Soulchild, Bilal, Jill Scott), Jasper Cameron (Nelly, Christina Aguilera), and R. Kelly. The first single "Never," produced by Daniel Farris, marks a change of pace for Jaheim (which he discusses later). There is also a tight duet with Keyshia Cole titled "I've Changed" and a tribute to Luther Vandross (one of his greatest influences, audible in everything he sings) with a cover of one of his fan favorites. This last song is a perfect bookend to Jaheim's recent contribution to Atlantic's soundtrack to Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?. "DJ Don't (Remix)," on which his vocal was placed alongside that of another late, great R&B legend, Gerald Levert.

The new album is loaded with outstanding performances. Take "Have You Ever." It starts with a pretty piano melody and a chorus that sets you up to think you're going to be hearing about joyful memories of childhood antics like Stevie Wonder's "I Wish." After a first verse that talks about broad circumstantial "if I woulda coulda shoulda," BAM, Jaheim hits you with a second verse that finds him singing candidly about the incident where he unwittingly slept with an underage girl and another tale about facing a murder rap. It's a sneak attack, the ruse of an artful dodger designed to make the listener think. In the end, Jaheim admits he has his regrets about things in the past, but ultimately says one never knows the twists and turns that life has in store around the corner that drop out of the sky like a cloudburst of shrapnel.

"I've Changed" finds Jaheim paired with his perfect ghetto match, Keyshia Cole, for a heartwarming song about two souls willing to change their ways and settle down because they've both found their perfect love. Over a track sweetly influenced by Atlantic Starr's "Let's Get Closer," Keyshia takes verse 1 (put that lady first) and Jaheim takes verse 2 to speak on the new things they will do for each other. At the end there are some nice ad libs that they artfully sing around each other, one of which will give you goose bumps.

"What You Think" is a woman's dream come true set to song. "Now her days are all so fly / She's a diamond in the rough, no lie / I'm rough enough to make the diamond shine / Just like a trophy I'm-a hold her high." On top of that, the song has a great chorus that should have women everywhere beaming. "Now she's good to me, queen to me, she crowned me to be king (so what you think of that) / `Cuz she's down for me, my homie, my tenderoni only (now what you think of that) / `Cuz she stay real with me, deal with me, perfect to be my wife (now what you think of that) / She's beautiful to me and I don't care what you think (now what you think of that)?!?!"

Finally, "Hush" is a well-written rehash of the age old story, "I can't believe I'm hittin' the skinz of my best friend's girl."

"I'm in the emergency room, man," Jaheim said to me as we started this quick phone chat while he was literally in the process of mastering the album. "Tell everyone the baby is almost done!" Enjoy.

Q: Explain the significance of the title The Makings of a Man.
A: It represents how I've changed and grown through the years. It's a milestone project - the culmination of all my ups and downs and working with all types of people on different levels. I did about 75% of the writing...just write. The album is basically about relationships, changing and letting go. It's about making the ultimate commitment - never say never.

Q: What was the strategy behind "Never" being the first single?
A: The record company picked the record, but I already knew what the record was, so I was like, "Yeah, that's a good look." We usually start with the other (more street) stuff, so we came out the box this time with a ballad. I got to collaborate a little with the video director, Edwin Decena, too. When you see it, remember that everything in the video is all real. It's beautiful.

Q: The last time we spoke, you were nowhere near marriage. Any closer now?
A: I'm in a situation now for the last three years. It's a beautiful thing. I'm taking it a step higher this time. It's really love.

Q: How do you know it's real?
A: If she has Jesus in her life and I have Jesus in mine, then it's real love. And through that love nothing can come between us.

Q: Do you dedicate "Never" to her?
A: I dedicated most of the album to her, including "Never" - which I didn't write - and a lot of other songs I was able to write through the love of her.

Mainly I write for my fans. People go through things and these songs get them through. If I'm walking down the street and I hear people talking about going through things, I think, "I could be writing about that," so I'll finish it off. I could be eating at McDonald's and overhear women talking about, "I need a man like that," start writing a song about that and then finish it by relating it to my relationship.

Q: Tell us about a few of the songs you wrote.
A: I have a record called "Thank God" which represents the first time I've given thanks to God...not just saying it, but writing a song and singing it.

Then I wrote a song called "Back Together" for my mother and father. It's about them being together again in Heaven. The picture just came to me one day out of the way.
And I did a song with Keyshia Cole called "I've Changed."

Q: How did you choose Keyshia as a duet partner?
A: It just came out of the blue. You know how you can be thinking one way and you're thinking you're a genius but it's really God? When stuff hits the airwaves and we're warned to do certain things, if we don't do them, that's when Mother Nature steps in. Well, someone followed that voice and thought, "we need to get Jaheim and Keyshia Cole on a record." She came in and laid her part down. I had already done my part. We actually wrote a part for her, but she rewrote it. It came out great. It was produced by KayGee.

Q: KayGee, the man that produced one of my all-time favorite hip hop soul duets ("A Girl Like You" by Aaliyah & Treach). He has been down with you from the beginning, signing you to his Divine Mill label. What is your relationship like now?
A: Kay's been around from the beginning and ain't going nowhere. We have a good friendship and a good business-ship. We're tight. Now I've got my own team of producers and songwriters I'm putting on - Wesley Hodges, Eric Williams, Jaha Drakeford, and John "Skip" Anderson from Luther Vandross' camp who's part of our crew now.

Q: We all know how much you admired Luther Vandross. The last time we spoke, Luther and Gerald Levert were on tour together. Now both of them are gone. Tell us about you covering Luther's classic "Because It's Really Love."
A: It's dedicated to Luther and produced by his (friend and longtime associate) Nat Adderley Jr. I believe that God does not make mistakes. I can't speak upon why (they're no longer here), but I'm here. I'm in the building (Atlantic). I'm here because of people like Kevin Liles, Lyor Cohen, Julie Greenwald, Mike Kyser and Craig Kallman. They have a 60-year track record of artists from Aretha Franklin to T.I., and now Jaheim.

Q: Both Gerald Levert and Luther Vandross (on the Cotillion subsidiary) spent the early years of their careers at Atlantic records. Luther started out as the leader of a trio simply called Luther.
A: I've got that album right here! I'm truly honored to give thanks to Luther the way we gave it to him - with his band and everything. It was amazing. Nat and "Skip" were there. And one of my personal engineers Stan Wallace was under that umbrella as well. It was a moment to sit back and cherish. Dreams really do come true. I didn't get a chance to sing with Luther, but I was blessed enough to have his family around me.
I always wanted to make a record with Luther... If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't know who I was.

Q: Did you ever meet Luther?
A: I met him twice. The first time was at the BET Awards in L.A. He was just blowin' and I was mesmerized. I walked up to him and I said, "Man, you're the greatest!" Then I met him again at SIR Studios. I was in the bathroom and somebody told me he was downstairs. I came down and called out "Luther" two times, but he didn't hear me. Then a girl near him turned around and said, "Jaheim?" Luther said, "Jaheim? ‘Anything' Jaheim?!" Then he started singing my song. That showed me that I was somebody right there. I will never forget that.

Q: Why did you choose "Because It's Really Love?"
A: I'm a Luther fanatic. It was a personal choice. We all talked about it. Not to take nothin' away from Luther, I didn't think we should do "A House is Not a Home." That was his record. I decided to do "Because It's Really Love" because he wrote it. I wanted to do something special for his family. So I chose "Because It's Really Love" ...because it really is.