I received a phone call from Urban Network's Vice President and Managing Editor Tosha Y. Thomas asking if I would interview Ralph Tresvant for an upcoming issue of the magazine, as well as the publication's on-line radio show. I sat on the phone in silence wondering why she would even think she would have to ask me such a question. I'm not even sure if I gave her an answer because she knows how I represent for New Edition. I'm on a mission to keep their legacy of being the best boy band since the Jackson 5 alive. Needless to say, I said yes!

When Ralph and his team arrived at the Urban Network office, after being introduced to him by Tosha, the first thing he said to me was, "I know you." Trying to remain the poised professional I am and ignore the teasing and laughing from Tosha and Stephanie Abdullah (who is also a member of the "grown women who love New Edition" club as well as Bobby Brown's publicist) I stated, "of course you do, I've been rockin' at every single New Edition tour since I was 11 years old. I'm always the girl in the audience with a CANDY GIRL shirt on."

Tiffany: How did you feel when you learned New Edition would be honored at this year's ASCAP Awards for 25 successful years in the music industry?
Ralph: My first thing was, REALLY?! Has it been 25 years? That's one of those lifetime achievement awards. I was like, has it been a lifetime? I'm not there yet. I can't get these awards- I still got some more tricks up my sleeve. Then I looked at the span of our career, we started very early. At the same time, I was also feeling really good that somebody was acknowledging all of the hard work New Edition was putting in.
 
Tiffany: What can we expect from your solo project?
Ralph: Growth. It's a lot more personal. More topics I've wanted to address. I have awareness songs and my bedroom ballads are much more grown up. At the end of the day, it's a complete Ralph album and now my influence from Marvin Gaye is coming out of my writing. More conscious, lovemaking songs, and spreading love songs are still on the album.

Tiffany: I love the single, "It Must Be You." Who produced it?
Ralph: The music is by Danny Bell. He's out of our camp; one of the partners in Xzault (Ralph's label). The lyrics are by Danny Dillman (co-owner of Xzault). Actually this single is the only song on the album I didn't write.  I have Kyle West on the album too.

Tiffany: Kyle West, from the Al B. Sure days?
Ralph: Yes. We met on Myspace. We were going back and forth [on Myspace] and he said he was still "doing it". He sent me some tracks and man they were nice. He actually did one of my social awareness songs called, "The Greatest Race of All Times". It's talking about all the things I feel about being black and how I feel about my people.

Tiffany: Since we're talking about being socially conscious and aware, do you have any views on the current political climate?
Ralph: To be honest with you, I'm just starting to get into it. I've been aware of it and checking it out. I've never got into politics until now. I've always felt like it really wouldn't make a difference. I've always looked at it as a bit strange, but Obama has put me in a realm where I want to believe he can do all the different things he stands for and believes in. He's lifting a lot of spirits and I'm trying to believe he can pull these things off.
 
Tiffany: Your single," It Must Be You", is available on Itunes, what do you feel the pros and cons are of releasing music via the Internet?
Ralph: In this day and age, I guess now, I look at it, as it's just the way everything is. Everybody is downloading, everything is digital. It's a good way to reach a lot of folks a lot quicker. The cons, it adds to people checkin' for the internet for their music as opposed to going to the record stores. I guess the way that I grew up, going into the stores looking at the album covers, holding it. I hate watching the record store experience die out.

Tiffany: If you had your own radio show, which artists would we hear?
Ralph: You would hear my influences; some Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. You would hear Evelyn "Champagne" King and Zapp. I grew up feeling music was magical when I was hearing that stuff. The Stylistics, Dramatics, Delfonics, and the Temptations; I thought their sound was really slick. Kraftwerk some of the computer stuff, Numbers. I can get into the era of Run DMC, Fat Boys, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh. Some of the newer artist: Ne-Yo, J. Holiday and Lloyd. Most of it would be my 80's run. The music I grew up with.

Tiffany: What do you think when you now see fully grown fans reacting to you all today like they did 25 years ago?
Ralph: I feel like I did when they were reacting like that 25 years ago. It's a special feeling to still have that kind of love. I just feel like it's a special bond. The impact comes back. When I think of New Edition fans, I think they are truly a blessing. In between records, the hot times, anything new happening, they are right there waiting. They show appreciation and make us feel like we are still important.

Tiffany: Do you have any crazy/memorable fan moments? Have any fans ever done anything bizarre that you remember?
Ralph: (laughs) Oh, all the time.

Tiffany: Anything that stands out?
Ralph: One. This lady dressed up as a maid and when I got into my hotel suite she was in my bed; I was 16 years-old. I told her maybe I had the wrong room, and she said, 'oh no baby, you got the right room.' I was scared as hell.

Tiffany: Did you ask her to leave?
Ralph: No. I left out to get security and when we returned she was gone.

Tiffany: Ok, last 2 questions, what is your favorite "Ralph" song?
Ralph: Off the top of the head it would be, "Sensitivity and Do What I Gotta Do".

Tiffany: What about New Edition, what's your favorite N.E. song?
Ralph: Oh, New Edition is hard. There are so many records that weren't the hits.

Tiffany in fan mode now - reacts and interrupts

Tiffany: Exactly!! That's how I feel. One of my favorites is "Sweet Thing."
Ralph: Oh, Sweet Thing was a HIT record, a bad song. All of those records like "Maryann."

Tiffany (fan mode): YESSS! and "Delicious."
Ralph: "Baby Love." When I think of those songs, I think those were songs that should've been released.

Tiffany: You guys should do a show performing all of your b-side records; the fans would go crazy!
Ralph: You ain't never lied. We actually talked about doing a show where we remove some of the mainstream records, but it just seemed risky to everybody in the group, but I was telling them if we promote it a certain way and let the fans know. I mean, they're the one's coming to the shows anyway.

Tiffany: We would love that, it might work if it's your true 25-year fans, something a bit more intimate, but what you all are doing now is fine...just fine.

Ralph Tresvant's new single "Something to Give You" is featured on the soon-to-be-released, The Future Vol. 1 compilation due out later this year.  The CD will be available in stores and on your favorite on-line retailers everywhere.