Aaliyah: Rare Photo

🔁 via Sharaè Nikai: “Oh, it’s da L-I-Y-A-H…” Hanging with childhood friend Desmond Herod & Aaliyah at Jayson Williams’ crib (Nets #55, pre weird home shooting) when I was far too young to be in the mix… 1/16/14 - Happy Birthday, Aaliyah."

This was posted on Aaliyah’s birthday via Facebook back in 2014! And from the looks of the outfit we can confirm this was where she took the photo with Static Major which can be found in Vibe magazine published December, 2008. You can find read the full interview via the link here, which was also posted back in 2014. For all Static Major, Playa and Aaliyah fans it's definitely a must read! Enjoy! 😊✌🏽❤

Aaliyah: Rare Photos

🔁 via @ericseats: “#Aaliyah 

YOOO @raptracks @buddamann1 @dubzworld @timbaland @therealtank @blackplaya502 @staticmajor_ y’all remember the panel we had @ Jimmy’s Uptown NY when babygirl went down the line introducing us & talking about the records?

#memories

#ES3️⃣3️⃣3️⃣”

My heart!! 😭😭😭❤ Thank you so much for sharing Eric! 🙏🏽❤

Aaliyah: Rare Photo

🔁 via @familyfirst “@littleburger bday party at Jason Williams House #playa #ripaaliyah #kidadajones #tbt”

Wow I love this!! Thank you so much for sharing this gem in better quality! 😍🙏🏽❤ I remember seeing this shared awhile back by @blackplaya502 but it’s nice to see a clearer version of this beautiful pic! Also thanks to @favouritethingsbyazzizz for the find! 😇

Static Major’s Wife Avonti Garrett Interview via 'YouKnowIGotSoul.com': Talks Plans For Posthumous Album & Legacy

As always, here at Aaliyah Archives we try to cater to everyone, including all our Static Major fans. Recently, YouKnowIgotSoul.com did an interview with Static's wife, Avonti Garrett, who touches on a number of subjects pertaining to Static's legacy, upcoming projects as well as a posthumous album soon to be released. Read below for the full scoop! 😉 Enjoy!

"YouKnowIGotSoul has made a conscious effort to keep the legacy of the late Static Major alive through different interviews and articles to highlight his artistry. His impact on the industry is still there with the likes of Drake and Chris Brown sampling his music. Recently we had an opportunity to speak with his wife Avonti Garrett about Static’s music and the plans that she has for releasing the new music. Prior to Static’s passing in 2008, he was gearing up to put out his debut album “Suppertime” on Blackground Records. Unfortunately the album never came out, but that may change very soon as Static’s family is planning for some major projects including a mixtape, a tribute show and the debut. We talked to the wife of the legendary singer/songwriter about the future of Static Major and also about a petition that she has set up for something in Kentucky.

YouKnowIGotSoul: It seems like there’s been some new Static content being released recently, so what sparked that?

Avonti Garrett: It’s been sparking for awhile but with anything, nothing comes before its time. You’re probably seeing it more, but I’m doing a tribute in November this year. This is our third tribute we’ve done and we usually get together every year for his birthday. This time I wanted to do something a little special. Everything is timing.

YouKnowIGotSoul: What kind of things can we expect in the future?

Avonti Garrett: Right now I’m working on a mixtape of released music. We’re remaking music that’s already been released. We’re reproducing it and the singers will be able to perform at the tribute show coming up November 25th.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Is this going to lead to the release of Static’s debut album “Suppertime”?

Avonti Garrett: Hopefully it’s going to create the buzz that I want it to. I want to bring out the project in a way that people will know it’s coming. I don’t want to just drop it. I want people to anticipate it. It’s coming, it’s definitely coming.

YouKnowIGotSoul: What’s the goal for you when releasing the album?

Avonti Garrett: I definitely would love for it to be on the radio. Static left a huge catalog and as a wife. I know how hard he worked. He was a studio rat and I’d like his music to come out properly. He was a legit songwriter and I’ll handle his catalog as such. He had lots of music and he would want the music to be properly released, so that is my goal.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Drake and Chris Brown have sampled Static’s music in recent years. How do you think that has impacted his legacy?

Avonti Garrett: It’s actually amazing. He’s always managed to keep himself relevant. It amazes me every time I hear something because it’s like “There’s Static!”. His music still works in the industry. His music was so classic and it’ll always be heard.

YouKnowIGotSoul: From my understanding, you guys also have a petition set up in Kentucky for a banner? Talk about that.

Avonti Garrett: In Kentucky, we have something called a Hometown Hero. That’s where different people who have come up out of a Louisville and achieved fame, they get to a chance to get their picture on the side of a building. i think the last one was Jennifer Lawrence. It was most between her and Static. She ended up getting it, so I’m hoping this time he’ll have his shot to get that. I’m shooting for that. There is a petition, so that they can at least consider him again. I’m trying to get at least 15,000 people and we’re almost at 4000. Hopefully this time next year we’ll have it. It takes a little time. You can sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/greater-louisville-pride-foundation-glpf-static-major-s-hometown-hero-banner

YouKnowIGotSoul: Talk about this tribute show you’re putting together.

Avonti Garrett: I just want to remember who he was and where he came from. I’m going to highlight different events in his life like his first time singing as a kid. It was a gospel song and it was actually on Playa‘s debut album “Cheers 2 U”. It’s just going to be different events in his life. Then we’re going to be some local artists that I’ve been working with. I’m going to give them an opportunity to sing some of his music and then I’m going to release his mixtape. After that, get ready for the release of “Suppertime” and some of his other music.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Are you going to be releasing Static’s music independently or through a major label?

Avonti Garrett: We don’t have a major situation set up. It’s all about calculating how to do this. Without Static, we don’t have an actual artist to promote. We’re trying to think of the best way to release it. We’re looking to have the proper stage and marketing for it. That’s what I’m going to be working on now. With the internet now and with streaming, that helps a lot. We’ll see!

YouKnowIGotSoul: Has anyone reached out to you about a documentary about Static’s life?

Avonti Garrett: A lot of people have reached out to me about that. I would definitely like to work on something like that. I had reached out to “Unsung” before and everyone there told me that Static was not unsung. I think he deserves maybe a VH1 documentary or it could be a little more to it. I would definitely love to do it if it’s with the right people.

YouKnowIGotSoul: What do you want people to take away from Static’s music when it comes out?

Avonti Garrett: I think Static with his music, I think he was able to find a certain vibe. I think with music now, the vibe is kind of off to me. We don’t have the richness or fullness of music like the way he used to do it with his harmonies. It’s so microwaved now with all the autotune. Static didn’t record like that. He was a real artist and he was good at what did.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Anything you’d like to add?

Avonti Garrett: I’d like to thank you guys and everybody who has been responsible for keeping his legacy alive. I’m here and as long as I’m here, I’m going to continue what I can do to keep his legacy alive. He left the world some great music and it’s up to me as a wife to make sure that it comes out. I won’t let his legacy die and I’ll keep it going for as long as I can and hopefully when I’m done, his kids will continue with that."

(Source: http://youknowigotsoul.com/interview-static-majors-wife-avonti-garrett-talks-plans-for-posthumous-album-legacy)

Static Major's "Hometown Hero" Banner Petition

What's good everyone? As you all know, not only do we look out for Aaliyah fans, we never fail to forget all our Static Major fans out there too! 😉 

Not long ago, I came across another petition to help the late, great Static Major with his very own 'Hometown Hero Banner'. For those who are not familiar, here is a little description of what the organisation is about from their official website which you can visit via... http://louheroes.org/#heroes

"The Hometown Heroes program began in 2002 as the sole project of the nonprofit Greater Louisville Pride Foundation (GLPF). Although the original intent of the program was to enhance civic pride by installing a jumbo photographic mural honoring Louisville native Muhammad Ali, it quickly expanded to include the recognition of other athletes with strong roots in the community. Today, the Hometown Heroes program has grown to honor a diverse group of famous Louisvillians from a variety of professions – all of whom have inspired others and represented our community to the rest of the world. The giant vinyl banners, some stretching as high as 60 feet, are essentially works of public art and can be found on buildings throughout the Louisville metro area."

And here is a description of exactly what the petition is asking for...

"Stephen “Static/Major” Garrett was born on November 11, 1974 in Louisville K.Y, a place he was proud to call home. He was a singer songwriter and record producer. Static gained posthumous fame for appearing on Lil Wayne's 2008 album “Tha Carter 3” for the song “Lollipop”. He made his breakthrough working with singer Ginuwine. Static wrote the song “Pony” which became a major hit and a milestone in both Static’s and producer Timbaland’s career. He was also a member of the R&B Trio Playa who’s mostly known for their hit single “Cheers 2 U”.

For well over a decade Static has been an influential factor in the music industry and continues to have an impact with his musical works. His play on words, harmonizing melodies and keen ear for music lead to the release of some of the industry’s greatest hits such as Aaliyah’s “Rock The Boat”, Ginuwine’s “Pony” and “So Anxious”, and Lil Wayne’s world-renowned “Lollipop”. His profile includes work with artists such as Aaliyah, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera, Drake, Rihanna, Nas, Jamie Foxx, Al Green and countless other well-known artists.

Static passed at the height of his career on February 25, 2008, due to medical negligence, bringing his life’s work and passion for music to a standstill.

To Pay tribute to the legend the fans would like to get Static his own Louisville Own "Hometown Hero" Banner and we need YOUR help. THE MORE SIGNATURES THE BETTER. LET'S DO IT FOR STATIC. HE DESERVES IT. TRULY A UNSUNG LEGEND."

It's pretty fair to say that this petition is a no brainer! You can sign and share the petition via... https://www.change.org/p/greater-louisville-pride-foundation-glpf-static-major-s-hometown-hero-banner?recruiter=768967480&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_petition

Playa: Unreleased Track Courtesy Of Eric Seats (Video Snippet)

🔁 via @ericseats: “#Playa #NeverHeardMusic
RIP Static.
Back in these old cassette tapes, Playa was teaching on this record "Someones tryna use you” was about the “industry" @smokedigglera @blackplaya502 @staticmajor502 @staticmajor_ @raptracks
In 2000 they were putting yall up on game!
#KeyBeats #RapAndSeats #Producers
#Digitablack #Smokey #StaticMajor#ES3️⃣3️⃣3️⃣” | Omg this sounds sooo hot!! 🔥🔥🔥Thank you for sharing Eric! 😩😍❤ I need to hear this in full! I’m literally gonna have this snippet on repeat now! 😂 As always, we like to look out for our Static Major fans too! Happy listening! 😇🎵🎶

A post shared by Eric Seats #3⃣3⃣3⃣ #Sidiooo (@ericseats) on Apr 13, 2017 at 8:35pm PDT

Aaliyah: 15th Anniversary Of The Red Album (Producers Look Back On A Masterpiece)

Happy 15th Anniversary to Aaliyah’s self titled #RedAlbum which was released on 17th July 2001! 🎉👑 To me this album was way ahead of it’s time. You could truly see Aaliyah’s growth into womanhood, and how she was not afraid to experiment with different types of music genres/productions. This explains why to this very day, how this #masterpiece holds a lot of longevity. The fushions from Arabic, salsa, rock, classical, soul to name a few really pushed the boundaries for the R&B genre as a whole, bringing a whole new moden twist to the term ‘neo-soul’. A lot of which paved the way for other female R&B artists to take notes and be inspired by our Queen. Aaliyah was never afraid to try something different and to her, (as well as all those who worked on this album) I thank you for all the hardwork and effort you put into your craft. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about what direction she would of possibly taken her music. All I do know is that her sound would of definitely been striving to achieve originality! 🙏💚

I was very busy on the day, so I was unable to post anything on my main blog , however...as a special treat, I happen to come across a lovely article courtesy of fuse.tv, who had the pleasure of interviewing the producers of this timeless masterpiece. So for anyone who missed it, you can read the full article below here...

Fuse spoke with J. Dub, Bud'da, Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart about the red LP, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this month.

Aaliyah flawlessly transitioned from tomboy teenager to confident woman with the release of her third and final studio album, released on July 17, 2001. While her previous LPs (Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number and One in a Million) leaned more toward R&B and soul, on Aaliyah she steered away from predictability and put forth a fresh sound with the help of a new production team. Along with longtime producer and friend Timbaland, Jeffrey “J. Dub” Walker, Stephen “Bud’da” Anderson and Key Beats (comprised of Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart) were the masterminds behind a record that has remained timeless. 

The album was recorded in New York, Los Angeles and Australia, where Aaliyah was filming Queen of the Damned. Along with writers Stephen “Static Major” Garrett and Benjamin “Black” Bush of R&B/hip-hop group Playa, the team shut out the outside world and worked on the LP for about two years.

“She was very sweet, very giving and open to suggestions. There was a lot of stuff that didn’t make the record, but she wasn’t scared to try new things,” Bud’da tells Fuse. Seats also reflected on Aaliyah’s personality in the studio, saying, "She’s low-key and not really animated. She’d just be in a corner pacing, popping that gum. Her and Static would talk about how a track made them feel, and they would go from there."

The LP found Aaliyah stepping far out of her sonic comfort zone. As she says in the second track, “Loose Rap,” “It ain’t just rhythm & blues.” The murky downtempo, produced by Key Beats, experimented with late-night underwater vibes before the sound was made popular by Drake’s right-hand man Noah “40” Shebib. It still remains a favorite for Key Beats and J. Dub. The song's title came from a slang term used by the producers and Static. 

"The saying 'loose rap' was something we always used to say in our regular talk," Stewart says. "We were joking around in the studio that day and that track was on, and Static just said it on the hook. A lot of the songs happened like that."

He also reveals that “Loose Rap” was almost going to be the album’s first single, and that the popularity of “Rock the Boat” called for a change of plans, and for a video. 

"The only reason they shot 'Rock the Boat' was because the radio was already playing it, so that kind of forced it to be the second single [instead of 'More Than a Woman']," Stewart says. "They went with Timbaland’s song for the first single because that was her sound at the time, but he was actually the last person to work on that album."

It turns out it was Aaliyah’s favorite song to record. “'Rock the Boat' hit her real hard," Stewart recalls. 

"She was the one advocating to make that a single, because [the label] was trying to make sure whatever Timbaland produced were up to be singles. But she gave them hell and refused to let them do things. Even Timbaland loved it."

“Loose Rap” was quickly programmed by Seats (in five minutes, to be exact), but his fast-work mentality almost got “Rock the Boat” deleted. He tells us, 

“Static heard it through my headphones. I took a break and went to the rest room, and by the time I got back he had already written a hook." Stewart continues, “I wouldn’t say it was an accident, but we weren’t vibing with it as much. It was one of those things like if he had came 10 minutes later, he probably would’ve never heard it."

Aaliyah’s strength is its diversity, as the album counteracted vibrant uptempos like “More Than a Woman” with the heart-wrenching “Never No More." Produced by Bud’da, it found the singer flexing her tender upper register over a beat that mixed old-school soul and hip hop.

"I wanted to create something that had a soulful feel with the classic instruments. After she laid the vocals, I had the idea to add the live strings and other elements around her voice to emphasize the words," Bud'da explains. "With the topic of the song being about abuse, I wanted you to feel that musically and hear the emotions. I wish everybody could’ve seen the emotions as well."

“Never No More” is his favorite track, due to the lyrical theme of domestic violence. 

"There's so many people quietly dealing with abuse and it’s just an unheard thing. I thought it was pretty upfront for that song and it was bold on her part to do it knowing that she has a great influence," he says.

Listeners were already familiar with Aaliyah’s delicate vocals, but the red album found her digging deeper into a low register that was grumbling, fierce and downright sexy. It can be heard on songs like the bass-heavy “Extra Smooth” and “Read Between the Lines.”

From the brass instrumentation to the chopped vocals, the Latin-influenced song is one of the highlights of Aaliyah. Bud’da recalls the fun recording experience:

"[There was] not only live horns, but I used a midi grand piano. Since I gave it a Latin feel, I decided to add the horns to go with it as an accent. Another thing I had done that I hadn’t heard before was adding certain stutters and echoes [to her voice]. There weren’t too many people doing it back then. Initially I had a longer version with more cool stuff, but for the sake of radio we decided to chop it down some."

While it wasn't planned to be a concept album, Aaliyah touched on different phases of a long-term relationship. Tracks like “U Got Nerve” are filled with aggression, where a fed-up Aaliyah sings to a no-good lover. “I Refuse,” one of the more experimental moments, builds on that frustration over a haunting cinematic beat. J. Dub, who loves film soundtracks, reveals he wanted to make the song big and orchestrated. 

“I started off with a basic piano and everything else I just built off of that. When she finished the vocals, I went back in and added the orchestra,” he says. 

The album continues to flip into different sounds, as breezy track 11 (the Key Beats–produced “It’s Whatever”) crashes into one of the LP’s most daring songs, “I Can Be.” It finds Aaliyah singing about infidelity and being the other woman. The risky move was made more in-your-face with the song’s intense rock and hip-hop influence. 

"It had such a great melody and I wanted to add something dark to go with it," Bud'da remembers. "So you’ve got your sweetness on the top but down below you just have this menacing thing that’s just pounding your speakers."

What most didn’t know was that Aaliyah was a fan of rock music, and Nine Inch Nails was one of her favourite acts. “I Can Be” was inspired by the genre, but it was the album’s closing track, “What If,” that ripped her familiar R&B sound to shreds. J. Dub says he never thought she would pick it, but it became one of the album’s defining moments with its menacing industrial production.

Aaliyah met her untimely death on Aug. 25, 2001 at the age of 22. She was gearing up to write for the first time and there are still five completed songs remaining in her vault. 

"I was her music director, so we were talking about doing a big tour and the whole nine. It was sad none of that ever happened. Even as big as that album is, to me her live performances were crazy," Stewart says.

Aaliyah went on to be certified double platinum and has influenced artists like The Weeknd, Tinashe, Rihanna and FKA Twigs. The producers agree that without the album, most singers won’t be as relevant to this day. 

Stewart points to one of the biggest performers of our time: 

"Say how Beyoncé is very innovative in her thinking now, to me that was Aaliyah. It’s absolutely no shade to her because we’ve worked with Destiny’s Child on Romeo Must Die [the soundtrack] and 'Survivor.' But her lane opened up so wide because there was a void left from Aaliyah. When we were in the studio with Beyoncé, she would praise her and the stuff we did with her. I wouldn’t say she looked up to her or anything like that, but she was definitely paying attention to Aaliyah’s growth."

(Source: http://www.fuse.tv/2016/07/aaliyah-self-titled-final-album-15th-anniversary-producers-interview)

Static Major: Rare Photos Courtesy of Jonathan Mannion

As you all know, I'm a huge fan of Static Major, unfortunately his life was cut too short, just as Aaliyah's was. I happened to post this on all my other social media pages, but realised I had not posted it on my main blog :D His Birthday was 6 days ago, and to celebrate, I happened to come across some rare out takes courtesy of one of my favorite photographers @jonathanmannion with the caption…

“This #FlashbackFridaytakes us to Kentucky where I photographed the group #Playa. It was the first shoot that I did for @ceyadams at the Drawing Board and kicked off what would become a relationship with @defjamrecords that continues to this day!! This shot of my brother #StaticMajor (Stephen Garrett) is a reminder of how precious life is. Rest in peace. #Cheers2You for your many accomplishments (including a Grammy) and for the beautiful music you have left for us to enjoy.” 

Amen to that! I couldn’t agree more! I have never seen these pics before, so I thought it would be nice to share with everyone! Enjoy! ;) 

They Call Me Timbaland: Narrated By Playa (Official Mixtape)

So since Christmas is fast approaching, and I am a generous, giving person, I would like to share with you all an official mixtape released by Timbaland which is narrated by Playa crew members Smoke E. Digglera and Digital Black. This is my way of just saying a huge thank you to all my loyal readers, fans, followers, etc... who have been down for me from day one. I appreciate you all, so thank you for your support :o) (If you would like to have this mixtape please email me via theaaliyaharchives@gmail.com and I shall personally email it to you.) 

I highly recommend this mixtape to anyone just to listen to the narration by Smokey and Black, since they share a lot of their memories in the studio, how they came about meeting Timbo and even the making of 'Are You That Somebody', which of course has some Static and Aaliyah memories! With 49 classic joints mixed by Dj Supa and other respected DJ's in the game, you can't really go wrong! ;) Thank you for sharing these personal, fond memories, since it means everything to all of us Aaliyah/Playa fans :o) 

Having just finished listening to this mixtape, all I can say is that this really makes me miss the sound of the 90's. Timbo's innovation in music back then was so ahead of it's time, it amazes me how all of those classic joints still have no expiration date! The fact that Timbo and Ginuwine have announced of them finally coming together to work on a new project, truly gives me hope for Timbo to bring some of that old skool flavor we all know and love from the man. It's about time these two finally united right? So make sure you keep tabs on them, because I have a feeling Timbo is gonna bring back some of that magic back in the game, so watch out! 

I have said this before, but I will say this again. I really think musically, Timbaland's music got effected by the tragic loss of our beloved Babygirl, and since than, he has never been quite the same. However, recently I have heard a lot of new beats from Timbaland through a new artist call Tink (who y'all should check out since she can sing and rap!), and I feel a part of him has finally woken up and realised what is missing from the music industry. With that being said, I am positive that we shall be hearing some greatness from Timbo in the new year to come. :o) ;)

Aaliyah: Official Unreleased Tracks From Eric Seats

Edit made by yours truly! ;)

So I've been meaning to post this for awhile now, but as you all know Aaliyah left us with an amazing body of work throughout her musical career. Like every other artist, Aaliyah recorded a lot of tracks, some of which were not complete in time for her to sing, and others which were only rough drafts or 'demos' as we call them. Now if you all remember, I posted something awhile back in regards to some unreleased tracks that Static Major's personal assistant (and close friend) Tim Barnett kindly shared with us in 2010. Just to refresh your memories, you can read it again via the link here. 

We've already had the tracks CEO and Danc'n come to surface, and seeing as how we have a special Birthday tribute next year in the works from the original red album producers, maybe it's long over due for us fans to finally hear these rare gems. I for one, would most definitely love to hear them! :o) 

So a couple months back I actually came across some posts via Eric Seats who happened to share some screenshots from his phone's playlist, and to my surprise, I was delighted to see some of those Aaliyah tracks that we have always heard about, but never actually heard! Lol! Here are the main ones he shared, along with his captions :o) ... 

Eric Seats: #Memories Another #unreleased #Aaliyah #HIT #StaticMajorIsGenius #DontLetMeFoolYou #KeyBeats #ES333

Eric Seats: #Memories #Aaliyah OMG ANOTHER #unreleased #HIT! @DigitalBlack wrote this one.. #KeepsMeShaking #KeyBeats #ES333

Eric Seats: This One Too... #Aaliyah #unreleased #Dancin #Playa @DigitalBlack #KeyBeats #ES333

Do any of these titles ring any bells? They should do! If not, lets do a brief summary of each track :o) The first track, is the one which Drake sampled vocals from. The second track is the one where they actually mixed it for the song Quit Hatin'. And the third track, yes you are probably saying "hey we have already heard this version!" but NOT with just Aaliyah and Digital Black on their own, without E.T. Selfish. Seats said this was a rough version, so it would be interesting to hear and compare to the one that we already know and love. Who knows, maybe one day we may finally get to hear ALL of them, once the family agree to it. :o)

Aaliyah Archives: Da Bassment Interview Part 2

So y'all know I had to do a special blog post for the late, great Static Major. On the 11th of this month marked his 40th Birthday. So as a special tribute, we shall be giving you part 2 of Da Bassment interview courtesy of Trevor Banks who happened to kindly share this. It was also Devante's idea to keep us feenin' for more! ;) So if you missed the first part of the interview you can check it out here. Happy reading everyone! :o)

DA BASSMENT PT.2 Interview...

1. When was the first time you tasted success?

Static Major: Man Ummm.. When I first tasted success was after me being in the game for 6 or 7 years. At that point it started feeling like a job.

2. Now are you going to try and get into a competition with R. Kelly?

Static Major: Yeah .. definitely. I feel like he really is my only competition. I'm not taking anything away from the newbies coming up, but they aren't as seasoned as i am. Most artists call me up to write or do the song for them. Myself, I'm self contained, and it don't really matter who does a track for me whether its Timbaland, Scott Storch,Jim Jonsin ,or a no name producer. At the end of the day it boils down to just doing the track.

3. What happened with Blackground as far as Playa's second album is concerned?

Smoke E Digglera: We never did sign with Blackground. Blackground was our management. We were signed to Def Jam on our first album. We ended up getting off of Def Jam, and from there we started working on the new album with the aspirations of getting signed to another label. We felt like it wouldn't be a huge problem getting signed again. Blackground probably would of signed us as a group, but we never got around to that. I mean , we did work on an album, but Playa ended up going on the road with the Ladies Night Out Tour. After that, everyone started working on their solo albums. 

4. Why was there a fallout with Da Bassment. Was it because DeVante was trying to be an artist, producer, songwriter and a CEO at the same time?

Bazaar Royale (Da Boogieman) : I really don't know, I was too young to know what was happening. To me, everything was moving along just fine as far as I could see. Didn't really know the business aspect of it. But I did have fun.

5. Did you record any joints back then? 

Bazaar Royale ( Da Boogieman): Yeah, I had a few joints out back then. We recorded all the time. Da Bassment was our job, and we were like on some Motown shit, for real.

6. I heard if DeVante was to walk in the building you had to have something hot cookin?

Digital Black (of Playa): Most definitely...There was always something dope going on, cuz everybody was talented. You might go in one room, Stevie J would be cookin something. Go in another room, Timbaland, Sugah, Magoo ect.. would be cookin something. Come in our room, Playa would be cookin something, Everybody was getting on each other's tracks. Missy & Timbaland were way ahead of their time. It was a great situation to be in for all of us...

And there you have it! To view the rest of Bank's article, with a special Tribute mix show of Aaliyah, you can find it here via http://inet6thestar.blogspot.com

Aaliyah: Da Bassment 20 Year Anniversary

So as you all know, Da Bassment crew was where it all started for such artists like Aaliyah, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Magoo, Playa, Ginuwine etc... If it wasn't for this movement during the 90's we would not of had/have such great iconic people to look up to. Anyone who was raised during that time, already knows the deal when it comes to anything during that era. The music back then was so influential and impacted everything, from what we wore, being socially/politically aware and paving the way for more female artists in both the Hip-Hop and R&B genre. 

Since I love to read interviews I happened to come across one which Trevor Banks kindly shared with me. I'm sure the majority of my American readers will know who he is, but for all my other folks out there, Trevor Banks is an Artist/DJ Anchor of Inet6 WSTR Radio. Now...this is a very special interview which took place between 2006–2008 on Banks radio show back in college, where he interviewed the whole Playa crew members – Static Major, Smoke E. Digglera and Digital Black. So without further a due, peep the interview below and have a happy read! :o)  

In 1994, at Andrew's in building in Rochester,NY, DeVante of Jodeci formed a collective called Da Bassment . The collective consisted of artists: Sista, Timbaland & Magoo, Accion, Ginuwine, Sugah, Playa, Nikki Bonz, Traedonya, Renee Anderson,Reboc, Pretty Boy, Mr Brendal, Da Boogieman,Dante Hawkins, Sarah Jo Martin, Stevie J, Derek DeGrate,Virginia Williams, Darryl Pearson, Reggi Moore, Lamar Mitchell,  and of course Jodeci. Timbaland surely mentioned Pharrell & Larry Live who were in a group together with Magoo called SBI. I also heard Malice & Pusha T were hanging around them in Da Bassment days. Da Bassment recorded several songs for soundtracks such as Dangerous Minds & Nutty Professor. Unfortunately the collective split and went on to record music as solo artists or groups. 20 years later they are still putting out music. In this blog post we are celebrating Da Bassment's 20 Year Anniversary. 

Da Bassment Interview:

1. Who Influenced you musically?

Static Major: Project Pat, Lil Flip, UGK, Lil Wayne. I listen to street music. The streets influence me.

Smoke E Digglera: I'd have to say one of major influences would be DeVante Swing of Jodeci. Also Take 6 & John P Kee.

Digital Black: My influences first would be my father and brother. Others would be Donny Hathaway, Al Green, Bobby Womack (RIP),Ron Isley, and Jodeci.

2. How did you meet DeVante of Jodeci?

Bazaar Royale (aka Da Boogieman): I just ran into the dude, he was with Timbaland and all them cats. Walked right up to De and said "WSUP" . I did my freestyle type thing, he liked, and he gave me his contact info.

Playa: Singing for DeVante, backstage at the Jodeci concert.

3. How were Da Bassment days?

Bazaar Royale (aka Da Boogieman): For me it was dope. It was like a college for artists.

Trevor Banks: Stevie J said the same thing.

Static Major: Oh maaan .. It was like music school. We all lived in the same apartment building. The studio was like within walking distance of the apartments. We were over there all day everyday.

Trevor Banks: That was in Andrew's Building in Rochester,NY?

Static Major: That's right!

Smoke E Digglera: Maan , it was just like any first phase of trying to get in where you fit in, it was raw. It was definitely a situation you could look back on and say "That was beautiful". You begin to appreciate the fact that certain things don't happen overnight. Seeing it first hand from a genius like DeVante was, as well as a multi platinum writer/producer/artist. De gave us the opportunity to work on our craft , and to get in where we fit in.

Digital Black: Yeah! it was definitely like a college. It was where me, Static, and Smoke honed in on our skills. DeVante was the type of cat that he let you learn by doing, not just watching. All of us had our own studio room, and it was just a blessing. It was like living a dream. Where one of your idols sign you, ya know. That is where we met Timbo, Missy, and Ginuwine. We all lived together for about 4 or 5 years. I have no hard feelings from that experience. Don't believe the VH1 Driven story..

4. How did the group get its name 'Playa'?

Smoke E Digglera: Hmmm ( as he sips from Hennessy & Pepsi ) That would be DeVante, just from us kickin it, sitting around listening to music, and getting to know one another. So De said "You know what, ya'll some lil playas maan, for real". So he goes "That is the name of the group...PLAYA"

Trevor Banks: What was the name of the group before Playa?

Static/Major: It was still the same guys, but locally we were called 'Touch Of Class'.

To be continued..... (We will try to add more from Da Bassment members down the road.. SO STAY TUNED) 

(Source– http://inet6thestar.blogspot.com)

Damn it! Just as I was getting into it! Lol! Nice way to keep us wanting more though! ;) My favorite part had to be when they mentioned how Playa formed their name, since I have always been curious to know that, so thank you for clearing that up :o) To read the remaining parts where Banks shares some of his mixes, unreleased tracks and demos from Da Bassment crew, click on the link above where you will be pleasantly surprised! You can also get in contact with Trevor Banks via his Blog, Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook.

Aaliyah: Rare Photo Courtesy of Digital Black from R&B Group 'Playa'

Repost from Digital Black with Kidada Jones, Aaliyah and Smoke E. Digglera. Thank you so much for sharing! Such a beautiful pic! #Aaliyah #AaliyahArchives #AaliyahDanaHaughton #AaliyahHaughton #Babygirl #Lili #Liyah #KidadaJones #Black #DigitalBlack #smokeedigglera #Smokey #Playa #StaticMajor #StaticMajorIsMusic #Rare

The Aaliyah Archives News: Nicole Wray Shares Her Memories on Aaliyah and Static Major

Rare photo courtesy of Timbaland. Throwback from 97/98 with Nicole Wray, Ginuwine and Aaliyah.

Hey guys, so as you all know I am a big fan of YouKnowIGotSoul, and I happened to come across this interview by them featuring Nicole Wray (Which I am sure all the Nicole Wray fans will be loving right now!) where she shares some of her earliest memories of our beloved Babygirl, Static Major and of course Missy Elliott. I have to say that this was such a joy to read, you could tell that Aaliyah was such a kindred spirit both inside and out, and that Static Major had quite a sense of humor on him too! Lol! Anyhoo, peep the written interview below, or watch the full video via YouKnowIGotSoul. One love <3

YouKnowIGotSoul: Talk about this journey you’ve been with Lady the band and where it’s taken you

Nicole Wray: Wow, Lady the band was a very organic project. I was in New York about three years ago. I was up here doing some music with Damon Dash and his little enterprise at the time. They had a lot of things going on. I went down here to work on a project and I met Terri Walker from London. She was working on some music and doing a film at the time. We just clicked like sisters. We started hanging out and eating together. We started doing shows together in the village and in the city. She was like “I want you to meet my guys” and I was like “Who are your guys?” She told me about Truth & Soul and I think we had a show and they saw us perform. From that moment on, they were like “We love you guys. How do you guys feel about being a girl group?” At the time, I was still focusing on my own solo project and Terri was doing her solo project. We were like “Let’s just see how this feels”. We went over to the studio and they played us a couple of tracks. We were just having some fun in Brooklyn. Before you know it, we had like eight songs done. Songs were getting done and everyone was getting so excited. Terri and I looked each other and we were like “We have something”. We put our own solo projects on hold for awhile just to see how this thing was going to go. We did a situation with Truth & Soul records and we put it out. We began to tour with Lee Fields. Shout out to him. We did an international tour and we opened up for him. Then we were shortly interrupted, Terri went back to doing her thing. Like I try to explain to people, we were both solo artists. Everybody knows I started out with Missy Elliott and Timbaland in 1998. I came in the game from Virginia and I was a baby. Terri was overseas doing her thing at the same time. We shared the same story because she was like “We know so many of the same people”. We never knew we were going to collide and meet each other and do an album together. Even though we’re not doing an album now, I’m still thankful and blessed to have met Terri and to have been able to put this project together and put these beautiful songs out. We both struggled with management, labels and family. We’re very passionate with our music and with this game, you’re here today and gone tomorrow. Not like death, but as far as your career. Us meeting each other, we had so much to share. We had a bond, it was super organic. She’s doing her own thing now and I stayed on with Lady. I love it and I couldn’t let it go. I just fell in love with it and I’m going to put my own project on hold and work on this. I do a lot of songwriting too, so I’m all over the place. I rap, sing soul music and I’m writing a children’s book. I just felt like once I got on the stage and I was able to open for Lee Fields, I was like “This is what I want to do”.

YouKnowIGotSoul: This sound you have with Lady is a throwback sound and it’s totally different from the music people know you for. How did you transition from the Hip Hop sound into this soulful sound?

Nicole Wray: Shout out to Missy Elliott. I have been singing loud and powerful since I was eight years old. When I got with Missy, she tamed my vocals because I was all over the place. I was raised in church, my family sang in church. It’s in my heart. I never really transitioned, it was always in me. Missy would be like “Nicole, this isn’t the song for screaming and yelling” because it was always there. I always had it. I was finding my voice and finding myself as an artist. I think once the whole situation with Missy and I, we separated and I found my voice. I began to sing what was already there in my heart and belted it out. I wasn’t writing in the beginning with Missy, I was a little protégé. I was young and I was like a baby. I basically just found my voice and my inner-self soul and when I met Truth & Soul, they had the soundtrack to my life. Everything that I had been through, coming into the game with my mom and then missing class to go on the road to tour with Aaliyah, Ginuwine and Timbaland. I loved what I did and I just found my voice and my soul. Truth & Soul brought the music so I could write and sing from my heart.

YouKnowIGotSoul: You’ve had one successful album with Lady. Are you planning to work on another one with them?

Nicole Wray: Yes, we are actually in the demo stages of the album. It’s sounding really good. We may travel outside the country to finish up the vocals and stuff. It’s working its ways. It’s coming along and it’s sounding really good. It’s more colorful this time. The first album with Terri and I was really from the heart. We didn’t think about it. It was just organic. We didn’t have the time to think about what we were going to write. The guys were in the room and we were drinking whisky. We were having a good time and lyrics were just flowing. This album is more personal and more fun. We’ll still have those love stories, but we’ll talk about the struggles. I want to reach out and be relatable to people who live everyday life.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Are we going to hear another solo Nicole Wray album in the future and what would be the sound of the project?

Nicole Wray: It’s going to be R&B. I’m going to give the fans what they want. I let them guide me because without them, there wouldn’t be any me. I wouldn’t even exist as an artist. There wouldn’t be Lady or Nicole Wray. I listen to my fans and I thank God for social networking. When I first came out with Missy Elliott, there wasn’t really that much social networking. It was just word of mouth. If the label liked you, they would sign you and you would go do your thing and go on tour. Now there’s so much going on like Twitter and Instagram, it’s so easy for artists. Then you get those reality shows that you can get on and be vocal and show your talent. When I started, I was super young. I was like fifteen when I met Missy Elliott. She was like “I got you” and my mom was like “Make sure you take care of my daughter”. The game has changed a whole lot, but I will definitely listen to my fans. It’s in me. I can do any type of music.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Talk about some of the memories you had with Static Major and Aaliyah because I know you were close with both of them.

Nicole Wray: I remember my mom living in this apartment in Virginia and Missy came over because her mom lived in the same neighborhood. She came over and got on the phone. She called some guys from Derby City. She was like “I got this little girl sitting here and she’s amazing. I’m going to let her sing to you on the phone”. I sang “Weak” by SWV to Static on the phone and he was like “Say no more. I’m coming to Virginia and we’re going to work on your album”. I wasn’t writing, I was young. He came in the studio and he had so much swag. He had that swag. All of Playa did. Black, Smokey and Static had “Cheers 2 U” and they were working on their album too. We were working in Virginia Beach in the studio and Missy was just sitting in the studio with him. My mom was in the studio too, she was managing me at the time. I had a boyfriend at the time and we were so in love and I was so young and stupid. *Laughs* We had an argument and I was irritated in the studio. Static was like “Don’t worry about it. Just tell him to raise his frown”. He started singing “Raise Your Frown” and I was like “Oh my god!”. It’s like he watched me as a young girl and like I do now with artists because I write now too thanks to Static. Like he opened up that portal for me because I didn’t know I could do it. I was just singing songs that everybody wrote for me not knowing I had my own story. He was basically watching my life and he wrote those songs that were beautiful. It’s like he studied me, it was awesome.

YouKnowIGotSoul: You mentioned earlier to me that you toured with Aaliyah?

Nicole Wray: We had a “Superfriends” tour in 1998 or 1999. We did a big tour. We went everywhere. I think we started out in LA. When I first met Aaliyah, we were shooting my video for “Make It Hot”. Everybody was there. I was so nervous, this was my first video. They pulled me out of school to go shoot a video. All I would see is TV and seeing Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige and The Fugees. Finally it was my time. I was so nervous. Where I come from, we’re not nervous people. For some reason, the lights and the camera were on me and I had a wardrobe. They were making clothes and my mom was there. Missy Elliott was like “Aaliyah is here! Go say something to her”. Aaliyah was like “You’re my sister, I’m here to support you. I love your music and I love your style”. From there, I would always see her and we would talk to each other. We had a cute friendship, but it was short-lived. God bless her soul, she was super talented. I’m just thankful that all of those guys came to my video shoot because they were already established. I was just coming into the game. We were probably the same age but she was already more established. I was thankful she came to my video shoot and showed me so much love.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Since the “Make It Hot” album, you’ve had a lot of material that you worked on over the years and I know a lot of them never saw the light of day. Is there a song that you can think of that you would have loved the fans to hear?

Nicole Wray: My favorite show right now is Netflix is “Orange Is The New Black”. The new theme song is called “Time” or something like that. When I was on Roc-A-Fella, I made a song called “Time” because I knew a lot of people in and out of jail. The way I did it, it was beautiful. It was raunchy, but it was really personal and it was dedicated to the mothers and fathers who are waiting. Then the show comes out years and years later and I was like “I already recorded a song like that!” It never saw the light of day. Once we finish this album, I want to put out a mixtape like what Nas did with “The Lost Tapes”. I have so much music. I started writing after the “Make It Hot” album and I have so much music. I worked with Pharrell, Teddy Riley, Timbaland and Scott Storch when he was on his game. The list is crazy. I have those songs just sitting in my laptop.