Interview Time: Ginuwine
Ginuwine So when you hear that they’re not going to work together it does make you wonder what the end result will sound like. Back with a new album Back II Da Basics, Ginuwine explains what really went down: “The title Back II Da Basics was really because I was supposed to work with Tim. The whole theme was Back II Da Basics with Tim, Missy and all of us that started out together but it didn’t work out that way.” Ginuwine was looking forward to taking himself back to the good old days, to his humble beginnings but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. “The timing, the time schedules, didn’t work. Timbaland wasn’t able to work with me at the time that I needed him, so I had to move on.”
Ginuwine’s vital statistics are enviable: 4 platinum albums under his belt, appearances in several movies and an amazing 10 years in the music industry. As he lazily lays on the couch, exhausted from his flight to London, it’s hard to believe that his debut single Pony was released in 1996. This album, Back II Da Basics is his fifth album after platinum success with the previous four and features production from Jazze Pha, appearances from Jadakiss and Knight, a rapper under Ginuwine’s management company, Bag Entertainment. The ultimate ladies man famous for his slow ballads as much as his banging club joints explains what the album is all about. “Well Back II Da Basics is really me just coming back and experimenting. With this CD I opened up and I let a lot of other people come in and write and produce and a lot of that stuff.” He goes on to explain how working on this album helped him to find out more about himself: “I wanted to see if some other people could take me somewhere I haven’t taken myself. My last albums I’ve done pretty much all myself as far as the writing but with this one I opened up a lot more just to see if they could take me somewhere I haven’t taken myself. The next one I think I’ll go back and do it the way I’m used to doing it though.”
It has actually been a little while since anyone has heard from Mr. Elgin Lumpkin, which is his real name. In that time he’s gotten married, had two kids and settled down, no longer the bachelor. His 2003 release, The Senior was a big album that had everyone grinding to In Those Jeans but since then Ginuwine has been missing in action. “I was just taking time off to be with the family and my wife. But I just missed it a little bit. So I just felt I wanted to come back and get back in the thick of things.” He explains that the music industry was a bit cut throat and he needed to get out for a while. “The business side of the industry was getting too much, everybody’s always out to get your money, everybody’s always trying to take you to court. It’s just a whole bunch of stuff that comes along with being successful and that’s the part I didn’t enjoy but I do love the fact that I can provide for my family in doing what I like to do. So that’s the good part about it, being a provider for your family.”
It’s amazing that he’s still here at 35 years old considering so many others have come and gone. “In this game you can be here today gone tomorrow so you gotta be very careful. I like Chris Brown, Omarion, Keyshia Cole. I like a lot of the new ones now. As long as they keep it entertaining and be all around entertainers, I think they’ll last.” In 1996 the big artists in R&B and Hip Hop read like a list of classics: Notorious BIG, Jodeci, Aaliyah, Tupac, nobody had even heard of Kanye West, Destiny’s Child or 50 Cent. Usher and Faith Evan were new to the game and Dru Hill were just starting out and have since come and gone. What a shock it would be if the platinum blonde Sisqo and the crew could do it like they did it before. It’s sad but not many have stood the test of time. Ginuwine definitely appreciates his lasting success: “I just want to travel, enjoy the fans and enjoy my work because there’s a lot of people that would die to get in my position. People would die to have a deal and I’m very fortunate and blessed to have a deal and to be travelling everywhere. For me to be here 10 years it’s a definite plus, it’s a definite blessing and I’m just happy that I’m still here, and able to come out with music that sells.”
Ginuwine was introduced to the music industry by his then mentor, Devante Swing from Jodeci. He along with Missy, Timabaland and Magoo were part of the Devante Swing’s Swing Mob, that trusted him to cultivate them and put out their music. Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way, Devante didn’t do what he was meant to and the situation went very very sour. Eventually, the Swing Mob and Devante parted ways. He laughs when he talks about the situation: “There’s no love lost now, I’m over it. I wish them luck and hope they do well.” He’s very definite about not keeping in touch with them though. “Nah, I don’t keep in touch with them at all. I’m not gonna do that but when I see them I ask them what’s up.”
Still reclining on the couch and looking like a sexy beast Ginuwine took it back to his basics, broke it down and explained exactly what makes him tick. When it comes to movies you’ll definitely find him watching Denzel Washington over Samuel L. Jackson. When it comes to sports you’ll only find Ginuwine playing football although Basketball came close and when it comes to TV Ginuwine loves American Idol over America’s Next Top Model any day. But when it came down to that age old question, the one that has men debating for hours and hours, Ginuwine didn’t stop to hesitate. “Breasts or booty? Oh it’s always booty!”
Back II Da Basics is out now.