DX: Going back out on the road in 2006 on the New Jack Reunion Tour had to have been pretty interesting.
TR: Yeah it had been a while for me going out on the road and I loved every moment of it, it was very enlightening. I just got a call from Eric from Blackstreet and they want to go back out on the road and I think it is pretty cool to be back out there like that. You get to have insight as to what is going on out there musically. It’s incredible to see that fans are still singing your songs after all this time. I think that anyone who has been out there would love to go back out there for that reason; just to see people appreciating your music and singing your songs and just enjoying what they have been enjoying which is the music.

DX: Is there going to be a Blackstreet album coming any time soon?
TR: Well, we are talking about it and it may not be an album, it might just be us going out all over the world.
DX: Would that be a hardship?
TR: I think that would be incredible.

DX: Obviously there was all the talk about the studio, you being in financial trouble, is all that sorted now?
TR: I have another studio here in LA where I am right now. Truthfully I didn’t want to have the studio anymore in Virginia because it was just sitting there collecting dust, but I got into a situation which was a real estate scam with a guy called Troy Titus. This guy has been involved in various real estate scams. Right now he is looking to be indicted and he is the cause of me having big problems with my studio and I just gave it up. There is nothing we can do about it, we wouldn’t be able to make any of the money we have lost, and people lost millions. I lost three or four million which was the reason why I filed bankruptcy. I just want to let people know I did that and it got me back where I am at and I am happy.

DX: Did the media blow that whole episode out of proportion?
TR: Yes they did and that is okay as that is the news for you but it kept me famous as it had people talking. I am not an artist that acts like a gangster, it kept me out there though and because of that situation everyone that was coming after me was those that he basically scammed and took money from. He was utilizing my property and I had my name along with that so I got sued too and I had to do what I had to do.

DX: Does this come back around to people making the right decisions for you?
TR: Definitely as I have a great network around me who are protecting me and making sure that I am doing the right thing and supporting me in my new start.

DX: Is this how you see this, a new start?
TR: Oh yeah this is a new start. My credit is good and I feel like I am a new person. All the stuff that I went through with managers and business managers kind of educated me too and I fell short on that and that was a huge mistake; not having the right representation.

DX: So all the negative karma has gone.
TR: Well yeah and there is still more going out; but as long as it is going out and the money is coming in.

DX: We are from a generation though where money was more disposable. We didn’t save; in the music industry do you think people need to learn about how to handle money?
TR: It’s not about needing to learn it, they need to know it. I can only say that I was the one to learn it, but the people that are coming up under me, they will know it. They need to know. I would never let anyone go through that kind of life where you lose all that they work hard for. I worked 25 years but it paid off. I mean look at James Brown, he worked so many years and didn’t get paid for it, but it paid off. I have my name and my credibility and I thank god for that.

DX: What are you working on right now?
TR: Pussycat Dolls, New Kids on the Block, John Legend and I am also working with the Lieberman family, they bought the Elvis Presley catalogue.

DX: What do you look for today in an artist?
TR: Professionalism, the talent and of course the elements of a super star. You have to have that star quality.

DX: What do you think determines star quality?
TR: Star quality is the one that stands out. There are a lot of superstars but they don’t all necessarily have the talent but they don’t have the get up and go. A superstar is the one who has that talent and the get up and go, the potential to do anything at any moment or any time and is not afraid or ashamed to show their talent at any moment or any time. I think a lot of people now tend to not fall into that ‘superstar’ status. They don’t have a lot to offer and that is the thing that most records don’t see as well. They will see the artist with a hot record and a hot record will get them some money but doesn’t mean they are going to get a superstar. There is a lot more to it but I think a lot of record labels and a lot of people just have artists and hot singles. Continued on page 3 »