With the game in a stifling predicament, users, fans and industry elite, alike all look at your Myspace hits, first week sales and viral campaigns to gauge who is the next up to bat. Gone are the days of building up artists, the work has to be self-done. For Tiffany Villareal, the game is a bitch untamed. The beautiful singer has worked with everyone from the likes of Missy Elliot, Faith Evans and Alicia Keys – recording demos – to Raekwon and Dr. Dre.

The Aftermath artist has more heart than your average artist. While others like Jae Hood are complaining about their label deals, the San Antonio born-Las Vegas raised singer/songwriter has utilized her talents to bless those around her and is a perfect example of how to keep it moving in a stagnant game.

Tiffany Villareal sits down with HipHopDX, as she discusses playing the waiting game, answers if she had a crush on Ne-Yo while in school, and explains how talent can survive in an artist-a-second industry.

HipHopDX: You’ve been in the game for awhile. Can you touch on some of the things you’ve done?
Tiffany Villareal: At the time, I was flying out to various record companies. I’ve been in Japan; I worked with Dr. Dre and I’ve done a collaborative track with 50 Cent. I have worked with a lot of people. I did two songs with Raekwon. One was with him on a track called “Rewind the Time” that we recorded in Japan. The other was a song that we did called “I Heard.” We actually shot a video out there in the east coast. It was my first video.

DX: The waiting seemed to be a continuing issue with everyone who works with him. So, while you’ve been waiting, what’s the funniest thing you’ve seen so far?
TV: I haven’t really seen anything funny. If anything, it’s more about respecting the fact that Dre’s a perfectionist. He wants everything to be top-notch perfect. It doesn’t matter who it is.

DX: But with Dre’s history stemming from The Chronic, you’ve never seen anything funny?
TV: It’s different for me because I do R&B/Pop music. My expectations are different. It’s very romantic of a situation. It’s different than doing rap music. My sections are different. I’m not doing Hip Hop. I would go to work everyday, at least six days a week and work, but I never saw anything funny. It was more serious thing.

DX: So… is Dre boring?
TV: Dre is not boring! Everybody who is out there has hung out with him and say that he’s fun. He is a very joking person. He’s funny!

DX: Would you rather have worked with a work-with-everyone-and-they-mama type of producer?
TV: That’s a tough question right there because I’ve always wanted to work with Dr. Dre. Many singers want to work with Dr. Dre. I feel honored to work with him. I’ll work with anyone who’s passionate about music. It doesn’t matter if you’re on top or if you’re up-and-coming; if you’re hungry for it, then I would work with you. I have a Pop/Soul edge about myself. The stuff I was doing at Aftermath was more adult contemporary, which was cool, but this is more of my style.

DX: Is success determined by the opportunities or the rewards?
TV: To me, it would be the opportunity. For those that come out, success depends on the individual and I think that, for me, just the opportunity is enough. You can learn and grow from it to become a better person and to know what you will or won’t do. As long as there is an opportunity for me to grow, that’s better for me!

DX: "Fallin’" serves as interesting song with your career. How does your relationship affect your music career?
TV: Love should enhance you if you find the right person. It should never hinder you from doing anything like. Those situations can happen, but you have to find the right balance. I’m not in a situation where I would stop everything that I’m doing to call it happiness. When it’s right, it’s right…

DX: So, you never had a crush on Ne-Yo when you were in school?
TV: Me and Ne-Yo are just friends. [Laughs] We’re just friends! Thank you for making me laugh though. He’s a good friend, but never have we ever dated. Actually, his sister and my sister are best friends. We’ve known each other for years. It’s strictly friends. If you’re cool, you’re cool. He’s always cool; a nice guy.

DX: Sounds like you’re blushing…
TV: Man, Kevin, it’s nothing… [Laughs]

DX: The world is now in a live in the TV lifestyle, with YouTube and MySpace allowing everyone a shot at their own happiness. How does that affect the business?
TV: It really affects the music business, but it’s going to advance as time goes on. I don’t know. I think that there is going to be a change. It’s already starting. You got to do your research and know what’s going on in the game. We, as artists, have to know because it affects your craft, how you survive and how you make money. It’s important for us to know all of that; how technology is advancing and about the computer, the iPhone, Myspace and all that. You can go anywhere and be watched and recorded. They can splice and dice it and make you look different than who you are. But people are scared of any type of change. It’s about balance. Continued on page 2 »