Ginuwine A Man`s Thoughts

Ginuwine
A Man’s Thoughts
6.23.09
Notifi/Asylum/Warner Bros. Records
“Long before Justine Timberlake, Ginuwine was bringing sexy back with Timbaland on sings like
his 1996 hit ‘Pony.’ He reunites with the producer—and another early collaborator, Missy Elliott—
on the percolating ‘Get Involved,’ which gives a jolt to this otherwise slow-to-midtempo affair.”
review, June 29, 2009
“Ginuwine shows he hasn’t missed a step on the first single from his new album…[he] sings with
more emotional resonance that previous songs have shows, perhaps indicating he’s ready to
move beyond his more sexually charged material.”
“The Billboard Reviews Singles (Ginuwine – ‘Last Chance’),” June 29, 2009
“On his sixth studio album, the family guy is baring a bit more of his soul and less of his chest…
Eager to slow it down and reflect, Ginuwine incorporates all the elements of a solid R&B album:
alluring lyrics, steamy ballads, and the occasional two-step. He may have toned down the
bachelor shtick, but every now and then the Same Ol’ G emerges and all is right with the world.”
“REV” review, June 24, 2009
“Ginuwine’s emotionally slick new record, ‘A Man’s Thoughts,’ [is] about self-protection. It’s
defensive, not offensive.”
“Critics’ Choice: New CDs,” June 22, 2009
“The smooth R&B vocalist Ginuwine switches on his loverman supreme persona with a set that is
almost exclusively dedicated to late-night ballads…In a time when hip-hop and R&B artists are
taking salaciousness to the nth degree, Ginuwine turns to open-hearted devotion and sweet
understatement… What Ginuwine seems to be saying here is that a real man’s thoughts are not
what everyone thinks they are these days.”
review, June 22, 2009
“Back in his Bachelor days, Ginuwine's thoughts ran mainly to giving Pony rides to as many
hotties as he could. But 13 years later, on new album A Man's Thoughts, he's more subtle, and
relationships now tend to last beyond last call at the club. Ginuwine has always been a smooth
purveyor of steamy slow jams, but here the sex involves more emotional entanglement, and that
can lead to complications.”
review (3 of 4 stars), June 22, 2009
“The crooner seems determined to prove he can make an impression minus state-of-the-art
studio science. ‘A Man’s Thoughts’ is long on uncluttered slow jams with old-fashioned titles like
‘One Time For Love’ and ‘Even When I’m Mad.’ The vocals are fine. In fact, their relatively
rough-hewn humanity is kind of refreshing in the Age of Auto-Tune.”
review, June 23, 2009
“Ginuwine, the incredibly well-toned singer known for mixing rhythm and raunch, seeks to show
he's not all about the physical here: He can still wind it and grind it, but he has evolved into a man
who isn't afraid to share his emotions.
The R&B singer's sixth album flows seamlessly between bumpin' dance grooves and seductive
mid-tempo ballads, with some hip-hop flavor added. The 15 selections explore the complexities of
love and commitment, avoiding overdone phrasing, vocal histrionics and bottles-and-babes
posturing.”
review (3 stars), July 6, 2009
“The ‘Pony’ purveyor has emerged from r&b hiding to deliver a sultry collection of bodyworshiping, bedroom-centric tales on his sixth album….Ginuwine has traded in the synth burps
and stuttering percussion for a mature sound that mixes contemporary with quite storm.”
review, June 22, 2009
“Ginuwine has evolved from seductive bachelor to a mature husband and father who — on
ballads like the beautiful ‘One Time for Love’ and the affectionate ‘Last Chance’ — is paying more
attention to the love aspect of relationships…Ginuwine is a tremendous entertainer who appears
to have hit his stride in life as well as in music.”
review, July 5, 2009
“With typically smooth production work from Bryan Michael Cox, Last Chance is the manifestation
of the album’s musical mission: to showcase the more mature Ginuwine, a man whose love is as
electrifying as Jordan in the clutch and as deep as Obama’s plan for America.”
review (3.5 of 5 spins), June 23, 2009
“On his sixth studio album, A Man's Thoughts…G finds himself still transitioning his image and
style from that of a ladies man in his early 20s to that of a husband and father in his mid-30s. A
Man's Thoughts continues the growth found on his last few albums…”
review (3 of 5 stars), June 23, 2009
“[A Man's Thoughts] is a decent set of modern R&B, dominated by seductive slow jams, that
stimulates a little more often than it fades into the background. It does take a serious tone on a
handful of songs dealing in a wider range of relationship issues than lust, heartache, and
devotion…”
review (3 of 5 stars), June 23, 2009
“A Man’s Thoughts is a solid effort and shows that Ginuwine is not only getting his grown man on,
he’s also still making good R&B music.”
review, June 23, 2009
“…with everybody asking is Hip-Hop dead, my question has been is real R&B dead? Ginuwine
proves it’s not with “A Man’s Thoughts” easily the best R&B CD of 2009 by far. Whether you’ve
been a fan of Ginuwine or just a fan of good R&B, this is a CD to cop and add to your collection.”
”Music Review” (A+), June 8, 2008
Ginuwine: Thoughts of a Man
by Michael A. Gonzales
Returning to the forefront of the music world after a four-year hiatus from making records, premier
performer Ginuwine is back in the saddle with strong material and his trademarked style. “ I’ve matured a
lot since I was last on the scene in 2005,” Ginuwine says. “I wanted that growth to be reflected in my
music. Forgot about singing about a club or some drink, I’m trying to take it back to the blueprint that
Marvin Gaye and other soul legends designed.”
With the release of his sixth disc A Man’s Thoughts, it is obvious that Ginuwine has lost none of the
soulful prowess that first made him a star in 1996--the year his debut The Bachelor changed the sound of
urban pop. “This is a new beginning for me, and the work I put into A Man’s Thoughts makes me proud.”
Recording over forty songs in a matter of months, Ginuwine recalls that the concept for A Man’s Thoughts
came to him midway through the process. “I’m a married man with a family, so I like to think that I’m wiser
than I was ten years ago,” Ginuwine confesses. “I’m not doing back flips on stage nor am I singing songs
that are as raunchy. I’ve come into my own, and I think the songs reflect that growth.”
Leading off with his newest single “Last Chance,” an exquisite collaboration with producer Bryan Michael
Cox, the Washington , D.C. based singer has recorded an anthem for dudes tired of being players. “I
wanted to make a song that men could definitely relate to,” Ginuwine explains. Opening with a cool guitar,
the song slowly builds as Ginuwine struggles with himself to become “a different kind of man.”
Having known producer Bryan Michael Cox since the beginning of his career, Ginuwine says, “When I
was ready to go back into the studio, Bryan was there for me.” In addition to the stellar single, Cox and
songwriter Johnta Austin contributed their beautiful quiet storm sensibility to “One Time for Love.” With its
smooth synths and loverman vibe, Ginuwine states, “We go through so many ups and downs in our lives,
but I’m convinced that love conquers all. That is the message behind that song.”
No stranger to stardom, Ginuwine first emerged on the music scene in 1996 with the multi-platinum disc
The Bachelor. Described by one critic as “silky, seductive vocals purred beside Timbaland's jagged,
hyperkinetic beats to create a uniquely edgy R&B sound," The Bachelor became an instant classic.
“Pony,” the daring first single, peaked at number-one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
for two weeks in late 1996, and reached number six on Billboard's Hot 100.
Having grown-up as a Michael Jackson fan, Ginuwine was no slouch when it came to practicing to perfect
his showman skills. “I was a little kid when I saw the Motown 25 special,” Ginuwine remembers. “After that
I became the boy in the mirror. My aunt gave me a glittering glove, my mom bought me a red leather
jacket and I spent all my time dancing and singing.” By the time he was 12, Ginuwine was already in his
first group Finesse Five.
Leaving home at 17, after more than a few clashes with his parents, Ginuwine worked various jobs
including a KFC counter person and construction worker. Yet, it wasn’t until he hooked-up with
producers/songwriters Timberland, Missy Elliott and the late Static Major (all of them were discovered by
former Jodeci leader DeVante Swing) that Ginuwine’s career began to take off.
“When Timbaland and I did The Bachelor, that was one of the biggest moments in my life,” Ginuwine
recalls. “Not everyone has the opportunity to be so popular with their first release. Believe me, I know I
1
was blessed.” In addition to the cyberfunk bounce of “Pony,” Ginuwine’s follow-up singles “Tell Me Do U
Wanna” and a blazing cover of Prince’s “When Doves Cry” helped to make The Bachelor revolutionary.
While some folks might have written-off Ginuwine as just another pretty boy destined to be a fad, he
proved the naysayers wrong when he returned with the brilliant sophomore project 100% Ginuwine.
Featuring the hits “So Anxious,” “What’s So Different,” “Same Ol’ G” (which was also showcased on the
Dr. Dolittle soundtrack in 1998) and “None of Ur Friends Business,” music writer Matt Diehl defined the
double platinum smash as “a sensual peek into a futuristic bachelor boudoir of soul.”
The delirious 100% Ginuwine was awarded Best R&B/Soul Album at the 2000 Soul Train Awards. That
same year, the disc was also nominated for an American Music Award in the Favorite Male R&B
category; Ginuwine was also nominated for the same award in 2002 and 2003.
Though Ginuwine’s presence has been missed on the charts during his absence, he has been doing
much touring both domestically and overseas. As expected, the singer is no slouch when it comes time to
take it to the stage.
“I’ve performed in London , Paris , Italy , and the appreciation factor is so great,” says Ginuwine. “The
audiences always show me such love and understanding. I’m not playing when I get on that stage. Still, it
was for the love of my fans and the audiences that turns out to see me that I decided to record new
material.”
After a ten-year relationship with Sony Records, Ginuwine decided he needed to regroup. “My booking
agent was friends with Kedar Massenburg, who then became my manager,” Ginuwine says of signing
with Kedar Entertainment. A twenty-year veteran in music and entertainment, Kedar is a neo-soul beacon
who once managed D’Angelo, helped groom rhythmic pioneers Erykah Badu, Chico De Barge and India
Arie and was CEO of Motown Records. In addition to Ginuwine, other Kedar Entertainment artists include
Joe and Chico DeBarge.
Teaming-up with a few creative collaborators that include songwriter R.L. Hugger (Next), singer Brandy,
rapper Bun B (formerly of UGK) and, of course, producer Timbaland, the well-toned crooner put together
a rhythmic collective that he could trust. “Tim and I are like brothers,” Ginuwine says of the supa producer
who laced him with the hypnotic “Get Involved.” Leaning back in the chair, Ginuwine smiled. “We still
have a good vibe in the studio and, once we started working, it felt like no time was lost.”
Newcomer Oak, a Turkish-American producer based in Atlanta who previously worked with Chris Brown,
Jennifer Lopez and Raven Symone, constructed the retro banger “Open the Door.” Written with R.L.
Hugger, the song pays homage to another of Ginuwine’s aural heroes, Prince. “Those guys did their thing
on that song,” Ginuwine says, smile beaming. “Oak and R.L. are a wonderful team. From the moment I
first heard the track, I knew ‘Open the Door’ was going to be a big song.”
The talented production duo also worked on the frantic female empowerment song “Show Off,” yet
another standout track. “This song is dedicated to women who suffer with body issues,” explains
Ginuwine. “I just wanted them to feel good about themselves and to ‘Show Off’ what they got. No matter
what size they might be, they are still beautiful to me.”
In his down time, Ginuwine still listens to artists New Edition, Jodeci, Mint Condition and Boys II Men. “I’m
not hating, but I just can’t muster much enthusiasm when it comes to newer artists. The music is good, it’s
just not as good as it used to be.”
Reflecting on the work that went into finishing A Man’s Thoughts, Ginuwine is philosophical. “Putting
together a good album is like making a puzzle. You have to make sure all the pieces are in order for the
picture to be right.” As a picture of Ginuwine’s world in 2009, A Man’s Thoughts will surely to go down as
one of R&B’s more perfect moments.
2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R&B SUPERSTAR GINUWINE SET TO RELEASE 6TH CD, A MAN’S THOUGHTS JUNE 23
Features Top 10 Hit “Last Chance” and New Collab with Timbaland and Missy
New Duet With Brandy
LOS ANGELES, CA, June 23, 3009 — R&B legend and dance sensation Ginuwine will release his 6th
CD, A Man’s Thought’s via Notify/Asylum/Warner Bros. on June 23. The CD features the new Top 10
Billboard R&B hit, “Last Chance,” which was released in March amid controversy about the Juwan Lee
directed video clip.
The CD also features the kinetic dance single, “Get Involved,” the first collaboration featuring Ginuwine,
Timbaland and Missy Elliot in nearly 8 years. The trio all grew up together musically having first
collaborated on Ginuwine’s 1996 debut, The Bachelor. “It feels great to have the original team reunited.
The fans have always loved us together and now we’re back,” commented Ginuwine.
Another event on the CD is “Bridge To Love“ Ginuwine’s slow jam duet with Pop/R&B Princess,
Brandy. It marks their first musical pairing despite the parallel success they’ve enjoyed dominating the
charts over the last decade.
Ginuwine collaborated on A Man’s Thought’s with a virtual who’s who among the industries top R&B
writers and producers. In addition to Timbaland and Missy, the CD was produced by Bryan-Michael Cox
best known for his Grammy Winning work with Mary J. Blige and Usher. Making writing contributions are
Adonis Shropshire (Diddy and Chris Brown) and award winning songwriter Johnta Austin, who was
recently responsible for comeback CD’s with both Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson.
No stranger to stardom, Ginuwine first emerged on the music scene in 1996 with the multi-platinum disc
The Bachelor. Described by one critic as “silky, seductive vocals purred beside Timbaland's jagged,
hyperkinetic beats to create a uniquely edgy R&B sound," The Bachelor became an instant classic.
“Pony,” the daring first single, peaked at number-one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles &
Tracks for two weeks in late 1996, and reached number six on Billboard's Hot 100.
While some folks might have written-off Ginuwine as just another pretty boy destined to be a fad, he
proved the naysayers wrong when he returned with the brilliant sophomore project 100% Ginuwine. The
album featured the hits “So Anxious,” “What’s So Different,” “Same Ol’ G” (which was also
showcased on the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack in 1998) and “None of Ur Friends Business.” Music writer
Matt Diehl defined the double platinum smash as “a sensual peek into a futuristic bachelor boudoir of
soul.” 100% Ginuwine was awarded Best R&B/Soul Album at the 2000 Soul Train Awards. That same
year, the disc was also nominated for an American Music Award in the Favorite Male R&B category;
Ginuwine was also nominated for the same award in 2002 and 2003. In 2008, Ginuwine signed with Notifi
Music Group to begin working on "A Man's Thoughts".
For more information and press materials, please contact:
Richie Abbott / Warner Bros. Records / 818-953-3408; richie.abbott@wbr.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GINUWINE HAS THE #1 ALBUM IN THE COUNTRY
NEW CD A MAN’S THOUGHTS ENTERS THE BILLBOARD TOP 200 AT #9
BURBANK, CA, July 1, 2009 – R&B superstar Ginuwine has entered Billboard’s Top 200 at #9 with his
6th studio album, A Man's Thoughts. The album, out June 23 on Notifi/Asylum/Warner Bros. boasts a
Bryan Michael-Cox produced hit single “Last Chance,” which has implanted itself in the Top 10 at urban
ac and urban mainstream radio helping to make this the #1 R&B album in the country.
"I hope that the concentration Ginuwine and I put into the music makes it enjoyable for his fans for years
to come,” says Notifi Records President, Ira Dewitt. “It makes me incredibly proud that my small
independent label has earned a #1 R&B album on our very first try."
"The Ginuwine project has been a labor of love for those involved and now we are all very much looking
forward to enjoying the fruits of those labors," says President of Asylum Records, Todd Moscowitz.
“Ginuwine had something to prove on this album and he showed these younger artists why he is one of
the greatest of all time.”
A Man’s Thoughts also reunites Ginuwine with multi-platinum stars Timbaland and Missy on the up-tempo
"Get Involved". The Virginia Beach-based trio worked together on Ginuwine's debut album The Bachelor,
which included the sinuous, hit single "Pony”. This time around, Ginuwine has shown prodigious growth,
which was noted in USA Today’s review: “Back in his Bachelor days, Ginuwine's thoughts ran mainly to
giving ‘Pony’ rides to as many hotties as he could, on new album A Man's Thoughts, he's more subtle,
and relationships now tend to last beyond last call at the club. Ginuwine has always been a smooth
purveyor of steamy slow jams, but here the sex involves more emotional entanglement, and that can lead
to complications.”
Ginuwine has always known that he wasn’t just another pretty boy R&B crooner, but he proved it to
skeptics repeatedly with a prolific career, pumping out albums like the critically acclaimed 100%
Ginuwine. In between releases, he’s appeared in films, managed a challenging personal life, learned
about commitment and the art of raising children.
He’s also toured the world, regrouped with old friends and made new ones, like linking up with manager
Kedar Massenburg, who understood the neo-soul vision before anyone else. Together they brought A
Man’s Thoughts to life, tapping Brandy, Bun B, Timbaland and Missy for creative collaborations. As a
result, his sixth CD is the best yet, combining The Bachelor’s raw sensuality with a healthy shot of
introspective wisdom.
www.myspace.com/ginuwine
June 29, 2009
It’s tough not to compare modern-day Ginuwine to the twenty-something who once glided so
effortlessly across dance floors in unbuttoned silk shirts. The musical synergy he created with
Timbaland and Missy Elliot on his 1996 debut, Ginuwine…The Bachelor (Epic), was avantgarde, innovative and undeniably some of his best work. In that era, the women were
screaming, the moves were slick and the lyrics were titillating. Now, more than a decade into his
career, Elgin Lumpkin, 33, is still wooing the ladies, but he’s no longer on the market. On his
sixth studio album, the family guy is baring a bit more of his soul and less of his chest.
After a four-year hiatus, a dramatic, dance-inducing comeback to compete with newer acts like
The-Dream seems forgone. But on A Man’s Thoughts the singer tiptoes in quietly, exploring a
more mature side on ballads like “One More Time For Love,” flexing a stronger, subtler voice.
Ginuwine and Brandy join forces for “Bridge to Love,” a soaring duet of yearning over an
infectious guitar melody and on the party track, “Trouble,” featuring Bun B, Ginuwine challenges
a young lady to test his dance skills. As the album progresses, smooth, synth-filled songs like
“Touch Me” and “Open The Door,” transport to another, safer time for R&B: the ’90s.
But this isn’t a throwback. Ginuwine teamed up with producers Bryan-Michael Cox and Johnta
Austin to create a new sound, harder-edged, if not as ground-breaking as his debut. Though the
Virginia crew has been absent from his latter albums, it’s hard not to long for their influence.
That’s why “Get Involved,” featuring Timbaland and Missy, is so welcome. As soon as the song
begins, the snare creeps in and Tim and Ginuwine echo each other like they once did. It’s not
quite vintage, but it’ll do.
Eager to slow it down and reflect, Ginuwine incorporates all the elements of a solid R&B album:
alluring lyrics, steamy ballads, and the occasional two-step. He may have toned down the
bachelor shtick, but every now and then the Same Ol’ G emerges and all is right with the world.
A Man’s Thoughts Track Listing
1. “Interlude”
2. “Show Off”
3. “Trouble” feat. Bun B
4. “Last Chance”
5. “Interlude”
6. “One Time For Love”
7. “Open The Door”
8. “Get Involved” feat. Timbaland & Missy Elliott
9. “Orchestra”
10. “Touch Me”
11. “Lying To Each Other”
12. “Even When I’m Mad”
13. “Bridge To Love” feat. Brandy
14. “Used To Be The One”
15. “Show Me The Way”
URL: http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2009/06/revs_ginuwine_a_mans_thoughts/
June 29, 2009
Music
by Chuck Arnold
June 22, 2009
Listen Up: R&B star Ginuwine gathers subtler
'Thoughts'
By Steve Jones and Brian Mansfield, USA TODAY
Back in his Bachelor days, Ginuwine's thoughts ran mainly
to giving Pony rides to as many hotties as he could. But 13
years later, on new album A Man's Thoughts (* * * out of
four), he's more subtle, and relationships now tend to last
beyond last call at the club.
Ginuwine has always been a smooth purveyor of steamy
slow jams, but here the sex involves more emotional
entanglement, and that can lead to complications.
He finds himself dropping his macho posturing on Last
Chance. Recognizing he has one shot to keep her, he
makes like "Jordan, fourth quarter in '92." A situation that
once would have been shrugged off now calls for heroic
pleading. Elsewhere, he makes the case for an enduring
affair on One Time for Love and for sticking it out on Even When I'm Mad. Sometimes, things just
can't be fixed, as he confesses on Lying to Each Other: "I'd rather watch cable than see you with
a negligee on." Such frank lyrics are convincing, but it gets corny when he tries salacious musical
metaphors on Orchestra.
The simmering tempo is interrupted only by the percolating Get Involved, which reunites him with
early mentors Timbaland and Missy Elliott. It's like a sunny commercial break in the middle,
before regular programming resumes. — Jones
>Download: Last Chance, One Time for Love, Even When I'm Mad
>Skip:Orchestra
URL: http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2009-06-22-listen-upginuwine_N.htm?csp=34
HOME / A&E / MUSIC / CD REVIEWS
ALBUM REVIEW
Ginuwine, 'A Man's Thoughts'
June 22, 2009
R&B
Ginuwine A Man's Thoughts
Asylum
ESSENTIAL “Get Involved’’
The smooth R&B vocalist Ginuwine switches on his loverman supreme persona with a set that is
almost exclusively dedicated to late-night ballads. It’s kind of hard to believe this is the same
singer who emerged with the grind groove “Pony’’ more than a decade ago. But guys grow up
and slow down. In a time when hip-hop and R&B artists are taking salaciousness to the nth
degree, Ginuwine turns to open-hearted devotion and sweet understatement on tracks like “One
Time for Love’’ and “Open the Door.’’ He mans up, taking responsibility for mistakes and tries to
salvage love on “Last Chance,’’ the disc’s defining song. The record is about a man
understanding the complexities of relationships and what a woman needs. There are some songs
with giddy-up, especially the big bounce of “Get Involved,’’ featuring Timbaland and Missy Elliott.
It doesn’t fit with the rest of the disc, but who cares when it’s this great a ride with a cool Timba
groove and Elliott’s sly, quick verse? What Ginuwine seems to be saying here is that a real man’s
thoughts are not what everyone thinks they are these days. (Out tomorrow)
KEN CAPOBIANCO
URL:
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2009/06/22/ginuwine_a_mans_though
ts/
Posted on Mon, Jul. 06, 2009
Genuine emotions are in his `Thoughts'
WMCGEE@MIAMIHERALD.COM
• R&B
GINUWINE
A Man's Thoughts
Notify/Asylum/Warner Bros.
***
Ginuwine, the incredibly well-toned singer known for mixing rhythm and raunch, seeks to show
he's not all about the physical here: He can still wind it and grind it, but he has evolved into a man
who isn't afraid to share his emotions.
The R&B singer's sixth album flows seamlessly between bumpin' dance grooves and seductive
mid-tempo ballads, with some hip-hop flavor added. The 15 selections explore the complexities of
love and commitment, avoiding overdone phrasing, vocal histrionics and bottles-and-babes
posturing.
The singer, who broke out with the hit Pony from his multiplatinum 1996 debut The Bachelor, is
less buck-wild these days, but still keeping it funky. A bass undercurrent propels much of the
music, even the love songs, yet the production is disciplined and cohesive.
The yearning on Last Chance, in which he declares he's ''a different kind of man,'' comes across
as convincing: ``If I've only got one shot to win you, then call me Jordan fourth quarter in '92.''
Synth piano licks gently trail Ginuwine's vocals in One Time for Love, a romantic appeal to move
a casual relationship beyond the bed. The piano lends understated support to the anthem Open
the Door, in which he begs a woman to share her emotions, and the hypnotic Orchestra.
For the dance floor, there is the bombastic Show Off, in which he encourages women to embrace
their body shapes.
R&B singer Brandy is featured on a beautiful duet, Bridge to Love. He also gets big-name help on
the rapid-fire Get Involved, featuring producer Timbaland and hip-hop legend Missy Elliott, who
collaborated with him on his debut, and on Trouble, where Texas-based rapper Bun B, formerly of
UGK, joins him.
After Ginuwine's four-year hiatus, fans surely will find A Man's Thoughts worth the wait.
-- WILLIAM T. McGEE
URL: http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/music/story/1128123.html
Posted on Sun, Jul. 12, 2009
New Recordings
Ginuwine
A Man's Thoughts
(Asylum ***)
On the day Michael Jackson died,
Ginuwine - one of modern R&B's silkiest
crooners - appeared on Fox News and
CNN to pay farewell to the King of Pop
and sing the praises of his influence. It
seemed odd that this onetime Timbaland
collaborator, so used to busily
hyperactive beats and carnal
rhapsodizing, would speak in Jackson's
gentle name.
That is, until you listen to A Man's
Thoughts.
Though there's nothing in Gin's sultry purr that is immediately reminiscent of
Jackson's tics or pitches, there is the tradition of elegant melody and lustrous
harmony that MJ embodied from his earliest days at Motown to his last album.
Ginuwine's grown-'n'-sexy approach to music and lyrics now is about stewing and
building slowly to climax on tracks such as the quietly storming "One Time for Love"
and the epically simmering "Last Chance." The confident sexuality is there, of course,
but tempered by maturity. When he sings the crisply funky "Show Off," Gin isn't just
looking to lust. He's asking the ladies in the house to be proud of their bodies. And
even when he haughtily reteams with Timbaland (and Missy Elliott) on the
mesmerizing "Get Involved," their provocative results are more nice than naughty.
Michael would have been proud.
- A.D.A.
URL:
http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/music/20090712_New_Reco
rdings.html
July 5, 2009
(Style section, p. 56)
LISTEN UP
Ginuwine shows maturity; Snider’s a hidden treasure
Ginuwine A Man’s Thoughts
After a four-year break and 13 years after he rode onto the scene on the back of “Pony,”
Ginuwine has evolved from seductive bachelor to a mature husband and father who — on ballads
like the beautiful “One Time for Love” and the affectionate “Last Chance” — is paying more
attention to the love aspect of relationships.
Don’t get things twisted. Ginuwine still likes to overload the floor and dance really close.
Midtempo tracks like “Show Off” and “Trouble” guarantee that you will still work up a sweat while
listening to Ginuwine’s silky-smooth voice. Brandy, Bun B and RL are featured guests.
Once-regular collaborators Missy Elliot and Timbaland appear only on one song; the unique
sound they helped craft in the mid-1990s is conspicuously absent but not missed. Ginuwine is a
tremendous entertainer who appears to have hit his stride in life as well as in music.
— ELLIS WIDNER
URL: http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/jul/05/listen-ginuwine-shows-maturitysniders-hi-20090705/
July 24, 2009
What our critics are listening to
Jeff Spevak, Sheila Rayam, Jack Garner and Anna Reguero
GINUWINE: A MAN'S THOUGHTS. Thanks to its infectious synthesizers and catchy chorus,
Ginuwine rode the success of "Pony" from his 1996 debut for a long, long time. Six studio albums
later, the R&B singer still has plenty of synthesized and electronic thump in his music, but he's
crooning a more mature and romantic theme. He teams up with Brandy on "Bridge to Love," a tune
that has crossover appeal. He sings about the desire to be near the one he loves "Even When I'm
Mad." And the midtempo "Orchestra" is one of those numbers that makes you stop, listen and nod
your head to the beat.
— Sheila Rayam
URL: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090724/LIVING/907240319/1032
R&B crooner Ginuwine returns
with his first album in nearly four
years, A Man’s Thoughts, which
hits stores today.
LISTEN UP:
♫ GINUWINE - Get Involved
♫ GINUWINE - Orchestra
♫ GINUWINE - Lying to Each
Other
It’s been 13 years since
Ginuwine stepped on the scene
with “Pony”, the Static
Major/Timbaland collaboration
that catapulted him to stardom.
The then 20-something bachelor
was blatant with his sexual
come-on, but now the 30something husband and father is
“a different kind of man”, as he
mentions in the lead single for
his sixth studio album, “Last
Chance“.
Written by Adonis Shropshire
and produced by Bryan-Michael
Cox, the song speaks about a
man’s plea for one last chance to
prove his and “reflects the
maturity of my personal growth
over the last few years,” explains
the singer. “I’m not the same
young man I was when I first got
into music.”
On the album opening “Interlude”, Ginuwine thanks his fans for their support over the last 13
years. Fans will appreciate that much of the album is filled with seductive songs they’ve come to
expect from Ginuwine. On the mid-tempo “Show Off”, he advises his lady to show off her swag
and “let the haters get mad”. With the help of rapper Bun B on “Trouble”, he warns a girl at a party
that she better not come any closer or he’s “gonna have something for her to grind on”.
He reunites with Timbaland and Missy Elliott on “Get Involved” (slated to be the next single),
reminiscent of the drum and bass style of previous Ginuwine/Timbaland tracks. The baby-making
slow jam “Orchestra” follows. Written and produced by Ginuwine, Oak and R.L., Ginuwine does
what he does best here and even manages to throw in an impressive trombone metaphor.
There’s a hint of Blackstreet on the hook to the smooth
“Touch Me”, another fitting track for love-making. “Lying to
Each Other” is sure to be a favorite for anyone who’s been
in a relationship that’s gone stale (“I’d rather watch
cable/than see you with a negligee on”); it would have made
a great duet. “Used to Be the One” follows suit with
Ginuwine pleading, “Tell me what I gotta to do to earn your
all again, I wish that I could turn the hands of time back to
when we were friends.”
A Man’s Thoughts is a solid effort and shows that
Ginuwine is not only getting his grown man on,
he’s also still making good R&B music.
myspace.com/ginuwine
Make sure you pick up your copy of Ginuwine’s album, A Man’s Thoughts, in stores and online
today, June 23rd!
ENTERTAINMENT
News & Entertainment | Entertainment
POSTED: JUNE 15, 2009
Ginuwine: 'I Didn't Want to Live Anymore'
Kenya N. Byrd
See photos of Ginuwine »
The school of R & B hard knocks can be overwhelming but it will never hold a survivor down. No one
knows that better than Ginuwine, who has experienced the joys and perils of the fickle music biz
and helped lay the blueprint for many of today's younger soul brothers. The once eligible bachelor
has traded in his player's card for a loving family life with his wife (former rapper Solé) and their
children. G's latest offering (his sixth album), "A Man's Thoughts," is a melodic reflection of his past
and present lives. ESSENCE.com caught up with the Baltimore native to discuss those crazy Justin
Timberlake comparisons, his suicide attempts, and why he is helping the mentally disabled.
ESSENCE.COM: Welcome back, G! Your new album, "A Man's Thoughts," is a 14-track
labor of love. Was it difficult getting back in the swing of things after being away so long?
GINUWINE: (Laughs.) Well, I wrote 45 songs in all. I believe you can listen to my album from
beginning to end. Of course, some might love certain songs better than others, but overall I'm
proud of it. Plus, I have everyone from Timbaland to Missy to Bun B and Brandy on it.
ESSENCE.COM: Your album is typically you with an all-star lineup, but folks are accusing
you of swagger-jacking Justin Timberlake because of the Timbaland-produced anthem
"Get Involved." How do you feel about that?
GINUWINE: (Laughs.) Are you serious? If that's copying Justin Timberlake I want to know whether
people say the same thing about him when he hooked up to work with Tim, whom I've worked with
for years? People are real funny.
ESSENCE.COM: On a more serious note, you lost both your parents in 1999 and 2000.
How have you been coping?
GINUWINE: After my father shot himself to death and my mother died from cancer less than a
year later, I really didn't want to be here anymore, I didn't want to live and tried to commit suicide
more than once. There was no one around that I really loved at the time, so I turned to the drinking
and drugs like weed and ecstasy. I was done mentally and emotionally to the point that I had to go
see a psychiatrist, but that didn't do any good because I wasn't interested. In fact, the two times I
visited him I was high. I was depressed and felt like I had nobody to talk to that could relate to me.
ESSENCE.COM: Wow. What was the turning point for you?
GINUWINE: I had one friend who intervened and begged me to get help. Even though I didn't
continue with my therapy, I went to church and received counseling from my pastor and got
straight spiritually. I was able to turn away from all those things that were destroying me and finally
think clearly. I had to ask myself whether or not I wanted to go out like my dad and have my kids
hurt the way I was hurting. I've been clean for about seven years. Now, I keep all that stuff away
from me, especially when I'm on the road.
ESSENCE.COM: Despite your adversity you've remained positive and are working with the
mentally disabled.
GINUWINE: My wife and I own mentally disabled homes in Kansas City where the mentally
disabled board through a program called SPRUCE (Special People Requiring Unique Care Equally).
Many people don't realize that once they turn18 they are often thrown out the house and are
homeless. At the home, they are able to learn the basic fundamentals of life, like finding a job, how
to take care of themselves, clean their rooms, and other things. My heart always likes to give, and if
I'm going to help somebody it might as well be someone who can't help themselves.
To find out more about Ginuwine's charitable work, visit www.sprucekc.com, and look out for his
new album, "A Man's Thoughts," in stores Tuesday, June 23.
URL:
http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/entertainment/articles/ginuwine_i_didnt_wa
nt_to_live_anymore/
June 11, 2009
Ginuwine reveals 'A Man's Thoughts'
__________________________________________________________________
Ginuwine's upcoming album, A Man's
Thoughts, is his first release in four years, so
he's understandably excited about it. He
recently sat down with Amanda Diva to talk
about his album.
"CDs...people don't have them no more,"
Ginuwine said. "I wanted to make mine so you
can listen to it from beginning to end, and
that's what I did."
He also revealed what his favorite songs are: "Showoff," which is about women showing
off what you have, no matter your size or color. "Open the Door," "Last Chance," and, of
course, "Get Involved" which enlists the help of one-time collaborators Timbaland and
Missy.
Watch the cilp here:
Ginuwine's Favorite Tracks On "A Man's Thoughts"
A Man's Thoughts hits stores on Tuesday, June 23.
--Whitney Teal
Here's more:
Ginuwine: Not the same ol' G
Solé says she didn't leave Ginuwine over LisaRaye rumors
What's up with Ginuwine, Brandy and Jay-Z
URL: http://www.s2smagazine.com/node/1088
URL:
http://www.s2smagazine.com/node/1088
FRONT PAGE
ENTERTAINMENT
EXCLUSIVE
GENUINELY GINUWINE
Genuinely Ginuwine
Written by Brandon I. Brooks (Entertainment Editor), on 06-18-2009 00:00
Ginuwine
Photo by Brandon I. Brooks for Sentinel
Sentinel Exclusive one-on-one interview with superstar R&B artist Ginuwine
Ginuwine is one of today's top R&B's stars and he is back with his highly anticipated sixth studio
album, A Man's Thoughts (Notifi/Asylum/Warner Bros. Records).
Reminding fans once again that he is still the "same ol' G", Ginuwine, doesn't miss a beat as his
latest single "Last Chance," has blazed the radio airwaves over the last couple months.
I caught up with Ginuwine for an exclusive one on one interview that was held at the Sentinel
headquarters. I started off by asking the R&B superstar how he felt about the success of his latest
single "Last Chance"?
"With this song I knew what my strength was and my strength is ballads. So I had to secure my
base. "Last Chance", was a song that as soon as I did it and they gave it to me, I was like there it
is because you know it when you hear it a lot times at least I know I do. It's one of those songs
that is a universal song for the fellas to play for the ladies. We've messed up many times in a
relationship so I've always been there for the fellas on that aspect trying to put do records that will
express you're sorry and that this is your last opportunity".
No stranger to opportunities, Ginuwine got his big break when he seized the opportunity to sing
live for DeVante Swing who was the lead producer and group member of the famous 90's R&B
group Jodeci.
In the early 90's Ginuwine was like any other hungry artist trying to make it. He was going
wherever the top musical acts were performing and trying to meet them to pursue a record deal.
At this time MC Hammer, Boyz II Men and Jodeci were on tour and as usual Ginuwine was on the
scene trying to meet the top guns.
"I went back to their hotel and I was able to sneak in and DeVante Swing was playing the piano. I
met DeVante and he told me to come over to the piano where he was. I started singing and you
know the girls was loving it, screaming and all that stuff so he took me up to his manager. So I
sung for his manager and the rest is history. That's the short version (laughs)".
Ginuwine first fathomed the thought of being a performer the night that he saw Michael Jackson
light up the stage on the unforgettable Motown 25th Anniversary special, where Michael Jackson
first unveiled the world famous "moon walk" dance. Ginuwine said, "that from that point on I knew
that being a singing entertainer is what I wanted to do. It was either that or boxing and I don't like
to get hit (laughs). My father was a professional boxer so obviously I learned. But I just didn't
want to pursue that. I could dish it out but I couldn't take it."
Early on Ginuwine was mainly known for mimicking Michael Jackson routines and break-dancing
with his crew but because break-dancing was fading out Ginuwine said that this is when he was
like, we got to do something, break-dancing is going out. So Ginuwine and his crew just started
singing and getting into talent shows. They won some and lost some but every time that they got
into a talent show, a whole bunch of girls would come. They had a nice little following and that is
when Ginuwine knew that he really loved performing. "I love the exception of everybody and the
way they received us and I started chasing that."
Chasing indeed because Genuine would not stop chasing his dreams until he made his dream a
reality. Ginuwine shared that it actually wasn't DeVante Swing that gave him the big break he was
looking for but in fact it was Timabaland and Missy who came and rescued him from a bad
situation.
I asked Ginuwine what exactly transpired during the infamous basement DeVante years and he
shared, "It's that greed that's takes hold of you when you are trying to shelter someone and hold
them back from prospering and you can't do that. People got they own minds and the thing about
it is if somebody can prosper and they are under you, you are going to make money anyway. So
it don't really matter who is bigger than whom and I think that is what had a lot to do with it. But at
the end of the day I wouldn't change it for the world. I learned a lot from those dudes. I learned
some things to do and a lot of things not to do".
"We was with them for five years. At one point your loyalty tells you have to go out and do your
own thing and we saw he wasn't going to do nothing. And we saw him (DeVante Swing) following
in the direction of Death Row Records and what they was doing and he tried to bring all of that
into it so it just didn't work. Missy always had her writing skills so she was already in good with
Mary J. Blige. She did Raven Simone's first joint so she started getting a lot of gigs writing. And
Tim (Timbaland), his beats started speaking for himself and that's what really kind of messed it up
because he came out with a new beat, new sound, new everything and DeVante was like, "nah I
want this". But, it didn't matter it was too late. And then Tim left and I was the only person that
stayed because I didn't really have anything to go home to. Contrary to what people think it was
bad at home for me. I'm from Washington D.C. and we were nowhere near middle class. I went
up there and slept in a laundry room. At the end of the day, Timbaland and Missy was still saying
"I got you come on up out that because he ain't never going to do nothing". I ended up doing it
and as soon as I left I had a deal the next weekend from Sony, five-fifty ($), shout out to Paula
Anthony. I still love her".
Ginuwine would go on to drop the chart topping single "Pony" in 1996, which ended up reaching #
1 on the Billboard charts. His first album "Ginuwine...The Bachelor" would go on to reach double
platinum status. I asked Ginuwine where he was when he first heard his song on the radio and he
said, "I was on the highway at a light and I jumped out and started dancing causing havoc. First
the people was blowing their horns but then they got out of their cars looking because we was
stepping and doing all of that stuff. People was loving it."
And from that day forward, it seems as though people have never stopped loving it because
Ginuwine continues to be one of today's most popular R&B stars.
Multiplatinum sales and five albums later Ginuwine continues to evolve and it's evident on his
latest album, "A Man's Thoughts". Ginuwine personal favorites from the new album change daily
but for now he says he loves the joint with Missy and Timbaland called "Get Involved". Another
song he keeps in rotation is a joint called "Showoff" that is for uplifting women.
"No matter how you feel about yourself or what you think you look like, you are living you are
breathing and you are here to show off. "Showoff whatever it is you have because life is short.
Ginuwine is currently still married to rapper Sole and feels that their relationship is an example for
the industry because a lot of industry relationships go sour. They have two kids with one another
and truly no one thought they would make it this far. "We ain't perfect, we have our ups and
downs, trust me but we sticking in there and we want to be an example to all those people that
think it can't happen and don't believe it can last. We sticking it out".
To close I asked Ginuwine how does he want people to perceive him and his performance?
Ginuwine answered, "I want people to know that I take my stage shows seriously and always try
to give more than the other artists. I just always try to leave you with something to remember".
URL: http://www.lasentinel.net/Genuinely-Ginuwine.html
GINUWINE LETS US IN HIS HEAD, REVEALS
‘A MAN’S THOUGHTS’
Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:00PM by Denver Louis
Filed under: Soul/R'n'B
With 14 years in the music game, R&B singer
Ginuwine has been more consistent than
most artists in the same time-span. While
plenty of singers are frequently entering and
leaving the music landscape, it's quite an
achievement to remain as relevant as he has
for over a decade now. A married father of
three, Ginuwine's music has become a
reflection of his maturity over the years.
Paired with a bevy of super-producers,
including Timbaland, Bryan-Michael Cox,
Jazze Pha, and Scott Storch to name a few,
Ginuwine has had some of R&B's most
memorable bangers, including 'Pony,' 'So
Anxious,' 'In Those Jeans,' and 'Stingy.' Now
with his sixth album, 'A Man's Thought,' set
for release on June 23, the multiplatinum-selling artist took a moment out of his hectic
album promoting schedule to sit down and discuss with The BoomBox his musings on
the state of R&B, his new album, his marriage to Sole and plenty more.
The BoomBox: So you're on your fifth album, how does it feel?
It's been a journey and it's been a long time coming. I was wondering if it was about
to happen and now it's finally happening. I'm happy that I'm able to be here and even
do a sixth album. A lot of artists aren't even at this point and won't get to this point.
The BoomBox: Why the hiatus?
In my time between albums, it was really me being at home spending time with my
kids, my wife and just relaxing... just being a dad. I've been doing a lot of dad things,
taking my kids to school and all that good stuff. I actually got into another situation
after I got off Sony, but it happened to be a bad situation and it took me like two years
to get [out] of it. Unfortunately, my career had to wait until all of that was settled. Once
that was settled, we were able to move on and jump into another deal.
The BoomBox: How do you separate your family from your performance life?
I don't. I always know who I have at home because I always know my kids are
watching. As far as separate, I don't do that. I do know that things that go on, while
I'm on the road do affect them as people, as my kids and as my family.
The BoomBox: How do you feel R&B music has changed since you've entered the
game?
It's changed dramatically. A lot of people say, R&B isn't what it used to be and I think
they're speaking on the substance of it and what it was in the past. I guess you can
say it's more watered down and not as rich as it was. Pretty much that's the void that
I've been hearing that people I know in the game are trying to fill right now.
The BoomBox: After being around for some time, how do you manage to remain
relevant in a changing music landscape?
I just feel like people are still interested and that I made such an impact in the
beginning. They know what they are getting when they pick up a Ginuwine album
because they feel there's going to be some good stuff in there. They know that I give
my all and that the finished product will be well worth the wait.
The BoomBox: What artist had the greatest influence on your style?
It's not just one, but the person with the biggest impact has to be Michael Jackson. Of
course there was Prince, Anita Baker, and Whitney Houston. And then, if you want to
get to the time when I was actually coming up, you get New Edition, Bobby Brown,
pretty much all those guys.
The BoomBox: What happened to TGT (Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank)? People miss
it, and I'm sure the ladies are always hitting y'all up asking what happened.
Unfortunately, we were on three different labels with three different situations. We had
some things going on and we had different outlooks on the business and different
ways of doing things and unfortunately, they didn't gel on the business side of it.
Whether it was our labels or us individually, we just didn't gel. And once things
happen like that, you pretty much have to break it off to save your friendship. Maybe
we'll visit it later, but right now, it's not something that we will think about doing. But
we're still friends.
The BoomBox: Was there a lot of tension?
There definitely was. It just wasn't the right time. And the tension also came from the
labels because they didn't want to give their artist to another label to make money. It
was too hard for the labels to get together and say alright we're going to do this. I
always felt we should have went to a completely separate label and get whatever
percentages for our separate labels ... that way nobody would feel like this label is
doing more for this person because they're on their roster. I think later on we will
revisit it though. Because we did our three shows and they were sold out, the women
definitely wanted it.
The BoomBox: What's the vibe of your new album?
It's a little more mature. It's not as carefree as I once was. It's not as explicit, because
I take a more tasteful approach. I feel like its being done on a more mature level. I
believe that you can always do what you want, but if you want a specific crowd and
specific people to pay attention to you, you do things where it makes sense for them
to do business with you. I don't think anyone wants somebody to endorse their
product if they're talking nasty, talking about shooting people or calling black people
the N-word. I just feel like, I'm past all of that.
URL:
http://www.theboombox.com/2009/06/22/ginuwine-lets-us-in-his-headreveals-a-mans-thoughts/