But other than that it’s their time, let them have it. I would just say the subject matter and the verbiage may be a little bit crazy. I never want to knock any artists on what they’re doing. Honestly, I love what the new guys are doing. I think a lot of people want to hear it, but we have to get it out there. What’s missing right now is the fact that there is not a lot of people like myself putting out music. What we did was a little different which I love because you can have what music is today and you can also vibe off of what we do. Musically I think they’re taking things to a new level. That was really epic! For someone who has been in the industry as long as you have what do you think is the current state of R&B? What do you like and what’s missing?ĭonell Jones: What I like about it is I love the music. Tammy Reese: Millions, upon millions of people are ready for it for sure! You were on DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic with so many other Icons from your era. It doesn’t matter, we can do a four-play with four guys, it’s whatever!
There are so many great ones that I would love to celebrate with.
Ginuwine, Carl Thomas, Jon B, Case, Joe, Jaheim, Musiq Soulchild. So, Donell, when you’re tapped to do Verzuz, who would you like to celebrate your career with?ĭonell Jones: There are so many guys and I love a lot of them. Tammy Reese: I’m so here for it! Now, I don’t know if you know, but I know that if you were to go on Twitter right now and type in “Donell Jones Verzuz” you’re going to see millions upon millions of people tagging Swizz, Tim, and Verzuz and posting away that we need a Donell Jones Verzuz. That’s where the idea came from and I just made an album based on love.
We want to be free thinkers, free to love ourselves, and all those things that we neglect sometimes. So my idea was, we wanted to be free from that, and we want to be free from doubting ourselves. Tammy Reese: Speaking of free, your latest album is called “100% free”, please tell us about it and how it came about?ĭonell Jones: When the pandemic first started I was working on another project, named Elevate, and I had got a strong idea to do a free album, name it 100% free, and then talk about what freedom means.Īt that particular time, we all had to put on masks and we were all kind of stuck in the house. Icon R&B Singer, Songwriter, Music Producer Donell Jones.We never know when that day is coming, or when that time is going to come so why not just live it to the fullest, and live it with a free mind. I started getting out, working out, getting in that gym, walking, and getting some of that Vitamin D from the sun. What it did for me was, it kind of woke me up, and put some fire under me.
Unfortunately, a lot of people lost their lives. Tammy Reese: How has the pandemic been treating you?ĭonell Jones: I think it’s been awesome. When you first got into the industry what was the impact you intended to make?ĭonell Jones: I was so in love with Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder, I just wanted to make music that made people feel good because that’s how they made it. Tammy Reese: Yes! I must say, “Where I Wanna Be,” “This Luv,” and “You Know That I Love You” to name of few of your songs, are some of the most timeless, and powerful songs that have ever been presented to the music industry. I’m not trying to be any other artist or anything like that. Tammy Reese: How have you kept longevity in the music industry?ĭonell Jones: By putting out music and doing music that I love first of all, and then just staying true to who I am musically. Tammy Reese: Happy Belated Birthday! What did you do for your Birthday?ĭonell Jones: Thank You! My family showed up and showed out! A lot of people came down to celebrate with me, it was beautiful! Donell Jones – Where I Wanna Be (Official Video)