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Interview: Robin Thicke Talks Slow Jam Classics & Nicki Minaj

intern — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:13:20 +0000

Grammy-award winning singer Robin Thicke is an expert at writing sensual music the ladies love. Don’t think that makes him soft though—he’s still your favorite rapper’s favorite R&B crooner. His fourth LP Sex Therapy drops on December 15th, and we think there’s a pretty good chance that keeping it in rotation will help you get laid. Seriously.

Given the theme of the album, we set out to get some sexual confessions from the man who landed the gorgeous Paula Patton, but (always the gentleman) he refused to “kiss and tell.” Instead, we got him to reveal his favorite tunes to get down to and why he thinks Nicki Minaj is a dope date. Check out the quick Q&A and watch the “Sex Therapy” video below…

Interview by Soo-Young Kim

Complex: Your new album is called Sex Therapy. Have you ever had a bad sexual experience you needed therapy from? Maybe when you lost your virginity?

Robin Thicke: [Laughs] I’m gonna skip that one. What else?

Complex: Alright. What are your favorite slow jams for getting busy?

Robin Thicke: “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye. “Adore” by Prince. There’s the “Bump N’ Grind Remix,” R. Kelly. “I’m Fucking You Tonight” by R. Kelly and Biggie is a good one. [Laughs]

Complex: [Laughs]

Robin Thicke: Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.” And I do that song in concert. So what else are we missing? Oh, let’s say D’Angelo’s “Brown Sugar.”

Complex: Those are classics. And are you sure you don’t have any amusing stories of the best—or worst—sex you’ve ever had?

Robin Thicke: A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell! These are wild questions. [Laughs]

Complex: Nicki Minaj is featured on your record, “Shakin’ It For Daddy” and you lend a verse on Leighton Meester’s “Somebody to Love.” If you were a single man and you had to pick one of these girls to take on a date, who would it be?

Robin Thicke: I’d have to go with Nicki Minaj. I like the way she raps.

WATCH THE VIDEO: “Sex Therapy”

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Wake N’ Watch: Jamie Foxx f/ Drake, Kanye West, & The-Dream “Digital Girl (Remix)”

bfred — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:00:43 +0000

Somebody break Lou Pearlman out, because we may have just discovered the next great boyband. Put these four together, give Drake a cane like the giant bass in Boyz II Men, and this shit is ready to hit the road. They even do a little synchronized dance at the very end of the video, at about 4:18. We know Hype Williams directed it, but who did the choreography? Sidenote: when Kanye comes on, they switch up the beat to the “MJ Remix,” which is pretty dope (thanks, Dream & Tricky). As a bonus, check out BET’s behind-the-scenes Access Granted special below…

Tune in to Complex.com every morning at 8 AM for your daily “Wake N’ Watch” video.

BET’S ACCESS GRANTED “DIGITAL GIRL” SPECIAL:

[Both Videos Via Mr. World Premiere]

DJ Treats’ Weekly Treats: The Knux, Carps & Muslims

treats — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:45:14 +0000

Each week, Complex's resident music expert DJ Treats will be bringing you key tracks from a variety of genres. Click below to see this week’s choices!

RAP: The Knux “Life In The Cage”

R&B: The Carps “Porgie & Bess (Big Booty Girls)”

INDIE-ROCK: The Muslims “Extinction”

WORLD/ELECTRONICA: Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit feat. M.I.A. & Santogold “Get It Up”

ROCK: Gringo Star “All Y’all”

DJ Treats’ Weekly Treats: Bow Wow, White Pegacorn

treats — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:35:32 +0000

Each week, Complex's resident music expert DJ Treats will be bringing you key tracks from a variety of genres. Click below to see this week’s choices!

RAP: Bow Wow feat. Young Joc “Big Girls”

R&B: Labelle “System”

DANCE/ELECTRO: IHEARTCOMIX! “Zombies!”

ROCK: White Pegacorn “Barack Your World”

EXPERIMENTAL: Hand In Hand feat. Irene Merring “Time Will Tell”

DJ Treats’ Weekly Treats: Busta, Annie, Kaiser Chiefs

treats — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:34:08 +0000

Each week, Complex's resident music expert DJ Treats will be bringing you key tracks from a variety of genres. Click below to see this week’s choices !

RAP: Busta Rhymes f/ Ron Browz “Arab Money”

DANCE/ELECTRONICA: Annie “Two Of Hearts”

REGGAE/DANCEHALL: 77Klash f/ Johnny Osbourne “Mad Again”

R&B: Avant f/ Alfamega “Perfect Gentleman”

ROCK: Kaiser Chiefs “Never Miss A Beat”

DJ Treats’ Weekly Treats: Justice, TVOTR & Prodigy

treats — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:55:47 +0000

Each week, Complex’s resident music expert DJ Treats will be bringing you key tracks from a variety of genres. Click on a link below to hear the song and learn about the artist!

RAP: Jake One f/ Alchemist, Evidence & Prodigy “White Van”

ELECTRONICA: Justice “Planisphere”

DANCEHALL: Busy Signal “Tic Toc”

ROCK: TV On The Radio “Golden Age”

R&B: Trey Songz “In Ya Phone”

Lloyd’s Lessons In Sex Education

Joe — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:01:09 +0000

We don’t normally look towards young R&B singers for advice on how to live our lives (look what happened to Raz B), but when it comes to dealing with the fairer sex, Lloyd definitely knows his shit.

His recently released album Lessons In Love was originally titled Sex Education, so we decided to put the New Orleans native to the test with some tough questions submitted by our readers. Check out young Lloyd's guidance on topics ranging from how to pick up a chick at the club, to what to do when you've gone soft…

Question 1: “I was in the heat of the moment with my girl and my tool wasn't working properly. How do I avoid this from happening in the future?”

Lloyd: Think happy thoughts. Ice cream on a Sunday at a park. You want to think about…No, no, no. Actually, think macho thoughts. I want you to think about “Welcome To The Jungle!” You want to think about that kind of stuff, you want to think about Mr. T, with his muscles and his chains. And his like ” I pity the fool!” You don't want to be the fool. You want to think about naked girls. Maybe not even the one in front of you. You want to fantasize about your favorite starlet. And imagine that this is the next best thing. And that'll get you through.

Question 2: “What's the best way to convince my girl to be more adventurous in the sack? I've tried everything.”

Lloyd: Maybe you convince her that her favorite nighttime special is coming on'lets say, Larry King Live'and you accidentally auto-tune porn, and leave it on, let it ride. Something is bound to go down.

Question 3: “How do I hint to my girl that she's put on some pounds without being a dick?”

Lloyd: You know, I think the big problem with guys complaining about girls who gain weight is that they sometimes don't watch their weight. And I think that seeing is believing. So maybe you should get your lazy ass in the gym. Bulk up a little bit and then she'll say, “Oh my God, honey you look so good! I'm coming with you!” You know?

Question 4: “When I'm picking up girls, how aggressive is too aggressive? Is Ray-J’s “come here girl!” move the way to go?”

Lloyd: Grabbing is too aggressive. Groping. That usually tends to lead into civil cases, bad publicity, and a big headache that Goody's Headache Powder would never cure. I think the best way to be aggressive without being too aggressive is to get inside the girl's mind through conversation. Stir up her imagination, and then she'll let you know everything that she fantasizes about.

Question 5: “What’s the best way to approach a girl at a bar or a club?”

Lloyd: How? I say “Hey! How you doing? You want to go somewhere a little bit more quiet!??” [Laughs]. And then she says, “What?” I say, “You want to go somewhere else?” She says, “What?” I'll say, “Fuck it. Just give me your number!” No, no actually how I would approach a girl at a club… I'll wait until my song comes on. I cheat, you know. I'll wait until my song comes on, and I say, “Hey? You want to give me a dance to my song?”

Question 6: “My girl is a little too obsessed with Pleasure P from Pretty Ricky, how do I get her mind off him?

Lloyd: You find an article that says he has the worst disease known to mankind. And you blow that shit up on a big-ass poster board. And you stamp it over the refrigerator. I think that the best way to get her mind off Pleasure P is to introduce them to the person. That way she's going to say, “Hey, I really like them in the video, but she's got a funny head in person.” His head is big.

Question 7: “I've been with my girl for six months and it’s been going really well, but I just found out she did a ‘Girls Gone Wild’ taping. What should I do?

Lloyd: Well, I think that's when you go ahead and you say, “Hey honey, I posed for Playgirl last summer as well.” You know? “They made me spread my cheeks.” I didn't tell you about that one either.

Question 8: “My girl recently got approached to take some modeling shots. I'm happy for her, but her head is getting bigger by the day. How do you keep her humble?”

Lloyd: Hmm…how would I do it? I like models. I don't know. I'd sneak into the photographer's laboratory the day before the photos are produced and mustache them. Mustache and sideburn those fuckers out.

Question 9: Sex is on my mind a lot, and I can't focus a lot on daily activities. Is that normal?

Lloyd: All I know is that I think about sex everyday; at least 10 to 20 times a day. At the weirdest times. When I eat, right now at this interview I'm thinking about it, I thought about it in the elevator on the way up. And I think it's something that we all think about quite a great deal. And I also think that there's a big misconception between sex and love. I even question it myself. By having sex, does this mean I'm in love? Does this mean I love this girl? I really love her but how can I show her? Oh, let's have sex! And you know, a lot of times you know it's not love. It's just sex. And when you have it out of the wrong reasons, then you end up with a lot of bad things. Pregnancies, diseases…you know?

Get Ready For Amerie’s Def Jam Comeback

treats — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:47:30 +0000

Before Cassie, there was Amerie. You know, the other racially ambiguous model-turned-pop star who turned a million heads. We always had love for the Black/Korean cup of brown sugar, but her old label Columbia dropped her last year after deciding not to release her third album in the US. But now, it seems like she has another shot at success.

Rumors have been circulating for months about the the singer landing a new deal. Well, we just confirmed with sources at the label that Amerie has officially signed to Def Jam. Somebody get Dream and Tricky on the line! In case you need a refresher course on how fine this woman is, we’ve compiled her greatest hits after the jump…

Amerie “Why Don’t We Fall In Love” (2002)

Amerie “Talkin’ To Me” (2002)

Amerie f/ Eve “1 Thing” (2005)

Amerie “Touch” (2005)

Amerie “Gotta Work” (2007)

Kreesha Turner Visits Complex

treats — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:29:47 +0000

Outside of Kardinal Offishall, we’ve never cosigned too much talent from north of the border. But after jazzy pop singer Kreesha Turner recently paid a visit to the Complex office, we can’t front'Canada is looking pretty damn good.

Kreesha'a warm Alberta native with Jamaican roots and a million dollar smile'broke through in the U.S. earlier this year with her single “Bounce With Me,” which was featured on shows like Entourage and Gossip Girl. Now she’s gearing up for the September release of her debut album Passion, boasting collaborations with songwriter Harold Lilly (Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson) and producer Devo Springsteen. Listen to Kreesha’s new single “Don’t Call Me Baby” and watch her in the “Bounce With Me” video below.

Kreesha Turner “Don’t Call Me Baby”

from Passion (2008)

“Bounce With Me” Video:

Lloyd Gets “Girls” With Lil Wayne & Hype Williams

bfred — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:08:17 +0000

We don’t normally post too much about R&B on Complex, but we definitely fucks with young Lloyd. Last year, the ATL-based singer hit #1 with “You,” his Spandau Ballet-sampling duet with Lil Wayne. So for the lead single to his new album Lessons In Love (due out July 22), he’s re-teamed with Weezy and producer Big Reese. Called “Girls Around The World,” it’s a summer jam in the making that flips Eric B. & Rakim’s “Paid In Full” beat.

The video just dropped last night, and we’re pleased to see Hype Williams at the helm. The highlights: Lloyd’s absurdly silky perm that would make Snoop jealous and a pack of crazy cyborg women with LED eyeballs. One more collabo like this between Lloyd and Wayne and people will be demanding that rumored Best of Young Worlds album. Watch the video below.

Tatyana Ali Visits Complex

treats — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:17:00 +0000

Childhood stars that faded into obscurity, learn from Tatyana Ali. The former Fresh Prince Of Bel Air star, who stopped by the office this afternoon, is still shining with a recurring role as Roxanne on the Young And The Restless, and is selling out audiences on the New York tour of the play The Greatest Love Story Ever Told. Yeah, that myth about child actors getting tangled in a web of sex and drugs, Uncle Phil just wouldn’t have that. This summer, little Ashley Banks plans to release new music that she recorded with Death Row producer Johnny “J” on The Light, a follow-up to her 1998 album, Kiss The Sky. Watch a classic Fresh Prince clip of Ashley showing her singing skills after the jump.

Album Preview: Lil Mama’s Voice Of The Young People

treats — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:02:51 +0000

Waiting on women is exhausting. If anticipating the verdict of troubled female rappers in the courtroom wasn’t enough, try patiently waiting on Lil Mama’s debut album. It took about a year for her glam salute “Lip Gloss” to cool off, now it’s time for the Harlem transplant via Brooklyn to show and prove. Check out these exclusive tracks from VYP: Voice Of The Young People, due this summer after the jump.

1. Lip Gloss (produced by James Groove)
The overnight pop smash that started it all shows no sign of chapping a year after it’s release.

2. G-Slide (produced by Dr. Luke)
Her take on “The Wheels On The Bus” is rated-G for the kiddes.

3. Swim (produced by Cool & Dre)
Lil Mama’s song about young love (”Come and doggie paddle with a girl so fly”) will heat up public pools over this dance-floor banger.

4. Shawty Get Loose feat. Chris Brown (produced by T-Pain)
Mama’s flow on steriods, no Marion Jones.

5. L.I.F.E. (produced by Tuneheadz)
All that glitter’s not gold. The introspective track reveals the dark underbelly of Niatia Kirkland’s years with a Mom on drugs (”My mama was a crack fiend/she never did nothing'not like ‘Pac’s mom”).

6. Lil Mama Doll (produced by Green Lantern)
The Evil Genius‘ rumbling drums and Looney Toons sample set the backdrop for a lyrical cartoon on wax.

7. Broken Pieces (produced by Dr. Luke)
Another touchy personal album cut.

8. Don’t Drop It (produced by Scott Storch)
Scottie’s bubbly keyboard snares are decent, but don’t top “Lip Gloss.”

9. Let Go (produced by Karl Shaq)
The violin-driven song opens up a wound when Kirkland recounts her mom’s hospitalization.

10. Parshlay (produced by DJ Montay)
The beatsmith behind Unk’s “2 Step” taps Miami’s bass sound for the standout party track.

11. One Hit Wonder (produced by The Runners)
Grungy percussion from the Runners allow Mama to sound off on haters.

12. Stand Up (produced by James Groove)
Teenage pregnancy, fatherless children, dilapidated neighborhoods are all a part of Lil Mama’s world, walk with her.

Truth & Soul Re-Invented The Remix

treats — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:16:53 +0000

’80s babies, step to the rear. Best known for their work with Wu-Tang Clan, and Amy Winehouse, the El Michels Affair (Truth & Soul Records) are the real retro kids.

The New York funk/soul band is busy earning indie fanfare playing backup for Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, and Gza at live shows while doing co-production with Diddy’s new Hitmen'they replayed most of the sampled instruments (originally performed by by The Menahan Street Band) on Jay-Z’s “Roc Boys”. Check out a new collaboration between the soulful collective and Australian singer/songwriter Gabriella Cilmi below:

Gabriella Cilmi
“Sweet About Me (Truth & Soul Remix)”

New Music From Missy Elliot

treats — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:00:31 +0000

The Missy Elliot, Timbaland and Danjahanz trifecta is like big girl “Sexy Back 2008.” Sorry, were you expecting BeyoncÃ©? So Missy isn’t clocking “Supa Dupa Fly” pounds these days, the thicker, edgier Missy'circa 2002'returns on her new untitled album. Her excuse for not showing up to Chelsea’s Roc The Mic studios yesterday entertained press through pre-recorded interludes in between unmixed tracks, “I was busy walking Oprah’s dogs” and “washing Denzel Washington’s cars.” Comedy gold only Missy could pull off took us through eight tracks of future summer anthems (slow jam included), coupled with her devilishly playful how-to's for shaking (insert female anatomy)…

1. “Act A Fool” (produced by Souldiggaz)
More hand-claps, thank you very much. “Shake that donkey/show my monkey.” Never any shame in her game. I knooow you see it.

2. “Best Best” (produced by Danja)
No DJ Khaled or MIA connection on this one, just M-I-S-E listing what makes the man. One minute men redeem themselves here. Sounds like Missy found herself another ~~(male)~~ mid-tempo strip club anthem. Pause.

3. “Shake Ur Pom Pom” (produced by Timbaland)
The Ying Yang Twins want their song back. Tim and Missy’s experiment with go-go music does E.U.’s “Da Butt” justice.

4. “Like When You Play The Music” (produced by Timbaland)
VA’s favorite always reminds us of her short-lived years as a part of ’90s r&b group, Sista. With the latest addition to the J Records roster, Jasmine Sullivan by her side on the hook, her pipe game, ahem vocals are pretty serious.

5. “All For You” (produced by Souldiggaz)
Synthesizers are like MySpace pages, everyone in music has them.

6. “Love” (produced by Timbaland)
The incorrigible vocoder. Tim threw a hall effect on Missy's voice and sprinkled the slow burning track with the twinkling keys from Playa's “Cheers To You,” also heard on Hova’s “Jigga What Jigga Who,” and JT’s “Until The End Of Time.”

7. “Milk & Cookies” (produced by Point Guard)
New wave rap in the key of Snoop's “Sexual Seduction.” Missy singing and rapping over it is refreshing. Relax, no vocoder.

8. “Hip Hop Don’t Die” (produced by Tiffany/Woodworks)
Rappers from the '90s show their age when they hate on hip-hop's new school. Only Missy shows the progression from the old to the new, be it good or bad. “If you don't write your rhymes let your ghostwriter do the talk.” Jasmine Sullivan assists on the chorus. Not too shabby. This untitled album will have a name before its June release.

My Lunch is Like Whoa

treats — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:48:58 +0000

Photography by Matt Doyle

The first date is always tough. Before you can even think of an appetizer, you've gotta meet the parents. Yesterday in our meet and greet with Grammy-Award winning r&b sensation Mya (and her dad/manager Sherman), Complex couldn't help but feel a little like Gaylord Focker. But think we cracked under pressure? Chill. The only thing that was grilled was the filet mignon we ordered at New York's chic Gotham Bar. Since 2003's Moodring, Mya's kept busy away from the spotlight by moving back to her native Washington D.C. with her two dogs, teaching in a local performing arts program for inner-city kids, and living single (not with 50 Cent or The Game, you gossip hounds). She'll have a few stories to tell on Liberation, her most personal album to date, due this fall on Motown/Universal. We expect the best of her again'with dad's consent of course.