By Felicia PrideShe married Notorious B.I.G., one of hip-hop's greatest rappers, after knowing him for two months. She had beef with rap's outspoken Queen Bee, Lil' Kim. She was also caught in the middle of the infamous rap battle between Biggie and Tupac.
But that's what the headlines say about her. Now at 35, and after more than ten years after the murder of Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans is finally telling her story in her new book, Keep the Faith (with Aliya S. King, Grand Central Publishing, August 2008). She reveals both triumphant and challenging moments of her life from her early work with singer Al. B Sure, to meeting Biggie for the first time and his affairs with various women during their marriage, to signing with Bad Boy as its first female artist and subsequently leaving the label, to the unforgettable day when Tupac confronted her in a hotel room.
That was then. A lot of things have changed for the married mother of four. She's grown tremendously and knows that her story, in its entirety, made her who she is today.
Blackvoices.com had the pleasure to speak with the platinum-selling songstress about what it really means to keep the faith.
More than Words: Why did you decide that now was the time to tell your story?
Faith Evans: I'm in a different chapter in my life right now. It's funny because I was sort of courted for a couple of years by an agent who wanted me to do a book. At the time, I didn't really want to do one. I talked about it with Mrs. Wallace because she had already gone through the process of writing a book. I told her I didn't think I was ready. Then I started to think about my transition from my last label and in the interim I got pregnant, so it seemed like a good time to do it. I figured that I could always do another book and start it from where I left off in this one.
Black Music Notes June 26
6/26/08: Jill Scott
Jill Scott's latest album 'The Real Thing' is coming to a television screen near you. And it's going to be a sight for your eyes and a pleasure to your ears. On June 29, TV One will premiere an original music concert special featuring the neo-soul high priestess in all of her glory. Titled 'Jill Scott: The Real Thing Tour (Live in Philly),' the one-hour special features the two-time Grammy Award winning wunderkind performing a mix of her classic hits such as 'A Long Walk' and 'The Way,' juxtaposed with material from her newer projects, including the inspirational anthem 'Golden' and the tell-it-like-it-is, take-no-prisoners 'Hate On Me.' The special (Scott's very first) was filmed in March 2008 at the Liacouris Center in Philadelphia. Encore airings of the show are scheduled to air on July 3, July 5, and July 11.
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6/26/08: D'Angelo
Despite going through legal woes over the past few years, neo-soul originator D'Angelo is back in the studio working on a new album. According to 'Billboard,' the singer is expected to release his new as-yet-untitled album next year on J Records. The company bought out his contract in 2005 from Virgin Records (who released his first two albums). Fans can expect the man legally known as Michael D'Angelo Archer to hook up with Raphael Saadiq once again, the two previously worked together on Saadiq's 2002 hit 'Be Here.' Although the album is still in its early stages, the 'Brown Sugar' crooner has plans to also land John Mayer on the opus, with a single to hit the airwaves by the end of the year. Until that time comes, fans can catch some of D'Angelo in his former glory with the recently released compilation, 'The Best So Far,' featuring hits, rarities and previously unreleased videos.
Image Direct
6/26/08: Gerald Albright
This week, one of the most sought after saxophonists in contemporary jazz, Gerald Albright, will release his eleventh solo project titled, 'Sax for Stax.' The set features eight covers from the Stax Records catalog , in addition to three originals written by Albright. The multi-talented sax player reached out to vocalists Will Downing, Ledisi, and Philip Bailey to help recapture classic music such as Issac Hayes' top five hit 'Never Can Say Goodbye' and the Staple Singers' hit 'Respect Yourself.' "I went through two box sets with over 20 CDs to pick songs that felt good and would work well melodically for the saxophone," Albright said.
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6/26/08: Swizz Beatz
Just last year super-producer Swizz Beatz was hospitalized for exhaustion, and by the looks of it hasn't slowed him down a bit. The hip-hop hit-maker has been in the studio crafting hits for Jay-Z, G-Unit, Ludacris, T.I. , Alicia Keys, and surprisingly the icon himself Michael Jackson. The Bronx native (legally known as Kasseem Dean) recently revealed his plans to not only produce some music for the King of Pop, but produce his tour as well. "I'm probably gonna be producing his tour and everything," he explained to 'MTV.' "I'm designing planes for Gulf Stream and everything. They called me. I'm around different people. I'm around billionaires. I'm around people like that." This October Swizz Beatz plans to release his new studio opus entitled, 'Life After the Party.'
Film Magic
6/26/08: Erykah Badu
This fall, Erykah Badu is planning on bringing some of her voodoo experiences on the road the neo-soul diva was recently added to the tenth annual "Voodoo Experience Festival," held October 24-26 in New Orleans. In addition to Badu, Wyclef Jean, Joss Stone, and Lupe Fiasco are among the other acts on board to join alternative rock headliners R.E.M. , Nine Inch Nails and Stone Temple Pilots. Tickets are priced at $115, while a three-day VIP pass will available for a whopping $450.
AP
6/26/08: Ludacris
Trying to maintain a successful career in the music industry as well as Hollywood can be a bit strenuous for some rappers. But not Ludacris! Luda (as he is also known as) not only has his new album, 'Theater of the Mind' slated to hit stores in September, he's also in the process of filming a few movies. On Halloween, the actor/rapper will be appearing in Guy Ritchie's new film 'RocknRolla.' He also recently finished shooting 'Max Payne,' a crime thriller fronted by Mark Wahlberg. When asked which profession he likes most, he simply replied: "Music is still my number-one love. I just balance a lot of different things now." Hollywood is still calling him, though. To date, Ludacris has starred in the Academy Award winning movie 'Crash,' the John Singleton-produced 'Hustle & Flow' and 'Fred Clause,' alongside Vince Vaughan.
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6/26/08: Ne-Yo/Keyshia Cole
The 2008 Reggae Sumfest is guaranteed to kick off with a bang! On July 18, new-school R&B superstars Ne-Yo and Keyshia Cole are tapped to headline this year's international night at the Montego Bay festival, which takes place from July 13-19. Reggae Sumfest will also showcase the best of the best in Dancehall and Reggae music including Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, and Lady Saw, among many others.
Film Magic
6/26/08: Will.I.Am
Crafting hit music for The Black Eyed Peas and Justin Timberlake can only inspire an artist/producer such as Will.I.Am (born William James Adams Jr.)to go beyond the music industry. Fans can expect to see the Black Eyed Peas front-man in the forthcoming X-Men movie, 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine,' playing a role opposite of Hugh Jackman. Will.I.Am recently revealed to 'MTV News' that the character he'll be playing is a teleporter by the name of John Wraith. In addition to 'X-Men,' the producer also landed a role in the 'Madagascar' sequel. "With 'Madagascar 2,' I think there has to be an angel or something or my grandma's prayers guiding that," he says. "It's pretty, pretty dope. And I'm grateful and happy about it all." 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' is expected to hit theaters in May 2009.
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6/26/08: Mashonda
After releasing her debut album 'January Joy' internationally, Mashonda returns with two new singles 'All or Nothing' and 'No Panties' from her forthcoming untitled album. The Harlem reared singer describes her first single 'No Panties' as being "all about giving your man whatever he desires; no limits." In addition to her new music hitting the radio airwaves, the ex Mrs. Swizz Beatz (real name: Mashonda Tifrere-Dean) is the creative director and model for an upcoming coffee table book entitled, 'Alter Ego Revealed.' Mashonda's new album is set to drop in early next year.
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6/26/08: Lauryn Hill/Kanye West
'Entertainment Weekly' magazine recently unveiled its 'New Classics' list in which they ranked the best in music, movies, TV shows, and books from over the past 25 years. Lauryn Hill's mega-selling solo debut 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' landed at number two slot behind Prince's timeless classic 'Purple Rain,' which held down the top spot. Other artist that made the list included Kanye West (No. 4), Jay-Z (No. 7), Outkast (No. 12), Beyonce (No. 19), Mariah Carey (No. 21), Nas (No. 28), and The Notorious B.I.G (No. 40), among many others.
Getty Images/Film Magic
MTW: How was the process of writing the book and working with your co-writer Aliya King?
FE: It was great. I really enjoyed it. I liked her approach from when we worked together on the VIBE article she did on me. She's someone who gets me. She's from Jersey, has an understanding of where I'm from, and she already had a good insight into who I was.
MTW: What are some of the biggest misconceptions about you?
FE: I don't put that much on things that aren't true, so it's hard to single out things. I'm not very vocal or one of those who feels that it's necessary to argue issues in the media. I always said when I decided to speak on details about things, it would be in my life story. That doesn't mean that people aren't going to have their own opinions, but I wanted to talk about who I am and where I'm from by telling my own story.
MTW: What did you want people to know about you that you think they didn't know?
FE: That there's a lot more to my story than just when I entered the music business. I joke in the book about the fact that I used to beatbox or that I wrote songs and put them on my answering machine as the outgoing message. Stuff like that.
MTW: Reading the book is like a walk down memory lane during a distinct time in hip-hop and R&B's history. When you look back on it, how does it feel to be part of that time, including during the rise of Bad Boy?
FE: It's funny. I was just talking with a friend of Big's about this. We used to have so much fun. Even in the midst of different issues that came later-people leaving labels, falling out as friends-it was a fun time. Maybe that's because we were innocent to the issues of the industry. Back then, Bad Boy was like a family.
MTW: You talk about innocence. Do you think innocence had anything to do with your quick nuptials to Biggie?
FE: Absolutely. Definitely. I was excited and innocent. It seemed ironic because at the time neither one of us had any idea how far we would go. I remember having no idea whether people would like my records. We were both artists, which also helped to lead to the demise of our relationship, but we were innocent in many ways.
MTW: You're pretty open and honest about your rollercoaster relationship with Biggie as well as intimate details about your life in general. Did you feel nervous about revealing so much?
FE: No. Most of my family and friends already knew the things that I wrote about. Mrs. Wallace told me, you should do it. She told me to be ready to laugh and be ready to cry. And when I read the book when it was done, the emotion came. I laughed out loud and I cried.
MTW: What do you think is the biggest misconception about Biggie?
FE: The fact that his music was real detailed and certainly graphic, people think that trickled into his personality. Some think he was a mean guy, and liked drama, like when he spoke of guns or whatever. But that was part of what he saw in the hood. He would take a situation, or a person he knew, and put them in a song. It wouldn't be what really happened in life. People think that he was talking about this and that, but they really don't know. Like with "Get Money," everyone thinks he was talking about me, but I was at the studio when they made the song. It wasn't like it was about me setting him up to get robbed. Or "Me & My Bitch," people think that's about me, but I didn't even know him then.
MTW: If Big were alive today, what do you think he'd be doing?
FE: I don't know, but I definitely know that he would have been a mainstay in the industry, one of the most successful rappers. From the personal side, I really don't know. We would be good friends if nothing else.
MTW: What role does music play in your life?
FE: It's huge, even when I'm not working on a project. Even all the way down to my kids. My daughter produces, writes and records songs with her brothers. I won't say it's taken a back seat. I'm just not in a rush to put together an album. I've been blessed to be able to do a lot in my career. Because of the music, people know who I am.
MTW: You're remarried and have four children. How would you describe your life now?
FE: It's family-oriented. The most work I've done outside of kids and school was this book. My daughter's fifteen, so I've got to be around. Music is still my love, but I've got to do things that make sense for my family life.
MTW: What lessons have you learned from all that you've experienced and accomplished?
FE: Haste makes waste. And it's important to learn from your mistakes, whether that be in the business, or in personal choices. If you're coming from the right place, you're going to be blessed. Don't play with God. You can be taken out of your character and I know I have been, but I try not to let that happen as easily now.
MTW: How have you managed to keep the faith?
FE: I would always tell my friends to let me know if I started acting different. I am just me. I stay in prayer and stay level-headed. You've got to stay patient and be prepared for the blessings God has for you. Treat people with respect and you'll get respect back. I'm cool with everybody as far as I'm concerned.
1. Felicia...wonderful article... I am becaming a fan.
'Cilla at 10:38PM on Aug 29th 2008