While most R&B recording artists and groups are prone to utilizing piles of synthesizers, drum machines, and ProTools to help establish and maintain their sound, Mint Condition have managed to last almost two decades in the unpredictable, often fickle, music industry as one of the few R&B bands left in existence. But just because they've been content with the "old-fashioned" DIY approach to their music doesn't mean they're beyond adapting to the evolving music scene. As they step into the digital revolution with their 6th studio album - the apropos-titled E-Life - MiddleChild speaks with 2 members of the legendary quintet to find out what exactly has kept them alive and kicking for so long.

MiddleChild: Okay. So first of all tell me how you came up with the title of the album, “E Life”.

Stokely: The meaning behind the title is like a combination of all the things we have access to right now and it kind of spawned off of that and we kind of started thinking about what that means to all of us. One of the main things is the way we approached the CD and how we make music at this particular time. Not just us, but a lot of people in the industry. It’s also the way a lot of people are living, which is electronically. Transferring files back and forth on the internet. Passing time and putting their face on it.

Rick: Like for instance with myspace. When I first got on myspace, I was on there for like five weeks straight. Didn’t work, I didn’t get much sleep. I was up to like four and five in the morning on there.

MiddleChild: Right. Myspace is like crack when you first join. (laughs)

Rick: I was just hooked and it was affecting me spending time with my kids and stuff like that. My kids wanted to play and so I kind of had to get it together and was like I need to spend more time with my kids and maybe take them to the park instead of being on the computer.

MiddleChild: I see. Well tell me what’s going to separate this album from your previous work?

Stokely: What’s going to separate this album is the fact that we approached the album electronically. The recording process is different. We approached it a little differently. All of these programs are software programs and you record it all into the computer.

MiddleChild: So you told me how you approach the album, so do you keep everything in house or do you bring in any outside producers or writers?

Rick: Mint Condition been pretty much been doing it all since day one. When we were with Jimmy and Terry a lot of people were surprised that we did it all. Jimmy and Terry worked with us, but we wrote them and produced them. So we just been doing the same thing. We would love to work with other people. We worked with Ali Shaheed Muhammad from A Tribe Called Quest on a track called “Where Can We Turn” and “Somethin”with Phonte from Little Brother and Anthony Hamilton on “Baby Boy/Baby Girl”.

MiddleChild: Okay. I see. Well it’s been a good minute since you initially dropped and the music industry has seen many changes. What was your main motivation for returning to the scene and wanting to do this all over again?

Rick: Well we love working with each other…70% of the time. Working with Stoke is like working with one of the greats. It’s almost like working with Stevie or Prince of somebody. The fans and this is what we do. This is how we work.

MiddleChild: And you have been a group for like fifteen plus years. When most groups come back and record a new album they usually replace members or leave one behind because they can’t get it together. How would you describe your brotherhood?

Stokely: It’s not really a reunion for us. The group is never broken up we just do our thing. We make time to live and then we come back to do the music. A lot of people that do music are in it for the money, and of course we’re trying to make a buck too and make sure our families live comfortably, but the thing with us is the music and the craftsmanship. And it takes time to do it so I think that’s where the comradery and where we come together above and beyond any disagreement. It ain’t easy (laughs) but we’re blessed to still be here doing what we love.

MiddleChild: I respect that. What would you say has been the biggest lesson you have learned about yourself by being in a group?

Rick: Everyday is a lesson man. I will say what’s magical to me is the growth. We can talk about all the things that I’ve learned, but nobody is perfect. Everybody grows at different times. Everybody got different lives. I just sit back and look at the growth and I’m like “wow”. It’s also an inspiration when I look at all of it. I have learned a lot of things and applied it to either my working style or my life in general.

Stokely: For me it’s learning to be patient and hearing everybody out on what they got to say. I be wanting a shortcut. “I got to go do this” or sometimes “I got to go pick up my kids” or “I got to go here”. I don’t be wanting to hear all of that shit sometimes. I be like “Okay, what time can you be there?” (laughs) So having patience and just wishing for a shortcut one day. (laughs)

Rick: I would have to agree. I think that’s with everybody as well. Again patience is a life thing. People don’t want to spend too much time because you don’t have too much time. You want everything now.

MiddleChild: Of course. (laughs) What would you say is your personal favorite record on the album?

Stokely: Today? It switches daily. It depends on what kind of mood I am in.

Rick: I think the one I like is “Can We Try”. It was one of those that I didn’t like initially, but I really like it now.

MiddleChild: I’ll listen out for that one then. What do you hope or think that the fans will take away from the album?

Stokely: I think the fans will be impressed with our staying power and impressed with the quality of work after all this time of being together and us keeping our integrity and success. What they’ll take away is what they’ve been taking away. For us, we just love what we do and we make quality work.

Rick: One of the things that I recognize is that people say that we deal with some trifling women. (laughs) And I don’t necessarily agree with that. I just think you deal with women that want to do things just like we do. So you meet women that are like you and how can you sit home and be mad at that when they do the same things that you do?

Stokely: They probably think we trifling too. (laughs)

MiddleChild: So you guys are on tour right now?

Rick: Yea. We’re doing a lot of dates so I guess so. We’re out of the east coast, in Atlanta, and down in Orlando. We got New York coming up and we were just in North Carolina. We’re going to be doing Germany and the UK. Amsterdamn. Japan. We got a lot of good stuff coming up.

Stokely: If the fans want to know where we are going to be you can check out myspace.com/mintconditionmusic.

MiddleChild: I’ll see what I can do about coming to check you fellas out then.

Rick: Where you at man?

MiddleChild: I’m in Alabama.

Rick: We’re gonna be there.

MiddleChild: Yes sir. May 10th. I have to check this schedule of mine, but I’ll definitely try and make it. I would love to see a live show.

Rick: Yea man. Definitely.

Stokely: Call our people and get hooked up.

MiddleChild: I will. You guys stay out of trouble and I’ll be sure to let my people know that E-Life is in stores now!

Stokely: Appreciate it.