MiddleChild: How is it going with you man?
Raheem Devaughn: Everything is good man. Blessed, fully favored by God and just enjoying this New Year.
MiddleChild: I hear that. So you got this new album dropping for us on January 15th called “Love Behind The Melody”.
Raheem Devaughn: Yes sir!
MiddleChild: What was the process like for you going into this new record?
Raheem Devaughn: Ah man. It was a lot of fun. I worked with a lot of new people that I befriended. It’s cool. It’s always a lot of fun being able to express yourself to the 100% level that you’re trying to do it and then make yourself happy and proud where you can say that “I’m happy with this body of work” and then put it out and see how everybody takes to it.
MiddleChild: Okay. Now tell me the meaning of the title “Love Behind The Melody”.
Raheem Devaughn: Ah man. I wanted to…just always doing something different. You know? Testing the waters. I think it’s the one thing we all search for as individuals for that love behind the melody. Ideally when the music stops playing it’s the thing we all wanna have. Of course the best kind of love…loving yourself and then having somebody else to share and communicate that energy and that vibe with.
MiddleChild: Okay. You mentioned you worked with a lot of new producers on the album. Did you hook up with anyone for collaborations for the project?
Raheem Devaughn: Yea. Big Boi from Outkast is on the album. Floetry is on the album. And I also have Barry Zito, the pitcher. He’s playing guitar on the album.
MiddleChild: What makes this album, “Love Behind The Melody”, different from the first album, “Love Experience”?
Raheem Devaughn: What makes “Love Behind The Melody” different from “Love Experience”? “Love Experience” had what you call socially conscious songs as well as love songs. The second album is a conscious love album. So there are no socially conscious songs on this album purposely. This album was made for whenever the winter time kicks in and Valentines Day rolls around, this is the joint you wanna break out. When you done played your CD to the point where it’s skipping and you gotta go get a new copy at that point. The whole nine. That’s what this album was made for.
MiddleChild: That’s when you know you killed an album right there. When that joint won’t play any of your favorite songs. It’s always the songs you want to hear that are jacked up.
Raheem Devaughn: Yea man. You know how that go. We all go through that. I hear that a lot from my fans though. That lets me know I’m on to something. Keep that chicken in that batch of grease.
MiddleChild: (laughs) Okay. So last year we had a lot of males coming back and trying to put a male face back on R&B music. What makes you stand out from all the males that have been dropping lately?
Raheem Devaughn: I think my lyrical content makes me stand out. I think my live performances make me stand out. I think I’ve kind of created my own lane artistically.
MiddleChild: With that being said name your top two males that you look up to or looked up to in the industry.
Raheem Devaughn: Uh. Prince. For one of the few that gained their independence and really pimped this thing out and showing how it’s supposed to be done. Jay-Z is another person I look up to. I think he’s very business savvy and I admire his hustle and everything he brings to the game.
MiddleChild: Alright. You have this track on your myspace page called “Hotboy” and from what I gather it’s like a little bragging record. That’s kind of a switch up from what you deliver on the album. Are those type records fun for you to make?
Raheem Devaughn: Yea. It’s always fun to do like the mixtape stuff. I think I make my best joints when Jay-Z drops a new album though because there is always going to be a nice beat behind it. Know what I’m saying? It’s cool. I’m just letting kats know I’m back. I have formula to my thing now. I got it down to a science. I know what the people expect so it’s time for a new mixtape. Time for a new album and I’m letting them know that they’re both here and that the relationship that we have is still there.
MiddleChild: No problem with that. So for the people who kind of missed out on your whole “Love Experience” so to speak, and kind of dropping in on your career now…what would be the track that they should listen out for?
Raheem Devaughn: “Mo Better”. Well it’s a 3 way tie. “Mo Better”, “Energy” and “Woman”.
MiddleChild: Alright. Now the song “Woman” is your current single and these days we really don’t have too many songs showing the love and respect to the women. So what made you want to take that direction with that song?
Raheem Devaughn: Ah man. Why not? Look at the women. They’re beautiful. They’re here for the loving. Here to be appreciated. Here to be nurtured and pampered to and catered to. That’s what this song is about. That’s what this album is about. I wanted to make something that depicts and shows my women in another light then how they’re seen and portrayed a lot of times to this point to date.
MiddleChild: Right. Well what are your views on the R&B movement right now?
Raheem Devaughn: Oh man. I think this album is about to come out and shake up the game. I feel like Ali in his prime. I feel like Jay Z right now. Know what I mean? Like when he started to rise like yeast in the game.
MiddleChild: Right. Well are there any lessons you learned with your debut that you plan to take with you and help you carry out to make the sophomore just as successful if not more?
Raheem Devaughn: One thing I’ve learned in being successful is staying consistent. Staying consistent in terms of certain things that I’ve done that are like my trademark. Like now that I’m blowing up even bigger and becoming more well known and stuff like that, I can’t like not go out and shake hands and sign autographs and take pictures in between the shows during intermission or after the shows. This is the time more than ever to be doing it because I’ve been branded as a people person. Know what I’m saying? The music lovers choice so I gotta keep it moving.
MiddleChild:Well I’m always interested to know what artists think of other artists and you’re talking about how you’re becoming more well known now. So tell me who you consider some underrated artists in the game.
Raheem Devaughn: Good question. Underrated in the game? It depends on how you look at the industry. You have your independent and major artists. Are you talking about major recording artists standpoint or all across the board?
MiddleChild: All across the board. Like who do you feel has star quality, but just don’t get that love they deserve? Major or Independent.
Raheem Devaughn: Oh. They get love, but who I think could get more love is Ledisi.
MiddleChild: I love her.
Raheem Devaughn: I’m going to name a few. Ledisi, Algebra, W. Ellington, Bilal Oliver, Bilal Salaam.
MiddleChild: Sounds like you have some good taste to me.
Raheem Devaughn: Yea man. You know what I mean. Those are just a couple. Leela James. Just a couple of people.
MiddleChild: I know you’re jumping on the road with Jill Scott. So tell me what you got planned for us.
Raheem Devaughn: Ah man. I can’t spoil that for yall. I just want people to get there early. Get there early! Be on time. I’m the opening act. It’s me and Jill. Jill and me. She taking me on tour with her. It’s not every day I get to go on the road with Jill Scott. You gotta come get the full experience. She chose me to come out and share the stage with her and that’s a humbling experience. Come out and get the full experience. Be on time! Be on time! Be on time! Come out and get your money’s worth. We got forty shows to do and most are sold out. They adding shows so we may have to be out in some cities for a week. (laughs)
MiddleChild: (laughs) Well hopefully I’ll be out to show some love in either Atlanta or Birmingham when yall touch down. I’m working on that. So we’ll definitely be on the lookout for this album dropping next week. “Love Behind The Melody”.
Raheem Devaughn: Yes sir!
MiddleChild: So what’s the best way for your fans to get up with you besides coming out to your shows?
Raheem Devaughn: Ah. Hit me on the myspace. Myspace.com/devaughnenterprises. I definitely check my page and reach out to the fans. I got three mixtapes on my profile page that they can purchase fresh off the page on the website right there. That’s pretty much the main way. We also got raheemdevaughnonline and also theloveexperience.com is another informable site.
MiddleChild: Well that’s what’s up. Good luck with the album and we’ll be on the lookout for you. Continue to bring that heat.
Raheem Devaughn: Yes sir!
MiddleChild: Stay out of trouble playboy.
Raheem Devaughn: Aight. Thanks.
MiddleChild: No problem.
Raheem Devaughn: Peace.
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