Tuesday, May 5, 2009

GINUWINE SHARES HIS 'THOUGHTS': Singer preps new disc

"I try to be exactly who I am and that's a gentlemen," Ginuwine said. "I don't want to have people in general thinking of me as anything but a gentleman. I'm not going to disrespect women; I'm not going to do something that will disrespect my wife. I'm always trying to handle things as a gentleman and I'm going to continue to do that."

The fact that he makes women swoon didn't hurt either. Ginuwine's debut album, titled "The Bachelor," released his first hit single, "Pony," which saturated the airwaves in 1996 as he and producer Timbaland became a hit duo.

Now, "the bachelor" is a married to ex rapper Sole, with children. And with five albums and a few hits and collabos later, the showman is prepping a new disc called "A Man's Thoughts."

"I wanted something that would intrigue people," he said of the new album's title. "I did about 40 songs and once I started picking the songs I wanted to be on the CD, it kind of all tied into a man's thoughts - how a man thinks and how a man does things in certain situations."

However intriguing the CD title or the music of the new disc, the latest buzz on Ginuwine has not been about his forthcoming album. In early March, reports surfaced that Ginuwine and actress LisaRaye - who stars in his "Last Chance" video from the forthcoming disc - were snuggled up in a restaurant in Beverly Hills. The story was soon revealed as bogus and perhaps even a publicity stunt set up by "other people."

"The media really takes things and runs with it," he said of the wild reports of kissing and hanging at a hotel with his longtime friend. "I just didn't know that it was like that now. I've been out the game for a while, but I'm no stranger lies or the paparazzi, but for them to just say things just like that, without actually knowing what's going on, was really amazing to me."

Ginuwine confessed to EUR's Lee Bailey that he thinks LisaRaye is a beautiful girl, but explained that the two were never an item.

"I admire her and I admire her work, but we were never together. We were doing a video and that's really it. I don't even know where it came from."

He said that in addition to never wanting to lose the love and respect of his children and his wife, former rapper Sole, Ginuwine said that being a player - now that he has a family - would threaten the respect level of his fans.

"I try to be exactly who I am and that's a gentlemen," he said. "I don't want to have people in general thinking of me as anything but a gentleman. I'm not going to disrespect women; I'm not going to do something that will disrespect my wife. I'm always trying to handle things as a gentleman and I'm going to continue to do that."

What he's also continuing to do is fundamental R&B music, though he's working with the changes of the music industry.

"It was '96 when I came out, so it's been 13 years. I'm still learning. Things are changing dramatically. It's definitely different," he said. "The computer age, has really put a dent in 'music' careers."

Ginuwine complained of how the work of music artists is often accessible due to the fact that music is done through computer technology, although that same technology gives artists another medium to distribute and create their work.

"Kids can get your album before it hits the stores. It's affecting us in a bad way. So you have to try to find your way around and think of different things," he said as he listed car or money giveaways as incentives. "We're thinking of things that will make people go in the store and buy the record. If they can download it, why would they? We're trying to package things and give the people more than just a CD."

While there are no marketing details to the release of the new disc, Ginuwine guarantees R&B, straight, no chaser. Along with the lead track "Last Chance," there are ballads and slow jams that will not disappoint fans.

"My strength has been slow ballads, so I wanted to come back and secure my base and let people know that I've not forgotten the true essence of R&B."

Look for "A Man's Thoughts" to hit shelvesthe first week of June, 2009. And for more on Ginuwine, visit his MySpace page.