Post by CarolinaCutie on Oct 9, 2003 12:38:32 GMT -4
Jagged Edge's musical path runs smooth
For hip-hop/soul's Jagged Edge, it's time to cut the clichés.
"You can't make every song about gun busting, drugs and the hard times we've seen growing up," says Brian Casey, one of the four balladeers behind the amorous group, whose new album, "Hard," is due next week.
"We are from the 'hood, but so what?" says Casey.
"There have been so many war stories that there is nothing left to sing about but something good, something positive."
To prove their point, the title track of their album, already a hit, is not a synonym for being tough.
"We're not on any gangsta-type stuff," says Richard Wingo, who rounds out the band with Casey's twin, Brandon, and Kyle Norman.
"The song 'Hard' is about wishing you had loved someone harder. And as for the album title, it simply means that anything in life worth having is hard work."
The Atlanta-based group is best known for such raunch-free romantic songs as its 2000 chart-topper "Let's Get Married."
Jagged Edge's current lovelorn single, "Walked Outta Heaven," has been the No. 1 R&B single for seven weeks, according to Soundscan, and is steadily climbing the Billboard charts.
It's not the group's only uphill climb.
Last month, Norman turned himself in to the DeKalb County sheriff's office after police found 13 pounds of marijuana, two guns and $6,000 in cash at his Decatur, Ga., home.
Norman was not home at the time, but police had a warrant for his arrest related to his possible involvement with a local theft ring. Seven others were taken into custody. A hearing will take place later this month.
The band won't talk about the details of the charges, and Norman was quiet for most of the interview.
But Brandon did offer the following: "The moral of the story is watch the company you keep," he says. "Notice Kyle wasn't even there. We were on the road. We all like to say we are keeping it real, and you are not not keeping it real by trying to disassociate yourself from certain people.
"There is nothing more real than trying to survive and hold on to what you have. To do that, you have to watch the company you keep."
nydailynews.com
Brandon DEFINITELY told the truth in this article. Countin' down the days until I pick up their CD on Tuesday!
For hip-hop/soul's Jagged Edge, it's time to cut the clichés.
"You can't make every song about gun busting, drugs and the hard times we've seen growing up," says Brian Casey, one of the four balladeers behind the amorous group, whose new album, "Hard," is due next week.
"We are from the 'hood, but so what?" says Casey.
"There have been so many war stories that there is nothing left to sing about but something good, something positive."
To prove their point, the title track of their album, already a hit, is not a synonym for being tough.
"We're not on any gangsta-type stuff," says Richard Wingo, who rounds out the band with Casey's twin, Brandon, and Kyle Norman.
"The song 'Hard' is about wishing you had loved someone harder. And as for the album title, it simply means that anything in life worth having is hard work."
The Atlanta-based group is best known for such raunch-free romantic songs as its 2000 chart-topper "Let's Get Married."
Jagged Edge's current lovelorn single, "Walked Outta Heaven," has been the No. 1 R&B single for seven weeks, according to Soundscan, and is steadily climbing the Billboard charts.
It's not the group's only uphill climb.
Last month, Norman turned himself in to the DeKalb County sheriff's office after police found 13 pounds of marijuana, two guns and $6,000 in cash at his Decatur, Ga., home.
Norman was not home at the time, but police had a warrant for his arrest related to his possible involvement with a local theft ring. Seven others were taken into custody. A hearing will take place later this month.
The band won't talk about the details of the charges, and Norman was quiet for most of the interview.
But Brandon did offer the following: "The moral of the story is watch the company you keep," he says. "Notice Kyle wasn't even there. We were on the road. We all like to say we are keeping it real, and you are not not keeping it real by trying to disassociate yourself from certain people.
"There is nothing more real than trying to survive and hold on to what you have. To do that, you have to watch the company you keep."
nydailynews.com
Brandon DEFINITELY told the truth in this article. Countin' down the days until I pick up their CD on Tuesday!
