By: Troy Taylor TTU

Grammy Award winning producer Troy Taylor is bringing back authentic R&B in a major way. Having recently worked on Jacquees‘ new King Of R&B album, and Elijah Blake’s Holiday Love EP, this hitmaker is imprinting his original sound on the careers of some of music’s brightest rising stars. In February of 2020, he will celebrate being in the music business for 30 years, as he continues to elevate his career for new heights.

I had the pleasure of catching up with Troy Taylor for a candid interview below to see what life is like as a hitmaker. As he openly discusses reviving REAL R&B, having a friendship with Aretha Franklin and finding longevity in the music business, it becomes clear that his passion for creating music will never die. Check it out below.

Troy Taylor Interview 

Respect: As you were signed to Motown Records as an artist when you first started off in the industry, what prompted your transition to focusing more on the production/writing side of music?

Troy Taylor: While I was working on my album for Motown, I started working with these kids who were ages 15 to 17, I was around 22. When I started working with them to make a long story short, a year later they come out and blew up all the way up around the world. I started thinking do I really want to be an artist because I really enjoyed the success that these kids had and I knew I didn’t want to be super political and feed into the politics of being an artist. I am too real for that. When I say real, I mean if you want me to be politically correct I am not that guy. I am not going to do all that shucking and jiving and all of the stuff it takes to be an artist and I knew that.

So I went to the A&R Timmy Regisford and Jheryl Busby the president and I told them I didn’t want to be an artist anymore and that I wanted to be a producer and writer. I had done some work with their artists, but these kids went on to be Boyz II Men so after that I was done. I was like I would rather be behind the scenes because I could still sing, I could still write and I could still do all of the things I love without doing the front stuff. So that is why I decided not to become an artist.

Respect: What does it mean to be a Grammy Award winning hitmaker having won grammy awards for your work with Aretha Franklin and Boyz II Men?

Troy Taylor: Of course you know a Grammy award is the most major award you can win as a musician, arranger, producer, writer and artist, so for me it was really surreal to be part of that academy. It also makes me feel like I need to do more. Some people may be satisfied but not me because I can do more and have too. I can’t get comfortable. It kind of pushed me at the same time, as well as being happy and excited for it it. It truly  made me feel like I have to go harder.

Respect: What sparked you founding your Songbook Ent production company?

Troy Taylor: When I first started off in the industry, my first 12 years of my career I was apart of a production collective. I decided to leave in 2002 and that is when I created Songbook. The concept is coming from Talking Book which is one of Stevie Wonder’s albums. I feel like it displays songs and production all in one.

Respect: How did you go about signing Trey Songz and how did that change your life/career?

Troy Taylor: Ironically Trey was with this collective first and when I left, he had to stay with them even though I wasn’t there. That is until he got kicked out. He got kicked out of the company and he was excited because that meant that he could work more with me and that’s what he did. Trey Songz became more so the artist I never ended up being in the sense of great R&B music. That is what I wanted, simply to create great R&B music. It is one thing to make hits for people, but it is another story to create a star from scratch. It is not easy at all.

Respect: As you have worked with many legends such as Patti Labelle, Whitney Houston and The Isley Brothers, what are some of your fondest memories from working with the greats?

Troy Taylor: With Aretha Franklin since she has such big personality and known to be very diva, I think what made us work well together is the fact that I studied her career and her music. I knew that she was a musician, a dope writer and dope singer. So it was like I knew she had an idea of what she wanted to do, so I would set it up to let her do what she does and then I would go in after that. Most producers try to produce her when you cannot do that. You simply have to just let her do what she does.

Then you critique it, fix it, and do everything that needs to be done. She liked the fact that I did that with her. Upon doing 1 song it ended up being 3, and for the first time I asked her to listen to Trey Songz’ album because he was about to come out soon and I asked her for her advice on the music. The founder of Atlantic Records who signed her blessed Trey and told him that he was a star early. He then told Aretha Franklin, which helped her to listen to Trey’s music. When she listened to him I asked her if she could give him some advice. At the beginning of his album you can hear her giving Trey some advice and that was huge.

But that showed how cool Aretha and I were. Every now and then she would call me running ideas that she had in mind. It was really shocking because Its like is Aretha Franklin really calling me like what? I had no idea. I didn’t even want to work with Aretha Franklin because some people are so big I just like to let them be them and stay a fan. So working with her was amazing. I have one particular interview that she did in 2003 and she mentioned me. I didn’t even know about it. Years later someone said I like the interview when Aretha Franklin mentioned your name. I was like what interview?? They sent it to me and I was like wow. The queen Aretha Franklin has spoken, you all can’t tell me nothing.

Respect: How have you been able to find longevity in this music business?

Troy Taylor: God. It is always good to remember the giver more so than the gift. People focus so much on the gift that they forget the giver. Me, I always remember the giver and why he gave me the gift. It has never been about me. It has always been about other people and me helping other people to understand their gift. I help them learn how to work their gift and use their gift musically. I have been blessed to be able to continue to go no matter how hard, wicked, deceitful, or evil this industry can be. I have always been able to maintain and focus my energy mentally and not get caught up in the other stuff.

Thinking about before social media and now with social media, you can really get lost in why you want to do it or why you are doing it. I never got wrapped up in that. I stayed with the love of music and never let anybody, anything, any situation or hard time make me not love it anymore. Really I was able to stay on it and in it and going, just from the love of why I wanted to do it in the first place. I cannot let anyone change that thought you know what I mean.

Respect: As you have been in the game for 20 years, what do you find my rewarding about the line of work that you do?

Troy Taylor: It will be 30 years on February 11th 2020

Respect: As you have co-executive produced  Elijah Blake’s new Holiday Love album, what in the nature. Of you all relationship?

I met him when he was 14 going on 15. We are both Geminis and just clicked really well. But talent is one thing and learning how to use it is another thing. He came to visit me in Atlanta after I had moved there from Texas, and that is when I was able to figure him out and see what his need was and where he needed to be. At that time he was Red Styles he wasn’t Elijah Blake yet. He was an artist that wrote and knew how to record himself, which is one of the requirements at TTU.

You have to know how to record yourself. He knew how to record himself, write, arrange and do harmonies so upon him graduating and moving to LA, we just kept in touch. He is a great person outside of being a great artist. His personality and my personality work really well together, so we always stayed close no matter what he was doing.

He always knew he had my support and would get me whenever. This project was an honor to do because he came to Atlanta and stayed at the house. We actually worked on it in 2017. He didn’t put it out then and I tried to get him to put it out in 18, and he wouldn’t put it out. Now we finally have it out! It is really dope to have a body of work attached to our relationship.

Respect: What was it like working with Jacquees on his latest R&b album King Of R&B?

Troy Taylor: My goal for Troy Taylor as the 0G in the music game, is to get myself into the new era of R&B. That way I am able to change it, without standing on the outside and talking and being bitter. I knew I had to get up with the young up and coming R&B artists and insert my OGism. With Jacquees being the most active consistent young R&B artist, I knew I had to get to him. Once I got to him, I knew I could do the R&B those kids grew up on, if I had someone young doing it. I knew that if I could get that same music on Jacquees it would spark a whole new generate to R&B again. And since not to many of the producers that are out can actually do real R&B, it would put me back on top so to speak.

Respect: What are you currently working on/what is up for next?

Troy Taylor: I am currently working on music with Trey Songz for his forthcoming Trey Songz album. We have some really amazing music on the way. I am also working with a group called Next Town Down and in that group is one of my proteges Trevon Waters. Some of the songs I did for Trey, he co-wrote along with Daniel Breland. Breland (@thepenpointguard) does a lot of the things that I am doing now. He also co-wrote Jacquees songs “Fact Or Fiction” and “Good Lovin” and worked on YK Osiris latest project.

I also did some work on K. Michelle upcoming R&B album and executive produced my little brother Johnta Austin’s album Love, Sex and Religion. His most recent material is the definition of true R&B as it has been in the making for 10 years. He has finally released a body of work as recording artist, making this release his most impressive material to date. This move has allowing me to be fresh, up to date and current while at the same time fixing and bringing back the essence of Real R&B.

Stay up to date with this living legend by following him on social media @troytaylorttu.

The post Grammy Award Winning Producer Troy Taylor: Talks Reviving Real R&B, Friendship With Aretha Franklin & Finding Longevity In The Music Business appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

As we near the release date for his new album, singer Elijah Blake drops off a new laid-back visual for “I Just Wanna” featuring Detroit’s  DeJ Loaf. In the visual, Blake and his cohorts are hanging out at a local shoe spot making their night plans when a fine lady catches his eye. From that point on it’s something you would see on VH1 as the pair trade verses cleverly.

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J.Drew makes a big return as he prepares for the release of the follow-up to his 2013 EP Never Coming Back. With a premiere from Yahoo Music, J.Drew partners with fellow contemporary R&B singer-songwriter Elijah Blake for a self-produced collaboration titled “All I Need Is You.” Drew’s new music showcases a great deal of growth and maturity since we last heard from him and you can expect the same on his new project. J.Drew’s forthcoming EP The Long Way Home is set to arrive this coming Tuesday, April 21st.

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Def Jam artist, Elijah Blake, shares the lead single off of his debut album, “I Just Wanna…”. After a year,  he is bringing back his a-game and serving up something quite dope for his listeners. The talented singer has written songs for Rick Ross, Rihanna, and co-wrote Usher’s number-one R&B hit, “Climax”.

The Djemba Djemba-produced “I Just Wanna…” track is developed by sensual melodies, and smooth drum work that becomes explosive with Elijah’s vocals. He again doesn’t disappoint, introducing another late night banger.

Last year (September 2014), Blake released his EP, Drift, and is now currently working on his debut album Shadows & Diamonds.

Press play below and share your comments:

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Blake is currently signed to No I.D.‘s ARTium imprint, and No I.D. himself actually executive produced the EP. Blake spoke of No I.D.’s involvement in a  recent interview on RapUp: “You can expect No I.D. at his finest. He’s pushing it. I think everybody’s heard him do stuff for Common and Kanye, like the edgy hip-hop stuff, but this time they’ll really get a glimpse of No I.D. doing some cool, progressive R&B, soulful production.”

Cool and soulful are the perfect modifiers to describe this EP. The tracks are smooth and deep, booming beats intermixed with jungle drums and longing cries from Blake. J. Cole lended his talents on “Vendetta,” the only collaborative track on the release. Cole’s calm, confident verses fit in perfect with Blake’s wistful and powerful falsetto. There’s something undeniably sexy about Blake, sort of like if Chris Brown and The Weeknd made a sound baby. But what’s most interesting is that no two songs on this release sound the same. Cut to “Imagination,” which has a real country feel to it.

You can stream the full EP here, and also check out Blake’s lusty video for “Strange Fruit.”

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As many are aware, Don Benjamin is the most highly sought out models around but beyond modeling, he’s extremely musically talented. Rapping for a while now, Don Benjamin is preparing to show the world his flow. His most recent tracks, “Doin’ It Well,” and “Enough” have been on fire and fans can’t wait to get another hit! In the midst of preparing for his EP, Don sat down with RESPECT. Mag to discuss what he is working on, transitioning into music and much more. Check out the interview below.

RESPECT.: I know you have been modeling for a while but you have always been interested in music. When did you decide to make the full transition?

I’ve actually been doing music for the last ten years but recently started to do modeling. Music was like my passion and modeling is kind of took off. Now that I have a bigger following and more eyes on me I been offering a lot more to my fans.

Were you nervous when you decided to make this transition?

I’m more confident than nervous. I mean there isn’t many model turned rappers so I have my own perspective of things. I’m not a gangster rapper but I still tell good stories. I make the music that doesn’t confuse my fans like what is this guy doing.

I know the track,”Doin’ It Well,” was produced by MIDI Mafia. How does it feel to be on one of their tracks?

They produced “21 Questions” by 50 cent. I mean they are legends so it feels good. I’m not so big on the name dropping or what they have done but if you produce quality that’s what really matters.

You started a Kickstarter to raise money for your next project. How has the feedback been now that it has launched?

The Kickstarter thing is different. I don’t like handouts; I take my own modeling money to fund my music. The Kickstarter is also to get my fans more involved; you know like dinner date giveaways, Skype chats. I’m trying to incorporate all of that together. I think that’s a bit more special than them just going and buying the album. My manager gave me the idea because lot of independent artists were doing it and I wanted to stay independent today instead of signing a deal with a big label and handing over all my rights.

I know you are using your new track “Enough” as part of the launch. How did that track come about?

I was working with my boy, DeCarlo, who’s like this song writer that I’ve worked with. We were in the studio kind of just talking about life and relationships. Then he was like man thats a good song. He started harmonizing the song and I put in some words and we laid the hook down. Then I was like, “Man I gotta go in,” and then I just sat down and wrote the verse. I wanted to talk about relationships and fighting with somebody which always leads to make-up sex because really thats how actual relationships end one day you’re cool then the next day same process again.

Why did you use that track for the Kickstarter?

Because I feel like that in todays age and time, it’s just something everyone can relate to and I thought it would be a good follow up to  “Doin’ it Well.”

These two songs “Doin’ it Well” and “Enough” set the tone for your project. But of course you know better than we do about this project, it’s vibe and it’s concept. So tell us a bit more about the project and what it would be like.

My EP is like story telling. Things that everyone kind of can relate to or someone around them can relate to. That’s kind of like my music. This is just something you can relate to.

Do you have any features on there?

A lot of stuff I’ve been doing I’ve been partnering with singers like I got Elijah Blake on there. I just linked with Justin Bieber yesterday and if I can get him on there, that would be crazy. Jeremiah is the homeboy so I’m trying to get him and maybe couple of female singers like Jhene Aiko. I’m just really trying to make it like RnB/Rap project. I would also like to build like cross promotion; their fans my fans come together.

Are their any rappers you would work with?

I haven’t worked with too many rappers but yeah there are a lot of rappers that I would love to work with like Fabolous, Pusha T, J.Cole. Anybody that could be lyrical and can blend into storytelling. In the meantime we are focusing on me doing the verses and singers doing the hook and then we’ll take it from there.

When are you looking for your project to come out?

I want it to drop by the new year hopefully not later than the new year. Gotta buckle down these next few months.

Will be you doing shows afterwards or in-between now till then?

Yeah I’ve been performing every week and now I plan to incorporate couple of new tracks to make it bigger so by the time the EP drops we’re doing like a full set.  Last couple of months, I’ve been doing appearance tours so I’ve been moving city to city doing appearances.  I’m just looking forward to releasing my project so I can perform a full set of songs and be on the road with some of the top artists.

Tell us something about you that fans could only get from this interview.

I definitely want my fans to know that I’m not just trying to be a rapper. I also want them to know that you don’t have to sell yourself short. If you’re a model don’t sell yourself short or if you’re an actor don’t sell yourself short. If you have the talent or the drive and focus to do it all then why not combine it all and do it.

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