Jon B. comes from what some would call the old school of R&B.  A time when male crooners didn’t necessarily have to dance, employ the use of pyrotechnics, or have a featured rapper on every track in order to gain popularity.  For Jon B. the focus has always been nothing but the music.  But after a string of hits that included “Someone to Love,” “They Don’t Know,” and “Don’t Talk,” he seemed to fade away into obscurity.  After some personal and professional life changes he’s back and ready to remind everyone of his talent with the upcoming release of Helpless Romantic.

Sixshot caught up with Jon B to talk his new daughter, the new love in his life, his biggest personal change of the past few years, why he doesn’t keep many industry friends, being unprepared for fame, new dreams, and more.  

You’ve been out of the spotlight for some time now.  What have you been up to?

Music is a constant process so I'm always writing and producing music.  It’s a constant process for me so it takes me a little longer than the average person to put out an album.  I like to take 2 or 3 years to really go through emotional experiences from my life so that I can have something to pull from when I'm recording and writing.  Recently I just had my first child—my little girl.  She’s eight months and that’ s what I've been up to as far as my most recent production.

Congratulations!

Thank you.

You’re welcome.  So what sort of emotional experiences did you pull from for this record?

I’m also married.  Me and my wife and I are very, very happy in our relationship.  It’s been really just the most eye opening experience for me to live life everyday with someone that challenges me in a good way.  I believe a good woman can bring out the very best in a man.  I’ve always been waiting for someone to really come into my life and make a serious impact on my life.  This woman did that.  So I’m in a good place.

You mentioned bringing out the best—what sort of things did she bring out in you?

I’ve never really shown a certain side of myself creatively.  I think I've kept my blinders on for years with R&B and hip-hop.  She listens to all kinds of different music.  So I think one of the best things she brought out was versatility.  I not only have the vibe that I had before, but I got open to other ideas.

Has that new open-minded outlook transcended into your personal life?

Yeah, a lot of the things that I used to be hung up on and used to keep my focus on are no longer important.  Being in love and having a child will help you prioritize. 

What’s taken a backseat in your life and what’s now a priority for you?

What’s taken a backseat is my own personal wasting time—like hanging with my boys, having a bunch of friends, going out and playing pool.  Those things were wasting time.  I'm not at all opposed to having a great time and getting out the house and away from my family, but I don’t hang out in Hollywood.  If I’m going out I have a reason to go out.  Me and my wife will get a nice bite to eat and we like nice atmospheres.

Do you have many friends within the industry?

Not really.  I don’t have celebrity friends that I can call up and be like, “Oh yeah, let’s have dinner.”  They say if you can count your friends on one of your hands then that’s good.  So I’m good.  I got good people around me.

Was that a deliberate choice not to have many industry friends?

Yeah, I think it's something you learn with maturity and life and the pain you’ve gone through.  When I was a kid, I was 12 or 13 and spending hours making beats.  A lot of kids wondered why I’m not out in the street playing ball or dating the girls.  So it’s all about staying focused.  That’s why I’m so productive.

Do you still keep in touch with Babyface?

No, we haven’t talked in a while.  I saw him not too long ago and everything is good.  He knows I had a little girl.  He has his two boys and they’re huge now.  So we’re still very good friends.  We will  always be boys and no love lost.  It's a matter of time before we get together again.  This album was the most independent t one I've ever done.  The only collaborations were with my drummer and Paul Wall.  I kept it like that to keep it simple.  I’ve always had like three collaborations and four or five producers, but it saves a lot especially when doing it independently.  I’m trying to give people the rawest element of me anyway.

In an interview you once mentioned that getting into the industry and having success thrown upon you at a young age was challenging.  What was it that you were most unprepared for?

I got the red carpet introduction and my career was served to me on a silver platter at nineteen.  Even though it wasn’t where I didn’t work for it, but I think fame in itself is something that I kind of wanted to detract from myself.  I didn’t want to be that focal point.  Here I was with a double platinum album and selling out, and I’m talking about doing a side group with my background singer.  So that wasn’t the smartest move to make at that point in my career, but what are you gonna tell an artist? had a creative wave and I wanted to go with it.  That shows how strong of a will I've always had.  People couldn’t tell me nothing but now I'm more open.  But the hardest thing was like what happens when you get what you pray for?  You gotta deal with it and have the ability to look people in the face, and be that star and shine. 

You’re now an independent artist.  How has that transition been for you?

This is good from a business point of view.  I never understood the breakdown and now I stand to make more money with this record independently.  It got crazy when the internet took over and now it’s a whole other game.

What are your thoughts on today’s R&B scene?

I really am inspired by the fact that the tracks have become more important.  That’s what I'm all about as far as production and taking pride in what the track sounds like.  People like Teddy Riley, The Neptunes, Timbaland, Babyface—all those people influenced me.  I think R&B as a whole has gotten a little bit thicker.  Of course there are more artists now in the game, but the talent is so thick right now that it’s really inspired everybody.

What are your new dreams for yourself?

To successfully navigate the music industry and get my name back out there as far as a producer and writer.  I have projects that I’m very proud to be a part of coming out.  I’m working with Keith Robinson from the "Dreamgirls," movie.  It's a trip because our styles compliment one another and our attitudes do too.  In this day and age people are desperate for that kind of teamwork and people are definitely gonna be delighted.

What are your dreams for your first child?

That she’s healthy and to give her the environment in which she can be the best person she can be.

For more information please visit:

www.jonbmusic.com
www.myspace.com/jonboogotti