Before Justin, Usher, and Robin Thicke, one man had the R&B game on lock. His sultry, classic music epitomized what R&B should be and his silky smooth voice had ladies all over the world swooning. Some may remember and some may not but that man’s name is Jon B.

Releasing music since the age of 15 on labels like Rap-A-Lot and Babyface Edmonds’ Yab Yum Records is a testament to his versatility and ability to adapt. Jon B was also one of the first R&B singers to heavily use rappers in his music, even collaborating with Tupac Shakur.

In addition to his singing abilities,  Jon B is also a talented producer and writer having written songs for Toni Braxton and Michael Jackson amongst others. While his releases in latter years haven’t made as much noise as his earlier recordings, Jon B is still one of the best to do it and with his newest release he plans to let everybody know that. Sixshot.Com caught up with Jon B to discuss his earlier recording days, how R&B has changed, how he feels about the genre’s newer stars, and his new album.

Sixshot.Com: I always felt like you were a little underrated in the R&B world. Would you agree with that?

Jon B: You know I really just try and focus on the music and not so much my status in the game. I don’t like to be in any one place with my music and I feel if you think like that then that’s what happens. I do it out of the joy and the passion that I have for the music. Playing the keyboard, making a beat, and singing are the things that make me happy so those are the things that I focus on. People are always going to have different perceptions about what it is that I do.

Sixshot.Com: Like you said before you sing, producer, play instruments. Have you ever enjoyed one more than the others?

Jon B: It’s all part of it, you know? Just being creative and being in the studio writing my songs and just being creative is what I love. It’s what gives me sanity in my life besides my wife and daughter. My meditation is my music so it’s really all part of the process. Performing is kind of different because you’re drawing all that energy from the people. I try to put everything I can into my performances. I’m always gonna take my fans to a familiar place. I think we need more love and romantic vibes in the world today. I think everything is so sexual now that we lost the sexy somewhere along the way. I really appreciate what guys like Ne-Yo, Dream, J. Holiday and Robin Thicke are doing because they’re bringing that back. Eric Benet is coming back. The world needs that and you don’t only have to make lick you up and down records. You can have some depth to what you do.

Sixshot.Com: So you feel like the scape of R&B has kind of changed?

Jon B: Well it’s always going to change and that’s the beauty of R&B music. It’s always been about somebody laying a foundation and then that foundation turning into a style. R&B is so universal now. People are mixing all other types of genres with R&B. You can hear the rock vibes in there and even an 80’s sound, like that Euro type sound. It just lets you know that the world is eclectic and they don’t just want to hear one type of music. We have to assume the world is smarter than that because the world has been treated kind of dumb.

The radio stations have been only catering to one kind of music for a long time. People like Ne-Yo, Rihanna, and myself kind of step outside the box a little bit and get to lead the way just in terms of being artistic. That’s what’s beautiful about hip-hop and R&B music that you can just jump on that movement and enjoy it. My new single with Paul Wall “Oh So Sexy” I felt was a good way to hit the world again. The beat is super simple and it’s just hot.

In America I’ve been heavily supported in the South and I’ve been down there a lot the last few years. They really keep my spirits up and they’ve been so big for the last couple of years. I get a lot of love everywhere and it’s been real inspiring to me. I’ve been doing a lot of promoting and all that and this comeback is important to me.

I feel like this song is a thank you to the South. Paul and me actually talked about being underrated artists. We were saying how it’s kind of different when you’re not a new artist anymore. It just feels different. People make a big fuss over you and everything and then after you’ve been here for a while it’s kind of like you’ve got to fight for it a little more. Working with Paul was great and it was different for me. There’s a lot of differences. This is actually my first album on an independent label.

Sixshot.Com: So why did you choose to go independent this time around?

Jon B: Independent is definitely for me as far as being a creator and producer of my music. It’s much better for me to be able to do what I want to do as opposed to being at a major label with a whole staff of people and not everybody is going to agree on the same things. I don’t need a big staff to decide whether we should go forward with my project of not or whether the music is strong enough or not. I want to have complete control over my destiny and not have to wonder if a record company is going to push my album or not.

The music industry has changed and the internet has been a big part of that. Music is supposed to be about people and I think we kind of forgot about the people. I feel like this album is necessary. It tells you what I go through in my life with my wife and my daughter who’s fifteen months old now. If you’re curious about what I’ve been up to, what I’ve been doing then this album is for you.

Sixshot.Com: You’ve been a big priority at major labels. Did you ever experience any of those cliché situations we hear about at the majors?

Jon B: Actually I got shown a lot of love. I’m not downing the majors for what they can do because when they roll out that red carpet you’re gonna look good on it with the cameras flashing and all of that. There’s a whole lot of politics in this business. It’s no secret that a person can’t just drop a record and it blow up overnight. There’s obviously a whole marketing thing they do and everything.

I think I’ve established my name in this business as a good person to work with. I’ve always been about what I say I’m about and I’ve always shown proof. I know a lot of people feel like I’m an underrated artist and I haven’t had an album out in a while but I’m right there man.

Sixshot.Com: Does this album feel like a comeback for you?

Jon B: Every album feels like a comeback for me. When you reemerge it’s like you were at the bottom of the ocean then you poke your head out, maybe party on the land a little bit, and then go back to the bottom of the ocean. I’m just doing what I’ve always done. If I’m not recording then I’m on the road. I’m always doing something. I just love the music.

Sixshot.Com: What’s the main thing that you want people to take away from this album?

Jon B: I just want people to enjoy it. I went through some personal thing like learning how to be a man on my own and whatnot. I’m back and I’m doing my thing again. This album is independent and it’s just me. I’m working with a female artist right now who is incredible also so I’ve been doing that. On this album I really got down to the nuts and bolts. It’s got that real sultry R&B sound. It’s a good listening album. I’m just keeping it romantic.

Sixshot.Com: All right man tell us when the album drops and anything else we need to know.

Jon B: The album comes out October 28th. Look forward to a show coming to you soon because we’re all over the place. Thanks for all the love over the years. I appreciate it.