Spotlight: Lloyd…The King of Hearts

Lloyd, aka Young Goldie, is back and got hearts pumping.  He even made my heart flutter after singing me my own personal song. It was on that phone conversation that I knew Lloyd was definitely smooth when it came to the ladies. With a new album out, the “King Of Hearts” singer is determined to make good music no matter how long the process took.

     His renewal of self is evident in his attitude and talent.  And as one of the industry’s youngest vets, the 25 yr old singer has been featured on numerous hits [such as YMCMB’s “Bedrock”]. But, it’s been a second since we’ve experienced Lloyd by himself. So I was given the pleasant opportunity to chat it up with Lloyd and discuss his entry into the business, his musical inspirations, Lil Wayne and Young Money, maintaining financial freedom, and much more. Check out the interview:

What is the biggest difference between the Lloyd we met on the first album and the Lloyd on “King Of Hearts”?
Lloyd:  A lot more self assured and a lot more clever than I used to be. I think that with age comes not only knowledge but just access to information. It’s not that I’m different. I still feel like the same young G. It’s just that I’m way more efficient in the way that I record my music. It’s just much more efficient and effective.
How did you come up with the concept and title for the new album “King of Hearts” ?
Lloyd: It comes from the confidence that you feel after a really great night of sex with the girl who you with and you put it down like nobody else can put it down. You really put it on her and that feeling that comes after that. You feel like you’re the king. You feel like there ain’t nothing you can’t do. You just feel unstoppable. It comes from that confidence. It also just comes from, kinda like an ode to all the hearts all over the world that could use a little bit of love.

What are some other features on the album, what other producers are you working with?
Lloyd: I’m still working, still recording so I don’t know everything that will be on the album; I actually haven’t put the album all the way together. So far I have collaborated with Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Young Jeezy, R. Kelly, Patty LaBelle, B.O.B, Lil Weezy, just to name a few. Um, Keri Hilson. Man, we’ve had a lot of fun so far.

Who have been your musical inspirations, people you look up to?
Lloyd: Dallas Austin for his versatility. Gerald Brunsby, who used to be the head of Motown. Barry Gordy, he really had an infinite passion for anything that was just beautiful in the form of black artistic expression. He was one of the most knowledgeable people that I have met, when I first met him when I was a kid. I always had a lot of respect and admiration for him. Also, really, anyone who ever really influenced me growing up ‘cause I‘m the biggest fan of music – first and foremost.

Have there been any significant lessons that stand out during your time in the industry?
Lloyd: I’ve learned that there is a very thin line between genius and crazy and you can’t be afraid to have people call you crazy, if you are trying to do something that’s a bit ingenious. I think crazy is what normal people call genius anyway. So, a lot of it is really about just believing in stuff you can’t see. Believing in things that you can feel, but that other people can’t see. You know, it exist but you have to prove it to people. What is it that you’re talking about, why is your music so great? Why is this song so special? Why are you so special? And time and time again it’s about having to reiterate that to people over and over again no matter how successful you are or how many records you’ve sold. You constantly reinvent yourself, you constantly push yourself, and you constantly try to prove yourself.

     With most of our exclusive interviews, we make it a point to reach out to our Facebook and Twitter followers for questions. Here are a few we received from our readers:
How did you get into the business?
Lloyd: I attended a performing arts school in Atlanta and during my 4th grade year Joyce Irby of the All Female Agency and Climax did a talent search where she looks for kids between the ages of 10 and 13 to be part of a black kids band, which was something that was really rare at the time. There weren’t a lot of kid acts really at all. She came to my school and signed me. Actually, she called the school first and one of the music directors told her that they had this kid who was incredible and the he thought that this kid was the perfect kid for the job. So she came and watched me practice for a show one day and approached me after and offered me dinner at Red Lobster. I went to Red Lobster and then that’s when she unveiled her plan of putting together the first all black kids group in a long time. There hadn’t been an all black kids band since ABC, I believe. A lot of the first gigs we had were through like Disney and Nickelodeon. I remember, I wanted to be on BET Uncut when I was 12, you know. (laughs) I wanted to hang out with the grownups. But, you know , when you’re so young you can only talk about so much. That was my beginning…

How would you describe your style of dress?
Lloyd: It’s like the type of cars I like to drive…it’s what you call luxury sport. I still like to wear my Jordans. Hell, I might not even wear a shirt, ‘cause you know I like to show off my tattoos and stuff. My tattoos are like my t-shirt. I like to incorporate the aggressive rebel that you get from rock music, that kinda just rebelliousness where you might just wear something that’ll make somebody say “what the hell?!” But you’re doing it because you just feel like bucking the system. There is a little bit of that in there. You now, 25, 30 is in a couple years, so I’m trying to embrace maturity. You know, that’s supposed to come with being 25. You know, being not as smart as 30, but now as dumb as 21. But, I still feel like 21 was yesterday, which it kinda was. So, I just try to find a happy medium between maturity and spirit, you know, my youth.

What was the decision to go to a different label when there were talks of signing with Young Money?
Lloyd: I’m very cool with that camp [YMCMB]. I think there’s a lot of thoughts about that just because of how good we worked together. It kinda felt like a no brainer. Being so exclusive, or being in a partnership with Universal/Motown and that being the same place that I was just coming from, I wanted some new energy …some new space. I wanted to work with some new people. I wasn’t able to bring Young Money over to Interscope.

What advice would you give up and coming artists?
Lloyd: The coolest ideas happen in the basement. The most innovative and influential movements start in the backyard, in the basement, in the garage, you know, in very humble places. As you get older and start to acquire success, I think it is very good to hold on to those places, those garages, those basements, those humble beginnings so that you can always go back to them and come up with something else that’s influential. It’s all about how creative you can be. It’s really not as hard as people think. It’s just about being able to express yourself. Sometimes it’s those places like the basement, the garage back home, you know, those quiet rooms or those dark corners; that is the only place that we can go at the time to express ourselves. That’s why is so genuine and I think innocent. I think when you get older the business starts to attack you. It starts to attack your inspiration. As an artist it is so important to stay in an inspiring place, amongst other people who are creative. And be in a place where you can grow. You have to be able to grow as an artist. That’s why I say just always keep those humble beginnings close because they come in handy even after the records are sold and the award’s been won.

How are you able to maintain yourself financially, help out family when you need to and still keep yourself afloat…what advice would you give someone in a similar situation?
Lloyd: The smartest thing is to not invest in something that’s going to lose its value. A lot of cars lose their value, a lot of jewelry, a lot women (laughs). Define something that appreciates with time [like a classic car], so that you can have your fun. But, you are still are being smart about it. I think that’s the hardest thing…is to be smart. And to still wisefully evolve. A lot of things that seem important right now aren’t. It’s important to invest your time and the money into things that will help you grow 5 years from now. Keep a 5 year plan and not live check to check.

     I credit my business manager. I’ve worked with a business manager and accountant since I was 15. So,, I’ve always had my taxes in order. I’ve always had access to information like about investing, mutual funds, retirement funds, or just whatever. Like my parents, it’s not that we don’t want to, we [blacks] just don’t know a lot. A lot of the tricks that other people use and have been using for years and years. The most important has been my access to information through my business manager.

     It’s also about breaking a lot of bad habits. If you want to grow, you have to get away from bad habits as soon as possible. My biggest bad habit of impulse buying. You know being somewhere and seeing something and really want it. And saying , “I got to have that.” Or those are the best I’ve ever seen.” When really it’s just another pair. I would credit financial discipline and compare it to the same discipline you experience in a marriage.

     Thanks Lloyd for the interview! For more information on Lloyd and/or to purchase his new album “King of Hearts”, go to www.lloydmusic.com.  Follow him on Twitter @Lloyd_YG.