Lyfe Jennings has been through some things, seen some things and experienced some things. The singer-songwriter, who spent a decade in prison for arson, rose to fame after his incarceration with his 2005 hit “Must Be Nice,” a R&B ode to a loyal lover.
The father of four, who recently celebrated a birthday, had his share of hard times. Jennings (real name Chester Jermaine Jennings) finds joy in the simple things and tries to steer far from any unnecessary drama, which is why he turned down an offer from “Love & Hip Hop” creator Mona Scott-Young to appear on the wildly successful franchise. Jennings, dialed in to chat about his new album, “Boomerang,” his upcoming reality television show, and the lessons his children have taught him.
HelloBeautiful: You call your music heirlooms because instead of just writing love songs, you write about situations. Touch on some of those situations you sing about on “Boomerang”
Lyfe Jennings: I call my music heirlooms because whatever you got going on in your life there’s a song for it and there’s also something you can pass onto your family members, your grand mamma, daughter, your daughter’s daughter that’s why I call them heirlooms. Some of the subjects I talk about are you might meet someone who’s off limits, a friend’s girl or a friend’s guy or whatever, female or a man and you can’t really approach that situation like you want to, that’s one situation. Then I have a song called “17 to a Million” some women start to worry when they get a little bit of age on them that things may not be as perfect as they thought they should be, be as long as your mind is as perfect, that’s what I’m love with it.
HB: Father’s Day is coming up. What have your kids taught you and what have you been able to teach your kids?
Lyfe: My kids definitely teach me patience and they keep me conscious of what I say and what I do when I’m around them. What I just hope to be able to teach them is what I went through in my life and I think that’s all we can expect to do. I go through situations in my life and they go through in their life all I can do is give them advice and hopefully they won’t go through the same things I went through.
HB: Tell me about the reality show that you have coming up. How did that come about?
Lyfe: I’ve always been approached about doing reality shows, “Love and Hip Hop” and stuff like that, but I don’t want to do anything life that. So when I was approached about doing a family show dealing with my kids and them trying to keep me on the right path, no more legal trouble or any other trouble I agreed. The reality show is called “Our Lyfe” and it’s from their perspective.
HB: Why didn’t you want to do Love & Hip Hop?
Lyfe: We talked to Mona Scott-Young about being on Love and Hip Hop before. I don’t want to go all the way into it but it just wasn’t up my ally. It just wasn’t what I wanted to do. I mean it’s cool if other people feel like they want to be around stressful situations. I think I’ve been around enough in my life I want some peace.
HB: On the album, you talk about having a thing for one of your boy’s girl. How did that situation come up?
Lyfe: It has never happened to me where I just wanted their girl but I have been around some of my guys and you see their girl and she’s beautiful and she has a lot going on for herself but he may not realize it. Then in your mind you’ll say-especially when you don’t have anybody-Damn why can’t I find somebody like that.
HB: What’s the name of the song?
Lyfe: “Hate When That Happens.” [LAUGHS]
HB: Last question.Why should someone check for Lyfe Jennings? Why should someone go out and buy your album?
Lyfe: Why not? [LAUGHS] At some point you have to get into yourself and get to know yourself to make yourself better and this album is just great situational stuff or for the times you just feel like you’re alone, this album will be that confirmation.
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Lyfe Jennings has been through some things, seen some things and experienced some things. The singer-songwriter, who spent a decade in prison for arson, rose to fame after his incarceration with his 2005 hit “Must Be Nice,” a R&B ode to a loyal lover.
The father of four, who recently celebrated a birthday, had his share of hard times. Jennings (real name Chester Jermaine Jennings) finds joy in the simple things and tries to steer far from any unnecessary drama, which is why he turned down an offer from “Love & Hip Hop” creator Mona Scott-Young to appear on the wildly successful franchise. Jennings, dialed in to chat about his new album, “Boomerang,” his upcoming reality television show, and the lessons his children have taught him.
HelloBeautiful: You call your music heirlooms because instead of just writing love songs, you write about situations. Touch on some of those situations you sing about on “Boomerang”
Lyfe Jennings: I call my music heirlooms because whatever you got going on in your life there’s a song for it and there’s also something you can pass onto your family members, your grand mamma, daughter, your daughter’s daughter that’s why I call them heirlooms. Some of the subjects I talk about are you might meet someone who’s off limits, a friend’s girl or a friend’s guy or whatever, female or a man and you can’t really approach that situation like you want to, that’s one situation. Then I have a song called “17 to a Million” some women start to worry when they get a little bit of age on them that things may not be as perfect as they thought they should be, be as long as your mind is as perfect, that’s what I’m love with it.
HB: Father’s Day is coming up. What have your kids taught you and what have you been able to teach your kids?
Lyfe: My kids definitely teach me patience and they keep me conscious of what I say and what I do when I’m around them. What I just hope to be able to teach them is what I went through in my life and I think that’s all we can expect to do. I go through situations in my life and they go through in their life all I can do is give them advice and hopefully they won’t go through the same things I went through.
HB: Tell me about the reality show that you have coming up. How did that come about?
Lyfe: I’ve always been approached about doing reality shows, “Love and Hip Hop” and stuff like that, but I don’t want to do anything life that. So when I was approached about doing a family show dealing with my kids and them trying to keep me on the right path, no more legal trouble or any other trouble I agreed. The reality show is called “Our Lyfe” and it’s from their perspective.
HB: Why didn’t you want to do Love & Hip Hop?
Lyfe: We talked to Mona Scott-Young about being on Love and Hip Hop before. I don’t want to go all the way into it but it just wasn’t up my ally. It just wasn’t what I wanted to do. I mean it’s cool if other people feel like they want to be around stressful situations. I think I’ve been around enough in my life I want some peace.
HB: On the album, you talk about having a thing for one of your boy’s girl. How did that situation come up?
Lyfe: It has never happened to me where I just wanted their girl but I have been around some of my guys and you see their girl and she’s beautiful and she has a lot going on for herself but he may not realize it. Then in your mind you’ll say-especially when you don’t have anybody-Damn why can’t I find somebody like that.
HB: What’s the name of the song?
Lyfe: “Hate When That Happens.” [LAUGHS]
HB: Last question.Why should someone check for Lyfe Jennings? Why should someone go out and buy your album?
Lyfe: Why not? [LAUGHS] At some point you have to get into yourself and get to know yourself to make yourself better and this album is just great situational stuff or for the times you just feel like you’re alone, this album will be that confirmation.
Like HelloBeautiful on Facebook to stay on top of your favorite black celebrities:
RELATED STORIES
SHE RANG: 4 Minutes and 59 Seconds with Mel B: ‘When I Like You, I’m Fiercely Loyal.’
SHE RANG: 15 Minutes and 59 Seconds with Jill Scott on Photoshop, Plus Size Shopping & Zoe Saldana.