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Interview with ATL soul singer Sleepy Brown. He's
lent his vocal's to Outkast classics such as "Playaz
Ball" and "The Way You Move." Big Boi is
featured on his Pharrell produced single "Margarita."
Tell me all about the new album?
Sleepy Brown-Oh man.
It's cold as hell.
So you still reside in the Atlanta area?
Sleepy Brown-Oh
yes.
I know you have been in the game for so long and you remember
when Outkast was first starting. What are your feelings
now that Atlanta is at like the forefront of the music
industry?
Sleepy Brown-It's
a wonderful thing. That's kind of like why we did it.
Of course we already had Dallas and Jermaine but one thing
they never did and I love them to death is they never
called out places in Atlanta. You know when L.A. came
out Snoop and them came out you heard about Compton and
Long Beach. But in Atlanta we was kinda hurting. We wanted
to make sure that brothers from Atlanta would be proud
to be from Decater, College Park so now we have this whole
big scene and that's all we're hearing. I'm very happy.
You've kind of played a supporting role for so long what
made you want to step out into the forefront?
Sleepy Brown-It was
just time. I grew up back stage because my father was
in this group named Brick. I grew up back stage and I
started out production wise with Organized Noize with
Outkast but I guess just over the years that part of me
just really wanted to do that so it was all about time.
So what have you been doing this summer just gearing up
for the album release?
Sleepy Brown-Yeah
I've been gearing up for that and promotion and stuff.
And it's a whole lot different than being a producer.
When you are a producer you just stay your butt in the
studio and work. As an artist, you have to go do radio,
you got to do interviews, it's something totally different
for me.
How long have you been into producing?
Sleepy Brown-Since
the beginning. I'm one of the third members of Organized
Noize we started a production company. I've been in the
game since the beginning I just started off doing production.
The first time I really sang on a record was like Players
Ball.
What are some of your favorite hits that you helped produce?
Sleepy Brown-En Vogue
"Don't Let Go," TLC "Waterfalls," Earth Wind & Fire I've
done some stuff with them. Curtis Mayfield I did his last
album before he passed away. Ludacris "Blueberry Yum Yum,"
one I did with him "Saturdays."
Did you pretty much hand it over to other people or did
you do any production on your album?
Sleepy Brown-Well with
Organized Noize we are a company so anytime we do something..so
of course I had to get my team on the album.
Have you done any movie more work lately?
Sleepy Brown-No, not
yet.
Didn't you have a cameo in ATL?
Sleepy Brown-Actually,
that's crazy but no I didn't.
Have you ever aspired to get into any movie stuff?
Sleepy Brown-Yeah I really
want to. I'm in Outkast's new movie Idlewood. I have a
little cameo in that. Hopefully, I can get some more soon.
Are you singing or rapping on your album?
Sleepy Brown-No, I
don't rap. I'm a terrible rapper. Please don't ever ask
me to rap.
Which do you prefer the producing side or the artist side
of the business since you've done both?
Sleepy Brown-That's a
good question. I don't know. I enjoy production because
of course I love music but I love the artist side because
as a producer back in the day with Outkast we would go
somewhere and no one would know who the hell I was. When
you come to the forefront as an artist it's a totally
different thing. I used to go anywhere by myself but that's
kind of changed. It's cool but I do kind of miss it.
What do people say to you when they come up to you?
Sleepy Brown-I'm
going to tell you what's funny. They never believe it's
me. I had one girl say to me, "You should be in lip sync
contests you look like Sleepy Brown you would win all
the money." I said, "Thank you." They don't believe it's
me. In Atlanta, they don't ever believe it's me. I say,
"Okay, it's not me," and then they say, "Yes, it is,"
I'm like "make up your mind."
What do you want fans to know about your new album?
Sleepy Brown-I just want
them to give it a chance and vibe with me when I come
to town to party.
For more about Sleepy Brown visit
http://www.myspace.com/sleepybrown
Sleepy Brown interview copyright
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, and Thabiz.com 2006
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is the author of Be
My Sorority Sister Under Pressure and the Unplanned
Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students. She is
the founder of Thabiz.com
and Imissthe80s.com
and writes for the Rap,
Teen, and 1980s
section at Bellaonline.com. She is an ASCAP member as a
writer and a publisher. Please contact Dorrie for advertising
inquiries, lyric writing inquiries, reprint rights,
paying
entertainment jobs, or general comments.
Visit Dorrie on the web at www.sparkledoll.com
or add her as a friend at MYSPACE.
Sleepy Brown interview
may not be reprinted, copied or distribute without permission.
You may link to this interview.Interview copyright Dorrie
Williams-Wheeler, thabiz.com July 2006.
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