Joe: This music industry is very, very tough. I?ve done it for a very long time. I?ve had success in it and I?ve been very fortunate and I thank God for everything he?s blessed me with. Sometimes it becomes a point where you feel like maybe?and I don?t want to be too outside of thinking when it comes to it. I love the music 100%, but also I want everybody else to love the music as well. I guess it comes down to if you?re not as successful as sales and you look at the numbers, which can really be a huge, huge impact on whether you want to continue or not. It says to you that it doesn?t matter anymore what you do and bring out. No matter how much hard work you put into it, it?s almost like it doesn?t matter if you put out an album or not. We can deal with a song or two, but not sure about an album. I think that?s the hardest part. I?m a songwriter. I?m a producer. I?m a musician. When you put those energies and mix them together to try to create a project and it means so much to you and you?re so excited about the release, sometimes some people don?t get a chance to hear it. They don?t get a chance to pick it up. So it kinda leaves you in a place where you don?t know if you should continue. Should it be something I keep beating in the head? Of course I?d love to continue doing music if everyone wants to hear it. I don?t want to say definitely, but certainly the question has crossed my mind. I?m at a point now where I so want people if only they love it and feel it, to support it. I don?t want to force anyone. I?ll never forget when my man 50 Cent challenged Kanye West to that particular album they released in the same week. It became one of those ?If he wins, I?m out.? I?ve always wanted to win and be successful and make people happy. When they listen to the music, they find something that connects to their particular life. Hopefully, there?s a great success on this album, and I encourage everybody that wants to bring r&b back to a certain state where it used to be. I?m fighting for it. I want it to survive and be successful again. I want those of Ginuwine and Jodeci and so many of those dope artists considered to be dope by the masses. I don?t want this genre to get pushed to the side or be an unsung genre of music. Hip hop is the new pop. I can clearly say that right now. The influence that hip hop has, it?s the most popular music in any genre. They have reached and touched different cultures, everybody. I want r&b to be just like it was when it was Marvin Gaye and The Gap Band and New Edition. It was so many great performers and songwriters back then. I want to bring that particular love for what r&b is back into the fore front. If it?s at that point where nobody cares anymore, I don?t want to have to change who I am as far as going trap or switch up my lyrics to sell records. I don?t to sell records, I just want people to hear it and be open to appreciating it. We are at a point now where r&b is at a crossroads and somebody has to step out front and say they?re not going to let it go that route
