EVENTS
LLOYD’ S FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM OUT MY WINDOW IS ON THE WAY …
Lloyd has returned after his five-year break away from music,“ I’ m simply picking up where I left off, it’ s not a comeback, I’ m just making up for lost time,” Lloyd told Billboard. He hit us with his 1st single“ Tru” off the new EP of the same title, which was released on the 9th December. Lloyd opens up to his fans with the most personal work to date based on real life experiences he went through in his absence.
“ Hey World I know it’ s been a while, just thought I’ d come around and let you know what’ s up now. No album lately so my money’ s kind of up-down, but I’ ve still been taking care of my mama and them, somehow.’”
So personal that Lloyd didn’ t even want to release it at first, it took him a while to even listen to his own song while it was being played and listened to by friends and family. For someone that had been in the music industry for almost two decades, this was a new kind of vulnerability for an artist like Lloyd. At the age of fifteen Lloyd started his career in the boy band N-Toon forming in the late 90’ s and releasing an album in 2000 separating soon after. 2003 saw Lloyd signing to the label Murder Inc. home to acclaimed rapper Ja Rule and to superstar Ashanti. His first solo hit the title track from his debut album Southside teaming up with Ashanti was a hit but it wasn’ t until his sophomore album Street Love and the smash hit You with a verse from rapper Lil Wayne who was about to blow up really caught people’ s attention. Lessons in Love, Lloyd’ s third album followed shortly a year later to be precise, although it wasn’ t as successful as his album Street Love it was his best work to date. Following a departure with his label Murder Inc. Lloyd was back on the hook of Young Money’ s chart topping hit BedRock. His last full-length project King of Hearts featuring the song Dedication to my Ex, was released in 2011 and with a few features after Lloyd was gone from the scene.
Lloyd’ s five track EP features Rick Ross on the track Heavenly and 2 Chainz who stars on the Tru remix, Lloyd teams up with his old pal Lil Wayne on the song Holding. On the EP and up and coming album Lloyd reveals,“ I’ ve never attacked the content of my life like this,” Lloyd told Billboard.“ The EP and album were inspired by all kinds of biographical storylines of the past few years. And the bottom line message is that there’ s nothing wrong with being who you are. I really enjoy the fact that no one is perfect or imperfect. That’ s the message I’ m sharing.” The cover of his album which shows Lloyd naked sitting comfortably on a rock in North Georgia and the lyrics he shares with us in this five track EP is to show his bare naked honesty.“ People try to hide their flaws,” he says,“ but I think the flaws make them a beautiful person. And that’ s what Tru is all about.”
Lloyd is planning to release his first full- length album‘ Out My Window’ next year; he is keeping tight-lipped about what is to come on the new album but judging by the taster we have had with the Tru single, EP and his candour so far, it looks set to be a emotional masterpiece.
Melissa-Ellesse Assibey
[
41