Melody: How are you doing?

Joe: I’m doing good, just running crazy and everything!

M: I bet you are! You are in the eve of another album coming out on the 24th, this is your 6th album, 5th on Jive, that’s really big!

J: Yeah, It’s really big things, I mean it’s time consuming. You’d think it would get easier, but harder these days.

M: I’m sure it’s whole new world, you have online, television, radio, a lot more media outlets…a lot crazier.

J: Yeah, true that.

M: So let’s talk about you new album, the title is “Ain’t Nothin’ Like Me,”

J: That’s right.

M: I like that title because I don’t think there is anyone like Joe,

J: [Laughs] I like to think of myself that way…

M: I would too! You’ve come leaps and bounds in the world of R&B, it’s been over about 14 years since your first album came out in ’93.

J: That’s correct.

M: So you’ve been out in this R&B, music industry world for a long time and that’s rare..It’s not easy to do that, so how do you feel coming into your sixth album?

J: I feel good, I feel like a lot of the pressure is off as far as trying to show and prove, I mean I’ve already done that, right now it’s just about doing hit records and continue to roll with the times. You know it definitely changing on us and you are not gonna just sit back and not be apart of what’s going on in the future.

M: On this album, you worked with a lot of heavy hitters, you know Tim & Bob, Timbaland, Brian Michael Cox, so else worked on production?

J: Ahh, lets see, Cool & Dre out of Miami, Dre & Vidal out of Philly, I also worked with Stargate, a couple of kids from Norway.

M: Okay, I know there are a couple of features on this album, Nas, Fabolous, who are some other people that are featured on the album?

J: Ah yeah, like you said before, you got Fabolous on the album, you got Nas on one of the records, you got Papoose on a record called “Where You At?” and also I got Tony Yayo and Young Buck from G-Unit on the title cut, which is “Ain’t Nothing Like Me.”

M: Cool, so that sounds like a very diverse album. So I know your first single was “Where You At?” with Papoose, and the second single that’s out now is “If I Was Your Man” and the video is out now, so that’s out on 106 & Park, you can go out and vote for that right?

J: Yeah, that was just added to 106 & Park, and it’s also on Vh1 and MTV…

M: Good, so yeah you can vote for that now and it’s on the radio stations, right?!

J: Right.

M: So, Tours! Your going out on tour with Brian McKnight, right?

J: That’s correct.

M: So, when does that start?

J: We start that tour April 27th, starting on the West Coast, in Oakland and working our way back to the East.

M: Cool, so I know I’ll be looking for you at the House of Blues in New Orleans, on May 31st.

J: Yeah I am looking forward to that!

M: I know me too, I am really excited! So I’ll definitely be making my to New Orleans to check that out…

J: Aight, cool!

M: So your out on the promo tour, so what do you do on the down time? Or you know to relax?

J: Well I’m a real laid back, real chill kind of stuff. If I’m in the club, I’m usually performing or doing an afterparty, you know promoting the record. I don’t usually go out that much. When I do go do some things,I shoot pool, go the movies. Actually, I catch a lot of movies on the plane, to be honest with you. I catch a lot of movies on planes going overseas.

M: So what’s one the more recent movies that was really good?

J: Blood Diamond, that’s one of the recent ones I’ve seen.

M: Really?

J: Excellent movie.

M: You’re the second person I’ve interviewed that’s said that, so I guess I really need to catch that movie.

J: Yeah it was a great movie.

M: Yeah I know it’s been getting rave reviews! So are you married, are you single?

J: Right now I’m single, taking it easy. Not in a rush for the marriage thing right now.

M: No rush? I don’t blame you!

J: [Laughs]

M: So what’s something that a lot of people don’t know about Joe?

J: Um, maybe, I’m pretty much a neat freak.

M: Oh, so you’re a neat freak?

J: Yeah, pretty much, everything in order.

M: Okay, so are you OCD neat freak or just like everything in order?

J: Well I’m not over the top with it, but I guess you can say to most people I’m a little extra with it.

M: Now I know what some may not know about out you, and that’s something that we have in common, its that you’re a preacher’s kid.

J: PK!

M: Yes…

J: You are as well?

M: Yeah, I am, I’m a preacher’s kid.

J: Ayyy! [Laugh]

M: So what was that like, going into secular music.

J: Umm, it was cool. I pretty much had my own choice in making that. I left Georgia, and went to high school in Alabama, and by 18 years old I was in New York. By the time they found out, they saw the video, so their wasn’t any repercussions or any bad thoughts on it.

M: Okay, do you think you’ll ever go back to your gospel roots and put out a gospel album?

J: Who knows, I really can’t predict the future when it comes to something like that. But I will say this, I wouldn’t be the type of person that would put out a album and wasn’t living the same lifestyle as what you’re singing about. I believe that what you sing about, you gotta kind of be that person.

M: Cool, that’s an interesting take on it! So I know that you worked with a lot of people over the years, Mariah Carey, Rodney Jerkins, just a plethora, Mystikal, across the spectrum, Big Pun, is there any personal favorite that you’ve worked with? Or anyone that you really anticipate going into the studio with?

J: Yeah, one of the big persons I worked with was Mariah Carey, that really kind of overwhelmed me because she such a huge superstar, just to get the opportunity to sing with her on a record, and I can respect her as a vocalist ultimately. So getting that opportunity was just the greatest opportunity I could get as a recording artist. And as a duet, she just the hottest person you can get!

M: Yeah, I know right!? So is there anyone that you haven’t worked with that you would like to?

J: I would say Beyonce, she’s one of those that would be cool to work with. Dr. Dre, I’ve never worked with him before, he one that would be good to work with. So there’s just a couple people out there.

M: Well I could see you and Beyonce, doing some real R&B together. That’s something I really appreciate about your sound, is that it’s always real true R&B.

J: Why thank you.

M: And that probably not the easiest thing to do when there’s so many trends and fads out, things that come and go, and people want to stay relevant, but you stay relevant but that you stay true R&B.

J: Yeah, you’re right! It’s tough. Right now there’s a lot of Hip Hop and Pop, and that’s the biggest influence in the industry right now, to really stick to my guns and doing what I been doing for years. It’s not that I don’t know anything else, this is what I love doing the most. I love doing R&B music.

M: Well that’s good and really a blessing to be able to continue to do that.

J: Absolutely!

M: So who do you currently listen to? Who’s in your CD player in your car?

J: I’m into singles right now. I like the MIMS record, “This is Why I’m Hot,” Rich Boy, “Throw Some Ds on It,” a lot of hip hop stuff. I do go that new Ne-Yo record, that’s pretty cool right there. I like the Kelly record. There’s a lot going on right now.

M: Yeah there’s a lot of hot music coming out this Spring/Summer…and your album comes out May 24th and it’s called…

J: Ain’t Nothin’ Like Me!

M: Ain’t Nothing’ Like Me…I like that title..I love that! And so everyone can catch you on tour with Brian McKnight and look out for the video now!

J: That’s Right...

M: Well thank you for taking the time to talk with me!

J: No problem, take care!

M: You too!