Obviously you are a timeless group, but do you look to anyone of today for inspiration? Like a Rihanna, for example.
T-BOZ:No, absolutely none whatsoever. You know why? We’ve always been trendsetters and we’ve always had our own lane.
CHILI: And what they do wouldn’t even fit with us.
T-BOZ:We don’t dance in heels, we’re not girly. No disrespect because I like their stuff, but that’s just not us. We have our own sound, and that’s what I love about this group. I’d just like to keep it that way. But if I was to look at someone, it would probably be a Michael Jackson or somebody who has been known to change the world. Not who’s hot today.
CHILI: Everybody, including us to a degree, all have learned something from Michael Jackson.
T-BOZ: He was a game-changer. Being hot and being a game-changer are two separate things. So I’m looking at people who change the game, and that’s really the artists from back in the day.
The reason I asked that is because I see so many legendary artists trying to make a comeback, and they just latch on to the hype.
T-BOZ: We’ll never chase sounds or anything, ever.
CHILI: And the only reason why the J. Cole collaboration happened was because he reached out to us. We had to hear the song first, and it was an amazing record no matter who honestly sung the hook — it would still be a hit. But the fact that he was really talking about something that’s very relevant, he was speaking our language. It [“Crooked Smile”] was like the guy version of “Unpretty,” so it was a perfect fit. Now I will say this, because he wants to work with us too, I really hope that could be a collaboration.
T-BOZ: He’s a great producer and songwriter! Today I just think lyrical content and things of substance is missing overall in the industry. There used to be way more superstars back in the day than there are now. Now they’re sprinkled here and there. Like Beyonce is doing well and Rihanna has great songs, but you don’t hear about great superstars like how it used to be.
Changed the game with that digital drop
Know where you was when that digital popped
I stopped the world
Male or female, it make no difference
I stop the world, world stop...
Carry on
