Exclusive: Kandi Speaks to UrbanBridgez.com

Now Kandi is ready to take it to the next level as she puts the finishing touches on her next album “B.L.O.G.” set to be released in early 2010. Her current single “Fly Above” is a huge success already and hasn’t officially been released, a video for the single is planned soon. If that isn’t enough, Kandi recently opened the retail store TAGS in Atlanta.

In this exclusive interview with UrbanBridgez.com, as apart of our anniversary interview series! Kandi talked to Aries about “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” her new album, writing a book, AJ, her holiday plans and much more!

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UrbanBridgez.com: Last time we spoke you mentioned being worried about the editing when RHOA aired, Now that you’ve seen the season, do you feel you were portrayed right?
Kandi: Yeah definitely, I’m very very happy of how everything turned out. I was scared at first, but to me it turned out pretty good. Even the drama I did have with like my family and stuff like that, it was real. So I think people can relate to it, you know.

UrbanBridgez.com: Do you feel you learned anything about yourself, after watching yourself on TV every week?
Kandi: Yeah I learned I talk through my teeth alot, which I’m going to work on (laughs). I was like man, why don’t I open my mouth. Those words were not clear, what are you doing (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s the best part about being a reality show star?
Kandi: The best part about doing the show, is I have people all around the world who may not have known about my music before. That are now aware of Kandi and my music and everything that I’ve done. People know my first and last name, you know what I mean. Before I use to feel like people were like yeah that’s Kandi from Xscape, or that girl from Xscape. Now like the other day I was walking through the airport, and this dude was like that’s Kandi Burruss! I was like man he knows my government name (laughs). He knew first and last name, I mean it was hilarious to me. Then there is no set group of people, it’s all age groups, all races, men and women. It’s not a set list of people anymore, like before I kind of knew this is my audience. Now it’s everybody and I really appreciate the show for allowing me to use them as a platform. Basically to show everything that I can do.

UrbanBridgez.com: When do you all start shooting the new season?
Kandi: They want to start in February.

UrbanBridgez.com: Tell me about your tweet and meet & what inspired you to want to do that?
Kandi: When I first started on Twitter, I litterally tried to reply to every single message someone sent me. Then as my followers got up, it became to hard to do. Then sometimes you get people who feel like, oh she didn’t hit me back or whatever. And it may be that I didn’t even see their tweet, so I was like I need to come up with a way so people can know that I really appreciate the love that they give me. I figured okay, let’s just make it so we can hang out together. Let’s not treat it like I’m her fan and she’s this artist that has to be separated from everybody. Let’s treat it as Twitter friends or Facebook friends, let’s hang out, let’s do something fun together. And that gives people the chance to meet me in person. Like for any questions they had or things they want to talk about or take a picture with me. Whatever it is, now they get the chance to do that and it’s more of a connection instead of them just waiting for me to hit them back on Twitter.

UrbanBridgez.com: “Fly Above” is without a doubt my anthem and the anthem of the year! Was there a certain situation that inspired you to write that song?
Kandi: Thank you! Well I had wrote the song on the show. The first time I met Kim, she was telling me she was so sick of the drama and how everybody be hating on her all the time. She was like I’m over the drama, I’m above it, I’m just over it! So the next day I went to the studio and Drumma Boy played me the track, I was like this sounds like something like it should be an anthem for something. Which made me think about what she was saying about being over the drama and just being above it. So I was like you know what, I fly above all the drama, I fly above all the haters you know.

UrbanBridgez.com: Will there be a video for it?
Kandi: Yeah we definitely plan on doing that. I’m partnering up with a label and they’re going to start pushing the single at radio soon. So you’re going to start hearing the single everywhere and I’m going to do the video and stuff.

UrbanBridgez.com: Alot of our viewers are interested in knowing what label you decided to sign with and when B.L.O.G. will officially be released?
Kandi: Well can I call you back tomorrow and tell you (laughs)? Because the paperwork was suppose to be in and signed on the dotted line, so I want to wait until it is. It’s funny because when one label tries to sign you, then every other label calls you at the same time and are like well wait we want to sign you. Bottom line is I know the people I am going with everything is set in motion for me to have the album released in February or March. So I’m excited about that, if they can’t go forward with that then I ain’t going with them, so you know you’ll hear the album around early 2010. UPDATE: Label – Kandi Koated/Asylum/WBR

UrbanBridgez.com: What do you think the overall tone of the new album will be?
Kandi: It’s alot of anthems on the album, for me I wanted to make sure this album was bullet proof basically. I wanted to have to the songs that have the cool swagger on them, the ones that showed my vocal ability on there. I definitely wanted to have a bunch of songs that people could relate to and still personally use it towards their own life. That’s basically what I was going for, I wanted an album where people can feel like they got their moneys worth. I didn’t want the album where there is only one song on it or like one or two, like it’s got that one big single and everything else is just cool. I wanted an album where you feel like you can ride to the whole thing and that’s what you’re gonna get!

UrbanBridgez.com: Now that TAGS is open, what’s the best part about having your own retail store?
Kandi: The best thing is I have always wanted to continue to build myself as a business woman and entrepreneur. To have a successful business outside of music is something that I’ve always wanted to do. To have something I know coming in that didn’t depend on the entertainment industry. So that’s exciting in itself and to also the store is doing so well. So me and my business partner did that and even though my mom was like it’s a recession you don’t need to do that. That’s why we price everything affordable where people can still pay their bills but leave out the store with some stuff. And just as a woman I just wanted to keep taking things to another level. The bad part about it is I’m my own best customer (laughs). I’m like I ain’t gonna make no money, because I keep buying all the stuff. Sometimes I’ll be upset because I’ll be out of town and stuff out here sells quick, because we only get so many. So it’s so irritating when I get in and be like I wanted that, but the size I need is gone (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s something we who watched AJ on RHOA wouldn’t know about him that you would like people to know?
Kandi: I feel like AJ was a really cool dude. He had alot of personality and I don’t think people really got to see that on the show. People was like well he didn’t really talk much, but that was because he didn’t really like the cameras around him sometimes. He was that guy that knew everybody, got a million friends, you know he comes up in the club and he knows everybody and they all know him. He just really had a great personality!

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s next on your plate as far as songwriting and guest appearances?
Kandi: As far as songwriting I have slowed up because I have been focused on myself. I haven’t really been in the studio with other artists like I need to be (laughs). Before I slowed up I had did some songs with Fantasia, some really good ones. So I hope at least one of them end up on her album. I also worked with some new people like Sophia Fresh, I plan on getting back in the studio and working with some more people soon.

UrbanBridgez.com: Who’s an artist you would like to do a best of both worlds album with if given the chance?
Kandi: I feel like I already started doing that with my girl Rasheeda, with the Peach Candy project. I feel like alot of people haven’t really recognized how hot she is. The records we did together are really hot. I eventually want to put the Peach Candy project out. Right now it’s just like an underground thing, alot of people know about it but most don’t. Other than that, let’s see. I’m feeling Trey Songz music right now, I’m feeling everything I’m hearing. So I could see us doing something together, like myself I like to jump on alot of rap records. It’s not alot of females that can ride on a rap record and have a verse and really flow singing wise and have the same type of swag as the rapper, you know what I mean. Like say for instance, alot of people didn’t even know that was me on the “Try It Out” record because people didn’t really expect Kandi the R&B singer to be able to ride on that record. Not alot of female artists who can do both. Now men, there are a few that do it, well not many but a few who are able to switch it up. But Trey Songz can do it and I like his vibe, I can see doing some music with him.

UrbanBridgez.com: Any holiday plans & what’s next for you in 2010?
Kandi: Christmas holiday, my mother, I and Riley are going on vacation with Kim and her daughters to the Bahamas. So we’re going to hang out and have fun, I don’t take many vacations. So this will be a good time for me to have a relaxation moment. Then I’m going to start right back up with doing some shows, I’ve been doing alot of shows & club appearances lately. I’m just trying to take things to another level, I wanna write a book for next year. The book is going to be good okay (laughs). I’ve been keeping journals since I was like a kid, so I should be able to pull it together & put some good material in it (laughs). I also want to start my foundation, because I’ve been doing alot of stuff in conjunction with other people. Charities and stuff, but I would really like to start my own.

UrbanBridgez.com: Any last words for your fans?
Kandi: I just want to say everybody please follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/kandiconnection) and to tell everybody please request the record (“Fly Above”). I have so many people who love the record but I want the masses to hear it so please request the record at radio. I’m going to keep continuing to be all the way real with you, keep trying to put out hot music! Thank you for everything as well. All the love people have been giving me because the love I feel I get now…it’s very personal for some people, it’s like they treat me like I’m really their friend or family member. And I appreciate that, it’s not like on some she’s just that girl from that group. It’s more love, I guess they feel like they know me because they were able to see my life on TV and they can relate. I really appreciate the love I’ve been getting.