The UB Interview: A ‘King of R&B’ Raheem DeVaughn

Raheem DeVaughn has been many things to contemporary music culture and his ever-expanding core audience, for which he’s amassed a combination of prestigious award honors/nominations and multiple chart-topping releases. “There’s a lot of talk about ‘King of R&B’ and ‘King of Soul,’ but I’ve got enough music for the next ten years. So I can’t wait, because I’m just warming up.”

With the release of his six album release “Decade of a Love King,” it showcases his keen insight and understanding of his appeal and his audience. It’s a mix tape-like collection whisks his loyal listeners off on a romantic, sometimes steamy journey which has already effectively kicked things off with the momentum of double singles “Don’t Come Easy” (a Billboard Top Ten Adult R&B song) and the sunny, easy-groovin’ “What It Feels Like.” Elsewhere on Decade of a Love King, Raheem does everything from romantically wooing to turning the lights down lower and turning the heat up higher, masterfully setting the scenario for that intimate sequence of events that occur between two lovers.

We first saw Raheem see success with his Jive Records debut album, The Love Experience in 2005. Having already paid his dues throughout the Washington, D.C.-area club circuit, Raheem (the son of veteran jazz cellist Abdul Wadud) achieved a major breakthrough with his sophomore release, 2008’s Love Behind the Melody, which not only hit #1 on Billboard’s Top 10 R&B/Hip-Hop Album charts, but garnered two Grammy nominations (Best R&B Song for “Customer;” Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Woman”), one BET Award and two BET J Virtual Awards (“Male Artist of the Year” and “Album of the Year”). 2010’s A Place Called Love Land maintained the momentum, earning him yet another Grammy nomination (“Best R&B Album of the Year”) and more popular singles (i.e., “You”).

As the music industry landscape went through its changes, Raheem took the bold step of going independent and taking the reins of full creative control starting with the 2013 release of A Place Called Love Land and seamlessly continuing with 2015’s Love, Sex & Passion, which impressively charted at #4 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album charts, #2 on Billboard’s Independent Album chart and #31 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart.

When not working on music or touring, he continues to focus on his organization Love Life Foundation, whose initiatives include domestic violence, art and education, HIV/AIDS and the Text Book Scholarship for in-need students.

UB spoke to Raheem Devaughn about his latest release “Decade of A Love King,” his current success, the influence from his mentor DJ Jazzy Jeff, goals and much more!

UrbanBridgez.com: What made you decide to release “Don’t Come Easy” as the lead single for Decade of A Love King?
Raheem DeVaughn: Man, I just thought it was a great record. From the time Blanco brought the record my way. I felt like it was hand delivered and tailor crafted for me. Plus it’s not too often that I get the chance to work with outside songwriters and stuff like that. As well as with people who I really respect and who I’m a fan of. Blanco hasn’t just challenged me to be greater as an artist, but also on a personal level. In terms of where I am in my life as a man. We’ve been in the studio having grown man conversations, stuff like monogamy & just real grown man things. He’s real good energy. I’m not one of those people who believes in luck, I believe in blessings. It’s like a moment handwritten by god, in terms of like the level of success of the single. Hard work and timing is everything!

UrbanBridgez.com: Tell us about the process you took to record Decade of A Love King?
Raheem DeVaughn: I approached this project like I do everything else. A solid body of work, honest music and being consistent. Each project comes growth and I want people to hear the growth on this album. As a vocalist, as a songwriter and I want them to see it when I’m on stage as a performer. With this album I think it’s like me coming into the age of like real manhood. As crazy as that sounds, I thought for the last 30 years I’ve been operating under the code of what it really means to be a real man. I’ve experienced a lot over the last two years where I feel like it put me in this very solid place of brutal honesty. It’s like you can lie to everybody else, but you can’t lie to yourself. So in that process, it’s made me want to be better when I’m not so much in artist mode. I think people forget that we’re humans sometimes. But on a musical level and through my life experiences, I want people to take the lessons and turn them into blessings. I have the advantage of being able to get it out, I can go into the studio whenever I’m happy or whenever I’m sad. That’s always been like my refuge, but ain’t no refuge like God or Allah or whoever you pray to. So for me it’s God, family and music. I do think now that I am doing it in proper order now, that’s where the blessings come from. We don’t get the things we deserve sometimes, because it’s not our time. We’re not ready sometimes, it’s really about just being ready, you know what I’m saying?

UrbanBridgez.com: Exactly, makes perfect sense! Take us back to when you first got signed to Jive and how instrumental Jazzy Jeff was in that?
Raheem DeVaughn: Shout out to Jeff! He wasn’t involved in the actual process of me signing to Jive. To be completely honest, he was anti Jive. Jeff was anti label period. I think I let him down a little bit, in that move that I made. The advantage that I have, from being around guys like Jeff. Is I had the opportunity to learn what I was getting into. When I made the decision to sign, I kept it in the business also and we all made money. I recorded most of the album at Touch of Jazz. When I was recording I just knew it was an incredible working space. We call Jeff Professor X, that’s what we refer to him as to this day. He allowed me and other artists and songwriters to come through there and work. It wasn’t like he necessarily needed anything from us. It was more to instill something in us. He showed us the game, I remember the conversations like one with him and Will, the night of the Grammy’s. They had no money and were like mega-superstars & they didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. Guess what? It had to take me going through that to have the highest point. Because you will have your highest points and your lowest points in this business. I had to experience my lowest point, to appreciate the story. After everything he instilled in me and showed us, I still don’t do certain things. I’m thankful and we’re still friends till this day, we still work. I know he’s proud of me and I’m proud of him. That’s my brother and mentor, because of him I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful artists. That I’m still friends with until this day and still do business with. Dwele, Carvin and Ivan, Bilal, I mean so many people I wouldn’t know if it wasn’t for Jazzy Jeff. I love that brotha and at some point we have to do a whole project together. I still feel like I’m a baby in this, it’s album #6. When you think about artists like Roy Ayers, who had like 70 projects of music. He’s 80, almost 90 and still making music, performing and touring. I’m about to go crazy in these streets, musically. I’m going into the decade with quantity and quality, I believe that you can still have both if you put that work in.

UrbanBridgez.com: The Love Experience set it off! What was your goals back then and have you accomplished them?
Raheem DeVaughn: I don’t want to say it like I’m not goal orientated. But I can’t say that I had goals. Other than I wanted to be the greatest! Like I’ve always thought I was the greatest and had as much talent as the next man. That’s with the pen or the microphone. 13 years in now, I do understand the importance of style and grace. I take more seriously, how I look on camera, how I look and in these videos. I do tastmaker events and when I come out on stage my stage presence. And finding who I am and just being comfortable in my own skin.

UrbanBridgez.com: What do you want to leave your fans with?
Raheem DeVaughn: With this album and beyond, where I’m about to take the listeners and the music levels over the next few years. It’s going to be so eclectic and euphoric. What you’ve been waiting for and what you feel like you’ve been missing. There somethings that I don’t know how to do, but there are a few things I know how to do very well. That’s staying true to the culture of R&B and Soul music. I’m thankful to everyone who supports the music. From streaming, listening to buying it. Whatever your process is, pass it long. Don’t just keep it to yourself. I never take for granted that not everybody knows who I am, when I step in a room or on stage. But my goal is to leave an impression and I hope that as long as the listener and supporter allows me to keep leaving those impressions; I’m thankful for that!

Currently on the road with with The Love King Show and The Sophisticated Soul Tour along with Lalah Hathaway & Lyfe Jennings.