UB Anniversary ReVisit: The Solo Debut of LeToya | Rollout UB Interview

Over the next few months, we’ll be spotlighting features from our e-zines from the last 25 years. T M H Entertainment, T M Hxone and Urban Bridgez.

As the longest running website for R&B online, since 1999 – We’ve been able to conduct some amazing interviews with R&B Royalty.

Born and raised in Houston, LeToya Luckett sang her first solo in church at the tender age of five. After meeting Beyoncé Knowles in elementary school, the pair later joined forces as members of Destiny’s Child.

During LeToya’s seven-year stint, she co-wrote two of the group’s gold singles, “Bills Bills Bills” and “Say My Name,” and appeared on the group’s breakthrough album, “The Writing’s on the Wall.”

Although LeToya had sold over 25 million records with Destiny’s Child and won two Grammy Awards, her star continued to rise.

When a project with a new girl group called Angel was aborted, LeToya moved to Los Angeles for six months. LeToya traveled the modeling and acting agency circuit while cutting demos that eventually secured the Capitol contract.

In July of 2006, LeToya released her self-titled debut album. Featuring production by Bryan-Michael Cox and Jermaine Dupri, plus Scott Storch, Jazze Pha, Just Blaze and cameos by H-town rappers Slim Thug, Bun B., Mike Jones and Killa Kyleone.

The set bowed at #1 on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

LeToya went on to garner Top Songwriter of 2006 by ASCAP.

Her platinum solo debut LeToya featured the hit single, “Torn,” that topped the Billboard 200 Chart. Her sophomore album, “Lady Love” debuted at #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart and #12 on the Billboard 200.

LeToya established herself as a chart-topping, platinum-certified artist, songwriter and entrepreneur. She owned two upscale women’s boutiques called Lady Elle.

Adding to her already impressive creative credentials, LeToya has had substantial success in film and television.

Including several movies and recurring roles on “Greenleaf,” “Rosewood,” “Ballers,” “Single Ladies,” “Tremé” & “Power Book III Raising Kanan”. She also captured the Reality TV world with three seasons of the hit show “Friends & Family Hustle.”

In the summer of 2006, LeToya spoke with Aries from UB about her debut solo release.

Letoya speaks on her Destiny’s Child experience and the Anjel project, that never saw the light of day.

Plus she speaks on any fears she faced recording solo music, her influences and more.

Aries: “Torn” is #1 in Billboard this week on the bubbling under the Hot 100 charts. And debuts at #70 on the Hot 100. How does the early success of the song make you feel?
LeToya: Wow really? Oh my God, it’s a blessing. To the haters and to finally be solo and the song is doing good from what I hear (laughs). My song is out and it’s doing well. I’m just blessed and happy that I have the opportunity to do what I love and that it’s off to a great start.

Aries: What was your biggest fear when recording this album?
LeToya: Umm, actually there was no fear. I was just writing, having fun and basically kicking it, what I do. I’m use to being in and out of the studio, so it wasn’t anything different. Just this time it was solo and of course that took some time to get use to.

Aries: What is one thing you want your fans to know about you that they probably don’t know?
LeToya: That I am a very strong believer in God. God makes all things possible and without him I am truly nothing. Now I’m done with the preaching (laughs). I’m very goofy also as you can tell, I want people to know that because it’s my personality. And I can not forget this Aries, I am a shop-a-holic (laughs).

Aries: Do you look at Destiny’s Child as a positive or negative experience?
LeToya: It was a very positive experience, it was a blessing. I mean I got to travel the world, all by the age of 16. I learned how to take on so many things. I learned how to stay and to be focused, so with all of that I can’t but help to call it great experience.

Aries: What did you learn from the whole Anjel experience?
LeToya: Aww Anjel was my baby me and Tavia put together. You know what’s funny is I didn’t even want to be in another group after Destiny’s Child. I mean I really had no plans on doing it again. I wanted to get into modeling and maybe doing some soundtracks and things of that nature. But we put Anjel together and the production company we were signed with fell apart. So that left Anjel on hold and we decided to move on to other projects.

Aries: What has been the most important thing you’ve learned in this business?
LeToya: Oh my God, to keep the haters out my ear (laughs). Just to really stay focused, learn to keep negative thoughts out your head. People will do and say so many negative things when you’re trying to do something you love and positive, so you have to stay focused on what’s important. So I’m just always grinding and doing what I need to do to do what I enjoy. I take it all with a grain of salt to be honest with you. I have to admit Aries, I love my job, God knows I do.

Aries: Who are your influences?
LeToya: Personal, my Mother, Family and Grandmother. Musical, Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams. And I love Mary, Mary, I just love them girls.

Aries: Do you have any particular feelings about an ex-band mate (Kelly Rowland) releasing her album around the same time as yours?
LeToya: Not at all, Kelly is wonderful at what she does and I’m looking forward to her project. I am not a hater!

Aries: Beyonce’ was quoted in Honey Magazine as in saying she would write or produce a song for Anjel at that time and even buy the album. Would you ever consider working with Beyonce’ or Kelly for that matter on a future duet?
LeToya: I sure will, like with Kelly, Beyonce’ is great at what she does and I would welcome the opportunity to work with either again. I sell her clothing line in my store. Again I am not a hater!

Aries: What makes you different from a lot of the other R&B; singers in the market today?
LeToya: You know a lot of interviewers ask me that and I can really say what sets us apart are us. Our own lives, I write from my own personal experiences and I would guess the rest do as well. I got the opportunity to write with Johnte Austin, who wrote the first three singles from Mariah Carey’s album. Brian Michael Cox, Dave Young. I mean the material is me, I didn’t take it to Church or anything (laughs). I did what works for me. My own way.

Aries: You and Faith Evans are label-mates. Are there any plans on working together, has she submitted any material for your album?
LeToya: Wow, I love Faith Evans. We were trying to work together for this album, but our schedules were crazy and we never got the chance to touch base to get it going. But we will hopefully be working together on my next album, it’s been discussed.

Aries: What’s next for LeToya?
LeToya: My online site, so I’m very excited about that, it’s for the Lady Elle site. I’m doing CD USA, some radio, actually a lot of radio and I will be touring to different markets, so I will see you when I’m in Minneapolis. Of course the album is getting ready to drop and I’ll be promoting that, so a lot is on my plate, but I’m ready to take it all on, it’s what I love to do.

Aries: We usually end our interviews by asking any last words for your fans, but a huge fan of yours asked me to ask, any last words for the haters?
LeToya: Oh My God, God bless them all!

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