UB Anniversary ReVisit: Carl Thomas Talks ‘Let’s Talk About It’

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, as well Hip Hop Legends.

Today is the 20th Anniversary of Carl Thomas‘s sophomore album release “Let’s Talk About It.” Aries from UB spoke to the exceptional singer and songwriter for the release, via our then brand T M H.

This ReVisit spotlight’s that interview, as well as our UB interview with Carl Thomas in 2011 for his “Conquer” album release.

Grammy nominated Carl Thomas is a native from Chicago. Who in 1999 became the protégé of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who signed Thomas after hearing him sing at an open mic night in New York City.

Carl was the first male heartthrob R&B artist on Bad Boy Entertainment.

Carl Thomas released his first single, the #1 R&B single “I Wish” in February of 2000. The single was Billboard‘s Greatest Gainer/Airplay single, on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and the same week, hit #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.

His debut album, Bad Boy release “Emotional” was released April 18th, 2000.

The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Street-date violations at the time, caused his album to actually debut a week before release, at #100 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album over all, was a critical and commercial success, selling nearly 2 million copies.

Outside of Diddy, Mario Winans, Mike City, the legendary Gordon Chambers & Karl Gordon, Chucky Thompson and Deric “D. Dot” Angelettie all contributed.

When Thomas crooned “I wish I had never met her,” with equal parts pleading and regret, women found his white-wine cool vocals and Marvin Gaye meets Nat King Coleper se sex appeal irresistible. While guys immediately identified with his worldly yet around the way lyricism and spot-on relationship observations.

The entire album is a solid debut for such a young artist at the time. The release also included the hit single “Summer Rain” and the midnight storm title track.

Carl Thomas instantly transformed from a Chicago native son singing for his supper into both an in-demand lothario and the voice of masculine romance for an entire generation.

20 years ago today, Carl‘s sophomore album “Let’s Talk About It” was released. The gold album featured the singles “She Is” and “Make It Alright.”

That same year, Carl Thomas was devastated when his only brother was shot and murdered in a drive-by on Halloween night. Carl Thomas was devastated and had to take a break from music.

Carl Thomas received a Grammy nomination in 2006 for his collaboration with Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams and the late great Gerald LeVert on the song “Everyday.”

In 2007, he released his third album, “So Much Better.” The cover-art for the album was photographed by D-Nice.

“Conquer” arrived in the tail end of 2011 and featured the lead single “Don’t Kiss Me“, featuring Snoop Dogg & written and produced by Rico Love.

In this UB Anniversary ReVisit, Carl Thomas talks about his albums “Let’s Talk About It” and “Conquer.” He shares the process he took to record “Let’s Talk About It” and his appreciationfor Marvin Gaye.

Plus Carl Thomas shares with UB his biggest obstacle staying relevant and favorite songs from his catalog and more!

UrbanBridgez.com: What was the process between the first album and this one like? Was there pressure to double that success?
Carl Thomas: No, I think only with other people (laughs), not myself. To be honest some of the songs on “Let’s Talk About It” were suppose to be on “Emotional.”

UrbanBridgez.com: What does “Let’s Talk About It” offer that “Emotional” didn’t?
Carl Thomas: “Let’s Talk About It” is more poetic. “Emotional” was a lot of different things, mainly a lot of things I needed to get off my chest at that time.

UrbanBridgez.com: “My First Love” is one of my personal favorites, is that song based on a personal experience?
Carl Thomas: No, but it was a subject I knew everybody would be able to relate to one way or the other. I mean even if your first love was a dog, you would still be able to relate to those feelings at that time.

UrbanBridgez.com: You make a reference to Marvin Gaye, one of my all time favorites in “The Baby Maker.” What type of influence did Marvin play in your career?
Carl Thomas: Man, it was just his life as a whole. I mean his life was so interesting, it was always something going on. Marvin had so many ups and downs with Barry Gordy and Motown. His music was a testament to his joy and pain.

UrbanBridgez.com: What is the number one reason, in your opinion, why fans and non-fans should pick up this album?
Carl Thomas: Well because “Let’s Talk About It” is the album for young sexy urban style (laughs). I think the fans will really enjoy the music.

UrbanBridgez.com: What are your plans for the future?
Carl Thomas: Well to be on tour this summer and I mean the whole summer. I’m also looking forward to buying a new house. I’m in the middle now of selling one then I plan to buy a new one.

UrbanBridgez.com: Would you ever consider managing and producing talent?
Carl Thomas: Definitely, you know I am actually building a building for that. I’m looking forward to helping new artists break into the industry.

UrbanBridgez.com: Now that Faith is no longer on Bad Boy, do you see any future collaborations with her, you two seem to have a great chemistry?
Carl Thomas: Definitely, I don’t think it will effect anything. We will always have a great chemistry. Faith is my sister, I love her and she loves me. So the only thing that has changed is the business aspect, so yeah we’ll be working together again.

UrbanBridgez.com: What other artists would you like to work with?
Carl Thomas: I would love to work with Beris Hammond, I think that would be great. Also India Arie.

UrbanBridgez.com: Being that Bad Boy is celebrating their 10th year anniversary. What is your best memory, one that you were apart of or not?
Carl Thomas: The “No Way Out” tour. Just because it was my introduction to the whole Bad Boy family life (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: Any last words for your fans?
Carl Thomas: Yeah, come check me out at my album signings and shows and “let’s talk about it.”

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s like one goal that you want to achieve with this album that you may not have achieved with the previous releases?
Carl Thomas: That’s a good question, because I haven’t set any goals for this album beyond expanding the borders of my past. I really haven’t set any goals beyond that, so my main goals with this album is for it to be the soundtrack behind peoples lives. Beyond the borders of black music. You know what’s so funny about the past eras is no matter what type of music you listened to back then, everybody needed an Al Green, everybody needed that!

UrbanBridgez.com: What will fans get out of this album that we may not have gotten from the last one?
Carl Thomas: You know, this album exudes a certain confidence that the last one didn’t really produce. There is a certain confidence and there is a certain relaxation with this project. It’s like if I was in a boxing match it would be like I’m just having fun and letting my hands go (laughs). I’m not playing a whole lot of defense on this album, I’m playing a whole lot of offense (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: We’re actually celebrating 90’s R&B this month on UB and you debuted in somewhat that era when you came out in 2000.
Carl Thomas: Yeah my album “Emotional” is definitely the son of that. I didn’t get the opportunity to come out in the 90’s but my music is definitely a combination of what I interpreted from that era. People can feel that when they listen to it, even now. I would still say my music is just a modern day interpretation of what they were doing.

UrbanBridgez.com: No doubt! That leads into my question, I wanted to know what is your biggest obstacle staying current but trying to stay true to your sound?
Carl Thomas: I don’t think it is an obstacle, I think the trick for most artists is capitalizing on what it is that works about your formula. There’s a component to your music that made you successful! Every artists that has tasted a certain level, there is a component to your music that makes you successful. The key as an artist, knowing what that is in their own music and capitalizing off that. There’s a lot of artists that have achieved longevity because they have managed to do that. Like listen to Outkast, listen to their catalog. They tapped in to what people liked about their music and they stood on top of that, album after album. You know what I’m saying, that is harder to do than what most people believe it is. A lot of artists you listen to and they say they haven’t been the same since this or that, whatever it is. And maybe that’s true, whatever it is they were doing then, they’re not in that space anymore.

UrbanBridgez.com: You were brought in on Bad Boy of all places as well!
Carl Thomas: Absolutely! I have to be honest, that is the greatest college of like the music business I’ve ever seen. I don’t really know of another situation that labels really see the vision thru. They sign an artist and they have a vision for them, very few labels actually finish that vision. Unless they’re smart enough to have a real live partnership with the artist. Then they can consolidate their goals as far as building artists. Of course it’s about making that bread first (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s like your top favorite songs from your catalog?
Carl Thomas: My top 3 favorite songs from my catalog would have to be, #1 “You Ain’t Right” from Emotional. “Baby Maker” from Let’s Talk About It and “Home” from So Much Better. Those are definitely my top three!

UrbanBridgez.com: Who are some of your favorite artist right now to listen to?
Carl Thomas: Some of my favorite artists right now, I’m enjoying and having a ball watching Chris Brown. I really don’t think Chris gets the credit for being the complete package that he really deserves. And that may be for one reason or another, but whatever. When there are certain talents, that black community is suppose to recognize those talents. You know we live in a society that loves to celebrate mediocrity. The cookie jar in entertainment is on such a low shelf that everybody is able to have a cookie. All you have to do is have a beat and some fly auto-tunes and everybody can have a cookie. So when something is really exceptional we try to marginalize that, instead of celebrate it! There are a lot more artists out there I’m loving like Ledisi, I love Jill Scott’s new stuff. I’m waiting on my brother Anthony Hamilton’s new stuff. I just downloaded Tyrese’s new album yesterday and I’m really proud of him. Because he did that on his own man, he put that project together his-self. That really says a lot and big ups to him, he’s always been my brother and shows me nothing but love and admiration. He’s definitely deserving of all his success that he’s getting right now.

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with “Let’s Talk About It” + “Conquer!”

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