The album's lush debut single, "I Wish," sets the tone with its smooth lyricism and touching sentiment. "Everyone remembers the first time they had their heart broken and how they weren't equipped to handle it," says Carl. "That's where this song takes you." Others like the dramatic "Valentine," and hard-hitting, "You Ain't Right," "Come to Me," and "Emotional," reveal a technically skilled singer, able to zero in on the heart of a lyric.
"I have a lot going on in my life besides sticking my head in the studio 24 hours a day," he says. "Otherwise I couldn't write a song about a lonely guy sitting at a bus stop, because I wouldn't be there to see him, to empathize with him. A good writer needs experience."
Carl Thomas gained plenty of experience - musical and otherwise - over the course of his lifetime. A native of Chicago's projects, Carl credits three forces for steering him towards music: church, school, and avoiding gang activity. From a young age, he knew he'd make his mark in music. In addition to the R&B and hip-hop he grew up with, he also broadened his tastes to include Sting, Roberta Flack, and James Taylor. "It's all about choices," he says.
- Bio Courtesy of Bad Boy Entertainment
Sound Files (MP3)
She Is (f/LL Cool J) - from the album Let's Talk About It
