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Avant Interview

Saturday, 15 January 2005

| Written by Dave

Rap Basement: Let's start this off by you introducing yourself...

Avant: Yo this your man Avant holding it down for Geffen Records. New album in stores December 9th "Private Room", everybody go pick it up.

Rap Basement: So tell me about this new album, what's different about this album compared to the past?

Avant: Well what I try to do is make every album a personal album. I try to make every song depict who I am and what I like to do. I feel like I didn't get the publicity on the last 2 albums so I try to seek the eyes, make a personal album so when the ladies, because I don't know if they feel me or know who I am so when they listen to my album they can say 'Yo I feel like he's right here next to me'. You feel what I'm saying?

Rap Basement: Why did you chose this album to open up to your fans on?

Avant: Because like I said before the last two album's didn't get the publicity that I wanted them to get, know what I mean?

Rap Basement: Ya, do you think that was because of the record labels or ... ?

Avant: Ya I think it was more of the record label because I wasn't in the magazine or I wasn't at the hot award shows. The push wasn't there. So what I tried to do is seek the eyes and make it personal so they could feel me anyway.

Rap Basement: So your happy with the way everything turned out with this new album?

Avant: Ya man I'm not mad at all. I think it's very sensual, very close, very sexual but very tasteful as well.

Rap Basement: Do you ever put on your own record to get girls in the mood?

Avant: Ahhh. That's a good question. Sometimes, you know. Sometimes it's not hard to get girls in the mood with my own music but a lot of times I like to throw it back to the old school, put on a little Marvin Gay you know?

Rap Basement: Ya. What do you think of fellow Chicago R&B artist R-Kelly? And do you get tired of people comparing you to him?

Avant: Na, I don't get tired of people comparing me to R-Kelly because R-Kelly is the greatest of our era, of our time. So me being compared to him is one of the biggest compliments, I just hope I can stay in the game as long as he does or he is now. I want to stay in the game Ron Isley for 50 years.

Rap Basement: I heard you recently opened for him, how did that go?

Avant: It was lovely man because you get the history of what R&B really is with Ron Isley and you also get a piece of something new with myself. I think the people really enjoyed themselves.

Rap Basement: Have any plans in the future for working with him?

Avant: I worked with him on the Eternal album and it was extremely beautiful. I got a song for him called "Secret Lover", it was actually the second single off his last album, not the one he just finished, but his last album. It was actually done real well. Platinum album, big up's to Ron. I also worked with the likes of the great Charley Wilson of the Gap Band as well. So you know I've been around, messed around with history. There's one more person I'd like to work with and thats Michael Jackson.

Rap Basement: I heard you worked with Loon recently, how did you hook up with him?

Avant: Ya that was real special. I was looking for someone to do the remix of "Freeze Your Mind" and Loon we had talked at a club and he was like 'yo I want to do this joint with you lets make it happen' big up's to Puff I appreciate him for lending Loon over to me for a second. Everything is sweet, we really dropped a hot exchange and I was really pleased with that.

Rap Basement: I heard you have a role in the upcoming movie "Barbershop 2", is that something you are going to persue in the future?

Avant: Exactly, like I said before. This time with Geffen Records I'm getting the publicity I really want and I really need. I landed a little role in "Barbershop 2". It's me and my mad Sed, I'm his best friend. He's having a flash back, my name is Ben during the movie, and we are on the L-Train singing "Your Precious Love" by Marvin Gay. But ya thats something I want to persue, but right now Im all about my music because R&B is my life right now.

Rap Basement: So what music are you listening to right now?

Avant: The music I'm listening to right now, I'm actually listening to Alicia Keys, her new joint right now is really hot. I'm also listening to old school, Barry White those guys. I got a whole old school collection, just to keep my mind in tune. Then I'm listening to hip hop, everyone in hip hop doing their thing. 50 Cent, G-unit, Jay Black Album, Ja. I'm for real in toon with everything. I'm a young dude with an old show.

Rap Basement: Where do you want to be in 5 years?

Avant: In 5 years... I told you I want to be in this game for 50 years, so in 5 years I want to be in the studio recording doing my thing.