Legendary group Jagged Edge has been putting in work for many years now. They have been through a deal with Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def imprint and Columbia, a short separation from So So Def (deciding to stay with Colombia/Sony), a resigning with SSD/Def Jam, and now they have found themselves on Slip N Slide Records. I got a chance to talk to Kyle about how the group has managed to stay together for so long, the effect hip hop has had on their careers, and…how much they love Kool Aid.

Q: What have you guys been up to? It seems like we haven’t seen you in a while. Congratulations on the Slip N Slide deal.
A: Man, all I can say is we’ve been blessed. It’s a blessing Jagged Edge been here 13, 14 years and still going. We can’t pat ourselves on the back, though. It’s the fans. Thank you to the fans. They have been supporting us from So So Def and Def Jam up to now. Kudos to the fans.

Q: What happened with the whole Def Jam/So So Def situation? Many artists have been having label issues as of late. Did you all end up having problems of your own?
A: It wasn’t like they decided that they just didn’t want us anymore or nothing like that. It’s just that, you know, we out grew it. We not mad, cuz any give opportunity, you have to appreciate it. We know we got good singers and good writers in the group. We’re confident in what we do. We just want to service the people. There’s no bad blood. Thank God for Slip N Slide, though. They believe in what we’re doing. We’re just gonna keep going and keep God first.

Q: It’s going on two (2) years since the last album. When can we expect the next one?
A: Aww man, we looking at the end of the year, hopefully. We’re definitely going to get a single out there real soon. You know, we work 24/7, 365. You know, a football player works out, a barber cuts hair constantly, Jagged Edge is always in the studio. We just try to keep ourselves fresh. We love what we do. And you never know, you might hear me on there. You might be thinking, “I didn’t know he got down like that” (laughs).

Q: Is this one going to differ in any way from your past efforts or are we going to get the same Jagged Edge that we’re familiar with?
A: I think its gong to be a little bit of both. It’s gonna be the same formula, you know. We not gonna come out with no rock and roll or nothing like that (laughs). You’re gonna hear the same melodic singing and things like that, but music has changed so much. You gotta stay with the flow of music. We’re like LL [Cool J]. He has been around for years and has continued to switch up his style, but he hasn’t gone outside of the box, you know? He hasn’t done nothing to make us be like “What’s L doing” (laughs). You have to evolve and you can’t be scared to evolve.

Q: This is Straight Outta Hip Hop, but we’re showing R&B some love, especially you guys since you have been around hip hop and the hip hop scene throughout the span of your career. Of course you were signed with Jermaine Dupri, you’ve worked with many hip hop artists including Rev. Run, Busta Rhymes, and Ludacris, and now you’re with Slip N Slide, which is most known for its hip hop acts. How has hip hop affected, not only Jagged Edge’s career, but the careers of many others outside of the hip hop genre?
A: Man, you took me back (laughs). First of all, all of us are 70’s babies. We grew up around Run DMC and Fat Boys and things like that. When hip hop was birthed and was becoming mainstream, we were around for that. A lot of people don’t know this, but when we were first signed, we wanted to come out with the gold chains and everything (laughs). Hip hop has that rawness to it and R&B doesn’t really have that. Hip hop isn’t watered down and that’s what a lot of people like. So, we didn’t want to come out and be the typical R&B group with the slicked hair (laughs). We just wanted to show that we some real home boys. You know, I got homies that’s talking ‘bout they liked number 4 on the album (laughs). That’s what we were about. So, hip hop has definitely played a big part in our career. You know, we did a song with Biggie. We were actually with him on the last day of his life, rest in peace. He wanted to do a song with us and all of us were excited, but when he died I thought we would never do the song. Luckily, Puff asked us to jump on a song for the remixes and we were able to make it happen.

Q: Yeah, doing a song with Biggie is definitely special. I mentioned in the last question some of the record labels you all have been on. Don’t you guys have an imprint of your own? What can we expect from that? Any artists we should be looking out for?
A: Yeah, 581 Music. Right now we’re just growing. We have some artists that we’re working with now and of course looking for some new talent, as well. Of course when you first get the label, you think it’s gonna blow up in a year. But things take their course, you know. Us being a God-fearing group, we know that God is gonna let the label grow.

Q: I want to get your opinions on auto-tune. Not just the use of it in hip hop (which I am personally against), but also R&B acts using it. For example, Jamie Foxx and Mary J. Blige, both of which can sing and sing well, have used it recently Do you guys use it and why do you think those that can already sing still choose to use it?
A: I think music is so big and broad to where people are going to try new things. As far as Jagged Edge goes, it’s not our sound, but we’re not above using it or anything. Music is a universal language and it’s supposed to be tampered with. You know, in the 80s, music was all about fun. In the 90s, it was all about culture. Today, it’s about the fun and the culture and can you sing, now? As long as you can stand the test of time, then just have fun. My hat goes off to T-Pain. He found something that worked and ran with it. At first, I ain’t gonna lie, I was like “who do he think he is?” (laughs). But you have to humble yourself. All of us steal from music in some form or another. You just gotta stay humble and have fun. All artists try to make a hit that’s going to get you dancing and singing along. So, to each his own. Either you gonna buy it or you don’t. But Jagged Edge gonna keep basically the same sound.

Q: You guys have had so much success and accomplished so many things now, what is the next step or the next goal for Jagged Edge?
A: The sky’s the limit. Honestly, we never thought we were gonna be off of So So Def when we first signed. I thought we were gonna be using walkers doing the damn thing (laughs). You just pray to God that you still have your health and your fans. Slip N Slide saved us and backing us with what we’re trying to do. I was talking to Brian (one of the other JE members) the other day and he said that if it all ended today, he could even be mad, ‘cause it’s been a beautiful career. We owe it all to our fans.

Q: You guys have also managed to stay in the game a long time now. It’s going on 11 years, 6 albums. I think it’s safe to say that ya’ll have longevity. I just interviewed Qwote from Slip N Slide not too long ago. What advice would you pass on to him and other young artists trying to make a name and stick around for a while?
A: Nothing is going to come easy and to stay original. Whatever higher power you have, pray to that. In terms of being in a group, we try to respect each other. There are times when we might not agree, but let’s try this anyway. If that doesn’t work, let’s try something else. At the end of the day, being part of a group, we all wanna win. We’re just a God-fearing group and respect each other. A lot of people don’t know this, but we all come from the youth church choir. We didn’t start our careers singing gospel or anything, but the church is where we got our start. So, we know how to pray and respect each other.

Q: Before we end, I want to know what have you, or Jagged Edge as a whole, learned from being in this music game after so many years that you guys didn’t know or expect coming in.
A: I learned that nothing is forever. You live everyday like it is your last. You sing that song like it was your last. Dance like it’s your last dance. Life is too short to be hung up on negativity. Don’t cherish B.S. It’s not always easy, but you have to have peace with yourself. You know, sometimes there might be that person that rattled you, and you thinking to yourself “I could have knocked him out,” but you didn’t. You never know, that same person could come back and apologize to you and offer you some opportunity. You could have knocked this dude out (laughs). Just cherish what you have.

Q: I appreciate the time and we’re going to be looking forward to the album. Did you guy’s give the album a title, yet?
A: The album is called The Remedy. [To the fans] Make sure you go get it. Bypass all the bootleggers (laughs). I know gas is a lot and they prolly selling 10 copies for $1 (laughs). People have to know, though, that when you buy a Jagged Edge album, it’s reported and we know that you got the quality music, you got the thank yous, and everything else you were supposed to get.

Q: Alright, I’m sure that people are gonna go out and get it and that there’s gonna be another hit single real soon. Any last remarks before we finish up?
A: Yeah, Jagged Edge has a reality show coming out. Can’t give away many details, but people will just get to see us in our day to day lives. We just regular home boys, church going home boys. When we kick it, we’re listening to hip hop, eating hot dogs, Kool-Aid. Oh my God, Kool-Aid! Man, you bring some of that, we might do a free concert (laughs). And we want the fans to know we love them. I don’t just say that, either. We really appreciate all the support and couldn’t ask for better fans for sticking with us all of these years. They carry us on their backs. We’re truly blessed.


Sidenote: I have plenty of footage for you guys from Rock The Bells concert. That will be coming in the next couple days. It was amazing, so ya’ll will want to see this. Stay tuned!