One of the most iconic voices in R&B music, emerging in the early 90s, and dominating radio well into the 2000s, K-Ci Hailey is no stranger to fans of soul music. Still, it’s been a while since fans have caught up with him like this. Our K-Ci Hailey interview catches up with the North Carolina native.
This past July, the iconic third body of work for R&B powerhouse group, Jodeci, The Show, The After Party, The Hotel [Uptown / MCA Records], celebrated a huge milestone, celebrating it’s 30th anniversary. Other notable career accolades: reaching #2 on the Billboard 200, #1 on The Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, receiving Platinum certification from the RIAA, 71M+ Spotify streams and counting, plus 118 million YouTube views on the music video, “Freak’N You.”
Parlé Magazine recently tapped in with the artist formerly known as Little Cedric while he was in The Big Apple promoting the newly released Digital Deluxe Edition of the “bad boys of R&B’s” timeless classic collection. Check out the full K-Ci Hailey interview below.
Parlé Mag: First things first, a huge congrats is in order regarding the 30th Anniversary of The Show, The After Party, The Hotel — So how does it feel; three decades later?
K-Ci Hailey: It makes me feel like, “Wow, it’s been 30 years, and how quickly it went by.” It seems like it was just yesterday we were in Rochester, NY, recording the album. Three decades later and our fans are still listening to our music, and we’re still out here performing it. It’s a great feeling.
Parlé Mag: You’re currently out on UNCLE CHARLIE’S R&B COOKOUT TOUR alongside of course Charlie Wilson, Babyface and El DeBarge — How’s everything been going thus far? And, for someone who has yet to witness you all the way live, what would you tell that person can actually be expected?
K-Ci Hailey: It’s been an honor going out on the road for Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour. All the guys on the tour are my idols, and sharing the stage with them all every night it’s a dream come true. When you come out to see me at the Cookout, know that I treat it like a real cookout. I head out to the audience and mingle with the crowd like we’re hanging out at a backyard BBQ. I’m out there with the audience singing and giving hugs and having fun.
Parlé Mag: That said, what are some of your fondest, most stand-out moments / memories during your lengthy tenure in this biz of music?
K-Ci Hailey: The most stand-out moments of my career have been when I got to meet artists I’ve admired and had only seen before on TV like Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. I love the traveling that comes with music and touring, and getting to see new places and meet a lot of my fans. I love seeing and getting the appreciation and love from my fans.
Parlé Mag: Switching gears here, what exactly do you want people to get from your music?
K-Ci Hailey: I want people to first of all get a lot of love because that’s the kind of music I’m singing. I hope when they listen they get in a happy mood and have good feelings, good spirits and I hope I always leave them wanting more.
Parlé Mag: If you could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
K-Ci Hailey: I would have loved to collaborate with Prince. I would have just loved to see how he is working, and how he worked with his artists and did all his arrangements, and the feeling of all of his music.
And also, Michael Jackson.
Parlé Mag: If you could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?
K-Ci Hailey: I would love to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York. I have never performed there, and I’ve heard about it. That would be the venue where I’ll be like, “Okay, I have arrived!”
Parlé Mag: On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of R&B?
K-Ci Hailey: I’m happy with it. The R&B artists today are keeping it alive. Coming from ‘90’s R&B the fact that people are still listening to my music today, over 30 years later, speaks to the longevity of the genre. Artists like Usher, Chris Brown and Uncle Charlie [Charlie Wilson] are really keeping the R&B alive. Big ups to Uncle Charlie, he’s still being true to R&B, making hit records and touring. It shows us that it’s possible to remain relevant, and continue to influence today’s R&B.
Parlé Mag: What do you feel has and will continue to be the key to your longevity?
K-Ci Hailey: The key to my longevity is faith, prayer and confidence. And, being authentic to myself.
Parlé Mag: Do you have any other outside aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?
K-Ci Hailey: Well let me see, I wish I could go on a fishing competition! (laughs) I love fishing. And maybe television, do some acting, that would be cool.
Parlé Mag: What’s an average day like for you?
K-Ci Hailey: I like to wake up and walk to the lake. Sit on the dock and fish. I love watching TV, and catching up on different shows.
Parlé Mag: Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans…
K-Ci Hailey: How I interact and respond with my fans is I show them respect, and keep in mind that if it wasn’t for the support of my fans I wouldn’t be where I am today. They have played a big part in it all, and so I love them for it. I greet them with a big hug because I’m a hugger for my fans, and I love to see them smiling. If they’re smiling, I’m smiling.
Parlé Mag: What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?
K-Ci Hailey: My favorite part is interacting with the fans, and seeing people appreciate my God given talent. And, I love the traveling. What I like the least is if I ever feel like I didn’t satisfy my fans as well as I know I could have.
Parlé Mag: What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
K-Ci Hailey: Keep God first, pray and stay humble. Especially remember to stay humble because in the line of business that I’m in it can take away your humbleness, and make you feel invincible sometimes, but you’re not. And always remember you’re going to make mistakes, and that’s okay; learn from the mistakes. And, be authentic to yourself, and stay prayed up.
Parlé Mag: Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?
K-Ci Hailey: I see myself, of course, singing by the grace of God. I see myself happy, and in a place in my life where I can say, “wow I really did it,” and just be proud of myself and at peace.
Parlé Mag: “Forever My Lady,” “Stay,” “Come and Talk to Me,” “Lately,” “Cry for You,” “Feenin’,” “Freek’n You,” and “Get On Up” are all bonafide R&B ageless anthems — Let’s just look at one of those records, talk to me about putting that song together.
K-Ci Hailey: When we recorded “Forever My Lady,” DeVanté came up with the concept and was the songwriter. There were strong reactions by people to the lyrics in the song and what we were singing about. Everyone was tripping because no one thought we should be talking about parenthood in our song since we were just teenagers. That stands out because we had got a lot of questions about that: “how are y’all so young performing a song like “Forever My Lady?”” But, a lot of our songs were real adult.
Parlé Mag: Speaking of Jodeci, what’s up with DeVanté, Dalvin, and your brother, JoJo?
K-Ci Hailey: Everybody is doing good, and we are getting ready for some more big Jodeci announcements and drop news for our fans. Stay tuned!
Parlé Mag: Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?
K-Ci Hailey: As for Jodeci, we have a lot more coming for our fans and we can’t wait to share what that will be soon. And, there are more plans for me, K-Ci, I’ve been feeling in my heart the need to go back to my Gospel roots and make some more music. If you haven’t, come check me out on Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour!
