5 questions for … Babyface

Kenneth Edmonds, the producer/singer/songwriter/musician better known as Babyface (a moniker given to him by funkmeister Bootsy Collins), has gone a little bit folk. Babyface, who has 10 Grammys, released Playlist (Mercury Records), which contains two original songs and the music that inspired him as a writer, including Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." The soft-spoken genius talks about his 11th album, life after divorce, and his deeply personal playlist.

EBONY: Won't your fans expect an R&B album from you?

BF: I have a great deal of fans who also listen to Eric Clapton and Madonna. There will be some hard-core R&B people who won't go for it. But for the most part, those are beautiful songs ... [that are] still soulful.

EBONY: You've worked with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton and Eric Clapton, etc. Would you work with newer artists?

BF: Yes. I worked with Fall Out Boy and that went really well. It's up for grabs. Anybody who I think is talented and has something to bring.

EBONY: What inspires you to write?

BF: If it is for a particular artist, then you have to think what works for them. On this new CD, I did two new songs. "The Soldier Song," which deals with the young soldiers who go to war and fight for us and don't make it out. The other song is called "I'm Not Going Nowhere," which is basically a song that deals with divorce and the kids, and lets them know that even though divorce is happening, that I'm not going anywhere and I will be there for them.

EBONY: You and Tracey divorced after 13 years of marriage and two children together. Any advice for divorced couples with children?

BF: As long as you ha\c children together you will always be family. You should act accordingly. Tracey and I have been able to be good friends and remain friends and stay very cool with one another, and that's a blessing. [Our] kids don't really have to go through a point where they see their parents going at each other. Anyone who is going through that, I would say just try everything that you can to forgive and forget.

EBONY: How's the dating scene? And what do you think about Tracey's engagement to Eddie Murphy?

BF: I am just dating one person. I promised myself not to call out names and live my life in front of the public. Everything's good. People who want to find out, they will hunt it down, but I'm not saying it. I sent both Tracey and Eddie a congratulatory flower basket. I wish them luck.

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COPYRIGHT 2007 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning