VIBE.com Interview: ATL: Best of Both Worlds

Inspired by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Run DMC, Nas, Public Enemy, Musiq, Eminem, Jay-Z and Tupac, ATL claim all they want is "to bring our own flavor," as Will, one of the three vocalist of the group, modestly states, "and be all around entertainers," adds Tre, another vocalist of ATL. In a time where yeeaah's and whuuuat's are crunking our radio stations to full capacity, and where "boy bands" are quickly becoming extinct, the young talent of ATL is definitely a breath of fresh air.

ATL was brought together when Sony Urban Music, Ryan Glover-CEO of Noontime Inc., and V-103, one of Atlanta's leading radio stations, collaborated to conduct an audition for a young, urban, male group (three singers and one rapper). "They held a mass cattle crawl in Atlanta, where there were around 3,000 hopefuls who showed up to be in the group," says Tre, "Almost like an American Idol themed audition."

And that's how ATL was born. 18-year-old Tre, 18 year old Will, and 16 year old L-Rock, who is the only member from Atlanta, were chosen as the three singers, and Danger, 18, who wrote and performed the theme song for BET's Teen Summit for two seasons, was elected featured rapper.

Of course, the snickering of comparisons to groups like B2K almost goes without saying. "We definitely don't want to be compared to anybody else because we're trying to bring something brand new," says Will, "and I think once you hear the album or you see a live show, you'll recognize the difference." Still, there are others they don't mind being measured up to. "Jagged Edge really took us under their wings, like older brothers," says L-Rock, with whom they recorded three tracks and toured with on the "Ladies Night Tour" that took place at the beginning of 2004. No props needed, no fancy lights, no dancing team, just first-rate artists singing and rapping to the sultry lyrics of their second single, "Can We Make it Up With Love?" ATL delivered.

If the saying, tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are is true to any capacity, then ATL's collaboration with J.E. and R. Kelly speaks volumes of them musically. "Working with R. Kelly was a blessing in itself," says Danger. "Him and Jay-Z did 'Best of Both Worlds,' so, for us it's kind of following that same mold. For him to oversee our first single was incredible. His work speaks for itself."

And that's what ATL promises to bring to the table: groundbreaking music that brings together the best of both hip hop and R&B.; "It's been a while, if ever, for four young men to come together and work on an entire album, not just one songÂ? Four different styles, unique talents, and put together a whole project," says Tre, "That's what I think is going to make it unique."

This, and a few other reasons, is why signing to EPIC was such an obvious choice for the young sensations in the making. Tre explains, "Their roster speaks for itself and their history speaks for itself. Me myself, I'm a big fan of Michael Jackson, so it was almost like I had to do it. EPIC has such a treasured history, past and present."

VIBE: I remember when Jive signed Backstreet Boys, then they signed N'Sync. Epic signed B2K, now they have ATL. Is this something that encouraged you? Did you feel like, okay, this label knows how to market a younger R&B; male group, so, let's go with them? Or, did that intimidate you in any kind of way?

Danger: I think that when we got together, at least for me, I didn't even have the knowledge of a B2K, like in that lane of comparison. The good thing is that they are successful in what it is they do and I know that we definitely want to be successful, even surpass that level in whatever it is that we're doing. We have a genre or new concept that we come up with, and it's called rap&B.; It is R&B;, but, like I said earlier, it's like we stuck a best of both worlds feel to it. Rap is a strong impact today. We just want to be huge!

VIBE: Do you think it's easier now because of people like Carl Thomas, like Donnell Jones, like Case, Glenn Lewis, and Avant and what they've opened up to the market? I mean, hip hop kicked R&B;'s ass for the last 5-6 years, and it wasn't like that before. Before, rappers had to beg to get on an R&B; remix. Now, it's almost like R&B; artists have to sing hooks for rappers in order to be known. Do you think there might be a turn? Do you think it's going to go back to R&B;, or do you think that both genres can co-exist, kind of going back and forth?

Tre: Me, personally, I just think it's about real music, and I think it's really getting back into what's real. Even hip hop is getting back to that. Just understanding and paying attention to what's being said as opposed to what you feel off the beat, and with R&B;, I feel it's getting back to where it's alright to talk about love again. That's not all we talk about, but, emotion is a big part of what drives R&B; to be successful, and it's getting back to that point on both sides of the playing field. I think that both can co-exist at the same time.

Danger: In the music scene, rap is still relatively new. I mean, just from the beginning of time, R&B; had always been around but rap is still relatively new, so people were kind of shaky, if this was going to pass, if this was going to come and go, but they see it's not like that. I think that they can all live, and just take music to another level, where people just keep being creative. I think somebody is going to come up with an even newer style one of these days and just blow people's minds and just keep changing.

L-Rock: Like Danger said, rap is newer. It's only been around for a couple of years, so, I think it's going to have the upper hand for a while, not only in music, but in marketing and everything. You could tell by all the companies using rap to launch their marketing style to appeal to younger people, all audiences, cause that's just what's hot now.

Tre: Hip hop has never been defined as rap, though. That's not the definition of hip hop. Hip hop is everything. Hip hop is a culture. It's the way you talk, it's the way you dress, it's what you think, it's what you think about, it's what you speak about. That's what hip hop is, so, in order for it to be hip hop, which is really taking over right now, it doesn't mean you have to be rapping on the record. And, I think that's what ATL brings back. All of us are very much influenced by hip hop, but we also sing, so it's cool. We try to make it to where it's alright to be singers again, as well as have Danger, who's a real MC, and when you put the two together, it's a wrap.

With the drive each member of ATL has, and the amount of backing they're receiving from their label, ATL might as well add a red bow to the box, and consider it delivered on all levels.. Four talented men that have youth and good looks to go along with the exclusive full package deal only they can offer. "We are working real hard," claims Tre. "We've been working on that album for the last year and a half, and since we became a group, we've been trying real hard to travel and get our faces out there, and to just bring something new. I think now is the time. Right now in the industry, everything is either sounding like everything, or everybody is looking like everybody. We really want to flip the script completely."

"We want to leave a mark once we're gone," adds Will. "It's a lot of groups out there that's been here, and been gone, and haven't left a mark. It's just like, what happened to them? There are these certain artists that you can talk about them in like 30 or 35 years from now, and, still be able to talk positive about them."

"I think we want to be a group that can appeal to all genres and all ages," explains L Rock. "We've toured with R. Kelly, Ginuwine, Joe, Avant, Jagged Edge and Omarion, so by associating ourselves with people of those ages and who are going to be in the audience, we're crossing age groups. That's one big thing we want to do, not just have that 20 and younger audience, but have everybody."

"We just want to bring some excitement back to the game," says Danger joining in the final thoughts. "If anybody can take anything from any show we've done, or any song we've sang, even if it's just one lyric, if they can be like, damn, I learned something out there, I felt that, or going to the show and just feel what is going on, then, that'll be good. That'll be a success right there, to let our true talent shine through and let people appreciate it."

Audio: ATL- "Make It Up With Love"

Video: ATL- "Calling All Girls"