Cheri Dennis: At Last
By Donna Marbury
Cheri Dennis is signed to one of today’s most iconic record labels. As a Bad Boy Records recruit since 2001, she has worked with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ impressive roster, including Ma$e, Danity Kane, Faith Evans and Yung Joc. With a resume that solid, fans suspected an album was quickly coming.
As her powerful voice and lyrics blessed the Bad Boy team, her own solo album suffered from label politics. Six years later, Dennis is ready to present her body of work, but not in the conventional way that most R&B acts release a new album. The Cleveland native, who demanded Diddy’s attention by grabbing the mic at an industry party, is no stranger to taking risks. That’s why debuting her new album, In And Out Of Love, on iTunes three months before it hits stores was a risk she was willing to take.
Whether Cheri Dennis can be one of the first R&B singers to pull off a digital coup of the music industry is yet to be seen. Below she chats about industry politics, being unique and trying to impress her often-stern boss, Diddy.
AllHipHop.com Alternatives: I know you are a promotional tour. Where are you now?
Cheri Dennis: Right now we are headed to Greensboro, North Carolina. I am on a radio tour. We started in Connecticut and are kind of working our way down the East Coast. So we hit Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, and now North Carolina.
AHHA: Your new album In And Out Of Love, is being released this month on iTunes, which is three months before it comes out in stores. How did that strategy come about?
Cheri Dennis: It’s a digital world now. So pairing up with iTunes gives me a lot of exposure to an audience that might not necessarily know my music. I am excited that the company is behind me. It’s really, really dope because the concept is something that isn’t done with urban artists.
AHHA: I noticed your single was a free download of the week on iTunes. To be honest, people usually hate the free downloads that iTunes offered. But your song got some pretty good reviews from the people.
Cheri Dennis: I haven’t been online to see the people’s reaction. But I will definitely have to check that out. That made my day! Thanks for telling me that!
AHHA: There is a lot of variety of artists from Ohio. You being from Cleveland, how did the music scene inspire you?
Cheri Dennis: On an R&B level, I know I came from a lot of dope music. Gerald LeVert is from Cleveland and Avant is from Cleveland. Gerald LeVert had a huge following and was a great performer. So, I pride myself on striving to be a great performer too. Being that I’ve lived in New York for a long time now, I don’t know how I fit into the Cleveland music scene now. But that’s where I’m from so I know I still have Cleveland in me.
AHHA: So the story goes, you approached Diddy and sung live for him at aparty. What were you thinking when you did that?
Cheri Dennis: I was thinking I want a deal! I wasn’t scared. If I was, I might not have gotten a deal. I just went with my heart, and let my talent shine.
AHHA: Do you remember what song you sung?
Cheri Dennis: I was just freestyling over the music that was playing. I don’t think I sung an actual song.
AHHA: Diddy seems likes he is real intimidating, especially with new artists, like on Making The Band. Is he really like that in person, or is that just for TV?
Cheri Dennis: He’s really like that in person. He is a very intense guy who is really serious about music. So yeah, he is definitely that intense.
AHHA: Did he ever make you walk to get him cheesecake?
Cheri Dennis: [laughs] No, I never had to walk to go get cheesecake. But I would have! I would have walked right across that bridge, if that what I had to do!
AHHA: Your solo project has been pushed back several times. What’s the reason behind that?
Cheri Dennis: I mean, part of it is the usual label politics. There are always issues between the artists and the labels. We’ve had a few creative differences. There has been a lot that has happened since last year. We needed to regroup, add some songs, subtract some songs. Basically, we proofread the album since the original release date in June.
AHHA: So tell me about the album.
Cheri Dennis: The album is called In And Out Of Love. When we were going into it, we didn’t even have a concept. But as we listened to the songs we had, the overall theme was the ups and downs of relationships and love. But the album is not full of ballads, though it’s all about love. Even the songs that are out of love are upbeat. The recording process was fun; we had been at it for a long time, so I’m very proud of the product.
AHHA: There are so many female singers in the marketplace now. How do you feel you are distinguishable?
Cheri Dennis: I don’t think I fit in at all. The single doesn’t really sound like anything that is on the radio right now. I have a sound that’s all my own. I’ve always been looked at apart from other female singers. Luckily, I’ve never really been compared to too many people. When I was younger, people said I sounded like Brandy. But since I’ve been a professional singer, I haven’t heard that. I’ll leave that for the people to decide.
AHHA: What do you like the most, and the least about being in themusic industry?
Cheri Dennis: I love connecting with people through music. Music is a universal language. It gets people through the tough times. The best part is being that inspiration. The worst part is the politics. But I guess that’s in any field. When it’s not just about the music, I hate it.
AHHA: What’s your favorite Bad Boy song?
Cheri Dennis: There are so many. “You Used To Love Me” by Faith Evans is one of my favorites.
AHHA: What is a song that came out in the past year that you wish you could have sung?
Cheri Dennis: “Umbrella” by Rihanna was hot. It was so outside the box. She pulled it off though. You can say what you want about Rihanna, whether you like it or not, she came with it. Not everybody can pull off that, “ella, ella.”
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