- 2 days ago
Singer and 'Power' actor Rotimi made the most of quarantine by recording an acoustic album in 22 hours.
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00:00Rotimi what's up? What's good? How's everything? I'm good. How about you? How has quarantine
00:13been treating you? Quarantine has been cool. For me, I've been traveling for the last two
00:20years consistently, and it's the break that I needed. I never had a time where I sat for two
00:26months to think, to not do anything, to find inspiration and be creative. It's been a
00:34blessing because everybody needs to sit still sometimes. I was able to really do that.
00:40That's amazing. With this newfound free time that we all have, what's inspired you? What have you
00:50been finding out about yourself and the things that you want to do once this is all over?
00:54I found out that I love being able to think. I love the fact that I have a studio in my house
01:03that I'm able to create now and just anytime I want. That's how we were able to make unplugged
01:08sessions. It was just literally my voice, a guitar, and free time. I think I'm going to carry out the
01:17fact that spirituality has always been important to me, but I'm going to take time to really spend
01:26time with God and moving forward and even just get stronger into the faith because we started
01:32watching on Netflix the series The Bible, just learning that. It's been cool. A lot of it was
01:42career stuff is always going to take care of itself, but for me, it was always about self-awareness,
01:46and self-help. That's amazing. I'm glad you brought up unplugged sessions because
01:52I've been loving it. It really brings the essence of your music and your sound to life, hearing it
02:00just raw with your voice and just bringing it back to the basics. What inspired you to want to
02:07record an acoustic album?
02:09I just wanted to make music that felt good for the spirit, especially during a time where people
02:15were sad, down, scared, confused, all of those things. For me, I wanted to make music that gave
02:23you 17 minutes of just pure ear candy. No gimmicks, just my voice, just the vibes that you feel the essence of
02:35who I am, the vocal ability, the smoothness of it. For me, it was all about just authenticity. That's
02:47why we did that in 22 hours, man. Again, if I wasn't able to go to a studio, now that I have my own,
02:57I'm able to just do it. And six records in 22 hours, a whole project, we gave it out to the world, and
03:04I'm so happy that we're able to do that. Man. Routine, we made an album in 22 hours?
03:1022 hours. Listen, we got to be making most of our time. You've really been killing it.
03:16That's really inspiring. You know, when I hear your music, I hear so many different influences. There's
03:22Afrobeat, there's classic R&B, there's pop. Who do you look to as some of your greatest inspirations?
03:28What other artists inspire you? Ah, I grew up with a lot of Bob Marley. I grew up with a lot of
03:35Michael Jackson. I grew up with a lot of Paul Simon, Fela Kute. Fela Kute. Ooh, hip-hop.
03:44Yeah. Fabulous. Jada Kiss. I love storytellers, you know, so that's why for me, making good music
03:53was always about the story, you know, what was going on in my life. And I just love being creative.
03:59So for me, it was always just letting the world know that there's no limits to what I can do. And
04:06that was instilled in me at a very, very young age. Yeah, for sure. And you know, a lot of people,
04:14you know, have known you before you're acting for your music. Music has always been such a strong
04:20part of your identity. And you're a very multi-talented person. But I'm wondering, you know,
04:26with dividing your time between acting and the music, you said goodbye to your character Dre on
04:31Power, who, you know, made such a name for himself. And you were amazing in that role. Now that you're,
04:38you know, you've said goodbye to that show, what new things do you want to explore? Do you want
04:43to just completely keep that lane open for music? Or, you know, how do you see your career kind of
04:49taken off from here? Again, only God knows, you know, but I know personally what I want to do
04:58is still be creative in any capacity I can be. Acting, music, it's all like breathing to me.
05:05I don't see them really any different. I prefer for being on stage and performing. I prefer being in the
05:11studio. But being on set, playing different characters has always been a blessing as well,
05:17because you're able to touch and reach people. And I'm still able to be creative. So in terms of my
05:23career, like right now, I have coming to America to coming out movie wise, you know, I just did that.
05:30So we got that coming in December. So Mr. Butterscotch will be all over the world, baby.
05:36God, she's coming back. You're not ready.
05:39Hey man, you never left, my dearie. You never left, you know.
05:42Yeah, you know, and just being able to just show what I do on so many different levels,
05:50whether it's comedy, drama, romance, violence, thriller, but also musically,
05:57Afro pop, R&B. So I never ever put myself in any limits. So I'll be doing both and a lot of other
06:04things for a very long time. Amazing. And you know, it wouldn't be essence if we didn't ask
06:10a dating question. So everybody knows that you've been very happy lately. You've got a wonderful new
06:17girlfriend, Vanessa. I saw that you guys recently went to Dubai, which looked like an amazing trip.
06:23What is it? How have you been feeling, you know, just being in a new relationship? And
06:29how has it inspired your music? That's a great question. Being in a relationship,
06:38if you're in the right relationship, you start learning things about yourself that you didn't
06:41know. So you start growing, you start communicating about things that if you were with somebody else,
06:49that wasn't to that level of vibe, you won't know. So it translates into the music, you know.
06:58For me, on this project, the records know and the records 100 basically talk about the relationship
07:06a bit and where my mindset is on that, you know, and legend and all these things. I'm even speaking
07:12Swahili in one of my records. I'm like, yo, who is this guy? You know, but it's a blessing because
07:22you get to learn selfishly beyond being with someone, you get to learn so much about who you are
07:28with, you know, the ups and downs, the how do you handle the arguments? How do you handle the great
07:35times? How do you handle the insecurities? So you learn all these things about yourself
07:40all in this, you know, in this experience. So yeah, it's a vibe, man. It's been really,
07:45really beautiful. I love to hear about it. And, you know, some of those songs that you mentioned,
07:50you're actually going to be playing for us. Is that right? We'll see. You know, we'll see. I might hit
07:56you with a little love rhythm. I might hit you with a little in my bed. I might hit you with a little
08:00something. So it depends how I feel right now. It depends. You know what? I think, you know,
08:07I think the fans, they want to hear this. They want to hear the musical excellence that is there,
08:14this new project. So without further ado, I want to step back and I'm going to let you play
08:19three songs that you've selected for this. Yeah. Tell us what we're going to be hearing.
08:24So I have a record off this new project. So everybody was tuning in now. I have a record called,
08:28I have a project called Unplugged Sessions that is literally acoustic, all vibes, no gimmicks,
08:35just straight, my voice and the guitar. And I'm excited for people to hear it. And you'll be able
08:41to get that everywhere. It's a record called Legend, a small little record called In My Bed,
08:46and a small little record called Love Rhythm. So can y'all hear that? Can y'all hear that?
08:51Can you hear the guitar? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. So in this world,
09:06you call a woman a legend, not necessarily a queen. You both are beautiful. But I wanted to call a woman
09:12a legend. You're like, no, something like this. Yeah. I like brown skin, light skin, chocolate,
09:21cold. Asian, Haitian, Jamaican, who knows? Bossy, nasty, Miss Jackson, control. Independent,
09:30white feet, white feet, goes. Tad it up. That is what? Run it up. Get more. Dress it up. Dress down.
09:39Either way, it's a goal. Take it all. Booty soft. Yeah, that's the goal.
09:48Panties hit the floor when I hit the door. Cause you the type of girl to do it all for you.
09:55It can hit the fan or take the fall for you. See you in the gym and going hard on your figure.
10:02Baby, you a legend. Yeah, yeah. If I was your man, I'd show you off tomorrow.
10:10I will make some plans in the sand somewhere with you. Got your own where you can get it off on your
10:17baby. You a legend. Yeah, yeah. Why are you covered up? Know what's next? Going round two.
10:25Like some good food. Let me dip like fondue. I just want to get you to a ring like LeBron.
10:32Dude, there's something about you. Hey. Tad it up. That is what? Run it up. Get more.
10:40Dress it up. Dress down. Either way, it's a goal. Take it off. Booty soft. Yeah, that's the goal.
10:47Oh, panties hit the floor when I hit the door. Cause you the type of girl to do it all for you.
10:54It can hit the fan or take the fall for you. See you in the gym and going hard on your
11:02baby. You a legend. Yeah, yeah. If I was your man, I'd show you off tomorrow.
11:09I will make some plans in the sand somewhere with you. Got your own where you can get it off on your
11:17baby. You a legend. Yeah, yeah.
11:19I love when you go off on up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get it off. Get it off. Get it off. Yeah.
11:38So that's love. Legend. All the beautiful, beautiful women out there. If you're a legend,
11:46this song was for you. So then I have another record that I want to do for you guys real quick.
11:52That was just a little bar. It's just a little something, you know, just quick warm up, you know,
11:56la, la, la, la, you know. But yeah, this song changed my life, man. This record changed my life for
12:06many reasons, you know. I remember when we created it, we got a hundred million streams globally right
12:12now on this song. And when people just gravitated towards it, and my team, man, shout out to Kenny
12:19Hamilton. Shout out to my whole team, man. And it's a blessing to be a part of something so organic.
12:26And I feel like it's a timeless record. So if you want to hear this version of it, please, please go to
12:33get it on Unplugged Sessions. But it goes something like this. Sing along at home, you know this.
12:48Wish I could start it over, baby. I need you over. Wish I could taste, kiss you down by your waist.
12:57Yeah. He treats you wrong. Wish I could show you love. Wish I could make you know it.
13:05Baby, you need to know it. Where do you go? Every time I touch you there.
13:12Whispering love. Ain't nobody gotta hear me. He lost control. Doesn't even know he's here.
13:22Nobody knows. I just keep it in my head. I don't say too much.
13:28I'm just here to tell. Baby, I don't say too much. I'm just here to tell. Baby, oh, no, no, no, no, no.
13:46Oh, na, na, na, na, na, na. Oh, na, na, na, na, na, na. Oh, na, na, na, na, na, na.
14:05Yeah. Your love me like juju. Yeah. You touch me, I know blue. Tonight we go late, late, late.
14:11I know you, they see me.
14:18You make it look easy.
14:20Tonight you're going to have it your way.
14:23I make you go, oh.
14:28You make me go, oh.
14:33You know when I, oh.
14:38You like when I, oh.
14:41I go down, oh Lord, go low, go low, go low, go low, go low.
14:51You love when I go low, go low, go low, go low, go low.
15:01Make it rise, make it rise.
15:06Make it rise, make it rise.
15:10Yeah.
15:10Put the love in the sky.
15:14Yeah.
15:16Make it rise, make it rise.
15:20I don't say too much, baby, baby.
15:24I'm just here to touch, baby.
15:29Baby, I don't say too much.
15:34Yeah.
15:35I'm just here to touch, baby, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
15:46So that's Love Rhythm.
15:48That's the acoustic version of Love Rhythm.
15:52Shout out to everybody that's there watching.
15:53I see y'all comments.
15:54It's a little cool vibe right there.
15:55So this next record is my single.
16:00It's called In My Bed featuring Wale.
16:04It's going crazy right now.
16:07So if the PG version is quarantine and doing work in your bed, right?
16:16The Rated R version is doing work in your bed.
16:21And you get, you understand my flow.
16:23So this particular way is to do the latter, you know?
16:29So if you know this song back home, please sing along.
16:34You can get these unplugged sessions available everywhere.
16:39There's a meeting in my bed, in my bed, there's a meeting in my bed, in my bed, there's a meeting
16:54in my bed, my bed, there's a meeting in my bed.
17:00Hey, God, listen.
17:04Tell me what you want, I can repeat it.
17:06Tell me what you need, I can eat it.
17:09When I call in love, I go deep, deep.
17:11You can copy that like a CC.
17:14Look like you need proper.
17:16Come get this vitamin D power.
17:18Be ready to touch when I reach it.
17:21I go eat it up, I don't forget.
17:24I make that thing go wild.
17:26I go make that thing run wild.
17:29I go make you sing my song.
17:31There's a meeting in my bed, in my bed, there's a meeting in my bed, there's a meeting in my bed,
17:36there's a meeting in my bed, there's a meeting in my bed, there's a meeting in my bed, there's a meeting in my bed, in my bed.
17:49If you're at home, sing along.
17:51Yeah.
17:52Oh, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.
17:57Oh, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.
18:02How you keep me sweet like that?
18:04Brush your death for praise like that.
18:07I'll be on my knees for that.
18:09I'll be on my knees for that.
18:10I hope you touch my soul like Sunday.
18:13I touch your feet if I'm away.
18:15Everything you need, no cap.
18:18Call me when you need, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.
18:21I make that thing go wild.
18:24I go make that thing run wild.
18:26I go make you sing my song.
18:29Meeting in my bed, oh.
18:34Meeting in my bed, oh.
18:38There's a meeting in my bed, oh.
18:41There's a meeting in my bed, in my bed, in my bed, bed.
18:51There's a meeting in my, meeting in my bed.
18:56There's a meeting in my, meeting in my bed.
19:00Hey.
19:01So are you the rated R or the PG?
19:07Or y'all both?
19:08Hey, what's going on?
19:09That was a question, Mr. Bartel Scotch wants to know, you know?
19:16You already know the answer to that routine.
19:20That was so dope.
19:22Thank you so much for that performance.
19:24It's just so cool to hear your voice, like I said, in its raw form.
19:29And it's great to see you enjoying it.
19:31You are really enjoying yourself.
19:33Oh, yeah, man.
19:34You got to love it, man.
19:35You got to love what you do, you know?
19:37And this is my passion, you know?
19:38Everyone has always said, oh, you got to pick one, and that's never been me.
19:42No, I've never been in a box, and I want to continue to live that way.
19:49Yeah, like a true creative.
19:51You know, during your performance, the comments were on fire.
19:54Everyone loved it, of course, but we also got some questions, some fan questions.
19:59I thought this one was really interesting.
20:02Someone asked, what's the most difficult part of the recording process?
20:05See, I'm a perfectionist, and my engineer is a perfectionist.
20:14So when you know that you want to do something right, and your voice is fatigued, and you're
20:22frustrated, you start cursing at the mic.
20:25You start, man, I got it.
20:26Just run it back one more time.
20:27You mad at the engineer?
20:28Like, me and my, luckily, it's one of my best friends.
20:30And so I'm like, no, that's you, bro.
20:32Pay attention.
20:33Like, so that kind of energy.
20:34We all have the same vibe and the same goal, and we just want to make the best music possible.
20:41That's why, luckily, like, it felt so good to do these records in my studio, because now
20:45it's a level of comfort because it's my home.
20:48So everything just flows so fast.
20:50That's why we were able to do the Unplugged Sessions project in such a short amount of time,
20:55because it was just effortless.
20:57Yeah, you're comfortable.
20:59You're in your vibe.
21:00I love that.
21:02Someone also wanted to know, and I thought this was a great question.
21:05Did you always know that you wanted to go into entertainment when you were a kid?
21:09Did you see yourself doing something else when you were younger?
21:13When did you know that you wanted to seriously pursue music and acting?
21:17When I was four years old and I was singing, I was a Nigerian wedding singer.
21:22And in these Nigerian parties,
21:25people are throwing money at the bride, at the bride's mom, at this person.
21:30So I'm seeing all this money on the floor.
21:32So then I get up and sing, and I start seeing them throw money.
21:35And then I'm seeing, like, my mom picked the money up.
21:37And they're just like, hold on.
21:38I'm the one singing.
21:40So where's my cut?
21:42But I'm young, you know what I mean?
21:44So that's when I realized, oh, wow, you can draw people in with the sound.
21:51It brings back money, and it brings back admiration.
21:54So at that time, at four years old, it was like, oh, I love this.
21:58This is what I want to do.
21:58And Crystal, in the comments, had a great question.
22:04How many languages do you speak?
22:05I speak English.
22:08I speak butterscotch-ish.
22:11I speak the language of love.
22:14I speak Vanessa-ish.
22:17I sometimes speak Kenny Hamilton-ish.
22:20So, yeah.
22:23So, yeah.
22:26Five languages.
22:27Let's speak about five languages.
22:28I'll take it.
22:29I'll take it.
22:31What do you do when you're having a creative mental block?
22:35Where do you go for inspiration?
22:37How do you get your creative juices flowing?
22:41Oh, I just remember that I'm here for a mission, you know?
22:48It's never a creative block for me.
22:50It's more really feeling like wanting to do it.
22:53And so because my schedule is so crazy, I catch myself not being able to do everything that I want.
23:01So it starts kind of breeding a little laziness a little bit because when you have a little time to do nothing, you just want to sleep and rest.
23:07But I remind myself I'm here on a mission and, you know, a lot of people rely on me and that's really what I remember.
23:18Dope.
23:19And, you know, I've always been curious about this, Rotimi.
23:23How does it feel or, like, what was it like being one of the most hated TV characters?
23:29Like, you know, your character got so many people riled up and I wonder, like, if you have any, like, stories from being approached in public by power fans, things that have been said to you on social media.
23:43What was that like?
23:44Oh, it was like, oh, I need you to die.
23:47I need you to die.
23:48Oh, girl, he cute, but he need to die, though.
23:51Like, it's like, God.
23:53Wow.
23:54Why did he need me?
23:55It's not me.
23:55But that was early, you know, that was early and when people started really figuring out the fact that I affected the culture so much that they were inquisitive to say, who is this guy?
24:10That was what I knew.
24:11It's about to get crazy because now they're realizing the music.
24:14They're realizing all these things.
24:15So it was a blessing.
24:17It was a blessing.
24:18At first it was hard because he's telling me, yo, I don't really like you, bro.
24:21And I'm like, I don't know, you know what I mean?
24:24So you start getting that type of energy, but you start realizing it's admiration.
24:29It's like, yo, you beasted something that, you know, you're part of something that'll never happen again like that, you know?
24:35And so it's a blessing.
24:38That's amazing.
24:38But that's also how you know you killed the role because people start taking it personally, you know, they start taking it to heart.
24:44So congrats, kudos on that.
24:47And one question that came in, I think it's a great note to end on.
24:52What do you feel is your life's mission, your life's purpose?
24:56Like what's the big picture for you?
24:59Oh, that's a great question.
25:01I think my life's purpose is to bring as many people using my platform to God kindness, showing that there's no limit to be able to say you can graduate from an incredible university or a regular university or wherever or online.
25:25Whatever you do can still live your dream.
25:29I want to, I know that I've made it if I'm able to, if I'm able to give away $150 million of my own money.
25:39I know I made it then for so many reasons and that's kind of what it is.
25:42So it's about selflessness at the end of the day, like using my gift to talk to people in the right way, change lives, change everybody around me immediately and, you know, leave legacy for my children's children's children.
25:56Amazing.
25:57Well, we know that you are on a path to do amazing things.
26:02Thank you so much, Rotimi, for taking time out of your day to come join us here on Essence Live.
26:06We have so much fun.
26:09You are so talented and the music is phenomenal.
26:12Real quick, where can we find the music and what are we going to drop another project after quarantine?
26:20Like what's going on?
26:23So they can get the music everywhere.
26:25It's called Unplugged Sessions.
26:28Acoustic guitar myself.
26:30You can download it everywhere.
26:31And my single right now is In My Bed featuring Wale, available everywhere.
26:37Follow me at Rotimi, R-O-T-I-M-I.
26:41And yeah, for sure.
26:44Thank you so much.
26:45We appreciate you.
26:47Have an amazing week.
26:49You too.
26:50All right.
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