Lloyd 'Street Love' album

For R&B singer Lloyd, the road to stardom has taken twists and turns, with high-speed chases and precise maneuvering. Today, the 20-year old singer/songwriter and businessman is in the driver’s seat. He commands the open road and is headed straight for stardom. Singing came natural for Lloyd Polite, a native of New Orleans who grew up in Atlanta. “I knew how to sing before I learned how to talk and I knew how to dance before I learned how to walk”. “It’s just in my blood”. Lloyd comes from a musical background. His mother played piano and sang in the church choir, while his father directed the choir and played saxophone. It was his parent’s support and belief that inspired Lloyd. “It was that powerful for me that I just took a liking, I decided to just try to perfect it”.

As a pre-teen, Lloyd met Joyce Irby, a singer and musician who played in the groundbreaking all-girl band called Klymaxx. Ten-year-old Lloyd met Irby during a rehearsal for a show at his performing arts school. Irby put together the R&B trio, Ntoon signed to Dreamworks Records. Lloyd was the first member and was later joined by Justin Clark and Everett Hall. “That was my first real introduction to the stage, doing shows for like 2,000 people one night and twenty people the next night.” “Touring taught me everything, when you stay ready, you are always ready -- that was our motto”. At the time, Dreamworks Records was not prepared to work an R&B act and the group dissolved.

At 14, Lloyd found himself at square one. “It was my drive that helped me forget that I was young and allowed me to move forward.” Armed with a demo of new material Lloyd and Irby made the industry rounds. Lloyd showcased his music and the response was overwhelming. “I ended up hooking up with Magic Johnson’s label, MJM. The 2001 CD, Oh My Lloyd, spawned the hit single “Hey Young Girl”. “We had a release date and the video, and we did our photo shoot. We were so excited and what do you know -- the label falls”.

Lloyd returned to Atlanta, back to the familiar surroundings of Dallas Austin’s studio where he originally recorded with Ntoon. A chance meeting at DARP with Arista Records A&R exec Mark Pitts landed Lloyd a showcase for Antonio L.A. Reid. Eventually an offer came in from the renowned producer and label executive. But, fate forged a detour. “Around that same time, I met Irv Gotti. “L.A. seemed to be like the wiser uncle of my family and Irv was like my big brother who I could do everything with”. “So I put my cameo on and they drafted me into the Inc, army”. Lloyd released the successful single, “Southside” featuring fellow label mate Ashanti.

Lloyd also recorded with southern artists, 8 Ball and MJG, Young Jeezy, Lil Scrappy, Trillville, Roy Jones, Snoop Dogg, and Tango Redd. Ready to start his new venture, Young Goldie Productions, Lloyd brought in an old friend, Jazze Pha to help get the ball rolling. With Jazze Pha's Sho’nuff Records (home to Ciara, Jody Breeze and Cherish) and Irv Gotti of the named Inc Records (Ja Rule, Ashanti, Vanessa Carlton, and Seven) planted firmly in his corner, Lloyd released a new single, the infectious radio-friendly smash "You" featuring Lil Wayne. The new album is a healthy blend of old school flavor, flawless vocals and stellar production by Irv Gotti, 7, Big Reese (Mariah Carey, Tango Redd, Young Jeezy), Jasper Cameron (Nelly, Christina Aguilera, Monica), J-Lack, and Jazze Phizzle. Lloyd takes chances vocally on each song: spewing sexy flavor on “Certified”, capturing the intensity of Michael Jackson on “Earthling”, or delivering an edgy ode to a girl named “Hazel”. “I’m a very out-of-the-box kind of person. If you’re inside the box, you’re a square”. The beat goes on with the tender “Like About You”, and the incredibly innovative “Project Window Fan”, a song that conveys love at its purest, simplest, ghetto-fabulous best. On “Other Side”, Lloyd compares his lust for a special girl to taking a ride in his classic Chevy and there’s “Valentine” a song with a classic feel and a hook that is infectious.

For Lloyd, everyday is a new day and every time he revs up his engine. Lloyd is behind the wheel, navigating the dicey turns and averting the potholes with all the skill and finesse of a far more seasoned driver. Look for the new album, “Street Love” in March 2007.

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Lloyd - Street Love