R&B singer B. Smyth has been steaming up the music charts with his smash hit “Leggo” featuring 2 Chainz.
The Florida native received a little under a million views for his collaborative video with the Based On A T.R.U. Story rapper, and it’s only been a few weeks.
NEW MUSIC: B Smyth & 2 Chainz “Leggo”
GlobalGrind caught up with the adorable singer to talk about his new record deal, dance battles with 2 Chainz, and reviving the dying genre of R&B.
Check out our exclusive interview below!
GlobalGrind: Everybody is talking about “Leggo.” How did you link up with 2 Chainz, and how did all of it come about?
B. Smyth: 2 Chainz just released his album and he was touring. I actually didn’t get to meet him until the video shoot. I knew when he came that he was real professional. We chilled for a little bit. Got a chance to chop it up, and he’s a pretty cool dude.
2 Chainz has some dance moves too.
Yeah, people don’t know!
So who had the better moves on set? Did you serve him up?
I don’t think I could get 2 Chainz. He did his thing.
You originally started on YouTube covering people’s songs. I watched your Miguel cover, Frank Ocean cover…Are there any songs or artists that you won’t attempt to cover? Is there anybody you’re hesitant to tackle?
There are songs. One song would be Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep.” Not that I wouldn’t try the song, but if I did try it, I would definitely do it my way because her way is definitely pretty hard. Yeah, Adele or Maxwell “One Night Lady.” I did that, but no one really does it like Maxwell.
So you grew up in Florida, and you were kind of a jock right?
Grew up in the city of Ft. Lauderdale. A lot of people hear Ft. Lauderdale, and think it’s a place to retire and go sit on the beach. There’s certain areas that aren’t like that at all. I grew up on the end of Ft. Lauderdale. A real place, what you see is what you get. I grew up playing sports in little leagues. Eventually, I did play sports maybe a year or two in high school. I could always sing, but I would never sing in front of people because it wasn’t the cool thing to do where I’m from. I got into high school, and high school is where kids tend to find themselves, really realize what they want to do with their life. Singing was always a passion of mine, but it was always an undercover passion. I think my 10th grade year, I was like you know what, I’ll try this. If it works, it works and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Tried it! Luckily it worked. Girls started…
Flocking!
Yeah.
I did a couple talent shows. I started to win those talent shows and from there, I went to my mom and told her this is what I wanted to do. Now I’m here.
When was the very first time that you realized that you could sing?
Probably in elementary school, just walking to school. My mom when she would pick me up from school, she would always sing the whole way home in the car. I was like “I can do that! I’m not going to sing in front of you, but I can do that!” So I was walking to school one day, and I was humming. It sounded alright.
Was your mom surprised when you told her you wanted to sing?
Yeah! She actually caught me one day. I was singing in the shower, and she walked passed the bathroom door. She heard me singing and when I came out, she was like, “I didn’t know you could sing like that!”
Who were some artists that inspired you?
I would definitely have to say Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Bobby Brown, and even some individuals that are in the game today like Chris Brown, Usher, and Miguel.
Right now on your iPod, what were probably the last 5 songs you listened to?
Probably, the whole Kendrick Lamar album.
That album’s dope. What’s your favorite song on good kid, m.A.A.d. city?
I like “m.A.A.d. city.”
I kind of want to get your opinion on the power of Internet and YouTube, and how that weighs in with not only your situation, but a lot of people’s situations like Chief Keef’s and Trinidad Jame$. People are literally blowing up on the internet, and then getting record deals off of it. How do you feel about that?
Right now, it can only grow because I feel like the Internet isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I love it. It gives people an avenue to really showcase themselves. It lets the world judge you. I got my start on YouTube, and it’s good for kids that may not have the money to book studio time, or go to this dance class. It’s pretty much a record label itself, the Internet. You can get people to know who you are, and you can put yourself out there for the world to see. I love it!
If I sent you to a deserted island, and you could only bring three albums with you, what three albums would you bring?
I would bring Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I definitely would have to have a Sade album…and Don’t Be Cruel by Bobby Brown.
People sleep on that. Bobby sold 8 million records.
Yeah. People don’t know that.
You’ve been doing shows. What have been your favorite moments during performances?
I just performed at a charity event called, “Taking the Stage For Underprivileged Kids.” Out of all the shows I’ve done, I feel like that was the best one because the energy in the room, it just felt good. I felt good that was able to make someone else’s day, put a smile on someone else’s face. I just felt the vibe was really dope.
What are your five essentials that you must have when you leave the house?
My headphones & iPod, my computer, a cool pair of shades, a snapback, and some nice shoes.
So you have a whole bunch of different shades that you wear?
Yeah. I’m trying to make it my signature.
Let’s talk about an album. I know you’ve recorded 40 songs already. Can we be expecting a new project from you next year?
Yeah, definitely! Probably mid-April. We want to roll out with the first single “Leggo” featuring 2 Chainz…I’ll drop more videos, another single, and hopefully deliver my album.
If you could collaborate with an artist that’s hot right now, whom would you collaborate with?
I really want to work with Future.
Follow B.Smyth on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram: @TheRealBSmyth, YouTube: @BSmyth 1000, Facebook.com/BSmyth.
