News Staff Reporter
While men and women alike enjoy the cool breeze and stunning weather this summer, Sony/Columbia recording artist Lyfe will be hard at work in the studios finishing up his sophomore album, eagerly trying to avoid the sophomore slump that many artists experience following mainstream success. “This is the one right here,” he said to The News in an interview after a concert this May, “I have not reached my dreams yet. And I won’t until I experience the success of this album. The second album is what separates successful artists from [one-hit wonders].”
Collaborations with Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, and Aretha Franklin, he states, would also enable him to achieve his goals. “I love Keyshia’s story. She has some great things to say. Mary is able to maintain hit after hit, and Aretha is an icon on the music industry. I want to associate myself with the people who are what I strive to become.” His forthcoming album, dubbed The Phoenix, features two new singles, “S.E.X.” and “Let’s Stay Together.” The first is available to preview on his web site, while the latter features his up-and-coming artist LaLa, and discusses reasons for couples in bad relationships to stay together. The album was named The Phoenix, according to Lyfe, because of the constant highs and lows in life. “The bird was reborn through the fire. Likewise, humans go through fire everyday. Each and every person has their ups-and-downs.” Three 6 Mafia and Young Buck also make notable guest appearances. Lyfe encountered the group in person one day, asked them to drop a verse on the track, and after just a few hours later, the track was done. “They killed it!” he laughed.
Look out for Lyfe in the next few months. A radio tour is currently being set up to promote the release of his sophomore debut, further allowing the singer/songwrite to avoid a presumed sophomore slump. “I’m going to keep on making hit records,” he noted. “It’s up to the fans to listen and support me.”
