Ladies & Gents ....
If I had to choose a Theme, for this "Inner-View"....
the only title I could think of would be :
Still
....
Enjoy!
"Res" Whas' Crackin' ???
RES : "Whas Up" !!
Aiiiiiiight, I'm gon' start from the Top : "FAMILY"
*cause her sister "Jamie" has been holdin' thangz down out here*
Do U have any more bros. or sisters ?
RES : Yea, I have an older brother named "Jermaine".
I got a Half-sister that's older, & I got two Half-bros.
wow....
RES : Uh huh !
Bathroom privileges must have been kinda deep ..
RES : But, I didn't live with "All of them", tho ...
I lived with my bro & sis "Jamie & Jermaine" the other ones lived in virginia ...
cause they're my DAD's kids ! ( so, I didn't live with them )
But I knew em'....cause you know... during the summertime......
we ALL lived together !
Right...
RES : So, we all know each other !
But, growing up in an ALL GIRLS catholic school.....
RES : I Know, Right ?
U had to be sick of "Estrogen" at some point ?
RES : Well, you know what ?
It was crazy ....It didn't bother me, cause I was used to it !
You know what I mean ?
Started feelin' ....NORMAL ?
RES : Yes, but when I was in 5-6 -7 & 8th grade......
it changed to "GIRL & BOYS" when they went Co-Ed !
Oh, I see .
RES : Yeah. but it was cool, cause at that age....
I was more into like .....Doin' Stuff !
uh huh...
RES : I wasn't into boys in the 5th grade!
Although, I did have a "Boyfriend"!
But it was like: "He's my FRIEND" ?!?!
Right, Right ...
RES : 6,7 & 8th grade ...you know, I was all into SPORTS !!!
I was like ...a "TOMBOY" growing up !
Well, that explains the "Physique" U still have today, then ....
RES : Yeah, Exactly !
He he he he....
RES : Ha ha, that is cool....Right ?
Thank God, for "GOOD" Genes !
and now, you can get into those .... even better "JEANS" ( I guess ? )
RES : Uh huh ....them $800 Jeans !
And, You ALWAYS look "Smashing" on stage, btw..... * in silly "English" accent*
RES : "Thank You"
Tell me about "Temple" ( university ) ..... "WHAT REALLY WENT ON "???
RES : Ha ha ... My life.... during Temple ..... I mean ,
after I DIDN'T get into "Esther Boyer"...
U didn't get in ?
RES : I DID NOT GET IN !!!
And, I was Very Upset !
Cause I got into every "OTHER" college for Classical voice performance .
....EXCEPT "Esther Boyer" ?!?!
That why I went there !!!
I feel U ....
RES : I was like : "Fuck That", I'm goin' ANYWAY !
And, I'm gonna get IN !
Ha.
RES : But, then I lost interest in it !
Because...."I just DID".
Honestly ? I have a "BORING " musical life !
ya know ? I started playing "La Crosse"
I got IN as a " WALK-ON" ( and, they were like the #4 team in the nation)
I was like: "Oh, I MADE IT..."? Okay ?
Wow!
RES : Cause, I was that type of person ....I've always been like :
"Aiiiight, I'm just gon' Try it "
and do it 'til..... I can't anymore.
'Til I DON'T want to do it, anymore !
Right .
RES : U know what I mean ?
oh yea....
RES : That's actually how I got that "Record Deal" !
Cause, I WANNA DO IT !!!!
So, U're somewhat ...."Fearless" then ?
RES : "In a Sense" ....Yea.
In your approach to things you consider a "CHALLENGE" ?
RES : For "CERTAIN" things....
Certain "Challenges" .....
My biggest Fear, back in the Day...
( like, when I was makin' the Record...) was "Writng Songs" !
Because I didn't want to .....like .....Let out my "TRUE" Emotions !
What I was REALLY thinking !!!
I see. U Didn't want to open the "FLOOD-GATES " ?
RES : Yeah ! I was like :
"PEOPLE ARE REALLY GONNA KNOW....
WHAT THE HELL'S GOIN ON, IN MY LIFE"
I thought : I'm NOT doin' that ...."FUCK THAT" !!!!
Ya know what I mean ?
So, at what point did U decide, that it may be possible.....
your feelings are Universal & it's OKAY to Share ?
RES : Ummm....Aaaaaahhhh..... A Year... now ?
cool.
RES : Then I started writng in this Journal !
And, now I got "THE THICK RED BOOK" !!
Wow....that's Hardness !
RES : So, Now ... I really write like...
This NEXT record is gonna be about my "Family"!
It's really gonna be like ...
* Res takes a deep breath*
tho, the stuff on the 1st record....
like....the girl who wrote the majority of the Songs. ( Santi White )
" I lived with Her " .....You know what I mean ?
Yea....
RES : I lived with her, when the record was being written ....
So, I had alot of input... on what was being said !
But, it wasn't me being like: "OPEN GATES"
Affraid of the "GATES" ? or Was it something U really didn't wanna Deal wit....Emotionally ?
RES : It's just cause..." I'm Really Personal "
okay.
RES : I'm mean : " I'm REAL Personal" !!
I see.
RES : People don't know .....
like, if I have a REAL Fucked-up day, or if it's something REALLY personal .....
About my Family....
"I Ain't gonna let Er'body know about it " !!
Like, if I'm feelin' Really Shitty ?
I won't let everbody around me know, cause I know....
I can walk in a room & bring people UP or bring people Down !!
So, if I'm feelin' Bad.... "I just keep it to myself "
I don't wanna bring people down...that ain't cool !
Wow
RES : I just didn't want people to ....*she goes back into deep thought, again*
I'm Personal ...My Feelings ARE MINE !!
Yea...
So , "NO GROOVE THEORY" ???
*Note: Res & I were talkin about her being asked to be Amel's replacement...."
RES : Aaaaah....
Ya know what? I can actually feel U on that ! ( in terms of things seeming out of place ) Because, if it's Not your Home .....then you're "HOUSE SITTING" You know what I mean ? Cause if U weren't there in the Beginning....It's not really yours !
*see David Lee Roth vs. Sammy Hagar*
RES : I know ....
So, I "TOTALLY" feel U on that !!
RES : But, I didn't even like "Groove Theory" tho....
I didn't like alot of stuff, back then !
And, "Groove Theory"....I didn't even like they're little "Hit" they had.
okay....
RES : And, I felt bad ....ya know, kinda "Snobbish" being like :
"I DIDN'T LIKE NONE OF THEY'RE MUSIC"
( but , I "Straight" DIDN'T )
Now, although ....I do like "Amel Larrieux's voice"
She has a Really nice voice! And, like a nice little Aura about her & everthing
But, GROOVE THEORY.... AIN'T DO NUTTIN' FOR HER !!
You know what I mean ? It ain't really do her No Justice....
well, damn.....
RES : I mean, "Dude" looked Good (Bryce Wilson) in the band & all....
"Groove Theory was Kind of weak, to me"
Aight. U got signed in '99 ?
RES : Yep!
And , Now it's 2002 .....but, your just now.. promoting the first single ( in Europe )
I don't think people understand the Process, ...And just how long things take !
*NOTE:this "Inner-view" took place in Germany on 4/13/02..while on tour w/ MaryJ. Blige
RES : Yea, I know! But in comparison ...Mine was Short !!
I was 19yrs old, when I signed to do my 1st demo !!
I got a manager, and 2 weeks later....we were workin'on songs for the demo !
And then, a couple of months Later...I got a Deal !! But, what people don't know is ...
"I DIDN'T KNOW NOTHIN' ABOUT THE INDUSTRY... AT ALL" !!
wow.
RES : At 19 ? At All ....I mean, My life wasn't built around Music !!
Except, that I listened to it in the mornin' gettin' ready for school.
I was just a "Fan", like er'body else in my family !
*Damn*
RES : You know, like people who don't do music !
You just listen to it ... or go to Concerts ....ya know ?
I went to see Janet Jackson, George Michael, I saw "Martha Reeves & the Vandellas"
Because, I would go to concerts & I liked Music ...
But, I ain't never think ....
( and people think, I just say this to have a "Story" )
Whas' that ?
RES : BUT, I DID'T THINK ...
I WOULD EVER .....IN MY LIFE....
HAVE A VIDEO ON MTV !!!
You know what I mean ?
I'm sure ......
RES : Or
even be a "Singer" !! 
People go ALL of their lives, "chasing" what U've achieved already !!
RES : "Yea"
I ain't NEVER/EVER ....I don't know how I can explain it to people.
Wow...
RES : I ain't never think that I would have a "RECORD DEAL" And, that people would pay ME to sing ?!?!? Except, maybe .... You know what ? I honestly thought, it would've turned out to be.... if I DID sing, for a living ? I'd have a 9-5 job ( which I would've prolly Hated ) But I would have an "OUTLET"..like to sing @ a Club or somethin' like that !
But, I never thought that this would be "MY JOB" !!
EVEN tho, I did things that would make sense ..."If I was tryin' to be a SINGER"
Right.
RES : You know what I mean ? .....like takin' Voice lessons at 8yrs. old !
And singin'....."Italian Arias" ?
RES : Yeah ! I didn't even think it could be That !! You know ?
Because of the things that I did....I would see people ( before & After me ) coming in & out of voice lessons, Doin' the Same thing !! There would be somebody who had a scheduled lesson @ 6:30 ....And, I would come in @ 7:00pm "So, I didn't think I was any different than anybody else" There were people who'd paid to take lessons, too ! I went Music school with "hundreds" of other kids, women & men who had classes, too ....
So, that was the extent of what U thought "MUSIC" would be for You ?
RES : Yeah, I was like "this is something I could do" ...if I wanted to ?!?!?!
That's Cool, Res !
RES : Just like ..."Playing La Crosse" Just like ..... "I want to go to College"
So... "I AM GOING TO GO" !!
Speakin' of "Tennis" .... I love to watch You & "Jamie" ( You two remind me of the"Williams" sisters! ) Yáll are REALLY CLOSE ! Aside from that fact that U two look alike ....U can tell U guys are Sisters! It's just nice, to see that .....
RES : Yea...My Mom & her Sister are "Best Friends",too !
Cool, man ....
RES : I guess it's only " Natural "
My Parents, they raised us like:
"If Yáll Fight...Yáll Fight @ home..."
"Yáll better NOT fight @ School" !!
You know what I mean ?
Regardless, of who's fault it is ...?
RES : Yeah ! That's how we were raised.
"NOBODY GOTCHA BACK, BUT FAMILY"
It appears to me, that ( ALOT of this ...) " U can Take it or Leave it " !!
RES : What ....Singin' ?
Nah, this " Whole" Industry ?
RES : Uh huh..."THESE PEOPLE ARE CRAZY" !!
You know what, tho ? Gettin' to know U these last few weeks ...I can see that in you !!
And, it looks & sounds to me, like...."U Could GIVE A DAMN"
RES : "I COULD GIVE A DAMN " !!
He he he....
RES : Although ......
Although, "It's a nice way to make a living" !
Oh , "I'm SURE" ...... *sarcasm 101*
RES : It CAN be ...a nice way . The Pay ain't Bad ! You know what I mean ?
BUT....there's alot of "Crazy"muthafuckas, that You Don't NEED to deal with....
"IN LIFE" !!
"Whooooooo"
RES : I mean, "Life would be Complete"....
If U didn't HAVE TO deal with "Certain" CRAZY muthafuckas !!
Balances out.... doesn't it ?
RES : " IT TOTALLY BALANCES OUT " !!
It's just like any other job!
Yea...
RES : You can work a 9-5 job and have to deal with muthafuckas, that you really Don't wanna deal with ...But you Deal with them, because of things you need to do.
Good Lawd ....
RES : Yea, I can " Take it or Leave it "
But that's NOT the attitude You should have going in it,
"cause you WON'T get a record deal" !!
( cause People, Don't like that shit )
So, At 23yrs ....
RES : "24"
"Sorrrrrrrrrrrrry"
RES : "Ha ha ha ha ha ...." WHAT ?
"Aaaaaay, I ain't gon' lie about my age ....and, say I'm younger" !
But U look so much younger, darlin'..... * in my best "Hedda Hopper" voice*
RES : I'm just young at Heart ....
It's just funny to me, sittin'here listening to this "24" year old..... *I'll be 40 in Nov.* I can sorta sense that, You have have a DEEP understanding of the Game....
And, like the lyrix to "Golden Boy" You've realized that this shit.... IS a "Freak Show" !!
RES : It " TOTALLY " is ....
At such a young age ....that's amazing to me! I can only wish U...."The BEST" !
I mean: with your "Life"......"Career"......EVERYTHING !! It's just nice to see it.
RES : "Thank You" People GOTTA realize that, EARLY !!
That's HARD, for some folks ...
RES : You have to pay Attention !
Well, some people don't ...They're Completely Asleep !
RES : Uh huh...
That's just amazing to me. Yea...."RES" !!
Are U ready for the SMARTALECMUSIC "Burning Question" ?
RES : Yea....
"BACKGROUND SINGERS "
Omni-Important or In the Way ?
RES : Aaaaah, depends on what you're goin' for .....
They're Not REALLY Important !
*snicker*
RES : You know what I mean ?
Yea.
RES : Really..... "Ain't nobody comin' to see them"
I'm glad somebody said that ! A lot of people would NOT admit that !
RES : Why NOT ? It's the Truth !!
If U've the got the "Melody" ....And, it's being Executed......
RES : If You can Sang ? And, you're holding your own.....
"They are Soooooo NOT Important" !!
they're like..."Whatever"
*Why am I hearing "Donny Hathaway" Live, right now*
But, if you can't hold your own ...? just with a MIC & a Drummer ?
Then....You ARE gonna NEED background singers !!
Not everybody....NEEDS....everything !
But, you can add folks in, to make your shit look bigger...(on Stage)
Some people, Do..... need background singers ....
When they can't carry IT ! So, I guess "Bob Dylan" should ALWAYS keep bkg singers ?
RES : "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ..." Right ?
Somebody like "Donny Hathaway" doesn't need anybody else on the Mic ....
*Except the MC who's Introducing him*
RES : Uh uh.....
I'm gonna throw some names @ Ya....
Give me the "First Thang" that comes in your Head !!
Marion Anderson 
Pho
Photo: Fred Stein
RES : She is a "Classic"!!
Just Incredible....
Bessie Smith
RES : Tellin' it Like it IS ..... Tellin' it Like it IS ......
Mavis Staples
RES : Mavis' voice reminds me of....
like.... Yo' Aunt !
Somebody who knows shit !
She's A black woman that KNOWS that No matter what... She will tell it like it is .
At the Barbecue / Wedding, or a Funeral !
She'll tell it like it is ....
Tina Turner
Photo: Chris Walter
RES : I'm thinkin' of a WHOLE lot of thangs ....
When I hear Tina Turner, I think of all these different Eras & her Pictures.....
what she looks like on stage .....
She's just got ... ENERGY !!
THAT'S WHAT SHE IS....."ENERGY" !!
SHE IS ...."ENERGY" !!!
Aretha Franklin 
RES : "Atomic Bomb"
She's the Atomic Bomb !!
CHAKA KHAN 
RES : "TELL ME SOMETHIN' GOOD ...."
Gladys Knight
RES : She's like... the NICE girl, singer !
Ya know....She knows what she's doin'
Gladys.... does things ....Right !
She's got her Cousins & Brother behind her ....
Patti Labelle 
RES : "Range"
She GOT RANGE, Boy !!
" How is it ...that 2 people....Who laugh together....Wanna DIE together "
Bjork 
Photo: the guardian
RES : "WHEW"
She's very... VERY..... True to herself !
I stopped listening to music after "Debut" ..... * No bullshit*
Shirley Manson
Photo: Carol Chan
RES : That "GIRL" ....SHE GOT STYLE !!
Style .
"Haaaaa...." Did U see the New (cherry lips) Video ?
RES : "Yessssssss"
Gwen Stefani
Photo: Interscope
RES : She is ......A REMAKE.
( of old things )
Rrrrrrrr.....
Mary J. Blige
Photo : Phil Knott
Mary is "HARDCORE"
She is Straight-UP.... "HARDCORE"
Santi White
Photo: S.O.B.'s
"Santi White" is.......A NICE PERSON !!
She is a Really, A nice person.....
That's all I can say .
Cool.....
"Whew...." we got thru that !
Let's play the Either /Or Game.... Shall We ?
RES : Yea....
Mini-Skirts or Pants ?
RES : I'm thinkin' : "What Day is it" ? Is it Monday or Friday .....?
You know what I mean ??
If U Really had to take "One or the Other" ...
RES : "PANTS"
Boots or cum f*#k mePumps ?
RES : I gotta say : Boots !!
'Cause I can Always get some !! I don't need no Shoes.....
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ......
RES : It's the Truth, doe !
I mean ..... you know .....
I'm not tryin' to toot my own horn, but...Guys like me !
Truth or "White" Lies ?
RES : "TRUTH"
"Always tell the Truth" !! ( You can Never go wrong )
People will Respect you for that !
Okay ??????
Paper or Plastic ?
RES : "Paper" *she thows up the "P-Funk"sign & says: WHOLE FOODS*
Land or Sea ?
RES : Sea !
Yea...man !
RES : The Sea.
Checking or Savings ?
RES : Aaaaaahh.... "Spending"
Well, I guess it depends on how U're spending yo' money... If U writing a lot of checks, then..?
RES : I know. but, you know what... I'm the Idiot who had the savings account, for soooooo long & it made me have to go to the bank, all of the time!
so....."SAVINGS" !!
( Even tho, I don't save very much. )
Live or Studio ?
RES :You know ....I gonna have to say: The Studio.
I feel U.
RES : Cause in the Studio, you're gettin' a Vibe ....
when you're with certain people.......
And, like ....Nobody can Touch You !
Ya know ?
You can close youself off from Everything....
and, just create somethin' that comes from YOU !!
And, it's like ...."Un-filtered".....it just comes from You .
uh huh...
RES : It didn't go thru the Radio first....
or some that you've heard here or there
or somethin' that you've seen live.... You know what I mean ?
yea....
U.S. or Abroad ?
RES : "Abroad"
Don't get it twisted !!
"Travel" ....it could be the best thing for you .
Buy or Lease ?
RES : "BUY"!
Ain't nothin' like having you're "OWN" Shit !
What? What ? Ha ha ha.
RES : Ain't nothin' like breakin' Yo' OWN shit !!
CD or Vinyl ?
RES : I respect Vinyl ....But, I don't own any !
okay.
RES : Actually, the only Vinyl that I've ever owned....
was Stevie's : "Hotter than July"
...and, I don't even have a record player ?!?!?
But, that was my favorite Album ....'cause it had the lyrics on it !!
I could listen to my favorite song : "Master Blaster~Jammin" !!!
Stadiums or Clubs ?
RES : "Clubs"
Fuck-a-Stadium !!
People that U can't see or feel ....
RES : Yeah, you can't even see them...
and, "Fuck-a-Spotlight..." too !!
Fuck that Spotlight..... "I Hate that Shit" !!
"Whew" ....we made it thru the Either /Or !
RES : That was a good one ....that was a good one .
Tell me about that "700 mile sit-com" that U were in ....
RES : Right ? You can call it a sit-com....
You can call it a soap-opera !
I mean ..."It was deep"
Ya know what I mean ?
I was 20 (somethin') yrs. old ....
I got this boyfriend, that I just met .....
like it was almost... Destiny or Fate ?
It was my 21st birthday, right ? And, I had a boyfriend at the time... ( in college ) & we weren't really gettin' along... it was towards the end.....
Like, when you start arguing with a person ?
"I DON'T ARGUE" ya know what I mean ?
yea.....
RES : So, it was obviously towards the end.
And, I remember it HAD to be towards the end..
'Cause I was goin' somewhere else for my birthday !!
I wanted to go somewhere I've never been before.....
And, one of my best friends said: "GO TO ATLANTA" ?
Let's go to ATL for the weekend !?!?!
'cause we've never been & one of her old friends from High school,
( who'd happened to be a guy ) has an apartment & we can stay there !!
So, we stayed at her Guy-Friends House !
His roommate was this kid that I eneded up....ya know, liking or Whatever.
But, at the time ....I didn't know he liked me, til' after the 1st two days I was there ! Until, one day I was walikin' down the steps & he was twisting his Dreads ....Sayin': You are GORGEOUS !! I was like: "Oh, that's so nice"
Then I was like...."Okay, He likes me"
Ha ha ha ...
RES : The first time I noticed HIM ....I saw him jumpin'on a bus ! And, I said : "Oh...he's Cute"
Aiiiiiight...
RES : So, then we hung out ....And he wouldn't call me ?
I gave like my phone # , My Address...everything ! All of my Info....
He would Not call me, cause he said ..."I have a Boyfriend" !!
( and, he respected that )
But, I was like : WHAT THE FUCK?? WHY DIDN'T U CALL ME ??
So What? If I give you my Number .....Call Me !!
Can't U have "Friends" & have a Boyfriend or Girlfriend...?
RES : EXACTLY! but, He wasn't tryin' to be my "FRIEND"
I came to find out that, he went thru an experience where, his Ex killed herself in a Drunk-Driving accident . So, he made a pact with himself that the Next woman he was gonna be with.....that's IT ! Ya know, fuck having a girlfriend, he was gonna treat whoever this girl was....
like his Wife!
To make up for what he didn't do.... with his ex, maybe ?
RES : Yea... like he was gonna treat her like his Wife !
like...SERIOUS !!
Not like somebody he was just... Fuckin' ?!?!?!
Maybe, it took for someone to DIE for him to get to THAT Place ...?
RES : Yeah! And, he was only 20yrs.old when it happened.
So, now ....he was 24yrs. tryin'to get over that ! And, he was actually Depressed...& I had came to his house one day..And, he looked at me like: "Damn", I'm gettin'a vibe from this girl !!
So... whatever, whatever ....We started dating.....whatever.....
He came up to NYC ...I came Down to ATL ....
And, it was good ! A "Long-Distance" Relationship!
So, everytime I would take that, the Pilot would be like:
"Our flight time to Atlanta is 2 1/2 hrs. & 700 miles..."
Aaaaaahhhh......He he he he
RES : So, it kinda just stays in yo' head when you're flying back & forth.
And, I was flyin' Up & Back ....Up & Back ....
that's trippy....
RES : Yea....Right ?
One day, I was in my apt...... he was there....
And we had a candle burnin' ( I had this little Studio Apt.)
So, I was sittin' on my bed like this...
*she sits up sorta I *Res begins to sit in sort of a "Lotus" position*
And the Light of the candle was shinning, whereas
you could see my Silhouette on the Wall !!
Uh huh ....
RES : So then, I was like :
"Turn around & Face me....and, sit like this "
So, when he did.... I took a pencil & Traced around his
Silhouette !!
Then I said : " DO ME "
"Damn"
RES : And, So ....he did Me ! And, we were facing each other like this.... * Almost like two swans opposite, makin' the shape of a Heart*
You know what I mean ?
"Wow"
RES : And, it was on the Wall of My Bedroom !!
My bed was pushed up against the wall, I didn't have a headboard or anything....
( My shit was "Ghetto")
Do U know ....how "SEXUALLY CREATIVE" that shit was ????
RES : IT WAS !! Right ??
Yea.....Amazing !
RES : That was
Dope, Right ? 
"Sheeeiiiit" if I was that age & a Sista pulled that on me....
RES : We both were "Whipped ", tho...
Okay.
RES : And, so we were REALLY feelin' each other...right ?
2 or 3 yrs. went by ...the Long distance relationship ......
And, we were makin' it WORK !! Plus, WE WERE BROKE !!!
He would take the "Greyhound Bus" from ATL....OKAY ??
Which is like a 12hr. ride ?!?!?!
Yea.... that's a nice little "Stint"
RES : You know what I mean ?
Sittin' on a bus, like this....* demonstrates the worst condition* for 12hrs. ?
With "CRAZY" fools ...?
RES : Yea, Wit "CRAZY" Muthafuckas !!
Now, I'm on Planes, Trains, Buses, Automobiles....
Flyin' here / flyin' there ....
"OH"....When I got my Record deal, Right ?!?
I said: We gon' go on "Vacation" !!!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.....
RES : We're goin' to Barbados ....and, it's on Me !!
We went to Barbados ...Smoked cigars.....Chilled ......
and, we would do like "Fun" shit together....right ?
He's Aries...I'm a Libra.....on opposites sides of the Zodiac,
so we were "PERFECT" for each other !!!
Well, Damn.....
RES : But .... It All came Crumblin' Down .
Aiiiight....what happened ?
RES : One day, he started having.... Seizures !
wow...
RES : Outta Nowhere, &n