R&B poptart and "BQ Sex Siren" realness Trey Songz covers the newest issue of Billboard and manages to keep his clothes on. But the interview details how Trey's abs, pecs and NC-17 lyrics were carefully choreographed into a major selling point.
Songz was willing to submit himself to the kind of wholesale reinvention that's usually the provenance of single-named female pop stars: He changed his look from head to toe -- lopping off those braids, for starters -- put crooning about love on the back burner and started singing about sex. Lots and lots of sex. "The public likes generic more than they like to admit, so that's what I gave them -- I gave them sexual singles and they ate it up," Songz says about the string of blatantly sexed-up hits from "Ready." "I gave them two whole albums before this one -- on one I talked about a mother's love for her son and a father not being there, and on the other I made a song about safe sex. They were well accepted but not as much as the records on 'Ready.' The singles were purposely very sexual to capture people's attention."
Don't forget this:
Between albums, Songz went through a fairly dramatic physical makeover. He chopped his braids down to a low cut and traded his baggy jeans, white-on-white Nike Air Force Ones and tank tops for custom-fitted suit pants, button-ups and hard-bottom shoes. He also began hitting the gym and bulking up, building definition in his arms and torso, which he decorated with tattoos. When "Ready" came out, he looked less like a high school boy and more like a man.
There's also a he-said, he-said version of why Trey Songz decided to go cut his braids. Oh and more on the new "Bottoms Up" track with bi-friendly rap starlet Nicki Minaj. Heeheee.
Two more images of Trey Songz from Billboard AFTER THE JUMP ...
He looks nice there.
Posted by: S. Flemming | 09 August 2010 at 17:17
very cute
Posted by: nahtans | 10 August 2010 at 03:22
I tell you, the media machine can really make you into a star. I am not saying Songz does not have talent, but to craft a career based on 90% sexually suggestive songs and a ripped body....where is the art (except for his fab bod)?
I always think about the church in these situations. Why don't they make a fuss over things like this? Oh yeah, there only agenda is against anything GAY!
Posted by: Raheem1252 | 10 August 2010 at 07:15
I thought his "Media Transformation" was performed quite masterfully. His handlers were able to catch the attention of the "Hot in the Ass" Teenage Girls, Young Women, and the Gheys as well. lol
Sex Sells! whether we choose to admit it or not. For me Personally; I'm not into his music, but I don't mind watching one of his videos with the MUTE button activated..Like Raheem1252 mentioned; I need a lil more art in my musical artists.
Posted by: Black Pegasus | 10 August 2010 at 17:02
I cannot knock him for wanting success,but like so many others before him he has sold an image that Americans won't allow him to alter. His creativity and even integrity will be locked in time. The immediate benefits may be attractive but he has willingly agreed to his own disposal.
Posted by: rc | 12 August 2010 at 11:23