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Location: Toledo, NY
Hip Hop / R&B
http://www.myspace.com/lyfejennings
http://www.2lyfe.com
Hip Hop / R&B
http://www.myspace.com/lyfejennings
http://www.2lyfe.com
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Lyfe Jennings is one of the most incomparable and
inspirational artist to date. Following the success of his
Platinum debut LP ‘Lyfe 268-192’ and ‘The Phoenix’ LP
hitting Gold, Lyfe Jennings has blessed his listeners with
the highly anticipated album, ‘Lyfe Changes’.
Having found his musical interests from a young age,
Chester ‘Lyfe’ Jenings began to further his interest within
a family collective who would perform in Church.
Unfortunately his musical fate took a halt when Lyfe had
to serve 10 years in prison for arson when he was just 14
inspirational artist to date. Following the success of his
Platinum debut LP ‘Lyfe 268-192’ and ‘The Phoenix’ LP
hitting Gold, Lyfe Jennings has blessed his listeners with
the highly anticipated album, ‘Lyfe Changes’.
Having found his musical interests from a young age,
Chester ‘Lyfe’ Jenings began to further his interest within
a family collective who would perform in Church.
Unfortunately his musical fate took a halt when Lyfe had
to serve 10 years in prison for arson when he was just 14
years of age, but this didn’t stop his aspirations from developing and even started a music programme in Ohio institution.
Lyfe found a way of expressing his feelings, personal experiences and opinions through writing, which later developed into
producing and finding his talent within playing the guitar, bass and piano. In 2002 once time was served, the second day
after his release Lyfe spent the day in studio recording a 4 track CD and the next day performing it at a local club.
In 2003 Lyfe Jennings performed at the Nation Wide Audience on Showtime in Harlem which led him into winning the
amateur competition 5 times! Following this, his debut EP ‘What Is Love’ sold thousands independently, along with featured
singles ‘What Is Love’ and ‘She Got Kids’ dominating the radio airwaves. Having accomplished recognition for being a
talented singer, songwriter, producer and musician, Lyfe moved to New York in aim to achieve his musical dreams.
Lyfe found a way of expressing his feelings, personal experiences and opinions through writing, which later developed into
producing and finding his talent within playing the guitar, bass and piano. In 2002 once time was served, the second day
after his release Lyfe spent the day in studio recording a 4 track CD and the next day performing it at a local club.
In 2003 Lyfe Jennings performed at the Nation Wide Audience on Showtime in Harlem which led him into winning the
amateur competition 5 times! Following this, his debut EP ‘What Is Love’ sold thousands independently, along with featured
singles ‘What Is Love’ and ‘She Got Kids’ dominating the radio airwaves. Having accomplished recognition for being a
talented singer, songwriter, producer and musician, Lyfe moved to New York in aim to achieve his musical dreams.
Further performances included opening for Hip Hop artist Nelly at Radio
City Hall, NBA Allstar Events, BB Kings Lounge & Grill, Roll Hall Of Fame,
and Tennessee State University. As well as performing at schools and
clubs Lyfe participated at the NAACP event and performed his ‘Thank
God For NAACP’ single which he specifically wrote and produced for the
event. Lyfe Jennings has also made many guest appearances to TV
shows including Good Morning America and has shared his talent with
collaborations such as Fantasia, LL Cool J, Lil Flip and Bizzy Bone of
Bone Thugs and Harmony.
Lyfe Jennings is no stranger to the power of speech as he uses this well
through his music and isn’t afraid to express his upbringing, troubles,
relationships and everyday subjects without being too explicit for the
younger generation to grasp and learn from. Sony Records made a
phenomenal breakthrough with their signing to Lyfe Jennings and his
musical profile to date will validate this statement. ‘Lyfe Changes’
smoothes the Lyfe Jennings tone with a more alternative musical genre
which concludes a 14-track LP set to compliment his music catalogue.
DSB: When did your ambitions in music start and how did you begin to
pursue them?
LyfeJennings: My family used to sing round church and I started a group
with my cousins and older brother, and we started doing talent shows and
open mic nights.
DSB: How have you seen yourself develop as an artist since your first
started?
City Hall, NBA Allstar Events, BB Kings Lounge & Grill, Roll Hall Of Fame,
and Tennessee State University. As well as performing at schools and
clubs Lyfe participated at the NAACP event and performed his ‘Thank
God For NAACP’ single which he specifically wrote and produced for the
event. Lyfe Jennings has also made many guest appearances to TV
shows including Good Morning America and has shared his talent with
collaborations such as Fantasia, LL Cool J, Lil Flip and Bizzy Bone of
Bone Thugs and Harmony.
Lyfe Jennings is no stranger to the power of speech as he uses this well
through his music and isn’t afraid to express his upbringing, troubles,
relationships and everyday subjects without being too explicit for the
younger generation to grasp and learn from. Sony Records made a
phenomenal breakthrough with their signing to Lyfe Jennings and his
musical profile to date will validate this statement. ‘Lyfe Changes’
smoothes the Lyfe Jennings tone with a more alternative musical genre
which concludes a 14-track LP set to compliment his music catalogue.
DSB: When did your ambitions in music start and how did you begin to
pursue them?
LyfeJennings: My family used to sing round church and I started a group
with my cousins and older brother, and we started doing talent shows and
open mic nights.
DSB: How have you seen yourself develop as an artist since your first
started?
LyfeJennings: When you first start out as an artist you think everything was very personal so you try to write about
yourself exclusively but I think as you grow as an artist you start to understand that people want to buy these records so
you need to compromise with what they want to hear as well.
DSB: You’re a very conscience songwriter; do you ever feel over exposed?
LyfeJennings: Nah not really if anything I’m under exposed (laughs)
DSB: Don’t ever record a track, listen back to it and then think no I don’t want people to know that?
LyfeJennings: Hmm yeah I do that a lot and I think all artists do because once people start buying into you they buy into
you for a certain reason.
yourself exclusively but I think as you grow as an artist you start to understand that people want to buy these records so
you need to compromise with what they want to hear as well.
DSB: You’re a very conscience songwriter; do you ever feel over exposed?
LyfeJennings: Nah not really if anything I’m under exposed (laughs)
DSB: Don’t ever record a track, listen back to it and then think no I don’t want people to know that?
LyfeJennings: Hmm yeah I do that a lot and I think all artists do because once people start buying into you they buy into
you for a certain reason.
DSB: Music is a very powerful form of speech; do you think some
artists abuse it?
LyfeJennings: Yes but at the end of the day this is America and
we’ve got the freedom of speech but people need to consider who’
s listening as well.
DSB: You’ve been working on your new album ‘Lyfe Changes’,
what should we be expecting?
LyfeJennings: Defiantly expect regular Lyfe, but you can also
expect some new things like we have more of Rock feel to it, more
up tempo tracks and there are more features on the album that I’
ve ever had before.
DSB: You were one of the panellists at the Howard University in
March, how did you intend to voice your opinions on raising social
awareness of AIDS and HIV?
LyfeJennings: I intended to voice my opinion by not voicing my
opinion, and just stating the facts. I think a lot of people voice their
artists abuse it?
LyfeJennings: Yes but at the end of the day this is America and
we’ve got the freedom of speech but people need to consider who’
s listening as well.
DSB: You’ve been working on your new album ‘Lyfe Changes’,
what should we be expecting?
LyfeJennings: Defiantly expect regular Lyfe, but you can also
expect some new things like we have more of Rock feel to it, more
up tempo tracks and there are more features on the album that I’
ve ever had before.
DSB: You were one of the panellists at the Howard University in
March, how did you intend to voice your opinions on raising social
awareness of AIDS and HIV?
LyfeJennings: I intended to voice my opinion by not voicing my
opinion, and just stating the facts. I think a lot of people voice their
DSB: Is there enough social awareness raised through chart topping music?
LyfeJennings: Where people are getting paid there isn’t enough social awareness being raised but people are doing a
good job with what they have.
DSB: What musical obstacles have you faced?
LyfeJennings: The obstacle that I have faced is when you’re being positive people assume automatically that you’re an
artist for the adults just because you’re making positive music, but that just pushes me forward into still making it appealing
to the youth but is still very informative.
DSB: What’s been your biggest musical achievement?
LyfeJennings: I think the our poor of people coming up to me and tell me things like you helped my marriage stay together
and you helped me go back to church. The overall impact I have created through my music.
DSB: What’s on your agenda for the rest of 2008?
LyfeJennings: I plan to release my album April 29th; I’m starting a book series around the same time call. I definitely plan
to do some movie work and I’m in the process of writing a script and whether I get funded for it or not I will shoot the video
myself. So that’s pretty much me on the agenda for the rest of 2008.
For further information and updates please visit Lyfe Jennings official website at www.2lyfe.com and www.myspace.
com/lyfejennings
‘Lyfe Changes’ LP Released April 29th 08
Interview By Nina Carmela
nina@DaStreetBuzz.com