HHNLive.com writer Tiffany Gordon sits down with Q. Parker of 112 to talk about his up-coming solo album, the group's status, 90s era R&B, real music and much more.

Q. Parker on going solo: "we decided to take a break from 112...112 hasn’t broken up...It was a collective decision that we all agreed on and in '09 we are going to come back and do another 112 album."

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Tiffany Gordon: So Q, you seem like a really cool guy.

Q Parker: When you take away the videos, accolades and the success I’m really just a down to earth cool, regular dude.

TG: Now that’s good to hear because so many times we see fans disappointed because they go to talk to an artist and they realize that their different from what they expected.

QP: As an artist how can you be unapproachable to the people that help you become the success that you are? It doesn’t make any sense. You’re going to diss them today but then tomorrow when your album comes out you want them to go buy your album.

TG: Speaking of albums. I see you have an album coming out.

QP: I have a solo album coming out it's entitled “Real Talk”. It’s an independent situation with my own company NEWFAM entertainment partnered up with an Atlanta based independent company, Drift City Records. “Real Talk” ….I just really wanted to sit on the word Real because everything about my album is real. It’s real, genuine, and authentic and I say that in reference from a lyrical standpoint all my songs are very, very real from real life situations, real life experiences even from the music. I have real musicians, guys that understand music and can actually get behind any instrument and do what they do.

TG: That’s one thing that I feel like we’re missing is Real music because I know that there is a lot of music that is playing today that I wouldn't listen to 20 years from now, but there’s that Luther Vandross song that came out before I was even born that I can play over and over.

QP: For me that’s really the mode of thinking that I have because I’m a product of my era. And my era is the mid 90’s, where artists really did what they said they did. If you’re a songwriter, you wrote songs with substance, if you’re a singer; you would go to their show and they could really sing. So I’m really trying to bring that whole era back to today’s music industry.

TG: So why did you decide to go solo?

QP: It was a decision that was a collective decision. After five albums and 17 years of being together, there just came a point and time where you have to spread out a little bit. 112 have been together since we were 12 years old. So we decided to take a break from 112. And for the record 112 hasn’t broken up. Cause a lot of people think that when you say you’re doing a solo record that you’ve broken up from your group, but that’s not the case. It was a collective decision that we all agreed on and in “09” we are going to come back and do another 112 album. But we gave each other room to do whatever it is we wanted to do individually. This is allowing everybody time to just do whatever it is you wanted to do and then we’ll come back together and continue the 112 movement.

TG: Tell me about NEWFAM entertainment.

QP: I started the company because I believe in giving back. Somebody took a chance on me one day. Somebody gave me an opportunity to fulfill my dreams. I would be doing a great disservice if I don’t reach back and give back like somebody did for me. I started NEWFAM to be the outlet for not only my solo album, but other artists that are coming up right now. I have one particular artist signed to NEWFAM, and it’s a production team, a songwriter and a producer, but I’m looking for new talent, somebody that I can groom and develop and put them out under NEWFAM Entertainment.

TG: That seems like it is a lot of work, because a lot of young people don’t understand the actual hard work to do this, so with your production company you are basically guiding them through the way so that they won’t be taken advantage of?

QP: I have this niche to be able to figure out if an artist has that “IT”. And that “IT”, could be their swag, the talent, the determination, the work ethic and if you’re not going to be willing to put your all in it, all of what’s needed then you won’t be apart of NEWFAM Entertainment.

We are in an industry now that it is instant. Everybody wants results now. The whole developmental stages are not apart of the industry no more because everything is so now. But when you’re looking for an artist not already polished and you put a single out on them and you haven’t invested the time to develop their media training for interviews and haven’t worked in the rehearsal studios for performances, when they get on stage and on TV their sounding horrible. And like I said I’m a product of my era. We rehearsed hours a day, we went to media training we did all of that stuff, so if I attach my name to an artist, they’re going to go through the same things that I did. If not, you’re doing a disservice to the artist because you’re not giving them an equal chance to be successful.

TG: So all of that hard work and the growth you have experienced in being with 112 have gone into “Real Talk?”

QP: Oh yes! No matter how you look at it, no matter what I do, I’m always Q from 112. That’s a brand that’s always going to be attached to us. So in doing that and knowing that, of course there are certain elements that you will hear on the “Real Talk” album that are influenced by the 112 sound and the 112 way of life.

TG: Everybody has been waiting on 112… On top of that there aren’t that many male groups out today. Like you said in the era of the early 90’s it was massive. You had Jodeci, H-Town, Boyz II Men, 112… you had all these male groups out making good music. Now it’s like where’d it all go?

QP: I believe the era of the male groups, are just gone. It’s gone because you have to think about all of the components that it takes to make a male group. The work ethic, the love; being able to deal with jealousies and the talents. And when you think of all that, it's just very rare that you’re going to come across another 112 or another Dru Hill, Jodeci, New Edition another Boyz II Men. I don’t think you’re going to get it with how the industry is going now. With this whole I need it now attitude. Even if you do find three or four guys to make a group, it’s not impossible, but it is unlikely that they are going to be already “ready set go”. Because 112 wasn’t ready set go, Jodeci wasn’t ready set go, it took time to develop and get them to the point that when that first record came out, they were polished. But to get them polished it might have taken them a year or maybe two years, three years. I just have a hard time believing you’re going to go see a three man group and their going to already be ready in this particular industry right now.

TG: So when should we expect “Real Talk” to Drop?

QP: The album will be out in the fall. September/October.

TG: I heard a couple of songs on your Myspace and I’m really feeling it. It is definitely real music. What is your favorite song on the album and what is the song that means the most that truly comes from the heart?

QP: That question is kind of one in the same, but it's really hard to answer that question because I’ve been the creator behind the majority of these records and they all came from my heart, my mind, my soul. So to single one of them out, is like asking your mom who her favorite child is. You love them all, but for different reasons.

TG: You have had a lot of success during your career.

QP: Well, we have been very, very blessed. I can’t sum it up any other way. We’ve been very blessed. First to have made it to ten plus years as a group, same members, five albums, over 20 million records sold world wide, Grammy awards, MTV awards, songwriter awards, platinum status. I mean it’s just a blessing. Who would have thought four guys from the inner-city? I mean we are a walking testimony that you can come from the inner-city and still succeed. To travel the world… we met presidents, Kings and Queens. You couldn’t have told me when I was in middle school that I would be doing all this.

TG: So what’s next? Now you have the production company, you got “Real Talk” dropping in the fall. When should we expect to see you on tour?

QP: Well it's coming, it's coming really soon. We’re going to radio with the first single within the next couple of weeks or so and immediately after that, I’ll start doing my promotional tour. So you know I’m definitely coming through. But what I want people to understand is that Q Parker is solo artist, but Q Parker is also band. The band is called the “Experience.” It puts you in the mind of Mint Condition, where I’m the leading vocalist, but I have a full band behind me. And that’s me trying to help and assist the R&B game, come back. Like I said everything about this album is just real. You’re not going to see me lip singing and you’re not going to see the guys in the band fake playing. It’s all authentic.

TG: Real Talk!!

QP: Exactly! That’s “Real Talk!”