Trey Songz
has been giving back in a major way!
On Friday night, Trey performed a benefit concert for “Trey’s Angels” at the Hammerstein Ballroom in
New York City. The one night only, event could be viewed by fans across the world online for just $5 bucks with proceeds going towards his Angels with Hearts Foundation. Before the show, Trey sat down with
Essence.com and chatted about the importance of giving back to his fans through his foundation.
Check out an excerpt from the interview, plus pics and video from the concert below:
On what made him decide to start the charity
I have “Trey’s Angels” who are my fan club and when I was on tour my fans were giving me a lot of gifts. I had the idea to have them to channel that [giving] toward people that need it. So, I did a video clip on my iPhone and I asked my Angels to donate to people in their area and commit random acts of kindness in their community. The feedback that I got was amazing. They would send videos back with them at homeless shelters, feeding the elderly, tutoring kids. It made me realize what power I had that could be used for good.
On if his charity will be focused on helping those in his hometown or across the country
We’ll be everywhere. I’m planning to use it worldwide, actually. I’ve been to Australia, Europe, Africa and that was just this year. I do believe that charity starts at home and that’s where my first organized event was held—in Petersburg, Virginia. We helped children get free haircuts, little girls get their hair done, and we fed about 300 to 500 people. In my video, “Top of the World,” we showcased a lot of what was happening during that time.
On Why He decided to make the concert viewable online
I have so many fans who don’t live in New York and I want to be able to help them witness the show. Furthermore, it’s a cheap ticket price (just $5) and the money goes to a great cause.
Following up on his 2009 release "Ready" and 2010's " Passion, Pain & Pleasure" Trey Songz exhibits why he's one of the best and youngest R&B artists out there again with his E.P. "Inevitable." It's arguably one of the most quality productions he's put out, much attributed to the fact that there's only five songs on it. All of the mediocre songs get cut out, and only the cream of the crop are in this batch of "Songz." (Pun intended). "What I Be On," which features the rapper Fabolous is a swaggered-down, braggadocios hip-hop track that sounds like a musical cousin of Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now." But the song before it, "Top of the World," is a borderline depressing ode to his home state of Virginia that sounds like a lost Drake track, even down to the emo rap verse that Trey performs. But the best material of course, is the sexually-charged material, particularly "Outside (Pt. 1)," an ode to public exhibitionism, particularly outdoor lovemaking: "I don't want nobody more than you, just want your body on this mornin' dew/I get these covers layin' right for us, ain't nobody lookin,' it's just Mother Nature watchin' us," he sings. The best song is arguably the last one though, "Sex Ain't Better Than Love," a mid-tempo ballad where Trey sings about how he's learned that sex can be empty if its not with someone you care about and that real love is made through the heart. (Figuratively speaking, of course.)
Ultimately a solid album, and one that every Trey fan, and R&B fan should add to their collection.
Rating:
3.5 out of 5 hearts
Stand Out Track:
"Sex Ain't Better Than Love"
Download Inevitable here!
