The Blackshakespeare Chronicles - Deitrick Haddon - D DAY

Featured by “BlackShakespeare” Christopher Anderson

“I have always been a positive person. I would never get out there and say, “Girl, feeling on yo booty or that thong, thong, thong, thong.” That would be a mess. – Deitrick Haddon on going R&B.

It’s clear by now that the urban Christian culture still suffers from an identity crisis much like hip hop painfully endured throughout the 80’s. Accounts of Tonex’s ‘Artist Gone Wild’ performances and gospel icon Shirley Caesar’s unsavory rap on her latest contribution to the movement of ‘reaching da young folk’ are classic examples of an industry not yet in touch with its inner child. However, there have been periods woven within the fabric of the culture’s emerging existence that portray the promise of a brighter day. Such was the case when the industry’s most recognizable imprint, Verity records, signed Deitrick Haddon to a major label deal in 2001. Haddon entered the national spotlight and presented an element of charisma paralleled only by his R&B counterparts. From his initial Grammy nominated solo release Lost & Found to his recent release 7 Days, the crooner has never portrayed a ‘monkey see, monkey do’ musical styling and has always been lyrically transparent. A musical philosophy that was identifiable through the revival of Biggie’s “One More Chance” for his latest release. Haddon sits down for the first time to talk about his association with O.J. Simpson, Sam Cooke and how progressive tracks, along with the rest of 7 Days, are just calculated steps toward his intent to go R&B. It’s D Day!

Blackshakespeare: What was the heart behind 7 Days?
Haddon: I wanted to have music that could really help people seven days of the week. I wanted to have ‘feel good’ music that could help them through those little humps and roadblocks that they go through in their lives. I really wasn’t trying to be really spiritually deep I just wanted to produce real good music that people could ride through during the week and just enjoy themselves.