BabyFace Documentary In The Works

[CodeBlaMeVi]

Babyface never totally laid things out, so I hope we get his direct perspective. but apparently LA had started going behind Babyface’s back business wise.

LA tried to give those Tevin Campbell songs to Usher and Dallas Austin said LA gave him a record label under Laface w/o Babyface’s knowledge (reminds me of the Suge/Dre dynamic). Babyface said that he was doing all the heavy lifting production wise and that LA was essentially just a businessman at that point.

that’s why the interesting part about that is right after their creative split, the first act LA brought in was Tony Rich. Some people say that Babyface was influenced by Tony’s acoustic sound (ie stole it on some Jay z sh!t). Tony Rich’s album didn’t come out until years later so people were thinking HE was Babyface.

That's interesting because Babyface's first instrument was a guitar and When Can I See You Again was released in 1993. According to Wikipedia, TR was an in-house songwriter so I cannot write you off but it doesn't provide a timeline.

 

[⠀X ⠀]

Interesting. Jon B talked a bit about Babyface, in his R&B money podcast interview.

 

[UpAndComing]

Singing all the songs he wrote for other people was just legendary

 

[Big Boss]

Singing all the songs he wrote for other people was just legendary

 

[lurker emeritus]

That's interesting because Babyface's first instrument was a guitar and When Can I See You Again was released in 1993. According to Wikipedia, TR was an in-house songwriter so I cannot write you off but it doesn't provide a timeline.

i had your viewpoint 100% at one point and to be clear, i'm presenting this as: other/some people say this. but those other people are Tony and his brother Joe. this is straight from them (interviews/conversations). Tony is more diplomatic (as the face/artist...he kind of has to be) by defending his art ("Babyface had nothing to do with my songs"). again, people were claiming he was Babyface or that Face wrote his songs/produced his debut album...which btw is the only laface album solely executive produced by LA Reid...(but that's another story). Joe (cowriter of "nobody knows") thinks Babyface was influenced by their style (demos/songs/etc). i mean, Tony got signed (in 1993) for a reason...and was on Face's label.

i can see what they're saying. on one hand, even as a guitarist, Babyface didn't release anything in that style (solo or group) before that. on the other hand, just because you want to...that doesn't mean your label will put it out. with that said, "when can i see you" is the only song remotely like that on For the Cool in You...and almost feels out of place. that clearly wasn't his vibe at the time, but that obviously changed. he got better at the style later (water runs dry/let it flow/the day album)...which makes me think it was a new style for him that he later developed as his own.

ultimately, i just want to hear directly from Babyface on topics like this...but i don't think that's going to happen on this particular subject. i could go deeper but i'm trying to keep this short (too late). i hope they do the documentary right and Babyface lets us in more than he has before. LA wrote his book. Daryl Simmons is supposed to be releasing one soon. now it's time for Babyface to tell his side.