Ginuwine and his business partner, Michael Bourne, have cleared up their differences and restored a solid relationship, the recording artist and his attorney said Thursday. There is no pending lawsuit or liability, and work on a new Ginuwine album will begin soon.Media reports about a rift between the singer and the Memphis businessman and entrepreneur were based on miscommunication. Ginuwine and Bourne are partners in M&A Holdings LLC d.b.a. King Music Group, Inc."Michael and I are friends. We have a great relationship, and I value his business skills," said Ginuwine, whose real name is Elgin Baylor Lumpkin. "I'm excited to be moving forward on a new album for my fans." Recording is expected to begin in the next few weeks in Miami or Los Angeles."Any disputes have been resolved," said Joseph Porter III, the singer's attorney. "This type of miscommunication is not uncommon in the world of music. I expect Ginuwine's partnership with Michael will produce more great music."
Ginuwine has attacked today?s uncharismatic R&B singers, saying their music lacks substance and has dragged the genre down to its lowest standard ever. The Pony and In Those Jeans singer, who has been on the scene for a decade, says: ?I just believe R&B is at an all time low right now as far as the substance of the songs and everything. ?I think it?s missing charisma, substance a little and a lot of other stuff,? he confessed to ChocolateMagazine.co.uk. The 35-year-old also says he doesn?t listen to the radio anymore because he?s ?not pleased? with what he hears. ?I don?t like it, I don?t like where it?s at, so instead I go into the studio; I?m tryna bring it back to where it needs to be.? Ginuwine?s album, Back II Da Basics, is out now.
R&B singer Ginuwine says he was tricked into signing a contract with a record company that doesn't exist. In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan's state Supreme Court, the ‘So Anxious’ singer says he was persuaded to sign on May 8, 2007, with King Music Group Inc., a company that a personal acquaintance, Michael Bourne of Memphis, Tenn., said he owned. Terms of the contract gave Ginuwine, whose real name is Elgin Baylor Lumpkin, $1.75 million to record his first album with King, including a $500,000 advance, according to court papers. In nearly five months, the singer hasn't made any records and hasn't been paid a cent, the lawsuit said. In addition, the lawsuit said, there is no corporate record for King Music Group Inc. anywhere in New York, California, Florida or Tennessee. The lawsuit accuses King Music and Bourne of breach of contract, fraud and negligent misrepresentation. It asks for a total of $4 million in damages. Ginuwine's lawyer, Corey D. Boddie, said Thursday that his client is now unable to record anywhere else. He said the singer could be sued if he made records for another company while under contract to King. Ginuwine's albums include "Back II Da Basics," "Ginuwine ... The Bachelor" and "The Life." Ginuwine has also formed a group with Tank and Tyrese named TGT. Their first single will be a remix of Tank's "Please Don't Go", with an international tour entitled "The Shirts Off Tour" and search for a fourth member to follow.
R&B singer Ginuwine has inked a new recording contract this week with plans to issue his first new album since 2005's "Back II Da Basics." With this new deal, the singer also announced the shelving of TGT's highly anticipated album. After spending the last few years on various tours including a stint in Je'Caryous Johnson's popular stage play "Men, Money and Golddiggers" Ginuwine says he is ready to get back to the studio with his sixth studio album. "I have been touring and working on various projects the last couple of years and pondering what I wanted my next moves to be. I didn't want to rush into just doing what a label told me to do but rather take time to be creative and find music and projects that I have creative control over." Signing with Notifi Records, as announced earlier this week, Ginuwine has hit the studio with hopes to release the as-yet-untitled project early next year. "Notifi is giving me the support and creative freedom to record the sounds I think best represent me," says Ginuwine. Ira Dewitt,
According to Reuters, Ginuwine plans to further fuel the R&B fires with his fifth studio album, "Back II Da Basics," which hits stores Tuesday (November 15). "I want to bring R&B back up to the place where it needs to be," the singer said during a stop on his current promotional tour. "I have listened to radio and find it?s missing a lot of that content, the substance that was R&B music." Having turned 30 last month, Ginuwine says he wanted to infuse "Back II Da Basics" (Epic/Sony Urban Music) with a more mature vibe. "With age comes wisdom," the husband and father says. "I?m not as wild as I used to be. I?m able to express myself in a different way than before." That is certainly the case when it comes to the album?s lead single, "When We Make Love" (No. 60 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart). The crooner -- whose repertoire includes crossover hits "Pony," "So Anxious" and "Differences" -- evokes R&B legend Marvin Gaye on the slow and steamy romantic missive. Though Ginuwine?s first priority is to "take care of my music situation," he says he still relishes acting and has some movie roles on the table. He last appeared in the feature film "Honey." Previous acting stints include the former CBS series "Martial Law" and the movie "Juwanna Mann."