This interview was asked by us, the fans, in late October of 1998:
Supergroup Boyz II Men came to BET recently to join Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds as honorees in the BET Walk of Fame. The annual event honors an artist who has made an oustanding contribution to the entertainment world--and also raises big bucks for the United Negro College Fund. While they were here, we had an opportunity to pass along your questions for the Boyz..and here's what they said:
Will you ever record a live acoustic album?
Boyz II Men: We hope to. Yes we hope to very very soon, but we have to get another album out before hand but we hope that it is in the very near future.
What would be your greatest professional challenge?
Boyz II Men: Well I think that one of our greatest professional challenges is to be successful every time out. There aren't a lot of artists that can be successful all of the time so we try to be our best and do the best that we can do. It's a very big challenge for us.
Will the group split up as soon as one of the members gets married?
Boyz II Men: No, if someone gets married we all move in with them, there's no breakup. They'll break up sooner or later (laugh).
What has been your highest achievement so far and what are your next goals?
Boyz II Men: Our highest achievement? I would say it is like our career. We have had a successful rise since we have been out. Thank God. And I guess our future goals are to keep it consistent. Or somewhat near what we have been doing. And that within itself would be a feat. Are there any plans for the Boyz to record a gospel album?
Boyz II Men: We hope to do that too eventually. I mean we are not opposed to anything musically. We call ourselves well-rounded musicians so whatever we think that we can record and can be good at we try. When you are on tour do you have fights? And how do you work them out?
Boyz II Men: Yeah, sometimes we have fights. We work it out just by knowing that these are only disagreements and disagreements are things that we can work out. We know that we can talk about it and there is no need to get physical, just as long as we keep mature about the situation. I have been a fan since "Motownphilly" came out, I want to know how you feel your music has changed since then, and is it at its best?
Boyz II Men: We feel that it's getting better. We hope that with each project because we learn so many things with each project in life in general we hope that it's getting better. When will your clothing line hit the DC and Metro area?
Boyz II Men: Actually, it's on many of the black college campuses right now from what I have heard. We definitely plan to be in DC. It's a big market, an important market so it will be full-fledged hopefully by January. Does your recent single "Doin' Just Fine", concern a past relationship that one of you guys have been in?
Boyz II Men: Well, I think that it concerns a past relationship that everyone has been in. Yeah, everyone has gone through some kind of situation like that. When the person you loved or cared for just up and left for no particular reason and then all of a sudden when everything is good, or hunky-dory they want to come back and say " oh I made a mistake." So this is just a story about that situation in hopes that people who hear this record will develop a strength if they're going through that situation thinking "oh life is over", no life isn't over, life goes on. Do you guys ever surf the web or check out your fans' web sites that they make about you?
Boyz II Men: Yeah, yeah sometimes we do. And there are a whole lot of them too. We could spend hours on there. So we go and check some of them out and listen to some of the myths and some of the reality. Shawn has an e-mail address (Shawnslims@hotmail.com) so if you want to write in and just say hey, why not it's free. How do you feel about the sales of Evolution compared to the other Boyz II Men albums? And when can we expect another album?
Boyz II Men: If you look at the comparison it sucks but we are not mad—it sold. That's all we could ask for. We just wanted a successful album, and 4 million isn't bad. And a lot of people aren't aware of the circumstances. We sold over 2 million records without an acting president, without a functional record company. That was a feat and we are happy about it. And if everything were fine things would have gone much better. So we are glad that we sold as many records as we did sell. What are Boyz II Men doing to give back to the streets of Philadelphia?
Boyz II Men: We do a lot of stuff with the "Make a Wish" foundation. We do a lot of celebrity basketball tournaments. We try to get in as many charitable events as we can. Someone would like to be on your Stonecreek label, and being from a small town it's really hard, so please any suggestions?
Boyz II Men: Actually, we are not a label now. Our deal with Sony was terminated so we are looking right now for another deal. We only had a gold album and platinum single, and they felt that wasn't enough. Soon as we get some info on that everyone will know about it. When is the next United States tour?
Boyz II Men: Next year. When your current contract is up with Motown will you sign with another label?
Boyz II Men: Nope. We won't. We will do this next project by ourselves. That's how I think all artists should think cause there is a lot of room to do what you need to do in this industry and when you have the chance you should do it. When will the fans see Wanya in his new movie?
Boyz II Men: Hopefully sometime next spring. It depends on whether or not it's picked up. I had a lot of fun doing it though. Who and what are your inspiration?
Boyz II Men:This is basically what I wanted to do. This was my initial goal. Even when I was a kid. Inspiration is God giving me the strength to continue doing this and not falling off. God knew what I wanted to do and I went for it. I don't have any other ideas of what I would be doing. My mother has also been very influential in life. Do you guys think that you will ever record a live album?
Boyz II Men: We hope so, live is good. Live is better for us. Recording is great but live feeling is better for us. What is the most romantic thing you ever did for Valentine's Day?
Boyz II Men: There are a lot of different things. Roses do it every time. Just make it sincere. Listen to your partner. That will make a special Valentine's Day. Keep it real with the relationship. Love tells you.