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Rhyme Report

Published on July 30th, 2014 | by Jameelah "Just Jay" Wilkerson

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The Return Of The Legendary Full Force:

First things first, how’s Mr. Paul Anthony feeling? Health-wise, how’s everything going with you, Sir?

Whats good, Sir? This is P.A. and All is well with me! Trying to remember not to over do it in the Studio or the Gym.

Okay, if you all are ready, let’s get this started…Please introduce for me the members of Full Force…

Full Force is Bowlegged Lou, Baby Gerry, Curttt, B-Fine, J.R. and yours truly, Paul Anthony.

Let’s hop right into this brand new studio collection, Full Force: With Love From Our Friends — Conceptually, although pretty much self explanatory, still tell me what prompted you all to title the record this?

One reason is all of our friends that appear on the CD did it out of “Love” of the relationship Bowlegged Lou and I have maintained over the years, as well as showing love on behalf of myself being a ‘Cancer Champion,’ and my assignment, which is to manufacture and distribute as much love as possible.

For it, you all have garnered a who’s who of past, present and even a few future reputable high profile artists — Speak on this for me, how did you all even manage to pull together such a superb group of talent with one main commonality or musical goal in mind?

That’s easy, Lou is the ultimate communicator. He didn’t just wait for this project to send love to the peeps on this project. He always reaches out just because. I also believe in just sending out the love and knowing that the Universe will return it in kindness.

The set’s two lead offerings; the inspirational “I Feel Good, I Look Good, I’m God Good,” featuring Faith Evans, Sheila E and The God Good Choir & Children and the Tisha Campbell-Martin assisted Lisa Lisa remake “All Cried Out,” have recently been unveiled — So tell me, how did these specific tracks actually come to fruition?

Well, “All Cried Out” is a classic, a smash in two previous decades. I was inspired to write it while talking to an old friend, Pam Smith, when she found out the Man she was with had someone on the side. She said, “Paul, I just don’t (have) no more tears to waste on him, I’m just All Cried Out!”

A light went off in my head, and the rest is history…

(And,) during my many stays at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center over the past 8 years in New York, lots of wonderful Friend-Angels, Family-Angels, Doctor-Angels and Nurse-Angels, visited me or called me to transfer Love. They would ask how I was feeling, and I would ALWAYS say, “I Feel Good!” They replied, “Well, you Look Good!” And I just replied, “That’s Because I’m God Good!” The rest is HIS-tory.

That being said, how does Full Force: With Love From Our Friends either differ and/or compare to previous Full Force efforts?

This LP was created in the spirit of our dear friend Quincy Jones, with some wonderfully talented friends contributing their Love and gift to it. All of our previous LPs would bathe in the waters of love, life and laughter. This one, we just went into the deep water, the deep end. This one we just made it a point to focus more on not just Love, but “Excellent Love”…

Also, for Full Force: With Love From Our Friends you all have aligned yourselves with Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music — What particular string of events led to this union?

Easy Answer: Bowlegged Lou -a.k.a- Communication-King -a.k.a- Ultra-Texter till you feel my vibe and believe my vision -a.k.a- Never Give Up Kinda Brother. In addition, the sincere belief and authentic intuition of  Legacy CEO, Adam Block, and Jeff James, both these Music-Angels are Class personified. My namesake, Anthony Ellis, Gabby Gibb, Jessica Fusco and Jeroen Van Der Meer, are just some (of) the other Legacy-Angels that’s going to assist this project to spread its wings. In addition, the Legendary Multi-Level Mind of Promotion/Label/Consultant Leader, Ruben Rodriguez, this CD is on some “Disney World-Amusement Park” fun-loving type shit. And, I get free ticket on every Ride!

With nearly 30 years in the music game, what do you all attribute your lasting longevity to? And, what do you feel it is that will keep sustaining you all in the business of entertainment?

We keep pouring pure water on our relationships to keep them moist and ever-growing. We try to reinvent ourselves. In this business…We’ve been to the valley and the mountaintop many times in our career, so we know the path, and invest in “patient persistence.”

How have not only yourselves, both personally and professionally, but the whole industry in general, either changed and/or evolved since your whole inception into it?

As time moves on, you learn to appreciate even the small gifts given to you. We’ve watched this game evolve over 3 1/2 decades. There’s been times when music’s been infused with much “freeze-dried” “microwavable instant” Bullshit. What always returns to prominence is a “good song.” Eventually, it always comes back to…A great song…

Along with being iconic recording artists in your own right, you all also are equally known and loved for the vast amount of writing and production works you’ve done for a bevy of stellar acts — Of these many, many additonal endeavors, which ones have been the most memorable? What particular sessions immediately come to mind when thinking about those stand-out special moments that you all have shared with others while constructing hit after hit in the lab?

Wow, there’s been so many it’s hard to pick one. Since the breath of music is new talent, I think of when Britney (Spears) was sent to us to help shape and cultivate her, and let Clive (Caulder) and Barry (Weiss) know that she actually was a talent. Britney stayed with us in Brooklyn for two weeks. She was just 17, and more than just a talent. She was a STAR! Same for when we first worked with Rihanna. Love goes out to our Brothers; Jay, Ty-Ty (and) Jay Brown.

There was (also) our very unique and mind-blowing sessions with sweetheart Miss Patti (LaBelle), Philip “The Voice” Bailey and Bob Dylan. But, I’d have to say on the top of my list would be the UNFORGETTABLE entire LP we were blessed with writing and producing on the “Godfather of Soul” Mr. James Brown.

At this particular time, do you all have anything else coming up anytime soon as far as those outside gigs go?

For sure! Check-out our websites: www.fullforceworld.com and www.palivelife.org, for updates very soon…

Acting is another thing that you all have dibbled and dabbled in throughout your career, is this a venture that you all will continue to pursue and further expound on in the coming months and years?

That’s definitely a space we look to live in as well, (so) yes.

On a more serious note, are you all happy with the current state of R&B/Soul music? And, as an extension to that question, where exactly do you all fit in when it comes to the current sound-scape of today’s music?

Well, as I’ve stated before, music is returning back to its good old self. The kids are looking for the purity again, and thank God it’s to their avail through social media. So, I have great hope for it. Hell, we put Bricks in this damn building called Funk, Hip-Hop, R&B and Soul Music! And, we ain’t movin’ out!

To date, what has been your absolute biggest career moment(s)?

Are you kidding me with that question? This interview with you OF COURSE!!!!! No wait! The “Alice Sandwich” in front of 60,000 people! No wait! Realizing that the air in L.A. made my Jheri Curls fall just right! Ha!! No, But Seriously, I’d have to pick one of many. One would be having back to back Number One singles on all the charts with Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam; “Head to Toe” and “Lost in Emotion.” And, that was after a top ten smash; “All Cried Out.”

Looking ahead for me, say five or even ten years down the line, where do you see yourselves?

On and Island in Maui, living off my residual Income from being a spokesman for “Just For Men” gray hair coloring! *Anthony, with his shiny bald head, grins from ear to ear* In addition, Being a motivational speaker and ambassador for our Father God, carrying the message of the power of the mind, body and spirit, connection and how through that you can Move Mountains, Move Disease and Move Love…

As for the immediate future, what’s next for you all, Full Force?

Most immediate is wrapping up this damn interview, so I can go hit Chest and Triceps. Other than that, just living forever through music and creativity, with some Love from our Friends.

Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?

We’ve covered most things. Just want to express thanks to you for your patience, as we’ve been hectic working on the project.

Any closing thoughts for our readers?

Yes, to quote one of the first singles off this CD, “I Feel Good, I Look Good, I’m God Good!”

So, when you hear words; like, I CAN’T, I’M NOT, they don’t apply to you!

So, please remember who you are, and to thy OWN SELF be true…

@fullforceworld

Interviewed By: Hype Staff



About the Author

Publisher and CEO of The Hype Magazine. Follow me on Twitter @HypeJustJay


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