Outsiderz 4 Life 'Who R U?' album

Unlike many groups hand picked by producers and granted an instant recording contract, Blackground Entertainment?s Oustiderz 4 Life have struggled against all odds to make the music they believe in. For the quintet's members, Todd White, Alan Healy, Dave Smith, Jimmy Marble, and Jason Dowty, it?s just the beginning. The release of the Newport News, Virginia-based local group?s self-titled debut album is proof of their unshakable faith in themselves. "We were never like, ?If we come out,? we were always like, ?When we come out? It wasn?t a question," says Alan. "We knew if we kept making good music, sooner or later it had to break through."

Outsiderz 4 Life, which boasts an eclectic mix of hardcore R&B, hot hip-hop beats, funky instrumentation (Latin flavored guitars and orchestral sounds) and silky smooth harmonies, it?s a one-two punch entr?e into the music world. One listen to the album, whose tracks range from head-bobbing party jams to sultry ballads, and it?s clear that the group has no problem laying their cards on the table. No sugar-sweet posing, and no masks. "Every song is about an experience that one of us had," explains Todd, who?s the group's founding member and producer of O4L.

Over ten years ago, Todd, a military kid, settled with his family in Newport News. Moving constantly, Todd never had a solid foundation. But his passion for music kept him centered. At 14 years old, he started writing songs. It was an outlet for his turbulent emotions. He went from dabbling with music to a serious musician thanks to Tim Byrd (O4L's Producer), a singer in an established local singing group who inspired him to take his craft seriously. "Tim and I just started hanging out and writing songs together and it was like everything we were doing just made sense," Todd recalls. "I'd watch and learn from him and I'd add a little bit of me."

With Todd's high-energy enthusiasm setting the tone, he enlisted good friend Alan to put together Outsiderz 4 Life. Another military brat, the only thing Alan was serious about when he moved to Virginia in the 8th grade was getting in teenage trouble with Todd. His interest in music also linked them. And at Todd's suggestion, he redirected his energy positively. "Music is what got us out of trouble because it got us seeing a whole different light on what you could accomplish," Alan says. "It kept us strong."

Dave, whose military family moved to Newport News after living in Hawaii, Kentucky and Alabama, was more obsessed with extreme sports from snowboarding to skating, than music. But when his older sister was killed during his sophomore year of high school, he was lost. Alan, who?d been a friend since junior high school, asked him to join O4L. "He thought it would be cool for me to have something positive," Dave recalls about that difficult time in his life. "He was like, ?Yo man, you should just come and sing in our group. It helped me in so many ways that I cannot even describe it."

Jimmy had been singing since he was five years old. Growing up, he competed in talent shows and sang in different R&B groups around Newport News. Eventually, he left the East Coast to pursue a music scholarship at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he studied music. "It wasn't really my style but I just wanted to further my singing," he explains. "It broadened my mind because now I have an appreciation for it."

After two years of college, he got a call from Todd, whom he'd known from a local Newport News music circuit. Two of O4L's original members had bounced and he wanted Jimmy to jump on board. "I just dropped everything," he recalls. Jimmy asked Jason, an Oklahoma native he'd known since their days working together at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, if he wanted to sign on. Jason, who's been singing professionally for years, auditioned over the phone. "We were blown away," Alan recalls. "He's a great singer and vocally powerful."

With their new lineup launched, O4L were on track. And it wasn?t long before the group was gaining attention from industry folks like Michael Bivins and Boyz II Men. With false starts and stops from various record labels, O4L felt discouraged. But they refused to be shut down. So sure of their mission, they each got tattoos representing the Chinese symbols for Talent, Loyalty, Honor, and Power. It was a way of saying "For life, you?re gonna be a part of this, no matter what you do," explains Alan.

At the Track Shack, Todd?s home recording studio, they continued crafting hundreds of songs. Many of Outsiderz 4 Life?s tracks were written years ago, long before they even had a record deal. "Who R U," the aggressive first single, is one of them. "We?re breaking the mold of R&B with that song." Jason says of its classical surges and hardcore rapping. In fact, much of O4L?s music can?t be classified. "Hell Yeah" is equal parts hip-hop shout-out and club track, while "On the Floor" exudes tropical flavor with marimbas and acoustic guitar riffs weaving throughout.

A year ago, O4L?s fate changed forever. When Blackground Entertainment CEO Barry Hankerson and Executive VP/GM heard about them through a business associate, they were intrigued. Not only were they powerful singers, but they were producing, arranging and writing all of their music. "We met with them and played our songs and Barry said, " I have faith in y?all," says Alan. "He had every other producer lined up, but hearing this, he said ?I?m gonna let you do your whole album."

After signing on with Blackground Entertainment, their impact really started to take effect. When hip-hop producer Timbaland heard his label mates music, he was inspired to remix "Who R U." He became such a fan of the group that he also co-produced a new song for them "College Degree." Outsiderz? music had the same effect on pop urban sensation Aaliyah who asked if she could guest on a song, the result of which is "Ain?t Never."

Outsiderz 4 Life represents the group?s vision: from songs about ruined relationships to empowering tracks like "O4L: The Prophecy," which tells the tale of their struggle, it?s raw, gritty and honest. For a bunch of guys, who never quite fit in, it is the story of coming together for a common cause and making things happen. They have no regrets about the past, only plans to make the world take notice of Outsiderz 4 Life. "I think some of our best times were when we really struggling," says Todd. "I love a challenge. It?s the drive of trying to be better or trying to go somewhere different musically. Always keep them guessing."

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Outsiderz 4 Life - Who R U?