The O’Jays Laugh Off the Ongoing King of R&B Debate

During a recent sit-down with EBONY, O’Jays members Eddie Levert and Walter Williams discussed differences in today’s music and shared their feelings about who is the true king of R&B.
After garnering local fame in their hometown of Canton, Ohio, the legendary group released its debut album, Comin’ Through, in 1965. With nearly 60 years in the industry, the pair discussed how crafting music has changed for the 21st century.
“We used to go to Philly and stay there six months learning songs [and] accepting songs from different writing teams,” Williams said about recording their earlier tunes. “Today, it’s like a real fast production line. They shove a song in your hand, and you don’t even have to learn it. You don’t get a chance to become intimate with the song.”
“If you spend six months with a song, you’re able to express that song just the way you feel it,” Levert added.
In February, another living legend, Chaka Khan, revealed that some of today’s music is missing “talent,” “reason” and “initiative.” When asked the same question, the pair discussed how the industry allows just anyone to be a singer and compared it to participation trophies-awards given to children playing in sporting events but are not eligible for the top spots.
“That’s what we got a lot of participants, but we have no one who is pitching the ball,” Levert, 76, said. “The real world is not going to deal with you like that. If you’re not the man, you get no ribbon, you get no 30 million. You get nothing.”
Levert compared the situation to “all the new cats saying they’re the king of R&B.” The pair laughed at the idea, including in the early’90s when Bobby Brown used the title.
When it comes to the newer generation of stars keeping R&B alive, Levert and Williams named Usher, Sam Smith, Jon B and Drake among their favorites.
The O’Jays final album, The Last Word, is available on all streaming platforms.
#theojays #usher #jonb #r&b
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[@letmesing6868]

Walter Williams voice makes me believe in love. ❤️ Will forever love the Ojays!

[@evonza4858]

Brother LeVert made me a believer a long time ago 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 🥰❤️🖤💚l love them ALL including cool Eric🥰❤️🖤💚

[@ivettepalacin8599]

They are def good together and Maestros of the genre ❤️

[@peterlewis6324]

I could listen. the whole day to this wonderful music kings speak.

[@1leescott1267]

You guys are LEGENDS! Love your music and your shows.Thank you for the greatest music.Love you.!!!

[@stacyharris9008]

Damn...When Eddie said the truth about R&B...he is the truth...you gotta put the work in like they did...these kids ain't been been on no chitlin circuit...bein ran outta town in the deep south with the threat of lynchin like Sam Cooke...what he's sayin is that you gotta pay some dues & honor those that 'took tha hit for you" so you can get paid fat....

[@wesleyjackson4290]

LIVING LEGENDS!!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@pamstewart2188]

MUSIC KINGS THEY ARE! Don’t ever worry OJAys, NO ONE CAN EVER BE LIKE YOU! Ole school or no school! THE MIGHTY MIGHTY

[@rockotv5149]

R.i.p to William Powell ❤🕊💔🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾💔🕊❤🕊💔💔

[@ShiloEvans]

Love them so much

[@gloriaa.garcia3985]

They always seem to have a great sense humor.

[@RonniebookerBooket]

Probably the only group I haven't seen so far.I hope I get the chance.Lovr the Mighty Mighty O Jays

[@clevelandthomas7693]

Love this interview

[@kittywitty8970]

The Mighty MIghty Wise O Jays. When you sing.. I hear it is from your heart to mine. That is the difference. That makes all the difference.

[@anitagoodrich5827]

so very true, i truly love these men, we will never see this dedication to the words and the art

[@AprilLashon]

I want to get to know the song….my goodness…..profound 🙌🏾

[@muncherclay8760]

Forever Mineeeee

[@sharonthomas3011]

Love my O' Jays😘😘❤❤🙏🙏

[@kurtadams3021]

The LEGENDARY Iconic Mighty Mighty Ojays

[@azh753]

awww they're cute lil old guys now💖They're both still so cool, and the sex appeal is still there too.

[@torrencedouglas523]

Listen to the masters talk.

[@brodocbetty4856]

Interview helps me to better understand there greatness.

[@race5219]

Very cool interview

[@omoniyikaye]

If the question was asked in the 90’s...Eddie and Walter would have struggle to named them all they would have been spoilt with great names that started their career in the 80’s but peaked in the 90’s and went on to write their own names in history of RnB one of the greatest singer and producer of that generation one and only late great Gerald Levert son of Eddie the man he joking claimed that almost end his illustrious career the boy was that good and he was at the forefront of the 90’s greats such as, Johnny Gill, Will Downing, Luther, Keith Washington, Miles Jaye, Christopher Williams, Aaron Hall, Keith Sweat, Brian McKnight, Deangelo, Glenn Jones, Freddie J, Robert Kelly, Jon B, Joe Thomas, Kci & Jojo, Eric Gable, Rodney Mannsfield, Babyface production team, the RnB group’s were great, iconic female singers you can simply name them in their first names Regina, Miki, Anita, MARY J, Whitney and many others.

[@billyphillips7204]

Gotta love them!!

[@moviechick007]

In terms of Hip Hop, today's "rappers" have no message. Today's rappers (excluding Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and a handful of others) do not deliver social commentary the way it was from 1960s through the 1990s. The "promoted" rap is superficial. Which is fine; because the "consumers" are superficial, so it works. But the commercially promoted stuff is just stuff to distract (primarily) and waste time until the next commercially promoted product is ready to distract and waste time. That is the way it is right now. When Walter Williams said he needs to feel the song in his heart in order to covey the message to your heart, that is what is needed. Listen to Message in our Music (album and Soul Train version video). It is breathtaking and amazing. Same with Stairway to Heaven; i.e., album and Soul Train version video, I Love Music, and Put Your Hands Together, just to name a few. Brilliant and beautiful songs, brilliantly and beautifully performed. I'm in love and enlightened.

[@cantgetrightlife]

Love These Cats

[@gmeshell7]

The reason is to protect young children from feeling they are not deserving of an award in front of their peers. Some children otherwise will never experience being left out because they are not good enough. Awards are given to those who are competitive and put much effort in learning skills for a particular activity, usually these award are different from participation award.

[@jacanewkirk6511]

they hold the crowm.

[@brownsugarwins1238]

Long lived the ojays

[@mr.majesty1920]

Bobby Brown was the man in his prime tho.

[@juniorchandler4669]

New Jack swing was the shift of R&B the mid to late 90’s would’ve never been as iconic if it wasn’t for the late 80’s to early 90’s rnb artist

[@wandasimmons8486]

They sin good I wish that I can see them before good lord take me home. And that are nice mam

[@evonza4858]

There's many Kings of R&B👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾The Ojays,Al Green, Lionel Richie,James Brown,Ray Charles etc etc just like there are many Queens of R&B Patti LaBelle, Dianna Ross, Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin with a special nod to Aretha😘❤️🖤💚✊🏾❤️🖤💚

[@juniorchandler4669]

Bobby brown tbhh carried it in his generation and his generation honestly was the generation that changed industry forever and shaped the way we listen to R&B going forward in the 90’s to now these days, the new Jack swing era was very important, so artist like al b sure, Keith sweat, New edition, Karyn white just to name a few was very important to the genre and still is but Bobby brown was the leader of those days with the leadership of baby face and teddy Riley so yeah Bobby brown deserves to be in the conversation y’all be so quick to say Rkelly but forget about the late 80’s to early 90’s artist with the new Jack swing sound the rest of the 90’s wouldn’t had been that iconic shittt even usher looks up to Bobby and idolize him

[@htownandre7385]

Levert And Gerald were very structural parts of the new jack

[@jacanewkirk6511]

he will never ever top the ojays and their generation.

[@juniorchandler4669]

@@jacanewkirk6511 he wasn’t trying to be different roads for folks the Ojays are legendary and that’s noted in history I’m all about supporting artist that are also good and iconic that y’all like to toss aside once they fall off

[@jacanewkirk6511]

@@juniorchandler4669 yall? i was born in bb prime . was 7 when ne came back out. i love bb but not as much as i do the ojays

[@juniorchandler4669]

@@jacanewkirk6511 not you sir my apologies I’m speaking about the audience that doesn’t give the late 80’s to early 90’s new Jack swing artist any props and I wasn’t even born yet in them so my opinion may go on death ears but I love old school music

[@judyjefferson3642]

AsTHE LADY SAID THEY STILL LOOKIN GOOD..SHES RITE SOME WOMEN LOVE OLDER MEN ...I KNOW I DID..OLDER MEN WERE VERE GOOD TO ME.. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I WANTED FOR NOTHING...MY GOOD LOOKS STILL DRAW MEN TO ME..ITS JUST I SAY THANK YOU...BUT I JUST PERFERE TO BE ALONE AND SHARE MY TIME LEFT HERE WITH GOD...

[@christhompson6010]

unfortunately today's music is held to no real standard . Partly because todays generation doesn't hold performers to any real standard when putting material. In my day you had to be good otherwise you sold no records and no one went to your concert no one would promote your music

[@moviechick007]

Today's music (at least the music that is heavily promoted) is EXTREMELY superficial. No depth to speak of.

[@jeffreyconyers8735]

Is this why former members get no royalties from the sixties?

[@thebootielover]

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING sIR?

[@jacanewkirk6511]

the original member of the ojay william powell passed away from cancer in the ojays prime