By David Nobel & Matthew Lloyd
Everyone knows Faith Evans as the urban hip-hop diva, accomplished vocalist and poignant soothing songwriter. However, what everyone doesn’t know is the humanistic side of Faith. She is a tremendous talent that has made her claim to fame in this fickle music industry by being very versatile artistically but still keeping it real. Yes, the past Faith was intriguing, mysterious and to some an aggressive, determined chanteuse. But the present Faith Evans is soft and soothing yet self-assured with a brand new attitude. A love doctor who prescribes different dosages of love through her lyrics that are therapeutic as well as convincing in their theory that love is existent. As a devoted mother and wife, Faith has a resilience to all that has been thrown her way.
In 1994, Faith was in a state of bliss. Not only was she perfecting her art; singing and songwriting, but she was also the “First Lady” of Sean “P. Diddy” Combs newly formed Bad Boy Entertainment conglomerate. She was also in a whirlwind romance with, and eventually married, the late great Christopher Wallace a.k.a. Notorious B.I.G. The greatest romances don’t always have the greatest outcomes , which became a reality for Faith after the release of her self-titled debut. Rumors, trouble and scandal were on the horizon. From marital estrangement, battles with rap vamps Lil’ Kim and Charli Baltimore to being stuck in the middle of heated East Coast/West Coast rivalry between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G, things became painful and emotional. Amidst all of the drama, Faith emerged virtually unscathed. She earned critical acclaim for the “Faith” album which produced three bonafide hits; ‘You Used To Love Me’, ‘Soon As I Get Home’ and ‘Ain’t Nobody’. These songs superbly illustrated Faith’s singing and songwriting ability, securing her place in R&B music.
However, all the pain would re-emerge on March 7th, 1997 six months after the murder of Tupac Shakur, Faith became a widow. The Notorious B.I.G. was murdered inLos Angeles after the Soul Train Music Awards. Although Faith and Biggie were sepa-rated at this time, she was obviously devastated at the loss. Her heart was poured immensely into the Grammy award winning tribute to Biggie, “I’ll be missing you” Featuring Puff Daddy and label mates 112. Her painful lyrics created a canvas of an unconditional love for a soul mate, lover, spouse and friend. Faith now only reminisces of her “happy times” with Biggie, in their son Christopher Wallace Jr. better known as CJ.
Brighter days came in 1998 when Faith married Motown veteran music executive ToddRussaw and gave birth to her third child Joshua. Her newfound love along with happiness were executed in her sophomore album “Keep The Faith” a collection of joy, breakthrough love and desired bliss. The lead single ” Love Like This” was inspired by her second chance at love with Todd. The single burned up the airwaves, rocked the clubs and the hook was even sampled by New York hype man Fat Man Scoop in the monstrous Party anthem “Be Faithful”. A song that can be played ten years from now and still keep the party jump-ing. “All Night Long” featuring Puff Daddy and her first solo number one single ” Never Gonna Let You Go” were also hit singles. The diversity of the singles made “Keep The Faith” a solid album for her fans and critics.
After a short hiatus to concentrate on self, out of the new millennium transcended a new and rejuvenated Faith Evans. A relocation from New York to the affluent Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta Georgia; her production company Pedigree MGI (an artist management company partnership with her husband Todd) and a fifty pound weight loss, Faith Evans was reborn. The move to Atlanta made life simpler for Faith and her family, away from the craziness of big city life. Pedigree MGI currently manages the former lead singer of 702, Kameelah Williams along with a host of up and coming artists and entertainers. The reinvention was over and the musical blueprint for “Faithfully”, her most anticipat-ed album of her career, was finally put into motion. Although she did keep herself exposed during her interim performing duets with Eric Benet (Georgy Porgy), Jon B. (Overjoyed) and label mate soul crooner Carl Thomas (Can’t Believe) Her fans still waited on her third album diligently.
Constant studying of legends Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughn along with her musical peers, who are vocalists and songwriters showed a kaleidoscope of musical energy about to burst completely open to the masses. Influences from all genres of jazz (Do Your Your Time), R&B (Where We Stand) and hip-hop (Alone In This World) are evident. The first single “You Gets No Love” undoubtedly is one 2001’s best laid tracks. “West Coast Funk was the concept for the song and the video”. Faith explains. “The story line fits the title ‘You Gets No Love’ for whatever reason it embellishes the situation”. she adds. Creative manipulations of hip-hop was demonstrated through the very soulful ‘Don’t Cry’ that borrows from Outkast’s ‘Mainstream’, ‘Heaven Only Knows’ which samples Mobb Deep’s, ‘Give Up The Goods’ and most notably, ‘Alone In This World’ used her husband the late Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Who Shot Ya’ from his first album “Ready To Die.” “It was great way to pay homage to Big without actually singing about him” Faith says.
Faithfully is Faith Evans most introspective personal album to date with all of life’s experiences musically tailored to fit all the emotions and situations we incur. Devotion, love and hope are key ingredients that make the present great and the future much brighter. Through all the jet setting and commitments, demands are never priority to being just a normal human being; a mother. Because through all the irregular there is the routine of a wife and mother. “People don’t realize that I lead a regular life beyond the energy of the music business there is a lot of activity because I have three kids, Chyna, CJ and Joshua. I get up in the morning and take them to school and go to Target for shopping like everyone else”. Faith says very proudly. To feel the power of love that radiates in every relationship in our lives truly shows its strength. And through the many trials and tribulations we may experience, the healing of truth, honesty and determination will prevail in every way. Faith Evans by example shows that love and your personal spirituality can conquer and achieve your goals whatever they may be.
