Ryan Toby 
Former "City High" member shows  us 
"The Soul Of A Songwriter"



Strive recently had the chance to sit with one of the best and brightest in the entertainment business. Ryan Toby poured out his soul for us. Eloquent and engaging: Ryan's  discussion of his past, present and future projects left us stunned by all the celebs he's written for and sung with, the accomplishments (writing multi-million selling hits) and lastly his spirit that is ever-so-mature.

Read to find out what it takes be "great"...
STRIVE: Who is Ryan Toby: What is he about and where is he from?
Ryan Toby:  I come from a small town (suburb) in South NJ, Willingboro. Lots of cats were from there; Carl Lewis, Mike City, Magahertz Bad Boys For Life record producer,  Wanye from Boys to Men. KRS One graduate from my high-school. 

It’s located 15 minutes outside of Philly. 1.5 hours to NYC. A small black suburb rich with flavor. 

A big indicator on who I am:  I was raised in the church sang in the church choirs, did all that. Raised on the 80’s music as well. 

STRIVE: What’s up with your current project: 
Ryan Toby: The name of my new project: “Soul Of A Songwriter.” 
It’s coming out on my own label. My wife (Claudette former member of the group City High- they now have two sons together) and me developed the label when "City High" disbanded. 

We were hoping to get 4-5 albums out of our group.  We were all solo artists planning to use the group to launch our solo careers. But after one album we started itching to do our own thing a lot sooner.

Our record label is called “Overflow Entertainment,” a joint venture distribution with Mass Appeal and distributed thru Fontana/Universal. My album will hit stores on August 29th. 

The album is feel good R&B, 11 tracks with 2 bonus joints remixes. 

I wanted to incorporate a lot of instrumentation the way that R&B used to be made. I didn’t want to have to sample to get the feel of Barry White, Curtis Mayfield. I wanted to get the feel and the energy and the essence they created naturally. 

I did my homework and realized that it used to take 15 people to make a record. Now we just have beat machines. On my record we have drummers, singers, two guitars, 15 folks vibing and giving their all. We miss that old energy nowadays because everything is done with a computer. We got producers vibing with boxes. 

In order to make this happen. I said "lets play some grooves" and I basically Quincy Jones'd the whole album. I first had the real strings and horn sections play. Then I took that sound and sampled it. And to bring it all up to date, I kept the banging drums and incorporated a lot of instrumentation. 

According to genres, nowadays its r&b  or neo-soul. And I love them both, but I am neither. My goal was to marry the two.  I wanted to take folks into the world of a songwriter. Talking about the love I have for my wife and just true love in general and finding a soul mate. Something for the ladies, they don’t get made love to anymore they get hollered at. 

As a black man I had to take responsibility to show these cats how to treat our women and women in general. Babyface used to do that. If you didn't know what to say, Babyface said it all for you. 

Now you'll pop in the Ryan Toby cd and I will take over for you (laughing). 

Reality is there are so many thugs nowadays. 

On my album there is only one feature, Beanie Siegel. He came down to show hometown love. Our track together is called, "Just My Thang”. There is only one feature on the whole album so there is no confusion as to whose album it is. 


STRIVE: Who were major influences? Were there many or just a few? 
Ryan Toby: Michael Jackson was my very first influence, when I saw him in the Motown 25th anniversary.  I said I have to do that. I have to do what he is doing. That’s what sparked my love for being on stage.  Later Prince and his versatility and songwriting skills

After that, moving in junior high school years: Donny Hathaway and that’s who taught me about soul.  Then I was raised in the church. So gospel records gave me that real umpph!!! That special thing, that divine thing, the god factor played a major influence. I listened to gospel artists like Shirley Caesar and the Clark Sisters. 

Later in high school, Lauren Hill introduced me to Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley. She taught me it was more about what people take away from your music. I love when songs immediately take you back to a time. 

Like Biggie and Pac, when you hear these songs you go back. 

Being a songwriter is like being a photographer.  When I show you a picture from the theme park you say “dang you must have had a god time.” You can feel the energy and the happiness without explanation.

The same goes with the song. 

I learned that from the greats: Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and Lionel Richie. I recently had the opportunity to write a song for Lionel and to sit with this brother ($300,000,000 in publishing he's made). 30 years in the game and every 10 seconds one of his records plays somewhere in the world.  One of the lessons he taught that I won't forget is him telling me "Ryan you won't have a hit record until you see people singing it at the karaoke bar." Once you see it there, you'll know you are doing it right.

STRIVE: How long have you been a songwriter and who have you had a chance to work with?
Ryan Toby: I have been blessed in this industry. God has been good to me. 

I had my first gold record when I was 16 years old. I had a song on the soundtrack of Sister Act II, 1993

Then I worked with David Hollister on Chicago 85. 

I worked with Will Smith, completing 4 songs on Big Willie Style, one of the songs Miami, which sold over 20,000,000 copies.

I did 3 songs with Usher on the Confessions album (Caught Up, Superstar, Follow Me) selling 23-million copies.  I also recently one an ASCAP Pop Music Award for Caught Up.

2 songs with Mary J. Bilge on her current album.

New Edition, Chris brown, LL Cool J (3 songs on his new album)

112 , Nick Cannon

I Co-Executive Produced on City High with Robbie (my band member). We were signed to Wyle’s label at the time, they received the co-credits on the album, just because. Now, I don’t work with those guys anymore, That’s a chapter that came to a close.


STRIVE: When you first met Lauryn Hill? How did she stand out? 
Ryan Toby: I was 16 and she was 18. I always knew she’d be a star. She was talented beyond her years.

She used to tell me I got this group its called the “Translator Crew” (name used prior to the Fugees) me and this guy named Wyclef and its gonna be hot. And I remember when she had to leave the set for the weekend and do her video. Next thing you know, the Score album dropped and it was "on" from there.

STRIVE: You all were solo acts how did you come together.

Ryan Toby: Robbie Pablo originally was signed to Wyclef’s label as a solo artist. We went to high school together. He was younger than I was and I knew he could sing but we didn’t hang out. Then a mutual friend who used to manage me and was managing him at the time said "you two need to connect, I would love for you to write some songs on his album." 

At that time I was signed to Jazzy Jeff’s Label and I was working on Will Smith’s Album, "Big Willie Style." So as I soon as I finished I went to help out Robbie. Robbie took me to the studio with Wyclef. At the time he was working with Whitney on “Your Love Is My Love."

Robbie didn’t know that I knew Wyclef (from my days first meeting Lauren). But when I saw Wyclef he showed mad love and had me sing some background vocals with Robbie.

Then he suggested Robbie and I come together to form "City High." And at this point City High was just a duo and Claudette came to sing the hook on our "What Would You Do." But when Wyclef saw her and heard the voice, Claudette became the new member.


STRIVE: Our goal is to push folks who want more to get more. What were the hardships? What should a person learn or know to be a real striver?
Ryan Toby: For everyone its different. People ask me all the time “how do I make it?” 

I answer "do you want some text book answer or a real answer?" 

The real answer would be: Go to college... Drop out of college. You sign a weak contract. Sleep on the studio for your first 6 years. Get in and out of groups where you think you’ll blow up, but that doesn’t work.  Pick and drop your knucklehead managers. You quit the game for a year and you come back. And then you bump into "so and so" and you get put on for real.

Basically, I pray a lot I have a strong spiritual foundation.  I believe everyone should. That’s what has pulled me thru. We are not talking about business or the legal field. Because in those professions its guaranteed that if you go to school for ten years you will become a doctor or lawyer. But with music you are talking about something that’s divine. Joe Schmoe could come off the street and write his first song and people relate. I can only tell you "If its meant for you it will happen...
Follow your heart and most importantly, do not sell your publishing!"


support Ryan by checking out his my space page at: http://www.myspace.com/ryantoby
Management for Ryan: Darrel Hayes of Cee-Notes Entertainment
P.R. for Ryan: Christina Rice of 5WPR

Darrin Henson 
A Star That Continues to Strive
 
Darrin Henson is not just another handsome face.  He is a multi-talented type of guy whose acting skills are incredible as well as his dance moves.  Being known for his no-nonsense character Lem on the Soul Food series has gotten him rave reviews but he also choreographed dance moves for some of America’s hottest talent today like NSYNC and Brittany Spears.  We love his strength and tenacity and we’re looking forward  to more from him coming real soon. 
 
STRIVE: Tell me a little about yourself?  Where are you from, Brothers/Sisters, Children, Affiliations, Marital Status or anything else?
Darrin: My name is Darrin Henson and I was born May 5th 1973 in the Bronx.  I have five brothers and two sisters. I belong to the NAACP and I am on board for the hospital directors for University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey.
  
STRIVE:How did you get started? Have you always wanted to do this?  Where did the inspiration and passion come from?
Darrin: I started started dancing at the age of 5 and I always wanted to and knew I had the talent.
Later on I was motivated by Theatre Workshop classes throughout school in high school and received my big break at a talent show where I met Scott Sterling a.k.a. D.J. Scott LaRock.  He became my first manager.
Then Lionel Martin the classic concepts producer became the first director to work with me as a dancer and choreographer. 
  
STRIVE: What jobs did you hold before you became successful?
Darrin: Some of them were McDonalds, Parks Dept. & Recreation, I packed bags in supermarkets and I also shoveled snow.
  
STRIVE: Who influenced you the most in your career/life when you were starting out? Is there anyone's path that you particularly admire and would like to emulate?
Darrin:  Michael Jackson has been a lifelong inspiration to me.  You can see me on the 1995 MTV Music Awards with him.  Then Johny Wright hired me to work with Nsync the rest is history.
Then Soul food came along.. and acting was born.  Now I have 4 movies coming out starting in September. They  are The Last Stand, The Salon, The Fabric of A Man Stage play and the Harlem Coffee Shop .
I went from dancing to acting by choice, acting is about life.  As far as Soul Food is concerned, I auditioned in New York City then Los Angeles and got the role, I beat out 200 other guys for the part.
            One day I want to take Denzel's spot in the limelight.

  
STRIVE: What signifies a STRIVER to you?
Darrin: Striver means going for goals and checking to see if they are happening.  The Striver in me makes me work harder than anyone else in my field.
  
STRIVE: What makes you original or sets you apart?  Why are you on top of your game?
Darrin: There is only one Darrin Henson (smile). It makes me get up earlier and sleep later while working on my craft.
           
STRIVE: How do you define success? People often talk about "Making IT", butt when will you consider yourself as having made it?
Darrin: Yes I consider myself as having made it.  Success is knowing not believing you can, then doing!!!! I have made it and making more.
 
STRIVE: Do you see any changes or patterns in the industry and what is your opinion of that?  What is the insider perspective on getting ahead in your industry?
Darrin: The Industry changes yes, but so does the world if something does not change it and it does but always know change is good. Furthermore hard work and talent gets you ahead all the time.
  

STRIVE: What advice would you give others attempting to make their dreams come true?   What are your 3 lessons for success? Or what is your recipe for success?
            Darrin: Know Know Know.. Study then apply.
Ask more of yourself then anyone else could ask.
Dream, apply then it's done, sit back and watch the universe do its thing.

  
STRIVE: What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning and what is the last thing you think of at night.
Darrin: Say thank you for waking up know that I can and I will.  Get to know you and what you are capable of which is everything
Any last overall advice?
Darrin: Keep doing your thing!
  

Article by: Tyshaun Bishop (T.Mocha)