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Hip-Hop, Gospel, Soul Blends

By CURTIS ROSS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2009

John Legend wasn't talking. Literally.

Fortunately, he was typing.

"Just having some sinus issues," Legend writes via e-mail, explaining why phone interviews aren't on his agenda. "It's easier to sing if I don't talk during the day."

Plus, he had a pretty big gig coming up.

Legend was part of Sunday's Inaugural Celebration, performing alongside Stevie Wonder, Garth Brooks and many others.

"It was so cool performing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in front of the entire country and a few feet from the soon-to-be First Family," Legend writes.

Legend was an early supporter of President Barack Obama's campaign.

"I've been involved in his campaign since I met with him in his office in Chicago in late 2006," Legend writes. "It's amazing to see things go this far."

Legend's career came along pretty quickly as well, after picking up a big-name supporter.

Legend had knocked around for years, appearing on Lauryn Hill's 1998 "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," but otherwise not making many inroads into the big time.

But in 2004 he accompanied Kanye West on tour, setting up Legend's studio debut album, "Get Lifted," released late that year.

Legend's combination of hip-hop and gospel-drenched, old school soul caught on with listeners and took the album to No. 4 on The Billboard 200 album chart.

He followed with 2006's "Once Again" and this year's "Evolver."

"'Get Lifted' is a gritty hip-hop soul album with heavy gospel overtones," Legend writes. "'Once Again' is smooth, nostalgic and more romantic. It had less of a hip-hop feel than 'Get Lifted,' and more sophisticated musicianship.

"In some ways 'Evolver' returns to the hip-hop influence that 'Get Lifted' had but it has more pop production and less classic soul influence," he continues. "The instruments are more electronic, and it's more up-tempo."

Legend's helping hand extends beyond the artistic community. His Show Me Campaign was formed to combat poverty.

"Our first focus is raising money for a Millennium Village in Tanzania called Mbola," he says. "I've visited there twice in the past 18 months, and I've seen a lot of progress over that period of time. It's really encouraging to see how much impact we can make with a relatively small amount of money."

That's a far cry from the extravagance of Super Bowl week, but with a Ruth Eckerd Hall concert scheduled for Thursday, Legend will be part of that as well. Does he anticipate any famous friends showing up?

"I hope some friends can drop by," he writes. "I won't make any promises though."

His voice, though, will be there in full force.

"Don't worry," he writes. "I'll sing my heart out in Clearwater."