J. Holiday | "Guilty Conscience" (28th January 2014)

[Born_To_Do_It]

J. Holiday | "Guilty Conscience" (28th January 2014)

After a five year hiatus, “Bed” hitmaker J. Holiday will make his return to commercial music with his third studio album album, ‘Guilty Conscience’. Set to drop December 10, 2013, the forthcoming effort is led by the no-holds-barred single “AFTER WE …”, a tune guaranteed to heat up your boudoir. ‘Guilty Conscience’ will feature production from Lil Ronnie, Jerry Wonda, Blaq Smurph and Mike Snoddy, and will bring listeners up to date with Holiday’s musical journey since his retreat from the industry. “This record has been a long time coming and I am just beyond excited that my fans will have an opportunity to hear it,” says J. Holiday

1. Incredible
2. Thinkin Bout Ya
3. Cloud 9
4. After We
5. Guilty Conscience
6. Ms. Get Around
7. Wrong Turn
8. Home Wrecker
9. Dumb
10. Come Back Home
11. Where Are You Now
12. Heaven

I know you all been waiting. If u want a preview of #guiltyconscience go to my newly launched website. KINGJHOLIDAY.COM

Official Sites:
Website: www.kingjholiday.com
Twitter: twitter.com/KingJHoliday
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jholiday
Instagram: instagram.com/kingjholiday

[Born_To_Do_It]

J. Holiday is currently working on his 3rd album, following the release of his last album back in 2009 ("Round 2"). Since then he has dropped a mixtape, "MIA: The Lost Pages", in 2011, which included the songs "Float Away" and "Livin In Vain". Numerous songs have also surfaced including:
Pretty Body
Freakin' You
More Than A Love Song ft. Black Cobain

Recently the promo single, "Sign My Name", has dropped as J is working on the release of the 3rd album, thought to be released around late 2012 (October?).

www.rap-up.com/2012/05/29/new-music-j-holiday-sign-my-name/

New Music: J. Holiday – ‘Sign My Name’



J. Holiday returns—minus the braids—with a new single “Sign My Name.” After rocking the “Bed” on his 2007 hit, the ladies’ man takes it back to the bedroom, giving his girl a night she won’t forget. “When I get up in it, you gon’ think I’m writing in cursive, sign my name on it,” he croons on the provocative record. Dim the lights and get your freak on.

LISTEN

www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/j-holiday-sign-my-name/

When I say J. Holiday has a peerless pen game, I’m not just talking about his facility with words and music. As he reveals on new promo single Sign My Name, the R&B hitmaker can produce equally thrilling results with his tongue as the writing implement, and a lucky lady’s body as his canvas. Lil Ronnie produces, crafting an appropriately sultry backdrop for the singer’s seductive verses. Craving more bedroom burners? Keep it locked; while Holiday’s next album as yet lacks a title and drop date (his management forecasts its release “sometime this fall, around October.”), we’ll keep you supplied with all the latest news and tunes.

If you want to check out some other J. Holiday songs, here is a list of some of the songs worth listening to that have surfaced over the last 3 years:
The Way It Was
Go Home With You
Lose Your Love ft. Claudette Ortiz
Are You Ready To Leave
Ditto
Entertainment News
Girls Like These
I Love You
I Remember
Pretty Body
Live My Life
What's Your Name
Run These Clowns
Freakin' You
More Than A Love Song ft. Black Cobain

[Born_To_Do_It]

Seriously... come on! I can't be the only one who listens to alot of J. Holiday music (albums/leaks)?

Imo for strictly R&B music I would say that J. Holiday is better than the likes of (the more popular) Chris Brown and Trey Songz. Don't get me wrong, I do like Chris and Trey, but these days CB aint as good as he used to be and the same can be said about TS.

If you actually listen to some of the songs I listed (particularly the ones in bold) then I'm sure people might agree.

[SHOOTER]

Back of My 'Lac underwhelmed me but Round 2 is one of my favorites from a male R&B artist. I was excited about this album until I found out he left Def Jam to sign with some independent label nobody's heard of.

[Born_To_Do_It]

I liked both "Back Of My Lac" and "Round 2" equally. There were a 1 or 2 tracks on each that I didn't like so if I could have combined the 2 albums togeather into 1, it would probably have been 1 of my fave albums ever.

I get what your saying about the label change issue, but I think as long as the music is still of high quality, then that is the most important thing. You can hear from some of the leaks that the music is still quality so I wouldn't expect anything less than good R&B. Ok, so he probably wont be able to compete with others (Chris, Trey etc.) in selling massive numbers, but who else is in R&B anyway? Only a handful.

However, I'm also a bit dissapointed though, as I thought with the backing of Def Jam he could have re-reached the heights he had previously achieved. Now he might end up being considered another "has been" still trying. :(

I think the long delay from 2009 to now is partly due to Def Jam, as he previously said he was ready to release an album in 2011, so in some ways it must be a good thing he left otherwise it might have taken forever to release anything. Remember when he dropped "Freakin You" last year, the label did nothing! I think the president of the independent label he is with one of his own people, so he essentially can do what he wants.

Just have to wait and see...

[Rican@]

One thing I do like about him that he does keep his music strictly R&B. I don't have an issue with mixing genres but sometimes it is nice to hear quality R&B with no pop or hip hop leaning sound to it. It is nice to see artists to experiment but the true form of an artist usually displays in his proper element. I think he understands that. It is not a knock to any other artists

[Born_To_Do_It]

www.thisisrnb.com/2012/06/j-holiday-reflects-on-absence-from-music-state-of-rb-more/

J. Holiday Reflects On Absence From Music, State of R&B & More
Posted on June 26th, 2012 by ThisisRnB in INTERVIEWS, NEWS |

Where has elusive R&B singer, J. Holiday been? The underrated DC bred crooner spoke with Kempire Radio this past weekend and he explained the reason for his long break from music, label troubles, where he wants to take his music & more. J even sang a medley of his hits.

Hear the full interview below…

trueexclusives.com/2012/07/04/interview-one-on-one-with-j-holiday-talks-state-of-rb-trayvon-martin-gay-marriage-more/

Interview: ‘One on One with J. Holiday’ Talks State of R&B, Trayvon Martin, Gay Marriage & More

As we mentioned last week, we recently had a chance to chat with soul crooner J. Holiday. The ‘Bed’ singer spoke candidly about a number of topics including his label drama, the state of R&B, Trayvon Martin,his views on gay marriage and lots more.

Check out ‘One on One with J. Holiday’ below, complete with concert footage & a soulful (exclusive) acapella!



Posted July 4th, 2012 in News by trueexclusives.

youknowigotsoul.com/?p=21517

Interview: Having Been Knocked Down Twice, J. Holiday Determined the Win the Fight
Tom July 10, 2012

J. Holiday instantly became a household name a few years back after the historical success of his smash “Bed”. However, further accolades didn’t come easy in the coming years as he found himself released from his deal with Capitol, signing with Def Jam, only to be released again shortly after. Following the trend of how many other r&b artists have found success in recent years, rather than wait for a major label to come calling, he plans to put out his third album independently. He recently made a triumphant return with the new single “Sign My Name” with plans for a full album release later this year. YouKnowIGotSoul caught up with J. Holiday after a recent show at B.B. King’s and talked to him about the new single, new album, the frustrations of label situations not working out, topping the success of “Bed”, and what he remembers most about his debut.



YouKnowIGotSoul: You got out the new single “Sign My Name”. Talk a little about the single.
J. Holiday: Basically we wanted to let the fans know that we wanted to come back with a vengeance of “Bed”, “Suffocate” and now “Sign My Name” because it’s kind of hard to follow up “Bed” and “Suffocate” with “It’s Yours”. We did “It’s Yours”, it was a good song but “Sign My Name” is probably the song that should have came after “Suffocate”, so I’m back with “Sign My Name”. It’s the third album, I’m back!

YouKnowIGotSoul: Talk about this new project you’re working on. What can we expect on there?
J. Holiday: The third album man, we’re working on it right now. Ronnie, who did “Sign My Name”, he executive produced the album. I’m going to work with a few other names. Right now I’m about to work with Common, Raphael Saadiq and hopefully I can get Q-Tip on the album. I’m trying to do something that R&B hasn’t been able to do as far as certain producers that you work with. You have R&B guys that always want to work with specific producers. I want to go and work with some producers that I’ve been researching and studying.

YouKnowIGotSoul: I know you were recently signed to Def Jam. Is that a situation or are you now independent?
J. Holiday: Well I was signed to Def Jam actually for two years. I was signed to Def Jam in 2010 and some situations just aren’t good situations. I just had to get out of there and right now I’m just doing my own thing with “Sign My Name” and I got the album coming. Any labels that’s listening, holla at ya boy! *Laughs*

YouKnowIGotSoul: Was it ever discouraging for you? You had the Capitol situation and then Def Jam situation that didn’t work out.
J. Holiday: I think any time you’re an artist and you want to win and you don’t, it’s discouraging. I don’t think it’s a blow to your talent or your personality or blow to emotionally how you feel about it, but it’s still a blow to your career like “I have to get back up from this knock down.” It’s like a boxing match like “I’ve got to get up back up. I got knocked down twice, I can’t get knocked out a third time.” It’s not going to happen, I’ve got to win the fight.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Of course everyone knows you for your single “Bed”. Do you feel pressured to top that?
J. Holiday: I have to say yes, I have to top “Bed” because people don’t know “Bed” broke a record. People are like “What kind of record did it break?” That song was one of the fastest moving singles to number one in ten years. The last single that did that was “Scream” by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. So to break a ten year Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson record, to top that it’s like “Hell yeah, I’ve got to top that!” I’ll top it one day, I don’t know when I’ll top it but I’ll top it. They say you’re only as good as the last thing you did, but I’m going to be better. *Laughs*

YouKnowIGotSoul: Your “Round 2” album was a great album, but people know you most for your debut album “Back of My Lac”. What do you remember about recording that album?
J. Holiday: For a lot of people that don’t know, I got signed off of “Back Of My Lac”, “Ghetto”, “Fatal” and there was another song called “City Boy” with 8Ball & MJG. Four songs on my demo, and I got signed off three songs and they also made my album. It was personal to me and meant a lot. I named the album “Back Of My Lac” because that song was the last song I wrote before I got signed and the last song I wrote right before I quit. I almost quit and the only way I could get my frustrations out was to write “Back Of My Lac”. I wrote the song, it was on the demo, it got me signed and it was the name of the album. That’s how “Back Of My Lac” felt to me.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Anything you’d like to add?
J. Holiday: For my fans, thank you and I appreciate you for following me and sticking it out with me.

[Born_To_Do_It]

I haven't been on this site in ages!

All I can update on is this song he put out:

Give Me All You Got (Feat Sonyae Elise)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqcyiSuQ2s0

[Born_To_Do_It]

The Show: R&B Superstars returns to London’s Wembley Arena on 16th November 2013 with yet another sensational line-up of R&B legends. Presented by Just Live Music Group, The Show: R&B Superstars looks set to be the UK’s biggest R&B music event following the phenomenal sold out show earlier this year.

R&B divas and sisters of soul, Kelly Price and Faith Evans, will take to the stage alongside the gentleman of Rhythm and Blues; Mario, Donell Jones and Blackstreet’s Dave Hollister. Performing alongside them, Ginuwine, Sisqo, Bobby V, Chico DeBarge, J. Holiday and Adina Howard will be showcasing their biggest hits and R&B classics on the very same stage.

The lineup is easily described as ‘the trailblazers of R&B’, collectively responsible for hit after hit, anthem after anthem. It’s these R&B Superstars who are responsible for creating some of the biggest sounds in R&B history:

- Faith Evans – Triple platinum-selling artist with a host of hit singles to her name including ‘Missing You’, ‘Mezmarised’ and ‘You Get’s No Love’. Faith is a Grammy award winner and star of the hit US reality show ‘R&B Divas’.
- Kelly Price – Multi Grammy-award nominee, star of the hit series R&B Divas LA and platinum-selling artist, Kelly’s legendary voice has appeared alongside Whitney Houston in the no.1 hit ‘Heartbreak Hotel’.
- Mario – Announced his arrival with the hit “Just a Friend”, Mario is a multi-talented singer, song writer, and actor with a string of hits to his name including platinum and gold selling albums.
- Donell Jones – The gentleman of R&B, Donnell’s a platinum-selling artist with six hit albums under his belt. ‘Put Me Down’ and
- Dave Hollister – Member of legendary group Blackstreet and successful soloist in his own right. Dave is known for bringing a Gospel flavour together with his smooth R&B vocals and is appearing in the UK for the first time.
- Ginuwine – Eight studio albums, five time’s platinum, a member of R&B super group TGT and responsible for hits such as ‘Pony’, ‘Tell Me Do You Wanna’, and ‘When Doves Cry’.
- Sisqo – Six times platinum-selling artist, a member of the infamous Dru Hill and responsible for the unforgettable ‘Thong Song’.
- Bobby V – Gold selling artist, with the unforgettable hits “Tell Me” and “Slow Down”.
- Chico DeBarge – Youngest brother of the Motown family act DeBarge, Chico has had a long spanning career over three decades producing numerous hit singles which include
- J. Holiday – Grammy nominated and gold selling artist who “owned” the bedroom with his clever and smooth sounds.
- Adina Howard – The platinum selling artist of "Do You Wanna Ride" and iconic R&B anthem ‘Freak Like Me’.

The last R&B Superstars show in March 2013 sold out Wembley Arena and was described as the ‘R&B event of 2013’. November’s line-up looks set to surpass that title with its star-studded line up and celebration of R&B music.

The biggest names, the finest talent – there’s only one show this year; The Show: R&B Superstars.

[Born_To_Do_It]

From his Facebook page:

New Album Title: Guilty Conscience coming this year!
New single coming within next few weeks...countdown begins now

[Born_To_Do_It]

www.thisisrnb.com/2013/09/new-music-j-holiday-after-we-fk

New Music: J. Holiday – After We F**k
Posted on September 20th, 2013 by ThisIsRnB in MUSIC |



Many fans have asked, and now the man has finally delivered. J. Holiday is finally prepping for his comeback, and the D.C. native premieres his brand new single “After We F**k” aka “After We…” for radio.

J is back to heating up the bedroom with the steamy cut, as he plans to be loving and tender after one first round of wild pleasure. The provocative single is the first release off his forthcoming independent album titled Guilty Conscience, which is currently due out on November 11.

“Damn this feels so good, you’re amazing/ Damn this feels so good, this is crazy/ I can’t never ever get enough/ We can make love AFTER WE F**CK,” coos Holiday.

“After We F**k” from yours truely! R and B will never die as long as I’m around!,” shared the singer via Twitter.

Take a listen to J. Holiday’s new single below:

soundcloud.com/godjera/j-holiday-after-we

[Born_To_Do_It]

This is coming soon...

[PLAYBOYoriginal]

His debut stayed in my car for like 4 years. Hopefully this album is just as good and hood. If Chris Brown could actually sing then he would sound like J.

[Born_To_Do_It]

urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/2013/10/17/j-holiday-sets-december-10th-for-release-of-new-album-guilty-conscience/

J. Holiday Sets December 10th for Release of New Album “Guilty Conscience”

R&B sensation heartthrob J. Holiday returns with the hit single “After We” [listen above] from the forthcoming disc Guilty Conscience in stores December 10, 2013. Guilty Conscience, produced in part by Lil Ronnie, Jerry Wonda, Blaq Smurph and Mike Snoddy is a musical journey taking listeners through the ebb and flow of love and heartbreak. “This record has been a long time coming and I am just beyond excited that my fans will have an opportunity to hear it,” says J. Holiday.

Since his break out Platinum debut Back of My Lac which featured the smash single “Bed,” #1 for 7 consecutive weeks and “Suffocate,” #1 for 3 weeks on Billboard’s Hot R&B and Hip Hop Chart, J.Holiday has developed a distinct and dedicated fan base who has followed him throughout his career. His Gold sophomore disc, Round 2 which featured the hit single “It’s Yours” was proof that J. Holiday is a contender.

Guilty Conscience is the disc which radio has been waiting for. “J. Holiday is truly a talent to be reckoned with. He has a mass appeal for all music lovers. His songs capture just enough edginess that women and men of all age groups are intrigued to hear about,” says Jasmine Sanders, co-host of the DL Hughley Show. “One of my new school favorites and I’m happy to see him back!”

“Radio isn’t always privileged to the behind the scenes of the record business but I am just excited that they are welcoming me back with open arms,” says J. Holiday. “I am humbled and grateful for their acceptance and support.” “After We” produced by Lil Ronnie (R. Kelly, Britney Spears, Mary J Blige) has received initial spins from multi-format stations such as KIBT-FM; KKSS-FM; KOHT-FM; KOPW-FM; and KOPW-FM to name but a few. The video for this single is being lensed by Zach Wolfe and will make its digital and broadcast debut November 5, 2013.

[PLAYBOYoriginal]

Thanks for listing all those unreleased songs. I'm about to scour the net for the newnew.

[Born_To_Do_It]

youknowigotsoul.com/ykigs-live-j-holiday-talks-new-album-being-an-independent-artist

YKIGS Live: J. Holiday Talks New Album, Being an Independent Artist
Tom October 23, 2013



After spending time on Capitol an Def Jam over parts of the past decade, J. Holiday has inevitably gone the same route that most r&b artists are these days: independent. With two Gold singles under his belt (“Bed” & “Suffocate”), the talent level is undeniable, so this move is more to benefit his own career rather than an indication that r&b has turned it’s back on him. He’s currently preparing his new album “Guilty Conscience” for release over the past few months which should give us more of the quality r&b we’ve come to expect from him over the years. In talking with him, he’s definitely on the right track, taking the time to learn the business which is an investment that will pay off in the long run. YouKnowIGotSoul sat down with him prior to his recent performance for our Sol Village show and discussed his journey after releasing “Round 2″, what to expect on his new album, vocal growth, his fan base, and more.



YouKnowIGotSoul: Your last album “Round 2″ came out in 2009. What have you been up to since then?

J. Holiday: I was still on Capitol records and at the time, that album just wasn’t handled with care. We had great momentum and everything, but that’s just the nature of the beast. That was just a long journey that I had to go through. After that, I kept booking. I was traveling all over the country and world. I got a chance to see Sydney, Australia and different places. What people fail to realize in the States, especially R&B, is that true R&B has a big fanbase overseas. Even though it’s not as highly looked upon over here, but overseas it’s crazy. It’s like brand new out there. I’ve been traveling and trying to get my politics straight. After I left Capitol, I signed to Def Jam for 2 years. But that was around that the time that LA Reid bounced out to do his thing and he was the one who signed me, so they sort of shelved me. I sat over there for two years and I was like “Yo! This is Def Jam. This is a dream to be on a label like Def Jam.” It just didn’t work out, so we ended up leaving. Basically we just got focused and I had to get all my team in place and now we’re doing it independent.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Talk about your upcoming album “Guilty Conscience”.

J. Holiday: It’s a story first of all. For anybody that’s been in a crazy relationship where you’ll just go through your ups and downs especially if you’re dealing with the cheating aspect. This will definitely be a relateable to you and you might even shed some tears to it depending on what songs you’re listening to. “Guilty Conscience” is going to be J. Holiday, that’s all I can say. People always ask me what my style is and at this point, all I can say is that it’s R&B. I don’t know what my style is because one minute I might do something that just sounds like something I would sing and then the next minute I might sing something that Marvin Gaye would sing and it would still sound like me. It’s just good music.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Would you say you’ve experienced growth in your music?

J. Holiday: This is definitely my best vocal album. You’ll hear it. You’ll hear the growth and the difference, but now we’re getting back to more relateable subjects besides just the pretty love songs. We’re talking about the good and the bad on this album.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Talk about your new single “After We…”

J. Holiday: “After We…” is basically a story about a main girl and a side girl. It’s like “I’m with the side girl and I don’t really want to make love.” People are thinking that I’m just talking about sex again, but it’s really part of a story line. It’s more like “I don’t really want to make love. I just want to get it in right now.” We’re talking about the good and bad on this album. Every song is definitely going to tell the story.

YouKnowIGotSoul: You’ve had a couple of major label deals before. What’s it like to be an independent artist?

J. Holiday: It’s cool. Holiday Music Group is working out. It’s harder because you have more responsibilities and you have to be on top of certain things, but it is what it is. It’s better though. It’s a learning process and it makes the artist have to learn the business.

YouKnowIGotSoul: You’ve been able to build a big fan base off your first two albums. Have you found that they’ve stuck around?

J. Holiday: My fans, I will say that I have loyal fans. They stick around and I feel like they hold me down. I try to always be able to relate to some fans and more core fans.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Anything you’d like to add?

J. Holiday: I appreciate y’all for holding me down. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @kingjholiday‎. You already know the next album is going to be crazy because You Know I Got Soul baby!

J. Holiday Performs at SOBs in NYC: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XABMGajJw-8
J. Holiday Performs A Cover of Musiq Soulchild's "Just Friends": www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyL3YviGZM0
J. Holiday Sings Sam Cooke's "Change Gonna Come": www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd0bePD8zEw
J. Holiday Performs "Be With Me" at SolVillage: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk78svizj7w
J. Holiday Sings "Fatal" & "Suffocate" at SolVillage: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGcdLIFoFpU
.J. Holiday Performs New Single "After We" 2013: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dTBWZd-sqs
J. Holiday Performs "Bed" at Sol Village 2013: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hdUi2SZbxM

[SHOOTER]

I had some hope left for him when he was on a Def Jam. Oh well.

[Born_To_Do_It]

^ I'm over the Def Jam thing now. As long as he gives us another good J. Holiday album then I can't complain.

In the YouKnowIGotSoul.com interview I posted above, he said it was LA Reid who got him to sign with Def Jam, but when LA Reid left (went to Sony) J got shelved. That explains why when he said in 2011 he was ready to release an album, he probably was but Def Jam didn't want to give him a release date. Also I remember when he was putting songs out on the internet, alot of youtube links were getting blocked with label copyright notices and he tweeted on a few occations that he was annoyed about this, I think even @ing Def Jam.

Anyway on his new website it says "Holiday Music Group" (HMG), so I guess he's got his own label in place and the album will be released under that.

www.kingjholiday.com/

heedmag.com/2013/11/05/j-holiday-chats-w-heedtv/

J. Holiday chats w/ heedTV

www.youtube.com/watch?v=szEx7eyrGF0

heedTV caught up with R&B singer J. Holiday during his recent performance at SOBs in NYC. He talks about bringing back R&B, pays homage to Leigh Bush (formerly Sammie) and shares what it was like growing up as a Preacher’s Kid. Check it out!

In this interview he spoke on:
- Breaking into the industry, being from Washington DC.
- How to revive R&B music.
- The sound of the new album compared to "Back Of My Lac" and "Round 2" and how having a daughter affected his music.
- Why he cut his hair.
- Who he thinks we should pay attention to (Sammie AKA Leigh Bush).
- No features on the new album.
- How his mother (being a preacher) feels about his music career.
- Her best advice to him and the values she taught him ("stay true to yourself").

[Born_To_Do_It]

After a five year hiatus, “Bed” hitmaker J. Holiday will make his return to commercial music with his third studio album album, ‘Guilty Conscience’. Set to drop December 10, 2013, the forthcoming effort is led by the no-holds-barred single “AFTER WE …”, a tune guaranteed to heat up your boudoir. ‘Guilty Conscience’ will feature production from Lil Ronnie, Jerry Wonda, Blaq Smurph and Mike Snoddy, and will bring listeners up to date with Holiday’s musical journey since his retreat from the industry. “This record has been a long time coming and I am just beyond excited that my fans will have an opportunity to hear it,” says J. Holiday

1. Incredible
2. Thinkin Bout Ya
3. Cloud 9
4. After We
5. Guilty Conscience
6. Ms. Get Around
7. Wrong Turn
8. Home Wrecker
9. Dumb
10. Come Back Home
11. Where Are You Now
12. Heaven

I know you all been waiting. If u want a preview of #guiltyconscience go to my newly launched website. KINGJHOLIDAY.COM

[Born_To_Do_It]

www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/j-holiday-guilty-conscience-sampler

J. Holiday - Guilty Conscience (Sampler)
Production: Lil Ronnie, Jerry Wonda, B.A.M., Blaq Smurph, Ronnie D
Lead Single: After We F***



On December 10, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter J. Holiday will release his third studio album, Guilty Conscience.

Prior to the retail release, however, the D.C. native has shared a seven-track sampler version of the album with The DJBooth, which includes new song “Incredible,” four snippets and Booth-approved lead single “After We F***.”

Holiday rides solo throughout the GC sampler, which boasts production work from Ronnie “Lil Ronnie” Jackson, Ronak “Ronnie D” Dalal and more.

J. Holiday "Guilty Conscience" Trailer "Album in Stores Dec 10, 2013"


Stream Guilty Conscience (Sampler)

www.thisisrnb.com/2013/11/new-music-j-holiday-guilty-conscience-album-sampler/

One of the most asked questions from J.Holiday fans alike is “Where is the new album?” Well everyone can rest easy because today saw that question being answered!

The Grammy-nominated singer, who first stepped on the scene with his debut album Back of My Lac’, has slowly been releasing tracks with little to no sign of an album to follow. If you’re like us over here at ThisIsRnB.com, the anticipation was steadily rising with every random release of a single we heard. Today though, it was indeed confirmed that J will be releasing his third studio album Guilty Conscience on December 10!

With less than a month away from the release of the next installment in his R&B journey, the DMV native decided to continue to build anticipation with fans by releasing a seven-track sampler version of the album including the lead single, “After We F*ck”.

The sampler, which proves that Holiday has kept us away from his great sound for far too long, is a sure foreshadowing of the early gift to come with the full album.

Take a listen to the sampler below:

Stream the sampler from either of the links above and check out the album trailer on DJ Booth which features the title track "Guilty Conscience".

So far it's sounding nice!

[Born_To_Do_It]

Arise Entertainment 360, J. Holiday



In this informative 13 minute interview J. Holiday talks about:

- Where he's been for the last 4-5 years (Music politics, Touring, Being a good dad)
- What "Guilty Conscience" is about (Album telling a story of a relationship from the very beginning)
- How this differs from his previous albums (Vocally his best and some more up-tempos)
- Difficulty of being in a relationship whilst having a career as a music artist
- "After We" being just 1 chapter of the whole album
- Working with 1 producer on the whole album for the 1st time (Ronnie "Lil' Ronnie" Jackson being Executive Producer)
- Life changing after the success of "Bed"
- Reason for changing labels and now being independent (LA Reid signing him to Def Jam but then leaving soon after)
- What it's now like having more responsibility, being independent.
- Taking criticism from others and not wanting "Yes men"
- Pressure to top "Bed" with another single
- Being from DMV area
- Influence of his mother on his music career
- His music influences (Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Donny Hathaway, R. Kelly, Jodeci, Fugees, Tupac)
- His favorite Jodeci song (My Heart Belongs To You)
- He sung a bit of "My Heart Belongs To You" and "Come & Talk To Me"
- Future plans (Mainly music, some acting...)

[Born_To_Do_It]

J. Holiday "After We" Official Video

[Born_To_Do_It]

From his Facebook page:

To my fans: I want you to hear it from me first.

"Guilty Conscience" CD will now be released on January 28, 2014.

The music business is really a fickle game and it's even harder when your an independent artist but I will not let it break or discourage me. The music is done, mastered, completed and turned in. So it will definitely be released! I want to make sure you get exactly what you have been waiting for and my team wants to ensure that there is a proper set up with iTunes, Best Buy, Target, Walmart & all of the other independent retail accounts....

I appreciate your patience and understanding. So just hold out a few more weeks and I promise you...it will be worth the wait!

Musically yours,

J. Holiday
Holiday Music Group

[Born_To_Do_It]

J. Holiday recently put these pics on his instagram. There are physical copies so this should be released on 28th January 2014.

@kingjholiday
6 days ago
For all the naysayers! It's not a game. #randblives #guiltyconscience #1.28.2014

@kingjholiday
5 days ago
Just tryna tell a story! #guiltyconscience #1.28.2014

Also here's a recent interview:
urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/2014/01/08/ub-interview-j-holiday-talks-guilty-conscience-going-indie-industry-politics-more/

UB Interview: J. Holiday Talks “Guilty Conscience,” Going Indie, Industry Politics & More
08 January 2014 1
UrbanBridgez.com




Since his break out Platinum debut Back of My Lac which featured the smash single “Bed,” #1 for 7 consecutive weeks and “Suffocate,” #1 for 3 weeks on Billboard’s Hot R&B and Hip Hop Chart, J.Holiday has developed a distinct and dedicated fan base who has followed him throughout his career. His Gold sophomore disc, Round 2 featured the hit single “It’s Yours” was proof that J. Holiday is a contender.

His new album Guilty Conscience in stores and iTunes January 28th features the current smash “After We” and is produced in part by Lil Ronnie, Jerry Wonda, Blaq Smurph and Mike Snoddy. It’s a musical journey, taking listeners through the ebb and flow of love and heartbreak.

J. Holiday recently spoke with Aries from UrbanBridgez.com about his new release “Guilty Conscience,” why he made the decision to go independent, industry politics, his involvement in London‘s big R&B show recently & what almost messed the entire show up, his moms new book “Raising J. Holiday” and much more!

———————————————

UrbanBridgez.com: Let’s talk “Guilty Conscience” first off, why the album title?
J. Holiday: I named it Guilty Conscience because it’s basically like a movie. Let’s say, because I do what I do; I’m an R&B artist. So let’s say that if you could put a soundtrack to my life, in the last 5 years, this would be the soundtrack. So it’s kind of like, I’m telling my business. You know what I mean and I didn’t really want to. But it’s going to help when it comes to relationships like love and all of that because it’s like the sh*t really happens. The same way Steve Harvey did the book Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man. So it’s like the album, like I messed up with my main chick, trying to get with the side-chick. Like she was out there, but I didn’t know. So now I’m learning and I have to go back and fix my relationship because the side-chick got me all tore up. So for instance, like on the title track Guilty Conscience, that’s me talking to my main girl. And now I’m like, where you going, what are you doing, why are you doing this, why are you putting on make-up? You know what I mean and that’s the guilty conscience and what it’s about.

UrbanBridgez.com: Who did you work with on this project?
J. Holiday: This is actually the first album where I just got in with one producer (Lil Ronnie). He picked and selected what producers and writers he wanted to be apart of it. I had a chance to work with Jerry Wonda a fabulous producer and artist. That’s probably the biggest name that I got on this album. We wanted to do it like when you had Usher with Diddy.

UrbanBridgez.com: Janet with Jimmy Jam & Terry.
J. Holiday: Yeah, Janet with Jimmy and Terry, that’s the perfect example!

UrbanBridgez.com: One track called “Where Are You Now” has me intrigued, tell us what that song is about and where the concept came from?
J. Holiday: It’s so funny you ask about that one, that’s my favorite song on the album. Like I was saying earlier, if this album could be the soundtrack of my life; Where Are You Now is the point in the story where I messed up. My girl knows I messed up, I’m not messing with the side-chick anymore. Because now I realize that she’s out there. So now my girl isn’t rockin with my anymore. She’s trying to kick me out, cut my clothes up like in Love and Hip-Hop. It’s all bad, so I’m having a conversation with love, love itself. And I’m saying, (sings) “oh love, where are you now?” It’s like love is suppose to be able to fix anything. So I’m asking where are you and what am I suppose to do now that I’ve messed up. That’s the end of the movie (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: “Incredible” is the next single and without a doubt one of the best R&B joints I’ve heard this year.
J. Holiday: Thank you! Incredible is about my main chick. I’m talking about when I met my main chick. I’m like everybody wants you, but you’re with me. Guys are going to hate, females are going to hate. So basically I’m trying to show, because a lot of my music has been sexually driven that I can do a song about a woman where I’m not talking about sex. So that’s where I come from with Incredible. Everybody comes to that point where they’re like you know what, I love this girl. Oh my god, this is the one! So that’s what I’m talking about.

UrbanBridgez.com: What made you decide to go the indie route this time around and start your own imprint Holiday Music Group?
J. Holiday: You know there is actually a few reasons, it’s not money. I’ve lived, traveled the world and toured. So I’ve been making money, my money never stopped. So I did it because as a man, a black man we have a lot of responsibilities. In terms of how we put out our projects, what our music is and the message we’re putting across. So basically I went independent because everybody kept trying to change me. Everybody kept saying be this person or be that person, do this or do that. I’ve never signed a 360 (deal), this is who I am I didn’t get into this for the fame. So as long as I can put out my music, I’m good. So I went independent because on my first album I was making 12% artist royalty. On the second album I was making 15% artist royalty. So that doesn’t really add up to anything because artist royalties are label royalties. So now it’s like I’m getting a percentage as a label and on top of that I’m getting artist percentage.

UrbanBridgez.com: And on top of that publishing.
J. Holiday: Exactly (both laugh), you know what I mean. So that’s why I did it. It’s what’s best for me and my fans who’s been riding with me.

UrbanBridgez.com: You’ve been grinding in preparation for this release, how different is the grind working an independent release than with a major?
J. Holiday: It’s different because when you’re working on an album as an artist and you’re just signed to the label, all you do is record some songs, turn the album in & the label sets it up. But a lot of people don’t know is major labels have on going contracts with distributors. So if you’re signed to a major, your album is going to come out. But when you’re independent you have to go and have retail meetings, you have to meet with buyers for the stores like Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart. You have to get them to understand that yes I know I’m independent and I know I’ve been gone for five years, but I still love what I do and I’m out there busting my ass to make sure the music is straight. So independently you have more control obviously, you make more money and you just don’t have to worry about people trying to change you. The only person that can change you at that point is you.

UrbanBridgez.com: You recently performed at the big R&B show in the Wembley Arena London recently how was that experience?
J. Holiday: Let me tell you something and I’m not going to put the artist name out there, but one artist messed up the entire show! When I say they messed it up, when you do shows and things like that in London. Everybody has 25 to 30 minutes or maybe 45 minutes to an hour for the headliner. So it got to the point where nobody wanted to go on first. So to remind you, this is a Faith Evans show. Faith Evans went on last and before her was Kelly Price. Before her Donell Jones, before him Dave Hollister. And those are the people who should have been last because they’ve put so much work in. So again, there was one artist who will remain nameless. He was like oh man I don’t want to go on first. Tell them to have someone else to go on first, I ain’t going on first. And it almost messed up the whole show, because you can’t start the show until the first person goes on. I mean this dude was so adamant about not going on first. So the promoter came to me and was like here is the situation, homie don’t want to go on first and I’m not even messing with him anymore he can’t come back to London on my dollar. So he said how would you feel about going on first? I said please put me on first! I mean I’ve did that already, I opened up for R. Kelly and Keyshia Cole. Going first to me is nothing, you know what I mean. So I went on and we had a great show and let me tell you one of the kickers of this whole thing. So the song on my new album called “Incredible,” was for David Hollister. But he didn’t use it, because it wasn’t in the direction he went in for his new album. I did a little preview of it in the show and when I got off stage he said to me, when I was standing on the side of the stage and I heard that song I was like who the fu*k is singing my song (both laugh). And he said oh that’s J, it’s cool. Dave Hollister actually told me, I was so much more relaxed when I realized it was you. He said you’re the only other person who could of did that song justice. So for me, that was instant glorification to have someone like Dave Hollister say that to me. Then big brother Ginuwine brought me back on stage during his set because I went first, he said there is no reason you should have had to go on first. I do So Anxious in my show whenever I’m not on a show with Ginuwine. So he brought me out and was like this is my little brother and I know some of y’all didn’t get a chance to see him earlier. So in all it was a great look, I was cool. Besides the politics of artist thinking they’re bigger now than they really are (both laugh). So I was good and I got to go on stage twice (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: Your mom wrote a book about you, tell us about it?
J. Holiday: Yeah the book is out, it’s called Raising J. Holiday. Basically she’s telling her side of what it took to get me to be J. Holiday. She’s telling everybody her stories and how it was raising me. Different things, like my dad passing away and stuff like that. But yeah it’s out, so go get it! it’s on Amazon.com and you can pick it up in stores like Barnes and Nobles. If anybody wants to get a chance to know a little bit about me, go get it.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s next for J. Holiday?
J. Holiday: We got the album coming out, my mom has the book out. We just started Holiday Music Group, basically because I’m independent my albums coming out on my own terms. I’m looking for artists, producers, writers, we just want to be a big deal. A lot of smaller labels like Bad Boy, SoSo Def, Grand Hustle they came out with the same goal like guess what we want to be Motown, we want to be Capitol, we want to be Arista. I’m going to make it my business to be the new young Berry Gordy I promise you. Outside of that, I’ll be reading some movie scripts. I’m getting into film and TV. I’m working on this movie script, I can’t tell you the name of it yet but it’s going to be great.

UrbanBridgez.com: Anything you want to leave with your fans before we wrap up?
J. Holiday: I just want to say I appreciate you for holding me down, I appreciate you for looking out for me. Thank you for arguing for me on my behalf. Like when people were saying J. Holiday isn’t coming back, he’s wack, just thank you for holding me down. I’m a real guy, I have a real heart, I’m serious about this. If you’re not a fan, maybe you should just go to my website kingjholiday.com and check out my posted media. Check out my Facebook, my Twitter and Instagram which are the same thing kingjholiday. Keep rocking with me and just know I love what I do! I don’t take non of those $12 to $13 dollars for granted when you come and buy the CD, help me feed my family. Rock with me!

Photographer: Will Kennedy (IG @ibk82)
Creative Director: Chanan Newman (IG @chanannicole)
Makeup Artist: Brandy Wells (IG @salonharajuku1)
Wardrobe Stylist: Julian Lark (IG @julianlark)
Management: Tikiya Crawford & Darius Jones – Push the Button Management & Marketing, LLC – IG @tikiya

[Born_To_Do_It]

ALBUM IS OUT TODAY!

Check it out and if you like it go out and support it.

[SHOOTER]

It's on iTunes at least.

[Born_To_Do_It]

Damn, I haven't had a chance to listen to this yet!

I believe it's only out in the US today but international release will follow. There's only a clean version on iTunes but the dirty version is being added soon.

twitter.com/KingJHoliday/statuses/428208044062031872

Holiday Music Group
Verified account ‏@kingjholiday
International release of Guilty Conscience should be a week or 2 from today...

iTunes (Clean)
iTunes (Explicit)
Amazon (CD)
Amazon (CD)
Amazon (Mp3)

[Born_To_Do_It]

First reviews I could find:

youknowigotsoul.com/album-review-j-holiday-guilty-conscience-4-stars-out-of-5

Album Review: J. Holiday, “Guilty Conscience” (4 stars out of 5)
Edward Bowser January 29, 2014

Words by Edward T. Bowser, SoulInStereo.com

Back in 2007, when R&B crooner J. Holiday dropped his debut album, his career was filled with promise. Even my wife, who can’t stomach most R&B produced this millennium, was a huge fan of his singles “Bed” and “Suffocate.” Holiday was brimming with potential.

But potential doesn’t pay the light bill.

Holiday’s subsequent release became a victim to the dreaded sophomore jinx but it’s his most current effort, Guilty Conscience, that might finally turn that potential into promise.

Unquestionably, Guilty Conscience is a conceptual victory. Chance are you’ve heard Holiday’s most recent single, “Incredible,” a light-hearted, breezy tune that has him lavishing his woman with compliments? Well, as it turns out, that’s all part of his pimp game. Make no mistake, he’s chasing the draws.

The first third of the album is all about subtle seduction, and produces the set’s best songs. The horns on “Thinking About You” burst with energy, creating an infectious big-band feel. Although “After We F***” is too heavy handed and drifts too far into Trey Songz’s lane, “Cloud 9” is a better portrait of temptation and lust.

From there, the album switches from passion to paranoia. The masterful title track has Holiday descending into madness – he thinks his girl is cheating but he’s not sure if she really is or if he’s just overcome with guilt from his own unfaithfulness. Paranoia is eating him alive – it’s the kind of storytelling that is often lost in modern R&B. Things get even worse for J. as he starts making excuses for his mistakes, basically saying he was the one who was seduced on “Ms. Get Around” (“I tasted danger when I tasted her lips … she poisoned me with a single kiss”) and his cheating finally catches up to him on “Wrong Turn.” I won’t spoil what happens, but it’s a cautionary tale for anyone who considers creeping.

The final third of album is mostly filled with sorrow and regret. The content isn’t nearly as strong as the earlier tracks but most remain solid, with the standout being the closer “Heaven,” which shines with warmth and sincerity.

Guilty Conscience reminds me a lot of Bilal’s 2013 A Love Surreal. Individually the tracks aren’t bad but when packed together and played in sequence, the listener gains so much more. It’s good to see J. Holiday’s potential beginning to pay off.

Best tracks: “Thinkin About You,” “Guilty Conscience,” “Cloud 9”

4 stars out of 5

www.urbaninformer.com/2014/01/31/j-holiday-clears-mind-guilty-conscience-album-review/

J. Holiday Clears His Mind On “Guilty Conscience” (Album Review)
Jan - 31 2014 |

J. Holiday, who we last heard from in 2007 with the smash hits “Bed” and “Suffocate”, is now returning to the scene with his latest effort Guilty Conscience. This album which may be better than the first shows both his maturity and growth.

Undoubtedly, Guilty Conscience is pure genius. Holiday’s most recent effort displays his clarity in the studio and his distinct form of melodies. The album’s first single “Incredible”, shows his witty way with women and his way with words and compliments are sure to send the female listener ablaze, and there I say, may make the panties quite wet.

The album starts off with lust and seduction, showcasing some of the albums best songs such as, After We F***, which dwells into the nasty side of things and “Cloud 9″, which shows his great battle with temptation.

That point on the album drifts to passion and finally ends with sorrow. Tracks like “Heaven”, “Ms. Get Around”, and “Where Are You Now”, are some of the cuts best lyrical content.

Guilty Conscience reminds the ear of a great mash between John Legend, Tank, R.Kelly, and there I say it Musiq Soulchild all in one.

The tracks definitely show Mr. Holiday’s growth in musical content and are sure to mark him as an R&B act to look out for in 2014. It’s surely a great start and a great look for J. Holidays new revamp in the music industry.

With the album the listeners get so much more depth and can fall in the lines of Trust, pain, sorrow, lust, love, sex, and passion. All in all I would give the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, job well done J. Holiday.

-Written By Langston_V

[Born_To_Do_It]

Here's another review explaining the theme of the album:

bgpworld.com/review-j-holiday-guilty-conscience/

Review: J holiday – Guilty Conscience

From playing “Back of my Lac” and “Round 2” to death and back I knew that vocals and production on this album were going to be on point regardless. One thing I did notice was that even though he was singing about some unsettling topics, J holiday sounded truly happy on every track. I can only put this down to him having complete creative freedom now he’s an independent artist.

The thing I love about this album is it’s like watching a movie making it not a typical R&B album. No I’ve not been in front of the computer too long and I know that sounds crazy but if you play it from beginning to end, you really do get to experience the good, the bad and the ugly of the relationship.

This is how I saw it, he meets a woman who is intelligent and beautiful, the kind of girl that women want to be like and men want to be with. A girl that makes him a better man for being with her and for all the little things she does, he can only describe her as “incredible”. Things start to get serious but he’s on the road alot and one night he’s at the club and sees his fantasy girl across the room. Soon he gets infatuated by the lust factor to the point he’s telling her “ I can’t stop thinking bout you, and my girls laying in my bed.” (Yep the start of the side chick). So lust making with the side chick leaves them floating on “Cloud 9”. For the side chick it’s feeling more like love then lust, but for him he just wants to hit. He tries to explain it to her its not the time for that with “we can make love, after we F**k”.

Jiminy Cricket finally gets through and has his mind playing tricks on him, has him thinking “what goes around comes right back around, I hope what I’m feeling it ain’t true.” “Nah she’s a good girl, and nah she wouldn’t do that too me”. “I know that I’ve been in the wrong, is it all my fault.” but without any proof or knowing the truth he puts it down to just his “Guilty Conscience”.

His conscience has him reflecting past relationships and he recalls when he tasted danger, after “Ms Get Around” infatuated him. (Picture Paula Patton’s character in Just Wright). He was ready to give her his last name until he introduced her to his boys. Then with a reality blow to the noggin and finds out she knows them already, hence “Ms Get Around”. Happy when she’s getting what she wants, quick to move onto the next when she not.

Switch to him driving home to his main girl but has to stop at a junction when he gets a booty call message from his side chick and has to make that choice, which way to turn wifey or side chick. Yep he makes a “Wrong turn”. But it get worst, in the heat of the moment she claims she on the pill he’s the only one, he doesn’t reach for that condom on the nightstand…… (So this is the point where the shit really hits the fan and everyone starts hating him for doing wrong).

Ok, he’s already told wifey he’s not ready for kids, he has now realised he’s made the wrong turn too late and knowing the damage it will cause there relationship he’s trying to not tell his wifey. The side chick was cool before at keeping their dirty secret but now she’s pregnant she changing. Making threats to tell his wifey, He’s now caught trying to balance both and side chicks not happy so she makes that call to the wifey. Now the side chicks become a “Home Wrecker”.

Wifey can only forgive so much, and the relationship is done. He’s left dealing with all the drama he’s caused and has to reflect on the choices he’s made. His conclusion of course its that he was “Dumb”. Time goes by and he’s rattling around their home alone he starts to realise how much she did for him, how he never showed his appreciation to her and how much he missed her and truly loved her and he makes it his mission to get her back. Starting off with saying, “with you is where I want to be, I thought the grass was greener on the other side, but it’s as brown as can be. I’m asking you to please forgive me for doing you wrong, sorry it took so long. I’m begging you to come back home.”

The begging works and although they get back together they struggle to work through the baggage and find the lost love. With them asking love “where are you now, I tried to GPS you, but it said no address found”. (So this is the part of the movie where all romantics would be a blubbering mess of emotions sitting next to a pile of tear soaked tissues). But as they’re both searching and trying to make it work, one-day, they finally find that lost love and discover their “Heaven” where they start there happily ever after. Now add the production skills of Lil Ronnie, Ronnie D, Jerry Wonda, Blaq Smurph, and Mike Snoddy, quietly playing in the background. Does that not sound like a movie? And you all thought I was crazy.

Heaven is a story of love in its purest essence. It’s my favourite track on the album. To me it has that “Forever Ain’t Enough” feel, in the sense it will have you singing along and leaving you with that feel good vibe. I can definitely see “Heaven” being played at the end of his concert with everyone singing along and waving his or her arms.

J holiday recently stated this is best vocal album and that lyrical content makes it different from others. I fully agree, it’s a heavyweight album that didn’t need anybody but J holiday to sing on it and make the magic come alive. There’s something on there for everyone to relate to, it has up-tempo tracks as well as songs for the bedroom and everything in between. I think R&B lovers will love this album and agree 5 years is too long to wait for the next one.

The only way to ensure the wait is not as long is by showing your support of J Holiday by purchasing a copy of “Guilty Conscience” at your local record shop or getting it from iTunes.

Jan - 31 | Posted by: BGP

Also if you haven't read any recent interviews this one below will basically cover a lot including what happened from Round 2 until now. This is a good read if you are a fan:

www.parlemagazine.com/artists-/1955-jholidayinterview

J. Holiday - Keeps On Pushing On

When he emerged onto the scene back in 2007, many predicted that J. Holiday would one day lead the male R&B scene. A singer/songwriter with undeniable talent and hit songs to back it up, the success seemed to be a given for the unique R&B package that was this D.C. native. Then "Bed" was released! Though it was written by The Dream, going number one on the Hip-Hop/R&B Charts and number 5 on the Billboard 100 was confirmation for the buzz. The follow-up, "Suffocate" impressed as well helping lead to a number 1 debut album on the Hip-Hop/R&B charts and eventually certified gold status as well as a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary album.

However, as the business of music often does, success wasn't enough to solidify J. Holiday the respect of a top artist and by the time his sophomore album was to be released his buzz was beginning to fade. Label politics didn't help the cause, and marketing was nearly none existent for his second project, Round 2. That was 2009. It’s been up and down ever since for the R&B crooner, finding himself engulfed in the drama that was Capitol/EMI Records running through executives and slowly but surely realizing that urban music was no longer a priority. It’s been 5 years since his sophomore album and now 2 labels later he is an independent artist hoping to recreate the magic that never really faded if you were a fan. He’s released several singles along the way but it’s taken him this long to finally release his 12 track album, Guilty Conscience, out January 28th.

We caught up with him recently to discuss the time away from the mainstream, the new album, and what his musical journey has been like thus far?

Parlé Magazine: So I know your fans have been keeping up with your moves over the last few years, but you’ve seemingly been out of sight and out of mind for at least the last couple of years. How does an artist who had so much success on their debut album take that type of step back?
J. Holiday: Capitol had a bunch of internal issues going on. My time at Capitol I think I went through 4 [label] presidents. And every time a new president came in, they brought in a new staff. Every time a new staff came in, of course they thinking they know what they doing so they'd switch up the whole thing. So I ran into a few issues with the staff. Eventually we got the second album out, but the staff that they brought out just didn't know what they were doing. They put out the second album premature, I didn't really agree with the date but they put it out anyway. As an artist I told them, this ain't the date ya'll wanna go with, you want to wait another month to set it up with. But I'm still here. I say F it.

Parlé: When did you decide that enough was enough with that label situation?
J. Holiday: It came down to our third album, so I pretty much had to force Capitol's hand. Contractually it came time for them to put it out, but of course we were going through a new system, but I didn't even stay for that one. I said, 'Look man if ya'll not ready to put out the album ya'll gotta release me off the label.' So they released me off the label, L.A. wanted to sign me a few years ago, we'll actually he wanted to sign the group I was in, back when he was with Arista. He ended up not signing us, but he always remembered me. So when he found out I was off Capitol he was like, 'oh I need you over here at Def Jam.' But then he left, and I was his pet project, so I sat on the shelf for about two years from 2010 to about 2012. I was ready to rock out with the album but they just had me sitting. Any time I would try to release some music or a video, UMG, the parent label would block me. They were blocking me from giving out free music!!! I'm not even trying to get paid for this, I just want to keep the fans happy. So I told them to let me go. From there I just started revamping my team, I changed my management team. I got Holiday Music Group, we partnered up with the cat who I used to make music with, he actually signed my group, that's the guy who owns Music Line and they helped put out my first two albums. I partnered with them for this album.

Parlé: You mentioned L.A. Reid, just wondering why you didn’t try to link up with him over at Epic since he has a nice situation over there now?
J. Holiday: Well at that point it was kind've like, he looked out for me signing me to Def Jam, but there's no way he could've made that decision—it’s something he had to know that he was going to leave. So it's like, you could've let me know brah, or introduce me to the folks I need to know at Def Jam. So at that point I just felt this isn't the place I need to be. Plus I was kinda over the label. It don't take me three times to figure it out.

Parlé: I was having this conversation the other day about being on the label versus being independent. It seems like in terms of R&B right now though, it really doesn't matter. The label's not helping either way...
J. Holiday: Not at all. Because the people at the labels right now are pretty much waiting to take whatever you did off your hard work, to make money off of it. One, you want to sign me to a 360, I'm not doing that! I've never signed a 360 deal, when I was with Capitol or Def Jam. Independently you got more creative control, you make more money and with all the social media, social networks, you can really do it yourself.

Parlé: You got a bit of a new look, you cut the braids. When did you get the cut and why?
J. Holiday: Right after I left Def Jam. I knew I had to do something new and I had to reinvent myself.

Parlé: Okay, so we got the business of music out the way, let’s talk about music. One of the first records you released leading up to this new project is “Sign My Name.” That track is dope, will it be on the album?
J. Holiday: Nope. I just feel like it came out so long ago.

Parlé: Understood. What's been the response from fans so far with the comeback?
J. Holiday: They love it. They just wanted to hear music from me. They love it. I tried to keep something in the ear of the fans just to let them know, 'I'm still here, ain't went nowhere, just going through these politics. “Sign My Name,” the only reason that's not on the album is because it came out so far before we came up with the album and “Sign My Name” just doesn't fit the story that we're telling.

Parlé: Talk to me about the album. I hear it’s a concept album. What’s the plot for Guilty Conscience?
J. Holiday: Guilty Conscience is a story, it’s basically a movie, if you could put a movie on a CD it would be this. It’s telling a story, I won't say it’s necessarily solely about me, but my motivation of course comes from things I've experienced. I’ts telling a story from end to end of how I got a main chick, but I'm out here all in the streets and I got all the pretty lovelies after me and now I see one and I start messing with her even though I got a main chick at home. I'm in to her, but I'm getting caught up. It’s basically looking at the ups and downs of a relationship and trying to decide do I really wanna keep cheating on this girl or am I gonna get back? Or you know what, this girl I'm cheating with know everybody, she's a J.O. (Jump off) so it’s showing that men can still take responsibility. Talking about mistakes I made. I got a song on the album called, "Miss Get Around," that's pretty much the point in the story where I'm like aww man, I done got caught up in this joint right here?! There's another song called "Home Wrecker," where now she don't want to let me go.

Parlé: Oh it gets real then… Speaking of which though, I had a recent discussion about Akon and his comments about men and infidelity, where he was basically saying that men really aren’t meant to be with one woman and the sooner that women realize that the better it will be for both sexes.
J. Holiday: We was talking about that yesterday, that's crazy. I think it kinda depends on where you are in your life honestly and what you trying to get done. Usually, the main girl, that's the one we love, we'd do anything for her. I'm not going to say we can't be monogamous, but sometimes we stupid man. It’s the love of the chase. We men! 'Why must I be like that, why must I chase the cat... AIn't nothing but the dog in me.' It also depends on what culture you from, he comes from a different culture too, in their culture that's kinda what they do.

Parlé: First time independent, what are your expectations? Or do you even have any expectations at this point?
J. Holiday: I don't really. Hard work always breeds some type of success. It may not be what people think it should be but independently I can sell 70 thousand records and I'm good. Cause I'm getting the majority of the profit. And I still got publishing. So, yeah I'm good. I rather listen to the opinions of my team then listen to the opinions of people that don't even know who I am. I think that's one of the biggest problems with labels because nobody knows the artist.

Parlé: So the single on the project, the explosive, "After We F*ck," how does that compare to the other music on the album?
J. Holiday: It doesn't compare because every song has its own life. For instance, "After We F*ck," that's the point where I'm just meeting this girl. But if you listen to the lyrics, its like okay, we can make love after we f*ck, of course I'm lying but somebody else who play this for their girl or something might really mean it, but in this story, we just gonna get it in real quick. That's the point where I'm getting into shorty cause she got that good good. It’s just another scene from the story!

Parlé: Just wondering, do you talk on the album at all to help things flow?
J. Holiday: Naw, we just telling this story. Like once you hear it, you'll hear the story starting to take shape. No features, no none of that.

Parlé: What do you want fans and even the industry folk to know about you with this new project and where you are with your career now?
J. Holiday: That I'm still here man. It may sound a little arrogant, but I feel like I'm one of the best vocalists to come in this generation. Carl Thomas is one of my mentors, he told me, 'yo, you have an incredible voice and a great personality. A lot of people in this industry that you meet may have a great voice but they have terrible personalities. Your voice and your personality is going to always sell you. I just want them to know that I'm still here and I love this, no matter what I go through. I couldn't see myself doing nothing else. I just want to make sure they support good music. Not saying that there's not other good music out there, but people like me, I'll put my blood, sweat and tears out there and go through the most, just to make sure they get good music instead of just putting out that fad music. I don't want to put out fad music, if anything I want to make music that starts trends. I just want them to know I'm real about it.

As far as the album, I want them to know that love is what it is. In relationships you go through ups and downs, sometimes it works, sometimes it don't, but the first step is that sometimes you have to admit your mistakes. Male and female cause I think that's one of the big things like the main girl in this story, she didn't do anything wrong, that was all me, but you got the side girl, she was trying to take me from my girl and she was trying to get me caught up. So just knowing that life is what it is, sometimes you just gotta be careful.

Parlé: Looking back at your career up to this point, do you have any regrets?
J. Holiday: To say no, I would be lying. I don't necessarily have any regrets, but I wish I didn't have to learn on my own. I wish I had that mentor that told me, 'you know this ain't gonna be easy right?' Cause you know, we always see it like, you sitting at home and you see it on tv and you’re like, I wanna be there, I wanna do that then you get some shit like "Bed" and "Suffocate" to pop off and you go number 1 on your first album, life gets out of control. But then you start to learn that the people that own these labels, they only there with you when you on top. They don't take that ride down with you. I just wish I would've had somebody before I got in the game to tell me that. You know any time I got an issue I call Carl or I holla at Ginuwine like, 'yo why ya'll didn't warn me?!' Cause they both been through their situations. So I wouldn't call it a regret, just something that I wish was different.

Parlé: Any final words you want to put out there for the people sir?
J. Holiday: I'm here, I'm not going no where. It don't matter how hard it’s going to be. I done had people wish bad stuff on me talking about he died, I'm probably smoked out somewhere and can't sing no more, but this album is probably my best vocal album, I've only gotten better. I just want to thank the fans that fought for me and be on social networks like, 'f*ck you, we love J Holiday.' I love fans like that. They know I been working hard and they know I been going through it so I appreciate it. Keep in touch. www.kingjholiday.com, I got an instagram and a twitter, @kingjholiday
It's funny people like, 'oh, why he call himself King.' People don't understand, my moms is a preacher and the J stands for James. So I say, King James Holiday as in, whenever you hear my music it's going to be the gospel. It’s gonna be the truth, dude singing and he's saying some shit. I don't want people to ever think I'm saying I'm the King of R&B. Being on tour with R. Kelly, he's reigning king and nobody in this industry is going to take his spot until he retire.

Author: Kevin Benoit

[Born_To_Do_It]

Another interview


So I don't think this album sold well, although I didn't expect it would seeing as he had no hit on the radio but I'm just glad I have some new J. Holiday music to listen to.

From what I've manage to find on the internet it looks like it didn't even enter the Billboard 200. It only debuted @ #42 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (week 15th February 2014), then moved down to #44 the following week (22nd February 2014) and then fell outside the top 50 the week after.

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
42 New 1 Guilty Conscience J. Holiday
44 42 2 Guilty Conscience J. Holiday

I hope that the new single "Incredible" picks up so that this album gets more attention. If he plans to stay independent then he needs to tour a lot and release albums quicker for it to be worth his while otherwise he should sign to a label.