John Legend continues his promotional rounds as he readies the release of his fifth studio album, Darkness and Light, due out Friday, Dec. 2.
The veteran R&B singer, actor and now film producer kicks his suave game up to 10 as he covers the December 2016 issue of Jocks & Nerds. In his sit down with the mag, Legend spoke on a wide range of topics including Black Lives Matter, Donald Trump, his forthcoming album and more.
Check out excerpts below courtesy of Jocks & Nerds:
On Black Lives Matter: “It’s been a challenge for Obama, because he represents the State, and he represents law enforcement, and he represents the Justice Department, so the folks that are protesting are protesting that apparatus. But I think he understands where those protests are coming from. But he still has to represent the Government.
“I think he genuinely knows what the black man in America has to deal with, and the stereotypes that come with that. And the possible violence that comes from those stereotypes. But he also understands the importance of law enforcement, and the fact that it has to feel legitimate, for people to feel safe […] But I think that people who are not in his position, we have every right to speak out, and we have every right to say our country needs to do better. We have every right to speak truth to power.”
On Donald Trump: “I think people are already missing the way the Obamas conducted themselves in office. Particularly when you compare them, especially with Trump and how tawdry so much of the campaign has been. I think people are appreciating how scandal-free his Presidency has been [..] Combine that with the fact the economy is doing much better than it was before he came into office. Unemployment’s down, incomes are rising. I think all in all, people are realizing he did a pretty great job.”
On his musical influences and his album title, Darkness and Light: “I look to artists like Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers for inspiration more than any other artists. I consider myself to be someone who is part of a legacy, but doing it in my own way. They sang about love and relationships in a really beautiful, sensual way, but they also sang about love in a broader sense: love for mankind, love for justice and love for peace.”
“While ‘Darkness and Light’ is the name of one of the songs, those words kept coming back to me. There’s a lot of darkness in the world, pain and conflict. But the album also represents the desire to find light, optimism, love and joy in the midst of all that.”
The new issue of Jocks & Nerds will hit shelves on Thursday, December 1.
Hit next to see photos from the photo shoot.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
