The BIG Q&A: Trey Songz Talks Being Anti-Euro, All-Rap Mixtape And Never Apologizing To R. Kelly

Trey Songz is past being a sex symbol. Want his old shit? Buy his old album. On his 4th disc, Passion, Pain & Pleasure the 25-year-old hushes his salacious appeal a tad, journeying past the bedroom. Why? Because you'll still listen. VIBE met with the tempting chansonnier for an eye-to-eye conversation on the three songs he'd never record again, why he won't jump on the euro express, and if his old idol R. Kelly has improved at all. —Tracy Garraud

VIBE: From conversations I’ve had, many folks think Pain, Pleasure & Pain might’ve came out too soon after Ready. Do you see why someone would say that?
Trey Songz: What makes it early?

There wasn’t really a play hard to get factor to build anticipation.
That’s not an artist’s concern. I’m here to make money and make my impact on the game as solid as I can. The game is not what it used to be where artists should wait before they put an album out.

What was the major influence behind doing your fourth album at this time?|
Because I’m here. I’m not here to wait until people think I should put an album out. I wanted to put an album out, immediately. After you put six singles out on an album, how much longer should you wait? You wait for someone else to come and do what you doing and take your spot? No.

True. Did you feel any pressure to create a Ready 2.0?
I’m not here to make Ready 13 times. I’m here to make a different album each time.

What would you say are the primary differences between Passion, Pain & Pleasure and Ready?
Ready is a more commercial album. It’s more an album that was strategically done for trying to attain a spot for myself. I didn’t have my place in the game before Ready. Ready was the album that did that for me, and it was strategic from the single placement to the songs I sang. I probably wouldn’t record some of those songs had I not needed relevant radio play.

Which songs are you referring to?