Bobby Brown Speaks On 'Masterpiece' Album, New Love & Bobbi Kristina

There was a time when you couldn’t turn on the radio (remember the radio?) and not hear Bobby Brown. His classic R&B ballads and raunchy sex tunes drove women into a Bieber-esque frenzy. Now, the once touted King of R&B is making the rounds to promote his new single off his first studio album release in 15 years, aptly titled Masterpiece.

For those familiar with his body of work, Bobby Brown is more than the ex-husband of fallen diva Whitney Houston and wants people to know that. He’s been on tour with New Edition, the group that launched his solo career and finds himself the happiest when he’s on tour performing his favs “Prerogative” and “Rony.” Here, he chats with VIBE about the new project, New Edition’s comeback and Bobbi Kristina’s future.

VIBE: Your new single “Don’t Let Me Die” features a video that shows intimate moments between you and your fiancée/manager Alicia. Were those acted and how did you feel about showing that side of you?
Bobby Brown: It wasn’t acting. We were really doing everything we was doing. That’s my fiancée in the video. We shot it in Jamaica. It was just a lot of fun to shoot. My brother-in-law is the director. Ralph Tresvant was there with me. We were there for a concert.

When people first heard the title, automatically the feeling was that it pertained to your previous relationship with Whitney Houston. Now that we see the video we know it’s about your current relationship with Alicia. Can you explain the meaning behind the song?
The inspiration was 8 or 9 months ago when we wrote the song. I was just feeling my woman and not wanting to be without her ever. The words just started coming out of my head and that was what I was feeling about her. I don’t want her to let me die. If she was to leave me I would feel like I wasn’t well anymore. She’s helped me a lot through my 7 years of sobriety.

How did you two meet?
We met many years ago when I was with New Edition. We used to work out in this dance school. She was one of the people in the dance school who has a crew of her own. We used to hang out back in the days. Once I got divorced I saw her again and we hooked up. She was a lot older and mature and we started kicking. For the last six and a half years we’ve been together. We now have a little boy, Cassius and we’re getting married.

When is the wedding date set for?
We set a date but we’re just trying to keep it on the low low but its sometime in June.

Masterpiece is your first independent album. How did this come about and what are your expectations for the album?
Yes, I’ve been wanting to put something out for a while and have been recording a lot for the album. It’s a great album. You can put it on and play it all the way through without skipping a record. That’s what albums are supposed to. We’re trying to bring real music back.

Did you get a chance to see the Billboard Award’s tribute to Whitney?