Interview with ATL soul singer Sleepy Brown. He's lent his vocal's to Outkast classics such as "Playaz Ball" and "The Way You Move." Big Boi is featured on his Pharrell produced single "Margarita."

Tell me all about the new album?
Sleepy Brown-Oh man. It's cold as hell.

So you still reside in the Atlanta area?
Sleepy Brown-Oh yes.

I know you have been in the game for so long and you remember when Outkast was first starting. What are your feelings now that Atlanta is at like the forefront of the music industry?
Sleepy Brown-It's a wonderful thing. That's kind of like why we did it. Of course we already had Dallas and Jermaine but one thing they never did and I love them to death is they never called out places in Atlanta. You know when L.A. came out Snoop and them came out you heard about Compton and Long Beach. But in Atlanta we was kinda hurting. We wanted to make sure that brothers from Atlanta would be proud to be from Decater, College Park so now we have this whole big scene and that's all we're hearing. I'm very happy.

You've kind of played a supporting role for so long what made you want to step out into the forefront?
Sleepy Brown-It was just time. I grew up back stage because my father was in this group named Brick. I grew up back stage and I started out production wise with Organized Noize with Outkast but I guess just over the years that part of me just really wanted to do that so it was all about time.

So what have you been doing this summer just gearing up for the album release?
Sleepy Brown-Yeah I've been gearing up for that and promotion and stuff. And it's a whole lot different than being a producer. When you are a producer you just stay your butt in the studio and work. As an artist, you have to go do radio, you got to do interviews, it's something totally different for me.


How long have you been into producing?
Sleepy Brown-Since the beginning. I'm one of the third members of Organized Noize we started a production company. I've been in the game since the beginning I just started off doing production. The first time I really sang on a record was like Players Ball.

What are some of your favorite hits that you helped produce?
Sleepy Brown-En Vogue "Don't Let Go," TLC "Waterfalls," Earth Wind & Fire I've done some stuff with them. Curtis Mayfield I did his last album before he passed away. Ludacris "Blueberry Yum Yum," one I did with him "Saturdays."

Did you pretty much hand it over to other people or did you do any production on your album?
Sleepy Brown-Well with Organized Noize we are a company so anytime we do something..so of course I had to get my team on the album.

Have you done any movie more work lately?
Sleepy Brown-No, not yet.

Didn't you have a cameo in ATL?
Sleepy Brown-Actually, that's crazy but no I didn't.

Have you ever aspired to get into any movie stuff?
Sleepy Brown-Yeah I really want to. I'm in Outkast's new movie Idlewood. I have a little cameo in that. Hopefully, I can get some more soon.

Are you singing or rapping on your album?
Sleepy Brown-No, I don't rap. I'm a terrible rapper. Please don't ever ask me to rap.

Which do you prefer the producing side or the artist side of the business since you've done both?
Sleepy Brown-That's a good question. I don't know. I enjoy production because of course I love music but I love the artist side because as a producer back in the day with Outkast we would go somewhere and no one would know who the hell I was. When you come to the forefront as an artist it's a totally different thing. I used to go anywhere by myself but that's kind of changed. It's cool but I do kind of miss it.

What do people say to you when they come up to you?
Sleepy Brown-I'm going to tell you what's funny. They never believe it's me. I had one girl say to me, "You should be in lip sync contests you look like Sleepy Brown you would win all the money." I said, "Thank you." They don't believe it's me. In Atlanta, they don't ever believe it's me. I say, "Okay, it's not me," and then they say, "Yes, it is," I'm like "make up your mind."

What do you want fans to know about your new album?
Sleepy Brown-I just want them to give it a chance and vibe with me when I come to town to party.

Dorrie Wheeler is the founder of the celebrity interview website www.thabiz.com