Filed under: Around the Web
Over the years, the Isley Brothers' music was sometimes funky, sometimes mellow and smooth but always soulful. With classic love songs like "Between the Sheets" and "Living For The Love of You," they were probably responsible for population spikes⎯ie, you can thank the parents of various producers who sampled the Isleys for iconic rappers like Biggie, Ice Cube, etc. By the mid 90s, Ronald Isley had reinvented himself with an edgier, almost mafioso appeal that fit in with hip-hop heads, thanks to his affiliation with artists like R. Kelly and Lil' Kim. Under his new moniker, Mr. Biggs, he gained mass appeal with his "Down Low" series collaboration with Kells and cemented his status as hip-hop soul's Godfather.
However, he wasn't untouchable. In 2006, he was sentenced to a 37-month federal prison sentence for tax evasion. Isley served about two years and luckily for him, the prison was more like Martha Stewart's Incarceration Day Camp. According to Isley, he is innocent and ready to put the past behind him. The 69-year-old singer has plans to release an album, Mr. I, in September for which he's recruited Lauryn Hill, T.I., Aretha Franklin and more on an effort he says fans old and new will appreciate. Don't expect him to retire any time soon. VIBE caught up with him to talk legacy, prison and the future of R&B. They don't call him Mr. Biggs for nothing. ⎯Starrene Rhett
VIBE: How'd you bide your time while you were incarcerated?
See How Ron Isley Responsed @ Vibe