Published: Monday - January 15, 2007
Words by Willow
Dave Hollister (Photo: n/a)
The legendary production skills of Teddy Riley brought the music industry timeless music and vocalists whose voices are forever stamped in R&B history. One of those voices belongs to Dave Hollister, a vocalist who personifies everything Donnie Hathaway would want in a protégé. During his time as the lead singer of Blackstreet, Dave Hollister had the ladies holding on tight as he lent his sultry vocals to the classic, Before I Let You Go. So affectionately known as the Ghetto Preacher, after leaving Blackstreet to pursue a solo career, Dave Hollister dropped some jewels of his own. Songs like "Can't Stay" and "My Favorite Girl" from his debut solo album, Ghetto Hymns, play like they were just released.
His second solo album, Chicago '85, The Movie was a masterpiece and a monumental point in his career. He then extended his successful track record with his third album, Things In The Game Done Changed. He's proven over the years to be one of the few singers that kept it real. Raised in church like most R&B singers, Dave Hollister has always let his roots bleed through the speakers. Coming into the music business right at the time hip-hop started to penetrate R&B, he weathered the storm and kept his soulful influences alive and well. He may have come into the business with Madison Square Garden dreams, but as he honed his craft, he quickly understood the benefit of packing the house at smaller venues. That same understanding, coupled with the ability to sing, has secured his longevity. "I've been at this for over a decade and because real fans don't waver, I'm still around."
Fast-forward to the artist Dave Hollister is today and the only thing that has changed is the message in the music. Now a Gospel recording artist, he is firmly planted in the life he says God meant for him to have. "I was meant to do this, this is not my way of staying in the music business. I just reached the level I was supposed to reach as an R&B artist. I'm doing nothing more than living out the calling on my life."
Currently promoting his Gospocentric/Zomba release, The Book of David, Vol. 1: The Transition, Ballerstatus.com spoke with Dave Hollister about his transition and exactly how things in the game have changed for him.
BallerStatus.com: When you made the transition for R&B singer to gospel singer, the critics lumped you up with your peers who started singing gospel because they could no longer make money as an R&B artist. How do you feel about that?
Dave Hollister: Honestly, first of all, I was born and raised in church, so really, that doesn't matter to me. What the critics view as success is not the same for me. Now why they would say I wasn't successful as an R&B artists is beyond me. Ghetto Hymns sold at 800,000 plus at the time of its release and is still selling. Chicago '85 album was platinum and Things In The Game... was pretty much gold, so I was very successful doing secular music. I can go out and do a concert anytime I want to because I established a loyal fan base and never slighted my fans in the quality of music I put out.
I walked away from everything at a time when a deal was on the table for a few million. The fact of the matter is I simply wasn't happy. I really hadn't been happy since I left Black Street honestly speaking. In my career, I've always had management that was crooked, so there was always something. I believe there was just a certain level as an R&B singer that the Lord wanted me to go to. With that being said, up until now it's my current release that debuted number one on the Billboard charts and got a major push at radio.
BallerStatus.com: When you weren't making music, one of the things that kept your name circulating in the press, black press especially, were your marital problems. How did you deal with that?
Dave Hollister: Like I said, I wasn't happy for a long time and one of the reasons for that was because of the problems I was having in my marriage. I maintained a constant prayer life and I didn't let what was going on in the media effect me. Once I got in this game, we both knew the media was going to play a big part in our lives. She never let it eat away at her because most of our problems were internal; it was never my celebrity.
BallerStatus.com: You mentioned crooked management, you signed with DreamWorks, left them, went back and had a label shut down on you. You are no stranger to the ups and downs of the business. How has that strengthened you and caused you to be more on point with your business dealings?
Dave Hollister: I've grown as a businessman immensely. I have the people watching the people that are the people that are supposed to watching me. If I have a management company, somebody is watching the management company and I personally sign all checks! No more stamps, if something needs to go out immediately, they can expect a Fed-Ex package or they can agree to wait. Even when it comes to the percentages that people have to be paid, it comes through my account and I pay them and they are paid on time. One of the pluses about me being more mindful of my business dealings is I have more family around me now. It's to the point now where they have a clear understanding of the business that kept me away from them for 22 years. The resident theme in the family is "We gotta protect this boy," and it's made a world of difference.
BallerStatus.com: Do you still have friends in the industry?
Dave Hollister: Yes, but they are mainly company people at radio or promotional people, heads of companies and things like that. Maintaining some of those relationships didn't come easy because of the last management company I had. They didn't want to deal with me because of that person and I had to go back and mend a lot of those relationships.
I think a lot of times people don't allow Christians to be human and that is what keeps the word "hypocrite" thrown around, without a real understanding that life does not stop because you are now a Christian. How do you communicate that you are still a regular dude with everyday issues, you just have a different lifestyle and new song to sing?
I try to live the life in front of the people, when certain conversations come up, I may brush it off or I'll have to let them know that's not appropriate. I'm still me, I'm still crazy Dave and I still hang out and have fun. I may not hang out at some of the same places anymore, it's the life I live in front of them that makes more of a difference. You can't just tell them because they ain't gonna get it and they'll always question, "Well ain't the n---- saved now?" I'm still human and young; once you get saved, it ain't like you have to go live like a hermit, you still live a regular life. People take it to far sometimes.
BallerStatus.com: R&B, like the rap game, doesn't seem to make skills a pre-requisite. With that being said, what is your take on the current state of R&B?
Dave Hollister: I really think R&B today really sucks. I was talking to someone earlier about artists like Chris Brown and Ne-Yo and to be honest with you, they suck. Them kids don't have any real singing skills, they basically dance and they are not singing about nothing. I like Ne-Yo's writing skills, the kid can write, but all of this crap out here is just that, crap. Bring back the days of the Gap Band and Marvin. Let me tell you who I do like, I love Anthony Hamilton, India.Arie, Joe (who is my boy) and even Vivian Green (who is a monster). The state of R&B is all bad, but there are entertainers that I like because they are real entertainers, like Usher and Omarion. Those guys are true entertainers. Other than that, I really don't see anyone else and I am actually glad I am not apart of the crap they call R&B now.
BallerStatus.com: Tell me about the new album.
Dave Hollister: The name of the new album is The Book of David, Volume 1: The Transition. The album is basically talking about where I am during the transition of becoming the man I really am. Going through a transition is really just going through a process and I view it as the transition a butterfly goes through. Before it's a butterfly, it's a caterpillar that has to go through the metamorphous. I am going through that process right now trying to be the person God has called me to be. Within that spiritual cocoon I am talking about, everything I've gone through. My first single is called "Help Me" and it's talking about being a new Christian, but I still got a problem with drinking and I still go to the club. It's a process because everything doesn't leave right away. Those things need to be addressed to let the people know it really is a transition. In the song, I am asking God, "If I take a drink once a week, do I have to sneak to do it? Or if I don't feel like getting up and going to church because I was at the club, am I wrong? Is it just me or am I really wrong?" With those examples I sing about telling God how I really need him to help me.
I also address things like once you are saved, you are supposed to wait until marriage and not have sex. Well in the song, "I Let Heaven Down," I'm talking about I didn't quite make it one night and I gave in. I know I was wrong, but "Lord, I need you to forgive me," that whole thing. I am approaching living saved and talking about issues 99% of most church people won't talk about. There are people out there who won't go to church because they think they have to live this life that is just straight up and there is no room for error. Though you aspire to do so on a daily, it is a process and I know that better than anyone and that's what I sing about and share with the people.
BallerStatus.com: Who are some of the people you worked with on this album?
Dave Hollister: I worked with Mike City, PAJAM, Shep Crawford and the rest of the album my brother-in-law and me produced.
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