As one of the few artists striving to speak on the strife of life beyond bling-bling culture and weeded-out wet dreams, the artist known as Joe returns to the soul arena with the adapt titled Better Days. “With everything that’s going on in the world, we need a little emotional and spiritual upliftment in our music,” says the acclaimed songwriter/producer. “I tried to write songs that commutates a message to the audience.”

Indeed, the streetwise title track boldly goes where many R&B artists fear to tread. “I wanted to talk about teenage pregnancy, because it is a major issue in our communities,” informs Joe. “But, while people are often fighting with their struggles, I want them to know that while a little rain might fall it will be followed by some sunshine.” Inspired by the king of soul, Marvin Gaye, this song attempts to school us on what’s going on right now.”

Last year, with the release of his multi-platinum album My Name Is Joe, this diverse artist was nominated for two Grammy Award; his production work with BeBe Winans and Mariah Carey generated two more nominations. “I was completely shocked,” remembers Joe. “I had never been nominated before, now I was getting four.” Still, My Name is Joe was more of a romancer than the present project.

In addition, Joe also worked with superstar producer/songwriter/artist Babyface. “Of course, Babyface has always been one of my idols,” says Joe. “I always thought if we worked together, he would be producing me. Not the other way around. I will admit I was slightly intimated in the beginning, but once we started working it was wonderful.”

Like many secular recording angels, Joe was musically schooled in church. “Man, I went to church everyday,” says the soft-spoken preacher’s kid. “My dad started me out on guitar when I was really small. I later learned the drums and the piano.” Yet, while he might have been holy rolling in the Lord’s house, in his own bedroom it was all about Guy, Bobby Brown and Al B. Sure. That’s how I decided at seventeen to hop a Greyhound bus to New York. I figured this was where the action was.”

It was during this sojourn to the big city that Joe first hooked-up with his current collaborator/good friend All-Star. The duo worked on former girl-group SWV. “When I decide to work with a producer, I want someone who can share my excitement,” says Joe. And, from the sound of the first single “Let’s Stay Home,” it’s obvious that the duos are soul brothers. “I wanted to switch-up my style vocally as well as musically,” says Joe. “And All-Star helped me to achieve that goal. In addition, the wicked remix (also produced by All-Star) features a fiery rap by hip-hop upstart and label-mate Petey Pablo.

The hypnotic track “Ghetto Child,” a serves as a salute to the boys and girls in the hood striving for a better tomorrow. “To me, its important that the next generation understands its potential in this world,” says Joe. Sharing vocal chores with the island roar of Shaggy, he says, “Our children have to understand that there is a world beyond the violence and drugs. We can’t allow them to be corrupted by negativity.”

Dusting off some old tracks, Joe discovered a hidden gem in his archives. “I was listening to old tracks when I found a song I had worked on with The Neptunes six years ago,” says Joe about the smoothed-out “Is This the World.” First recorded as a demo for SWV, when Virginia-based production crew and Joe were still unknowns. “I decided we need to re-record the track, because I felt it was special. It doesn’t have the sound that people are used to hearing coming out of that camp. This is a totally new experience.”

Always striving to be different, this brother has captured a new soul sensibility on the deeply moving Better Days disc. “This is music from the heart,” says Joe. “Music for the people and music for the soul.” With Better Days, our healing can begin.

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