Ameriie Visits ‘The Breakfast Club’ / Addresses Hiatus & Beyonce Comparisons

Published: Thursday 19th May 2016 by Sam
ameriie-breakfast-club-thatgrapejuice

After an extended spell out of the spotlight, Ameriie stopped by The Breakfast Club on Power 105.1 today.

Ever eloquent, the ‘Why Do We Fall In Love’ songstress explained her lengthy hiatus from the music scene, her flair for fiction writing, and the release new material – the first taste of which arrives tomorrow in the form of an EP named ‘Drive.’

In true ‘Breakfast Club’ tradition, she was grilled about a host of topics – including whether she feels Beyonce bit her “go-go” sound following the success of ‘One Thing.’

A long but insightful watch…

We love us some Ameriie and feel her albums house some of the most underrated songs we’ve heard in a decade.

However, the relaxed approach to releasing music has rendered her unknown to a large portion of the record buying public. As Charlamagne pointed out, her last album dropped in 2009. Two-Thousand-And-Nine.

Worse still, her output since then has been scant, making us wonder exactly what she means about liking the freedom to keep the momentum moving. She’s barely released anything.

Still, she’s immensely talented, looks, and sounds great.

Rant aside, we’re glad she’s back. Hopefully, she doesn’t disappear again either.

Your thoughts?

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  1. BeyTheGr8 May 19, 2016

    She reminds me of a blasian Kourtney Kardashian. Love Ameriie!!

    • Just being honest May 19, 2016

      So true.

    • Maurice May 19, 2016

      the ORIGINAL Jhene Aiko

      • RihNavy May 19, 2016

        You sound as dumb as the articles you write, Del Bey, because jhene can’t sing or dance, soooo wyd?

    • Fancy BISH May 19, 2016

      CHILE YES…you are on point with that! Ameriie and Kourtney could be sisters! They even have the same laid back personality.

      • Maurice May 19, 2016

        RihNavy, people still stanning for Rihanna these days?
        Oh ok.

    • 2bad2bme May 19, 2016

      Kourtney Kardashian reminds me of her. Ameriie has been out and known before that non talented H**!

      • RihNavy May 19, 2016

        Read a bit hennnnyyy

      • Maurice May 19, 2016

        RihNavy, what do you do beside stan for Rihanna all day?
        Does she pay you to lick her pum pum all day long?
        *Waits* 🙂

      • RihNavy May 19, 2016

        @DelBey sis I Stan Beyonce. You tried though.

      • Maurice May 19, 2016

        who tf is del bey? lol

  2. Cinnamon Girl May 19, 2016

    Poor child. I’m embarrassed for her

  3. Just being honest May 19, 2016

    I love Amerie, so beautiful. With the right team, she could have been a huge star.

  4. Credits May 19, 2016

    I’ve been waiting for her return andstreaming her previous albums like crazy. She definitely has her own sound and her album ‘in love and war’ was underrated and under promoted.

  5. LB May 19, 2016

    She cannot tell the truth because she knows the Beyhive are psychotic crazy cretins.

    She worked with the producer, helped write and produce the song and Jay Z liked the album, enough evidence of Yonce stealing her sound and swag.

    She does however have something Yonce will never have, brains, a degree and class.

    • Danny May 19, 2016

      “She does however have something Yonce will never have, brains, a degree and class.”

      ^^ You just described your fav Rihanna, you self hating c***.

      • fatusankoh May 19, 2016

        Well said thanks

    • CherylSoldierr May 19, 2016

      Rih doesn’t have those either sis, so I missed the clock.

    • Jackson 5 Nostrils (Tyler) May 19, 2016

      Brain cells?
      You Stan for a pot head tho lol.
      Say no to drugs.

  6. 4everBrandy_Ci May 19, 2016

    I have Ameriie’s two albums “All I Have” and “Touch”. I will get the rest of her albums this year but she always will be talented and one of the best r&b artists for her generation. And YES she did take a break and it’s been a MINUTE. However, it seems people want to discredit an artist or try to make it seem their break affected their career in a “bad” way. There’s nothing wrong with taking breaks but I understand that Ameriie is what a few people (ignorant) call her a “flop”, “has-been”, or ANY other irrvelevant term BUT for Ameriie to successfully put out four albums shows that she wasn’t no one hit wonder or just that r&b artist that was out for sometime and then went on a ten year hitaus. And the thing with Ameriie that I love about her is that she’s experimental and creative with her own unique style and sound-wise. Richard Harrison and her really did their thing on the production and creating her style when she did emerge in early 2002. The song “Why Don’t We Fall In Love” is one of her signature and memorable records. Of course “Talkin To Me”, and “1 Thing” because she did really capitalize off her career from those records. But I’m TIRED of these m************ bringing up Beyonce in every got damn interview because it’s annoying and ANY time a woman artist is interviewed they have to bring her name up. I like Beyonce and some of her records but it’s like damn let these women artist DO them without comparing and piting them against each other. This is why the ART of records isn’t appreciated and artist with TALENT and CREATIVITY at times get overlooked because there’s too much politics. But Ameriie is one of my favorite artists and I’m glad she’s creating new records and I’ll definitely check out her new EP “Drive”.

    • ilovemusic May 19, 2016

      It’s honestly very annoying. Everytime something comes up Beyonces name is right in the middle of it. It’s like please let these artist be themselves without the Beyonce comparisons.

  7. Dossome May 19, 2016

    Lord she’s GORGEOUS…That said,the reason I feel Bey overtook these girls is they’re just too damn lazy.Until your status in the industry is guaranteed, you really have no business taking 4,5,6 yr long breaks.Even 3yr breaks is risky.How you gone for 7yrs then come back acting like it’s nothing and expect people to take you seriously?By the time Michael,Whitney,Janet started taking 4,5yr breaks,they were already impacting another generation.The likes of Aguilera,Mya,Ashanti,Milian,Amerie,Furtado and even a personal favorite Brandy are insanely undervalued and underappreciated because of this

    • BeyKnowlesBest May 19, 2016

      Honestly many of those singers took those hiatus breaks after thiere music sales started to decline and thiere demand became lackluster…no point in putting out music if no one is really checking….with the exception of Aguilera a day Brandy they are the only ones with a REAL type of fan base.

      • BeyKnowlesBest May 19, 2016

        Otherwise you’ll be like ciara putting out flop after flop after flop lol

      • #JACKIE May 19, 2016

        B**** you tried it. At least Ciara WORKS and is relevant regardless of her sales. These other b****** are laying around waiting for their shifts to start at the Dollar General.

    • LB May 19, 2016

      I think it’s because Matthew Knowles, who has a Msc in Business Management, did all the work. She had that advantage.

      • Nahhh May 19, 2016

        You sound dumb beyonce’s father being a manger is no different than any other manager out there. The only difference is he was a good manager

    • Music May 19, 2016

      You’re right, Beyoncé’s a beast, and such a perfectionist! Her work ethic is amazing, from beginning to end!

    • Ropeburn May 19, 2016

      I agree with most of what you said except regarding Ameriie and Mya. Ameriie was screwed when Columbia records refused to release her “Because I Love It” album in the U.S. back in 2007. They probably spent that poor girl’s budget on Beyonce. Same thing happened to Mya when Motown refused to release “Liberation” in ’07. There’s not much you can do when you’re an up and coming artist and the label owns your masters but won’t release your new songs.

  8. #JACKIE May 19, 2016

    Her debut is classic but no ones gonna check for her. Why do these chicks disappear for a decade then try to come back? She shoulda stayed in the limelight because she has the looks and the talent.

    • RihNavy May 19, 2016

      For once, I agree with you FutureCiara

    • King Mark111 /.\ May 19, 2016

      Her debut is classic but no ones gonna check for her. Why do these chicks disappear for a decade then try to come back? She shoulda stayed in the limelight because she has the looks”
      .
      Ciara? Because this is Ciara. lol

      • #JACKIE May 19, 2016

        But Ciara is VERY booked and VERY relevant. Still getting platinum plaques while these other girls can’t even get 1M views on YouTube. Goodbye Lukhas.

      • King Mark111 /.\ May 19, 2016

        Oh word? On what planet? “platinum plaques” as if I Failed wasn’t the ONLY one she gotten in YEARS.

      • #JACKIE May 19, 2016

        But she has one. Body Party is gold (I’m sure platinum by now, but I digress). Swallowing all of that Chaturbate cüm has you delusional sis.

  9. Anti&Lemonade May 19, 2016

    Who ?

  10. pat May 19, 2016

    Columbia gave her sound and budget to beyonce….it was just smarter..

  11. LB May 19, 2016

    Exactly, Beyonce is a label s****. Ameriie sounds so intelligent, Beyonce sounds like she has a 5th grade education.

    That explains why she doesn’t tweet, she might expose her illiteracy.

    • Danny May 19, 2016

      Once again, you’re describing your fav. Oh and btw, those light skinned dudes you have in your avi, they don’t want your dirt dwelling ashe non using fleet ass. Flava Flav is more your lane. Now stay in it.

      • RihNavy May 19, 2016

        He lives in Botswana, he can’t afford fleet

      • Omeeka Milnaj – My Pen Is Out Of Ink May 19, 2016

        Deadfddddddddd?????. She out here giving brown Betty’s to these boys.

    • Ilovemusic May 19, 2016

      Given the opportunity she would have been a lable s****.

    • King Mark111 /.\ May 19, 2016

      You did too much this time LB. I always agree with you, but this one I can’t side with you. Saying that Bey has a 5th grade education is wrong when clearly she speaks, writes and read at a 3rd grade level. Special Ed much? lol

      • BEYICON May 19, 2016

        Such a weak-repeated drag… Please go back to watching gay p*** because nobody missed your nondragging, delusional, thot-stanning ass.

  12. ???????Chile, take this “Itty Bitty Piggy” to the market and make sure you hold her hand while crossing the street!??????? May 19, 2016

    Yes! I’m beyond here for it. “Touch” was such a phenomenal album and it really deserved the Grammy it was nominated for. I’m just a little upset that she got a nose job, though, but whatever!

    • RihNavy May 19, 2016

      Girl, shut up.

  13. #TeamTinashe Stan May 19, 2016

    This just verifies that Beyonce stole her sound but everyone knew this already. Nothing new.

    • RihNavy May 19, 2016

      And Rihanna stole your flop fave’s title track and now she can’t release ha album. Kiiii’s all around ???

      • #TeamTinashe Stan May 19, 2016

        She’s not much of a flop if people are taking her songs though.
        HASHTAG: #IamLIVING 🙂

  14. BEYICON May 19, 2016

    Beyoncé is eons more talented than her and there was no need for her to steal her sound because she was gonna blow up without “this flop-h** sound”.

    • Mark111 May 19, 2016

      You’re stupid. Bey had so much pressure to have a successful solo career at the time. Hint the reason Work It Out was pushed back because it flopped. Her solo career launched off the back of Crazy In Love, her first single for that album was supposed to be Naughty Girl (and we know how bad Bey is at picking singles). She would had been Ashunti’so lessor if she didn’t have Crazy and probably still be with DC. And wouldn’t have BAY without that sound as well. So stop it.

  15. CherylSoldierr May 19, 2016

    What hasn’t tin man stolen tho?

    • RihNavy May 19, 2016

      And what success hasn’t tried and failed to achieve?

      • RihNavy May 19, 2016

        *hasn’t your fave

      • CherylSoldierr May 19, 2016

        Was this a drag? She’s had more success than tin man sis ?????

  16. Omeeka Milnaj – My Pen Is Out Of Ink May 19, 2016

    She is beautiful

  17. Ilovemusic May 19, 2016

    Many artist used the same writers and producers. That does not mean anyone is stealing. Kandi Burress, and Dark Child produced just about everything in the 90’s including P!nks first album. Neyo wrote Irreplaceable in 06′ then Take A Bow in 08′ and I’d never say she tried to steal Bey’s sound. She also stated all artist are inspired from everything old and new. Her, Bey, and J.Lo were all under the same lable. That isn’t a coincidence that many of them look and sound the same. Had Rihanna’s name been mentioned instead of Beyonce’s you all would be saying something completely different. Please if you’re going to comment on something don’t just pick and choose what parts of it you’re going to speak on. Speak on the statement and it’s entirety. Bottom line is every musician today has studied someone before them, and taken what they like best about them and put incorporated it into their style. Half of these new artist are trying to pick up where Aaliyah left off. Kudos to Amerie for finally saying it though. I’m glad she was able to speak her mind tell the truth about the industry. I can’t wait for her to release new music. The more diversity in the industry the better off it is. I love Bey and Rih, but we need more good musicians.

    • Mark111 May 19, 2016

      Neyo wrote Unfathful in 2006 for Rihanna before Replaceable for Beyonce. So again, Bey just takes writers and producers that others have success with. Hint The Dream and Sia.

      • ilovemusic May 19, 2016

        Which sounds nothing like the two songs I mentioned above. Writers and producers alike are going to make their money. And the point I was making was that they all do it. No one artist has exclusive rights to another writer or producer.If Beyoncé “stole” a writer everyone else has too. Once again respond to a comment in its entirety not just a piece of it.

      • ilovemusic May 19, 2016

        And The Dream who also wrote for Mariah Carey Mary J Blidge and Brittney Spears lol. Thanks for proving that point for me. If Bey stole so did Rihanna obviously.

      • King Mark111 /.\ May 19, 2016

        My point is that Rihanna takes these writers when they are small and almost unknown. Bey sits and waits for them to become huge and then slide in. Rihanna takes the chance, Hint the reason why she have so many hits. Beyonce doesn’t take risk like a Janet, Aaliyah, Rihanna, MC and others, she just takes whatever already worked. Facts, goodbye.

      • King Mark111 /.\ May 19, 2016

        “Which sounds nothing like the two songs I mentioned above.”
        And Replacable and Take A Bow sounds nothing alike other than the writing. Which is the same as Unfathful. Hint the first thing I thought of when I heard Replacable was “This has to be Neyo writing.” Stop the lies.

      • ilovemusic May 19, 2016

        So writing for Mariah Carey, and Britney Spears is small? Lmao. Not to mention Rihanna said herself that she wanted to work with Neyo after he wrote for Mario. Lol you’re killing me right now. If this isn’t the most hypocritical thing I’ve read. Irreplaceable and Take a Bow have the same message, tone, and damn near the same beat. Identical storylines but that was Neyo’s style. Sia had been writing for David Guetta, Christina Aguliera, since 2010. Also not small, so please try again. Rihanna is in the same boat when it comes to using writers lmao “when they are small.” That was so funny. You’re discrediting writers in order to make it seem like Rih made their careers. I’m not some crazed beehive member and I love Rihanna, but I call a spade a spade. Rihanna is no better than Bey when it comes to writers and producers.

      • King Mark111 /.\ May 19, 2016

        Ha! Outside of Mario, what are these songs you speak of? Me Agianst The Music did NOT put Dream on the map like Umbrella did. Beyonce didn’t rush to work with him until Umbrella, giving her the last #1 hit of her career. #oops.

      • Credits May 19, 2016

        Unfaithful was originally suppose to be Megan rochell’s song. Just thought I’d add that fact.

      • ilovemusic May 19, 2016

        No shade to Rih but she barely had herself on the map before Umbrella. And just because he wasn’t on your map writing for Britney Spears is not small. Neyo wrote for Marques Houston. B2K Mary J Blidge, Faith Evans, and Musiq all before Rihanna. He was brought on to Def Jam because of his writing which would explained how he wrote for Rihanna.

      • King Mark111 /.\ May 19, 2016

        Yea, Rihanna just had a #1, #1 and two top 10 hits the year before. Get your facts right before coming to me. All the aritst you named are a bunch of Who Whos, Rihanna put people on the map, from Dream to Sia to Calvin Harris. And she takes chances, unlike Bey who plays it safe. I don’t care who a song was made for, it’s who it WENT to and WHO made it a hit. Songs get passed around all the time, Baby One More Time was for TLC, but I’m sure that songs wouldn’t even made the album cut if they had of picked it up. SOS was turned down by Christina MilliWho, you telling me that SOS would had still be a #1 hit with her? Keep dreaming.

      • ilovemusic May 19, 2016

        Lol you’really tearing down other artist to make her look good and Beyonce look bad. I love em both, but you’re really going the distance. And before coming at you? Pretty sure you commented on something that I posted.I can always respect an opinion, but looking at you tear other artist down and call them has beens to say Rihanna started someones career is classless and distasteful. You’re worse than any stan I’ve ever seen. I had left Bey’s name out of it for a few comments, and you found a way right back to her. Lol I stand by what I said earlier.

  18. Grande the Way May 19, 2016

    Why are they STILL bringing up Beyonce in her interviews? That was over a decade ago, let it go

    • Mark111 May 19, 2016

      Ironic that the subject is jacking other singers sounds. ??

      • RihNavy May 19, 2016

        Kiiiiiii!!!

      • Grande the Way May 19, 2016

        Ironic shade when Rihanna was literally branded “island version of Beyonce” when she first came out. Stay in your lane and keep it cute.

  19. Mark111 May 19, 2016

    All I Have came out in 2001 or 2002. Crazy In Love in 2003. Touch, her 2nd album and One Thing in 2005, the whole album was great and had that sound. Mind you, Rich gave that sound to J.Lo as well (Get Right), but B Day sounds a lot like Touch. One of the reasons I didn’t like B Day, it was rushed and stolen. You can even look at Ameriie LIVE shows and look at Bey shows a year after and tell. DIL was very Bey in the front, 3 girls in the back. B Day era was just Touch LIVE with funk and a band. No shock their, we all know Bey takes everything.
    .
    But 2008 thru 2010 was the death of a lot of r&b artist. Labels were folding, smaller urban labels were meged into the giant umbrella, EDM and pop was huge, making no room and no support for urban acts. Def Jam stopped pushing all of their singers, including MC and Janet. Look at difference with Usher, Chris, Ciara, Monica, Alicia Keys and so many other when they were with JIVE and J Records to after those labels were folded into RCA in 2009.

    • Ben May 19, 2016

      rich harrison had a certain sound that was huge back then. actually jlos “get right” was ushers “ride” before but somehow she took it. i love amerie but beyonce’s crazy in love was out before one thing like you said it. she was just a bit lazy unfortunately and took too much time for her albums she never even released in the end. i liked “why r u” and her “newer” song “out loud”. she failed to connect with the mainstream crowd

  20. Molly May 19, 2016

    She is gorgeous

    • RihNavy May 19, 2016

      Nnnnn…

  21. Rome May 19, 2016

    God I love me some Amerie. Her second album was fire. Sad, just another chick beyonce copied and left for dead. That’s why they kept bringing beyonce up. Everyone knows beyonce took the one thing video and used the concept for her upgrade you video, and sugar momma and green light was an Amerie knock off. Smh just sad

  22. Dominick May 19, 2016

    This interview was dope. She is such an intelligent and eloquent woman. She did not say anything bad about Beyonce and she kept it classy. I think it’s unfair how they always keep bringing Bey’s name up in every single Amerie interview she does.

    Fact is, Rich Harrison made a complete album with Amerie back in 2002 and after that he did a few songs with go-go sound and let Amerie pick. She picked One Thing and that’s it. Nobody stole anything from anyone then. Except Beyonce stealing then “Ooooh ooooooh” in Greenlight on B-day from Amerie’s One Thing and Greenlight wasn’t even produced by Rich Harrison. But okay, Kylie Minogue also stole that “Ooooh oooh” in her recent single “I Was Gonna Cancel” so it’s whatever. If Amerie doesn’t care, why should we?

    Anways, she’s pretty AF and can’t wait to hear her new EP tomorrow! It better be good!!! She’s been quiet for too long (even though I still play “Out Loud”) lol.

  23. Annalise May 19, 2016

    Didn’t realise Amerie pioneered Go-Go music and samples, I guess she’s more iconic than I thought! I also didn’t realise that producers were meant to work exclusively with one artist, and never venture out too! Lol!!

    All I Have was produced by Rich, but not a single song on that entire album sounds like ‘Crazy In Love’ (The same can’t be said for One Thing, but hey HO!). Rich is just like Polow da Don. Once he finds a formula that works he pretty much runs with it for years, even if it sounds repetitive. He did a similar sound with 3LW and with Toni Braxton’s ‘Take This Ring’ (Which is an underrated Bop!)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0pXNLI6G9A

    • RihNavy May 19, 2016

      COME TF THROUGH WITH THIS UNEXPECTED CLOCK!

    • Credits May 19, 2016

      Take this ring is my sh*t!

      • Annalise May 19, 2016

        YASSSSS!!! that was such a f’king bop! I just wish she had done a video for it, tbh the whole of the Libra era was completely slept on!

  24. Miss Omega May 19, 2016

    I’m hesitant to blame Beyonce directly, but Amerii’s career really took a hit by Rich Harrison using the formula he had been patenting with Amerii and moving it over to Bey. I still listen to Amerie’s “1 Thing” today. Such a good record. I like that she, even post-Harrison and through pop’s infatuation with electronic production, has been intent on using non-synthetic instrumentation for her R&B/funk inspired music.

  25. What Now May 19, 2016

    In Love and War was my fav album besides Rated R. That’s a dope ass record.

    • Credits May 19, 2016

      I still listen to ‘in love and war.’ It’s crazy!!

  26. Lake Erie May 19, 2016

    Lol. She said it right there.. that linear sound.. hmmm. But I’m actually interested to hear her EP tomorrow.

  27. Reddish tran ivy blokz Need UK timely May 19, 2016

    Nice interview

  28. Samsung brought my albums May 20, 2016

    Ummm rihnavy u sound crazy jhene sings circles around thotanna

  29. Csgo Triggerbot February 10, 2018

    Can I simply just say what a relief to discover somebody that truly knows what they are talking about online.
    You certainly realize how to bring an issue to light
    and make it important. More and more people must read this and understand this side of your story.
    I was surprised you aren’t more popular because you surely have the
    gift.

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