Singer Bobby Brown says it took him a long time to come out with a new album because he’s spent so much time trying to get his life on track.
On tour with bandmates New Edition, Brown says he’s ready to return to his solo career with the album “Masterpiece,” due out June 5, reports AP.
“It’s what I’ve been through throughout my life, and just trying to heal myself through my music,” Brown said in a recent interview.
“Masterpiece” is Brown’s first album in 14 years. Brown was a multiplatinum star with New Edition and later developed his solo career. However, Brown’s highly-publicised battle with drugs and his legal issues led to the loss of his solo career. Brown’s turbulent marriage to Whitney Houston also contributed to destroying his image.
In a recent interview with the “Today” show’s Matt Lauer, Brown denied that he got his late ex-wife addicted to drugs. Houston’s career was derailed by her drug use, which came to the public’s attention during her marriage to Brown.
“The Matt Lauer interview was just for me to clear the air about what everyone was feeling about my ex-wife’s death,” Brown said.
Although he was arrested for DUI in March, Brown insists he has been drug-free for more than seven years. He said his attempt to get his life in order is part of the reason why the album took so long to make.
“When you’re working on yourself, you have to really concentrate on working on yourself and it takes a back seat to what you want to do and what I’m gonna do,” he said.
Brown says “Masterpiece,” which he started working on last year, is “the best album I’ve done so far.
“But I’m going to do better in the near future,” he said. “I just want to get back to what I do, which is entertainment, and this is the start to me getting back to what I want to do.”
Brown is engaged to his manager, Alicia Etheridge, with whom he has a young son.
Brown said he and Etheridge plan a private wedding next month in Hawaii, and described his life as content.
“I’m happy right now in my life, I’m comfortable with who I am,” he said. “It’s just better.”
