RnB pioneer and legendary producer Darkchild AKA Rodney Jerkins – who produced some of the most infectious and biggest hits of the 90’s for divas like Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Desinty’s Child, Janet Jackson – to name a few, explained why he firmly believes that there’s nobody who comes in the league of Houston, as an artist.
The renowned music composer sat down for a conversation with djVLad and spoke in detail about the ‘gift’ of Whitney Houston, explaining why she is the best to ever to do it – even when compared with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey – or from recent generation’s – Beyonce and Christina Aguilera.
“She was the one I wanted to work with when I was in high school,” Jerkins said, while speaking on the subject of Houston. Calling the ‘I Will Always Love You’ legend #1 among vocalists, Jerkins stated that nobody wanted to sit next to Houston and go toe-to-toe with her, in her prime.
When the interviewer popped the names of the likes of Mariah, he stated:
“She don’t want that. Mariah is dope, she’s one of the dopest. But Whitney came from the church. So when you’re talking about sitting next to someone and just going line from line and you’re from the church, that’s a different thing to be in.”
He further added:
“Whitney, man, she grew up in the church, like in the hood. So, in a battle standpoint, I [don’t] put Whitney up against anybody.”
Next the interviewer quizzed if the multiple Grammy winning producer will put Houston over the likes of – Aretha, Beyonce and Christina, here’s what Jerkins had to say:
“I worked with Beyonce, I did a session with Christina. I never got a chance to work with Aretha, we talked about it. And I worked with Whitney. Whitney different man. You know when you know somebody’s different? When nobody’s been able to do the national anthem yet didn’t touch her. I’m just saying. People have tried attempted it. She’s given us the staple.”
He further elaborated on her talent:
“I just think Whitney was different man. She gave us something… I still to this day will go back and listen to a lot of her stuff and I’m like man – ‘her range, her vocal range, and what she was able to do with her voice was on a different level.”
The two then just go on to muse about her vocal performance in the Grammy winning track, “It’s Not Right, But It’s Okay’.
Watch the interesting piece of interview below:
Insightful to hear it from someone who got the opportunity to work up, close and personal with one of the greatest talents ever to have stepped behind the microphone