Tyrese Gibson Talks About Will Smith's Influence On Him

[Ale]

You're like a few other rap artists and singers who have successfully made the leap from music to movies. Have movies now become your main priority?

Tyrese Gibson: Yeah, I'm no longer doing music. I'm going to get back to music eventually, but I've done fourteen years of music, and made five albums. I really feel at this point that every blessing taken for granted becomes a curse. Everywhere I went, I got feedback from the performances I'd done in these films--whether big or small budget. I've always been accepting the love but not wholeheartedly accepting it. I'll be on the film looking forward to doing another show and it was just too much going on spiritually to be in such extreme creative spaces. So I've never taken the movie thing as serious like I have music until now. And I want to send all the love possible to my man Will Smith who played a huge role in me making some big, big changes in my life. Will took me under his wing and told me that 'you're that guy; you have what it takes to be the next guy. We've become friends and I've even been training with Will and his trainer and lost 46 pounds working out with them.

So Will said you should concentrate on making movies?

Tyrese Gibson: Well, he didn't say that. It was a decision that I made. Because at the end of the day you have to pay attention to the people that come into your life in a positive way. If I had Jay-Z taking me under his wing and saying I'm going to rap on all your singles and take you on tour with me and do what I have to do to put the stamp on your career on the music side, then I would stay in it. So I have the biggest actor in the world training with me. And whenever I pass out while I'm training, Will is the one reaching his hand out to put me back on my feet. It's really special. I really can't explain how or why it's happened but it has happened. And I really feel like it's God sent and I'm definitely going to take advantage of it.

Have you become a Scientologist?

Tyrese Gibson: No way. Will is not a Scientologist from what I know. He's never talked to me about it or exposed me to it.

Is part of the reason you're leaving music behind for now also based on the music industry going through a myriad of changes?

Tyrese Gibson: Yeah, that definitely played a role in it. Being that my first love is music you do what you have to do to stay in it. I respect all the musicians that are saying hey even though the state of music right now is messed up we're going to still ride this thing out. But when you have another option to another career than why not?

What's life like being 46 pounds lighter?

Tyrese Gibson: The thing is--and I don't want to get all emotional on you--but basically I lost focus. And these film opportunities starting coming so fast, you start taking things for granted.

Were you overeating?

Tyrese Gibson: I was enjoying life. (Lots of laughter). When things start happening fast like the phone calls for movies you take them for granted and you don't want to work as hard. Once I got up with Will and his team it was just crazy. Because I come from music there was no one in my life that saw some movie star stuff nor had the mindset of what it takes to be a movie star. So to be around that entourage that only knows how to build and sharpen up someone to take them to that movie star level is just a different conversation that I didn't know about. They are telling you what is around the corner before you get there. And it's crazy because I'm seeing the results. Instead of you begging and asking someone to give you more shine in the movie, if you show up ready on you're A game it just happens.

Source:

http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/08/2...fluence-on-him/

[MaxFly]

Lol @ the scientologist question.

[Jazzy Julie]

"Whenever I pass out while I'm training, Will is the one reaching his hand out to put me back on my feet."

i dont think im training hard enough, i never pass out lol.