Babyface proves that R&B isn't dead as he improvises smooth lyrics, witty comebacks, and soulful songs in response to headlines, critic reviews, and the internets most talkative trolls. Addressing some hot headlines like Usher claiming the R&B throne, agreeing with the Rolling Stones music critics, and clapping back to roasts - Babyface doesn't miss a beat in this episode of Burn Ballads.
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00:00 R&B's my dad.
00:02 Okay, I know, I can't think of it.
00:04 I don't like that one anyway.
00:05 Good evening.
00:10 My name is Babyface,
00:12 and I am here to read mean headlines about myself.
00:14 Rolling Stone, "F*ck That Shy Sh*t."
00:18 How Babyface got pulled into an epic beat battle.
00:20 F*ck that shy sh*t.
00:28 It ain't worth going in front of no people.
00:34 Not to me.
00:37 F*ck that shy sh*t.
00:41 Oh, he did change.
00:43 One more time.
00:43 And.
00:45 F*ck that shy sh*t.
00:49 It ain't worth going in front of people.
00:52 That's what I mean.
00:53 Oh.
00:55 Oh, that shy sh*t.
00:58 I'm gonna sing as loud as I can,
01:04 'cause I can.
01:05 Yeah.
01:06 Oh, that's good.
01:08 That's good.
01:09 All right, we got one from Vibe.
01:14 After Usher claimed the throne,
01:16 Babyface questions what it means to be the king of R&B.
01:21 We all want to know who's the greatest to sing.
01:25 We all need to know who was the greatest in R&B.
01:32 We all need to know who's the greatest, who's the king.
01:39 Well, it's time to usher in the new king.
01:44 And his name is Usher.
01:47 His name is Usher.
01:50 Now, we should groove that.
01:52 And his name is Usher.
01:53 His name is Usher.
01:56 His name is Usher.
02:00 Oh, Usher.
02:03 If you want a king that knows how to sing of R&B,
02:11 usher in the new king.
02:15 And his name is Usher.
02:17 He's gonna be glad about that anyway.
02:20 All right, another headline.
02:24 Babyface says he's too much of a perfectionist to bump his old music.
02:28 Babyface also brushed off the year-long conversation started by Diddy
02:32 about R&B's death, telling us he doesn't buy that.
02:35 I don't buy R&B dying.
02:38 That's gospel.
02:42 Okay, let's keep going.
02:44 Let's roll with that.
02:48 Somebody said that R&B's dead.
02:53 Well, I don't buy it.
02:56 I don't buy that.
03:00 Somebody said it's truly dead.
03:06 Yes, well, I don't buy that.
03:10 R&B is not dead.
03:13 And R&B is not dead.
03:17 No, no, no.
03:19 It's not dead.
03:20 No, no, no.
03:21 I hear it in the streets all the time.
03:24 I hear it still on the radio.
03:28 R&B's not dead.
03:30 Okay, I know.
03:31 I can't think of it.
03:32 I don't like that one anyway.
03:33 Up next, I'll be addressing all my lovely critics.
03:39 Rolling Stone review of Return of the Tinder Lover.
03:44 4.5 stars out of 5.
03:47 A little more stylistic deviation could have helped.
03:50 Problem is I agree with them.
03:54 I'll consider that the next time around.
04:00 Thank you for that lovely note.
04:03 Appreciate it.
04:04 Pitchfork review of the Return of the Tinder Lover.
04:08 7.2 out of 10.
04:11 Okay, not as good.
04:13 Babyface's voice is as smooth as it's ever been,
04:16 but it's also always been somewhat granular in design.
04:19 It sounds like a bloom of smoke.
04:23 I don't even know what that means, granular.
04:26 What rhymes with granular?
04:28 Somebody out there give me granular rhyme, rhyme quick.
04:30 That's what I thought.
04:34 They said I'm granular in design,
04:37 but I'm not a fanular of that line.
04:39 Okay, ready?
04:42 [music]
04:52 Try something else that feels a little too granular in design.
04:55 [music]
04:58 They say I'm granular in design,
05:00 I'm not a fanular of that line.
05:04 I don't care what they say,
05:05 I'm gonna do it my way.
05:10 They say I'm granular in design,
05:14 I'm not a fanular of that line.
05:17 I don't care what they say,
05:19 I'm gonna do it my way, my way.
05:24 Whatever, something like that.
05:28 So right now I'm going to sing to the keyboard trolls.
05:33 So there's a tweet here,
05:35 "Love Anita, man, but Babyface ain't no opening act for no damn body."
05:40 I appreciate that thought,
05:42 but I'm gonna be honest with you,
05:45 I'd open for Anita anytime, she's still a legend.
05:47 [music]
05:54 I'd like to dedicate this to all the people that
05:56 questioned whether I wanted to open or was willing to open.
06:00 For Anita,
06:04 these are my words to you.
06:05 Love.
06:08 It could be in Philly,
06:13 or DC,
06:16 or Indianapolis,
06:19 New York City.
06:22 I don't care where it is,
06:26 wherever it be,
06:28 let it be known.
06:32 [music]
06:35 I will open for Anita anytime she wants me.
06:38 Wherever it be,
06:42 anytime, anyplace that she wants me.
06:49 Opening act.
06:58 His face doesn't move.
07:02 [silence]
07:05 I'm trying to not move my face.
07:06 And I guess when you're called Babyface,
07:07 you can't allow yourself to look like a 64-year-old.
07:10 Well, I'm actually 65, so that's different.
07:15 [music]
07:18 His face doesn't move.
07:20 I guess when you're called Babyface,
07:28 you can't allow yourself to look 64-year-old.
07:33 [silence]
07:37 I moved my face.
07:38 His face doesn't move.
07:40 I guess when you're called Babyface,
07:46 you can't allow yourself to look like you're 64-year-old.
07:54 64-year-old.
07:58 [music]
08:05 Anyway, I want to thank you for your time.
08:09 I have no idea what I just did.
08:12 I'm probably going to hate looking at this when I look at it,
08:14 but I think I'm done.
08:16 So thank you so much.
08:25 [silence]