“Music means the world to me. It has no true definition. It’s melody; it’s art; it’s my life.” London may not have the decades of experience possessed by his older counterparts, but the music and lyrics of his debut album Man of My Word proves that the singer is certainly wise beyond his years.
Born Noel Franklin, Jr., the 23-year-old Oakland, California native was discovered during childhood while singing in his local church choir. Though London has since
preferred crooning to spitting bars, the singer-songwriter began his professional career as a member of the eight-man rap group Keep It Clean. Upon searching for a new style that would broaden Keep It Clean’s already budding success, London began writing and singing hooks for the crew’s songs. However, while Keep It Clean gained mostly local popularity, London as a solo singing act was slowly being born.
As a way of both pursuing his musical endeavors and respecting his mother’s wishes,
London moved to Atlanta, Georgia to sing and attend college. There he became the third member of pre-existing singing duo BOF (Best of Friends, which included singing
sensation Janelle Monae). Yet while his college career was short-lived, the singer remained in the city in pursuit of his emerging musical career, eventually landing a demo with producers/songwriters
Ron “Neff-U” Feemster, Mike City, and megastar
Ne-Yo. The product eventually found its way into the hands of Universal/Motown A&R executive
Shaun Harris and Corporate Thugs Entertainment CEO
Demetrius “Kinky B” Ellerbee, who immediately signed London to his Key Players Music label.
Man of My Word, which London co-wrote and co-produced, examines love and relationships through his own eyes. Yet while he’s new to the music scene, the roster of
big names lending a hand in the production of this promising artist’s debut album is nothing short of impressive. Darkchild Records entrepreneur Rodney Jerkins produced “She’s Gone,” a song that London humorously describes as “‘Billie Jean’ on steroids,” while singing/songwriting maven Ne-Yo lent his pen to the track “Start A Fire” Grammy Award-winning producers Eric Hudson, Bryan Michael Cox and Adonis Shropshire also contributed their production expertise as emerging beat makers T Town Productions and songwriting duo Rock City provide unforgettable tracks that are sure to bring them further into the limelight as well.
Man of My Word isn’t all about bluesy heartbreak and soulful bedroom jams, though. On the track “Sometimes,” written by London himself, the singer unapologetically reminds the listener that men will be men. “Better Tomorrow,” produced by writing duo The Network, London offers a message of encouragement against an unlikely alternative beat. So should listeners wait around in anticipation for the next recycled pop star? No chance. “Man of My Word is love, understanding, truth, and everything in between,” says the artist. “I want to be a stamp instead of ‘he’s like someone else’ or ‘he’s the next.’ I want to be London. The music tells no lie.”
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