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It's not often that the sole sibling of a superstar can evolve into a unique individual whose identity and image is distinctively her own.
But, everyone can't be Solange Knowles.
The sassy singer recently sat down with BlackVoices.com for a candid discussion about everything from leaving music for her son, why Prince will always be her favorite and how the media world has things twisted.
Earlier this year, Solange (as she is mostly known) released her sophomore album 'Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams' to little fan-fare but she isn't stressing the Nielsen Soundscan numbers one bit.
Snoop Dogg laid down a verse on her single 'I Decided,' and the tune can currently be heard in the new L'Oréal hair care commercial, in which she stars alongside her sister Beyoncé.
Of the album's first week sales, she says she "was really excited about it. I sold 45,000 [copies], which I felt was an accomplishment. Katy Perry had a number one song for six or seven weeks and we sold the same thing the first week."
Solange Pictures
Solange Knowles and Monica Cruz attends the MANGO flagship store celebration dinner at Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel on November 20, 2008 in New York City..Celebrities Help MANGO Celebrate The Relaunch of Its Soho Flagship - Dinner.Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel.New York, NY United States.November 20, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (56231768), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Solange Knowles and Monica Cruz attend the MANGO flagship store celebration dinner at Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel on November 20, 2008 in New York City..Celebrities Help MANGO Celebrate The Relaunch of Its Soho Flagship - Dinner.Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel.New York, NY United States.November 20, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (56231743), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Solange Knowles attends the MANGO flagship store celebration dinner at Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel on November 20, 2008 in New York City..Celebrities Help MANGO Celebrate The Relaunch of Its Soho Flagship - Dinner.Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel.New York, NY United States.November 20, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (56231642), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Solange Knowles performs attends the MANGO flagship store celebration dinner at Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel on November 20, 2008 in New York City..Celebrities Help MANGO Celebrate The Relaunch of Its Soho Flagship - Dinner.Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel.New York, NY United States.November 20, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (56231637), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Singer Solange Knowles performs attends the MANGO flagship store celebration dinner at Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel on November 20, 2008 in New York City..Celebrities Help MANGO Celebrate The Relaunch of Its Soho Flagship - Dinner.Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel.New York, NY United States.November 20, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (56231627), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Solange Knowles performs as designer Marc Jacobs dances at the MANGO flagship store celebration dinner at Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel on November 20, 2008 in New York City..Celebrities Help MANGO Celebrate The Relaunch of Its Soho Flagship - Dinner.Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel.New York, NY United States.November 20, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (56231621), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Solange Knowles and Monica Cruz attend the MANGO flagship store celebration dinner at Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel on November 20, 2008 in New York City..Celebrities Help MANGO Celebrate The Relaunch of Its Soho Flagship - Dinner.Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel.New York, NY United States.November 20, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (56231603), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Solange Knowles attends the MANGO flagship store celebration dinner at Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel on November 20, 2008 in New York City..Celebrities Help MANGO Celebrate The Relaunch of Its Soho Flagship - Dinner.Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel.New York, NY United States.November 20, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (56231296), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Solange Knowles performs as designer Marc Jacobs dances at the MANGO flagship store celebration dinner at Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel on November 20, 2008 in New York City..Celebrities Help MANGO Celebrate The Relaunch of Its Soho Flagship - Dinner.Shang Restaurant - Thompson LES Hotel.New York, NY United States.November 20, 2008.Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com..To license this image (56231127), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Solange Knowles attends the 4th Annual PAPER Magazine Nightlife Awards at Mansion on November 16, 2008 in New York City..4th Annual PAPER Magazine Nightlife Awards.Mansion.New York, NY United States.November 16, 2008.Photo by Eugene Gologursky/WireImage.com..To license this image (56206857), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Knowles refers to her second offering as "an album's album," and notes how it is not "single driven." She hopes to continue recording music in the future, even if she says it's on a mix-tape level and for the streets. Laughing, she clarifies the mix-tape content would definitely remain consistent with her soul-influenced R&B sound, adding, "If I ever were to come on a hip-hop tip you would probably never hear me rapping because I turn so suburban white girl and I'm not afraid to say that."
She made headlines for her outspokenness during an interview with a FOX local affiliate television morning show. When she overheard a producer prompting the reporter to inquire about her rapper/mogul/brother-in-law, Jay-Z's nightclub closing down, she took the defense. But, hear her tell it, she didn't even let the television station have it like she could have.
"Listen, I did not even show my a**. I said 'please,' number one, and you would think that I was like 'b**ch don't f**ckin' talk s**t about my sister. I'd slap the s**t out of you.' I was just like, 'I think that's very unprofessional.''
She gives her parents, Music World head Mathew Knowles and House of Dereon clothing designer Tina Knowles, all the credit for encouraging her to "always just speak up when [an] issue bothered [her]."
And, one very big-named iconic singer has her back, too.
"A week or two after that happened [on FOX] I got invited to Prince's house and that was such a big moment for me because I know all cool people get to go to Prince's house. He was standing there and I was with a bunch of people and they were like, 'You're being such a p**sy right now.' 'Cause I was like, 'I'm just gonna sit here.' And he walked up and was like, 'I saw the FOX News thing' and I was thinking to myself, 'S**t even Prince is on my ass.' And he was like, 'And I loved it,' and I was like, 'F**k yeah! Prince said that he likes me, so y'all can kiss my a**.'"
So what's next for her? Knowles is humbled that she is being grouped with the new movement of daring female artists, like Janelle Monae and Santagold, who she says "individually express themselves through their videos, artwork and fashion," but she won't be recording too much longer so that she can focus on being mother to her son Daniel.
"I am blessed that I can take him everywhere with me. I was just telling my dad, 'He is about to turn four in two weeks and you got another year to work this record because come August of next year, I am on lock down like full-on -- taking him to school every morning picking him up every day that's the type of life that I want for him,'' she confided.
On December 21 at 10 pm, you can catch Solange and her sister Beyonce Knowles on a FUSE special called 'Beyonce and Solange: Hope for the Holidays,' a one-hour concert benefiting the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund to aid Texas victims of Hurricane Ike through the sisters' 'Survivor Foundation.'
Beyonce and Solange Fashion Transformation
In 2001, Destiny's Child won the Grammy Award for best R&B Song for their hit single 'Say My Name.' Beyonce was 20 years old, and Solange was 15. New to superstardom, these young girls from Texas would take their time developing their sense of style.
Kevin Mazur, WireImage.com
Looking just like her mom Tina here, Beyonce began her career with hair extensions based on braids, way before she would "upgrade" to lace front wigs.
Jim Spellman, WireImage.com
Working a strange mix of accessories, Beyonce used her ensemble to promote her self-penned hit 'Bootylicious.' We do what we must to reach the top! It was 2001, and still a few more years before Bey would cement her spot without resorting to desperate moves.
Kevin Mazur, WireImage.com
At the 2001 Teen Choice Awards Beyonce and Solange continue to evoke the "classless country" look with matching neon yellow outfits and braids in clashing shades of auburn. At this time, Solange had almost no identity of her own and was totally dependent on her sister's shine.
Gregg DeGuire, WireImage.com
NO TABLOIDS! Solange & Beyonce of Destiny's Child wearing Tina Knowles 2001 MTV Video Music Awards - Audience and Backstage The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center New York City, New York USA September 6, 2001 Photo by Theo Wargo, WireImage.com To license this image (231747), contact WireImage.com
Theo Wargo, WireImage.com
Solange was really just a teen growing up in the fast lane, as we can see here in this early pic. Her braids, scarf, tee and jewelry are clothing an average girl would wear.
Photo AOL
Solange and Beyonce Knowles Solange posed together in 2002 in an uncharacteristically dressed-down look for Bey. Do you think she still has that Michael Jackson's Thriller t-shirt?
L. Cohen, WireImage.com
Through this two-tone hair sculpture in the form of a lace-front wig, Beyonce shows the world that they do indeed do it big in Texas at the 'Austin Powers In Goldmember' in 2002. While Beyonce began to branch out into acting roles at this time, and slightly mature in her sense of style, Solange still seems like a non-entity totally dressed by Mom.
Gregg DeGuire, WireImage.com
These two sisters made an appearance on MTV's 'TRL' in 2002 wearing distinctly different casual looks. While Beyonce took even her relaxed dressing to a costume-like extreme, Solange was still dressing like normal young person.
Kevin Mazur, WireImage.com
At the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall, Bey gave a knockout performance and revealed what many would come to term the "Beyonce Look" in full force. The huge blonde mane and over-the-top sexy golden outfits were here to stay.
Frank Micelotta, Getty Images
Comments: (204)
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By: Kelli on 12/09/2008 3:38PM
Solange are you riding on your sister's fame??? Who are you anyway??
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By: Mark on 12/09/2008 3:52PM
I will NEVER be a fan and will NEVER buy any product of hers. She is ugly inside and out!
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By: pugz on 12/09/2008 3:56PM
i know my goal in life has always been to get prince's stamp of aproval. i guess all that crap i was taught by my parents like respecting myself as well as others [and how to speak without sounding like i just came out of the getto] was all for naught. just another totally self-centered diva who can't see the mirror, only the reflection.
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By: aspia on 12/09/2008 4:29PM
I'm not a fan she's not that unique the only thing that sets her apart from her sister is a baby a horrible music career and let's not forget the failed marriage.
Between Miss Tina hocking that CD on QVC while selling her clothing line and Beyonce getting her in L'oreal commericals while letting her write songs for some of here albums and the Destiny's Child before they disbanded she'd be nonexistent.
This isn't hating only a difference of opinions no matter what she does or goes she'll always be "BEYONCE" sister. Until she can sit with that bit of reality and accept that and all that goes with the title she'll continue to be(in my opinion)nothing special. This attitude she's giving folks sorry I mean "UNIQUE INDIVIDUALITY" that's funny. Is nothing more then trying to distance herself from Beyonce you started down that path when you decided to play house.
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By: Starsong on 12/09/2008 4:29PM
I like her. Give her a chance. It must be hard with older sis getting all the attention from day one...and her voice is just fine. B doesn't have the best voice either. I get it, they work very hard.. good for them, but, call a spade a spade...
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By: Natalie on 12/09/2008 4:43PM
I'm not a fan of Solange, but at least she acts more real than her older sister. Oh, and sidebar the Solange and Beyonce Christmas special is cancelled due to conflicting schedules.
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By: Miss T on 12/09/2008 5:35PM
I saw her perform live @ the House of Blues in Hollywood in July when she opened up for Lyfe Jennigs & i'll have to say she was horrific. I love her single & the concept she's tryig to put across but she sucks big time. She also went as far as blaming her bad vocals on the music saying that the sound was too low and shi****... She does have a foul mouth and represents herself and family very badly...
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By: A.D. on 12/09/2008 5:18PM
She is not unique, she is not talented... she isn't even good looking. She is a lackluster cow and mother of an ugly bastard child (yes, he is a bastard because they were NOT married when he was conceived). Nobody bought her CD, nobody cares if she "takes time off" (AKA the record company gave her the boot) and nobody cares what she has to say about her wholly air headed Clydesdale looking sister or her sister's mentally handicapped husband. And while on the subject... rhyming a word with itself is not talent, Jay-Z.
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By: scoobe2 on 12/09/2008 5:20PM
solange who? she must think she is someone. please if she was she wouldnt have to do best buy commercials.
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By: tlj on 12/09/2008 5:44PM
For the last comment. You need to learn how to spell.
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