“Usually when a female sings a song about men it’s bashing them or talking about the negative aspect of the relationship. I personally wanted to let the men out there know that we love them and enjoy having them around,” London explains. Asked if there was a man she “appreciated” in her life right now, she replied, “My father, he’s deceased but he will always live inside of me, and also my older brother because he’s always been there from day one.”

I wanted to release an album that reflected where my mind and heart was at.” LaToya acknowledged, “This album is definitely for the grown and sexy, and something you would want to make love off of,” she added with a teasing laugh. Standing only 5 feet, this chocolate chanteuse was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and represents her hometown Oakland, California to the fullest. “I used to work at the Costco in Richmond, and then at a fish and chips joint,” she commented, “Never would I have imagined I will be where I am at now.” She looks off to the side and then replies, “Well I wouldn’t have thought I would’ve taken the road I did to get to the place I am at now.” The road she is talking about was being a 4th place contestant on Fox’s hit TV show, American Idol. Many viewers and critics, including Simon Fuller, believed that not only she was the best singer in the contest but also she would win the Grand Prize. Fate would have it that she would be eliminated two weeks before Fantasia was crowned first place. “I believe God leads us to our goals in different ways, and mine was to be eliminated. This is definitely not a bad thing!” London declared.

Love & Life is a testimony of a woman who believes in the romantic and sexiness of love with tracks including smooth as Grand Mariner cognac “Anything” which is produced by the up and coming Philly-native Omar. It includes playful naughty wordings such as “Give you brain till you say my name” and “I will cook your food in the nude”. Another standout song is the hip hop inspired, “Non a Whatcha Do” or as London likes to call it “something for you to ride to.” LaToya comments, “The story behind this song is about a girl who wants to let her man know that she loved him before he got the platinum grill and the millions of dollars. Material things can’t satisfy her like the love and attention from her man can.” Not to disappoint those her enjoy her vocal dynamics, the Oakland native included “State of my Heart” and the love making joint “I Can’t Hide (What’s in my Heart)” “What I what people to get from my album, is a timeless album that they can get off their shelf and listen to in 5-10 years or endlessly on their Ipods.” she continues giggling, “It’s not another one of those albums that have only one good song, but it’s something you can play continuously while you are with your significant other or plaything and ya’ll are drinking champagne on the bear skin rug.” For more info check out: www.latoyalondon.com

Written and Reported by Danielle M. Holdman