Although Steph Jones has tagged himself as "Mr. Ordinary", he continues to show time and time again that he is anything but. Whether he is taking on the world of modeling or music, he strives to push himself to limits even he had no idea he could reach. MiddleChild spoke with Steph Jones about his music, outlook on life and why he refuses to wait for anyone to hand him anything.

MiddleChild: Let's discuss everything you have going on right now. I know you were ready to hit us at the top of the year with your project and things got delayed. Does that make you want to work harder to get your music heard?

Steph Jones: You know alot of times it be out of your control. Like even with Alicia Keys it took like five or six years for her to come out. I have to keep doing me and making the music from my heart and soul and at the end of the day real recognize real. If I'm touching people. If I'm somebody's favorite artist, even before I come out with an album, then I'm definitely doing my job. So all I can continue to do is work hard and when all of the pieces come into play, then it will be my time. I'm in no rush. I don't make fad music that's just here today and gone by the summer. I make real music and I plan to be around for awhile.

MiddleChild: So how does situations like that with the music business make you feel? I know you say you don't do fad music, but I know alot of people try and comply just to get heard. Did you ever consider changing up your style?

Steph Jones: No. I mean I'm not gonna sell myself out. That's not going to happen. See the thing about it is I'm a songwriter and a producer, so I'm going to get my money regardless. The fame...that's going to come. It's not like I'm shy behind the camera or something like that. My thing is as long as you continue to believe in what you believe in there is somebody out there. It's not like I'm a mute and just sit there and wait for something to happen. I make things happen. I've been that way my entire life. My whole entire life. People know what I've been through to get to where I am today and that way it's more appreciated so I'm not going to sell myself out. I will not go straight commercial and just make these straight club bangers that are here today and gone tomorrow all for fad.

MiddleChild: Okay. I know you have a lot of people who support you and take to you because of your personality and when things like that occur it brings haters out the wood works. Why do you think people like to hate on positivity?

Steph Jones: Well the thing about it the people that hate are dealing with their own personal issues so they inflect their hate from what they hate about themselves. I know this because I’m a people person and I deal with people all over the world so if you can go out of your way to hate on somebody that’s doing something positive or beautiful with their lives then you might want to check yourself homie or homette. Look in the mirror because that’s like self inflicted. I have this slogan that I direct at haters all the times. People hate on me on myspace and on the yahoo live. I be like you probably hating because nobody ever gave you a chance and I can relate because nobody gave me a chance when I was little. I didn’t really have no friends. People didn’t understood me and I come from that same thing so I understand where they come from. So that’s why there’s always a place in my heart for haters. Steph Jones loves the haters. If nobody loves them, I love the haters. So you come on and keep on hating. Trust me cause I’m gon rise and I’m gon elevate over all of that. The way I see it is Jesus is set to be perfect and he gets hated on everyday. So no matter what I do, be it good or bad, they still going to be hating. So if I’m gon ride with you we can keep on moving and maybe we can make some money together.

MiddleChild: Now speaking of making that money, you be getting it with the pen man. So tell me who you have been working with as of late as far as songwriting and all of that.

Steph Jones: Of course yall know Chingy's album came out and I worked with him on his song "Kick Drum". Like I'm not a rapper, but I write raps and I had a song off Chingy's album where I'm featured called "All Aboard (Ride It)". I wrote with Jesse McCarthy, Jordin Sparks. I worked with Blake Lewis from American Idol. Paula DeAnda and you know a lot of people are starting to call me. I'm starting to get calls from a lot people in the industry so I must be doing something right.

MiddleChild: I hear that. That's a very diverse group of people so where do you draw your inspiration from? How do you determine what you're going to deliver through the pen for each artist?

Steph Jones: Well I don't really plan it. Anything that I do in life, I don't just do it half heartedly because I'm a passionate person. I do it from my heart and my soul because the soul never lies. So whatever my soul is speaking that's how it comes out. So if I listen to a beat and it comes out country, I'm writing a country song because I don't believe in blocking creativity. So I'm just going to continue to see how it flows. I just so happen to be listening to a rap song and I was like "You know what? This would be dope for Chingy." and I just wrote it. I don't really care that people be like "Man, you're R&B. You can't do that." There's never been a R&B dude that had a placement on a rapper and a straight pop. Like Chingy's album and Blake Lewis' album pretty much came out in the same week and I had wrote a rap song and a straight pop song called "Gots To Get Her". So it's like man I just put it out there and how ever it comes out my soul, that's how I release it.

MiddleChild: Sounds good. We we know for a few years that R&B took a backseat to hip-hop and then when R&B returned it was moreso all about the females and the males took a backseat. So do you think that the male face of R&B will return strong and if not then why? (laughs)

Steph Jones: Oh no. Of course it is. But it's...(laughs) Okay. I'm about to go off again and this is no offense to commercial music. But there is alot of music being played that is taking the realness and the soul out of music. That's why different countries are being greatly appreciated for some of the artists that are coming out like Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone and Estelle coming from the UK. Because DJ's are like "Yo! I love this song. I'm gonna play it." There's no stipulations. They just play the record. I got my song "La La Means Love" being highly requested on every station out there. That's without no visual. So that shows that that can come back if it's allowed to come back. We as a whole...labels, DJ's and people requesting the song...there's alot of people complaining but at the same time we as a whole are requesting those type of songs. We as a whole can come together and bring that type of real music back and I'm not pointing out any names, but we can do that. That would be greater for us and we won't lose the soul in music and trust me I am not going down without a fight.

MiddleChild: Right. You pointed out the difference between the UK and US when it comes to music. Why do you think it's easier for artists like Kelly Rowland, Kelis and Blu Cantrell to get more love overseas then here at home? What's the biggest difference between the US and the UK?

Steph Jones: Well I hate to say this but in America we're so damn picky. Like we are the only place in the whole world to have five different categories of Hip-Hop and five different categories of R&B. Good music is good music period. That's signed, sealed, delivered and that's all over the world. Japan, Germany...good music is good music and people can have a greater appreciation and their loyalty is...and I know because I've been in these places. I've spent two years in France. I've spent 6 1/2 months in England so I saw the difference. It's like out here there are so many things. In America it's not about playing the hot record anymore. It's not. Like back in the day Michael Jackson could have a hot record and he didn't have to come out and do any interviews and no one would have to see him. Artists can't do that anymore. That's why Mike be on them covers and being seen because people in America want something they can feel and that they can relate to. Like I'm talking about on all levels. It's not just about hot music. If you do have a connection to somebody then you're going to be here today and gone tomorrow. I'm telling you that right now. You have to stay relevant. You have to stay with the times. If you can't do that then you might as well stay overseas.

MiddleChild: I usually here about this concept called "Hurry up and wait" in the industry also. Like what's the hardest part about waiting to deliver your product to the people?

Steph Jones: I have too much drive and too much passion to just be waiting. So even when I'm waiting I'll put out music. Like with the video for "You Are My Sunshine". I recorded it and I shot the video with my own money, so you can hurry up and wait but I ain't gon wait too long. I don't wait for nobody. If I want something bad enough, I'm going to go and get it. I'm not just going to sit back and wait because if you sit back and wait for somebody to hand something to you then you might wait for a long time. But me? That's not going to happen. I'm not waiting for nobody.

MiddleChild: I see. Do you ever think of releasing your record independently?

Steph Jones: It's crossed my mind several times. We'll see in the year. We'll see what happens in the next couple of months.

MiddleChild: Alright. Well last question for you. Black Music Month...not only Black Music Month, but black music. What does it mean to you?

Steph Jones: Well Black Music. Urban Music. Music in general. It's what I grew up on. My mother's a DJ, so it helps me. Black Music in general, I can't even categorize it because I've never been the one to categorize anything really. I can only categorize my music. I just call it my style because it comes from my soul, so I just love music period. Greatest teacher I've ever had in my life and my mom is better than any teacher I've ever had. I'm married to music and I love it and I honestly don't know what I would do without it. Black Music is something that will be around forever and music is a form of expressing yourself and I love her. I can say I love her.

MiddleChild: That's what it do boy. Well I appreciate your time Steph. I am still expecting big things from you and you know I'll stay in touch on all the happenings.

Steph Jones: Definitely. Thanks.