Tyrese Gibson's final solo album is "honest and transparent"
R&B singer Tyrese Gibson is coming clean with the release of his final solo album, "Black Rose" and the song, "Shame."
"It's the most vulnerable song and album I've ever done in my life because it's the most honest and transparent," Gibson said Thursday on "CBS This Morning."
It's not a sad album, he said, but one that allowed him to put things into perspective.
In "Shame," the Grammy-nominated artist apologizes to his "baby" and asks forgiveness for the mistakes he's made. While Gibson alluded to a former relationship that didn't work out, he said the song wasn't just about cheating.
"Sometimes, you can do things that you're ashamed of as far as the disrespect or the communication, the arguments. You can say something while you're mad that you live to regret," Gibson said. "The song 'Shame' is not for perfect people or people that's too far up the spiritual ladder. It's like anybody who's ever said or did something they're ashamed of can relate to it."
In a grassroots style, Gibson, who is also known for his roles in movie franchises including "The Fast and the Furious" and "Transformers," has even promoted his album on the New York City subway as a self-proclaimed street performer.
"I've left every major label so that I can take more control of my career. I think at the end of the day, the older you get and the longer you've done what you've been doing, then you're more clear and more specific about your likes and dislikes," Gibson said. "At this point, you're not going to get me to sing and work with a bunch of producers I don't want to work with. You're not going to get me to wear those clothes and shoot that type of video when it has nothing to do with the direction that I see."
According to Gibson, this album isn't about ego.
"It's just confirmation that when you take control of your life and career, then there's always blessings and opportunities waiting for you on the other side," he said.
Gibson first got his big break when he sang in a Coca-Cola commercial in 1994. Four years later, he released his first solo album, which charted on the Billboard 200.
Now Gibson is also kicking off a new TV show on the OWN channel, with friend, mentor and spiritual adviser Rev Run. He said they will be addressing uncomfortable topics from the differing perspectives of a single man with a child - himself - and one who has been married for 20 years.