This is the first in three New R&B Stars interviews we'll be publishing this week. We decided to start out with Toshi because of his unique position - already a star in Japan, coming to tackle North America. Look for Q&A with Lloyd (the INC.) and John Legend in the next couple of days.

Thick: Where are you from and where did you grow up?
Toshi: I grew up in Japan in a small town near Mount Fuji. I don't know if you know Mt. Fuji but it's in the middle of Japan. I released many albums already in Japan but I'm going to release my new US album tomorrow.
Thick: How did you meet Angie Stone?
Toshi: I met her like four years ago when I worked with Raphael Saadiq of Tony Toni Tone and we invited Angie Stone to be a lyricist for one of our sessions. Me and Angie Stone we understood each other that time when we did the session together. It seems like we have mutual influences. That's why I wanted to work with Angie Stone again. I know that she is a really good lyricist but more than that I expected that she was a good producer too because she knows music very well and she knows many people like Hip-Hop and R&B people like programmers and singers. That's why I wanted to have the good experience with Angie Stone. The session with Angie Stone was very easy because we know we understand each other and I don't have to explain much.
Thick: How was it working with Raphael Saadiq?
Toshi: Actually I worked with him for my last album and he's very talented like Angie Stone. Me and Raphael have the same influences and both of us respect soul music. Also we are very interested in today's groove: Hip-Hop. Like the group called Lucy Pearl that's the unique unit like R&B meets Hip-Hop. My album, my music is almost like that. I usually work with Hip-Hop people but my music style is today's soul music. Anyway Raphael is so talented.