Singer Ginuwine burst onto the music scene in 1996 with the now classic, urban love album “Ginuwine…The Bachelor” which spawned the dance hit, “Pony” and was certified double platinum.
Three years later he released “100 Percent Ginuwine” that had the hits “Same Ol’ G.” 2001’s “The Life” sold over one million copies and spawned the Billboard Top 100 hit, “Differences.” Two years later, Ginuwine released his fifth studio album, “The Senior,” which had the singles “Stingy” and who could forget one of the ladies favorite anthems, “In Those Jeans.”
“Music is what I love to do. When I was a kid I wanted to be on stage. Being on stage I feel like nothing can bother me there. I feel like I’m on top of the world there,” he said. “I am a singer and entertainer and I know I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the fans. I really appreciate those fans.”
How the Death of His Parents Changed His Life
As he now turns 54, Ginuwine, whose given name is Elgin Lumpkin, reflects on those early years with his parents who had a huge effect on his life growing up. And even later on in life when they died.
After he lost both of his parents within a year of each other. His mother lost her battle to cancer in 2000, a year after his father committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.
“My dad committed suicide so that’s close to my heart to fight against. Anytime someone is speaking that way, we shouldn’t take it lightly because you never know what’s on a person’s heart or in a person’s mind. We have to pay attention,” he said. “When you don’t talk and hold so much hurt inside, you start thinking ‘Maybe I shouldn’t be here.’ Look at these people going into schools and shooting people and killing themselves. It’s ridiculous. We have to take it seriously.”
The singer went on to urge people to take control of their mental health by talking to people they trust. “The first thing you have to do is always find somebody you can talk to. I found my church home that way by talking to ministers and friends. I never really went to church and that was a different place for me and I felt the love there. Whenever I felt that way, they were around to talk to me.”
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“A lot of times, men like to keep stuff in and that’s the worst thing that you can do. I always tell younger guys that the best thing to do is to talk about it and I try to be open for people to talk to because once you’re gone, you’re gone. There’s no coming back from that.”
Ginuwine is a Big Proponent of Giving Back
He and his ex-wife, rapper Sole, are using their celebrity status to help the less fortunate. The power couple partnered with the Special People Requiring Unique Care Equality (SPRUCE), a Kansas City-based assisted living resource to help provide a better quality of life to people with mental or physical challenges.
“About three years ago, my wife and I went to Kansas City and we were blown away by one of her friends who helps mentally challenged adults and kids. We noticed that people didn’t notice them or forgot about them and we wanted to help change that,” said Ginuwine.
The singer owns four homes in the Kansas City area where S.P.R.U.C.E participants are housed and cared for.
Services include providing individualized personal attention to each person as well as basic education, job skills and cultural enlightenment opportunities.
“We take them to the doctor, the grocery store, and we do fun things with them, like bowling,” he said.
When he isn’t working with S.P.R.U.C.E., Ginuwine can be found in the studio laying down tracks for his next musical project.
He is Still a Family Man with 9 Kids
The female rapper already had her two daughters, Cypress and De’jan, before her relationship with Ginuwine, and they share their daughters, Story and Dream.
The mothers of his four other children have not been revealed; however, his other son’s name is Taijah. While speaking about his children, Ginuwine said:
“I’ve always been that person that wants respect for being involved with my kids all the time.”
In early October, Dream, Story, and Taijah took a family trip with their father to the Bahamas, where the singer said they had an “amazing time.”
Although the “In Those Jeans” singer is over fifty and nearing double digits in kids, Ginuwine once revealed that he wanted more children when he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother.
Despite being divorced after 15 years, the father of nine enjoys just being with family.
“All the showboating and partying goes out the window when I’m home. I love it.”
