R&B artist and songwriter Eric Bellinger joined the Lip Service podcast with hosts Angela Yee, Gigi Maguire, and Jordie Jor to discuss his evolving sound, his decade-long marriage, and his experiences navigating the business side of music.
During the conversation, Bellinger spoke about how his latest album, It All Makes Sense, builds on his previous project It’ll All Make Sense Later. He explained that the title concept came from a conversation with producer V Script during a trip to South Africa, which also sparked his growing interest in Afrobeats-inspired rhythms.
Bellinger described his time in Cape Town as a grounding experience, noting how moments spent connecting with nature and the local music scene influenced his creative direction. The project includes collaborations with African artists, including Tena Savage on the remix of “Understood,” which Bellinger described as one of the highlights of his career. He also mentioned plans to perform at an upcoming African awards show on October 17th.
When the discussion turned to personal life, Bellinger reflected on maintaining a strong marriage with his wife La’Myia. He credited open communication, therapy, and regular date nights as key to keeping their relationship healthy.
Raised in a faith-based home as a pastor’s son, Bellinger shared that his early upbringing shaped his approach to relationships and respect for others, something he believes later defined his demeanor both in and outside of music.
Bellinger also revisited his journey through the industry, from being part of a boy band signed to Epic Records to becoming one of R&B’s most consistent songwriters. He recalled turning around mid-flight from London to collaborate with Chris Brown, a move that led to Grammy-winning records like “Oh My Love” and “Say It With Me.”
While proud of his songwriting catalog for artists such as Usher and Chris Brown, he admitted there’s one track he wishes he had kept for himself, “New Flame.” He also revealed that he has unreleased country music in his vault, including a 2015 track titled “F-150.”
Discussing the realities of publishing, Bellinger broke down how songwriting splits often leave creators with smaller percentages of their own work. He explained that even when a songwriter leads a session, they might only earn 10% of the publishing once multiple writers and artist credits are factored in.
He went on to celebrate Hit-Boy’s recent independence after nearly two decades under contract, attending what he called the “Free Hit Party” to mark the producer’s freedom.
Looking ahead, Bellinger announced the launch of his own label, All Wins Entertainment, with a mission to educate artists on ownership and the business of music. He credited mentors such as Erica Nuri and Troy Marshall for teaching him valuable lessons about songwriting and industry structure.
In a notable reveal, Bellinger shared that he currently has two AI artists signed to his label, encouraging others to adapt to new technology and comparing the rise of AI to the streaming shift that changed music distribution.
He also recently launched an open verse challenge tied to one of his upcoming songs, offering the winner the chance to appear on the official track, join the music video, and perform live, a unique opportunity for emerging talent.
His It All Makes Sense tour is set to begin on November 6th in Ontario, with more solo dates planned at venues such as City Winery. The album It All Makes Sense is available now on all streaming platforms.
