COUNTDOWN TAKEOVER: CLE'PH

This week Cle'ph takes over Dynasty Radio NY's Countdown!

New York, February 11, 2025, Kim Dynasty

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, love is in the air — and so is the perfect soundtrack for it.

At a time when playlists are being curated for candlelit dinners, late-night drives, and heartfelt confessions, Cle’ph is stepping forward with the kind of R&B that feels tailor-made for the season. The kind that reminds you why you fell in love in the first place… or why it still lingers.

Hailing from Fort Greene, Brooklyn, Cle’ph’s connection to music runs deeper than trends. Raised in New York City, where choices shape destinies, he chose music over the streets — pouring his energy into a craft inspired heavily by the golden era of 90s R&B. That era — when vocals mattered, storytelling was sacred, and love songs actually felt like something — lives in his DNA.

Even his name, Cle’ph, inspired by the treble clef symbol in music, signals intention. Before you hear a note, you know music is involved. And before you press play, you can feel that this is an artist who does this for love, not just the look.

Influenced by greats like Dru Hill, Ne-Yo, Donell Jones, and the soulful voices that defined a generation, Cle’ph creates music rooted in real-life experiences — love, heartbreak, growth, and vulnerability. It’s honest. It’s personal. And with Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s right on time.

In this interview, Cle’ph opens up about his Brooklyn roots, his dedication to authentic R&B, his thoughts on the “R&B is dead” conversation, and the passion that continues to fuel his journey as an independent artist.

For listeners just discovering your music, where are you from, and how did your environment shape your sound and creative outlook? Well, I'm from Fort Greene, Brooklyn, out of New York City. Being where I'm from really played a part in me being creative, 'cause it was either music or the streets, basically. I chose music and entertainment as my creative outlet. My sound really came from when I was young in the 90s, really. As they would say, the Golden era. So, I really hold that era close to my heart.

Your name, Cle’ph, stands out. How did you come up with it, and what does it represent for you as an artist? So, my name, which is spelled C-L-E’-P-H, is the treble clef symbol in a musical piece. That's why off the rip you know, oh he/s into music. It represents me well as an artist, again. When you hear the name, or it's said, you know it's going to be music involved.

When did music first become a serious pursuit for you, and what moment made you realize this was more than just a hobby? Music became a serious pursuit when I heard Dru Hill WE'RE NOT MAKING LOVE. Once I saw the video, I was like, ok, this is what I want to do. This was more than just a hobby because I really enjoy the work that goes into it. And the way I see it is if you can do all this work and enjoy it even knowing you're not getting paid or no money will be given to you, and you STILL love doing it, that's how you know it's love, that's how I know.

What initially motivated you to start creating music, and what continues to inspire you today? What initially motivated me to start creating music was I see how people love the songs the greats created and how they love such artist, I wanted to be a part of that greatness, that feeling people get when they hear their favorite song and love that artist usually who sings it or raps it, yeah, I love that feel when its my songs and people give that love to me when half the time they don't know me. What inspires me today are life experiences. The older you get as an artist, the more you can touch people's souls with concepts that many can relate to and understand. I always try to keep that in mind when I'm creating something, knowing someone can relate to it. Life and love will always inspire me.

How would you describe your style of R&B to someone hearing it for the first time? So, if I had to describe my R&B style to someone who's just hearing it for the first time, I would say it's 90ish, basically the feeling of it when you hear my songs. Can say, a mixture of Neyo, Joe, and Anthony Hamilton.

R&B has evolved a lot over the years. How do you personally define R&B in today’s music landscape? Yes, R&B has evolved over the years. I define it in today's musical landscape as repackaged. There are a lot of creative and talented R&B artists out there, such as myself, who still have that essence of R&B. I think the core of R&B coming back to the mainstream is slowly coming back. So, R&B will always be there. It might look different, but it's there.

There’s a common narrative that “R&B is dead.” How do you feel when you hear that, and what do you think people are missing? R&B isn't dead; it hasn't died; it's not going anywhere. Like I said before, if you have artists like me and others still pushing that R&B that really speaks to the soul. R&B isn't going anywhere. I think people are the ones who are missing R&B; they're missing the music that spoke to them, and those feelings. Plus, in this era, now that we are in it, it feels like R&B is dead, but it's not. Far from it.

What artists’ past or present have had the biggest influence on your sound and artistic development? The artists that had the biggest influence on me and my sound are Dru Hill, Ne-Yo, Donell Jones, and all the dope artists of the '90s. They all played a huge part in my music to this day.

Do you write all of your own material, and if so, where do you typically draw inspiration from when writing? I do write my own material. I'm always open to writing with others, cause bouncing ideas off each other always keeps writer's block at bay. I mainly draw inspiration from real-life experiences. From heartbreak, being in love, losing love, being a man, period. Those experiences help shape and mold my songs. If I experienced it, best believe it's going into a song.

How personal is your music? Are your songs rooted in real-life experiences, storytelling, or a blend of both? My music is personal, definitely real-life situations or inspiration from something I've seen, but it's real-life situations. Storytelling is always the best cause. I love a good story, so that style makes it into my songs, such as HIT AND RUN and CROSSWALK.

If you could go back in time, which era of music do you feel had the greatest influence on you, and why?  If I could go back in time, the era that has the greatest influence on me would be the 90s, of course. The reason is that to me, you had to really be talented and skilled; you couldn't half-ass it. Had to be able to really sing, no auto-tunes, you had to really show your skills on that stage, vocally, so yeah.

As an independent artist, what have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the industry? As an independent artist, some of the challenges I've faced in this music industry are funding, 101. To be honest, a good budget can get you far, but it's a struggle when you're in a 9-to-5, check-to-check situation. It gets overwhelming, but again, that's where love comes in. So...

On the flip side, what freedoms do you enjoy most about being an independent artist? The freedom of being an independent artist is that you get to create what you want, you have full creative control over your music and projects, and whatnot. The expectations are different and are more celebrated. For example, a mainstream artist's 1st-week sales can be 20k, which would be considered a flop. However, an independent artist's 1st-week sales can be 20k; that's a win. See what I mean?

How do you stay connected and adaptable in an ever-changing music industry driven by streaming, social media, and trends? So, staying up to date in this ever-changing music industry is, honestly, just seeing what's new or watching others, really. I’ve come across something: I’m seeing more and more of my peers or the mainstream doing it, and not everything is good, but that's when you have to see what works for you.

When creating new music, do you focus more on staying true to yourself or appealing to a wider audience—or is it a balance of both? When I'm creating new music, I usually go off how I feel and maybe add what others feel as well. But usually, how I feel first.

If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and what kind of record would you want to create together? If I could collaborate with any artist, it would be Carlos Santana. That is a dream Collaboration that I hope will come true, fingers crossed. Wanna create something dope with him. Howls playing and 1 1 m storytelling, Whoa. That would be crazy. So, Mr. Carlos Santana, can we work?

What message or feeling do you hope listeners walk away with after hearing your music? The feelings I want people to have after hearing my music are enjoyment, happiness, and good vibes.

How do you measure success for yourself—streams, impact, personal growth, or something else? My measure of success is being able to live differently and more comfortably for my kids. As far as streams go, the higher, the better, and making an impact in music, so people know my name. Whenever I want to create with or listen to, even after I’m gone, my music stands the test of time. That's all for now.

What advice would you give to other independent artists trying to find their voice in today’s industry? The advice I would give other independent artists trying to find their voice in today's industry is first, make sure you love doing this, because this isn't for the weak. Don't do it if you think you're going to get an instant return or overnight success, because it doesn't work that way. You must treat it like a baby. Your music is your baby, you have to care for it, feed it, take care of it. Be true to yourself, do what makes you happy, etc.

What can we expect to see from Cle’ph in 2026, and how can people find and connect with you on social media? What you can expect from me in 2026 is the release of my brand-new project, DEAR CLE’ PH, executive produced by DJ DOC HOLLYWOOD and me. It's my first project in 4 years, so I'm excited for people to hear it. It's a VIBE. You've got to sit and listen to it straight through. You will enjoy the story it tells. I have more shows in the works, including some casino shows. Look out for that.

Hopefully, a part of a tour. Got some merch on sale and maybe a Grammy nomination soon (crosses fingers). You can find me on Instagram @clephmusic. Subscribe to my website www.clephmusic.com. My new project, DEAR CLE’ PH, is available on all streaming platforms. You enjoy and see you at the shows.

Thanks Kim

As Valentine’s Day approaches, one thing is clear — R&B will always have a place in the soundtrack of love. And artists like Cle’ph are making sure it stays there.

For him, success isn’t just about numbers. It’s about impact. It’s about creating music that people can slow dance to, cry to, heal to — music that lasts long after the holiday roses fade. It’s about building a legacy his children can be proud of and crafting records that stand the test of time.

With his upcoming project DEAR CLE’PH, executive produced by DJ Doc Hollywood and Cle’ph, he’s inviting listeners into a full experience — one you’re meant to sit with and play straight through. After four years, this release arrives not just as new music, but as a statement. A vibe. A reminder.

So, whether you’re celebrating love, missing it, rebuilding from it, or hoping for it this Valentine’s season — Cle’ph’s music might just be the soundtrack you didn’t know you needed.

You can follow him on Instagram at @clephmusic, sign up at www.clephmusic.com, and stream DEAR CLE’PH on all platforms.

Press play. Feel something. And let R&B do what it’s always done best.