This Saturday (Nov. 26), as part of the upcoming Black & White Affair, hit-making R&B crooner/actor Christopher Williams (along with singers Meli'sa Morgan and Alyson Williams) will be visiting the Queen City to belt out his biggest tunes.

But before he hits the stage, Williams — known as much for his role in the now-classic film New Jack City as for his songs — chatted with Qcitymetro about his past, present and future.

Qcitymetro: I'm sure your dedicated fans have kept up with all your moves throughout your career, but — for more casual followers — what have you been up to in the last few years?

Christopher Williams: Working ... still doing my thing. When the music industry started shifting, I relished in sitting out, to take a break from the music. But I just didn’t mean for it to be this long. After about three years, I said I’m just going to forget about being with the record companies and the process with record deals. I decided to do other things. I got a call to do a theater show with [actor] Allen Payne, and that’s how the urban stage thing happened for me. I just started doing one after the other until here I am now with more than 30 stage plays under my belt. That’s how it all started and then led me back to music.

What are thoughts on the current state of R&B music?

It’s a microwave society now. The problem is a lot of artists just don’t have the same slave mentality that some of the older artists before them had — I mean the older generation of artists. My generation — the Christopher Williams, Keith Sweat, Gerald Levert generation — was probably first generation. No, actually the next generation — which is Jodeci, Joe, Ginuwine, Dave Hollister, Donnell Jones — those were the last of the sort of the mentality of “if I don’t get a record deal, I can’t be in the record business.” An example of someone not bucking the times though is Charlie Wilson; here is a man that came out of obscurity — and when you have that kind of talent, the cream is always going to rise to the top. You just need a plan, and a way to get people to see it. His plan was brilliant! His connection with R. Kelly, and when he did that record “My Name is Charlie, Last Name Wilson,” it reconnected him to an audience that just wanted to hear good music and they were ready to receive that from him. People are ready to push the dial back for good music. Same thing with Cash Money signing the late Teena Marie, God bless her soul. I mean, they gave her the deal and for her to come back and have that kind of response was amazing. Imagine if she was healthy what she could have done.

You played a role in the iconic film New Jack City. What are your memories of working on the classic movie?

It was a great time. Wesley and I had gone to college together, Purchase College, which was for the performing arts, so for us to come together and do something as big as New Jack City was a real experience. Then you mix in Allen Payne — who is like my brother, Mario Van Peebles, Chris Rock, the very talented Vanessa Williams ... it was just a great time ... a real blessing. And now to see the following it has. It's incredible. A lot of people ask if there were any backstories, or behind-the-scenes drama ... but no. We were all young, new to this whole film world and ready to take it in and go for it. And we got a great film and a great response because of all that positive energy.

What's your next move in the entertainment field?

I am starting what I like to call “chapter two” of my career, and I am back in the studio working on a new project. I’m working with several people like Ced Solo, Mike City, Da Internz, Carvin & Ivan and 9th Wonder, and I’m really excited about this next phase in my career. I have been doing spot dates in preparation for the tour and in support of the new project. I am even booked as a featured artist on the Tom Joyner Morning Show Fantastic Voyage Cruise in March, so just really working. And I do want to stay a full-faceted actor in theater, television and movies, so I continue working on acting projects as well. As a matter of fact, I recently broke from touring for the holidays with an inspirational stage play — Dream With Eyes Wide Open; I am about to begin filming in Miami in December for Queen Latifah's company, Flavor Unit, and I am also being considered for a role in a new pilot currently in final talks with TBS and Showtime. So, a lot is going on right now, and all I can say is that I am truly blessed and ready for everything God has for me.

What can Charlotteans expect from a Christopher Williams live show?

Charlotte can expect to see all of Christopher Williams: blood, sweat and tears — because I bare my soul in every performance. That is why when I tour for the project, I told my team, “nothing but live bands, no more track shows.” Because I want to bring to my audience what I love about the music: a live, rich sound. I want them to feel each note and each lyric. I am giving you fair warning Charlotte: We are going to have a good time on November 26th ... me, you, Meli'sa and Alyson. So after eating all that food on Thanksgiving Day, come work it out and work it off wit' ya' boy, CW.

IF YOU WANT TO GO:
When: Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011
Where: Westin Charlotte (601 South College St.) 
Time: Starts at 9 p.m.
Cost: $40-$80
More info: CarolinaTix

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