Shari Watson wants women to be proud of who they are and speak up when necessary - even if the truth hurts.
That is one reason why Watson, an R&B singer who released her second album Ready Now, took on the stage name Truth Hurts, given to her by hip-hop producer and artist Dr. Dre.
"Dre named me that when I was on his Aftermath label," she said. "But I dropped the Hurts this time around, because I never really liked that."
Watson became known after joining Dre's label, putting out her album Truthfully Speaking, and touring with Ice Cube and Eminem on the Up in Smoke Tour. She had a hit with the song "Addictive," produced by DJ Quik.
"DJ Quik, who was a very dear friend to me, gave me the track and figured that between Dre and I, we could make the magic of the track work," Watson said. "He had actually given it to MC Lyte, but ended up taking it back and than he passed it to me."
While "Addictive" brought fame to Watson, it also brought controversy. The beat was sampled from an Indian song written by Bappi Lahiri, and a judge later ruled the album must be pulled or Lahiri's name added to the credits.
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Now Watson is back under a different label, Pookie Entertainment, and her second album has more of an R&B sound than hip-hop.
"Switching labels changed my music a lot," she said. "The people that came to the table this time were a little more musical."
Watson said her second album reflects where she is in her life right now, and the songs are about what she wants to feel with someone.
"Ready Now is a movement for me, how I want things to hold a purpose in my life," she said.
The singer said a possible tour with Pete Rock is in the works, and although this tour may bring her to smaller venues, it isn't a problem.
"My favorite venues are House of Blues venues, which are more intimate," she said.
Watson said if she weren't a singer, she would be doing something in the fashion world. Before she was discovered by Dr. Dre, she was living in Manhattan and working as an assistant to famous fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg.
"That was a great feeling for me before it came to a halt," Watson said. "I would love to do fashion in the future, but I am taking it as it comes."
Until then, Watson wants listeners to understand she will never be afraid to speak her mind.
"Every time I sing a song, I use my own language, and I am free to say what it is that I want to say," she said.
