Lloyd bares it all. Before dropping his first project in five years, Tru, the R&B crooner debuts the tracklisting and nude cover art.
The 5-track EP includes appearances from Rick Ross (“Heavenly Body”) and 2 Chainz, who guests on the remix to the title track.
Appearing naked on the cover, Lloyd says he was able to symbolically share some of his vulnerabilities. “It was really more of an introspective thing,” he told Complex. “Although what you see on the outside is a guy who is apparently balls-to-the-wall naked in the woods near a waterfall, it’s really a moment for me to conquer all the fears that I might have had. All the inhibitions, the insecurities that usually exist in a person; to me it’s no exception. Insecurities of the body, being free in a public place.”
According to Lloyd, the location in North Georgia where the cover was shot was also instrumental to his recording process. “I would go there and oftentimes no one would be there,” he explained. “I would say to myself, ‘Man, I wish I could just run around here naked. It would feel so free.’ I said, you know what, that’s what I’m going to do for the cover art.”
This was particularly important for Lloyd because he says the album is meant to showcase that bare naked honesty. “People try to hide their flaws,” he says, “but I think the flaws make them a beautiful person. And that’s what Tru is all about.”
Tru is set to arrive Dec. 9 and will be followed by Out My Window, Lloyd’s first album since 2011’s King of Hearts.
Tru Tracklisting
1. “Tru”
2. “Heavenly Body” feat. Rick Ross
3. “Holding”
4. “Excited”
5. “Tru (Remix)” feat. 2 Chainz (Bonus)