K. Michelle just released her fourth studio album, K. Michelle: The People I Used to Know, and she currently stopped by Essence Now and shared a few things with the culture.

   K.Michelle stops by Essence Now

Here are our takeaways:

The purpose of the album:

…You’re at the crossroads as a woman. Who are you?What do you stand for? How have the relationships of your past effected you now…

She continued:

The lesson is you need to find the lesson…I had to learn my own lessons. A lot of stuff people do is not about you; it’s about them.

Rapping on her album:

I started off rapping. I got my deal for rapping and singing. I had a mixtape–half rap and singing. When they signed me, it was always like a mix.

Country music:

…I’ve always loved it. It’s always this criteria and stipulation, when it goes into that music. It’s a big no-no, if you’re African-American.

I’ve said it to my label; this is my last R&B album. I’ll do R&B songs, whenever I feel…I’m no longer going to do what I’m told or what makes them money. I’m going to do what’s in me.This is who I am. I happen to come in an African-American chocolate message. My love for country is real. It’s not a gimmick I grew up in it.

Love life:

I’m in a relationship and we’ve been friends for 19 years now… We just connect with us. He knows who Kimberly Pate is. We never linger in music. We don’t surf Instagram together. We really have to talk about what’s in our face and how we feel.

That was a great balance-being with someone who was not in my world. [Someone] who has something else going on that had nothing to do with the music industry.

On pregnancy & twins:

I went through IVF shots two weeks ago. We were able to have two strong eggs and combine them. So I have two embryos and I’m gonna do one more round and we’ll see.

Surrogacy:

They said I could carry. They said my uterus looks strong so I’m really debating going back and forth. We have found a surrogate and I was happy about that.

She continued:

Now I’m debating. That’s a moment and if I can, it causes me to slow down with all of my businesses. I have a restaurant and another one about to open- it’s just a lot. But, the most important thing is family; you have to slow down for family.

Motherhood & parenting:

I missed a lot of time with my son. I was out here trying to make money  to take care of him. Now that I can, you can’t get those moments back.

She continued:

 I let music come in and take over me. This time, for the twins, nothing in this music is gonna take away those moments.

Thank God I can afford kids and all of that and I just want to have a different type of experience because I was out there hustling struggling trying to get money.

That’s a completely different experience from having an option to take your kids with you to do things. For me, it’s just making up time with my son and having some healthy kids.

Lupus diagonsis:

I got back a positive lupus test. Because I’ve been having headaches, I wanted them to test me for Rheumatoid Arthritis; it runs in my family. I had been aching real bad and it came back and it was positive. Then I went to a lupus specialist but it was negative. [I was told] we need to see you again for blood work but I’m still having the same migraines…its something there but we don’t know what it is, but we’re happy that it definitely not that.

Lipo:

I like the lipo but when I did my butt and all of that it gets heavy…that’s real. I’ve been taking it out and getting it together. I want to get back to my original state, just me. I don’t think I need any add ons at this point. I like who I am.

Setting her own norms in her relationship:

I’m fun, man. I don’t get caught up in a lot of different things…My perspecitves are a little bit different. Sometimes I’m OK with contracting out the work- less for me to do.

She continued:

We flirt that’s just our relationship. We’ll compete to see who could get the most numbers

We define the terms of our relationship, not society’s norm. We value having friendship and honesty.

Cardi B:

I think that it’s amazing. I love how she’s herself, she’s working hard, shes’ out here grinding. You can’t do anything but commend that. If you don’t, you’re a hater.

Regret:

Yep! When I’ve hurt people. Some people ask for it. You came messing with me. Sometimes I feel like you can be so honest to where it can affect people’s lives and as tough as I try to act or whatever I still have a big heart.