In less than ten years Robin Thicke has managed to carve out his own niche of R&B and soul music that has been traditionally saturated by black performers. In the tradition of Teena Marie, Michael McDonald and even Jon B., his lyrical content and penchant for creating intoxicating melodies has proved that he is so much more than a blue-eyed soul singer. This man is the real deal. Since his 2003 debut album, A Beautiful World—well, more so his 2006 sophomore album The Evolution of Robin Thicke—the Los Angeles native has released a slew of hits including his chart topping single “Lost Without You.”

Last year marked the release of Love After War, his fifth studio album, and a veritable return to his musical roots—honesty and vulnerable from a male point of view. In the latest installment of Centric’s As Written series, the singer opens up about his life, family, and channeling Otis Redding through his music.

“There’s something about Otis—his being, his voice—that speaks to me,” shared Thicke in the show. “Listening [to him] made we want to dig a lot deeper than I’ve ever dug before…I wanted to create something that came up from the bottom of my soul. Something powerful.”

As Written: Robin Thicke airs Sunday, April 29 at 11P/10C

TAGS: As Wriiten, As Written, Blue-eyed soul, Centric, Jon B., Los Angeles, Michael McDonald, Paula Patton, Robin Thicke, teena marie