Exclusive: Sean Garrett on “Girlfriend,” Cultural Commentary, and the Power of Honesty in Music

Sean Garrett has been able to shape the soundtracks of global superstars and then stepped back into the spotlight with his own bold voice, never stopping his evolution. Known across the music industry as “The Pen,” Garrett’s lyrical fingerprints are etched across more than 50 No. 1 hits, including unforgettable records for Beyoncé, Usher, and Mary J. Blige.

He’s not just behind the music today, but also the music itself. In this exclusive interview with LandonBuford.com, Garrett talks candidly about his journey as a hitmaker, the emotional layers of his latest single ‘Girlfriend,’ and what it means to leave a legacy that transcends the charts. Garrett speaks openly, balancing vulnerability, creativity, and conviction with every word, from industry wisdom to cultural commentary.

1. You’ve penned hits for Beyoncé, Usher, and Mary J. Blige — how has writing for such iconic voices shaped your own journey as an artist?

Well, to be honest, it’s extremely difficult to score a number one record. It’s truly a blessing just to get a placement. You know what I mean? Even being considered for a song to be released as a single—let alone the first single—is a big deal.

There are so many layers to the process. First, you’re competing just to get your song on the album. Then you’re competing to have it selected as a single. After that, there’s the hope that it will actually get released, connect with people, and perform well. So many stages. To get to number one? That’s a whole different level.

The more you do this, the more you learn and grow. But still, nothing is ever guaranteed. That’s the reality.

From an artist’s perspective, the pressure can be intense. People often expect you to deliver the same level of success each time. Personally, I’m a brand. I understand my audience. I know my core listeners are largely in the Bible Belt—people who connect with the kinds of songs I love to make, which are usually about love, relationships, and the emotions that come with caring deeply for someone.

At the same time, I’ve got an alter ego—I love making people dance and creating songs that bring joy and energy. Take a song like “Breakup,” for example—it blends different styles into something really unique. And that’s what I aim for as both an artist and a creative: to stay unique.

I don’t like being boxed in or predictable. I want people to wonder what I’ll do next, not assume they already know. A lot of my collaborators—my “super friends”—expect that from me. When they call, they’re looking for something fresh, exciting, and different. And that’s what I strive to bring every time.

2. Jay-Z calling you “The Pen” says a lot. How do you carry that title — and that responsibility — as a Black creative in this industry?

You know what’s funny, man? I was just incredibly thankful for that moment. Matter of fact, let me show you something—this is my Billboard article. Jay-Z gave me the nickname “The Pen”—just simply The Pen. That was my first Billboard feature, a seven-page spread, and I was on the cover. That moment meant a lot to me.

So yeah, I had to pop my collar a little bit—you feel me? She brought it up, and I had to acknowledge it.

When I first talked to Jay, I called him and said, “Man, how do I thank you for this gift?” And he just said, “Make me proud.” That really stuck with me. I’ve always taken that to heart.

Working with him was such a blessing. We spent real time together—not just working, but hanging out, playing video games, and just chatting. I got to experience his energy, his mindset.

Many people may not know, but I collaborated with him on “Dig a Hole” from one of his albums. He was always someone who inspired me, encouraged me, and gave me the confidence I needed. That confidence I carry with me now—it came in part from working with people like him.

So, for him to endorse me the way he did… man, that was everything. That stamp of approval from Jay-Z? That’s a lifelong badge of honor. And it set a standard for me—one I always try to live up to. I never forget that.

3. You’ve been behind 56 No. 1s. What moment made you stop and say, “I’m really walking in my purpose now”?

To be honest, I feel like I’m finally walking in my purpose. You know what I’m saying? When you’re in the middle of doing something you love, sometimes you don’t even realize the magnitude of it—you’re just doing it. For me, it’s always been about the love I have for creating and giving to other artists.  As an artist myself, I’ve always been passionate about my own journey, but I’ve also genuinely loved pouring into others.

I’m thankful to God not just for the ability to do my own thing, but for the ability to give. I’m the kind of creative who loves helping people grow. I don’t want to leave this earth without knowing I gave my all to help someone else become better. Honestly, it didn’t hit me until recently. I never really stopped to think about the impact. But when people start calling you the GOAT, or when you’re being asked to do things like Verzuz, that’s when it really sinks in. That’s when you realize—wow, this is bigger than I thought. Now I’m joking like, ‘Yo, where’s my statue at?’—talking to Atlanta, like, ‘Man, somebody better build my statue!’ [laughs] But that’s just me having fun. All jokes aside, I’m extremely thankful and appreciative of every accomplishment and all the love the fans have shown me through the years. To still be doing songs today that people consider timeless.

4. Your new single “Girlfriend” digs into modern love from three different emotional standpoints. Why was it important for you to tell those stories?

Well, I think the song Girlfriend really reflects the state of the world we’re living in—especially within our community. When it comes to love these days, I feel like we often meet the ‘representative’ first. You know what I mean? People show you who they want you to see in the beginning, but you don’t really know who you’re dealing with until you’re deep into the relationship.

By the time you truly see them, you’re already invested. And it’s like, now you’re facing someone you don’t even recognize, completely different from who you thought you knew. That’s the roller coaster of modern love. You start asking yourself: Who is this person? What happened to the one who promised to stand by me, to have my back, to roll with me? The one I trusted?

And the hardest part is when you’ve opened yourself up—shared your past, your pain, your vulnerabilities—only to see that person repeat the same patterns you worked so hard to heal from. That’s where the frustration comes in. With this song, I wanted to present the emotional journey from three different perspectives—three men from three distinct walks of life.

I thought it was a powerful concept for today’s conversation around love. It’s not just musical; it’s emotional. It makes you reflect. The chorus goes: ‘Girlfriends to wives, now my wives turn to girlfriends…’ It’s like—why is my wife treating me like a girlfriend? And if my girlfriend treated me like a wife, then she’d be my wife. You feel me?

The conversation is straightforward, yet deeply layered. And I think it’s something we can all talk about—on any platform—because this is real life. This is the kind of love and confusion people are truly experiencing today.

5. “Girlfriend” isn’t just a song — it’s a layered conversation. How does it reflect where you are emotionally and artistically right now?

I think for me, this song isn’t just about one specific experience—it’s really a reflection of all my past relationships. It pulls from everything I’ve gone through with the women I’ve dated. And honestly, it even taps into some of the things my boys have gone through too.

You know, Plies talks about it all the time. If you’ve heard his verse, you know he went crazy on it. His perspective is raw and honest. My part represents my own outlook, and Concho brought his perspective too. So, you’ve got three different takes on the real-life things we deal with in relationships.

It’s that feeling when you thought this one person was going to be the person—like, really your ride or die—and then suddenly, they switch up. Now you’re getting all this drama about stuff that has nothing to do with you, and it’s frustrating. It’s exhausting.

And when you go online and see all these conversations about relationships, you’re like, ‘What is happening out here? What’s really going on in the world right now?’

That’s why I felt like this record needed to be made. It’s one of those honest, necessary songs. I think people are definitely connecting with it. The response so far has been amazing, even though it’s stirred up a little controversy at times.

But that’s a good thing. I’m even considering creating a remix from a female perspective to keep the conversation going and give both sides a voice.

6. Who would you potentially want on the remix? Would you want a female to be part of the remix as well?

Oh yeah, most definitely. The remix is definitely going to feature all female artists. I’m thinking about bringing in Latto, you know what I’m saying? Summer Walker and Mariah the Scientist.

That lineup right there—those three? That could be crazy. A cold trio for sure. Ya feel me?

7.  You’re blending Hip-Hop and R&B storytelling with vulnerability. How do you balance the pressure to stay “hard” with the need to be honest in your music?

I think the way I approach things—especially music—is by being as honest as I possibly can. That comes from my mom. She was a really honest person, and she instilled that in me from a young age. So, when I make music, I try to stay true to what’s real for us—whether that’s my community or just people in general.

I’ve always been sincere about how I feel, and I think that’s something people connect with. By the grace of God, I’ve been given a gift—to be intuitive and genuine—and I believe when you’re blessed with a talent, you have to be honest about it. That honesty is what people truly appreciate in an artist.

For me, it’s all about being genuine with the people. The most important thing is my community and my fans. Being honest and transparent with them means more to me than anything else.

8. You grew up between Europe and Atlanta — how has that global perspective influenced your music, your ear, and your evolution?

To be honest with you, speaking of cars, it definitely influenced my taste in cars, too. Growing up in Europe and also being from the Swats really opened my mind. It exposed me to ideas and perspectives that people from where I’m from don’t usually get to see or even imagine.

You know, sometimes people say, “Man, you’re still going?” And I’m like, absolutely. This is my life. This is what I’m going to be doing until my last day. I’m just really thankful for the gift I have, but also for my mindset—that drive to never stop.

Traveling and growing has taught me a lot. It’s shown me things that weren’t in my neighborhood. And because of that, I can hopefully inspire other people to think outside of theirs. Yeah, that might be where we came from, but it’s not where we’re going.

There are so many possibilities, and over the years, we’ve seen that. For me, success isn’t just about money or material things—it’s about inspiring someone else to believe in themselves, to want more, and to think bigger. That’s what really motivates me, and it’s something I truly enjoy expressing.

9. You’ve done the behind-the-scenes work — now you’re stepping fully into the spotlight. What made this the right moment?

I was still trying to do it all at the same time—and honestly, sometimes it was just too much to bear. However, at the same time, I was given numerous opportunities. Like, yeah—my first ten singles all went number one. So, in a way, my early success happened while I was still learning. Even though I was doing really well, I was still growing and learning. I was still figuring things out—learning the dos and don’ts, how to navigate the industry, and how to move forward.

And that takes time. I needed space in my life to get to a place where I felt comfortable enough to fully give my all—to give 100% on stage. The journey of being an artist is definitely challenging. But to be able to have the time, energy, and patience to push through it—that’s what makes it all possible.

10. What does legacy mean to you now, and how do you want to be remembered beyond the charts?

Man, honestly, I want to be considered one of the greatest songwriters alive. I really do. I want to be known as someone who genuinely cared—about life, about peace, about people. Bringing smiles to people is something I truly love. Making people happy—that’s what drives me.

That energy is something people can feel when they see me on stage. I’m always full of life, always hyped. And the music? It’s super dope. So when you come to one of my shows, you’re not just getting a concert—you’re getting the Sean Garrett experience.

And that experience is something special. It’s wild, it’s exciting—I might even bring a few of my superstar friends along. The band’s going to be insane. It’s just a full-on experience, man. Hopefully soon, I’ll have a show in Vegas—that’s the goal. And when that happens, just know, I’m going all out. It’s going to be crazy. I’m really excited for what’s coming.

11. In an industry that often forgets its architects, how do you keep your name and your narrative centered?

Man, for me, it’s really about staying consistent. Staying connected with the people and never forgetting where your priorities should be—and that’s making sure you’re giving the people great music.

It’s about staying focused, staying vital, and never losing that drive for what you love. I’m incredibly passionate about music—whether I’m creating for myself, writing for someone else, helping break a new artist, or putting out my own records. Whether it’s being out on tour, performing live, or doing media with folks like you—it all matters.

At the end of the day, it’s about staying grounded and never thinking you’re bigger than the mission. Because truthfully, it’s all about giving something real to the people. That’s what it’s always been about for me.

12.  What’s a truth about love, loyalty, or success that only experience has taught you?

Yeah, experience is the best teacher—you know what I’m saying? It really is. Just like the song says… sometimes you gotta ask yourself, “Do I really want a girlfriend? Do I want a wife? What do I actually want?” Because the truth is, a lot of people don’t really know what they want until they actually find it.

That journey—figuring it out—is just as important as the win itself. Sometimes you think you’ve won, until you experience something else that changes your perspective. That’s just how life goes. It’s unpredictable, and it teaches you through the process.

It reminds me of a Tupac song… like, for real. That’s just the reality. Dead serious.

13. What advice do you give the next generation of songwriters — especially young Black creatives — navigating fame, pressure, and purpose?

Man, just pay attention to the people and the lessons that came before you. Try to take note of the mistakes others have made—if you’re lucky enough to learn from them—and use that knowledge to put your best foot forward.

It’s really about studying your craft. Just as in sports, I approach this with the same mentality: I’m always trying to win.

I’m not out here to lose. My mindset is all about going for it—no quitting, no backing down. I’m not gonna let anybody knock me off my path. I’m staying focused, pushing forward, and doing what God put me here to do.

14. Would you be interested in partnering with some of these universities and offering internships for music majors to come and work with you and some of your colleagues for class credits?

That’s definitely something I’m focused on. It’s a big part of what we’re working on right now—building relationships with the state, the governor, schools, and other key partners.

One of my new initiatives focuses on keeping music in schools, which is something I’m truly passionate about. So yes, absolutely—that’s the next stage of my brand and something we’re actively building toward.

Sean Garrett is still not finished, even as our conversation comes to an end. Garrett is building a platform that is both intentional and iconic, with a catalog that already defines an era and a voice that continues to seek new ground. ‘Girlfriend’, his latest single, is not just a piece of music; it’s also a conversation starter, a cultural snapshot, and a hint of what’s ahead. Garrett’s mission extends beyond the booth, whether it’s mentoring young artists, reflecting on his global roots, or advocating for music education through his Amplify Your Music initiative.

He’s a living proof that true legacy is not only based on hits but also on impact. LandonBuford.com is where you can find more information about Sean Garrett’s latest music, behind-the-scenes stories, and next moves. The Pen has more to say, and the next chapter is already being written.