R&B star Tyrese has wrapped up his 4-day whistle-stop tour of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The 36-year-old star was in the UAE to promote the DVD of The Fast & Furious 7 which will be available on August 12. Tyrese was active on Instagram throughout his trip, posting a selection of videos and photos chronicling his time in the emirates.
Attracting tens of thousands of 'likes' from fans, the performer thanked those who showed up for his Black Rose album signing at Virgin Megastore in Abu Dhabi's Yas Mall on Thursday.
Of his album, that went straight to number 1 in the US, the Grammy-nominated singer wrote:
“Music has no limits. No race, no boundaries people will never support what they don’t know exist!!!!!! Thank you for showing UP for me #UAE worldwide please go now to iTunes and google play and download the magic R& B album called #BlackRose thank you so much!!”
Ahead of his UAE trip Tyrese gave an interview to New York radio station Power 105 in which he called for more R&B songs to be played across the airwaves.
“The state of R&B is dead” he said “Most R&B singers are not conscious of it, but a lot of us are insecure and we feel like our songs don’t get attention, don’t get no love on the radio, don’t have any fans buying it anymore unless we’ve got 15 rappers on it.”
On his other career strand of making movies, while in Abu Dhabi, Tyrese revealed his film industry ambitions for the emirates in an post that triggered hundreds comments from excited fans.
“I have a HUGE vision to build a full on movie studio here on the level of Universal studios called #VoltronStudios and do a full film slate deal for #VoltronPictures and design a custom and very detailed tax rebate and incentive programme that ALL of America, Bollywood and Europe will come here to experience” he said.
A regular visitor to the UAE and clearly a fan of traditional Emirati dress, towards the end of his trip the actor uploaded a video of himself dancing in a gold bisht, dubbing it "the best give ever". Just before he flew back to his home in the USA, Tyrese posted two more photos of him posing in a regal-looking black bisht over a kandura.
“I learn something never every time I come here — I never knew that a Candora was different than a bisht,” he wrote on Instagram “I also didn’t know that a bisht goes on TOP of a Candora — this is a very special gift in going to wear home back to America! Feeling blessed and exhausted I’m headed back home 6am wheels UP back to America — #UAE I will miss you ... Even though most of my friends were out of town I met new friends and still had fun — learning new things and keeping my mind on the vision — #VoltronStudios”
In his final social media message before wheels up to Los Angeles, Tyrese sent good wishes to his fans and friends in the emirates.
“Until we meet again,” he wrote “#UAElove always ...”
rduane@thenational.ae
