Crystal Tamar has something to say on "Whachoo Doin?!"

Crystal Tamar is a much-needed voice in R&B.

Her vocals are, well, clear as crystal and her artistry is just as pure.

She is a native of the Houston area and brings a Southern charm to every note, lyric and flash of her megawatt smile. She also has a grit that can only be learned from industry experience. In the late 2000s, she was a member of T-Pain's girl group, Sophia Fresh, which was signed to his Nappy Boy Entertainment imprint of Atlantic Records.

Tamar has since been an independent artist and released a nine-track self-titled project in 2019. Seven years later, she's back with a new confidence and a deep sense of purpose in telling her own story in a fresh, relevant way.

Credit: Olha Melokhina Photography

The lead single for her upcoming project, "This Changes Everything," is a witty, feel-good track called “Whachoo Doin?!" It challenges men who are brashly confident while celebrating those who feel good in their own skin. The song is produced by Grammy-nominated beatsmith Kosine. As one half of Da Internz, he has crafted hits like "Dance" for Big Sean, "Anaconda" for Nicki Minaj and "Birthday Cake" for Rihanna.

Kosine and Young Fyre, who Tamar connected with back in their Nappy Boy days, produced the entire upcoming project, which speaks to Tamar's clear vision and ability to authentically inspire some of the best in the game.

Kick The Concrete spoke with Crystal Tamar about the creative process behind “Whachoo Doin?!," navigating relationships and the grind of being an independent artist.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Kick The Concrete: What was your inspiration for “Whachoo Doin?!” It is a fun song, but kind of a serious song, too,about relationships and how to navigate that?

Crystal Tamar: "Whachoo Doin?!" is about very real things that happen, but you know, trying to deliver it to the audience in a playful way. I was sitting down with producer Kosine last year, last April in 2025 and he was like, "So talk to me." We were just getting to know each other. This was literally our first session, first song, and he was like, "What types of things do you want to talk about?" He was just very interested in getting to know my story, like real story, not just "What do you want to make me sing about?"

So we did two things. I told him about a concept that I always wanted to entertain, which was just like, come-on lines, pick-up lines, and how it never ceases to amaze me how like a girl could walk out the door, she can have her best outfit on, like she put all the effort in walking down the street, and so she tried. And then there's the scenario where I just threw on a T-shirt, didn't do nothing else. Guys will hit her with a lie, with so much confidence. I'm like, "Where does that confidence come from? When clearly you haven't even thought twice about how you approach in this woman."

And so Kosine was really tickled by that, in addition to the fact that my husband, who's my manager, was with me in the studio, and he was like, "How did you guys meet?" So we shared that story with him, which was total opposite from the “Whachoo Doin?!” concept, and we ended up putting it together. So the first verse is a lot of trash talking, like, "Oh man, like, why are you coming up to me like this?" Like, "What you doing? What were you thinking?" And then the second verse addresses the right way, you know, to do, the guy who, he's confident, but he doesn't try as hard. And she notices him before he notices her. So we put that together and made one big record, and we're just so tickled by how it all turned out.

KTC: I bet that was so fun! That's neat how organic your first connection with Kosine was.

CT: I think he even surprised himself by what he ended up pinning to it, because even though I gave him the concept, he just got to writing, like he just started moving. So he came in back in the studio like, "This is the best I've ever written in my life." We provided some of that content on socials of that first reaction he had when he came in and wanted to share it. It's a lot of fun.

KTC: The juices were flowing for sure. And what has the response been from your fans? Have you gotten new people? Or just in general what has that feedback been?

CT: It's been great! It's been positive. I tried to put some concepts out there to connect with fans about other come-on lines that they've experienced, and people have been very entertained, and I have been chiming in, like, "Yes! This is a thing." So it's been both my regular followers, as well as new people chiming in, especially a lot of songwriters and producers themselves have been very fascinated with the record. Matter of fact, some people who've actually gotten a preview of the record early, from maybe like being in circles with Kosine have been like, "Will you please put 'Whachoo Doin?!' out? That is my favorite that I've heard." So we ended up choosing it based off of not only us being excited about it, but the confirmation that it actually resonated with other people.

KTC: The song is about trying to figure out relationships, but you mentioned you have your husband, and even your content with him is so sweet. What is your advice for people trying to navigate relationships and find their person?

CT: You know, it'll really come to you. I'm always very prayerful about everything, because I know that God is in everything. And I think that not trying as hard, which is kind of the theme of “Whachoo Doin?!” it will really get you there, because we never know what's good for us. You know, my husband and I were not looking for one another at the time, but we ended up standing right next to each other and just having a very organic conversation, and it just really blew my mind.

It's so funny because I was just sharing this thought with my mother-in-law just seconds ago about how my husband, he basically moved to Texas for work years ago and had a big culture shock, didn't like the city, didn't know what to do, wanted to go back to LA ASAP. And he was on the phone with his best friend, who was like, "Just go out. Just get out of the house. I know you don't know anybody there, but just go out." So, my husband went to the nearest club he could find, was still experiencing quite a bit of culture shock, was kind of regretting it at the time, actually. And my sister was like, "You don't ever go out, let's get out of the house." And I hate clubs, so we went out and my husband and I just ended up standing next to each other, you know, and having very organic conversations.

So I think just not forsaking the very simple moments in life that it can actually come to you. That's just it. It's the thing to do, and God's timing is perfect. So, yeah, just waiting on that, and in the meantime, just enjoying your life, where you are at the moment, because that's a gift as well. He's always doing things to develop us individually before we come together and the two become one, so yeah, that's the advice I would give.

Credit: Olha Melokhina Photography

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KTC: I know you are an independent artist. What has that season of your artistry been for you, and some of the difficulties, but some of the freedoms, too, that you're experiencing?

CT: That is such a good question. I still thoroughly enjoy the freedom of being able to make my own decisions, creative and business. There is such freedom in that. And then, I feel like you have the ability to evolve more, because every time I open Microsoft Word, and I'm starting a new video treatment, I'm like, the sky is the limit. Nobody's telling me what I can and can't do. At the same time, on the business side, it could be a lot, because you are wearing all the hats. You're wearing the business manager hat. You're wearing the marketing and promotions hat. And I do have a small team that supports me as well. So, I'm not doing everything, but being independent and keeping them budgets in line, there are some things that you just need to educate yourself about, so that you can advocate for yourself. So, that is a thing.

But I sleep very well at night knowing what bills are coming in and out. I can cut back costs as I need to. It's my decision. I can focus on the things that matter to Crystal. And it's like, "No, no, this is going to represent me well. I need to put more budget here and less here." So I sleep well at night knowing that I've grown in some sense, and just knowing how to manage that. But it can be a lot. It can be a lot. So you get a few good men to help you with the things that maybe you're not as gifted in, and just put one foot in front of the other. It's been interesting. Even this round, this project, as opposed to my previous project in 2019, things just get bigger. So I feel like I'm learning lessons now that I didn't even learn the first time around, so it's always different.

KTC:  I'm sure! I know for me with Kick The Concrete, it's just a lot, but there is what you said, sleeping peacefully at night, like just knowing you're doing your business, glorifying God.

CT: Exactly, being able to give it to Him and invite Him into every decision that you make, it goes a long way. Because you're like, I don't know if this was the right decision or not, but I know I asked God to order my steps, and that His will would be done in it. So I know that if He needs to detour me in either direction, He will. And so you don't sweat the small stuff as much.

KTC: Tell me about the project that “Whachoo Doin?!” is part of, your second EP "This Changes Everything."

CT: Yes, “Whachoo Doin?!” is coming from my second project. It's due to be released in September, no specific date as of yet, but September is our mark for it. It's a very exciting EP, because Kosine, the producer who did “Whachoo Doin?!” does four songs on this album, and we also have connected with the producer, Young Fyre, who I used to work with in my T-Pain days. Having just the two of them along for this project has been cool, because there's a personal kind of connection going on here, as opposed to just the artist going into the studio and just being like, "Okay, what do you want to do?" Writer comes in and we leave.

It's all family, and the both of them have been very important to hear my story, my love story. So all of the songs on the album are about real life situations that I've gone through with my husband, and I'm so excited because I had no idea that I would evolve so much musically. You always hope for that, but again, only God can kind of orchestrate those things once you invite Him in. And this project is so much more mature, if you will, than the last one content-wise, vocally much more harmonies, showing much more vocal strength, and it just pieces together wonderfully. Even the things I've done with Fyre, the way it pieces together with the things I've done with Kosine, you can tell that there's something merging the two, so it feels like a complete project. I can't wait for y'all to hear it. I'm excited.

KTC: Thank you so much for this conversation. Is there anything else that you want to make sure we talk about or cover?

CT: Oh man, I would love to welcome any followers who may be interested in this type of music, music that is authentic, real R&B music. I come from a time and space where R&B music was slightly different, it carried much more depth, and so that is my goal, is to bring R&B sounds that are deeper and more vulnerable, if you will, bigger vocals, using your vocals in bigger ways. Anyone that they like that type of approach to music and R&B, and if you miss that type of thing, I would highly recommend following me, and lending your ear, if you will, to this music that we're releasing. You will not be disappointed.