With the game in a stifling predicament, users, fans and industry elite, alike all look at your Myspace hits, first week sales and viral campaigns to gauge who is the next up to bat. Gone are the days of building up artists, the work has to be self-done. For Tiffany Villareal, the game is a bitch untamed. The beautiful singer has worked with everyone from the likes of Missy Elliot, Faith Evans and Alicia Keys – recording demos – to Raekwon and Dr. Dre.

The Aftermath artist has more heart than your average artist. While others like Jae Hood are complaining about their label deals, the San Antonio born-Las Vegas raised singer/songwriter has utilized her talents to bless those around her and is a perfect example of how to keep it moving in a stagnant game.

Tiffany Villareal sits down with HipHopDX, as she discusses playing the waiting game, answers if she had a crush on Ne-Yo while in school, and explains how talent can survive in an artist-a-second industry.

HipHopDX: You’ve been in the game for awhile. Can you touch on some of the things you’ve done?
Tiffany Villareal: At the time, I was flying out to various record companies. I’ve been in Japan; I worked with Dr. Dre and I’ve done a collaborative track with 50 Cent. I have worked with a lot of people. I did two songs with Raekwon. One was with him on a track called “Rewind the Time” that we recorded in Japan. The other was a song that we did called “I Heard.” We actually shot a video out there in the east coast. It was my first video.

DX: The waiting seemed to be a continuing issue with everyone who works with him. So, while you’ve been waiting, what’s the funniest thing you’ve seen so far?
TV: I haven’t really seen anything funny. If anything, it’s more about respecting the fact that Dre’s a perfectionist. He wants everything to be top-notch perfect. It doesn’t matter who it is.

DX: But with Dre’s history stemming from The Chronic, you’ve never seen anything funny?
TV: It’s different for me because I do R&B/Pop music. My expectations are different. It’s very romantic of a situation. It’s different than doing rap music. My sections are different. I’m not doing Hip Hop. I would go to work everyday, at least six days a week and work, but I never saw anything funny. It was more serious thing.

DX: So… is Dre boring?
TV: Dre is not boring! Everybody who is out there has hung out with him and say that he’s fun. He is a very joking person. He’s funny!

DX: Would you rather have worked with a work-with-everyone-and-they-mama type of producer?
TV: That’s a tough question right there because I’ve always wanted to work with Dr. Dre. Many singers want to work with Dr. Dre. I feel honored to work with him. I’ll work with anyone who’s passionate about music. It doesn’t matter if you’re on top or if you’re up-and-coming; if you’re hungry for it, then I would work with you. I have a Pop/Soul edge about myself. The stuff I was doing at Aftermath was more adult contemporary, which was cool, but this is more of my style.

DX: Is success determined by the opportunities or the rewards?
TV: To me, it would be the opportunity. For those that come out, success depends on the individual and I think that, for me, just the opportunity is enough. You can learn and grow from it to become a better person and to know what you will or won’t do. As long as there is an opportunity for me to grow, that’s better for me!

DX: "Fallin’" serves as interesting song with your career. How does your relationship affect your music career?
TV: Love should enhance you if you find the right person. It should never hinder you from doing anything like. Those situations can happen, but you have to find the right balance. I’m not in a situation where I would stop everything that I’m doing to call it happiness. When it’s right, it’s right…

DX: So, you never had a crush on Ne-Yo when you were in school?
TV: Me and Ne-Yo are just friends. [Laughs] We’re just friends! Thank you for making me laugh though. He’s a good friend, but never have we ever dated. Actually, his sister and my sister are best friends. We’ve known each other for years. It’s strictly friends. If you’re cool, you’re cool. He’s always cool; a nice guy.

DX: Sounds like you’re blushing…
TV: Man, Kevin, it’s nothing… [Laughs]

DX: The world is now in a live in the TV lifestyle, with YouTube and MySpace allowing everyone a shot at their own happiness. How does that affect the business?
TV: It really affects the music business, but it’s going to advance as time goes on. I don’t know. I think that there is going to be a change. It’s already starting. You got to do your research and know what’s going on in the game. We, as artists, have to know because it affects your craft, how you survive and how you make money. It’s important for us to know all of that; how technology is advancing and about the computer, the iPhone, Myspace and all that. You can go anywhere and be watched and recorded. They can splice and dice it and make you look different than who you are. But people are scared of any type of change. It’s about balance.

DX: Most people wouldn’t be able to wait as long as you have, especially with the talent you have, how do you navigate through troubled waters?
TV: I don’t even think that it’s waiting. Through it all, I have stayed doing something. After my Universal situation, I thought I was done in the music business. I just thought that it was going to have to be a plan B. I got evicted, my car got repossessed. I am a female and I go through things too. I live in L.A. and it is not easy to live out here. I was going through things, but by the grace of God, the situation with Aftermath was a divine connection. Here I am with nothing and I meet Dre! I had nothing to lose and everything to gain; that was my mentality. I was blessed throughout the whole thing. I just worked with will.i.am; I’m on Flo Rida’s new album. I feel like the good Lord is looking down on me. I just love to sing and I will never let anyone take away my confidence. If you know what you can do with your talent, then never let anyone take away your dreams. Even if nobody liked my music, I wouldn’t care – I mean, I’d care – but I would still love what I’m doing.

DX: How long have you known Kameelah "Meelah" Williams for?
TV: I have known Meelah, we all went to the same school.

DX: So, you weren’t there when they did “This Lil’ Game We Play”…?
TV: It’s something to think about. When you’re young, or something, I don’t know if that was. I was their friend at that time and I was just getting to know them. I couldn’t answer that question though.

DX: Those were some pretty funny games they were playin’ back in the day [Laughs]. Do you think a song like “Erotic” has it’s own games to be played?
TV: Well, since then, yeah, it does. It’s something to think about. Where I was mentally was in a different place than I am now. I wasn’t thinking about what I was writing. It is a little explicit, but I am just more cautious now. I’m not saying that I’m a saint, but I’m trying to say that I want to think about what we do and put out there.

DX: You met a lot of people, but never allowed that to really influence your style, how do you allow your own originality to shine like your peers have?
TV: My voice is really different. Even if I tried to copy someone, I couldn’t let my voice mimic it. I tried to put my own style into the music and I know what works for me. There’s already a Beyonce out there, there’s already an Alicia Keys. You’re individuality is a great asset to have. I try to be me and be comfortable.

DX: What was there to do for a kid in the entertainment industry living in Las Vegas?
TV: There would be school dances. We didn’t have any sports. It was a straight performance arts school. You were around people who were passionate about their crafts. We were surrounded by it all and fed off of that. Talent shows, house parties, you know. We’re kids, we’re young and trying to figure it all out.

DX: On your Myspace page, you say, “…with all the haphazardly manufactured and pre-fabricated artists popping up, chances are slim that a true talent will blossom.” Do you still feel that way?
TV: Yeah. I do. As far as having longevity, I think so. Success is measured depending on the person. There are a lot of things that I wanted to do that hasn’t officially gotten there, but there are still opportunities coming about. I don’t know, Kevin, we shall see. I am just waiting for the opportunities. I feel that my talent has blossomed, but it’s just a matter of how you see it. From a worldly perspective, people probably never seen me and I don’t know what will happen, whether I become a singer or get into another career, at least I can say that I didn’t give up without a fight. Everybody has a dream, you can’t be mad that I have a dream. Blossom or not blossom, I think that I’m giving it a shot and that’s just how I feel.