LeToya Luckett forged solo career in Atlanta

As her sophomore effort, "Lady Love," hits stores Aug. 25, Luckett talked about her local connections over a quickly disappearing plate of jerk chicken wings at Buckhead's Justin's Restaurant:

Singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. "OK, let me tell you this quick, crazy story about how [her first single from 'Lady Love,' 'Not Anymore'] came about: I had already recorded like two songs with Ne-Yo before this record. And this one time, I was in the Smoothie King in the [Houston Galleria] mall -- feeding my face as usual, after opening up my second Lady L boutique -- and he called me. He was like, 'Hey, I'm writing you a record! What do you want to talk about?' This and this and this. I was like, 'I don't know. But I already know you're a genius at what you do. Come up with something.'

"I think the next day, they were like, 'OK Ne-Yo's got you a record. ... Can we fly you out to Atlanta [to record it]?' They sent me the reference, and I was in love with it by the first verse. It sounds so personal. It sounds like something that a lot of women are going to be able to relate to. And I know I've been through the situation before. ... It's crazy -- crazy, scary, wonderful -- that Ne-Yo can write so well from a woman's perspective."

Stylist (and Usher's wife) Tameka Foster Raymond. "Oh my gosh -- my whole style [during the promotion and marketing] for the first album was like her vision. I think with her getting to know my personality, it was very easy for her to dress me. She knew I loved cigarette pants, skinny-leg pants, I was a pants girl. And bright colors. Sexy -- but still cool, and laid-back. She definitely helped me to achieve that look."

Songwriter and producer Bishop. "Awesome and a lot of fun to work with. He gave me a jewel with that first single. He is a jewel."

Singer-songwriter-TV star Kandi Burruss. "An exceptional writer. She is gifted. ... I never got to see an episode of the first 'Real Housewives [of Atlanta],' but I heard it was really good and funny. And that the people are kind of [she opens her arms and eyes wide in an exaggerated fashion]. Yeah. That. I can't say Kandi's that, but like I said I haven't seen the show. I do know she's talented. And a star, without a doubt."

The upcoming movie "The Preacher's Kid" (shot in Atlanta). "To have my first role in a movie be a leading role, it's like 'Wow!' I play the preacher's daughter -- and no, she's not a crazy, wilding-out kind of girl. You know what they say about preacher's kids. ... But with her, her father's just kept her so involved with the church and is so very, very protective, she has not gotten a chance to make her own decisions and fulfill her dreams outside of the church. And that's what she wants -- just a little room to breathe."

"One thing I learned about my first movie experience? You can't be late. They don't play that. You don't have to be on time, you have to be before time. I remember I was three minutes late one time and it got all of the way back to Warner Brothers. I was like, 'Three minutes late?! That's early for me!' ... But I can respect that. And it's changed my whole way of doing business, where that's concerned. It's helped me."