1 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: Brand institudes. All that's okay, becaus no one here is 2 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: Welcome back to teen Beat. I am your host, Danielle Fischel, 3 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: your guide for a weekly journey into awkward teenage years 4 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: and embarrassing childhood stories that have somehow teamed up to 5 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: create a powerhouse influence on who we are today. Every week, 6 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: I sit down with interesting people who've done interesting things, 7 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 1: in hopes of connecting in this commonality. Knowing that the 8 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: stories of our past have shaped our blueprints of today. 9 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: And since I shared my youth with millions of TV 10 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: viewers living in public from twelve to nineteen years years old, 11 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: it's time to turn the tables. I see it like this. 12 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: I gave you my childhood. It's time we hear yours 13 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: and guys. If I had my brothers, this podcast would 14 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 1: be about one thing, and one thing only, something I'm 15 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: already always talking about. No, not Boy Meets World, not 16 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: the finicky nature of the sneakers app not even my 17 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: local topanga mal. It would be about late nineties, early 18 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: two thousand's R and B. I could argue and convince 19 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: just about anyone willing to listen that this was peak 20 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: time for the genre, especially when it comes to strong 21 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: talented women who are still thriving in the industry. Mary 22 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: J Bli, Jaliah Brandy, Missy, Destiny's Child, s WV Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Monica, TLC, 23 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,279 Speaker 1: Escape and Vogue, Faith Evans, Adina Howard, Kalise. The list 24 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: goes on and on, and my guest this week is 25 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: a pivotal member of this sorority. She's a triple threat who, 26 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: as a child, began her career in dance as a 27 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: child prodigy of sorts, focusing on ballet, jazz and tap dance, 28 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: a style in which she'd study under and later with, 29 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: Crispin Glover. But it was her voice that landed her 30 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: an Innerscope record deal in the mid to late nineties, 31 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: resulting in her double platinum self titled debut featuring collaborations 32 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: with Babyface, Diane Warren, Drew Hill, Silk the Shocker, and 33 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: Missy Elliott, and her song on the Bulwarth soundtrack Ghetto 34 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: Superstar featuring Praz and the Late Old Dirty Bastard, earned 35 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: her a Grammy nomination in the Best Rap Performance by 36 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: a Duo or Group category. But come On It was 37 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: her second album, also platinum, nineteen ninety nine's Fear of 38 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 1: Flying and the single case of the X that real 39 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: heads no is the jam come on that song and 40 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: soon after she'd be forever immortalized as part of the 41 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: Grammy winning Moulin Rouge possecut Lady Marmalade with Christina Aguilera, 42 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: Lil Kim Pink and Missy a track that my kids, kids, 43 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: kids will still be blasting. And don't even get me 44 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: started on how good she made a rugrat song and 45 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: she's nowhere near done. Her tenth studio album, Retrospect, was 46 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 1: just independently released, marking a new journey for the singer, 47 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,399 Speaker 1: and it features Snoop Dogg, two Short and twenty one Savage, 48 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: just to name a few of the guests. But the 49 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: real standout is her now creating on her own terms 50 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: as a veteran in the game with a sound influenced 51 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: by seventies and eighties soul mixed with modern day hip 52 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: hop roots. I am honored to welcome my former twenty 53 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: one Hottest Stars Under twenty one partner in a nineteen 54 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 1: ninety nine issue of teen People. MAYA good to see you, 55 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: and it's only been four years. We're twenty five now, right. 56 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're about that exactly. 57 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: So good to see you. This really does feel like 58 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: a reunion of a teen people. 59 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: Shoot, my goodness. 60 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: I remember seeing that picture for the first time and thinking, 61 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: was that was that the best picture of me they 62 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: could find? I look very much like a deer in headlights. 63 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 2: I'm like, you're not the only one, because I was 64 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: thinking the exact same. You didn't like it of you either, No, 65 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 2: I didn't. 66 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: I thought, I think we're cuter than this. But you know, listen, 67 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: I'm just happy to have had the honor of standing 68 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 1: next to you and what we had a lot of 69 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: those you know, so much fun. We have so much 70 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: to talk about. But there's really only one place I 71 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: want to start, and that's with take me There, a 72 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 1: song for the rug Rats movie that has no right 73 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 1: being as good as it is. Can you tell me 74 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: how that song came together? 75 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: You know, some things you just have no clue about. 76 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: You just show up and go. But I was in 77 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 2: the studio with Teddy Riley creating that song, actually recording 78 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 2: that song, because it was actually written already when I 79 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: walked in, specifically for the sound check. I did cut 80 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: it here in La really, yes, But I was not 81 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 2: in the studio with Black Street or Mace. 82 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: Okay. 83 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: And I did, however, get to work with the iconic 84 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 2: producer himself, Teddy Ryle in nineteen ninety eight, which was 85 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: the very first year I hit the scene. 86 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: So yeah, so you're like, oh, this is a great 87 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,799 Speaker 1: way to enter what is going to be the entire rest. 88 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 2: Of your career. Well, you're not thinking that way. You're 89 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,239 Speaker 2: just kind of like going through the motions and learning 90 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 2: as you go in new territory. Yes, but it was awesome. 91 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 2: I learned that night that he was also a libra. 92 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 2: Oh I have a libra as well. 93 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: Okay, and you guys connected over that. 94 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,239 Speaker 2: He works very similar to myself. It's very quiet until 95 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 2: it's show time. 96 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: And then it's time to go. Yeah, that's actually one 97 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: of the things I want to talk to you about. 98 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: But I want specifically for this song. When you first 99 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: hear it and they're spelling out rug Rats, are you 100 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: like what the is this? Or do you ride away? 101 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 2: Love it? So I have a baby brother, we're twelve 102 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 2: years apart. I already knew what rug Rats was, Okay, okay, 103 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 2: And that's actually when he became my fan, because yeah, 104 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: he's like I get. 105 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: It now you're doing Rugrats music. 106 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 2: Yes, I get it. Yeah, he didn't really care about 107 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 2: his sister before then. But I always loved Angelica the character. 108 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 2: So I was so ecstatic to be a part of 109 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: the soundtrack. 110 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: So cool and the music video. I feel like an 111 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: entire generation is connected to the song and the visuals. 112 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, I could literally make a whole podcast just 113 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: about take me there. Do you have any memories from 114 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: the video shoot? 115 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:41,799 Speaker 2: I do so. Jamie King the iconic choreographer. He's worked 116 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 2: with Madonna, Jenna Jackson and so on. He puts tours together. 117 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 2: I remember he choreographed this video, okay, and I learned 118 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 2: the choreography the night before, coming in from somewhere in Europe, 119 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 2: and the next day we were on set. It was 120 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 2: just so bick fast. 121 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,679 Speaker 1: I'm gonna need you to teach me that xylophone part. 122 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 2: That was actually a freestyle. 123 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's my favorite part. So congratulations to you. No offense, 124 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: Jamie King. But your little xylophone number is something special. 125 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 2: Do you remember the movie Big Yes? 126 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, that was what was in your home at Yeah, 127 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: your Big Moment. 128 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 2: I love it. 129 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: I mean Teddy Riley, as you mentioned, he is a 130 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: legendary producer, one of the many that you've worked with. 131 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: While I was researching, I was just counting up the 132 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: superstars you have collaborated with. Check Out this list. It 133 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: might be the best list out there. Swizz Beats, Babyface, 134 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: Missy y Cleff, Jimmy jam And, Terry Lewis, Timbaland, Rock Wilder, 135 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: Tricky Stewart, Rodney Jerkins, and Scott Storch. And that's truly 136 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: just a tease of your entire roster. So I'm going 137 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: to put you on the spot a little bit here. 138 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: Who blew you away the most from a producer standpoint? 139 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness. Well, Tricky Stewart is an instrumentalist. He 140 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 2: knows how to play instruments. Yeah, and I've watched him 141 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 2: on the keys. But it's also a tie between Wycliffe 142 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 2: because he's a guitarist, Okay, And I see it happen 143 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 2: in real time. I get to watch them actually create 144 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 2: from nothing, which is magic. Yeah. 145 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, seeing there be nothing, truly nothing, and then someone 146 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,679 Speaker 1: go I have an idea and then to be able 147 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: to with their body bring it into like fruition. Yeah, 148 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: it's magical. 149 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. And Wycliff is also a performer, so he has 150 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 2: all of that experience on stage and he's so spontaneous. 151 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 2: He's also a comedian. He brings it to his creation 152 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 2: of music, and just being in the studio is electric, right, 153 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 2: I bet lots of good stories, backstories. 154 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: Is there a producer out there that you haven't worked 155 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: with yet that you're still dying to work with? 156 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 2: Well, he's not with us anymore, but I'd always wanted 157 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 2: to work with Quincy Jones, and still even though I 158 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 2: have a song on my very first album that Babyface produced, 159 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 2: I didn't actually get to meet him during that process. 160 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: So I would really like to work with Babyface. Okay, 161 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 2: let's manifest that for you. Yes, I love that. 162 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: Let's talk a little bit about Maya in DC. Dad 163 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: was in a band Jump Street. So were you always 164 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: surrounded by music always? 165 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 2: Since I was born? I had a baby picture, she 166 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: can share it with you. Pub I was obviously in panthers, 167 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 2: and my mom is teaching me how to play piano. 168 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 2: Her dad orchestrated for orchestras. He wrote all of the 169 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 2: sheet music for every instrument orchestra by hand. Composer. Oh 170 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 2: classic pianist. But yeah, there were always instruments in our house. 171 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 2: My dad is a singer, the leader of his band 172 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 2: always since he was about sixteen seventeen, and it was 173 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 2: an electric living room, you know, and so much rich music. 174 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 1: You started dancing at a very young age, but you 175 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: also played violin and obviously you sang. It was like 176 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: you were a musical bo Jackson. How did you choose 177 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: which avenue you wanted to pursue? 178 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:42,599 Speaker 2: It was actually Broadway for me. Yes, So I was 179 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 2: going to college after high school, University of Maryland, College Park. 180 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 2: The goal was eventually to go to Juilliard at some 181 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 2: point in New York and pursue Broadway because I love 182 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 2: to do so many things. But the record deal happened 183 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 2: in the midst of my first year of college, and 184 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 2: I've been recording demos, taking the train back and forth 185 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 2: to Philadelphia from DC to DC, yeah, two hours. And 186 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 2: had to make a choice because there was investment being 187 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 2: put up and there was a label that was interested. 188 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 2: Said well, this is a shot, yeah, and I might 189 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,959 Speaker 2: not get again, so let's go for it. College is 190 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 2: always there. 191 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: Correct sees it sees that chance. Like I said, we 192 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: did a photo shoot together in the late nineties and 193 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: you are a very sweet, relatively soft spoken person. But 194 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: musically you have always commanded such a presence on stage. 195 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: You are anything but shy. There is that how you've 196 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: always been. Is that your libra personality? 197 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 2: Yes? So my parents are polar opposite, okay, but they 198 00:11:55,840 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 2: are both libras and I'm the even balanced ten ten libra. 199 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 2: The perfect amount of my dad to survive this business 200 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 2: is in me. Okay, the perfect amount of my mom 201 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 2: to survive this business and be super creative. Okay. My 202 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 2: dad is the performer. She's the artist, but she's also 203 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 2: the accountant. She's sown my costumes. She's so great with organization. 204 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 2: My dad not so much. But he's the creator and 205 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 2: understands spending and investment and you know, aesthetics. Yeah, all 206 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 2: of these things all a perfect mix of both of 207 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 2: your parents. And you're right, you need both sides, yes, 208 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 2: to make it, Yes. 209 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 1: In this industry. 210 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 2: Yes. 211 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 1: So what was a question was what were you like 212 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,439 Speaker 1: as a kid? Were you? 213 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 2: Well? It depends on the environment. Because I grew up 214 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 2: with brothers. My dad raised me a little rough around 215 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 2: the edges. I was a bit of a time boy. 216 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 2: We played tag football, tackle football, a grass stands on 217 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 2: the knees. I was very athletic, yeap, just kind of whatever. 218 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,599 Speaker 1: Uh huh, yeah, you were just thrown. 219 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 2: In gin dirty whatever it was. I was very active. 220 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,839 Speaker 2: Then there were the activities that I was placed in, thankfully, 221 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 2: the summer camps and all the things major rettes. But 222 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 2: I was very quiet. I was an observer, still am 223 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 2: until it was time right not to be and then 224 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 2: but I was loud when I was a kid. As 225 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 2: far as playtime, okay, it is concerned, it was tomboy. Okay. 226 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: I love that you were a high school senior at 227 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 1: only sixteen years old and it wasn't that long after 228 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 1: that that you would be on TRL. So what was 229 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: high school like for you? Yeah? 230 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,319 Speaker 2: I was the quiet girl until about my junior or 231 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 2: senior year. 232 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: Okay. 233 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 2: I became the captain of the dance team, yes, along 234 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 2: with another girl name Nessa, okay, and you know we 235 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 2: were leaders. But I also had my very first job 236 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 2: in high school at fourteen as a day teacher teacher, yeah, 237 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 2: outside of school. So I was very disciplined, very focused 238 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 2: and driven. I did a lot of shopping. Oh and 239 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 2: so my identity you know, came about I got my 240 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 2: nose pierced illegally with a fake ID. 241 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: Oh my sixteen, where'd you get the fake idea? 242 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 2: At the mall? At the mall, one of those kiosks. 243 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 1: I love them all. I had a kiosk for fake. 244 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 2: Id's, well for nose piercings. Oh for nos yet I 245 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 2: don't know, Yes, I do know who gave me the 246 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 2: hook up my friends in high school. He said, I 247 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 2: can get you a fake ID. But yeah, I got it. 248 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 2: I showed my ID. 249 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: You know what did your parents think about the nose piercing. 250 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 2: Well, they thought it was fake because I'm a whimp 251 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 2: when it comes to needles. 252 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: So they were like, there's no way she would do that. 253 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: And did you just let that go? Oh yeah, it's fake? 254 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 2: No, I said, no, it's real. They were disappointed at first, 255 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 2: they said, why would you do that to your face? 256 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 2: Your career said it'll be fine. 257 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: You know, I look at your now, it's like such 258 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: an iconic part of who you are. 259 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 2: I guess I was a little rebellious back then, just 260 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 2: trying to find my own yes, identity list individualities. 261 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: I got my belly button pierced at fifteen, and it 262 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: was still I'd still have it today if it were 263 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: up to me, but I've had it beaten out of. 264 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 2: Me by I've always wanted one. 265 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: Really. 266 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. 267 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: Oh, it's so funny. It's stopping you now. 268 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 2: It's never too late, never. 269 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: Too late, never too late. On weekends, you were studying 270 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: with Crispin Glover with your own solo in a Kennedy 271 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: Center performance, and you were on BET's teen Summit. Were you, 272 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: in any way still able to live a normal teenager's life. 273 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: I know you got your nose pierced at them all 274 00:15:56,040 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: and taught dance classes, but one it really started happening 275 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: for you and you were performing for crowds. Were you 276 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: able to feel like you had a normal teenage life? 277 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 2: Yeah? I think so. Yeah. Yeah. I was a country girl. 278 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 2: I rode dirt bikes and goat carts and all of 279 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 2: the things. So we definitely had a great life as kids. Yeah, 280 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 2: and teenagers. It was busy, but I loved it because 281 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 2: it was a bit of independency as well as seeing 282 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 2: a check right name on it, you know, every few weeks. 283 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 2: It was great. 284 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: What was the first thing you splurged on and treated 285 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: yourself to? 286 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 2: Mm It was always clothes and shoes. I would always 287 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 2: be at the mall, you know, and it was literally 288 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 2: an investment for my performances because I was tap dancing solo, yeah, 289 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 2: and becoming this the girl that I wanted to be. 290 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 2: Right at that time, it was around fifteen or sixteen, 291 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 2: so it still had something to do with business, huh. 292 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. And then I think we also got to use 293 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: it as a write off. You could buy clothes and 294 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: be like, I need this for performing now that they 295 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: don't even let you write it off anymore. 296 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 2: Well, that was before the record deal, Okay, knew we 297 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 2: didn't have the business established that this was just me 298 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 2: in high school, you know, with my first job, just 299 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:21,359 Speaker 2: thinking his business. Yeah. And the reasoning behind that is 300 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 2: because you know, we always had handy down clothes or 301 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 2: my mom would go to the Thrish store and repurpose things, 302 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 2: she would up cycle, or she would actually make our clothes, 303 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: and we hated them because they weren't like the name 304 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:35,639 Speaker 2: brand clothes that all the cool kids were wearing, and 305 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:39,120 Speaker 2: we got teased for everything. But when I found that independence, 306 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 2: I got to choose what I was going to wear. 307 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 2: But I was also an artist just like herself, sketching 308 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 2: designs and all of these things and bringing those things 309 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 2: to life. She sewed my prom dress that I designed. 310 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 2: Really yeah, so those are the first things that I 311 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 2: would spend with my own money. Now, when the advance 312 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 2: came for the record deal, I invested in equipment because 313 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 2: I've always wanted to record harmonies. I was always fascinated 314 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 2: with layering, okay, my voice and different notes, and I 315 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 2: would flip karaoke tapes and cassettes over and over and again, 316 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 2: and equality was just awful. So that's the first thing 317 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 2: that I did equipment. 318 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: Investing in yourself. Again, everything you're saying, I keep hearing 319 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 1: that perfect mix of your dad and your mom. You know, 320 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: You're like, this is an expense, but it's an investment 321 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 1: in myself as well, and it will allowed me to create. 322 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was fun. It wasn't even investment to me. 323 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 2: I just wanted to do it. 324 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, like a toy, but for fun and your career. 325 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,160 Speaker 1: So B T one O six in Park and TRL 326 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 1: were both so pivotal in your career. I don't mean 327 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 1: to sound like an old lady here, but I don't 328 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: think people realize how great of a time that was 329 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: to be a part of Maya could be. Doing the 330 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: first segment and then Korn was premiering a video immediately after. 331 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:08,920 Speaker 1: Did you like doing those shows? 332 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely? There was a live audience and there's nothing like that. 333 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 2: You know, give and receive the exchange, the energy. Seeing 334 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 2: Times Square outside of the windows and the fans and 335 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 2: the supporters. It's electric when you're just a spectator watching 336 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 2: at home on the tube. But when you're there, it's 337 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 2: in the whole other world. It's awesome. 338 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 1: Do you have any memorable stories from a trol Yes? 339 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 2: What viral a couple of years ago? Odb Okay Prize 340 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 2: and I I'm not sure if why club was there, Okay, 341 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 2: it may have been, but we were all on the 342 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:58,440 Speaker 2: couch being interviewed for the Ghetto Superstar record. ODB was 343 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 2: a very honest guy, and I think the question that 344 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 2: was asked was what would you like your legacy to 345 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 2: be or how would you give back to your community? 346 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 2: What it is? What is it that you would like 347 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 2: to give back? Huh he said nothing straight to the camera. 348 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 2: I'm just telling you what. Okay, Well, maybe that's the 349 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 2: honest answer here. 350 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: Did you say anything? Did you like? 351 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 2: We just all burst out laughing, all of us, the 352 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 2: host of the audience, everyone on that couch. Nothing. I mean, 353 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 2: it wasn't even nicely said nothing. That's how I said, 354 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 2: said it. 355 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: Not modeled at my lab or anything. 356 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:48,439 Speaker 2: Just nothing. 357 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, I love it so much. I found 358 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:03,640 Speaker 1: a clip on line of Carson Daily's Birthday special where 359 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 1: he was that trl or was a birthday tl MTV? 360 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 1: Maybe yeah it was MGV. Yes, and you are giving 361 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 1: him a lap dance during the final credit. Nicky Hilton 362 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: is there, Jessica Simpson is with Nick Liche, and Sarah 363 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: Silverman is on Jimmy Gimmel's lap. It is so wildly 364 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: y two K Do you remember that typing at all? 365 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:34,359 Speaker 2: I remember clearly, and I remember all the reactions in 366 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 2: the faces. I don't know if they edited it to 367 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 2: be that way, but I mean the jaws. 368 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 1: Drup jaws were on the floor. 369 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 2: My love is like whoa, Yes, cocky era just very 370 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:54,880 Speaker 2: overly sexy and cocky of a record that Missy Elliott wrote, 371 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 2: by the way, so of course it would be of course. Yeah. 372 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 2: That was I think a shocking moment for myself, but 373 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:06,920 Speaker 2: so great. So this is not going to happen again 374 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 2: because I'm not going to be able to fit these shorts. 375 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: Every again, enjoy it. 376 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,360 Speaker 2: Well, you can do it while you can. 377 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 1: I also stumbled upon a picture from the two thousand 378 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: and one MTV Janet Jackson Tribute, which you performed at, 379 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: and the photo is you bust A Rhymes, Hank Tyres, 380 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: Stevie Wonder, and Aliah, which is quite the lineup. But 381 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: it also got me thinking about your interactions with Aliyah, 382 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 1: who would tragically die just a few months after that 383 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: photo was taken. Did you get to know her at all? 384 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 1: Did you have a relationship with her? 385 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:46,400 Speaker 2: We done a couple of different shows together. We were 386 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 2: just always crossing, yeah, in workplaces. And we'd done a 387 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 2: photo shoot in New York. There were individual photo shoots 388 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 2: I think they were called fanzines, Okay, yeah, time where 389 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 2: you do several you know, outlets at once in one place, 390 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 2: lots of hair magazines, et cetera. And you know, we 391 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 2: kicked it, but we never had like a very close relationship. 392 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 2: It was more so a work associate out of respect, 393 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 2: you know, very friendly at all times, cordial. Yeah. Yeah. 394 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: So you signed to Interscope Records at nineteen, pretty quickly, 395 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:26,720 Speaker 1: right out of high school. What is it like going 396 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 1: from Maryland to the very fast paced music business recording 397 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:34,360 Speaker 1: that first album, especially because so much of your life 398 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 1: had been focused on dance, not necessarily becoming a pop 399 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 1: R and B sensation. So what was that transition like 400 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: from high school to interscope deal? 401 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 2: Well, I was actually in the orchestra and choir, gospel choir, Okay, 402 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 2: So so singing was always yeah, singing was always there, 403 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 2: but it was more so done in like plays or 404 00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 2: a Broadway rightay idea? Yeah, capacity, So you know, the 405 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 2: recording artist thing was unexpected. Yeah, and of course you know, 406 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 2: I knew that I could execute it because of the 407 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 2: entertainment value, and entertainer was always the goal in mind. 408 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 2: Some of the inspirations were Gregory Hines, who I'd seen 409 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,640 Speaker 2: live when I was about ten years old on Broadway 410 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,639 Speaker 2: and got to train with him and dance with him. 411 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 2: But Sammy Davis Junior, singing, acting, dancing, just personalities and 412 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 2: very nice, you know, very warm and welcoming spirits. So 413 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,360 Speaker 2: they were always in my living room, black and white films, etc. 414 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 2: So I was always surrounded by music through my grandfather, 415 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:51,879 Speaker 2: my mom, my dad, and I was always doing something 416 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 2: in choir or national anthems and talent shows. But the 417 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:04,360 Speaker 2: goal was never recording artists until my late later teens. Yeah, 418 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 2: and so were your. 419 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: Parents involved in your career still at that time, like 420 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:12,200 Speaker 1: when you signed an innerscope, are your parents actively involved 421 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 1: in it? 422 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 2: Yes, So it's really wild. As I was in high 423 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 2: school going into college, i'd recorded demos in Philly, but 424 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 2: prior to that, I recorded my very own first song, 425 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,160 Speaker 2: original of my own and I was fifteen years old. 426 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 2: They invested in me to do that. That was actually 427 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 2: shopped to the independent label that was in Washington, DC 428 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:42,199 Speaker 2: who discovered me. And my parents were my managers at 429 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 2: the time, and my mom had experience running my dad's 430 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 2: independent label called TMC Productions, where he'd recorded his own 431 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 2: records for years, pressed up his own vinyl, took them 432 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 2: to the radio station in our state, so they had 433 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 2: all of the chops and what we were doing business 434 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 2: in a very boutique way. But at the release of 435 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 2: my very first single, they got divorced. 436 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 1: Wrench in the system. 437 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, so that didn't work out, and you know, I 438 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:17,439 Speaker 2: found myself being managed by those that I didn't know. Okay, 439 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 2: they were strangers, and you know, divorces can be taxing, 440 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,920 Speaker 2: and so neither one of them were kind of capable 441 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 2: at the time to really be engolfed. Yeah, the business 442 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 2: of maya. 443 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:35,479 Speaker 1: Yes, and it is all encompassing, especially at the beginning 444 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: when you're getting started and it's meetings and phone calls 445 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: and appointments and yeah, and you're going through a divorce. 446 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: Guess what, there's not a lot of time for thinking 447 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 1: about all. 448 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, but my mom has always remained my accountant and 449 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 2: watched the books since so. 450 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 1: Great my mom was. My mom was that person for 451 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 1: me too, and she was meticulous about it. Yes, she 452 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:00,359 Speaker 1: was always so worried that I'd ever have a reason 453 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 1: to suspect that something had been mismanaged, and so she 454 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:08,359 Speaker 1: kept every paste ub I mean, just meticulous records of 455 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:10,800 Speaker 1: everything in case I ever needed it. I never needed it, 456 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 1: but it is. It's we're lucky. 457 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 2: There are horror stories, true horror stories. Yes, very fortunate. 458 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:22,879 Speaker 1: Yes, you have somehow also been able to avoid being 459 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: gossip fodder for nearly three decades. You've kept to yourself 460 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: and you've honestly you've lived a relatively private life. Let's 461 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:36,360 Speaker 1: say you were just starting out in twenty twenty six 462 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: and social media and content creation is so important. Do 463 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:42,639 Speaker 1: you think you could do it. 464 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:46,159 Speaker 2: I think I could do it with the faith that 465 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 2: I've been rooted in in any timeline, any world. I think, 466 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:52,920 Speaker 2: of course today would be a lot tougher, but I 467 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 2: would I would want a mentor for myself, Okay that 468 00:27:56,800 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 2: has walked this business and walked the shop of an entertainer, 469 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 2: experience the highs, the lows, and devastations to guide me 470 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 2: and hold my hand along the way. Because it's a 471 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:15,159 Speaker 2: different time that we're living in with oversaturation and sensory 472 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 2: overload and mental health awareness i'd say is at the forefront, 473 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 2: which is great because we didn't have those discussions back then. 474 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 2: But I think my parents exposed me to so much 475 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 2: for a long time. It instilled so many values, which 476 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 2: is why I am a huge advocate of the arts 477 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 2: and sports or any programs for youth so that you 478 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 2: can get through this thing called life, regardless of the 479 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 2: time or the era. But I think mentors are very important. 480 00:28:49,000 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're absolutely right. Let's get into Lady Marmalague. This 481 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 1: obviously is just heavy hitter central and you are all 482 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 1: so talented. Do you remember the pitch for it? And 483 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: how did you find yourself on the song? 484 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 2: Yes? The managers that I had at the time, they 485 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 2: were in touch with the record label Interscope, and they 486 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 2: mentioned it without too many details. I was familiar with 487 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 2: the song, of course, and of course the names. I 488 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 2: just said, yes, of course, I'm a fan of everyone, 489 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 2: and I didn't think twice about it. And there we 490 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 2: were laying our backgrounds together in California one day, and 491 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 2: then we cut our leads separately. But I was a 492 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 2: fan of everyone, including the producers. Yeah. So it was 493 00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 2: a match made in heaven and it was a lot 494 00:29:58,120 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 2: of fun. I'm noticing a. 495 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: Little with you that's so important, which is that when 496 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 1: an opportunity that sounds exciting to you comes about, you 497 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 1: don't overthink it. You seize it immediately. You go, hey, 498 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: there's a record label right out of high school. This 499 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 1: is unexpected. Yes, and Lady Marvelot, Yes, and it's really 500 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:25,640 Speaker 1: paid off for you. The trusting your instincts and trusting 501 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 1: your gut. Is that something that your parents have nurtured 502 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 1: in you? Is that something is trusting your intuition something 503 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: that's important to you. 504 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 2: Yes, my parents have everything to do with that. I'd 505 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:41,320 Speaker 2: say there was a lot of fear and intimidation or 506 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 2: insecurity in my childhood uncertainty okay, but the art's definitely 507 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 2: taught me. Teamwork, of course taught me that you just 508 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 2: go for it. Yeah, you might make a mistake, you 509 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 2: might fall in your face eight times in front of 510 00:30:55,960 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 2: the world, but there's a lesson to be learned. You 511 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 2: actually get to be better the next time, and you're 512 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 2: not alone, right, you know, So go for it? Why regret? 513 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 2: Why not? So I've seen the improvement, and I think 514 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:17,240 Speaker 2: I've had opportunities that prove time and time again that 515 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 2: you know, you might suck at something first, but if 516 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:24,000 Speaker 2: you have a little bit of resilience and perseverance and can. 517 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: Take good. 518 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 2: The criticism a lot the way, yeah you might just 519 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:31,600 Speaker 2: get good at it or be great one day. Just 520 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 2: hang in there. Yeah, so you all. 521 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 1: Laid some of your tracks together. You did the independent 522 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,320 Speaker 1: the solos separately, Yes, but Lady Marvel, you're all in 523 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:43,400 Speaker 1: the same room. Did it just feel special immediately? I 524 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: find it hard to believe that it didn't sound like 525 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:48,040 Speaker 1: a Grammy winner from just the very first get go. 526 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 2: Well, I wasn't even thinking Grammy. I was honestly thinking, 527 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:56,560 Speaker 2: oh this is for a film, How cool? Soundtracks. Oh, 528 00:31:56,760 --> 00:32:00,240 Speaker 2: this video is going to be amazing. Gas movie is 529 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,120 Speaker 2: a little bit different than music money, and I'm so 530 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 2: excited for that. So I wasn't really thinking Grammy because 531 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 2: I didn't even know at the time that sound songs 532 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 2: on soundtracks could get be dominated for Grammys, you know, Yeah, 533 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 2: I was still new. 534 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, so yeah, that's so crazy that then being 535 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: nominated for Grammy isn't eve Yeah, which makes sense. You're 536 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 1: thinking a movie, movie, money video. Grammy's like the last 537 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:30,040 Speaker 1: thing on your mind. I had mentioned your class of 538 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,760 Speaker 1: R and B singers from the late nineties early two thousands, 539 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 1: and it is stacked with talent who impressed you. Was 540 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:40,760 Speaker 1: there anyone that you were like a big fan of 541 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 1: from your peer group? 542 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:50,200 Speaker 2: Of course, I have to think about it from my 543 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:53,960 Speaker 2: pear girl. Oh yeah, Usher, m yeah, I'd work with 544 00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 2: Usher for the Michael Jackson thirtieth anniversary tribute. Yep, okay, 545 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 2: And you're just very focused. He's also a libra, such 546 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 2: a special place in your life. Yeah. My production partner 547 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 2: for this new album is a libra. Snoop is a libra. 548 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:15,720 Speaker 2: There are a lot of folks twenty one savages a libra. Yeah, 549 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 2: Lira's an I work so well together, lots of creative energy. Yeah, 550 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:29,920 Speaker 2: but yeah, who think about Yes, Usher is a great one. 551 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 2: So Usher, Yeah, I thought he was very focused driven. 552 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 2: He was so young when he stepped into this business, 553 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 2: probably about fourteen, yeah, maybe even younger when he recorded 554 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:44,680 Speaker 2: his first album and growing up in front of the world. Yeah, 555 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 2: but of course cardio dancing and singing are two different 556 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 2: types of breath work, and he mastered that so young. 557 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:55,400 Speaker 2: And to see him in rehearsals, but also see him 558 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:59,120 Speaker 2: perform at Esson Square Garden with no fear, oh like yay, 559 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:03,920 Speaker 2: like where this? Yeah, I was highly impressed. Michael Jackson 560 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 2: was in the room really joying our rehearsals. Whitney Houston 561 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:13,560 Speaker 2: was there, Oh my gosh, Timid and yes, you're just 562 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:18,800 Speaker 2: having it all. So I was so impressed with free energy. 563 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:21,560 Speaker 1: So do you think when you perform, because no one 564 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:24,719 Speaker 1: would ever think you're nervous watching you perform. Do you 565 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 1: are you putting on a character in order to be 566 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:29,760 Speaker 1: able to do it? Are you nervous inside? 567 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:34,080 Speaker 2: I think we all are a bit nervous because so 568 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:36,800 Speaker 2: many things can go wrong. Huh. And when it's in 569 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:41,760 Speaker 2: front of an arena crowd, something that's actually being taped 570 00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:48,359 Speaker 2: or filmed or live. I get so nervous inside when 571 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:51,880 Speaker 2: something is airing live because there's no room for mistakes. 572 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:56,200 Speaker 2: Gotta do it with millions watching Dancing with the Stars. 573 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:59,880 Speaker 2: Was that every single week for me? And I'm a dan. 574 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 1: I have absolutely no idea how you did not win 575 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:06,200 Speaker 1: Dancing with the Stars. Can we can we just for 576 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:10,400 Speaker 1: a moment talk about how you're the best dancer to 577 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:12,439 Speaker 1: have ever been on Dancing with the Stars. I'm saying 578 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:12,839 Speaker 1: it right now. 579 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:17,000 Speaker 2: So you can win in scores and points, which I did, 580 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:21,360 Speaker 2: but that doesn't matter. It's about are you being voted for. 581 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:26,040 Speaker 2: Your fan base has to chime in. If people think 582 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 2: you're safe because you have high scores, oh you might 583 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 2: technically be a good dancer, That's not what that show 584 00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:35,120 Speaker 2: is about. It's about, Okay, do the judges think, so, 585 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:40,560 Speaker 2: did you kneel every component of technique and this hand 586 00:35:40,680 --> 00:35:42,920 Speaker 2: and this finger placement or whatever it is that they 587 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:49,399 Speaker 2: judge timing an embodiment for that specific dance style, which 588 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:52,200 Speaker 2: I have no clue of because you're literally learning a 589 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:56,240 Speaker 2: new style of dance every single week. Not my forte 590 00:35:57,080 --> 00:36:00,520 Speaker 2: or anyone's for that matter. But it's about all of 591 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:03,319 Speaker 2: those things, including the votes at the end of the day, 592 00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:04,240 Speaker 2: which really counts. 593 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:06,799 Speaker 1: Are the thing at the end of the day, that's 594 00:36:06,840 --> 00:36:10,399 Speaker 1: the end all. Did you have a favorite dance from 595 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:12,239 Speaker 1: Dancing with the Stars? Is there anything when you look 596 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 1: back on your time you think that's my number one? 597 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 1: I'm the most proud of that. 598 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:24,560 Speaker 2: Yes, there was a very difficult dance on Dancing with 599 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:27,960 Speaker 2: the Stars that I'm most proud of because first by 600 00:36:28,120 --> 00:36:30,960 Speaker 2: seeing it, I didn't think I could do it. It's 601 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:35,080 Speaker 2: so technical and it's actually so brutal because your partner 602 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:40,120 Speaker 2: and you are kicking each other most of the time 603 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:48,360 Speaker 2: until you exactly my legs were black blue purple from bruising, 604 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:55,080 Speaker 2: and I loved it. But when I saw the performance, 605 00:36:55,880 --> 00:36:58,719 Speaker 2: and like, I literally worked over time to get it 606 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:05,960 Speaker 2: right because it was so difficult, so difficult. Looking back 607 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:08,080 Speaker 2: at it, I was so impressed. 608 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're like, I can't believe that's me. 609 00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:14,920 Speaker 2: In learning it in just one week and being lifted 610 00:37:15,120 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 2: in the air. Yes, yeah, it was a lot. 611 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:21,759 Speaker 1: Argentine Tango was my favorite too. Absolutely loved it, Yes, 612 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:25,440 Speaker 1: absolutely loved it. Same like I remember watching videos of 613 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:28,040 Speaker 1: it and being like I, I'm not going to be 614 00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:31,520 Speaker 1: able to do this, and the lifts and and I 615 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:35,640 Speaker 1: also huge bruise on my hip from a couple of 616 00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:37,600 Speaker 1: the you know lifts where you get swung around and 617 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:40,160 Speaker 1: you're just smacking your hip into each other. It's it's 618 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:44,520 Speaker 1: it's brutal, but it's my favorite one, my favorite performance. 619 00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:46,640 Speaker 1: I did everything about it, loved it. 620 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:50,000 Speaker 2: So much, so I have so much strength in it too. Yeah. 621 00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:53,960 Speaker 1: Absolutely, yep, you come away from that experience real ripped. 622 00:38:06,160 --> 00:38:06,200 Speaker 2: You. 623 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:09,120 Speaker 1: Last year performed on some dates with Brandy and Monica, 624 00:38:09,239 --> 00:38:11,960 Speaker 1: and I have to think that was a blast. I 625 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:14,839 Speaker 1: can't believe I missed it. As someone who is also 626 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:19,399 Speaker 1: heavily associated with nostalgia myself, do you enjoy seeing these 627 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:22,960 Speaker 1: crowds who have grown up with you coming out to 628 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:25,360 Speaker 1: support you and sing along to every word with you. 629 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:31,560 Speaker 2: Yes, it's so special to be amongst your families, literally 630 00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:36,960 Speaker 2: the peers, peers, your peers. You know, we speak the 631 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:41,200 Speaker 2: same language, and we've had lives that have been lived 632 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:45,440 Speaker 2: since we were teenagers. And the music that speaks to us, 633 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:49,200 Speaker 2: whether it would be core memories for some or where 634 00:38:49,239 --> 00:38:51,479 Speaker 2: we are in our lives because we're all still making 635 00:38:51,640 --> 00:38:56,799 Speaker 2: music that resonates with our timeline now and the world 636 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:59,480 Speaker 2: has changed so much and we're still here holding each 637 00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:02,560 Speaker 2: other down. And so I loved it. I loved being 638 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:07,400 Speaker 2: a spectator, just listening to all the nostalgic songwriting compositions, 639 00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:11,720 Speaker 2: the great music with bridges and modulations and wonderful lyrics. 640 00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:15,319 Speaker 2: My dad and I sat front of house at one 641 00:39:15,400 --> 00:39:17,480 Speaker 2: of the shows. I can't remember the city. I think 642 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:22,120 Speaker 2: it was actually Baltimore, which is, you know, close to 643 00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:26,600 Speaker 2: where we're from, and he held my hand. When Brandy 644 00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:29,640 Speaker 2: started singing have you Ever, I'm like, oh, the power 645 00:39:29,680 --> 00:39:33,719 Speaker 2: of music, the power of music and lyrics. So that 646 00:39:33,840 --> 00:39:37,320 Speaker 2: was so special for me, and it being from my 647 00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:42,000 Speaker 2: generation because parents and grandparents kind of talked down on 648 00:39:42,080 --> 00:39:45,600 Speaker 2: the generation shows under them about the music that we're 649 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:48,800 Speaker 2: making and it doesn't sound like real music anymore, you know. 650 00:39:49,239 --> 00:39:53,040 Speaker 2: So for him to resonate with something from my age, 651 00:39:53,120 --> 00:39:56,480 Speaker 2: Bracket was really great and an emotional song of that. 652 00:39:56,920 --> 00:39:58,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a beautiful. 653 00:39:58,480 --> 00:39:58,719 Speaker 2: Yeah. 654 00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:01,520 Speaker 1: I want to talk a little bit about Ghetto Superstar. 655 00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:05,279 Speaker 1: It's an infamous rumor that ODB was on the song 656 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:08,200 Speaker 1: because he was going door to door at the recording 657 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:12,560 Speaker 1: studio trying to force his way into songs. Is that true? 658 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:13,840 Speaker 2: I've never heard that. 659 00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:15,880 Speaker 1: Okay, so then I'm going to check out that is 660 00:40:16,040 --> 00:40:16,640 Speaker 1: not true. 661 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:18,600 Speaker 2: I don't know, I've never heard that. 662 00:40:18,719 --> 00:40:19,000 Speaker 1: Really. 663 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:22,279 Speaker 2: It could be because it was very spontaneous. 664 00:40:22,719 --> 00:40:25,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, all right, so not unsurprising for him to 665 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:27,279 Speaker 1: knock on the door and be like, I'm here, what 666 00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:27,759 Speaker 1: can I do? 667 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:32,640 Speaker 2: I actually believe that, really, I do believe that. 668 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:36,120 Speaker 1: Oh that is so funny. Do you have any fun 669 00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:42,000 Speaker 1: favorite experiences with him other than him saying nothing? He 670 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:46,560 Speaker 1: almost burned himself on Pyro performing at the nineteen ninety 671 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:50,640 Speaker 1: eight MTV VMAs. That must have been traumatizing. 672 00:40:54,520 --> 00:40:58,279 Speaker 2: I'm not sure if Pross pulled him back. I think so, yeah, yeah, 673 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:03,080 Speaker 2: And I'm not sure if we rehearsed it at all 674 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:07,799 Speaker 2: real I can't remember or if he was there, yeah, 675 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:10,920 Speaker 2: in rehearsals, but that could have been a disaster. I mean, yes, 676 00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:15,319 Speaker 2: thankfully nothing happened. My gosh, ques matter, which is why 677 00:41:15,360 --> 00:41:18,720 Speaker 2: I'm so detailed oriented that it's very anal, But things 678 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:21,520 Speaker 2: like that matter, to know exactly what part of the 679 00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:24,480 Speaker 2: song and going over it and over every time, so 680 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:27,960 Speaker 2: every person on that stage understands, you know, where they 681 00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:30,640 Speaker 2: need to be, markers on the stage. I'm literally there 682 00:41:31,120 --> 00:41:34,120 Speaker 2: making sure we have a long strip of tape of 683 00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:38,080 Speaker 2: where every prop goes, cutting them, placing them where, you know, 684 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:41,520 Speaker 2: having the dancers in certain places, because anything can happen 685 00:41:41,600 --> 00:41:46,640 Speaker 2: at any time. But uh, yeah, details matter, they really do. 686 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:48,359 Speaker 1: I just went on the Dancing with the Stars tour. 687 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:50,960 Speaker 1: I was there for a month and we it was 688 00:41:51,120 --> 00:41:53,120 Speaker 1: very much the same way. You know, there's three sets 689 00:41:53,160 --> 00:41:55,840 Speaker 1: of stairs and everyone's got a walk and people are 690 00:41:55,920 --> 00:41:58,640 Speaker 1: crossing and you've got twelve thirteen people dancing at the 691 00:41:58,680 --> 00:42:02,160 Speaker 1: same time, heels in heels by the way with fog 692 00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:04,279 Speaker 1: which makes a stage moist or half. 693 00:42:04,360 --> 00:42:04,480 Speaker 2: You know. 694 00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:07,120 Speaker 1: Sometimes we were at amphitheaters where it was humid outside 695 00:42:07,160 --> 00:42:09,680 Speaker 1: and now you're like, watch out, beads falling off of 696 00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:13,000 Speaker 1: costumes and people dancing barefoot. The amount of beads lodged 697 00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:16,719 Speaker 1: into bare feet while we were on tour, and those 698 00:42:16,920 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 1: you know, if you're not showing up for your cues 699 00:42:19,520 --> 00:42:22,959 Speaker 1: and you can't see the tape when it's dark, those 700 00:42:23,080 --> 00:42:28,200 Speaker 1: things are important. These are simple bodies and yeah, it's 701 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:31,680 Speaker 1: all very important. So don't ever feel bad about being 702 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:35,960 Speaker 1: aal and being like, I'm here taking notes very smart. 703 00:42:36,080 --> 00:42:41,080 Speaker 2: I will share this with you. ODB was responsible for 704 00:42:41,239 --> 00:42:46,399 Speaker 2: my feature on Ghetto Superstar. Really, I only had one 705 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:49,920 Speaker 2: song out in the universe, which was all about Me 706 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:54,400 Speaker 2: featuring Cisco, my debut single in nineteen ninety eight. My 707 00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:57,839 Speaker 2: dad and I took a train to New York had 708 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:01,360 Speaker 2: a session with Yclef Jean down the chorus and that 709 00:43:01,560 --> 00:43:04,239 Speaker 2: was that. We didn't hear anything back, you know. Yeah, 710 00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:06,279 Speaker 2: I was asked to do the chorus and it was 711 00:43:06,320 --> 00:43:09,040 Speaker 2: the shortest session I probably ever had to this day. 712 00:43:11,360 --> 00:43:14,840 Speaker 2: There were several other singers that were established that recorded 713 00:43:14,920 --> 00:43:18,680 Speaker 2: that chorus that were being considered because you know, they 714 00:43:18,760 --> 00:43:23,840 Speaker 2: had much bigger presence. And yeah, I was just the 715 00:43:23,920 --> 00:43:27,279 Speaker 2: new girl on the block, right right. ODB heard my 716 00:43:27,480 --> 00:43:31,480 Speaker 2: voice and said, that's the magic, that's the money. Who's 717 00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:36,120 Speaker 2: that keep that keep her? Whoever that is, I'm telling 718 00:43:36,200 --> 00:43:43,120 Speaker 2: you right now, that's her. Yeah, that's why my voice 719 00:43:43,320 --> 00:43:44,440 Speaker 2: was on Get a Superstar. 720 00:43:44,719 --> 00:43:45,520 Speaker 1: Unbelievable. 721 00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:48,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, he convinced them so great. 722 00:43:48,520 --> 00:43:51,160 Speaker 1: And what an ear. I mean, he's right, he's absolutely right. 723 00:43:51,160 --> 00:43:52,239 Speaker 2: Well he may or may not be. 724 00:43:52,480 --> 00:43:54,880 Speaker 1: Oh no, I'll say, you don't have to say it, 725 00:43:54,920 --> 00:43:58,480 Speaker 1: I'll say it, He's right, but that's and that's the 726 00:43:58,520 --> 00:44:02,120 Speaker 1: way it turned out pretty great. Your music has always 727 00:44:02,200 --> 00:44:06,520 Speaker 1: included such great rap features from Mace to Jada Kiss 728 00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:09,200 Speaker 1: to ODB to jay Z on the Best of Me remix. 729 00:44:09,520 --> 00:44:11,719 Speaker 1: How did that come together with jay Z because he 730 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:14,719 Speaker 1: was flying very, very high at that time. 731 00:44:14,960 --> 00:44:18,919 Speaker 2: Yeah. So on the record label side and innerscope, there's 732 00:44:18,960 --> 00:44:23,600 Speaker 2: my independent company through hak Islam University Music Entertainment, and 733 00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:27,879 Speaker 2: then in marketing there's like Steve Stout Okay advertising as well. 734 00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:31,000 Speaker 2: And he had all of these relationships being that he's 735 00:44:31,040 --> 00:44:33,800 Speaker 2: from New York, yep. From Jada Kiss to jay Z, 736 00:44:34,560 --> 00:44:37,880 Speaker 2: and he would do some calling for features, et cetera. 737 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:40,080 Speaker 2: There were a lot of remixes that happened around that 738 00:44:40,160 --> 00:44:42,600 Speaker 2: time too, Yep. So he and jay Z had a 739 00:44:42,640 --> 00:44:47,200 Speaker 2: relationship and he may have actually called the producers track 740 00:44:47,320 --> 00:44:51,080 Speaker 2: masters who are legends and hip hop to create the 741 00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:55,279 Speaker 2: new track for the remix as well. And the rest 742 00:44:55,360 --> 00:44:57,880 Speaker 2: is history. Geez. 743 00:44:58,239 --> 00:45:00,600 Speaker 1: Isn't it funny? It's just like, no, I'm the right 744 00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:04,440 Speaker 1: person who knows the right people, who get the inspiration 745 00:45:04,600 --> 00:45:07,600 Speaker 1: at the right time. Yeah, and the next thing, you know, 746 00:45:08,600 --> 00:45:14,000 Speaker 1: history is has been made. Well, Hype Williams. The Hype 747 00:45:14,040 --> 00:45:18,479 Speaker 1: Williams video brought us the iconic North Carolina baby blue 748 00:45:18,560 --> 00:45:24,160 Speaker 1: basketball dress. Just an all timer. Tell me all about 749 00:45:24,200 --> 00:45:27,160 Speaker 1: that dress? Where did it come from? Did you design it? 750 00:45:27,520 --> 00:45:29,480 Speaker 1: Did your mom design it? Did you know how big 751 00:45:29,520 --> 00:45:31,400 Speaker 1: of a deal it was going to become? Where you 752 00:45:31,520 --> 00:45:35,080 Speaker 1: offered tar heel tickets for life? Where is it now? 753 00:45:35,320 --> 00:45:36,600 Speaker 1: Can I put it under glass? 754 00:45:37,120 --> 00:45:37,160 Speaker 2: What? 755 00:45:37,360 --> 00:45:39,120 Speaker 1: Tell me everything about that dress? Oh? 756 00:45:39,200 --> 00:45:43,600 Speaker 2: My goodness. Well, the North Carolina jersey dress from the 757 00:45:43,640 --> 00:45:47,000 Speaker 2: Best of Me remix video we call it Part two 758 00:45:47,160 --> 00:45:51,520 Speaker 2: by the way, Okay, that was styled and thought of 759 00:45:52,880 --> 00:46:00,080 Speaker 2: and manifested by June Ambrose, a legendary iconic stylist, you 760 00:46:00,120 --> 00:46:06,799 Speaker 2: know fashionista. Yess. She was doing so many artists at 761 00:46:06,840 --> 00:46:09,560 Speaker 2: that time in hip hop and R and B that 762 00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:17,000 Speaker 2: created this whole esthetic. During that time, it was the 763 00:46:17,160 --> 00:46:20,720 Speaker 2: Mary J. Bliges of the world, a lot of artists 764 00:46:20,760 --> 00:46:23,879 Speaker 2: that were on bad boy fashion was a big thing 765 00:46:24,560 --> 00:46:27,239 Speaker 2: in hip hop and R and B culture during the 766 00:46:27,400 --> 00:46:32,080 Speaker 2: early nineties until I came into the equation into the 767 00:46:32,160 --> 00:46:36,560 Speaker 2: two thousands to this day, and she was a part 768 00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:40,480 Speaker 2: of that. So her iconic mind came up with the 769 00:46:40,600 --> 00:46:44,719 Speaker 2: idea of turning something just so sporty and casual for 770 00:46:44,840 --> 00:46:46,520 Speaker 2: the woman in a dress forum. 771 00:46:46,920 --> 00:46:49,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, and perfect for you who grew up such a tomboy, 772 00:46:50,000 --> 00:46:53,080 Speaker 1: and I mean just yeah, just so perfect for you. 773 00:46:53,239 --> 00:46:54,320 Speaker 1: Where is it today? 774 00:46:54,440 --> 00:46:58,439 Speaker 2: Do you have it? I do? I have renditions of it, okay, okay, 775 00:46:58,520 --> 00:47:00,200 Speaker 2: that I'll wear for live performances. 776 00:47:01,200 --> 00:47:08,279 Speaker 1: So great, Oh so great. Your new album, Retrospect is wonderful. 777 00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:13,879 Speaker 1: It is a really evolved, unique sound. And it's been 778 00:47:13,920 --> 00:47:16,879 Speaker 1: a while since you've released an album, so why now? 779 00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:19,920 Speaker 1: What was what was it about now that spoke to you? 780 00:47:20,320 --> 00:47:23,000 Speaker 2: Well, if I could release an album every year, it 781 00:47:23,040 --> 00:47:26,600 Speaker 2: would be now yeah, okay, So what I do is 782 00:47:26,680 --> 00:47:29,840 Speaker 2: release lots and lots of singles in between projects. And 783 00:47:30,040 --> 00:47:37,200 Speaker 2: my last one was TKO in twenty eighteen, and Pandemic happened. Yeah, 784 00:47:37,600 --> 00:47:42,920 Speaker 2: while we were actually crafting other projects and singles as 785 00:47:43,000 --> 00:47:46,160 Speaker 2: well as putting them into the universe. But that time, 786 00:47:46,280 --> 00:47:50,560 Speaker 2: at uncertain time in all of our lives, was the 787 00:47:50,640 --> 00:47:53,760 Speaker 2: confirmation to continue the thought of this project that started 788 00:47:53,920 --> 00:47:58,480 Speaker 2: in two thousand and three, really with the Rick James 789 00:47:58,600 --> 00:48:03,759 Speaker 2: cover on my Motoring out. Oh so this is my 790 00:48:03,880 --> 00:48:08,080 Speaker 2: living room in Retrospect, A lot of these sounds, especially 791 00:48:08,160 --> 00:48:11,839 Speaker 2: for the first half of the album, which is very celebratory, 792 00:48:13,160 --> 00:48:17,440 Speaker 2: picked me up moods and in party moods. That's how 793 00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:22,320 Speaker 2: my living room sounded, and that's the music that I 794 00:48:22,360 --> 00:48:25,759 Speaker 2: would craft in my playlist during the pandemic. And I 795 00:48:25,920 --> 00:48:30,320 Speaker 2: was instantly brought joy like the environment and my frequency, 796 00:48:30,440 --> 00:48:34,840 Speaker 2: my vibe shifted, yeah to an uncertain place, doubtful place 797 00:48:35,719 --> 00:48:39,160 Speaker 2: to joy, and I said, yeah, we have to do this. 798 00:48:39,600 --> 00:48:42,440 Speaker 2: This is the direction we're going, no if ends or 799 00:48:42,480 --> 00:48:46,080 Speaker 2: butts about it. And that's how Retrospect was finished. Because 800 00:48:46,120 --> 00:48:48,160 Speaker 2: the very first song on this project I cut in 801 00:48:48,239 --> 00:48:51,800 Speaker 2: twenty sixteen because I heard the music happening across the 802 00:48:51,920 --> 00:48:54,360 Speaker 2: hall while I was working on another album. 803 00:48:55,160 --> 00:48:57,080 Speaker 1: Wow, and you went and you were like, what is that? 804 00:48:57,320 --> 00:49:01,160 Speaker 2: What's that? Who does that belong to? Oh? No one, Okay, 805 00:49:02,520 --> 00:49:04,480 Speaker 2: give me a copy now. And I wrote the song 806 00:49:04,560 --> 00:49:07,399 Speaker 2: that night. Really yeah. Wow. 807 00:49:07,520 --> 00:49:09,360 Speaker 1: So this has been I mean you mentioned two thousand 808 00:49:09,360 --> 00:49:11,040 Speaker 1: and three, so twenty three years in the making, but 809 00:49:11,120 --> 00:49:15,239 Speaker 1: also the first song ten years ago, Special Place in 810 00:49:15,360 --> 00:49:19,640 Speaker 1: Your Heart. Getting twenty one savage on the ASAP was 811 00:49:19,680 --> 00:49:22,960 Speaker 1: a big deal. Are you a fan of new hip hop? 812 00:49:23,400 --> 00:49:23,719 Speaker 2: I am? 813 00:49:24,000 --> 00:49:25,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, I kind of like it all. 814 00:49:25,400 --> 00:49:28,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, it has its place in my life. There are 815 00:49:28,800 --> 00:49:31,359 Speaker 2: certain things I don't listen to on Sundays, uh huh. Right, 816 00:49:32,480 --> 00:49:34,360 Speaker 2: there are lots of things I do listen to that 817 00:49:34,480 --> 00:49:36,439 Speaker 2: I don't listen to on Sundays in the gym. 818 00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:38,680 Speaker 1: Right there you go. Everything has its place. 819 00:49:38,760 --> 00:49:40,840 Speaker 2: I love it, yes, because I need to get in 820 00:49:41,200 --> 00:49:45,880 Speaker 2: beast mode. So I love all the subgenres of R 821 00:49:45,920 --> 00:49:49,840 Speaker 2: and B, subgenres of hip hop. It's really interesting to 822 00:49:49,880 --> 00:49:51,839 Speaker 2: see how the new kids and the younger kids are 823 00:49:51,960 --> 00:49:57,040 Speaker 2: expressing themselves. Yeah. I just love honesty and we grow 824 00:49:57,080 --> 00:49:59,160 Speaker 2: as human beings. But it's not for me to talk 825 00:49:59,239 --> 00:50:04,680 Speaker 2: down on I like the transparency that the kids are 826 00:50:04,760 --> 00:50:09,360 Speaker 2: going for nowadays, and there's like not a care in 827 00:50:09,440 --> 00:50:11,799 Speaker 2: the world. It doesn't have to be perfect anymore, right. 828 00:50:11,920 --> 00:50:14,719 Speaker 2: I come from a specific era where everything just had 829 00:50:14,760 --> 00:50:17,279 Speaker 2: to be too perfect yep, And so there's a bit 830 00:50:17,360 --> 00:50:22,080 Speaker 2: of freedom that's stripped for honesty. Sometimes that's stripped when 831 00:50:22,120 --> 00:50:27,120 Speaker 2: things are overworked, yeah, or too refined. And I love 832 00:50:27,200 --> 00:50:30,480 Speaker 2: the rawness of today, even if it's not necessarily what 833 00:50:30,600 --> 00:50:36,560 Speaker 2: I can relate to. I like the rawness of the 834 00:50:36,640 --> 00:50:40,680 Speaker 2: younger generation. Yeah, Like I admire that because I'm too meticulous. 835 00:50:41,880 --> 00:50:44,319 Speaker 1: I feel you on that. I also I am my car. 836 00:50:44,480 --> 00:50:46,480 Speaker 1: Wouldn't it be nice to be a little more. I 837 00:50:46,520 --> 00:50:48,920 Speaker 1: don't have it anyday free. I don't have it. I 838 00:50:49,040 --> 00:50:52,400 Speaker 1: cannot do it, but it is enjoyable to watch someone 839 00:50:52,440 --> 00:50:52,920 Speaker 1: else do it. 840 00:50:53,120 --> 00:50:53,359 Speaker 2: Yeah. 841 00:50:53,560 --> 00:50:58,040 Speaker 1: I sensed a big funk and seventies soul influence on 842 00:50:58,160 --> 00:51:02,360 Speaker 1: the album. Was that a conscious direct direction? Because the 843 00:51:02,440 --> 00:51:03,880 Speaker 1: first thing it made me think of was that it 844 00:51:04,040 --> 00:51:07,560 Speaker 1: was like hearkening back to albums your parents probably played 845 00:51:07,600 --> 00:51:08,640 Speaker 1: for you when you were a kid. 846 00:51:09,680 --> 00:51:14,160 Speaker 2: You nailed it on the head. Yeah, I transport and 847 00:51:14,320 --> 00:51:17,840 Speaker 2: retreat to my living room where the touch and feel vinyl, 848 00:51:18,320 --> 00:51:22,200 Speaker 2: the needle to the wax, we're all experiences, the artwork 849 00:51:22,880 --> 00:51:25,759 Speaker 2: on the vinyl, the little what do they call those 850 00:51:25,800 --> 00:51:30,960 Speaker 2: plastic things for the forty fives. Yes, I don't even 851 00:51:31,000 --> 00:51:34,600 Speaker 2: know what they're called. But it was fascination being able 852 00:51:34,680 --> 00:51:39,240 Speaker 2: to see but also witness and then experience the music 853 00:51:40,719 --> 00:51:43,360 Speaker 2: and the artwork of all of those individuals or bands 854 00:51:43,760 --> 00:51:46,799 Speaker 2: from that time. But what happened in my living room 855 00:51:46,880 --> 00:51:50,000 Speaker 2: as a kid was just pure joy, whether it was 856 00:51:50,760 --> 00:51:53,720 Speaker 2: extended family coming over and being the center of attention, 857 00:51:54,640 --> 00:51:57,680 Speaker 2: singing and dancing for everyone, or just literally being in 858 00:51:57,760 --> 00:52:01,560 Speaker 2: my own world and letting the music take me wherever 859 00:52:01,719 --> 00:52:05,600 Speaker 2: it took me. But there were musicians as well that 860 00:52:05,760 --> 00:52:09,279 Speaker 2: came to rehearse with my dad for his performances still 861 00:52:09,360 --> 00:52:13,880 Speaker 2: to this day, by the way, and I use this 862 00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:16,279 Speaker 2: word so many times, and this sit down with you, 863 00:52:17,040 --> 00:52:21,440 Speaker 2: it was electric. Yeah, And I will never forget those experiences. 864 00:52:21,560 --> 00:52:25,160 Speaker 2: And I've always wanted to bring that to my own projects, 865 00:52:25,480 --> 00:52:28,200 Speaker 2: but also the stage because my dad is a kick 866 00:52:28,280 --> 00:52:32,640 Speaker 2: but performer too. Yeah. Yes, and so it's all of 867 00:52:32,760 --> 00:52:37,239 Speaker 2: that's it's my childhood wrapped in one project. Oh. I 868 00:52:37,360 --> 00:52:37,640 Speaker 2: love that. 869 00:52:38,160 --> 00:52:40,200 Speaker 1: Listen. If Maya is willing to sit down with me 870 00:52:40,280 --> 00:52:42,440 Speaker 1: for an interview, I am going to force her to 871 00:52:42,520 --> 00:52:45,400 Speaker 1: stick around for as long as possible. So we have 872 00:52:45,520 --> 00:52:48,960 Speaker 1: a bonus episode dropping this Friday, exclusively on the teen 873 00:52:49,000 --> 00:52:52,640 Speaker 1: Beat dedicated podcast feed, where I continue this conversation with 874 00:52:52,760 --> 00:52:56,480 Speaker 1: Maya and we listen to one of your voice memos 875 00:52:56,840 --> 00:53:00,719 Speaker 1: recalling an embarrassing childhood memory that will forever main our 876 00:53:00,840 --> 00:53:05,279 Speaker 1: little secret, And don't forget to listen to Maya's newest album, Retrospect, 877 00:53:05,520 --> 00:53:08,960 Speaker 1: available wherever you stream music, and you can go to 878 00:53:09,200 --> 00:53:13,480 Speaker 1: Maya Maya dot com that's m yamya dot com to 879 00:53:13,600 --> 00:53:16,320 Speaker 1: learn how you can pick up physical copies, which is 880 00:53:16,400 --> 00:53:20,160 Speaker 1: a great way to support her new independent journey. Teenbeat 881 00:53:20,239 --> 00:53:23,200 Speaker 1: is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fischel. 882 00:53:23,520 --> 00:53:27,359 Speaker 1: Executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, Executive in charge 883 00:53:27,400 --> 00:53:31,640 Speaker 1: of production Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sudbach. The 884 00:53:31,719 --> 00:53:36,080 Speaker 1: theme song is by mar Coppus. Yes that Mark Coppus. 885 00:53:36,680 --> 00:53:39,160 Speaker 1: Follow us on Instagram at Teenbeatpod.