WEBVTT - Best of full interview: Stephanie Mills, Patti LaBelle & Chaka Khan Talk Longevity, 'Diva' Stigma, Industry Standards + More 0:00:01.560 --> 0:00:04.960 Every day of clicks up the Breakfast Club. 0:00:05.920 --> 0:00:10.719 Y'all done morning, everybody's d J n V jess hilarious, 0:00:10.800 --> 0:00:13.039 Charlamagne the God we are the Breakfast Club. Law La 0:00:13.119 --> 0:00:15.000 Ross is here with us as well, and we got 0:00:15.000 --> 0:00:16.520 a special guest in the buildings. 0:00:16.640 --> 0:00:21.880 You know, he's an icon. I think legend is even 0:00:21.920 --> 0:00:26.079 an understatement. Okay, I can only think of three one 0:00:26.120 --> 0:00:28.680 word queens, yes, then another word icons. 0:00:28.720 --> 0:00:29.040 That's it. 0:00:29.360 --> 0:00:34.040 But there you have it. We have Stephanie Mills shot 0:00:34.080 --> 0:00:36.960 the welcome, Come, welcome. 0:00:37.640 --> 0:00:38.600 How are y'all feeling? 0:00:38.680 --> 0:00:39.600 Y'all look amazing? 0:00:40.040 --> 0:00:42.720 Thank you, We're happy to be here. We are, We're 0:00:42.720 --> 0:00:44.320 happy to be here. Good morning. 0:00:44.479 --> 0:00:46.600 Now y'all are on the Queen Store. Why couldn't this 0:00:46.680 --> 0:00:50.240 happened decades ago? Like decades ago? Why couldn't people put 0:00:50.280 --> 0:00:50.760 this together? 0:00:52.680 --> 0:00:54.600 Weren't No. 0:00:54.680 --> 0:00:56.440 I just think it was at the right time. I 0:00:56.480 --> 0:00:59.280 think this is definitely the right time. And Patty and 0:01:00.040 --> 0:01:02.360 I have worked together, and I've always wanted to work 0:01:02.400 --> 0:01:05.320 with Shaka, so they came together and put it together, 0:01:05.360 --> 0:01:06.759 and I was like, yes, let's do it. 0:01:07.000 --> 0:01:09.400 Is there enough time for a show to happen? I 0:01:09.480 --> 0:01:11.959 have so many hits, so many records. How long is 0:01:12.000 --> 0:01:13.639 the show? How long is this a concert? 0:01:13.760 --> 0:01:15.119 It's about two hours long. 0:01:15.440 --> 0:01:16.119 It's not long. 0:01:16.319 --> 0:01:20.040 We have quick, quick moments. We have like fifty minutes apiece, 0:01:20.880 --> 0:01:23.039 and you can hardly say hello and good night with that. 0:01:23.200 --> 0:01:25.720 But that's what we do. Man. 0:01:25.920 --> 0:01:27.360 Man, How do y'all decide who closes? 0:01:27.400 --> 0:01:27.440 Do? 0:01:27.560 --> 0:01:29.119 I feel like that might have been a little debate 0:01:29.360 --> 0:01:32.039 on who Shaka closes? 0:01:32.160 --> 0:01:35.839 Okay, Gladys opens, I come on second, and then Ms. 0:01:35.840 --> 0:01:39.920 Patty I like to open the show, but I didn't 0:01:39.959 --> 0:01:40.720 get that position. 0:01:40.880 --> 0:01:47.560 Actually, right, Oh that's why you like to open the show? 0:01:48.240 --> 0:01:54.680 Okay, honey, Yeah, some cookies. 0:01:55.560 --> 0:01:56.120 Cookies. 0:01:56.960 --> 0:01:59.800 At this stage in your careers, is it harder or 0:02:00.040 --> 0:02:01.120 easier to navigate? 0:02:02.360 --> 0:02:04.960 I guess ego would be the right word. Are are 0:02:04.840 --> 0:02:05.800 the egos? 0:02:06.720 --> 0:02:07.600 I haven't seen any? 0:02:08.400 --> 0:02:09.560 Not? 0:02:10.040 --> 0:02:14.200 No God, not Ego is the only ego the onnest 0:02:14.200 --> 0:02:16.440 one And. 0:02:16.440 --> 0:02:18.520 You said you guys weren't old enough to do this. 0:02:18.560 --> 0:02:19.680 That's okay? 0:02:23.160 --> 0:02:23.359 Yeah? 0:02:23.760 --> 0:02:26.320 I mean because when you mentioned God is the only ego, 0:02:26.360 --> 0:02:27.800 I didn't know if it was like you were saying 0:02:27.800 --> 0:02:29.280 that you had to get to a point where that's 0:02:29.280 --> 0:02:31.120 something that you realized in the industry because you deal 0:02:31.160 --> 0:02:33.239 with so many egos navigating. 0:02:32.760 --> 0:02:36.919 I still am. It never stopped. Mm hm, life never stop. 0:02:38.120 --> 0:02:41.280 Is there any friendly competition because no, not at. 0:02:41.160 --> 0:02:46.799 All, not at all, just doing Yeah, we have fun 0:02:46.840 --> 0:02:51.000 watching each other doing each other. We got to keep 0:02:51.000 --> 0:02:52.320 on giving all rights. 0:02:53.040 --> 0:02:57.880 We are different people. We do we do individually. 0:02:58.200 --> 0:03:00.200 Yes, So how does this talk come together? 0:03:00.240 --> 0:03:02.320 Because I know it's it's hard to get any of 0:03:02.360 --> 0:03:03.680 y'all to want to do something. 0:03:03.760 --> 0:03:06.840 It's you know, because y'all got great lives, our schedules, 0:03:07.560 --> 0:03:11.679 tour as a collective. Like well, the whole. 0:03:11.440 --> 0:03:14.079 Thing with me was that I felt that this is 0:03:14.120 --> 0:03:17.120 going to be a one off ever in life like 0:03:17.520 --> 0:03:20.560 some of us, some of us, you know, we weren't 0:03:20.560 --> 0:03:23.560 going to get the chance to be able to be 0:03:23.639 --> 0:03:27.400 seen together on one stage, one night, for all of 0:03:27.480 --> 0:03:31.800 us collected. So and when I realized the importance of 0:03:31.840 --> 0:03:35.560 that for people who grew up listening to our song 0:03:36.240 --> 0:03:39.240 baby to a weaned owners, a coronal, I think it 0:03:39.400 --> 0:03:43.160 made a big difference. And it was, you know, that's 0:03:43.280 --> 0:03:45.400 that was that was to compel me. 0:03:46.120 --> 0:03:49.000 You know, we have a surprise about the the ages 0:03:49.000 --> 0:03:50.960 of people that come to the show because it varies 0:03:50.960 --> 0:03:52.240 from young teams. 0:03:52.440 --> 0:03:54.680 I expected that I did because I get it off 0:03:54.720 --> 0:03:58.360 the jet. You know, kids saying I was weaned on you. 0:03:58.440 --> 0:04:04.640 You know something they made children on our music. People 0:04:04.640 --> 0:04:05.920 have babies on our music. 0:04:07.000 --> 0:04:08.920 When you have those young individuals in the show, let's 0:04:08.920 --> 0:04:11.360 say they are twenty one, twenty two, and they trying 0:04:11.360 --> 0:04:13.440 to holler at y'all this, dad s like, I still 0:04:13.480 --> 0:04:13.880 got it. 0:04:14.640 --> 0:04:16.760 No, I don't get nobody. 0:04:17.560 --> 0:04:18.280 Why are you? 0:04:18.279 --> 0:04:18.919 You're talking about you? 0:04:20.240 --> 0:04:24.599 Why to look so beautiful that I. 0:04:24.600 --> 0:04:28.880 Ain't got I'm just asking a question. Can't young boys 0:04:28.920 --> 0:04:29.640 hollering at them? 0:04:29.640 --> 0:04:31.880 Like damn no, young boy? 0:04:33.160 --> 0:04:36.919 Tell them I want to mature and older with. 0:04:37.000 --> 0:04:39.000 The problem with them is they want the young girls why. 0:04:39.040 --> 0:04:41.800 I don't know, especially when y'all look like this what 0:04:41.920 --> 0:04:43.320 you want to? Twenty year olds don't know how to 0:04:43.320 --> 0:04:44.080 wait because we. 0:04:44.080 --> 0:04:47.000 Want to show them that this is how you age graceful, 0:04:47.240 --> 0:04:49.200 that's right, and you could still do your thing. 0:04:50.800 --> 0:04:51.719 We're all beautiful. 0:04:52.200 --> 0:04:54.159 Do you have a routine to like keep your voice 0:04:54.200 --> 0:04:55.760 wrong and your body ready? 0:04:56.080 --> 0:04:56.400 Sleep? 0:04:58.320 --> 0:05:00.800 I sing? I sing every day and still about six 0:05:00.920 --> 0:05:01.360 days a week. 0:05:05.200 --> 0:05:07.760 Yeah, I mean I don't sing. She don't sing every day, 0:05:07.760 --> 0:05:11.239 but she keeps it together. I'll be hitting those notes. Thanks, 0:05:11.800 --> 0:05:15.360 thank you, honey. I do what I do and that 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:19.159 eighty one. I'm still queen. 0:05:20.320 --> 0:05:23.000 She's the queen, the Queen, my queen. 0:05:23.080 --> 0:05:26.360 Yes, my babies, Yeah, I. 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:28.400 Still Patty, pull up. I promise I was gonna come 0:05:28.400 --> 0:05:30.680 on Thanksgiving. My kids are a little older now, so 0:05:30.760 --> 0:05:33.440 that they're a lot. They'll sit in the corner when 0:05:33.480 --> 0:05:34.640 you tell them to sit in the corner now, So 0:05:34.720 --> 0:05:36.800 I'm gonna pull up one Thanksgiving. 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:37.800 Yeah you should. 0:05:38.160 --> 0:05:38.640 We would be. 0:05:42.120 --> 0:05:46.080 A big places of food, good food, baby cooking. 0:05:46.160 --> 0:05:48.200 Are you're cooking for them? Some of the stops? 0:05:48.200 --> 0:05:50.440 You know, I'm not letting the cook for because why 0:05:50.680 --> 0:05:56.039 because after the after she's being good, because I'm trying 0:05:56.040 --> 0:05:56.400 to be good. 0:05:56.440 --> 0:06:00.960 No, I better not. Then I better not be throwing down. 0:06:02.080 --> 0:06:04.120 Do y'all feel like towards like this remind people with 0:06:04.240 --> 0:06:05.680 a real show is supposed to be? 0:06:05.760 --> 0:06:11.080 Yes, absolutely, because we have real band, nothings taped, our 0:06:11.120 --> 0:06:12.560 microphones are on. 0:06:15.040 --> 0:06:16.440 Yes, we are actually singing. 0:06:16.520 --> 0:06:16.760 Yeah. 0:06:17.320 --> 0:06:19.560 And do you think fans have the same appreciation for 0:06:19.640 --> 0:06:23.000 live instrumentation and raw vocals as they did like when 0:06:23.040 --> 0:06:24.160 y'all first hit the stage. 0:06:24.520 --> 0:06:27.560 I think some of them may not even know the difference. 0:06:27.560 --> 0:06:29.400 Someone may not even know what the hell is going on, 0:06:29.640 --> 0:06:33.000 you know, and that's what's unfair and messed up abot 0:06:33.080 --> 0:06:36.359 it is that when you go up there, you should 0:06:36.360 --> 0:06:41.800 represent yourself honestly. You know, you singing the mic, you know, 0:06:41.800 --> 0:06:43.480 if you have to have tricks and gags and googles 0:06:43.520 --> 0:06:46.680 and stuff like that, you know, dude, you got to do. 0:06:46.839 --> 0:06:51.240 But I'm saying I'm not about it. I've got I've 0:06:51.240 --> 0:06:54.720 walked on, We walked on the stage. Man's horse can 0:06:54.800 --> 0:06:57.560 hit all the notes. That's just the way life is. 0:06:58.240 --> 0:07:02.280 You know what, you give everything, everything you got and 0:07:02.440 --> 0:07:06.720 that is something that people can definitely they know they 0:07:06.720 --> 0:07:07.360 can feel that. 0:07:07.920 --> 0:07:10.680 What do you think make this this to so important? Right? 0:07:10.760 --> 0:07:13.680 Because seeing so many icons and queens and legends on 0:07:13.720 --> 0:07:15.640 that stage, you don't get to see that so much. 0:07:15.920 --> 0:07:17.320 But the fact that we see it with you guys, 0:07:17.320 --> 0:07:19.680 what makes it so important? Why did you all guys agree. 0:07:19.840 --> 0:07:24.040 That we as black women represent ourselves the right way? 0:07:24.840 --> 0:07:30.200 Like Steph said, there's no pretending singing, no no stuff, 0:07:30.720 --> 0:07:32.760 because people have a lot of stuff in their shows. 0:07:33.200 --> 0:07:37.720 We just go out the tricks. There's nobody flying through 0:07:37.720 --> 0:07:40.760 the air, none of that. You know, not that that's 0:07:40.800 --> 0:07:42.320 not good, but I mean we. 0:07:42.400 --> 0:07:44.280 Just give shows like we did back in the day, 0:07:44.920 --> 0:07:48.040 just pure blackfoot stand there and sing. 0:07:48.280 --> 0:07:53.679 I mean we come from like actually similar but almost 0:07:53.720 --> 0:07:57.520 the same generational Our generation levels are like like that's 0:07:57.600 --> 0:08:01.680 theirs and it's club you know, if they're close enough 0:08:01.840 --> 0:08:06.680 yet far enough apart to reach a really big audience. 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:10.320 You know what I'm saying, a huge audience and it's 0:08:10.320 --> 0:08:14.200 just been the by the grace of God, they're just 0:08:14.240 --> 0:08:17.400 going together in such a is it a good way? 0:08:18.120 --> 0:08:18.320 You know? 0:08:18.360 --> 0:08:21.080 You know, I want to ask, you know, Miss Billabelle 0:08:21.120 --> 0:08:23.440 and Ms con y'all been labeled divas. I don't know, 0:08:23.640 --> 0:08:25.960 I've never heard that term for you, Miss y'all look 0:08:26.000 --> 0:08:28.080 at that as a complimentary term or derogatory. 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:31.480 I'll take anything, but I'm not a diva, you know, 0:08:31.520 --> 0:08:34.640 because is are the ones who demand. As far as 0:08:34.640 --> 0:08:39.800 I'm concerned, I'm not that girl, and neither Shock and 0:08:39.880 --> 0:08:44.360 Baby Girl never would be. We just sing, we give it. 0:08:44.440 --> 0:08:49.000 I mean, I'm an artist, really, and. 0:08:48.960 --> 0:08:50.679 I mean for the status y'all are y'all shouldn't have 0:08:50.720 --> 0:08:51.440 to demand anything? 0:08:51.679 --> 0:08:52.080 We don't. 0:08:52.840 --> 0:08:56.400 If we don't have to, we don't have to we 0:08:56.600 --> 0:08:57.480 don't and we don't. 0:08:58.040 --> 0:09:00.880 What is it like when the cameras lights are down 0:09:01.240 --> 0:09:02.960 backstage with y'all are just touring? 0:09:03.000 --> 0:09:05.080 What a y'all learning from each other? On this tour? 0:09:05.160 --> 0:09:08.000 We don't get a chance to see each other. We 0:09:07.960 --> 0:09:11.280 were right on, right behind each sleep. 0:09:13.240 --> 0:09:17.640 Because in here hang out, you know, we don't have 0:09:18.440 --> 0:09:20.440 we don't on on and off. 0:09:20.800 --> 0:09:25.520 But coming in, I'm coming in, she's coming off. I'm 0:09:25.520 --> 0:09:30.160 going I'm coming in like those dogs that the dogs 0:09:30.200 --> 0:09:34.120 that watching the sheet anyway different than the time card. 0:09:34.160 --> 0:09:37.360 It's like that we're going to really get a chance. 0:09:37.360 --> 0:09:38.520 That's not it. 0:09:38.559 --> 0:09:42.120 We're working working. We'll talk after that. 0:09:42.960 --> 0:09:45.880 And some days not on tour. 0:09:46.520 --> 0:09:48.720 I always want to know, like outside of music and touring, 0:09:48.760 --> 0:09:49.800 what brings you joy? 0:09:49.840 --> 0:09:50.319 Outside of that. 0:09:50.360 --> 0:09:53.200 I'm sure Patty is cooking, but what gives you joy? 0:09:53.240 --> 0:09:54.040 Like what makes you happy? 0:09:54.040 --> 0:09:58.280 Out my grand baby, my great grand babies, you know, 0:09:58.400 --> 0:10:01.079 my family, Stephanie, my. 0:10:01.160 --> 0:10:05.840 Son, my son gives me joy and just being with 0:10:05.920 --> 0:10:09.719 Pops and being with people that I love. Yeah, your 0:10:09.760 --> 0:10:12.480 son gives me joy watching them. 0:10:14.080 --> 0:10:14.680 Show. 0:10:14.840 --> 0:10:15.760 He's so cute. 0:10:15.760 --> 0:10:17.360 He has let a jacket on. 0:10:17.520 --> 0:10:20.960 He's so When y'all first started, did any of y'all 0:10:20.960 --> 0:10:23.880 think y'all would have these long careers that y'all would 0:10:23.920 --> 0:10:26.640 have had and still be on tours, still be in demand. 0:10:28.640 --> 0:10:31.079 I never did. I never did because I was always 0:10:31.120 --> 0:10:34.240 told you know, dark girls, don't you know. After a 0:10:34.280 --> 0:10:35.880 while they were like, oh, people are not going to 0:10:35.920 --> 0:10:36.880 promote dark girls. 0:10:37.640 --> 0:10:39.760 So I was always told, no, you. 0:10:39.720 --> 0:10:40.199 Can't do it. 0:10:40.280 --> 0:10:40.840 You do it. 0:10:42.400 --> 0:10:45.680 That right, yes, you know. So I'm surprised because people 0:10:45.679 --> 0:10:47.439 didn't think I was going to still be here. And 0:10:47.480 --> 0:10:51.280 it's the fiftieth year anniversary of the Whizz Fifty years. 0:10:51.000 --> 0:10:54.240 Ago I did the whist say think for you, miss Leabell. 0:10:54.280 --> 0:10:55.360 You didn't think he was gonna be here? 0:10:55.480 --> 0:10:58.839 No, I didn't because I had an issue also with 0:11:01.080 --> 0:11:05.720 might being a black woman with a big nose. And 0:11:05.880 --> 0:11:09.199 a friend of mine got her nose done and I said, oh, 0:11:09.240 --> 0:11:10.920 I think I need to try that. Maybe I'll get 0:11:10.920 --> 0:11:17.760 one gigs. I tried. I did have any you can 0:11:17.840 --> 0:11:22.120 say it you came to my It was me. I 0:11:22.160 --> 0:11:23.880 had a nose, I had my nose down in the 0:11:23.920 --> 0:11:26.360 early eighties and I had went to her house for dinner. 0:11:27.960 --> 0:11:28.600 What did you do? 0:11:30.760 --> 0:11:32.720 And she was like, I forget one? 0:11:33.600 --> 0:11:35.520 And I did, right after Stephanie. 0:11:35.679 --> 0:11:37.360 I didn't know you guys know, neither one of y'all 0:11:37.360 --> 0:11:37.600 I got. 0:11:38.320 --> 0:11:44.120 I had to, she did, and she had to Natalie. 0:11:44.400 --> 0:11:50.679 All of them do it, you know, all them do it. 0:11:47.160 --> 0:11:56.240 But you could not cut me for Nathan. 0:11:56.920 --> 0:11:59.920 But now I think that looks like to be sister. 0:12:00.600 --> 0:12:02.880 So you never had nothing done either. They said you 0:12:02.920 --> 0:12:03.559 got a b b L. 0:12:04.000 --> 0:12:04.360 What's that? 0:12:06.040 --> 0:12:09.959 It is a Brazilian button what the young girls are doing, 0:12:09.960 --> 0:12:11.160 It's called a Brazilian. 0:12:10.760 --> 0:12:16.640 Button butt like this my whole life in the sixties 0:12:16.800 --> 0:12:21.800 seventy seven, nor I have the same behind. I've always had. 0:12:23.800 --> 0:12:26.040 Somebody's trying to make them. But look like somebody else 0:12:26.120 --> 0:12:26.959 is within bb L. 0:12:29.800 --> 0:12:35.400 Looks like somebody's got it natural that's shot. 0:12:36.040 --> 0:12:37.920 So hold on, mister. But when you got to those jobs, 0:12:38.160 --> 0:12:40.000 did you get more gigs? Did it change anything? 0:12:40.600 --> 0:12:44.160 I think it did because it was more pleasant to 0:12:44.360 --> 0:12:47.120 some people. The same with me. But when I saw 0:12:47.160 --> 0:12:49.560 my girlfriend, I said, I'm going to try that. 0:12:50.200 --> 0:12:51.880 And if I remember that too. 0:12:52.120 --> 0:12:55.040 Oh so well. And I don't want to tell people 0:12:55.080 --> 0:12:58.280 that you were my inspiration because you wanted to about 0:12:58.280 --> 0:13:02.319 that I did well, I'm talking now, yes, okay, So 0:13:02.480 --> 0:13:06.040 here this is my girl. I followed her, Yes, I did. 0:13:06.200 --> 0:13:07.360 So who did you did you do? 0:13:07.440 --> 0:13:08.680 Who do you follow Michael? 0:13:08.760 --> 0:13:12.640 Michael? Okay, Michael, so after you got it, that's what 0:13:12.720 --> 0:13:13.199 you wanted to do it? 0:13:13.280 --> 0:13:14.840 Yes, I went to the same doctor. 0:13:15.320 --> 0:13:18.280 Wow, Michael took me to the like that. 0:13:18.280 --> 0:13:18.760 You didn't know that. 0:13:19.559 --> 0:13:23.520 I didn't know me speak louder, Oh speak louder Michael, 0:13:23.559 --> 0:13:24.320 Michael Jackson. 0:13:25.040 --> 0:13:26.880 Yeah, that's who I followed. 0:13:27.240 --> 0:13:27.680 Miss. 0:13:27.960 --> 0:13:31.160 I mean, that's such an interesting conversation because you know 0:13:31.400 --> 0:13:34.000 all of these everybody's doing it now right, thinking that 0:13:34.040 --> 0:13:35.760 it's going to get them ahead in some way, shape 0:13:35.840 --> 0:13:36.160 or form. 0:13:37.280 --> 0:13:38.560 Is something that's been going on. 0:13:38.880 --> 0:13:39.679 Yes, it has. 0:13:39.800 --> 0:13:41.160 That's the only They're going to have done nothing that 0:13:41.200 --> 0:13:43.920 people shouldn't be ashamed of if they want to do 0:13:43.960 --> 0:13:46.439 anything to their body of their face. This is all 0:13:46.480 --> 0:13:48.960 I've ever done. I ain't getting cut in nowhere. No, 0:13:49.000 --> 0:13:49.400 that's all. 0:13:49.720 --> 0:13:52.320 And that was early it was early eighties. 0:13:53.240 --> 0:13:55.280 Because people get nervous that they say it's addictive, like 0:13:55.320 --> 0:13:57.840 once you get one, then you have something else something. 0:13:57.840 --> 0:14:00.559 I think Michael got a little addictive, you know, but 0:14:00.960 --> 0:14:02.240 I didn't. I didn't go back. 0:14:02.440 --> 0:14:04.160 He had those problems, so you didn't have any problem, 0:14:04.240 --> 0:14:08.760 like like what he didn't? Okay, Maybe it's. 0:14:08.600 --> 0:14:13.280 Just amazing how the industry standards of beauty have seemed 0:14:13.280 --> 0:14:14.280 like they've never changed. 0:14:15.280 --> 0:14:17.679 A love that that's amazing. 0:14:18.360 --> 0:14:20.520 It just seems like the industry standards of beauty have 0:14:20.600 --> 0:14:23.600 never changed, and it's just kind of heartbreaking to see 0:14:23.600 --> 0:14:26.800 that even back then, all were falling victim to what 0:14:27.120 --> 0:14:27.560 they thought. 0:14:27.600 --> 0:14:29.640 Well, they wanted you to look a certain way. I've 0:14:29.640 --> 0:14:31.960 always been told I should sing pop songs, But what 0:14:32.080 --> 0:14:33.440 is pop songs? But popular? 0:14:34.280 --> 0:14:34.520 You know? 0:14:34.600 --> 0:14:38.360 And I love my audience, So I just stay true 0:14:38.400 --> 0:14:40.560 to who I was and stay focused on what I 0:14:40.600 --> 0:14:41.200 wanted to do. 0:14:42.000 --> 0:14:42.480 Patty and. 0:14:44.080 --> 0:14:47.800 Gladys you know who has more hits than both all 0:14:48.600 --> 0:14:49.720 has a billion hits? 0:14:51.160 --> 0:14:54.080 Girl, Miss Patty Belt? Was it when you decided that 0:14:54.080 --> 0:14:55.360 you want to get you those job? I know you 0:14:55.360 --> 0:14:57.160 said you didn't like you know its personally, but were 0:14:57.200 --> 0:14:58.840 things being said to you as well? 0:14:59.000 --> 0:15:02.480 Yes, by who and what? By a manager that I haven't. 0:15:09.880 --> 0:15:14.440 It's hilarious, that's all that I love it. 0:15:14.440 --> 0:15:14.920 It's all right. 0:15:15.160 --> 0:15:17.520 Yeah, it was a manager that I had back in 0:15:17.560 --> 0:15:22.120 the day, a white gentleman, and he's he said so 0:15:22.120 --> 0:15:26.120 many things to me. But whenever I was sang, he said, 0:15:26.720 --> 0:15:28.640 I said, is it all right if I keep this note? 0:15:29.440 --> 0:15:31.520 You know, things like that, and he was just mean 0:15:32.240 --> 0:15:40.600 and I'm I slapped the outah, So yeah, you know, 0:15:40.760 --> 0:15:44.440 so I just said I'll do it once I saw her. Yeah, 0:15:45.080 --> 0:15:48.440 you'd be surprised what female artists, what we have to 0:15:48.480 --> 0:15:51.400 go through to even do what we do today, to 0:15:51.640 --> 0:15:55.640 to have people respect us, to respect our talent, to 0:15:55.760 --> 0:15:58.080 respect that we're women and we're black women. 0:15:58.360 --> 0:16:01.720 And it's harder, but you have to demand the respect. 0:16:02.160 --> 0:16:04.960 Ms khn. You never faced any of those struggles. You 0:16:05.000 --> 0:16:06.440 never faced any of those same struggles. 0:16:06.480 --> 0:16:08.000 I don't know if they did. They never told me, 0:16:08.560 --> 0:16:15.760 they said none to me. No, but I know, I'm 0:16:15.800 --> 0:16:20.000 aware of the stigma you know that black woman go through. 0:16:20.040 --> 0:16:25.960 I am aware of the whole situation. But no, I you. 0:16:25.880 --> 0:16:31.040 Know you always had a reputation and not taking those 0:16:31.080 --> 0:16:31.800 ship from what I've. 0:16:31.680 --> 0:16:38.640 Been told, exactly, no time. You know, life is short, 0:16:38.760 --> 0:16:45.040 it's no time, So honesty, integrity, all those things are 0:16:45.120 --> 0:16:46.920 very important to me, you know. 0:16:47.080 --> 0:16:52.480 So did you always have that confidence or that's something 0:16:52.560 --> 0:16:53.000 that just. 0:16:53.920 --> 0:16:56.920 I knew what I wanted to be sort of when 0:16:56.920 --> 0:16:58.600 I when I was a kid. I mean I left. 0:16:58.960 --> 0:17:02.240 I went away here at sixty. I didn't finish high school. 0:17:02.520 --> 0:17:05.320 I pretty much knew what I wanted to do. And 0:17:05.359 --> 0:17:07.960 my dad said, but you don't want to go to college. 0:17:09.440 --> 0:17:11.280 I said, no, I don't need to. He said, well, 0:17:11.320 --> 0:17:12.959 you can read, right, I said, you know I can read, dad. 0:17:13.000 --> 0:17:14.480 We used to read the same books, my dad, and 0:17:15.760 --> 0:17:18.120 so he said, well, that's cool. He said, you could 0:17:18.119 --> 0:17:20.240 just read what you want and be that. I said, yeah, 0:17:20.240 --> 0:17:23.159 if I want. But I didn't know I wanted to 0:17:23.160 --> 0:17:25.399 be an entertainer or a singer. I didn't wanted to 0:17:25.400 --> 0:17:29.399 be in to work with people. I really wanted to. 0:17:29.960 --> 0:17:31.159 I don't want to be a lot of things. But 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:36.080 I really wanted to be hands on. So I get 0:17:36.080 --> 0:17:38.960 to do that too, and to sing. 0:17:39.960 --> 0:17:41.960 What was it that drew you to the arts? Once 0:17:42.000 --> 0:17:44.080 you freak like it's people, but then you started to sing. 0:17:44.080 --> 0:17:45.240 What got you into singing? 0:17:45.560 --> 0:17:47.080 Well, my mother and father. I grew up in a 0:17:47.080 --> 0:17:50.200 house of music. My mother and father were both sang 0:17:50.800 --> 0:17:53.320 and they were both artists as well. We had frescoes 0:17:53.320 --> 0:17:54.919 and murals all over the world. We didn't know that 0:17:54.960 --> 0:17:58.080 we were living. We didn't have any money, I mean 0:17:58.119 --> 0:18:02.000 our apartment we had Fresca's, don't the walls and chumps 0:18:02.200 --> 0:18:07.320 in the dining room and and all sorts of every 0:18:07.400 --> 0:18:10.359 room had a different scheming. It was really nice to 0:18:10.400 --> 0:18:15.399 grow up like that. But I just and I grew 0:18:15.480 --> 0:18:17.320 up with and you know, if you grew up around 0:18:17.320 --> 0:18:20.000 the university, then you get to meet a lot of 0:18:20.040 --> 0:18:22.320 other people that you would ordinarily meet from other countries 0:18:22.359 --> 0:18:24.320 and bits like that, so that I think that was 0:18:24.359 --> 0:18:25.480 also something that. 0:18:26.800 --> 0:18:28.800 Was helpful in that decisions in life. 0:18:29.000 --> 0:18:34.520 You know, Yeah, you know, the only thing I liked 0:18:34.520 --> 0:18:36.239 about you, ms Conn is you know you've always been 0:18:36.280 --> 0:18:38.919 open about like your your struggles and your triumphs. Do 0:18:38.960 --> 0:18:42.720 you feel like being transparent has helped fans connect deeper 0:18:42.760 --> 0:18:46.000 with you? Or do you think sometimes people weaponize your honesty. 0:18:45.720 --> 0:18:46.560 About both ways? 0:18:46.960 --> 0:18:47.480 Both things. 0:18:48.320 --> 0:18:53.639 Black can handle it, he says, not about you, not 0:18:53.920 --> 0:18:56.680 for me, So what is it? What is it about? 0:18:56.880 --> 0:18:58.439 Well, I don't know what it's about. I don't know. 0:18:58.680 --> 0:19:01.439 You know, like you said, weapon and weaponization, and sometimes 0:19:01.440 --> 0:19:04.480 people get it, you know, so you're thankful for the 0:19:04.480 --> 0:19:05.119 ones that get it. 0:19:06.880 --> 0:19:07.119 You know. 0:19:08.240 --> 0:19:10.200 That's about all you can really do. Thank you very much, 0:19:10.320 --> 0:19:13.480 Thank you well, so let's can you do. We're trying 0:19:13.480 --> 0:19:17.400 to co habitate here, you know, that's the most important 0:19:17.400 --> 0:19:20.440 thing that we can cohabitate. 0:19:21.880 --> 0:19:25.000 Absolutely. Do you embrace the title the Queen of Funk? 0:19:25.119 --> 0:19:25.920 Do you feel like that? 0:19:26.280 --> 0:19:28.200 I think I think I think it's kind of short 0:19:28.200 --> 0:19:29.520 because I think I'm the queen of a lot of 0:19:29.520 --> 0:19:35.840 the music. I mean, you know, that's just like cutting 0:19:35.920 --> 0:19:39.360