1 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: What's up his way up with Angela Yee and we 2 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: are honored to have a legend in the building. Leilah 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Hathaway's here with us. 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 2: Thank you, good to be here, Thank. 5 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: You for joining us. I feel bad that before this 6 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: interview started we were talking about nasty things. 7 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 2: Right, It's all right, We're a big city. It comes up, 8 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:18,240 Speaker 2: it comes up. 9 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: All right, Well, let's talk about what you have going 10 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: on right now. First of all, a new project on 11 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: the fourteenth June fourteenth, Banta Black is outs, and so 12 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: explain what banton black is because that's my first time 13 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: even hearing that. 14 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, ban to black is a is a name for 15 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,520 Speaker 2: a color which is the blackest black. And I think 16 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 2: some cars have been made, some things have been made 17 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: for real toe. He's working on some stuff with that color. 18 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 2: And I really feel super black right now, and that's 19 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:46,480 Speaker 2: where that comes from. 20 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: That's good. Super black is how we need to be 21 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: feeling right now because there's so much going on here 22 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: with politics, with our rights getting rolled back, with books 23 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: getting banned, with education and danger, with women's bodies in danger. 24 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a lot happening. And that's I mean. I 25 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 2: reflected on a lot of that in making the record, 26 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 2: and while it's not a protest record, all of those 27 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 2: themes are in there in some way or another. 28 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: Man the son that I and I saw the video 29 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: for so in love. It feels like a writing song 30 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,559 Speaker 1: or like a celebration, maybe like a first dance song 31 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,559 Speaker 1: after you get married. I like that, And so let's 32 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: talk about that video because it is definitely feeling very 33 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 1: in love. 34 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, we wanted to just kind of explore love in 35 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 2: all kinds of forms. So my mother's in the video, 36 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: there are kids in the video, there's all kinds of 37 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 2: different people showing love in the video, and there's me, 38 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 2: like actually laying on top of a mirror singing to myself. 39 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: So we just really wanted to explore what the song 40 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 2: meant and how we could express it. And then we 41 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 2: wanted to explore all those fits. We wanted to explore 42 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 2: all the clothes. 43 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: Yeah it looks it looks amazing, and you look amazing, 44 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: by the way. So yeah, how do you feel now? 45 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 2: I feel good, I feel healthy, I feel energized. I'm 46 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 2: always excited, Like this part of a record for me 47 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 2: is Christmas to get to come and talk to people 48 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 2: about it, and you know, what I mean, see how 49 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,679 Speaker 2: people feel about the record and put it out. It's 50 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 2: always like a birth. 51 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,239 Speaker 1: Oh that's good. So you enjoy doing press because some 52 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 1: people get it. 53 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 2: I enjoy, you know, I enjoy talking to people about 54 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 2: music and about what I'm up to. 55 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: Well, you started the album off. Now I've only heard 56 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: the three songs that have been put out, but with 57 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: Common and Rhapsody with Black, what a great combination. 58 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: Isn't it wonderful? It's like an opus. We had a 59 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 2: piece of music and my producer Phil Boudreau kept coming 60 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 2: back and having more of it, and I'd say, well, 61 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 2: this part I'm imagining I'm a phoenix rising up all 62 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: of the ashes, and he'd come back with something to 63 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: fit that. And so to get Common and rap on 64 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: it was such a coupe. You know, we're so happy 65 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 2: with it. 66 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: You know who else I enjoyed seeing you with Jennifer. 67 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 2: Hudson, Oh thank you. 68 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: Just seeing the two of you together as like artists, 69 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: and Perry giving you your flowers that you so very 70 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 1: much deserve, and you also throwing it right back at her. 71 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: You know that has to feel nice to see, like 72 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: everybody coming up in this space and thriving the way 73 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: that they have been, and you've worked with so many 74 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: like tremendous artists, and you're a tremendous artist yourself. And 75 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: I know for the song so on Love, you said 76 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: that was a song that you had actually planned to 77 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: write for someone else. 78 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, we actually planned to write it for something else. Okay, 79 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: we were trying to do something for Leana Waite. She 80 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 2: had something going on and we tried to write a 81 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 2: song about love and we kind of expanded the song 82 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 2: and she didn't choose the song, but we we sat 83 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 2: on it because we knew it was a great song. 84 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 2: So I'm so happy that it made it onto this project. 85 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: When you're on tour and when you're performing, what are 86 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: some of the songs, because I know people get very 87 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: emotional when they get to come to your shows. So 88 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: what do you feel like are some of the songs 89 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: that you can never leave off the playlist? 90 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: You know that's hard because some of them are Yeah. 91 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: Some of them, people are probably like, she didn't. 92 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 2: Do this song, And invariably in the last thirty five years, 93 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 2: somebody will say to me, you did not sing track thirteen. 94 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 2: I don't know what that track is, but you know, 95 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 2: we kind of have to play Angel, we have to 96 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 2: play Forever for Always, for Love, I'm coming back breathe. 97 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, it's just thirty five years of records. 98 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 2: It would be impossible. And there's so many silos of 99 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 2: people that want to hear the stuff I did with Kendrick, 100 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 2: or want to hear the stuff I did with Snoop, 101 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 2: or want to hear that Take six or the Joe sample, 102 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: or the David Sanborn stuff or the Marcus Miller stuff. 103 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 2: There's so many sections of my career to try to 104 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 2: cover in that little hour, hour and a half A 105 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 2: have I never get all the songs. 106 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're definitely not pigeonholed in any space because you 107 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: do jazz, you do R and B, you could do 108 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: hip hop, and you worked down to Pimp a Butterfly 109 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: and I remember seeing that you were in and out 110 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 1: of the studio pretty quick. Yeah, but you managed to 111 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: be on a whole lot of that album. 112 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 2: I went in there Tersmart and called me. He said, hey, 113 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 2: can you come tonight. We're gonna just try to sing 114 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 2: some extra parts on this song. And the song Mama 115 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 2: onto Pimp a Butterfly is actually a flip of a 116 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 2: song I wrote Call on your Own with Rex Rideout 117 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: and Rassa and Patterson and I just went in and sing. 118 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 2: This is what happens. You go in they say we 119 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: need you for one thing, and then you go in 120 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 2: there and they say, well, wait, what if I play this? 121 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 2: What will this inspire you to do? So you end 122 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 2: up you end up on you know, Black or the 123 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 2: Berry with Rhapsody, and I ended up on Complexion with ThunderCats. 124 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:29,679 Speaker 2: So I'm on a lot of that record. 125 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: That's amazing. And you did that quick. 126 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 2: Though, right, Yeah, I mean it's just Atlas. 127 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 1: They said, you go in there, you just be at 128 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: one take. You know who else was up here the 129 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: other day and talked about you, Eric the architect, love him. 130 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: Let me tell you something. He First of all, just 131 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: the story is amazing because he talks about he's from 132 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 1: Brooklyn like I am, and moving to LA and how 133 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: difficult kind of that was for him. But then he 134 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: talked about you like coming to work with him and 135 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: how that was like a dream come true. Wow, So 136 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:59,280 Speaker 1: can you talk to me from your point of view 137 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: how that happened? Because he was definitely raving about it. 138 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 2: You know, he called he called me or his folks 139 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:08,919 Speaker 2: called my person, and uh, I hadn't. I wasn't really hip. 140 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 2: But I liked the song that he sent me and 141 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 2: knew that I could augment the song that he sent me, 142 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 2: and so we got together. I went to his house. 143 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 2: He has a super cool house. He had all kind 144 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 2: of stuff in there. I wanted to play with. He 145 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 2: has a lot of games and figurines and stuff in there. 146 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 2: So we basically spent the day working and talking and 147 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 2: looking at games and playing games. But he's super cool. 148 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 2: I want to work with him again. 149 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 1: I really imagine literally had the way just coming to 150 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: your house to record and hanging out and do it 151 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:39,559 Speaker 1: all all that dream come true. 152 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 2: It was. It was fun. 153 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: You know what else? I know that you're also you 154 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: went to Berkeley, right, so you studied music and you 155 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: started putting out music while you were in school. 156 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, just at the end of that, at. 157 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: The end of that, how important And how did that 158 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 1: help you? Because I know you could sing even before that, 159 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 1: But what made you even say because some people can sing, 160 00:06:57,480 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: but that doesn't mean that they're going to go to school. Yeah, 161 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: and it does, Yeah, not that you have to, But 162 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: how did it help you that was. 163 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 2: My path and my chorus. I come from two musicians 164 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 2: that met in school for music, and so it was 165 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 2: very important for us to have our education and to 166 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 2: be educated in our craft. That's just something that went 167 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 2: on in our household. I feel like, you know, I 168 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 2: left college without my degree. I'm six only six credit shy. 169 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 2: I feel like I've put in enough hours to say, Okay, 170 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 2: I'm good. They gave me an honorary doctorate last year, 171 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 2: so I'm okay with it. So I'm Doctor Hathaway. But 172 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 2: I really feel like, whatever your path is, just get 173 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 2: on your path. School school was good for me because 174 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: I want to know as much as I can about music. 175 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 2: I love music. I really love what I do. I 176 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 2: love the art of how it's done. I love the history, 177 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: particularly of black music all over the world. And so 178 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 2: for me, that's the path I took, and it it 179 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 2: augmented me as an artist. It made me a more 180 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 2: informed musician. So you can't hurt yourself by that learning 181 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 2: right at any time. 182 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: I do think that, even for myself, I look at 183 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: myself as a student always, So if there's something I'm 184 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 1: interested in, I'm always trying to make sure like I 185 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: take classes read up YouTube, go on YouTube because YouTube 186 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: is like school right now? Absolutely, and what about the 187 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: business of music? How was that process? Learning about that? 188 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: Because it is always a changing landscape. Things are so 189 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: different now, that's. 190 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 2: True, It's true. I mean I feel like I'm still 191 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: I'm learning about the music industry. I mean, I learned 192 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 2: something just now when I was out in your green room. 193 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 2: And things are changing and eras are so short in 194 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 2: the music industry. 195 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: What did you learn in the green room? 196 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 2: I learned. I learned something from Craig, who I learned 197 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 2: from all the time. And that's why I try to 198 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 2: also surround myself with smart people who understand what's happening, right, 199 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 2: you know, it's it's very helpful to me. I feel 200 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 2: like the music industry, you could you could be in 201 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 2: your whole life and not understanding. It's not built for 202 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 2: you to understand. Right, There's a moving target. There's a 203 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 2: lot of racism, there's a lot of sexism, a lot 204 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,719 Speaker 2: of artists get cheated, a lot of the what you 205 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: would call like the lower level artists make the money 206 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 2: so that the bigger artists can go flying a private jet, right, 207 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 2: you know what I'm saying. So the music business is 208 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: ever changing. When kids asked me in a clinic, like, 209 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 2: can you give us some advice about how to get 210 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 2: in the music business, I'm always like, no. 211 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: I cannot. Everybody's path is definitely different. 212 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 2: Absolutely I can give you all the musician advice. 213 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: Did you feel like you had a heads up, like 214 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: you said your mom a musician. Obviously we know your 215 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 1: father as well, the famous Hathaway name. So do you 216 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: feel like you had a bit of an edge, like 217 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: where they aware of the business of music when you 218 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: were getting into that space and you did go to school, 219 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: or do you feel like there were times because everybody 220 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: feels like you have to pay your dues and everyone 221 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 1: ends up signing a bad deal, like getting in a situation. 222 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 2: It happened to me. I mean, I feel like I 223 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 2: had some knowledge of the music industry growing up, but 224 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 2: it was so it was so different than when my 225 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 2: father was in it, and he died in nineteen seventy nine, 226 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 2: and my first record came out in nineteen ninety, so 227 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 2: there's probably seven eras in between all of those times, 228 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 2: and everything has changed. Even from two years ago. The 229 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 2: last record I put out, we treated differently than this 230 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 2: record we're putting out, so everything changes and rolls over. 231 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: But you still love it though, And that's the main thing. 232 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: And you know what, you worked with My favorite artists 233 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: of all time? Who's that Prince? I did? Yeah? That 234 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 1: is my absolute favorite? What was I gotta get? Like 235 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: everybody has great print stories. 236 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 2: I wish you know. My greatest print story is that 237 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 2: they asked me, they said, what song would you like 238 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 2: to sing with Prince? So first of all, you have 239 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 2: to slide down the wall for a couple seconds on that, 240 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,959 Speaker 2: I said, I'd like to do Diamonds and Pearls. Oh okay, 241 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 2: And they said, oh, well, he doesn't do that song anymore. 242 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 2: Remember Prince went on his thing. 243 00:10:56,200 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: He didn't do eerrotic City, would city? 244 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 2: It was not playing the records you want to hear? 245 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 2: And I said, okay, I'll choose sometimes it snows in April. 246 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: Okay. 247 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:11,719 Speaker 2: So he ran past me. He said, take the mic 248 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 2: under the stage. He ran past me. He said, take 249 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 2: this mike, just stand right here and I'll meet you 250 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 2: up there. I said, okay. So I took the mic 251 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 2: and I'm standing there and the thing, you know, it's 252 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 2: a toaster, but it's not the pop up toaster. It's 253 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 2: the slow rise toaster. And when I got to the 254 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 2: top of that stage with the eighteen thousand people in there, 255 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: and my little dress was blowing in the wind, and 256 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 2: then suddenly, out of nowhere, he was right there. He 257 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 2: was right there. I've wanted to lick him, but I didn't. 258 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 2: I didn't want to ruin it. So we sang sometimes 259 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 2: it snows in April, which is amazing. Yes, and I 260 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 2: said to him, thank you so much. This means so 261 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 2: much to me. It was the night before my birthday. 262 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: Oh wow, I said, thank you so much. I hope 263 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 2: I get to work with you again. He said, oh no, 264 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 2: we're not finished, and he took my hand. He took 265 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 2: my hand and walked over to the piano and we 266 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 2: played Diamonds and Pearls and sang it. 267 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: You got to do your song that he doesn't even do. 268 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 1: That's amazing. 269 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: It is, it was, It was. It was incredible. 270 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: And you know what, you're touching other people that way 271 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: that he touched you. It's hard to imagine you didn't. Definitely, 272 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 1: I grew up with. 273 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 2: Prince though, you know what I mean, He's to me. 274 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 2: Prince was like, wow, that is That was the biggest 275 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 2: it got right because he had all the I remember thinking, 276 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 2: this guy's music is so deep. I thought I was 277 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,319 Speaker 2: deep at that age. I was listening to mountains like 278 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 2: I get this music. Not to mention the fact that 279 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,199 Speaker 2: he was in my cousin's closet with a leather g 280 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 2: string on us, so I would peek in the between 281 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 2: the clothes and see what Prince was talking about every 282 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 2: now and again. That was my favorite some of my 283 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 2: favorite music growing up. 284 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree with you, and the fact that he 285 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: could play all those instruments, and then doing a movie 286 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: like Purple Rain or Under the Cherry Moon like the 287 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: most phenomenal. What are some things that you haven't done 288 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: that you feel like I need to make this happen. 289 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 2: Oh, I would love to act. I've done a little 290 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 2: bit of that. I would love to write things for 291 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 2: people to say and sing, but really to say, Okay, 292 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 2: I'm so always caught up in music. I don't even 293 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,560 Speaker 2: know really what else I'm great at. So I'm trying 294 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 2: to figure all that stuff out. 295 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: I feel like if you can write the great music 296 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: like you have been, you can write a great script. 297 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 1: Maybe maybe you know. I just I do think those 298 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: things kind of linked. Yeah, it can be a tar 299 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: or a musical. 300 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm working on it. 301 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: You are for real, I am. Listen, I go to 302 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 1: Broadway places. I just went to go see I just 303 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: went to go see Home. Yeah, which was amazing. If 304 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 1: you have a chance to go see that while it's 305 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: doing this limited run. But you know, The Wizard is 306 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: on Broadway and The Notebook is on Broadway, both of 307 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 1: those directed by a black woman, Home by black men. Listen, 308 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: this is it. And I think if you did something 309 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: like that, the press that something like that could get 310 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: and people going out to see because even when you 311 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: do your and friends, you know, concerts, you never, like 312 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: you said, you never know who's going to show up. 313 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: What has been the best surprise for you when you 314 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,679 Speaker 1: do your Leila Hathaway and friends, the best surprise, Yeah, 315 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: like the biggest, Like even you didn't know. 316 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 2: Gosh, Anita Baker was always in surprise whenever she showed up. 317 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 2: That was a surprise. I don't know. I haven't done 318 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 2: it in a while either. Faith came out, Sid came 319 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 2: out for me. So many people just come out and 320 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 2: I'm so blessed by that and edified because in this business, 321 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 2: particularly now, in this age of social media, sometimes you 322 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: feel a little unseen. You don't feel seen, and so 323 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 2: whenever I get with my peers, I remember like, Okay, 324 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 2: y'all can see me. 325 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: Do you pay attention to social media? 326 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 2: Like yeah, I mean, I'm on social media? And I 327 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 2: had a website in ninety seven that was like it 328 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 2: was literally Facebook, I just didn't know, right, and it 329 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 2: was Facebook, but we used to communicate and we had 330 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 2: the Pink Room, and it was people from around the 331 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 2: world talking about the music that was happening in their place. 332 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 2: And so sometimes yeah. 333 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: Sope, because yeah, I remember my Space when that started. 334 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: That really was supposed to be for music and band. 335 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 2: And you could program your page and make it what 336 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 2: you wanted it to be, you know. So I find 337 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 2: it interesting. I am a techie. I'm into all of 338 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 2: that kind of stuff. I do, you know, ninety eight 339 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 2: percent of all my own social and. 340 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: I'm always like, I need to get better. I have 341 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: barely been doing anything. And you know how we always 342 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: say that that's part of the business now, which it 343 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: never used to be. 344 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 2: It sure wasn't. I saw a kid with a me 345 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 2: and he said, all I wanted to do was play music. 346 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 2: I didn't want to have to learn about algorithms, so 347 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 2: it's hard. 348 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's definitely a new world. And so you have 349 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: a tour that you're starting also right in August, so 350 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: talk to me about that. 351 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 2: I'm excited about the Vanta Black tour. I'm really excited 352 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 2: to take this record out to people. Well it's I 353 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 2: feel like it's the best record I've ever made, and 354 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 2: I've never really felt like that before. 355 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: Wow. 356 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm really excited. 357 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: And you look great. Thank you. I just want to 358 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: say just the music. But you said the best record 359 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: you've ever made, and you had some classics. That's a 360 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: huge statement. 361 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 2: I think so too. I'm really excited about it. I 362 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 2: can't wait for people to really hear it and get 363 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 2: the feedback on it. It's a really good record. 364 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 1: How long did it take you to We started. 365 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 2: In twenty twenty. I didn't start with a goal of 366 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 2: like this is my record. I just started writing and 367 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 2: writing with people over zoom and making records like that 368 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 2: over zoom, where I would text a piece of a 369 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 2: vocal and they plug it in, and then the record 370 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 2: just grew and grew and grew, and we just finished it. 371 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 2: You know, A couple of months ago before we got 372 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 2: it mixed and mastered and to give to you guys. 373 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: So isn't that wid that you could finish a record 374 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: a couple of months ago and then be ready to 375 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: put it out like that never used to be the case. 376 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 2: Oh no, but you know these kids are making records 377 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 2: on their office the next day. 378 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, literally, you're right about that. Yeah, good well, I 379 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: cannot wait to hear the full record. MC Light is 380 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: on there, so I got a chance to hear that 381 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: song too. But I love the fact that, like I said, 382 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: you can work with anybody. We can see you work 383 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:11,439 Speaker 1: with Robert Glasberg, we could see you work with Kendrick Lamar. 384 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: Just you know, people will definitely give you your very 385 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: well deserved props and accola so much so, if y'all 386 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: can get out to the show, make sure you go. 387 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:22,360 Speaker 1: It starts August in Birmingham, is it? 388 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 2: I think we start in New Orleans? Birmingham, were started Birmingham? Yes, 389 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 2: you are correct. 390 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: New Orleans is probably gonna be a time I can't wait. 391 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: Let me tell you one thing I love about New 392 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: Orleans is I would just walk down Bourbon Street and 393 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: walk into all these random places where people are just 394 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: playing music and it'll be like the middle of the 395 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: day and you just and you're like, these are everybody 396 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: is so talented? 397 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, it's a lot happening there. It's another world. 398 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: What do you do for fun? 399 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 2: What do I do for fun? 400 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 1: Besides music? 401 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 2: I'm a gamer? 402 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:50,120 Speaker 1: Oh wow? 403 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 2: Yeah? I play games? 404 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 1: Like what that's your gamertag for people? 405 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 2: Okay, my gamer tag. I don't even want to give 406 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 2: you my gamer attach because then just see all the 407 00:17:57,800 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 2: boring games I'm playing. But right now I'm into v 408 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 2: are gaming okay, and I'm playing the most what may 409 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 2: seem like the most boring game, but it is so exciting. 410 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 2: It's Power Power Wash Vry. It's a crazy game. You 411 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 2: just have you played it? It's so fun. Download it. 412 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 2: You can get the demo. 413 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: It's so good. 414 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 2: It's really fun. That's all I say. 415 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 1: And what about AI? Have you been paying attention? Because 416 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: I keep saying I want to take some AI like 417 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:26,880 Speaker 1: classes and learn more about it. 418 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 2: I definitely want to learn more about it. I am 419 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 2: I am reticent to I don't want anything trying to 420 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 2: cop what I do. I mean, you could try it, 421 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 2: I don't. I don't I'd like to hear what it 422 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 2: would sound like. But there is a particularly in black music, 423 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 2: there is a soul full experience happening that a computer 424 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 2: will never be able to authenticate. And so it's going 425 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 2: to be interesting to see what the next few years bring. 426 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: Does Leila hath the way pay attention to hip hop 427 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: beef and like you watching. 428 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 2: What listen, I'm part of a thread called down the 429 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 2: rabbit Hole right now with my besties and we. 430 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: Are in there taking it apart. Yeah, we are. 431 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 2: We are in all levels of conspiracy and beef in 432 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,880 Speaker 2: the hip hop industry, for sure. It's very interesting. 433 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: Do you'll be like delete this so in case somebody hacksh. 434 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 2: We just we just we have our opinions, and I 435 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 2: mean it's everybody knows. I'm like a huge, huge, huge 436 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 2: Kendrick fan, So it was interesting to watch all that 437 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 2: develop and I really love the fact that people can 438 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 2: channel their energy into music, right. 439 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: And then he made a hit song out of a 440 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: distance me. You know, if somebody asked you to sing 441 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 1: on a this song depends on who's. 442 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 2: This Okay, I think it depends on whose Oh. 443 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: My gosh, all right, but happy, We thank you so 444 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: much to meet you. Thank you, it's a pleasure. And 445 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: make sure y'all check her out. Is there anything that 446 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: you want to make sure you mentioned too that we need. 447 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 2: It's Fanto Black, it's out Friday. They can reach me 448 00:19:58,240 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 2: on my socials. That's Leila Hathaway. 449 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 1: I've been ever ever and it's her. She checks her DM. 450 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 2: I sure do. 451 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: And then she didn't give us her game attack. But 452 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: if you d M her maybe she'll she'll play you Powerwatch. 453 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,199 Speaker 2: Just Powerwash. I do all the other stuff too, but 454 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:15,199 Speaker 2: I'm into like Japanese kind of RPG games, so no 455 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 2: one wants to play those with you. 456 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,719 Speaker 1: All right, I'm gonna check that out alright. His way up, 457 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 1: way up,