Drink Champs - Episode 324 w/ Patti LaBelle

Episode Date: July 29, 2022

N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN are the Drink Champs. In this episode we chop it up with the legendary Patti LaBelle!  The Godmother of Soul joins us for a historic episode in Drink Champs history as she shares stories of her iconic career.  We pulled out the red carpet for Ms Patti LaBelle as she shares stories of her relationship with Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, and much much more! Drink Champs Army - fill your cups up, grab a slice of Patti’s Sweet Potato Pie and get ready for this legendary episode!  Lots of great stories that you don’t want to miss!! Make some noise for one and only Patti LaBelle!!! 💐💐💐🏆🏆🏆   Listen and subscribe at http://www.drinkchamps.com  Follow Drink Champs: http://www.instagram.com/drinkchamps http://www.twitter.com/drinkchamps http://www.facebook.com/drinkchamps  DJ EFN http://www.crazyhood.com http://www.instagram.com/whoscrazy http://www.twitter.com/djefn http://www.facebook.com/crazyhoodproductions  N.O.R.E. http://www.instagram.com/therealnoreaga http://www.twitter.com/noreagaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart Podcast. And it's going to take us to heal us. It's Mental Health Awareness Month, and on a recent episode of Just Heal with Dr. J, the incomparable Taraji P. Henson stopped by to discuss how she's discovered peace on her journey. I never let that little girl inside of me die. To hear this and more things on the journey of healing, you can listen to Just Heal with Dr. J from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. AT&T, connecting changes everything. My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention.

This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild-haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell-bent effort to sabotage a war. J. Edgar Hoover was furious. He was out of his mind, and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its knees. You can now binge all 10 episodes of Divine Intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Why is a soap opera Western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Drink Champs, a production of the Black Effect and iHeartRadio. We'll be right back. In the most professional, unprofessional podcast. And your number one source for drunk facts.

This is Drink Champs motherfucking podcast. Where every day is New Year's Eve. Listen, it's time for Drink Champs. Drink up, motherfucker. What it good be, hope it is what it should be. This is your boy N-O-R-E. What's good is D-J-E-F-N. And this is Drink Champs Yappy Hour.

Make some noise! This is a special day, special day. Now, who we about to introduce when me and you started this show, we always said we wanted to, you know, give it to legends. We wanted a platform because in this game, when people are seasoned, they have 10 years or more or 15 years or more or me, I just hit 25 years in this game, and people try to say you washed up and it's over for you.

But there's very few who can maintain that relevance, who can maintain that substance and that people always look to them and say, this is the people we want to be like. So the person that we're talking about is not only a queen, not only a legend, it's an icon. She's dominated in so many different fields. We was just listening to her hits and goddamn, it just kept going.

More and more and more hits. Movies. going more and more and more hits movies and then she came with the sweet potato pie because for those that don't know when you're black we eat sweet potato pie not apple pie and that other shit pumpkin but I'm not sure that in case you don't know who who we talking about? We talking about the queen of motherfucking soul, Patti LuCas! Oh guys, thank you. Now I've been studying you, I've been studying you, right?

Go ahead. And I've been studying all your interviews. This is a very awkward question, but I need to start with this. Did you get rid of that flip phone? No, I have an Android. Oh, you upgraded. So you upgraded.

But wait, it's still a flip. It's still a flip. Wait, wait, wait. It's lavender, I got it last week. Okay. And it made me mad enough to almost throw that one away. Why? Because the little flip, since my nails are so long, I try to press those things.

So then my friends, Edward said, let's get you an Android that you just have to touch a name and the number pops up. Wow. Well, I touched and the number didn't come up. Wow. And so I got angry. Okay. So I really think I'm going to get rid of that one too. I wanted to get a smartphone.

Okay. But I can get a smartphone. Okay. But I can get in trouble because people can hear you if you're talking about them when it hangs up and you feel hung up or something like that. But I don't know nothing about phones. Oh, here it is. Okay. That's a new phone. Okay, so upgrade and flip. Okay.

Look. Okay. Look. Time on it and everything. Okay. Shut up. I don't do these things. But this is my little purple baby for now.

Okay. Okay. So let's get that done with. I'm a flipper though. Okay, you're a flipper. Okay. Okay. Yes.

Holy man. Gosh. So let's get straight. First of all, can I say something? Last Monday, or I think it was Sunday, my son said, Zuri, my son, Mom, they want you to do that show. So I said, what show? He said, Drink Champs?

That's what it's called, right? I said, who, me? Because I know all about you guys. No. So I said, what do I got to do, smoke reefer? I don't smoke reefer. I don't smoke cigarettes. I said, but I don't want them to stop doing what they do. I don't do shots.

I don't do nothing, but I said, I'm honored. And then you had a red carpet for me when I got out of your beautiful car. Yes, yes, yes. I mean, you're treating me like a queen, and I'm saying, I am not hip hop, but I am. I'm not this, but I am. Yes, yes.

I'm seven, how old am I? 78, and I am. So I'm this, but I am. Yes. I'm 78 and I am. So I'm every woman, I'm everything, but to be here, I'm honored. Let me say that. Hold up, hold up. Fill me up. Okay, yes, yes, yes. Mr. Lee, where you at? Because that's what you do, right? That's right.

You got a beer? Yeah. We got glass cups today, too. And I'm on my own glass. We usually have plastic. Okay. This is mine. Yo, daddy, that is so fly.

You got your own glass. Yeah, I've had it for like 20 years. Really? This is my great... You're supposed to drink champagne out of this, but I drink wine and beer out of it. Okay? But don't stop doing anything you do. If you want a puff, smoke reefer, I don't care.

Stop on the bottom of it. Okay? I'm letting you know right now. But don't stop doing anything you do. If you want to puff, smoke reefer, I don't care. Stop on the bottom. Okay? I'm letting you know. Okay, and one more thing I want to say before I forget. Okay. What, what, what? I'm going to have a glass of juice.

I'm going to have a glass of juice. Hey, I'm good. I love that song. I love it to have a glass with you. Hey, I'm good. I love that song. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. Here I am to celebrate with you guys.

We're celebrating. Hold on. I have to join you. I have to join you on this one. Oh, my God. This is so wonderful. I'm so proud of this moment right now. Salud. Salud.

What's that? I can't reach you. Yeah. Oh, gotcha. Oh, good. Thank you, guys. I'm saluting you. Yeah. I got to tap. Oh, good. Thank you, guys. Wow. That what, what, what?

Okay. So here's the funny thing, right? Let's get the flowers right out. Okay, that's right. That's right. I forgot. Our show is about, you know, giving people their flowers while they're here and they face. You know, I always say it doesn't take anything away from me to big up someone else.

And me studying you, I could tell you like that. So off top, before we even do anything, we want to give you your flowers. We want to give you your flowers. Physically. Physically, yeah. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. These are gold-plated flowers. Oh, my. Yes. These are a fabulous flower. Yes.

Yes. Thank you, honey. Yes. Thank you. Yes. Yes. So. Thank you. Yes. These are a fabulous flower. Thank you, honey. Yes. Thank you. Yes. So. Thank you. Let's make some noise back out there.

Get him, honey. Oh, thank you so much. Oh, thank you. No problem. No, thank you for being here. So, listen, let me tell you, off top, right, we've been doing this show, and I always like to hear people's drink orders. You like what?

I like to hear people's drink orders. Okay. what? I like to hear people's drink orders. Like, what would you like to drink when we sit down? And when I spoke to Charles, and he said, Caymus and Opus One, I thought he was playing with me. No. Because that's my favorite two wines. Really? Yes, my favorite, especially red wines. When is your birthday?

I'm September 6th. I'm Virgo. I'm May 24th. I'm a Gemini. I'm May 28th. And I'm a white Gemini, too. Gemini! Hey!

You're right with 18 personalities. Go ahead. Keep going. Yeah, with Jim and I's click up, I can't. And I love your mother. Wait, wait, wait, wait. I love your mother and your wife. Yes, that's right, that's right.

Thank you, thank you for that. Yes, yes. Thank you for that. So, off top, you know, me and Charles is close. He knew me since I was a child, literally. I know. And so when Charles is saying that, I'm thinking he's he's he's like buttering me up so then I went and I'm watching your interviews and you really are a chemist oh

well you was opus really no no it's really chemist first really chemist oh I'll tell you why after the show okay but I like opus too okay but things happen that make you like something even more okay I got reasons. You got reasons. Okay, but I love them both. You love them both. Okay. Okay. I ain't going to lie.

I'd pick Opus a little bit more. Go ahead. If I had to choose. If you had to choose Opus or Caymus. Caymus. Caymus. Okay. Yes.

Okay. And they're both great wines, you know. And I have my own wine coming out soon. Okay. Right. I'll let you know. You got your own? Oh, yeah.

We're going to support that here. Yes. We're going to support that here. I'll let you know oh yeah we're gonna support that here yeah I'll let you know when it's long overdue long overdue long overdue okay hold on let me get in my notes patty I got notes now come on okay let's get off on this topic um they said that you and Aretha at the White House and then Aretha walked by you and that was the time that people started to say because in hip-hop, I started to think that the girls can't get along, right? And it's like, it's

notable in hip-hop. So I never thought that this was happening in y'all world back then, and when I researched it, and that's like one of the first things that came up. Well, let me say something. I watched Snoop's interview on your show, the things that they were saying about him and P. Diddy.

That it wasn't good, but it was good. Me and Aretha, we were good. The time when she did the White House, she was not feeling great. After the White House, we spoke on the phone. She called me

because she was very interested in having her items in Walmart. We talked about food. We talked about recording together. This is after the White House. She always loved me. At the time, I don't think she was feeling great. No telling how I would be if I wasn't feeling my best and somebody walked by me and said, hey, and I didn't speak.

It must have been for a real reason. Because I did her, the White House, the thing, you know, the honors. Inaugural? The honors, hush now. Yeah. Kennedy honors, when she's sitting up in the wave pop booth, I sang Ain't No Way because she wanted me to.

At Essence, the TV show Essence, along with Susan Taylor, Aretha wanted me to uh at essence uh the tv show essence along with susan taylor aretha wanted me to sing ain't no way wow and i did wow and it was a standing ovation she called me to her seat after was done and said you did okay and i said it's okay baby i mean she loved me it wasn't a love hate it was a, and when I'm not feeling well, you might get the other side of her, Ethan. So that's all it was, you guys. I never took it to heart. She's my number one hero. Always has been, always will be.

And I wanted to clear this up on this wonderful show, because people think sometimes when you're... Like, I thought Jasmine Sullivan hated me. Why? Let me say something. Last week, she made my heart pound hard. She called me. The same gentleman, Marquise, who made this outfit and the outfit that I wore for Essence the last couple weeks ago, he's good friends with Jasmine.

And so he said, Jasmine and I always used to talk about who's coming to Patti LaBelle's party first you or me so she's always had this love for me but whenever I would see her she's shy and I would give her all these props and stuff I said baby girl don't like me my feelings were hurt until last week when we talked on the phone she said Patti LaBelle you're my everything she said I love you so much I get shy when I'm around you. So you see how things are misunderstood in this business? So ugly business. Sometimes people want to make us hate each other and say, oh, she don't like her. Well, Jasmine and I are recording soon. You know, after 15 years, I haven't recorded R&B. So I'm doing stuff with her and a bunch of other

sweeties. And I just wanted to clarify that for me. Because I was holding this thing that she didn't like me. She loved it, Patti LaBelle. Right. Okay, so thank you, Jasmine. Right. A lot of people don't know that. Right, right, right.

Talk about the real, honey. Don't let people think negative all the time. Bust that up. Right, that's right. And I believe in telling the truth to a fault. I get in trouble sometimes. Right, too truthful. Because I talk too much,ust that up. Right. And I believe in telling the truth to a fault. I get in trouble sometimes. Right. Because I talk too much, boo-boo.

Right, right. I say too many things. And he said, why did you say that? It's on my heart. Right. Let, next. And let me ask this. But me and Afritha were wonderful.

That's right. And you were supposed to record before she passed away. Yes, before something happened. Yes. Yes. Great, great relationship we had. Yes. So, yes. Rest. Yes. Yes. Great, great relationship we had. Yes. Rest in peace.

Yes. So this is something that struck me crazy. Luther Vandross got put on by selling you clothes? I think he was stealing them. I ain't going to lie, that boy didn't have no money. But he was so interested in Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells, we're at the Apollo Theater, and the doorman came up to my room and said, there's a Luther Vandross who said he wants to be your fan club president

who wants to come in and give you clothes. I said, shoot, anybody giving us clothes? We were buying stuff from Five and Dime. We didn't have no money for costumes. He came up with these beautiful pink and gray outfits. Let's wait. It's so many stories I have. Hold on.

So then, gray and pink outfits came out of this bag that Luther bought for it was all for the ladies. And we went on stage the next show with these gray. They were a little big, but I didn't care. They were new. Because I always like to wear new clothes. And so he gave us these clothes and he said i would like to be your fan club president

i said but who are you boo right to be our fan club president and actually sorry this is chaos but i just want you to get all these stories in. And so Luther said at that time, could I be your fan club president? So I'm saying, and Sarah and Nona, we're saying, who are you? He said, I'm Luther Vandross. I'm a singer. And I just took him for his word. I said, I bet he can blow. And after that, we found out who he was. But meanwhile, he's our president of our fan. We didn't have a fan club. So he was the first ever president for, who were we called then? Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles?

Or LaBelle? No, we were Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles. Yes. But he willed it. He willed himself into the situation. And what a man. Started playing through that. What a man.

And after that, when he got money, he bought me diamonds, Lalique. I have some of his birds, Lalique birds that he bought and he bought me diamonds Lalique I have some of his birds little Lalique birds that he bought and gave to me when he died his mother gave me some other items he wanted me to have he was a patty baby I love him so much yeah I got some stories for you yeah I didn't know the Luther part I thought I knew a lot of it but the Luther part really shook me up especially how he did it because everyone has a beginning. But to see how humble that beginning was,

was like, damn near going from a stylist to the number one pop singer in the world. In the world. And did you see that in him when you first let him in the room? I didn't see anything but clothes. She had some free costumes. I didn't see no toys.

All I saw was free. Free costumes. We didn't have any.. All I saw was free. Free costumes between Ebony. So no, I just saw a great man. Never knew he had that talent. Right, right. Yes. You have these great stories. Like there was a piano guy that you was working with in London named Reginald White.

Reginald White, yeah. Reginald White. Let me see if I got the story correct. Come on. So Reginald White, let me see if I got the story correct. Come on. So, Reginald White was playing back up for you. I think he wanted to quit because, at this time, because people were, homosexuals weren't being accepted at that time. You told him, you keep going. You speak to Reginald White a couple years later.

You asked Reginald White, he asked you, can you come out to a show? And you said, well, who are you being a show for? And he said, it's me. I'm Elton John. That's the way it happened. Is that the way it happened? That's crazy. I've been on you, Patty.

I've been on you, Patty. I've been on you. I didn't even have to tell you the story. So he was at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. And so I got this call from him saying, hi, Patty. It's Reggie. I said, hey, Reggie. What's up?

He said, I'm at the Spectrum tonight. I said, who's opening? I mean, who's closing the show? He said, I'm opening the show. I'm Elton John now. I said, you punk. You made it before me. He said, I'm sorry.

I did. Give me my Tupperware back. His group, they were called Bluesology, I think. Wow. And I fed them every night after the show because nobody had any pounds. They didn't have any money. And I always cooked. So I gave him and his band food to take home in Tupperware.

And so I'm a Tupperware shopping bag queen. If I give you a beautiful shopping bag or a beautiful piece of Tupperware, I want it back. You want it back. So when I saw him the next time, we recorded at Caesars with the Red Piano Show that he was doing. And we did a duet. What was that song we did, Zuri? Your Song. Your Song on my album.

Right. And it was beautiful. And after he finished, he left his ring on the piano. I said, Elton, here's your ring. He said, that's yours for the Tupperware, darling. I said, OK. I have that ring ring. He said, that's yours for the Tupperware, darling. I said, okay. I have that ring today. It's a beautiful diamond cross.

And I know it costs more than $5. I got me a ring. Yes, and I got a good friend. Oh, God damn it. Do you know how legendary that story is? It's so many stories. But did you know you had heard Elton John the name before he told you it was him? Before he told me it was him.

That's crazy. Yes, I was shocked. And I said, you made it before me, boo? And he did. And he's still making it. And I'm so happy for him. Here's to you, Elton. Yeah, that's right.

That's right. Yes. Ooh, so many stories. And then one of our famous stories on Drink Champ, period, has always been a Prince story. Because we know we'll never get to meet Prince. And a lot of people don't know about hardcore. Right, I met Michael too, yeah. Oh yeah, we go on both.

We go on both. But something that's interesting is Prince at the Arsenio Hall show. Oh God, I was shocked. First of all, we recorded in Minneapolis. How do you say Minneapolis? Minneapolis. I can't say that word. Minneapolis. Minneapolis. Wherever, we recorded in Minneapolis. How do you say Minneapolis? I can't say that word. Yeah, I can't say it.

Minneapolis. Wherever. We were there recording. And so I was there for maybe a month. And so what he did for me was like treating me like I was his mom. And so he had clothes. You know, he had that shop of the tailors right there on the premises. He took me to the clothing place, had four outfits made for me.

Then he took me to his house in the Alphabet car and had me cook for him. I cooked everything. You know what he ate? A freaking biscuit. And I had the brisket, the fried chicken, the corn, okra, tomatoes, everything. And all he wanted was a biscuit.

He wanted to see me cook. I said, what's up? So I cooked real fast. I cooked everything like, well, four hours for the brisket. I put that on early and everything else and he watched me eat.

So I set the table and so I said, okay, let's eat. I said, what's wrong with you? He said, this is all I want. I said, okay, I love you anyway. So then after that, we played pool in his house

with my musical director, Bud Ellison, who's no longer here. And he said that everything he learned in music was from my musical director, Bud Ellison. Now, Bud was phenomenally a height. It was just one of the best compliments anybody can give you. So then we went to a club, and we danced. We were dancing. He had on his pumps, and I had on my pumps. And we were throwing down. Honestly, never because

he likes to be tall and I love him. I was about to ask you, who was taller? He was? Alright, let's go with that. I'm just going with that. We were in the same height. Okay. We were dancing down. You know you can dance. And I can't, but I pretended like

I was doing something. So then we went to the disco. Then after that, he took me back to my hotel. And then he called me about four months later. Arsenio Hall called me and said, Arsenio said, Patty, what are you doing? I think it was in three days. I said, cooking. Just so I ain't got no jobs.

So I'm chilling. He said, could you come to my show? I said, I just did your show not so long ago. Why? He said, because Prince won't do it unless you do it with him. So I said, why? What am I going to do? Sing? With him? He said, no, he just wants your presence on the

desk where we were sitting in the chairs. I get things mixed up. So I went on and I sat and Prince did a little talking and Arsenio kept looking at me and said, Patty, you want Enerjet? No, I don't know what to say. And he held your hand. And it was such an honor that he wanted me to be there with him as a comfort blanket.

It's just so many great things that happened to me in this business. I have so many show business daughters, so many show business sons, so many nieces and nephews, and I'm mother of everybody. My son, natural son, Zuri, my baby, he has about 50 million sisters and brothers. He don't mind.

Do you, Zuri? Zuri, that's what y'all mean, right? I remember that. I remember that. That's right. Don't be talking about my mama, man. Oh, my God.

I remember that. God damn it. You don't forget a thing, do you? Hey, man, I've been doing my due diligence to make sure. And I'm bouncing around a little bit. But let's just, how did we even start to think? Because what was that internet guy that I think he ate the pie and everyone thought? James.

Yeah, I believe. James from Chanel White from L.A. He's my best friend now. We didn't know him. Okay. But at the time, we were in London performing and got this video of this guy doing this video. I said, wow, that's sweet. Thank God the pies had already been selling you know so

when he did that they sold even more yeah and i you know he's one of my better friends and um i think some people are saying let's get it real yeah that i didn't take care of him okay it wasn't planned and i did take care of him okay me. Me and Zori, we make sure people are, you know, not used or abused. So things that we did for James, and he appreciated, but people had to chit-chat and talk like I should have bought him a mansion or something. You know, it was that kind of party. It happened organically. It was organic. You know, so I always wanted to get that story straight.

And we're friends. We talk. He comes and stays with me and cooks for me because he's a great chef. So that story is a phenomenal story. Daddy Pies was already in Walmart. Right? Let's be clear. They were already in Walmart before that video.

They were already there and doing quite well, but he just put that extra kick to it. I love him for that. I do. Do we make some noise for him? Huh? Do we make some noise for him? Huh? Do we make some noise for him? I mean, why not? I always give props where props are due. You know, I never use

anybody or abuse anyone. That's my baby. So let's just think about this. What happens? Someone is at the house and they're eating the sweet potato pie and say, we got to sell this? Like, how did this happen? It happened because of my mother and grandmother's recipe and I added a little something to it. And I think people know me not as just a singer, but as a cook.

And I cook all the time. So why shouldn't my pie be good? Tell me why. It got to be. So it happened just because it gotta be. Okay. So it happened just because it's a good pie. Mm-hmm. It's no better than your grandmother's or your mother's,

but it's a patty pie. Mm-hmm. You know, and I, like I said, I know I don't make the best pie in the world. I know that I don't make the best macaroni in the world, but this happened to hit. Right. And people really enjoyed patty's pie,

the little baby 50 cent ones and all the little goodies. But what was the first product that rung off and someone said, we have to start selling it? What was the first product? I think it was a pie. It was a sweet potato pie. It was a sweet potato pie. Uh-huh. Right?

Yeah. It was a sweet potato pie. Because you knew white people didn't really eat. They ate pumpkin pie. But we have a pumpkin pie coming out, too. We got a pumpkin pie, too. That's right. That's cheese all-based taste buds.

Everybody got to eat. Right. Right. Right, Nori. So everybody has to eat. So I give you a pie. I give you a pie. You a pie.

Everybody get a pie. So now we're on breakfast. I see Charles Sue with the motherfucking syrup. She get ripped. Yes. Oh, you got syrup too? Uh-huh. Oh, you got a syrup too? Uh-huh. Oh, my God.

It's sugar-free syrups, all types of syrups. So I'm a diabetic, so I have to use the sugar-free. And it's so darn good, I promise you. I don't put my name on anything unless it's phenomenal. I can tell. I can tell you... I can tell just going through your discography and just everything. I can tell you hands-on

with everything. I have to be. There was a time when I was hands-on with some stuff back in the day that I hated. Like? Can I tell the truth? Yeah. You want another drink? I'm good. No, no, there were some things back in the day.

I had a line on HSN. Don't talk about that. Okay, okay, okay. I had a line of perfume. Well, HSN. Well, why not tell the truth? I just didn't like it. But I did sell it.

But I told people when they bought it, I said, I'm not crazy about it. I did. I have to be honest. That's the only thing I can say that happened to have happened in my life that I just wasn't so loving about. Zori going to beat me later. What? See, sometimes I get in trouble. As you say, I'm a Gemini.

So we sometimes say things that we wish we hadn't. But it's honest. It's honest. It's always going to be honest. I don't mind being honest. Right, right. So now we're getting into breakfast. Keep going.

We're getting into breakfast. Breakfast, yes. I love that. Okay, now what have we got? Pancakes. We're getting into breakfast. Breakfast, yes. I love that. Now, what do we got? Pancakes? Waffles. Waffles.

Yes, and my little grandbabies are in the back of the boxes. Aren't they cute? God bless them, yes. And there's a peanut butter and jelly pancake. There's waffles. There's all kind of stuff. And then I have my dry mix coming out that you can make yourself. And it's awesome. I swear to you. Wait, dry mix so you can make your and it's awesome I swear to you

wait John so you can make your own like a press right you know that powder kind okay add water yes you don't even have to add milk mmm okay but they're so good you're gonna slap yourself well your mother's gonna love it your wife's gonna love it yes I'm serious, Mom. You're going to love them. Right. Okay? And the sweet potato pie, I've read somewhere or heard you say somewhere that you sometimes don't even heat it up.

No, you can eat it just like that. Just like that. I'm great eating. Out the box. And this is the buttermilk pie. Uh-huh. Slap yourself. Slap yourself.

Let me check out the buttermilk pie. You got the peach cobbler over here, too. I can't move with this suit. Go ahead. I got it. Look at the peachmilk pie. Uh-huh. Slap yourself. Slap yourself. Let me check out the buttermilk pie. You got the peach cobbler over here, too. I can't move with this suit. Go ahead. I got it. Look at the peach cobbler. Oh, the double peach cobbler, the double crust one, too. Yes.

What? The macaroni. Have you had that? You got macaroni, too? Have you had my greens, my kale greens, my black eyed peas? We need all of that. We should have done the whole thing again right now. My corn over tomatoes, my cornbread. Jesus. My black eyed peas. We need all of that. We should do the whole thing again right now. My corn over tomatoes.

My cornbread. Jesus. My brisket stew. You're getting us mad hungry. We still got to eat. And my chicken saute. My chicken stuff. I got a bunch of stuff for you wonderful people.

So let me ask you. When you go out to eat, what's your favorite type of food to eat? Good food. Anything good. No like soul food Italian? I make soul food to eat? Good food. Anything good. No, like, soul food Italian? I make soul food all the time. So I love great Italian. I love Japanese food.

Okay. And I love eel nigiri. You know, the sushi, but nothing raw. Just the cooked eel, the smoked eel. And I just like, I like good food. I like a good smash burger, hamburger. Ooh. I like that.

You still go to Cheeseburger Baby? You ever been there? What's that? What's that? It's on South Beach. Oh, really? It's a little tiny cheese burger spot. It's fantastic.

Oh, yeah, I'll go. Yeah, yeah, it's fantastic. It's a little hole in the wall. And I'm not a fancy, like, rosemary and thyme and all that stuff on my plate. Don't put nothing like that on my food. Because when I go to restaurants, people think I'm fancy. So the plate comes out drowned in rosemary and thyme. Or the garnishes and all that.

Yeah, I don't be wanting that. Just give me some salt and pepper and fresh garlic. Just give me some crab legs. You ain't got to put this shit on my oven. I ain't eating that. I don't do fancy. It just tastes good. I don't know why they're doing that. We don't do that shit. It just tastes good. I don't know why they doing that here.

We don't like that. Give me basic food. What? Yes. You ever ate at Carbone? No. We're gonna get you at Carbone. We're gonna get you at Carbone tonight.

That is like the most popular restaurant there is out here. I must go. Yes, yes, yes, yes. We're gonna make sure the red carpet comes with you okay I don't need a red carpet just give me a fork I love you so much let me ask you what's when you was an artist what did you like more making the music or performing the music well not was because she is oh yeah yeah yeah that's right I mean I look at myself like I was I love them both equally.

You love the making of music and performing equally. Although the making of the music, you can do one song and make 100 takes out of it, and they end up using the first take you did. You know, so I always say to the producers, how many more times are you going to have me say that word on? Like what I did on my own? On my own. Oh, honey, the producer made me say it. No, you have to say on. I said, I don't want to say on. I say on my own. On my own. Oh, honey, the producer made me say it. No, you have to say on.

I said, I don't want to say on. I say on my own. And he made me so mad, I threw the song away. Until Richard and Carol Beresary came, Baccarat came, and said, Patty, please, do you want to do this song? I said, no. I'm not going to talk about the producer.

Not with him. I said, but I love the song. He said, would you like to do it song? I said, no. I'm not going to talk about the producer. Not with him. Right. I said, but I love the song. He said, would you like to do it as a duet? Right. So I said, yes, that's an answer. He said, who do you like? I said, I love Michael McDonald.

Wow. And so they got Michael, and he did his somewhere, and I did mine somewhere. We did our videos. I was in Brooklyn, and he was in Malibu when we did the On My Own video. Wow. When we first met was on Johnny Carson. Wow. That's when we first met after doing the song together I'm so happy to throw that away. I love that song. Yes, and I love Michael McDonald. Hey, you know, it's crazy The new people now that use this record is two things either things. As soon as you hear it, you're like, oh, I know he done broke up. Oh, my.

He going to do it. You're on Instagram. Oh, my. Oh, damn. Damn. They done broke up. They just first posted 3,000 pictures together kissing. And then that song come on.

You're like, look, you see what happened. And you know what's's crazy that both couples individually post a song separately. It's true, yeah. It's like one of those songs. I mean, it's just one of my favorite songs to sing. And I've done it with so many different duet partners. You know, and I, well, I just love it.

I love it. God damn it. God, let's make some noise for that. Let's make some noise for that. Make some noise. I was going to ask you about Michael. God, let's make some noise for that. Let's make some noise. Let's make some noise. What about Michael? Tell us your interactions with Michael. I had not many.

No? Because we didn't record together. We didn't video together. We did Johnny Carson together, and that was all we wrote. After that, I did see him at another performance, but we never really talked talk. But I'm almost sure he's laid back and quiet yeah because I'm shy and I think he is shy a little so and I'm not a great

conversationalist I don't talk too much when I see people one-on-one you could be Gemini you could be are you that way yes sometimes yeah I shy away from people a lot, unless it's a crowd. Right. And then, it's on. Yeah. Ah! Yes, yes, yes. And I was asking that earlier,

because this, when you go see on YouTube, there's the famous Patty Kick, where you kick your shoes off. Do you know about that? It's a whole, you got a whole show of nails about that. I know about it, and thank God I started kicking them off because my corns were hurting. And I said, this shoe is killing my foot, and it has to come off.

And so sometimes they stick to your feet unless you have Vaseline on your feet or something, the shoe slides off. I didn't have Vaseline this night, and that sucker stayed on. Like when I did Dancing with the Stars, I had a part where I kicked the shoe off. It wouldn't come off.

I was so embarrassed it was live. And the shoe was stuck on my freaking foot. I said, no, not tonight, boo. But I'm known for kicking that. I still kick them off. You still kick them off? Oh, yeah. I still kick them off.

That's a signature move. That's a signature move. My baby Fantasia, she started kicking hers. I said, Fantasia, wait until we're four son. Because that heifer will go out there and kick them off on the first episode. That's my baby. I have so many baby girls. Yeah.

She's a kicker. I don't know anybody who's met Patty and said that they don't love her. Really? I haven't met them. I don't know if they exist. I bet they do. They do. I've seen you talk about these such people.

Like, Colin talked about them, too. They. But I don't see they They do. I've seen you talk about these such people like Colin talk about them too. They. But I don't see they. But I've never seen it. Thank God. And when I did, I confronted it. And she's in love with that. What I told you about earlier. Because I've seen you on The Breakfast Club and you were talking about you've seen somebody at an award

show. Oh, girl. She'll remain nameless. Who would ever have her? I can never tell you who she is, but I'll never make friends with her. I can tell you that already. She needs Jesus. Oh, yeah, she does. I feel like I know.

Well, you might, but you'll never hear from my mouth. Okay, yeah. Never, ever. I mean, her mother was loving on me, and she wasn't. I said, okay, did I do something to you? I'm about 100 years old. I know I couldn't because you're about two. Right.

And I'm 100, so why are you hating on me like this little girl? It's okay. I'm still loving myself. Do you feel like you, you feel like, because it's different for, male has, like, ego. Sometimes women, it feels like they're threatened by another woman. I know. Do you feel like you still threaten like these young whippersnackers out here? No, I don't.

I shouldn't. Okay. I mean, I really should not. But if they take it like that, then I take that as a high compliment. They might be intimidated by you. Yeah, I'm saying that, but I wish they were not. I am going to talk to you because i've been where they're going right so all i'm here is i'm a teacher and i'm gonna tell you every little downfall you might run into that i ran into and i got out of it somehow so here i am to give you info all right not to hate on me don't hate

on me if you don't really know me but then then again, I take that too as a compliment. You always have to take the high road in life, though. And don't always think that something negative is going to bother you. I was talking to my friend today, Shakia. My hairstylist, as fine as she is and beautiful, people are still trying to make her feel less than who she is. You can't let that bother you. Take it as a compliment. That's what I do. still trying to make her feel less than who she is. You can't let that bother you.

Take it as a compliment. That's what I do. I know a lot of cops, and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. Across the country, cops called this taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple.

Cops believed everything that taser told them. From Lava for Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multibbillion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really, really bad. Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated,

on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2, and 3 on May 21st and episodes 4, 5, and 6 on June 4th. Add free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores, and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode, I'll be diving into some of the lesser-known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and best-selling author and meat-eater founder

Stephen Rinella. I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here, and I'll say it seems like the Ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to the American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Glod. And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast. We are back. In a big way.

In a very big way. Real people, real perspectives. This is kind of star-studded a little bit, man. We got Ricky Williams, NFL player, Heisman Trophy winner. It's just a compassionate choice to allow players all reasonable means to care for themselves. Music stars Marcus King, John Osborne from Brothers Osborne. We have this misunderstanding of what this quote-unquote drug thing is. Benny the Butcher.

Brent Smith from Shinedown. We got B-Real from Cypress Hill. NHL enforcer Riley Cote. Marine Corvette. MMA fighter Liz Karamush. What we're doing now isn't working, and we need to change things. Stories matter, and it brings a face to them. It makes it real.

It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to hear episodes one week early and ad-free with exclusive content, subscribe to Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on good company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next.

In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi, for a conversation that's anything but ordinary. We dive into the competitive world of streaming, how she's turning so-called niche into mainstream gold, connecting audiences with stories that truly make them feel seen. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. It's this idea that there are so many stories out there. And if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Get a front row seat to where media, marketing, technology, entertainment, and sports collide. And hear how leaders like Anjali are carving out space

and shaking things up a bit in the most crowded of markets. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You also cooked for the Rolling Stones? Oh, I've cooked for the Rolling stones oh i've cooked for the rolling stones richard pryor um hold on hold on what what i don't think we've ever had a richard pryor story on drink i think i don't think we've ever had anything about richard pryor You just messed me up. I don't really want... Wait a minute. It's the best story.

Okay. Which version of Richard Pryor are we talking about? This is after he burned or before he burned? Before burned, after burned. Oh, cold.

You got double burns? Okay. I toured with him. Yeah, so... You toured with Richard? I toured with Richard. And he always thought that he wasn't paying me

enough money on the tour. He said, you're too damn good to be out here getting what I'm giving you. I said, it's good. I'm good, right? He said, no. So we were in Detroit. And it was a Sunday. No, it wasn't.

It was a Saturday. And he took me to a car dealership and said that he wanted me to pick out a car for his aunt. So I said, oh, how old is she? He said, she's about 60-something. I said, what colors are her hair? He said gray. So I saw a soft blue, beautiful car. I don't even know if it was a Cadillac or, I don't know, because I don't drive.

I don't know what cars are. I was in that fierce car that's going now. That's right, that's right. I knew that. But I have cars, but I don't know what cars are. I was in that fierce car that's who I know. That's right, that's right. I knew that. But I have cars, but I don't know about cars. So he said, turn the ignition on. I said, how? I don't drive.

He said, let me come in there. So Richard came in and turned the car on. I said, this is your car. I said, oh, no, my husband going to kill me. I said, oh, no, it ain't that kind of party, Richard. He said, no, I love you. I want to pay you more. I want to give you more. And so I said, okay, let't that kind of party Richard he said no I love you I'm gonna pay you more I'm gonna give you more and so I said okay let's go to we went to Bennigan's and I said Richard call my husband you went to Bennigan's with Richard Pryor yeah Bennigan's

right in Detroit we went to Bennigan's and I said call him I said arm said somebody wants to talk to you so Richard got on the phone he said man I just bought your wife a car. I said, don't say it like that. Just say I don't like her like that or nothing. I just bought her a car. So Richard said, man, I just love her. But I don't love her like you love her. I said, okay. So Armstead said, well, thank you, sir.

And so the car went to Philly. Well, I can't drive. We had a car. So that was Richard's story. And then he sent me a sauna to my house. Then he bought me loads of diamond bracelets. He said, you can't get enough money out here for your talent, which was a high compliment. And that was the Richard Pryor story with me.

And when he was leaving, not so well and getting ready to pass, he sent some messages to me. You know, I love him so much. Wow. But we did a lot of stuff together. I mean, I don't know how long we toured, but he did that Sunset Boulevard thing. And I think my name is on his credits as Patti LaBelle being a performer that night. Oh.

So I performed that night. Oh, wow. And I had this sax player, white guy. He said, I can't say what he said to me. He said, I said, Richard, what'd you say? He said, how to play like that. I said, he's white and he got chops and he can play. But so many things he would say to me.

He loved my shoes. Every pair of pumps. Let me see those pumps. I said, what's up, boo? Okay, I'll let him see the shoes. But it was just such a wonderful relationship right just a good one yeah let's make some noise for Richard Pryor I had stopped you because you said Richard Pryor who else you cook for you said the

Rolling Stones um Richard Pryor the Rolling Stones were in Philly. Mick called and said, Patty, we're in Philly. Could you make us, everybody knows I cook. Could you make us some food? So I said,

as long as it's out there for, you know, when you have the setup for all the groups to eat, as long as mine says Patty LaBelle and not the caterers

of the Spectrum that evening. So I made everything and they ate and they publicized it and they were so happy that I cook for everybody. Right. So I made everything. Mm. And they ate and they publicized it and was, they were so happy that, I cook for everybody.

Right. I mean, so it was them, it was the Who. Okay. Back in the day, because we opened the show for the Who. The Who, wow.

And I made sure they ate. And you're doing this on tour? Yeah, I get a room with my hot plate. Right. I have like two hot plates. Uh-huh. And I plug them up, boo.

Wow. And my friend Norm norma my friend who used to perform uh who's do my hair norma she would go to the uh farmer's market and get all the grub and i cook for everybody my band and crew never got got hungry i cook and already branding it saying make sure it says my name it better yeah i can't take credit for my food no that's awesome who'd you cook for that you that you thought you wouldn't and that that that that nina simone oh nina simone was near her end we were at the uh hotel in new york the um the oh Palace. Palace. Yes, and we were doing Carnegie Hall with Sting, with, Elton was on that show, a bunch of people.

And so Sting's wife, what's her name, called me. What is it? Trudy. Trudy called me, right? And said, Miss Labatt, could you do us a favor? So I said, what you want, girlfriend? So she said, Nina loves you so much. Could you tell her to wear pants tonight and not a skirt?

Because she sits with her legs open on stage. I said, what? I said, okay. I said, I'll maneuver it somehow. So Nina wanted me. I was in the hotel cooking my lunch. I love those hot sauces, right? So I got them from the farmer's market.

So hot that nobody can eat them but me. So she said, what are you doing, Patty? I said, girl, I'm cooking lunch. She said, what are you making? I can't talk like her. What are you making, Patty? I said, hot sausage. How many you got? I said, I have four. Bring me two. Swear to God. So me and Norma went up to her room, knocked on her door, and she said, no, Norma, you can't, whatever. She didn't know Norma. She said, you can't come in, miss, just Patty. So when I went in, she was lying, went back to lying on the bed. And she showed me her hair. And she said, you know what I got?

It was so heartfelt. And then she showed me her breasts. And she said, I love you so much. I share things with you. Like she saw me at Carnegie rehearsal drinking wine out of a plastic cup. Never. They give you crystal and nothing at all. I swear she was beating me up for not knowing better. I said, girlfriend, I just wanted some wine. So she said, no, only in crystal. So we did the, I changed my glass. And then when I finished with her up in her room, she said, you have another sausage. They were so hot. I said, Nina, how can you eat that? So then she would have me call her every two weeks to see if I found a friend for her. And y'all became friends, right?

Oh, best friends. Best friends, right? Yeah. I did her memorial. Wow. I mean, that was a lady that not many people had a privilege to meet. Right, right. I had the privilege. And we talked on the phone all the time.

Right. And when she left left her daughter called me and told me some nice things that she felt about me i think i've been with everybody um just wonderful people yeah yeah it's an array of people that you just mentioned just in yeah i mean i had so much fun googling you because you know know, they always say, you know, related names too. And when your related names is so, like, so much of the illest people in the world, like from Elton John to Prince, and this is like,

wow, like, eventually our names will be related to you. Oh, wow. Like, we got to make a toast to that. We got to make a toast to that. That's such a good thing. This is legendary right there. Oh, God, thank you. We gotta make a toast to that. We gotta make a toast to that. That's a good thing. This is legendary right there. Oh God, thank you.

There's so many things in my life that I'm so proud to have been a part of. Like being the first black woman to play the Metropolitan Opera House. You know, with Sarah Dash, baby Sarah Dash, who's no longer with us. Whose memory will never be forgotten. Right. And Nona. We're still hanging in there, though. We're still doing things.

And what made you stay in Philadelphia? I pictured you like being in Hollywood somewhere. Most people did. Philadelphia is quiet enough for me. See, I don't like the lot of- You said quiet enough? Yeah, I don't like a lot of stuff. Right.

Like New York is too fast for me. Right. So is L.A. at times. So I'm a Philadelphia girl who still lives there. Right. And I'm never leaving. Did you ever like move to Hollywood at one point? I had to when I was out all night.

I did two sitcoms here. So I lived, not here, in L.A. For a long, too long for me because I don't like LA Wow you know I don't like the mentality the people are so grand Hollywood if you don't have a song out or a movie out you're nobody you know that kind of stuff so but I had to live there to do the the shows that I I did with Vivica Fox and uh Mars Chestnut the one out all night. And then I did another sitcom, Different World.

I did at times. Chipmunk's Mother. Oh, God, I've been around. You did Empire, Horror Story, too? Oh, yeah. Horror Story, they cut my throat. Yeah. And Horror Story, Zuri wouldn't watch.

He never watched it. Yeah, I've been in a few things. I am truly blessed. It's like you have multiple careers. You have a movie career. You have a food career, a music career. You can just turn around and throw darts in any way, whichever you land on. It's great.

It's a good feeling. You know, there were times when I thought I wouldn't make it. And to me, I have not really, really, really made it yet, but I'm still going to make it. You know, I still have things to do that white women do that are the same caliber. Like sell 100 million? Yeah, and I sell two. All right. Stuff like that like if you ask me to right uh with with celine singing dion her singing self um i did it first

but it was one of those things in life you have to wait your turn you know and i'm 78 and i'm not tired of waiting i'm not tired yet you, because it's still coming. Things are still going to happen. And they're happening. I'm here. We had Tank on here, right? And Tank said that, he said that sometimes it's not black violence that the people are scared of. He said it's black love that people are scared of. You know what I'm saying?

That's it. That's true. And why? I don't know why. If we all love each other, then this world will be. It's a better, it would be. Yeah. You know, but all that stuff has made me just work harder.

I'm the hardest working woman in show business. Right. As far as I'm concerned, I never stop. Because there's never something in my mind saying you're not worthy. I'm worthy. So I know I'm going to make it. You know? I'm going to make it. How do you find that energy to continue on?

How do you find the energy? I just do. Because there's younger people that don't have any energy to do all the stuff you're doing. Yeah, I'm blessed with energy. Right. And I love trying things. You know, like I'm still doing Crip Wall.

Wait, what? Wait, wait, what? I heard that wrong, right? I heard that. Okay, my song is California Love, right? Okay, okay. So, whenever that comes on, I do my pretend Crip Wall. Okay.

And I did it on stage at Essence, but I've been doing it for the last two years on stage with my younger people in the band. Oh, you do it on stage? Whatence, but I've been doing it for the last two years on stage with my younger people in the band. Oh, you do it on stage? What? You better ask somebody. Google it. Are you serious?

Yes. Yes. What? Oh my God. Yes. Yes. Uh-uh. Google.

Oh, shit, that scared me. Oh, my God. Shoot, that scared me. But now, Google Essence, last week. We were there. We were there. Well, did you see me do the cut? No, we didn't. We didn't stay for last week. We were there. Well, did you see me do the clip? No, we didn't.

We didn't stay for the show. Oh, okay. Okay, Google what you missed. Yeah, okay, okay. Okay? They gave me 30 minutes, and I wore that 30 minutes out. Although, my beautiful suit was falling off me because I just had it made and I lost weight. So the pants were almost on my knees by the time I finished crib walking.

It's okay. But I was throwing down. But the shoes was off though, right? Shoes off. Yeah. My little girlfriend, the one who sings, we used to have on her chucks or some kind of sneakers. And she was holding up her dress during the crip. I don't do it like they do it.

I pretend. But I love that song. I love any gangster music. I love gangster rap. That's incredible. On Dancing with the Stars, my song was 50 Cent, The Club. In the club? That's what I did it good.

Is that how you stayed so young, being full of spirit? I love music. I love hip hop. I love gangster rap. Some of the words they say, and one song I was dancing to and not realizing what the boy was talking about, I can't tell you what song it was. It was yours.

Yours. What? My mom here, yeah. It was yours. Yours. My mom had Patty. No, I'm only joking. It was somebody's song. I don't know, but I loved it so much. Right. And I was into it, and I think my son was in the car, and he heard me jamming.

Right. I guess he said, my mom don't even know what she listening to. But I love that. I'm 78, but I ain't old. But let me ask you. Did you ever hear Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, WAP? Yeah.

I heard it. I said, go girls. Oh my God, they said it. They do it. I mean, and that's what they do. Right. And people love it, you know? Do you think in your day of making music,

did it ever be a WAP idea? Yeah. Never. You never think Do you think in your day of making music, there would ever be a lot to do? Yeah. Never. You never think? Never ever. You never think Gladys Knight would be out there? Woo! Woo!

Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!

Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Don't get it twisted. I love those girls for what they do.

Of course. We love them. Of course. The city girls, they all got their own thing. Everybody is doing what they do. The city girls. love them, of course. The city girls, they all got their own thing. Everybody is doing what they do. Did she just say city girls? Yeah. Why did I say city?

She didn't say city. I took pictures with city girls two weeks ago. Wow. I mean, I know what's happening. So when you guys try and hide the blunts and the reefers and stuff from me, don't hide. All right, cool. Do you.

Cool. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We can get through it, we can get through it. Don't ever stop your lifestyle for a Patti LaBelle. Because I know everything. You know what's crazy? And I respect the respect. I do, but don't stop.

Okay. I might just like two hits. I'm just being honest. We got you. I'm not doing it, but I don't mind you doing it. We're going to stay giving you your flowers. Hold on. What's your earliest memories of hip-hop, but I don't mind you doing it. We gonna stay giving you your props. Hold on, hold on.

What's your earliest memories of like hip hop, interacting with hip hop? I guess it was Tupac. That was the earliest for you? I think so. That was my earliest. What? Oh, it was Big Daddy King,

because we sang together. Feels like another one. Oh, yeah, it was Big Daddy King because we sang together. But. Feels like another one. Oh, yeah, it was Daddy King, right. Right, right. Thank you for telling me. That's right. It was Daddy King. But I started moving to California Love.

To Park. That's when I started learning Crip Walk. Did you read Park? No. Never. Wow. Isn't that meet Park? No, never. Wow. Isn't that a sin? Yeah, that's crazy. No, I love him so much.

How about Biggie Smalls? Yeah. You met him? No, I never met Biggie. Okay. Did I, Zuri? No. No, but Biggie had a song about Patty.

That's right. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh, I forgot. An R&B. Yeah. Can I get a who R&B. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Can I get a whoop whoop?

He sure did. I was shocked. I said, what? But. Yeah, he sure did have a son. Look, young men are still attracted to you. I mean, they're attracted to you. I'm happy.

And you're keeping it together. You're keeping it together. Yes. You know what? I am You're keeping it together. Yes. You know what? I'm a lucky woman. Right. I am to be 78 and still have people looking. Right.

You know, that's a blessing. Right. It is a blessing. It's your vibrancy and happiness as well. Oh, really? Thank you. Yes, yes. I love what I do.

I love who I am, and I love who I know. Right. Yes. I know some good people. I can just tell from your relationship with Aretha that you always called her a queen. You always. She always called me. Even when times might not seem shaky, you kept your classiness.

I'm looking through this stuff, and I'm like, wow, you really are classy. You're the definition of class act. Oh, thank you so much. Thank you. And we all got that in us by being pushed too much where we're going to get to the edge. Right, right. And it seems like you ain't nowhere near the edge. No, that pushes me to the top.

So you go the opposite way. When the bottom tries to get me to the bottom, it puts me higher up. Wow. Because then I know I'm somebody. Wow. That they might be threatened by. Wow. Which is an awful thing to feel as though you are a threat to certain people.

But when it happens to me, I go way high, way high. Because you can't bring me down. You just can't. God damn it. I think we made some noise today. And you had a cooking show, too. Oh, yeah, I had a few. Really? But they sure had a few. Really?

But they sure put me off. Why? Why, I don't know. It didn't last very long. I had a few. I can't really say why things happen the way they happen to me or maybe other black women or black men. But you roll with it as long as you have it.

Don't ever stop rolling. You know, and I'm still I'll have another one. I have a few more. Or you could create your own network. I think I am. What'd you say? You could create your own network. Your own network. Yeah. Well, Oprah. Why not?

Because we see Oprah. I'm so proud of her. Absolutely you can. I see you floss so crazy one day. Someone asked you. They said, Patty, so we can't get no more pies. You said, because they added potatoes. So I had to call Oprah to see if she got potatoes. I was like, wait a minute. That was the illest floss.

Wait, did Oprah have potatoes? By the way, I was just like, oh. I literally was like, wait a minute. That was some floss. She's like, yeah, I got to call Oprah to see if Oprah got potatoes because there's no more potatoes in America. I said, wait a minute. That was some fly. She's like, yeah, I got to call Oprah to see if Oprah got potatoes. Because there's no more potatoes in America. I said, wait a minute. First of all, how do you know shit like that?

I tell you. Oprah got potatoes. And just running a potato industry. This is crazy. This is crazy. This is better than you slinging pies like Pablo. Let's just be clear. Let's just be clear.

Oh, God. So, by the way, I know this is going to sound crazy. Come on. I didn't know sweet potato pie came from potatoes. What? From sweet potatoes. Where do you think they came from? Are you serious?

I didn't know. You didn't know that sweet potatoes were potatoes? Then I put it together, and I was like, oh, sweet potato. You're lying. I didn't put two and two together. For years, I've never identified sweet potato pie with a potato. It's the yams part that you love. With a potato, yeah.

It's an honest mistake. It's very honest. You're good. You're good. So is that how it happens? You had to call Oprah for potatoes? No. Okay.

Are you serious? No, I'm asking you because you said that over the interview. I've been playing sometimes. Okay, okay. No. Oh, okay. I just like to talk. Okay. Are you serious? No, I'm asking you because you said that over the interview. I've been playing sometimes. Okay, okay, all right. No. Oh, okay. I just like to talk. Okay. But you and Oprah, how did y'all develop?

Oh, we're tight. Yeah. She's one of my better friends. I did her first show in Baltimore before she became who she is. When she had the afro? Uh-huh. Okay. And she called my friend Cassie Johnson, who does my wardrobe for me and styling, and said,

do you think Patti LaBelle would do my show? So Cassie called me. my wardrobe for me and styling and said do you think Patti LaBelle would do my show so Cassie called me I said who is she she said her name is Oprah I said I'll do it and I did it not knowing of course who Oprah Winfrey was but she she always thanks me for that for doing her first show. It's not a lot of people in this world that say Oprah owe me. I know. That's wrong. That's wrong. But no. But no, no worries.

She didn't owe me. She didn't owe me. She doesn't owe me. I don't know what I mean. What I'm saying is, what makes you do things like that? Like, you know what I mean?

Like, um, like someone unknown asks you for a favor and you're like, Okay, here's, here's a, here's a Patti LaBelle moment. I love people. I love fans.

I don't care who they are. I, 20 years ago, hugged a gentleman with AIDS because he was dying. And my security had a fit. Because back then, that's what they thought. Everybody thought he was easily transmissible. And so I knew that my little moment was going to make his last moment a little better because he was a big Patty fan. My security got so mad,

I was pimp slapping my security. I said, move, move away. Let me hug this person. That's who I am. So I didn't care who Oprah was or anybody is because I love people. I'm a people person.

And if somebody comes to me like they did a lot at Essence for photos and my security tried to stop me, I get very sick. I get angry because those are the people who make me. Without them, who am I? Very true. But protection is important too.

Protection is fine, but I know who's not going to hurt me. I mean, I swear to you, I am so well-rounded with knowing people and what they might do and what they might not do. Let me have the freedom

to make somebody's day because they sure do make mine every damn day. So let me hug them. That's an awe moment, y'all. One, two, three. Aww. That was an awe moment, yeah.

No, and I have the best security people in the world. Right. But let me be Patty for a moment. Right. That's all. What do you call your fans?

The Labels? Nothing. You don't call? No. Like, Nicki Minaj got the Barbz. The Barbz. Beyonce got the Beehive. We got to name your fans, because...

I name them Love. Love? Yeah. That's fire. My love folks. They love on me like crazy. What do you name your fans? I name them Love. Love? Yeah. That's fire. My love folks. They love on me like crazy. And when I see the housekeepers in the hallway,

I'll stop them and they'll look at me because I'm all beat up and cute. I say, hi, would you like a photo? They say, are you Patty? Stuff like that. It makes their day. So call my fans Love Bugs. Love Bugs.

Unless you get a better name. No, no. Yeah, we roll with whatever you got. We roll with Bugs. We roll with it. So who inspired you? Ooh. I used to listen to Dakota State and Gloria Lynn, Nina Simone, James Moody back in the day when my brother was living with me.

That was his music so I I started out loving jazz and listening to jazz and influenced by my mother who never sang but her spirit was a song to me just wonderful woman she didn't have to sing but I was influenced by the love of my my mother my sisters my sisters who are no longer here, Jackie, Barbara, Vivian, and now my niece, Stacy, and my nephew Billy. The only family I have left, you know, blood from my mom. I have my son, thank God, and his wife, Lona,

and my three babies, my three grandbabies. So I have, I'm influenced by the little thing my little baby did this morning. He tried to pull my wig off. I said, baby, no, this ain't your mama. No, his mama got long, fierce black hair. Hers. This ain't mine. Everybody know this ain't my hair.

Okay. The baby tried to pull my hair. He said, got my hair. I said, no, boo. And I was influenced by that. It just made me feel good to know that I have something that he wants, but he can't have it. But seeing little things just makes my day. Little things.

And I love you, Will. Don't get mad at me. Will is my security. Okay, next. But we heard you have famous Thanksgiving parties. I do. In fact, one of these parties you had, you had just had your living room done

and you let no one in there. That's true. That's right. And you let the people smoke refill by outside. They smoked by the pool. They smoked by the pool. Nobody's going to

give me no contact. Because I would get a contact and sometimes I didn't know why I'd be high sometimes. And I said, oh, they blew smoke in my face or something. But no, you can smoke outside. Right, get. I didn't know why I'd be high sometimes. And I said, oh, they blew smoke in my face or something.

But no, you can smoke outside. And don't go to the new living room. The new living room. No, go to the basement. Now, what was so special about this new living room? It was new and phenomenal. Just child. It was a paddy living room.

Paddy living room. Just beautiful. And it was white. So I didn't want anybody doing no red wine. Mm-hmm. I don't smoke no cigarettes in here. No Jack Daniels. Nothing. No.

None of that. Nothing. None of that. Yeah, so I kept it closed. Right. Yes. I let them peek in it. But don't walk.

Is that something you ever get into, like interior designing? Yes, I love it. Oh, that'd be hard. That's what I do. That'd be hard. And my friend Shakira Crazy Hand, she's doing her house now. I'm helping her with her house. Wow.

Yes. There's another show on the network. Oh, I know. That's another show. I've been doing this all my life. Right? I want to eat. I got some. Yeah.

I mean, me and you go re-decorate. Come on, let's do it. Why don't we do something anyway with our food line? God damn it. That's right. You're talking about my food line. That's right. You're talking about my guacamole.

Come on. Okay. Come on. Guacamole. Guacamole. Guacamole. Come on. Okay. Guacamole. Guacamole. Holy shit. Come on, Guam. Come on.

Because you the king of food. Anytime anybody hip hop, R&B, soul, jazz, if you got anything to do with food, you must go to Patti LaBelle. She is la madrina. She is the godmother. And that's just it. Oh, thank you. There's no negotiating it.

You gotta drop a bag. Right. You gotta go check in with Patty. Say, Patty, I got sugar cookies, and Patty say, let me taste them. Right. You come under my label. Get up out of here.

You know what I mean? That's exactly what's gonna happen. You know what I mean? Bring the guacamole. Bring it. Bring the guacamole. I got the guacamole. Goddamn.

Okay. I just got co-sign. Just want y'all to know just got co-sign. Just want y'all to know we got co-sign and the bag is coming too. Yes, for sure. And I heard someone ask you before what was more lucrative for you, your music or the food? But that was like five years ago. I want to ask you that same question because I feel like you're going to say food right now.

I'm going to say both. Both, okay. Because your royalty is still crazy. I'm going to say both. I'm truly blessed. Right, yes. Yes, I am blessed. Yes, Clark.

Yes, I've got that guacamole coming, baby. I'm so open, man. For sure. I just love your spirit. I just love how, you know, like I said, I was studying you for so long because once we locked into that. And I'm trying to look for a flaw in you. Like I'm trying to not, just to see you, to almost see that you're human. And you're like an angel.

Oh. Yeah, like I kid you not. I'm like, I'm looking and i'm like oh okay like oh i think you're sent here to make us to know what love is like make us better yeah because like like like i said like you could have judgment on people and you just don't you just sit there and you're still just and and like i said i was looking for it i'm going through it and i got other people who work here and i had them go through it. And I'm like, no, she doesn't have one. I just love, I love my blessings.

I could not be where I am today. I don't have to be sitting here with you guys, which is an honor. And I didn't have to do certain shows that I've done or movies or whatever. I've been touched by angels. And when my sisters all left me, they laid this thing on me that they never had. And I have it because I always say, why didn't I die at 50 like they did? And I'm 78. I'm still standing strong.

I'm not sick. They were all so sick. And I think, I think they left so I can keep on rising. So I can keep on rising. And tears are great. I don't mind crying because they were the best sisters you could ever have, and they left so early. And I surround myself with nothing but positive people. You know, Kim, Charles, Lona, my niece Stacy, Billy, positive. My son Zuri is the best son that a woman could have. He's never back in the day whenever his dock size

the shoes would have holes and limousines would come for me to take me to the show he wanted to ride in the luggage van he never tells promoters he's my son what a blessing, he's not a Patti LaBelle son he's a son and all of that love that he's given

me in all these years, when he saw me really sick, there was a time I thought I was going to give up singing because I had lost my voice. I know I lost it, but he said, no, you didn't, mom. I said, yes, I did. They're going to start throwing eggs at me. And I was on tour with Frankie Beverly and the OJs. And they would all come to my trailer and say, bring me flowers. Frankie would bring me flowers and say, are you okay today? And I would look at him and say, no. I was evil. I went through a six-month period of something trying to take over me.

And my son stood there. He cried with me. He stayed with me. And he kept promoting me, saying, Mom, you're great. Kept holding you up. Yeah, kept holding me up. And I love telling this story. I don't think a lot of people would, but I thought I lost my livelihood, my voice, my personality.

I would stand and look at the audience and wouldn't say one word. The next day, radio stations would say, we're praying for Patty. Because I'm human. And I don't know what was wrong with me but i went through and i'm standing here now here on the station on your show and feeling like a queen sure and just knowing that i've done much more in my life than most people expected me to. Because there are people in my life who said you're never going to make it. Okay, now you're never going to make it. Shut up. There's more to do, more to do. Much more to do.

No, this is, this is, this is, we got quick time? Mm-hmm. And we'll do the shots? All right. What does that mean? What does All right. What does that mean? What does that mean? Just in this...

Let's actually make it quick. All right, yeah, yeah. Okay, okay. Oh, God. Where is that? I don't see it. No, it's there. He sent it.

Ah. You see it? Oh, no. I don't think you sent it to him. Yeah, you sent it to us. Okay. No, guys. What number is that?

Yeah. Maybe our service ain't working? You got your hook? I don't know, maybe my service is nervous. You can hold it down. Alright, I get it now. I got it. You want to explain the rules? We should have Sunny. Come in Sunny. No, it's okay. It's okay. You want to explain the rules? We should have Sunny. Come on, Sunny. I was going to have a drink.

No, it's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Because we're going to sip. We're going to sip. We're going to sip because she's not taking shots. What kind of shot is it? Explain.

It could be sipping on it. I could do mine? Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Okay. So you want to explain the rules? Yeah.

We ask you a question. It's two names. You pick one or the other. If you say the politically correct answer, then we take a shot. Okay. So it's either you say both or neither. That say the politically correct answer then we take a shot, okay? So it's either you see both or neither. That's the politically correct answer, okay? If you pick one yeah, you know how to take at all you know what? You know I'm doing we have my friend right there. You see his name is Sonny DBT. I'll take it You gave him a dance. I'm gonna go. Yeah, that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's right, the dancing man.

OK. Come on, come on, sonny. Right? You ready? Hold on, I'm going to bring a chair. Oh. Oh, sonny, you're making this way complicated. No, no, don't worry.

Just stay over there. Just stay over there. Just stay over there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, relax. All right, cool. I'll set up the first one. Go ahead.

MJ or Prince? Michael Jackson or Prince? God. Prince. Prince? Okay. Okay. Gerald LaVert or Luther Vandross?

God. I'm glad. Oh, my Lord. Both of them for different reasons. Can I say both? Yeah, that's good. He's got to take a shot for you. He takes a shot for you.

Don't worry about it. If he gets drunk, don't worry about it. He takes a shot for you. You got to take another sip, too. I'm going to take a red wine sip. Take a sip. I'll take a swig. Go ahead.

Yeah, okay. Okay, you get the next one, E. All right. You said all right. This is hard. Aretha Franklin or Diana Ross? Aretha Franklin. Aretha Franklin or Diana Ross? Aretha Franklin. Podcast or radio?

Podcast. Okay. I like that answer. Sam Cooke or Otis Redding? Both. Take it this way. Take it this way. Take it this way. Take it this way.

Woo! Both of them. Who was that? Who you left off at? I had Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. I like this game. I like it. Keep going.

Yeah. You got the next one? No, go ahead. Go to the next one. Al Green or Teddy Pendergrass? Ooh, there's so many things in my life that I could think of right now to say Teddy Pendergrass. Okay. Yes.

Smokey Robinson or Marvin Gaye? God. I love when they do that. Marvin. Okay. I love you, Smokey. Okay. I do.

Yeah, man. Etta James or Ella Fitzgerald? Et Smokey. Okay. I do. Yeah, man. Etta James or Ella Fitzgerald? Etta James. Okay. Racket label style, Epic or MCA? Which one was I on? I think both. MCA and Epic, right?

Mm-hmm. Both. Okay. Can I say both? Yeah, yeah. Both. Adele or Mariah? God.

Mariah Carey, my goddaughter. Yeah. Yes. I forget. One of our people in the crew said the last time they seen you was in the amphitheater out here where a 17 year old Mariah Carey introduced you do you remember who's your great what did your grandmother say the James all night James all night yeah that is true. That's true. Yeah, because that's good.

So, this is just crazy. You just have amazing stories. We're barely touching the surface. I'm just being honest. Everything about you is a classic. You turn around, you're like, whoa! Okay, hold on.

Go ahead. Is it Pharrell or Kanye West? Ooh. I did record with Kanye. His mother, Donda, took me to a session. Rest in peace. And I think it was the Rose that we sang, and Kanye said,

Mr. Bell, would you please sing this with me? It's Kanye. It's Kanye. Kanye? Uh's Kanye. It's Kanye. Kanye? Uh-huh. Although Pharrell was doing housekeeping at the studio with Teddy Riley back in the day in Virginia, when I recorded there and I cooked for them,

and when I saw Pharrell the last time, he said that food sure was good. I said, yeah, you were scrubbing then look at you now you got it oh no okay go Tina Turner Gladys Knight Gladys Knight Quincy Jones or Rick James? I got Rick James stories too. You know, back in the day, he had a song, a LaBelle song or something. I recorded with Rick way, way back in the day. He was so high, he couldn't even talk.

But that was my man. I love Rick James. I love him because of who he was not afraid to be. He was free. Free. I love him for that. So who was the other one? Quincy Jones.

I love Quincy, but give me Rick. Okay. All right. Bobby Brown or Albie Shaw? Bobby? Bobby or Albie Shaw. God, I got stuff with them, too. Albie Shore came to my house a long time ago, I think with Deanna Williams of DAS.

Wow. Back in the day and wanted me to cook. Back in the day. And I didn't know who he was. Right. And Bobby Brown and I, we have history. Right. Bobby.

Amy Winehouse or Celine Dion? Both. God, let's go. Let's go, son have history. Right. Bobby. Amy Winehouse or Celine Dion? Both. God damn. Let's drink. Both. Amy, know what Amy did? We were in the Bahamas. She was doing a show somewhere and I was on a show. And I had my security guy, E. And so she came over. She said, I hear your name is Big E.

He said, yes, ma'am. She said, can I have some of what you're drinking? So he don't bang drinking behind people. She took that glass and killed his wine and said, Patti LaBelle. I grew up listening to Patti LaBelle and the Blue Bells back in the, we had, yeah, we had history. So she drank out of his glass and he had to fit. Because he had to drink it right after her

because he didn't want to hurt her feelings. Go ahead. Babyface or Stevie Wonder? Both. Gosh. Take it down, son. Both. I did Waiting to Exhale with Baby,

and Stevie always wants to write me songs, and he did. Open up your heart for me and let me in. Stevie wrote that for me 50 years ago. Yeah, so I have history with both of those wonderful men. Yeah, keep going. I know somebody who's seen Stevie Wonder driving. You think this is real?

Shut up. Shut up. That's been ongoing. Let's not drink. Don't drink to that. No. No. We just be playing around.

No way. People should have debunked that. No, because Shaq said he seen him in the elevator and Stevie pressed the button. But you know when it's possible. Yeah, it's possible. Shaq said he was by himself. He was by himself.

They lived in the same building. It's a funny story. We need Shaq on here, though. Yeah, we need Shaq. To make it true or not. Alicia Keys or Erykah Badu? Both of them. For different reasons.

You're getting Sonny fucked up. Hold on. How many so far, Sonny? Huh? We got our last thing. Huh? You're going to need some patty pie after that. All right, you're the next one. Nina Simone or Billie Holiday?

Oh, God, Nina. Okay. New Edition or Jackson 5? Oh, for so many reasons. Both. Both. Come on, drink up.

That bottle's almost gone. One is gone, right? Keep going. Oh, I'm scared of you. You already did one. Did we do it? Keep doing it. SWB or TLC? Oh, wow. So many history moments with both of those groups.

Both. Okay. Drink up. Drink up. Tupac or Biggie? Oh. California. T. California. Tupac.

Don't start quick walking. Wait, I would if I didn't have this suit on. But I love Biggie too. I mean, both. Right, let's go. Come on, drink up. You try to feel me. Hey man, hey man, I can't resist you man.

I love love, why are you trying to... Oh come on, just take a baby swig. Baby swig. It's all good. Not the whole thing. It's all good, don't worry. Oh, wow. He loves it.

So, shoes on or shoes off? Right now, off, because they hurt. Okay, yeah. But I have they hurt. Okay, yeah. But I have them on. Okay, yeah. They're on, but they should come off. Yeah, see, I got mine's on, but I've been having my slippers on the side. Let me see. I've been having my slippers, yeah.

I have mine in my bag. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, because, yeah. But right now, they're on. So, on for beauty. Yes, yes. And then when the corn start hurting, you kick it off.

Kick it off. Yeah. Okay, I think that's both, sir. Drink up. I think that's both, yes. I think that's both, sir. Drink up. I think that's both, yes. I think that's both, sir. Yes, yes, yes. Poor baby.

A baby's wig. There you go. And this is the last question. Last one? For this game. Okay. And everyone thinks this is a trick question. Uh-huh.

And honestly, we never think it is. No, not at all. It's loyalty or respect. Oh, God. Loyalty. Mm-hmm. We want to it is. No, not at all. It's loyalty or respect. Oh, God. Loyalty. We want to know why. Want to expand on that? Because loyalty, if you're very loyal, I know respect is in there.

I do know it. And I have so many friends of mine who work with me, not for me, who are so loyal. I know to be that loyal is total respect for Patti LaBelle. So I say loyalty first. Respect follows. It's in the same category. What do you say? Well, usually it's both.

Just say both. Yeah. I was going to say it, but I don't want to be common. But I do believe you. I feel that if someone is loyal to you, they're going to respect you. But we have people with different perspectives that feel that they don't need to you, they're going to respect you. But we have people with different perspectives that feel that they don't need the loyalty, they want the respect.

Oh, no. Huh? What? All right, you're out of the show now, sir. We are done with you, sir. We took your money from you. Your part of the show has been... He already dropped.

Oh, God. You might as well pull up up in here, boo. Really. I'm serious. These are fun questions. Oh, man. Oh, we have it. It's a fun show.

We have it. Hold on. Let me get back into my notes. Excuse me. But the versus. Can I ask a question? Sure. Oh, then we can.

Can I go to the bathroom? Oh, yes. Anytime. That's part of the show. Anytime. That's part of the show. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anytime. Anytime. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on, Tuba. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I know a lot of cops, and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. Across the country, cops called this taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. Cops believed everything that taser told them. From Lava for Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley

comes a story about what happened when a multi-billion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really, really bad. Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2, and 3 on May 21st and episodes 4, 5, and 6 on June 4th.

Add free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the MeatEater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores, and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode, I'll be diving into some of the lesser-known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and best-selling author and meat-eater founder

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Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Lott. And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast. Yes, sir. We are back. In a big way. In a Clayton English. I'm Greg Glod. And this is season two of the war on drugs podcast. We are back in a big way, in a very big way, real people,

real perspectives. This is kind of star studded a little bit, man. We got a Ricky Williams, NFL player, Heisman trophy winner. It's just the compassionate choice to allow players all reasonable means to care for themselves.

Music stars, Marcus King, John Osborne from Brothers Osborne. We have this misunderstanding of what this quote-unquote drug thing is. Benny the Butcher. Brent Smith from Shinedown. We got B-Real from Cypress Hill.

NHL enforcer Riley Cote. Marine Corvette. MMA fighter Liz Caramouch. What we're doing now isn't working and we need to change things. Stories matter and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really does.

It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to hear episodes one week early and ad-free with exclusive content, subscribe to Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on good company,

the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi, for a conversation that's anything but ordinary. We dive into the competitive world of streaming, how she's turning so-called niche into mainstream gold, connecting audiences with stories that truly make them feel seen. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. It's this idea that there are so many stories out there. And if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Get a front row seat to where media, marketing, technology, entertainment, and sports collide.

And hear how leaders like Anjali are carving out space and shaking things up a bit in the most crowded of markets. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Wow, if only they knew what we just did. Yeah, so you recently said that Whitney Houston's, his song, I Will Always Love You, which was written and sang by Dolly Parton, was originally written for you to cover? No, it wasn't written for me, but Dolly wanted me to record it after she did. And because we were managed by Sandy Gallen, the same manager for both of us. And so we had a lot of communicating with each other. I did Dolly's show and we wore the same dress.

And guess what? We were the same size with everything. Boobs, waist, and butt. I said, wow, Dolly, I got you. So it was one of those moments. So we were friend friends. And she said, Patty, why don, I got you. So it was one of those moments. So we were friend friends. And she said, Patty, why don't you record this song again? And I said, I love this.

I will always love you. I was going to do it. But then a bodyguard came out. Oh, yes, right. And thank God Whitney got it. It was a wonderful way she performed that song. And I'm still going to do it. I just don't know when.

Right, yeah. And they said that you had one of the most iconic Super Bowl halftime performances of all time. Get out of here. It was so ugly. It was so over. No, I didn't like my Super Bowl performance. You didn't like it? No, it was snakes and stuff down there. They were doing that

what's that man's somebody, one of those characters where they had the snakes. Yeah, snakes in your Super Bowl performance? Indiana Jones? Indiana Jones, a segment for Indiana Jones.

They had real snakes. That didn't bother me because they weren't close to me, but they were under me somewhere. Anyway, I didn't like my song. I didn't like the little one second they gave me. I was there, though.

I can't say that. I think it was Winona Judd and her sister, Ashley Judd, who's no longer with us. God bless. Anyway, God bless. I did a halftime. So let me say thank you, Jesus,

for that halftime that I didn't love. There's a lot of people that will ever do halftime shows. I know. Isn't that a blessing? Yes. Yeah, so let me stop. Let me take that back. I'm so happy

to have done that. And you did that. And I did that. Right, right. And you did that. I did that. Wow. I love this show.

Oh, thank you, babe. I didn't know I was going to love it this much. But I do. I'm wearing his shoes right now. That's why I'm sitting in the car. You're going to be the next Kanye West model.

I don't know how. So, wait. Hold up. Hold up. Hold up. I'm like, we're fooled. I'm like, Kanye. You know.

These are Kanye's shoes? No, no, no. He makes them. He makes them. Well, make me some. Yeah, we got you. We got you, goddamn it. I love them. Go ahead. Keep going. Yeah, we got you. Oh, okay. We got you, God damn it. I love them.

Go ahead. Keep going. So did y'all really have beef with the Supremes? Yeah. Damn. I didn't expect it like that. It wasn't the Supremes. It was Diana and myself.

Right. Back in the day. Because we did the Apollo together. Right. The Supremes, Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles. Or were we LaBelle? I don't know who we were. But we were on, who? The Blue Belles, Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles. Or were we LaBelle? I don't know who we were, but we were on who? The Blue Belles, yeah.

Blue Belles. Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles. My nose says the Blue Belles versus the Supremes. The Blue Belles. The Blue Belles versus the Supremes and other acts. I think the Four Tops, Warrant, Temptations. Because there were like five acts at those shows, and you did like four shows a day. And that's when I had to save my hot dogs on the light bulbs because I didn't have any per diem you know we we were poor and every time

between shows I would play cards with the four tops and whoever was on the show and lose my money so I always made sure I had my hot dog on the light bulb so I did have food after my money's gone and then the hot items you know people used to come to the Apollo Theater and sell hot clothes Gucci and all that stuff for $2. And it was worth thousands. I bought all the clothes and all that stuff. So I had moments with the Supremes at the show. We would go to Walmart or Walgreens or one of those cheap stores and buy gold outfits.

And so the next day, the day we wore them, the next day, the Supremes had on the same gold things. They were biting your style. They were biting my style. No, for real. I mean, biting big. I said, girl, we ain't got no money. It's only after we have. And so we both have on the same outfits, but it was after they saw ours, somebody wanted to buy it.

And we had issues up until we did the Legends ball oprah winfrey's legend ball that's right and diana and i were at the same table thank god we made up because i love her i mean there's no more ever there's never going to be supremes or diana ralston's the phenomenal group i said why can't we get along i'm like i'm I'm just wearing my clothes, you know, and doing whatever I do. But it was something that was always bubbling under with she and I. And, oh, oh, I forgot. Jesus. The main thing.

You don't know about. Something's going on. Oh, Cindy Birdsong was Patti LaBelle, was Sarah Dash, Nona Hendricks, Cindy Birdsong, and Patti LaBelle. We're in Cleveland. Oh, my Lord, I forgot this real story. We're in Cleveland, ready to go on.

There are only three Patti LaBelle members. Cindy Birdsong had gone to take Florence Ballard's place with the Supremes. They had been rehearsing her for months,

and that night, she left us. Oh, Lord. For her to join the Supremes. They had been rehearsing her for months. And that night she left us. Oh, look. For to join the Supremes? She left us to go with the Supremes. She jumped ship. She jumped ship big time. Benedict Arnold. I forgot to tell that story.

Okay, so the thing was, after it all settled in my bones, I said, thank God she's making more money with them than she was with me. So it was a blessing for her but do it the right freaking way and Diane don't come stealing my chicks in the night so she stole Cindy Bird's song

from me I forgot about that yeah that was a no no that would be a no no baby but that happened that's why we had issues. And so when Cindy went with the Supremes, all I could do was bless her and say, you know, I'm praying for you to climb. And then something happened that she's no longer with them.

Dinah left and left her without a blue bell or a paddle. Those things hurt me because they took her for the right reasons for them, but the wrong reason in the end. Right. So, yeah, that's why we have issues. Yeah. But guess what we are now? We're friends now. Yeah, because there's so much stuff in this business you go through that you forgot you went through.

I forgot all about it until somebody just mentioned it. And that was big. Right. Yeah, so, but we're friends. Had you and Gladys Knight been friends before I did Versus? Forever.

Okay. We've been, I was with her when her son died. She was with me when my sisters died. We're always together. We call each other all the time. Right. She's my Gemini sister.

And when we did Versus, honey, first of all, baby girl said, Patty, I didn't know what Versus was. I said, well, I happen to have seen a few shows, so I knew what it was. And we did Versus and just had fun. My lyrics were messed up on the darn thing, teleprompter. I couldn't sing my songs.

I said where the rest of the song and then I it was so many funny things that happened and then my son reminded me mom the song is only going to be like 30 seconds not three minutes so the little lyrics they put up there I didn't know those baby lyrics so I just played myself and said I don't know I don't see my lyrics but it was so much. And then I got the chair dance going. I was feeling it. And that was during the pandemic, wasn't it? Was it?

Or was it right after? During. During, right? Yeah. Oh, it was during the pandemic. Yeah. I don't remember many things. It was during the pandemic.

And we had fun. I had fun singing background for her. And she was singing background for me. See, we're two best friends. We're not pretend friends. And that makes a big difference. We're not trying to outdo each other. Never.

We're celebrating each other. Yeah, we celebrate because we're on tour still together, she and I. So she goes on first sometimes. Sometimes I go on first. I like to go on first. A lot of people like to close the show. Give me the first spot and the day.

No, I'll go get me some food. I don't want to wait for three acts and then it's midnight or one in the morning when I'm getting out, ain't no restaurants open. Let me go first. I love first because I never like closing a show. Never. And you keep your shoes on versus too. I sure did. Sitting down. I said they got it because they were hurting.

Yes. But I just love what I do. I don't care if it's standing, sitting, or whatever. It won't be swimming because I can't swim. It won't be driving because I can't drive. So all those things. I don't smoke, so I won't be smoking. But you guys smoke if you want.

It's all good. It's all good. It's all good. Smoke, smoke, smoke. Go ahead. Do it. Do you still enjoy performing? What? Yeah.

More than anything. I'm off for a whole month. Right. People want me to take vacations. I say, why? I want to sing. I'd rather go on a tour any day than a vacation. I don't like sun, sand, or water.

So I stay at home on my vacation. And play cards with all my buddies and eat crabs, hard shell crabs from Baltimore and chill. Hard. Oh, hard shell. Male, not female. Those little girls ain't got no meat. With the blue ones. Blue, yes.

Jumbo, Extra jumbo. Oh, okay. Honey, I get that paper laid out and eat crabs all day. Yes, I do. Wow. So you said you don't like the sun? I hate the sun. I don't like the water and I don't like sand. So I'm an indoors girl. So no Hawaii?

What? No. No Dubai? No. Really? No. No no Hawaii? What? No. No Dubai? No. Really? No. No Turks and Caicos? No.

No Barbados a little bit? Some Miami. Today Miami because you're here. That's a great answer. I know. I don't like that kind of life. Really? No.

I like a casino. Okay. Yeah, I play blackjack. Okay. Okay. I couldn't picture you playing C-low. You don't play C-low, right? What's that? That's the hood game. 4-5-6. Oh, no, but I play

acey-deucey. What's that? In between. In between an ace and a deuce. It's good. Is it a dice game? No, it's a card game. And I play 500-gen rummy. It's good. It's a dice game? No, it's a card game. And I played 500 Jim Rummy. That's it. And are you planning to go back on tour? What?

Excuse me. Can I stay on tour? I'm on tour! What? You better ask somebody. I stay on tour. I stay on tour. I'm a tour machine. I tour 11 months out of a year.

Damn, that's more than a wrestler. And that's where the real thing is. You know what's crazy? Because I just try to calculate how people are doing. Oh, let me give it up for my band. I have the best band and singers ever. And crew. And so we're going to be off for a month. And that's going to hurt me.

A month? Yes, but no, I love touring. I have the best people to tour with. ever and crew and so we're going to be off for a month and that's going to hurt me you know yes but no i love touring i have the best people at this month you're not going to see no sun this month no no sun inside my house just inside your house that's your vacation well that's whatever it is vacation it's what i love watch some id channel mysteries and all that stuff. And just cooking. And playing cards. What'd you say you were watching? ID. ID? ID and Oxygen. Those murder mystery channels. Oh, okay. Murder, kill them, kill girl. What show

are you into right now? ID, the Oxygen channel, the Tamron Hall shows when she talks about murder. Her sister was murdered, so she has a lot of those shows. And I look at anything spooky. I've got to put you

on the Supreme Team documentary. What's that? It's a great documentary about these boys from Queens that came out. True stories. It's a true story. I want that. Yeah. So you like true crime type of thing. Okay, you've got to watch that. You've got to watch Mafia City from also on Netflix.

It's about the mafia integrating. Very good. I knew I probably saw that. Did you see the Ted Bundy files? Yeah. A little creepy. A little creepy, yeah. A little creepy.

God. Him and that other boy who ate people. Charles Manson. No, the other one. No, the gay city. The one that cooked him. No, I think it was him, wasn't it? Duffy. Oh, Dumber. Dumber. Dahmer. The one that cooked him. No, I think it was him. Duffy.

Oh, Jeffrey Dahmer. Dahmer. Dahmer. Yeah. He cooking folks. Not like how Patty cooking. No. No.

He invited you to dinner. And he ate him. No, that's not good. Yeah, yeah. But give me anything you have. Yeah, yeah. Anything like that. No, I'm a...

Does your wife watch them? She watches some of them with me, yeah. She watches some of them. But she, like, no, yeah, she watches most of them with me, right? Yeah, yeah, you know, I'm a... Does your wife watch them? She watches some of them with me, yeah. She watches some of them, but she's like, no, yeah, she watches most of them with me, right? You like those? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I like that.

And I'm a... Good. And I'm a dumb movie lover, too, like dumb movies. I like The Jerk with Steve Martin. Oh, yeah, that's great. That's dumb as hell. I watched that the other day. Steve Martin's good. Oh, he's so ignorant. Oh, mama. That's dumb as hell. I watched that the other day. Steve Martin's good.

Oh, he's so ignorant. Oh, mama. Oh, God, I love that movie. But do you like dumb movies? I like dumb movies. I don't know why. Dumb and Dumber's a good one for me. That's how dumb he likes it.

Why is it dumb? Yeah. You ever see 40-Year-Old Virgin? Yes, I did. I saw that. That's fire. Something about Mary. Something about Mary. Oh, wait. Something about Mary was on your mind.

Something about Mary. Oh, wait. Something about Mary. Yeah. Yeah. When her hair went up with the stuff on her hand. Yo, Patty, you too much of a boy, Patty. Patty, too much of a boy.

You're my soulmate. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, and her hair was like, oh. Oh, god. I saw that about three months ago. I love it. Yeah. Really? So you really are still staying home?

I like stuff, yeah. If you ain't out working? If I'm not working, I'm watching. Okay, what's your favorite place to travel to? No place. Damn. She said she likes to stay indoors. I don't have a favorite.

Unless she's touring. Yeah, I don't. I mean, I love D.C. and Baltimore. I mean, those are my peeps. They're all there. Okay. But I don't like traveling, but Canada sometimes. Okay, yeah. They're nice people there. But I'm not I love D.C. and Baltimore. I mean, those are my peeps. They're all there. Okay. But I don't like traveling, but Canada sometimes. Okay, yeah.

They're nice people there. But I'm not going to lie. I don't know. I don't have a favorite place. How about, what do you eat when you go to D.C.? You said that's one of your favorite. When I go to D.C., I usually cook. Okay.

Because I bring my electric fry pans and my pots and stuff. Because I don't know of any places in D.C. to eat. Your utensils travel with you. It's a part of the tour. Oh, I have a big trunk with all of my utensils, my pots, pans, all of my spices, all of my stuff.

And when I get to a hotel, a city that I'm not sure if I'm going to eat something, we go to the farmer's market and I cook for everybody. Yeah. I can't wait to see that show on your network.

You're going to see it because that's what I do. Yes. Yes. I already see another show see that show on her network. You're going to see it. Yeah. Because that's what I do. Yes. Yes. I already see another show, Thanksgiving with Patty, every year. Oh, you see that? Thanksgiving with Patty. Why not?

Every day is Thanksgiving with Patty. And every day is Thanksgiving with Patty. Holy shit. Every day. That's perfect, though. And like every day is Christmas because people get all hyped on Christmas. What am I going to buy her? Nothing. Every day should be Christmas. Okay am I going to buy her? Nothing.

Every day should be Christmas. Okay, don't make that a special 25th. What? Next. Now on Thanksgiving, do you fry your turkey? No, my son Zori fries it and I put it in the oven. Okay. I do a capon, like a big capon.

So two different turkeys. Yes. Okay. A capon I put in my pot on top and he puts the fried turkey in the fried turkey pot, whatever that is. I never fried. I probably fried my wig, so I ain't taking no chance with no fried damn turkey.

No, I don't do that. But do you eat fried turkey? Yeah, I love it. Do you make it? No, I can't. I burn cereal. Oh, you... Do you cook?

Can you cook? Are you married? Kind of. We're not married, but I live with my girl. But you can cook? I could cook. I could do something. Okay. I call it inventions. Because I grew up with a single mother, and we didn't have much food in the covers,

so she's like, I'm making an invention. Making stuff. It was a gourmet whatever was in the covers. That's perfect. That makes sense. Yeah. Well, I'll cook for both of you guys, too, one day. And your mom and your wife. Oh, God. Patty. Patty. wife we're gonna be stalking you now we're gonna be looking for your flip phone

just put your number We got to jump out of here. Holy shit. Holy shit. I'm serious. For real. I can really, I really. Is that something that, you know, when people make it in life, there's simple things that make them happy. Is that one of the simple things that make you happy? Just cooking for other people? And to see you ask for seconds. If you don't ask for seconds, I'm very mad. Yeah, I'm that girl.

And ask to take some home. Right. Yeah, I'm that girl. And ask to take some home. Right. Yeah, I'm her. So you make that much more. You make extra because you want that. I always cook for like 20 people, yeah. How about if a person is vegetarian? Huh?

How about if a person is vegetarian? I hook them up. Jasmine. She's vegan. I'm going to cook for her. Okay. Jasmine Sullivan. She doesn't eat meat.

So what do you cook for a vegan? I don't know, but I'm going to find out. I just found out she was vegan. Black-eyed peas is vegan. And what else? Okra? Okra. Collard greens without the turkey in there is vegan.

I think okra. Macaroni could be vegetarian if you're just a vegetarian. Macaroni's vegetarian, but they got soy cheese, too. I got her. Yeah, they got it. When she comes, I said, Jasmine, don't worry. She said, anything you cook me. Right. So I'm going to make her some good vegan food. Yeah, that's fine. I'll learn. When she comes, I said, Jasmine, don't worry. She said, anything you cook me. So I'm gonna make her some good vegan food.

I learned. That's fine. We got the vegan roster right here. Who's vegan? Oh, you are? He's vegan. Are you from Jamaica? My family is, yes.

Respect. Right. I'm gonna drink another glass of this wine. Come on, have one. If you don't drink this, you can take those with you. We take this with you. I can take that home? You can take that with you. Yes, God damn it. You're my kind of people.

Yes, you can. I usually steal it, but you said I could have it. No, no, no, no. Thank you, Rory. Let me ask you, Patty. What do you think the differences you've seen in the music industry in your whole career? You've seen all different levels and the changes. Do you think the artists are better off now than they were before?

Oh, honey, much better off now. Yeah, I mean, it would be hard to get any kind of recording recorded back in the day. Today, people are recording in their car, in their basement, wherever. And getting the music out. And it's going to sell. So it's much better now than it was back in the day. I'm going to record for the first time in 15 years on my month off. For the first time.

Who are you recording with? You said Stan Smith? Who's that? The white boy that stay with time. Who you recording with? You said Stan Smith? Who's that? The white boy that stay with me. Oh, Sam Smith? Stan Smith, I'm sorry. What'd you say?

Stan Smith. I was thinking about Adidas. I was thinking about Adidas. Or the Stan Smith song. I know, I know. No, I'm not recording with him. Okay, who? Let me see if I can

guess the person. Come on, guess. Boy George. Where you coming from? I'm just trying to bug out. I don't know his voice. Look, I guess. Boy George. Where you coming from? I'm just trying to bug out. I don't know his voice. Look, I see you,

I interviewed with both of you, you were both with him, on Andy Cohen. You see everything, don't you? I told you I was going hard. But, Ari, what made you think that I'm going to record those boos? Because you know why,

I ain't going to lie. Tell me. You did, they both was like, I want to collab with Patty. He was like, yeah, I got you. Right. But, yeah. And I do want to collab with Patty. He was like, yeah, I got you. Right.

But yeah. And I do want to collab with him. But it wouldn't be on this project. But it could be in the future. Because this is your project you recorded on. Finally. Wow.

Yeah. Wow, okay. I have about six different producers waiting to exhale, thank God, with me. I can't tell you yet. Okay, cool. But I'll call you.

Okay, no problem. As soon as I can talk. No problem, no problem. But you will hear some new music from me by the end of next year. Okay. Not this year. Okay. But I promise you.

I'm so long overdue, I don't even know. How long has it been? 15. But think about the lesson here. But you've continued touring. Yes. And that's what the kids need to understand. To have a real catalog.

You need to make a catalog that lasts you long enough. That's what the kids need to understand. To have a real catalog. You need to make a catalog that lasts long enough. That helps. You don't have to go to the studio for 15 years and you can still talk 11 months after years. I think we need to make some noise out of that. It's true. These people out there, they're making one song and it lasts for a certain amount and then you get so satisfied. You buy jewelry and you forget that it's work that goes with this.

You still got to wake up in the morning. You still got to put on a smile when you're done. And this is a prime example of that. She didn't even been in the studio for 15 years and still could talk 11 months. And your news records is gone after three years. No. After a year and a half. You're so right.

So that's a blessing. Like I said earlier, I know I'm blessed. I know I'm touched by angels. I know that I'm still doing it because I still can do it. And the record doesn't matter to the audience who come. They don't know if I recorded last year, two years ago. They don't care. Right.

They want to see you. They really just want to see a show. And whenever I'm out there i give oh god i give a real show no dancers no fly by night people behind me doing it singing no tracks but all music i have a what a 12 piece band or something i got something i got four singers and eight band members or whatever and nothing's pretend.

Nothing. Everything you hear is live. Live, live, live. And that's what's keeping me living during these live shows. That energy you get from that. I get all that energy. But they give it to you back.

Yes, they do. You keep those shoes. The shoes, the first one, you keep those shoes, and you start going like that. He starts going like that. I said, you is feeling it. I say, holy moly. You're like a moly.

You do need a backup dancer. He said he's ready to be a backup dancer. He's tired right now. Let him rest. You do? Yeah. Oh, thank you. Have you been to one of my shows?

Well, you have to come to one soon. After August. I love the person. That's right. Oh. It's the most important thing. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me.

And how do you feel? I'm there already. Hey, ask my friends. Ask them, I'm already like, hey, that's good. They know you, right? They're just saying, today, they know some people after a long time, and it's love that was the most powerful thing.

I'm all right. Pure love. And Patty the most powerful thing. Pure love. And Patty, you got him drunk too. Let's just be clear. You got him drunk in the morning. You got him drunk in the morning. But let me ask you something, Patty. The answer is yes. Thank you so much.

Thank you. So let me ask you, you Patty we're still dealing with racism right was it like that for you coming up how was it what's the difference between now and then

now I can fly on the plane before we had to do the station wagon early days Jim Crow era still oh look it was so bad before we had to do the station wagon. Wow. Early days Jim Crow era still. Oh, look, it was so bad. We were touring with the Rolling Stones back in the day. So we had to ride from Philly to L.A. We stayed at the Hollywood and Vine Hotel,

and they also stayed there. The tickets for that show was $3.50 to see the Rolling Stones, and we were called Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells, I think. We were so stressed by driving from Philly to L.A., we fought. Me, Sarah and Ona, we fought in the dressing room. No, in my hotel suite. So we had stopped in Detroit on the way, and I bought some clothes. We all bought some clothes with Opera Diem, but fierce little clothes. And so I'm the one who loves to dress.

I'll dress going to the supermarket. You will not catch me in jeans and tights and stuff like that. I'm coming in a full suit. So we bought these clothes. And I said, okay, girls, guess what? They want us to do a radio show. Let's get dressed. Everybody got dressed.

And after that, I said, psych. Honey, we started fighting. I said, you lying. Some names they call me. It was all right to call me those names. And I said, I was only playing, having fun. And so they tried to fight me. So I took a bag of pecans and threw them at Sarah. It cracked the mirror and she got cut with the glass. We were so loud. Mick Jagger knocked on our door. I swear to God, he said, ladies, ladies, the show is tonight. What's wrong? I said, I was just playing, having some fun, telling him we had to do a radio show and he can't see us on radio. So we didn't have to get dressed.

But I said, let's get dressed anyway. And he stopped the fight, the argument. But I'm bad. I'm very, very, I'm a prankster. And I love to play jokes on people. So that was a joke. It almost got me in trouble, but it didn't. But I said that to say something else. What did I say?

It was something about racism. Oh, that's right. I thought so. Okay. That's Patti LaBelle. So racism was always bad. It's still bad. Right, yeah. So it's not stopped. There's a lot of pretend people who say they're not racist anymore, or or at all or ever have been. But you can feel the blood running down their neck, that red blood coming down.

You see it and you know it. But you just take the high road again. So you keep moving. You don't let anything stop you. And that can't hurt my feelings because you don't like my skin color. Never could have hurt me. I had a manager back in the day, a car dealership, Harvey Robinson in Philly.

That's where we first started singing. And so he always talked about my nose because I had a big nose. I had it done. Okay, I've got to be honest. So I got my nose done. And after it was done, he still saw this black, woman because he said he said one day you're not attractive i said i know i wasn't born to be attractive i said i was born to be whatever i am and so he would put the microphone uh hanky over the microphone saying because i was singing you never walk alone or something he said now sing and it's going to come out right i said

with this hanky i said someone to say i said with this hanky really and, and it's going to come out right. I said, with this hangy? I said, with this hangy? Really? And he said, that's going to make you sound powerful. I said, sir, I am powerful. I'm black, and I'm beautiful. That's right. And this is the nose. You know, I did get my nose done.

Because before, it was all over the place. But it didn't take away my beauty. That's right. But I thought it did, so I had it done. And you see how you get things done because of what they think you should look like? Now, I did that. And I still don't see much difference in my face. Right.

But racism? Yeah, it was all over that mic that day. It's all over. It's everywhere. It's still. And it's not going to cease. Right. This is the way of the world.

And we know it. But do you think back then it was a little bit more out front as opposed to now? Like, you know, there was actually people wearing Ku Klux Klan where nowadays

they almost seem like the Ku Klux Klan is the police. Right. It's still there. It's still there. You can feel it. You can see it. Now, they don't have the hood door.

Yeah. There's an invisible hood that you know is there which might be more dangerous oh it's very dangerous yeah but as i said we always have to remember who we are right and knowing that we're going to be treated less no matter what no matter how much money you have no matter what it's still the same right and i'm mad but that's the thing about you is like you seem about you is like you seem like

you was like you mentioned earlier you said you hug somebody with A's the thing about you is like you really don't judge

anybody like even from like back in the days you know Elton John telling you that he's gay and you know you being

I think you even have like a gay pride song like I forget what the name of it is and it's in Like, I forget what the name of it is. And it's in Scarface. I forget what the name of it is. Oh, it's, wait a minute. You said it's in Scarface.

It's in Scarface, yeah. It's in the other one. Carmina's Way. Yeah, that was Lady M. Right. And I had stared up in Beverly Hill Cop and New Attitude and Beverly Hill Cop. Right. But what made you develop not judging people?

I was always, because when we were first starting, the Bluebells, all of our fans were gay. Wow. And people were asking, Patty, why do you think you draw a gay audience? I'm a drag queen. You know, and ain't nothing gay about me, but I'm a drag queen. I love flamboyance. I love people being themselves, don't hide who you are,

because that'll bring you a quick death. If you hide who you are, be yourself. Yeah, I love people, period. Black, white, green, I don't care. Just be good. I don't, just be a good person, yes. That's what like, seemingly streaks out is that like you really are you really embedded what you just said like black white whatever you just don't care

yeah really i love i love the world but how does that develop though like my mother and father i know you said earlier you said that um your fans but yeah let's take it to your mother and father and father were very much like that okay my father was an entertainer who loved people, who loved to drink, who loved to gamble, who loved every part of life. Right. And I'm a part of him. Right. And my mother, who never drank or smoked or anything, I'm a part of her. Right.

You know, so I think I'm blessed to have had those parents that I had. Mm-hmm. And I guess I'm just whatever I am. I'm happy you like me. We love you. We love you. You know what I noticed? We talk, we know the street, but we pay the pies in stores.

Is everything else in stores? And if not, what day is it going to be in stores? Okay, so the breakfast items, they're in Target and Giant and Walmart. We'll talk, y'all. Okay, tell me up. Tell me what. Okay, this is in Walmart, Target, and Giant. And the syrup is coming in January

and the powder pancake mix is coming in January and it's a one for diabetics like me one for real people like you guys I'm a real person I'm just a diabetic all different flavors and this butter

pie is out it's in Walmart and where else? Walmart. In Walmart. And the sweet potato pie is in Walmart. And they're baby sweet potato pies for 50 cents, those little baby ones. And the family size and that size. Wow.

And I'm not a good person to advertise my stuff. But it's all phenomenal. It's all good. The peach cobbler, the double peach cobbler there in Walmart. Yeah, the season one you already stole it. He took it right away. That's the one you're taking, right. So all of my, and then I have the macaroni, the kale, corn oak with tomatoes, black eyed peas, cornbread, two cornbreads, chicken stew, brisket stew, and something else.

And when you say Walmart, let's be clear for the people. You're not saying Walmart that's in Philadelphia or Walmart in ATL. You're saying Walmart. It's all over. It's all over. Walmart. Yeah.

It's everywhere. Let's clap to that. Let's clap to that. Yay! I mean, is this the first time a black woman is doing this level of business with Walmart? I mean, if it is, I don't know. Okay. They're saying over there.

Yes. Yes. I was going to say yes. Yes, honey. Yes, it's the first time. Right. Like I said, I'm blessed. Right.

The first time that I am that lady who people look to for great food. And how does that exactly feel when someone comes to you and says Walmart wants to carry your products? Because this is the top of the food chain. I know. Everyone goes to Walmart, from Oprah to Johnny Dang. Everybody, right? It was like being asked to do drink champs. It was big. the Walmart from Oprah to Johnny Dane from down the block. Everybody, right? You know what I'm saying? It was like being asked to do drink champs.

It was big, okay? Too much of an honor. Fabulous, okay? Let's drink to that. She's good. She's good. No, being asked to do something at Walmart, what a blessing.

Yeah. And you were selling a pie, what is it, a second? They were selling so many, a second. How many, you guys? Two seconds. Two seconds. Huh? I think he works in the advertising team.

Huh? That's crazy. Okay. You sell a pie every two seconds. Oh, yeah. And you know what? I don't want you guys to think that I don't know anything about my business, but my three business partners

That's right Charles, Alex And my son Zuri They know much more They remember much more Than I do I know that I And they're on point

Yeah they better be They all got a team around you They're on point And I ask them questions When I forget That's all it is Listen we book artists All the time

Here And we know how We know if your team Is on point in 24 seconds. I know you know. We know. And your team is on point. They're tight. They're official.

They're efficient. So tight. They gave us all the information we needed. They gave us information we already had. They gave us information that we didn't know. First of all, we didn't believe that this was going to happen. I ain't going to lie. We didn't believe that.

Right. Why? Why wouldn't you think I would come? Why? We just't know. I ain't gonna lie. We wanted to be here, right? Why? Why wouldn't you think I would come? Why? We just were scared. We just were scared. This is sad.

We were scared. We were scared. I'm happy you got unscared. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Really, because I am so honored. Yes. I bought a new suit. Yes, yes, yes. I got some earrings.

I love you guys. Yes, man. Thank you so much. I'm honored to be here. Man, we're yes, yes. I got some little earrings. I love you guys. I really am. I'm honored to be here. We're honored, man. That's why we, because there's a little bit of leftover marijuana residues. That's why we were spraying. This is Dijon. Oh, stop. I was going to ask you what that was. You get this from the World of Azul Astoria.

Oh. This is Creed. You got to mix it up. You know what I'm saying? Just make sure it smell good with mist out of the bag. Is that to stop the reefer smell? No, this is expensive shit. I'm not supposed to be spraying this.

Oh. I'm just trying to impress you. To try to get the smell out, you know what I mean? I told you not to impress me. I'm just, I'm human. I just don't smoke reefer. Yes, we gotta impress you. Okay.

Because let me just tell you something. It's an honor for us because like I said, when wefer. Yes, we got to impress you. Because let me just tell you something. What? It's an honor for us because, like I said, when we started this show, we wanted to interview legends. We never thought we was going to get an icon like you. We never thought that we could be honored and blessed in front of your presence. Absolutely. You know, I invited my moms. I invited my wife.

My son is here. My son is here. Oh, where's your son? I invited all my friends. Where's your son? He works on the set. Oh, okay. He works with him.. So, yeah, he works on here. Yeah, yeah.

So, he at work right now. You know what I mean? He ain't getting off. You know what I'm saying? But, you know, we got it all here. And it's a blessing. It's an honor, you know, because, and I know you're going to say, yeah, but you don't have to be this cool.

You don't have to be this down to earth and still be a queen like i remember when um uh kanye's mother told him on the documentary she said a giant doesn't see himself as a giant right you know what i mean and she said a giant looks in the mirror and sees nothing and that's that's kind of like the definition of what i'm seeing with you because that's saying you don't see nothing i know you see who you are i know you know who you are but you would be as humble as you is it it teaches me a lesson. It's inspiring. As much as, you know, success that I'm receiving and the success that I've hopefully, that I continue to have, hopefully continue to stay humble, but continue to stay a king. Oh. That's

what you, that's what you embedded. That's what you do. I hope to continue that. I hope people follow in your footsteps because it's true. Like, you know, people make a look at it on TV and be like, man, Patty can't be that much of a good person. I got to witness it. I got to see it. I got to see the respect. And we just really love you, man. Yeah, for real.

We're going to take a shot for that. This is, can I come back? Yes, please. This is your home. Is this the Puerto Rican Bears or no? This is the Puerto Rican Bears. This is the Puerto Rican Bears. I'm not here from Wimbledon.

Puerto Rican Bears. Is that good? It's a good one, yeah. Give me one to take home. Yes, yes. And we're giving you the Opus One too. Wow. Yes, yes, please.

We want you to. I'm happy to take it. So what's next for Patty besides that? We talked about the studio. Uh- that? We talked about the studio. Uh-huh. We talked about the pies. Mm-hmm. Is there something else we ain't mentioned yet?

Yeah. Is you going to space? No, I don't even like airplanes. Okay, okay. No, I'm not going to space. Okay. I'm just going to continue to tour and record and make product and just love doing it. And pray that I have at least 78 more years on this planet.

That's what I want. That's what I want. And you worked with Issa Rae. We got Issa Rae coming in a little while. Really? What did y'all work on? Black Girl Sketches? What was it called?

Sketch Show. The Comedy Black Sketch Show. Okay. I don't know if that was exactly the title, but that was fun. Yeah? Yeah. So she's coming in?

Yes, she's coming in. Killing my heart. Yes, yes. Everyone loves Patty. Oh, God, I like that. That's got to be a show too. Everybody love Patty. Why not?

Everybody love Raymond. Yes, right, yeah, yeah. Okay? So love Patty. No. Patty's easier to love. Oh, man. I know, and I know. Oh, man. Patty. No. But Patty's easier to love. I know, and I know.

Oh, gosh. Let me see if there's anything I have to ask you before we leave. Okay, yeah, no problem. Because you're like a teacher through experience. You know that? Wow. When you talk, it's like a natural lesson. People just gravitate towards you. Oh, thank you.

Because we're all loud people people here and we kind of all shut up today. What I wanted to ask you, when did you know this show was a success? How long have you been doing it? How many years? Six years. Six years? When did you know? First episode.

No, no, no. First episode. Oh, DMX. DMX I recorded with him too. Oh, wow. Yeah. Thank you. It, DMX. DMX, I recorded with him, too. Oh, wow. Yeah. Thank you. It was called Thank You or something. When I came in the studio, it was so much reefer in that studio and so many roses. I said, is this for me?

Him and his wife, they gave me this beautiful necklace that said love. DMX. Let's hear it for you. DMX. DMX. Let's hear it for you. Okay. So wait.

So you started you started six years ago six years ago the first episode we knew we were on to something oh no no DMX came we was like the sixth episode

third third and that's when it took us over the top where we really really knew that there's nothing stopping I agree

everything you said I agree for the first episode we did I knew we had something but it was the DMX reaction when we got, because remember it wasn't all positive at first. Really? But the DMX

episode, no, Fat Joe was positive. No, I'm talking about the DMX episode. At first when we dropped that, it wasn't all positive but a lot of people looked at us strange because X was drunk. He showed his vulnerability. That's what it was. but then we also knew that X wouldn't have did that in front of anybody else we knew that he would talk to talk to me because

being real I mean I was in the locker room with him and when he was on tour in 1998 the best year of our life I I was there with him you know what I mean um yeah so so once we did that then I realized I said because all we haven didn't have no journalism skills. We just really just got together and just wanted to talk. And then people wanted to hear us talk. And we were like, okay, wait a minute. I'm a DJ. He's a rapper.

He just brought it on the mic. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It worked. Yeah, it worked. It worked. And guess who would have got us? We got Patty Williams! Patty Williams!

Yo, I ain't going to lie, Patty. Oh, wow. I've been sitting here talking to you all day, but, oh, man. I'm happy it went this long. I said to myself, I wonder how long

they're going to talk to me, right? Because I saw Kanye's. His was five hours. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was six hours. We went too far. No, I love that. I just wondered how long

you were going to be with me today, and it makes me feel so blessed. Let me just tell you something. Let me be clear. I was so scared, right? I was on this group chat. I was like, listen, I watched every one of her interviews. She does 10 minutes to 33 minutes.

And that's it. We got to get all the questions in very fast. But no, the Oprah interview, the Oprah interview, that was a great one. When y'all sat down, you both had on white, I believe. We were at the Apollo Theater during that interview. Oh, that's right. You were walking through, spreading out the memories. Right.

Yes, yes. On all network as well. And can I give Sarah Dash another? My ex, my friend who sang with me for many, many years with LaBelle. Sarah Dash. She wasn't sick. Wow. She just sick. Wow. She just left.

Wow. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I cleansed myself today on this show. Oh, thank you. I said a lot of things that I probably shouldn't have, but I don't care. Right.

I said it. Right. And I feel good about being here. What's your favorite era of music, if you had to pick one? And when I say era, I mean like the 10-year span. God. The 80s, the 90s, 70s. It was the years of Marvin Gaye.

So that would have been the 70s or late 60s, early 70s? What was it? Somebody tell me. 70s, right? What years Al Green got the grits thrown on him? That's Al Green, right? Al Green, was he in that time? Was he with the grits? The grits. No, no, no. See, I don't remember. I grew up being scared of grits because of that story. You lying. Yeah, I mean, they're saying, don't grits on you. You got Jesus. You better not ever make your wife mad. She ain't gonna throw that to you.

Right? You said hot pennies. She ain't throwing hot pennies on. Ew. No, but I love those years. I love Curtis Mayfield, the time. See, I'm not good with years and what was this and what was that. I just know what I love.

And I love Curtis Mayfield. Al Green, Marvin Gaye. Oh, my God. Kim Weston. Just a bunch of... Brenda Holloway. Brenda Holloway. Every little bit hurts.

Who sang that? Brenda Holloway. Edward, who sang that? He's somewhere asleep. Never mind, he's asleep. So it was just songs, certain songs that I just love Ain't No Way is my favorite song of all every

everything that's my top if you had one album to pick if if they came down and said listen you got one album to pick

for the rest of your life gosh it gotta be your favorite album it could be yours it could be one of yours for the rest of your life? Gosh. It got to be your favorite album. It could be yours. It could be one of yours. It could be Nightbirds from LaBelle. Okay. Nightbirds.

Okay. Yeah, that was very unsung, that album. A lot of our music was very unsung. Because when you was making it? Because we are who we are. Nona Hendrix, one of the Because we are who we are. Right. Nona Hendrix, one of the best writers ever

in the world. Okay. And that album was just phenomenal. Okay. Yeah. What is your favorite album

you ever made? That I ever made? That you ever made, yes. Oh, that's so stupid of me. I don't know. The one with

If Only You Knew. I don't know the titles of albums, all of them. What's that title? I'm in Love Again. Gamble. You got so much classics, you forgot it. I'm saying Kenny Gamble wrote it. Yeah, thanks baby.

Me and my son. I love y'all. We have moments. I love y'all. Okay, Zuri, I know that was. I was just saying that Kenny Yama had a lot to do with that, right? Right, right. Him and, oh, my God, what's wrong, Patty?

What's the piano man? Leon Huff. Yes, Leon Huff. Oh, okay. Those guys. And one of my favorite songs is If You Don't Know Me

By Now wow by Teddy Pendergrass that's what I do on my show ooh it's a whole story with that song right

sing it you'll never never know me look at look at these grown ass men I would see I see you I see you Look at these grown ass men. That was see- You got these guys singing.

All the things that we've been through. That has to go back in my show. Yes. You don't perform that? Huh? You don't perform that? I did. I stopped for what reason, I don't know.

Ooh, honey, that song. That song is coming back. Right. When we come back after August, that will be in my repertoire. Okay. Yes. Holy Jesus. So you're going back on August.

That's when we're going to go see you. After August, yeah. You're going to come. I'll let you know where I am. Yeah, we're going to come. We will. And I want you to be in the front row. I'm paying for your everything.

And you'll be there. Okay? We got you. To see Miss Patty Patty. We got you for your everything. And you'll be there. Okay? We got you. To see Miss Patty Patty. We got you. And we got you. God damn it, man. I ain't going to lie.

This has been so beautiful, man. Thank you. I'm like, you know, yesterday, I'll tell you the truth. You know, seeing my mom's happy and seeing, you know, her foot so full of joy. It was like waking up the next day.

Like, it was like Christmas for me. Really? Because I was like, I couldn't kind of sleep. And I was just like, you know, I just wanted to be a good son. You know what I mean? And you are. She didn't ask me. This is all my idea.

Really? Yeah. And I wanted her to feel good. Have you ever seen me before, Mom? Yes. Really? Really? Oh, Patty. Uh-huh. I still want you to go to bed. I still want you to go to bed.

Oh, God. Where do you live? Where do you live? In Queens, New York. Oh, you do? Yeah. And what's your birthday? November 4th.

And how young are you? 69. Younger than me. Hey, girl. All right. Well, I'm happy to meet you. Yes. Really. Yeah, he said you wanted to come. Yes, girl. All right. Well, I'm happy to meet you. Yes. Really.

Yeah, he said you wanted to come. That's right. And your wife. Thank you. For me, it felt like Christmas because, you know, like I said, we were just starting this playing around. And for this to be serious and for us to land, you know, someone like you. And for us to have fun, too. This was like, it wasn't just like we just sat down.

It was like, you know, we had fun. But then you guys were saying, well, damn, we can't smoke reefer. We can't drink. We can't do nothing. No, no, we don't need it.

We don't need it. We don't need it. But you need it if you want. We ain't need it. We ain't need it. Well, that's nice to hear. Thank you. And we just want to thank you.

We want to support. Even though you're selling every pie every two minutes, we still want to tell you. Every two want to thank you. We want to support. Even though you're selling every pie every two minutes, we still want to tell you. Every two seconds, excuse me. Every two seconds. Oh, God. That's right. No, they said it.

Walmart. And then it's guacamole. And then it's guacamole. Look at that. Man, I got to come up with a hummus or something. Get your hummus ready. Yo, but you know what? Oh, God.

I know I was saying that playing around, but I'm not playing around. I think everyone in the food industry should, one, take heed to what you did and how remarkably you laid it out and stuck to who you are. Not only do they should take heed to that, but if they have a food product,

they should actually really come to you and your team. I know I'm saying that playing around, but I really wasn't. Oh, no. I appreciate that. Yeah. And they can come to my team. Yeah. Yeah.

Because like you said, Aretha wanted to get some of her stuff from Walmart. Yes, she did. God rest her soul. Yes, she did. Imagine that. Imagine if Aretha was alive and y'all had. And we'd be on the same. We'd be doing the same thing with food, she and I.

God damn it. Yeah. God damn it. And I want everybody to know there was nothing but love with me and her. God damn it. Nothing but love. We love you, Patty. God damn it.

We love you, Patty. We love you, Patty. Holy moly, guacamole. So we just taking pictures. We better take pictures. And some drops and that's it. Hold on, hold on. I just got to, do you have on the masterpiece Rolex? Let me check your watch out.

Yeah. Jeez Louise, you've been rich for a long time, god damn it. Yes, yes, yes. Who? The president of Rolex gave it to me. The president of Rolex gave you that? Oh, my God. That's a sign.

It's signed on the box. It's right in the middle of the book. What? Thanks for joining us for another episode of Drink Champs, hosted by yours truly, DJ EFN and NORE. Please make sure to follow us on all our socials. That's at Drink Champs across all platforms. At TheRealNoriega on IG. At Noriega on Twitter.

Mine is at Who's Crazy on IG. At DJ EFN on Twitter. And most importantly, stay up to date with the latest releases, news and merch by going to drink champs.com. For more podcasts from I heart radio, visit the I heart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. And it's going to take us to heal us. It's Mental Health Awareness Month.

And on a recent episode of Just Heal with Dr. J, the incomparable Taraji P. Henson stopped by to discuss how she's discovered peace on her journey. I never let that little girl inside of me die. To hear this and more things on the journey of healing, you can listen to Just Heal with Dr. J from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. AT&T, connecting changes everything. My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild-haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell-bent effort to sabotage a war. J. Edgar Hoover was furious.

He was out of his mind, and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its knees. You can now binge all 10 episodes of Divine Intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. why is a soap opera western like yellowstone so wildly successful the american west with

dan flores is the latest show from the meat eater podcast network so join me starting tuesday may 6th where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart Podcast.