Keep it Positive, Sweetie - BET MEDIA HOUSE: Legacy, Creativity & Choosing Purpose Over Applause

Episode Date: June 29, 2025

The vibes were high and the energy was real at the BET Media House, and Keep It Positive, Sweetie was right in the mix! Crystal Renee sat down with some of the culture’s most impactful voices for a day full of real talk, belly laughs, and powerful moments you won’t see anywhere else. From healing and hustle to joy and legacy, this episode captures the spirit of the weekend

What's up, family? I am so excited for season eight, but before we get into it, I got to take y'all back to BET Media House. I had so many amazing conversations, so many gems were dropped. Stay tuned. It's coming up next. All right, guys, Chris Renee Hazlett here coming live from BET Media House with Keep It Positive, sweetie. And I have two of your favorite ladies from Tyler Perry's sisters, Mignon and Sal.

I want to talk about you more on a personal level. Mignon, like I said, you about you more on a personal level. Mignon, like I said, you're my soul sister. You are very spiritual. You always give all glory to God. How has that journey been growing closer to God for you? Cause that's something like I've seen you speaking out about more and more, even on your platform.

I think for me, like right now, just to be vulnerable, this might be sleep deprivation allowing me to be vulnerable. This might be sleep deprivation, allowing me to be vulnerable. I understand. But like just understanding that God is good. Yeah. And like how simple that phrase is, but how much weight it is and how much depth there is.

And it kind of like reminds me of that scripture. There's no height nor depth nor angel nor demon. Like there is nothing made that can separate us from the love of God. And so we might be perplexed. We might be tossed about, but we have hope and there's an anchor. And that is really what I'm trying to hold on to right now.

And I think I might be in like a stretching season, like a growing season, like that transition. You know, there's that there's those moments in your life where you go from some people will say glory to glory, but I think when you go from like wilderness to the promise, but you remember like how they left Egypt, but then there was the wilderness. Yes. And then there was like the fight for the promise and then there was like these stages like I'm in this like and you go through several wildernesses in life. Absolutely. Just understanding like in those dry spaces like the wilderness. Yeah. Your shoes don't wear out. Mm-hmm. Come on. Provides bread every day. So yeah, it's dry and it's hard

and it's not where you wanna be. And it's like, I thought you told me there was something else, but how long I gotta circle this mountain? Like, where do you, what am I doing here? But like understanding that there are things that have to die in the wilderness. And that even that is good.

Yes, yes. Right, even God is good when he's killing things off of you. When it hurts, it's good. It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I might know his ways. And so just understanding that all things work together for the good. And so if it's not good yet, then he's not done. That's just where I am. And I just understand, like, if he's a good father, he's not going to give you something that you don't have the strength to carry yet. Yes, so true. Because if I give a 10-year-old a car key, they'll crash and die. Do I want you alive or do I want

you happy? You know what I mean? So it's like learning to just find the good, truly seeing the good in everything. So like practically I'm getting back into like simply just journaling, gratitude, and like doing the artist pages. I know you know the artist way. Stuff like that. And like marrying different modalities for healing

and like keeping my mind centered. So that might've been might have been ten minutes that no that was good I needed that yes so good so good we live in a world where health is everything the code health as well what brought you to the point where you're like I'm gonna really make this a part of my personal journey? Yeah, you know, I think it's childhood. I think it's not being exposed to really what health and nutrition and wellness looks like. Yeah. You know, I think we all can say as a kid, we ate a lot of fast food, a lot of, you know, processed foods, not being educated about those things.

And I think as I've gotten older and also coming into this industry and having, you know, and traveling the world and being more exposed to those things kind of aligned me to it. But also, you know, tomorrow is not promised. You know, how we treat our bodies, how we take care of ourselves, like it's going to affect us when we are 50, 60, 70, 80 years old. And I think a lot of people think it's like, Oh, I'm getting older. This is just supposed to happen. No, that is not supposed to happen.

You can be 90 years old and still lifting weights. You can be 90 years old and still be so healthy. Yeah. And that's just kind of how I live my life. So I did all the certifications I could do because I just wanted to really understand what it means to age. What it means to feel good.

You know, you don't have to, if you eat something and you don't feel good, look at that. Why, if your stomach is bloated, okay, what did you just eat? You know, but people are like, they'll just keep eating it. This is just normal.

Yeah, and it's not. Talked about you. You know. How did she do that? What? I talk about you. You have to eat pizza every once in a while. She gave me the cheat code.

Right? She's like, if you really want to do it, I'm not telling you what to do, but I was like, you know that. And don't get me wrong. I will get, I will eat my In-N-Out. I will eat my fat burger. I will, I will do it.

But it's a balance. Yeah. Like, however long we're going to be here, don't you want, like, I want to feel good. Yeah, absolutely. And that, that's what it is for me. And also, I like making people feel good. Yes, I love that.

Yeah. Helping people work out. And I'm pushing you like you can do it. Yeah. It's hard, but you can do it, and you're going to feel amazing afterwards. I love that. I have none other than the Candy Burris.

Candy! What's up? How does it feel coming back every single year? I think for me, the more mature I get, the more thankful I get because like, you know, longevity is not, it's not a given. You know what I mean? It's not automatic.

Like everybody don't, are not able to continue to be in this space. That's where it is. Right? So I'm just thankful for it. Yeah. Speaking of longevity, how have you been able to continue to keep your career going? Because like you said,

a lot of people who started off where you started are not where you are. And you have literally just skyrocketed. Everything is just being constantly open and constantly reinventing myself and not always caring about being the person in the front. Yeah. You know what I mean? It's like, I don't mind being behind the scenes

or I'll be in front, whatever the job takes. You know what I mean? If I'm needed as talent, I can be talented. If I'm the one that's needed to help facilitate and get everybody together, then I can do that too. You know? I think some people let their ego get in the way and only wanna be up front.

But it's kind of like the way the world in entertainment works. works is like, you can be super, super hot one minute and then next minute ain't nobody checking for what you're doing. So you gotta be cool with playing different roles until it shows your time to jump back in. Kind of like double that, right?

Right, exactly. Kiss Family, I'm here live from the BET Media House with one of my favorite actors, Jay Alphonse Nicholson. How are you doing? Right, exactly. Kiss Family, I'm here live from the BET Media House with one of my favorite actors, J. Alphonse Nicholson. How are you doing? I'm doing great, and thank you for the compliment. Yes, no, you are absolutely phenomenal. Getting acclimated into Hollywood, how is that being?

Because I'm from the country too, I'm a Southern girl. Where you from? I'm from Tennessee. Okay, come on, we cousins. Yep, yep, right? Right, right there beside each other. Yes, yes. So what has that journey been

and what have you learned through all this? I know it's a lot for me, like just getting acclimated, it's like, whoa, this is different. You know, sometimes I forget. I be out and forget that I'm famous or that so many people know me for the work, you know? So to me, I'm just me.

To my family, I'm just me. I'll never forget where I come from. You know, I keep a little video I'll never forget where I come from. I keep a little video journal on my phone just to remember. And for me, it's just all about really being kind to those who may have a misunderstanding of what this can be.

And also putting yourself in isolation to a certain extent, to where it doesn't have to bother you and knowing who your real family is, everything that grand ain't your friend. You know, you got to carry that mentality open to the industry and just, you know, make sure that you keep the people who are with you

at the beginning and try to keep them around you, you know, try to keep them close. So that's been my adjustment, but it's different for everybody. No, for sure. Same with me, like, I feel like the more my star continued to rise, isolation became more of my friends. Yeah, for sure.

And I found peace in the isolation. Yeah, ain't nothing wrong with it, especially when you got the people around you who want around you and then everything else is a job. Yeah. And then sometimes people in the job become your friends and family. But you want to be careful and know the difference.

So true, yes. KISS Family, it's your girl, Chris Renee Hayes. And I'm here at the BET Media House with the one and only Bia. How are you? Bia, Bia. I'm great, girl, how are you? I'm good, you look amazing.

Thank you, and do you? Thank you, sis. So you have over two billion streams. Crazy. That's crazy. God is great. He is the great, won't he do it? No. He will. How does it feel to like know that like people are playing it everything over and over again? I feel really grateful and I just feel like

I'm really blessed and grateful that people allow me to just create and support whatever they want to support and let me make my mistakes as a human and come back and make better music and things like that. So I'm grateful for that. I love that. I love that. Making mistakes and coming back, I feel like that's just a part of life. Yeah, like just, you know, you got to take all the good with the bad

and you got to say like, how is this, how does this improve me as a person? Yeah, I love that. So I feel like a lot of my new music is like very on a way more positive, like higher frequency, even like the higher energy stuff, like we on go is still, it's still just like on a different level.

I love that. What made you want to just really tap into that positive energy? I wanted to like really sit down and like pay attention to the music, pay attention to like my lyrics. What was the frequency I was putting into the world. And I really wanted like my music to mean something, you know?

So I felt like with this project that I've been working on, it was like a lot of that. I'm with you, I'm working on music. And I did the same thing. I told my team, I was like, I wanna be intentional about what I'm putting out. And I was like, our music is a portal. Yeah. You know, we can open up a lot of different spirits

if we're not careful. You're spin right now. Yeah, so like, I love that you're being intentional about that. That's amazing, because a lot of times we just put what we think is hot, you know, and not understanding that we're putting different things out there and our audience, whether it's kids,

so it don't- Women, other women. Yes, yes. That was a big one for me, because like, I'm looking at other women and I'm looking one for me, because I'm looking at other women and I'm looking at my little sister, I'm looking at my little cousins, and I'm like, what type of women did I have to look up to and what type of woman do I need to be?

Yes. Like, what type of woman do I need to be for them? I'm with you, that is so good. I'm like, even this podcast is called Keep It Positive, sweetie. Yeah. Yes, so yeah, that's it. Cause there's so much negativity in the world.

Yeah, it's bad enough. It really is. So we need some positivity. So I'm excited about this. All right, guys, Chris Renee Hazlett here reporting live from the B.E.T. Media House. And I have my dear friend, my little bro, DaVinci with me. How you doing? I'm doing great. So I keep tabs on you.

You're still on your mental health journey. You're still speaking. How's that going? I'm doing great. So IQ Tab is on you. You're still on your mental health journey. You're still speaking. How's that going? It's going great. I think, you know, by the grace of God, I'm able to explain it in a way that people are able to receive the message and understand the importance of prioritizing your mental health.

Because a lot of times, like I said before, in the interview that we did, like people, you know, it's explained to us in such a way that it's kind of like, it makes it like, it's kind of hard to make it practical, but I try to break it down to make it practical. And I feel like people receive it pretty well. So I'm grateful.

You do such a good job with that. Thank you. Yeah, you do. And you've reached so many people, like at my live show, I got so many people called me afterwards and was like, oh my God, he blew me away. And I'm like, the kid is just brilliant. I call you a kid, but he's a man.

No, no, no, I appreciate that. You are, you're brilliant. I'm just like, you blew me away when people were calling like, oh my God, and that DaVinci, like every conversation you came up. Wow, that's great. Yeah, you're so good at that. Thank you.

And that speaks to who you are because you can touch so many different people, like from all age ranges. Right. Yeah, that's huge because a lot of people can't. They have like one little demographic you can touch so many different people like from all age ranges, right? Yeah, that's huge because a lot of people can't they have like one little demographic they can write exactly have such a wide range Exactly. No, I appreciate that. Yeah. No for sure something that we share in common that we talked about is our faith Mm-hmm. I always want to tap into that anytime I can How is that going for you? And is there anything that you can share with someone who may be feeling down in a look and just not really feeling it right now?

I would say if you believe in the Bible, which I do, I think you just gotta understand that and know that it's a good fight. You know, walking with Christ is probably one of the hardest walks you can make, but just know that you're not alone. And I think in the end, I know in the end it's all gonna pay off, but yeah,

just fight the good fight and just allow the Holy Spirit to be letting you into your life. I think a lot of times we're building doors, un-mano-xed, we're not aware that we're building doors to block out good stuff in our life. So just try to be more mindful. I think pray for discernment in areas that you might be blocking God off

that you don't realize you're doing it. Cause there's a lot of ways we could be doing that. And I think it alleviates some of the suffering. That's so good. I love it. I love you, man. Thank you so much. No, I appreciate you. Love you too. I appreciate you.

Thank you. Jacob, it's always good to talk to you and see you. Congratulations, season seven. That's huge. Thank you. I think we talked about that, just the longevity and having a job in this industry is a blessing. How does it feel to be hitting your seventh season of The Shy?

It's dope, I just try to stay humble and just keep my head down, you know what I mean? Cause like, I just know like the way our industry set up, it can go either way. You know, it really can. Like that film strike was like, we talked about it. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's like, yo, you can really just,

the film industry can shut down if you want to. He really does not have a job out here. Yeah, yeah, so I'm definitely just grateful, keep my head down and always ready for the pivot, trying to save my money and do right in between seasons and not go crazy. I know, cause it's so easy when that money hits. Yeah, I always tell people, man,

it's a lot of spirits attached to your money goals. Wow, ooh, let's talk about that. You know what I'm saying? Because you can reach your money goal and then you blow it. Because you're just so geeked about the materialistic things that you want and you're not realizing out of your excitement, you're making the worst financial decision ever. Jacob, that's so good. You know what I'm saying?

That is so good, yeah. I think that's something that a lot of young people should know, especially coming into the industry. When you get it, make sure you honor it and do right by it because it can be gone just like that. With the chain, they want the rose. I mean, you know, we all want it. We all want it.

Yeah, there's the cars, you know what I'm saying? And then you get it and you're like... It's temporary. No, it's so temporary. It's so temporary. You know what I mean? I've just been putting more money, my money into the house, the backyard, stuff I like to do. Yeah. I'm a homebody.

Same. Yeah, I remember you still having parties at your house on your own couch. Yeah. Just, you know what I mean? Selected for you. Oh my gosh. I was just telling, my parents are visiting. I was like, make sure when you guys get an Uber, they'll start asking questions. Don't be... Straight up. ...gotta be careful. Because people, they start prying. They want to know certain things. You gotta set them bound.

Yeah. And your home is like your safe haven. So you got to be careful. Wipe my head. Energy you let in there. I'm with you on that. That's right. The slow burns, I think that's just been kind of my testimony in my career, really.

Everything has been a delayed gratification. You know what I mean? In the moment, it'd be like, oh, that was cool. And then you're like, oh man, looking back, bro, you a legend, dog. Right. Thank you. Legend, like I'm still young. You know what I dog. Like, thank you. I'm still young.

You know what I mean? So it's cool. Still writing my story. I love that. I love that you said delayed gratification. I feel like that has been my life story. And a lot of times it's really just God ordering the steps and ordaining things.

So when you get to that point where it feels like you're delayed, you're right on time. Yup, you perfect, you relaxed, you ain't going too crazy. I think fame shouldn't hit somebody too fast. You know what I'm saying? I think it's detrimental for anybody. I agree. So I definitely thank God for protecting us

on our way to what we're doing. Cause I feel like if you wanna have a career, careers is a slow burn. You know, you could be the most popping guy or whatever, or popping girl, but a career is what we really want. You know what I mean? And it doesn't mean you always going to be that person, but you always going to have that longevity in career.

So that's what we want. I have with me Jay Murphy. You are really big on using your God-given gifts. Tell me how you honed into your God-given gifts and what are some of the gifts that you realized that you had? Well, I think back to what we just saying as far as this DC wake you up I think my experience my undergrad experience at Howard really opened up my eyes on what I wanted to do I just didn't know how I wanted to do it. But in that moment

I figured out as a college boy what I wanted to do. And so the very first thing that I started doing, I started as a host. And so I used to host things all on campus, all the student body, or homecoming, res life, you know, or ESPNU would come film the game. I'll be doing a pep rally. So, you know, or ESPNU would come film the game. I'll be doing a pep rally. So, you know, even freshman orientation,

I was a part of an organization called Campus Pals. And so like, yeah, I became like the face of the student body behind the microphone. That's fire. Then your boy cross cap off the side and the guy really, I started hosting step shows. He was like, listen. Listen, we gonna do to do it. We're going to get it done. Period. Yes.

I started hosting step shows. And so after I crossed cap into my LB, he was like, you need to learn how to DJ. He just need to. I was like, nah, I got my cane. I got my mic. I'm cool. I lowkey started learning how to DJ. I just ain't telling nobody.

You listen. So by the time I got out, this is a crazy story. This is actually how I just ain't telling nobody. You listen. So by the time I got out, this is a crazy story. This is actually how I got to LA real quick. I graduated in May 2012, right? So at that time I was still working in the city doing Nightlife as well and I was also working at Radio 1. Working at 9 3.9. So I would go back to Virginia to do certain gigs and stuff, open up concerts just to host. At that time I'm still learning how to DJ,

but it's just under the radar. I love that, yes. That's the story. I got hit up to do Kendrick Lamar's first two dates on the Good Kid Mad City tour with BT Music Matters. That's huge. So fresh out of Howard, I'm fired up. I'm like I'm gonna just put myself on this tour. I'm gonna figure it out. Yeah. Blah blah blah. Make a long story short the first show was in Norfolk at

the Norva in my hometown. Second show was at the National Enrichment. Wow. And I ended up doing 23 days on that tour. So you had to kill it. You killed it. He was like... After that tour, I found myself in LA. Wow. But the caveat to your question, to answer your question, I was telling you, I was learning how to DJ. Yes. Towards the end of that tour,

they didn't have a house DJ for like the last shows. So instead of me hosting, they asked me to DJ. And so it was like, can you play? I was like, yeah, I can play. And in the back of my mind, I'm like, oh, here we go. Yeah. He's like DJ. DJ.

If I mess up, I could just host. You know what I'm saying? If I mess up, I could just host. And I could just carry the show until it. And so it came out until J-Rock, you know what I mean? And that's literally how I found my passion in making sure I could host and I could DJ. That's so dope. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah. A lot of people know and a lot of people don't know that I'm also an artist. I'm also an artist. I'm also a producer. I'm also a songwriter. You do everything. That's amazing. You know, I- Many talents. When God took his time on J. Murphy. Listen, listen. Hey, I'm with you. Yeah.

And so you learn, you learn about the levels and the parallels of how far your gifts can take you. Yeah. And so you just got to make sure you water in your garden. That's so, ooh, that's good. That's a word. But if you're not watering your garden, you know that dirt just going to look dirty over there.

It ain't going to look, you know what I'm saying, proof of it all, say it. Yeah. I'm learning that even to this day. I'm still learning that, you know, proof of what all say. I'm learning that even to this day, I'm still learning that, you know, despite my demand as a DJ, despite my demand to be here, to be where, it's just like, I have to prioritize to make the time

to evolve in what's been gifted to me because people look at me and you, it's just like, damn, I wish I had the confidence, the boldness that the drive the resilience to be able to be in front of cameras all day and be in front of people that I don't know people be having anxiety you know I'm saying all the most excuses and they just need to learn how to keep it positive I like what you did there keep it positive positive, sweetie, and do the work.

That's what you did. Like, even when you were working, you were honing another skill behind the scenes. That is so important. So when the moment came, you were ready. You got to stay ready. Yes. All right, kids, family, I have with me Jack Freeman.

We are here at the Media House. So you're from Houston. Thanks, Tom. Houston is big on music. Yes. So what was your inspiration growing up? It was a lot of Donny Hathaway getting played in the house. Yes.

D'Angelo. I'm a huge Rick James fan. Really? Huge Rick James fan. Were you in house dancing like you say? He was the most unhinged human being I've ever seen in my life. So huge Rick James, big Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston,

a lot of gospel, Yolanda Adams, the Winans. Yeah, that was me, yeah. The Clark Sisters, all of that. And then we got that Ace Town, that, you know, lot of Zero and Slim Thug and Paul Swisher House, you know, Rap-A-Lot, you know, a lot of those guys, man. So it was just all throughout the house. And I have older siblings,

so I got a lot of their music taste. And my parents are in their 60s and 70s, so I got their taste and then I built my own. I love that. I think I'm the only one in the house that's so big of a Rick James fan that is ridiculous. It's actually kind of embarrassing a little bit. I love that.

So you have your third studio album, Nina. Let's talk about that in your single MVP. Yes. So the album is executive produced by another Houston native, Brian Michael Cox. Come on. Legendary Brian Michael Cox. Legendary. The super producer. He just texted me before I started. Really? Love him. He's so good. Yeah man, love that guy man.

The album has been out since last February, but we're putting out a deluxe this year. Nice, okay. So we on our third single, MVP. It debuted on the Billboard charts a few weeks ago. It's my first Billboard charting record. Wow, congratulations. Thank you so much.

That's huge. Thank you, thank you. And we got a remix coming with Bun B. Okay. We got another remix coming with Big Crit too. So- Big Crit? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh yeah, you know what I'm saying?

Big Crit killed it. Bun B killed it, man. Bun B is like a true mentor to me. Yeah, oh I love that. Love him, man. Having guys like him and Brian in your corner, man, it's been a great ride these last couple of years. No, that is incredible.

Absolutely. I love that. I have with me none other than party of two, Jada and Swim, how are y'all doing? Good. Good, how are you? Good. What are some things that you've learned about yourself

navigating into adulthood and navigating this industry? Yeah. Man, honestly, the number one thing is just learn like who I actually am. Wow. Yeah. You know, being like a child entertainer and singing songs and like talking about stuff that you haven't even been through yet was always like a disconnect for me. Yes. So now like, you know, making my own music and taking inspiration from what I'm actually

experiencing, it's different. Yeah, it's so much fun making music with him because he's my best friend. He knows everything about me, so when we write together, it's just a really safe space. I love it. Now, if there are some young people who want to be in the entertainment industry or want to be in your shoes, what is some advice that you would give them? to be in your shoes, what is some advice that you would give them? I would say know your why. Know your why. The most important thing is you being yourself and you being happy. Don't chase success. Don't chase fame. Just chase creative freedom and passion and authenticity and you'll be fine.

That's so good. I love that. My friend, my homie, my day one, Ray Daniels. Thank you for having me. I feel like I'm like a real day one. I was just telling people, I'm like, I shot her first video song. We was like out there trying to make it happen. So like watching you shine, it's amazing because you always was a star. And the thing that people don't know is that you played your role.

A lot of people that want to get like cuz as you my friend I knew you was gonna be an artist, but it wasn't like it wasn't like you was like I gotta have it if I don't have it. I want nothing. He was like Ray I'll just come hang out So I just want to give you props for that for the people that's watching you actually let God do the work and now you're Being blessed rather than trying to force him to do the work. Come on Come on, you know what I'm talking about. I know what you're talking about. Y'all, Ray Daniels, the song, I fucking love you, was him.

It's only one way to end. I love him. By the way, that song is such a fad. I love you so clearly. Shake. But damn, baby, I really love you. Shout out to Pooch Hall for showing up for the video too. You had connections, boy.

That was God, he'd be like, listen, what you need, I got it, tough one for writing it. It was, man, crazy, crazy, crazy. Wow, because music was your life. By the way, it still is, it's just, I have a different relationship with it. I think the relationship that I have with it is the relationship necessary for mental health.

Because if you love it, and music is going through this transition period where now it's like, it's not even valued. It's like, just give somebody 10 hours a month, you can have every song in the world, that's me. So I think they're kind of treating music like it's like background noise, and I'm not a background artist.

Yeah, no, no. You know that about me. Yeah. We're not background over here. So, you know, I started a podcast, it's doing pretty good. Let's talk about the podcast. Ray Daniels Presents.

Yeah, it's so good. The God Show. So what I did was I created like a network. So I have the God Show, which is where I interview people. I have Artist Spotlight for up and coming artists because artists still wanna talk to me. Yeah. I have That's Debatable because I like to argue.

You know that about me. I love arguing. And then the last one I got is the radar report, which is doing the best right now because it's just me giving people my personality. So I'm watching the podcast world change. You know what I'm talking about. Like it's like streaming is becoming relevant.

Like it's not about interviews. It's about you. You got it. I want to know who you are. So once you start understanding that is like, you got to give the world more you. The people want to about you. You got it. I want to know who you are. So once you start understanding that, it's like, you got to give the world more you. The people want to see you. Well, you notice that with my episodes,

I can interview some of the most amazing, fascinating people. But when you get in front of that mic, they're there for you. Because the thing that I had to figure out is, is that, let's say if an artist is on promo, right, and they do 50 interviews in the market, like, your interview is just one of 50. So what makes you different? So for me, it was like, and what I noticed, and you noticed about me, your interview is just one of 50, so what makes you different? So for me, it was like, and what I noticed,

and you noticed about me, like when I interview Ice Cube, LL Cool J, all these guys, after the interview, they all said the same thing to me. I just wanted to talk to you. Wow. I'm like, you know who I am? They was like, bro, you spit the game. So I'm like, but the audience is like,

we don't wanna hear you, we wanna hear them. And I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna get y'all with some wine. And then I'm gonna talk my ass over here. So that's what I'm doing right now. That's so sweet. Let's go. Brilliant, I love it. By the way, I'm just saying what you was like,

you know, they see you acting and they see you. And then it's like, they see you in this character, they fall in love with that, but now they get to see the real person. Yeah. And the real person has always been a sweetheart. Like that's what, it's weird that when I see you famous, because I don't see you as famous yet.

No. You're such my, it's such, like I still remember the girl in the kitchen showing me she could cook, like Ray I could cook. You don't know Ray I could cook. And I'm like, you can't cook. I'm like your pretty ass can't cook Ray. I get down.

Yes exactly what you said. You about to say it with me, right? And you cook for us. So, you know, I'm just happy for you. Thank you so much. I love it. I'm just proud of your growth and you're just incredible. Like you have literally,

a lot of people didn't believe me in that time, you know? So to come to somebody and you just see me for who I am. I can't believe it then, but by the way, there's another thing, it's something about Virgos in your life. I'm a Virgo. Tyler's a Virgo. Tyler's a Virgo.

That's crazy. And I always thought about that because you wasn't thirsty for it. You wasn't trying. He saw it in you. Like you're saying with me, it wasn't like, he's starting you. Like you sang with me, it wasn't like you was trying to, Ray put me on, you were just hanging out every day.

I was like, we cutting a song on you, I'm putting you, because you wanna empower the people who do it right. And most of the time they empower the wrong people and then we get the wrong outcome and then we're mad. But like, you gotta think of Virgos, I'm gonna let you know that. That too, yep. I am sitting here with the beautiful, the gorgeous Joy Taylor.

You have a podcast, Too Personal. So we, I have a podcast, this is my podcast, even if I was a sweetie, but like it was so funny because in the beginning I was like, I don't want to talk about my personal stuff. And your show is actually called Too Personal. How did you come up with that topic? Well, cause we wanted to, you know, share. I think like, you know, doing your show,

that the real thing that like connects us all is when we are vulnerable and when we maybe tell things about ourselves that are a little embarrassing or that the internet might hold onto forever. But it reaches people in different ways. And, you know, I try to be as authentic as I can with also, obviously, I'm sure you're this way as well. You have things in your private life that you hold sacred. But I think especially, like, in the times that we're in,

we're all dealing with a lot. And it's kind of nice to see that it's hard. like in the times that we're in, we're all dealing with a lot. And it's it's kind of nice to see. That it's hard, you know, like we don't all have it all together all the time. I was talking about it this week. Yeah, I don't know what it looks like. I was talking about this week that I'm really dealing with trying to remain empathetic. Like, I'm very angry about a lot of things that I feel like I have a right to be empathetic. Like I'm very angry about a lot of things

that I feel like I have a right to be angry about, but I'm also like, it's hard every day. The two most powerful men in the world are fighting on social media, like children. We've got ice pulling people off the streets. We've got gender wars and the men are lonely. Like it's always something. It's like, can we have a day?

Can we get a day? It's a day. Can we get one day? A day of peace? Yes. So, you know, I'm, it's, it's, and everyone didn't like that. They're like, well, you're angry.

Like, yeah, I am angry. I'm angry. I am angry about a lot of things. And it's, now that's not cute, but it's the truth. It's the truth. And I mean, I feel like we're human and you have to feel all those emotions. And a lot of times we try to brush things under the rug or be like, I'm's the truth. It's the truth. And I mean, I feel like we're human and you have to feel all those emotions. And a lot of times we try to brush things under the rug

or be like, I'm not feeling that. No, you are. And that's okay. You know, you have to feel it so you can get to the other side of it. Yes. That's how I look at it. Yeah. I mean, feeling emotions,

like we all kind of have to, I mean, managing your emotions and being an emotionally disciplined person is just a part of being an adult. Like you don't get to just crash out whenever you want to. But it's a balance of staying attached to your emotions while also moving through this very difficult, very intense, very negative world. Like negativity is what sells. It's what gets the chitter chatter.

Positivity can be, you know, searched for, but some of our most core memories are overshadowed by the negative ones and the traumatic ones. Like we just, I think we feel, we feel those emotions more intensely. And sometimes when we're happy or we're at peace, there's, at least for me, there's like this looming thing of like, this is only temporary,

but when something bad is happening, it's like, this will be forever. And it's like, why do we do that? Everything is going to pass. That's real. Yeah, that is so true. That's why I named this podcast, Keep It Positive, Sweetie, because there is so much negativity in the world.

And I'm so intentional about not using clickbait to make it. Because a lot of people take like one thing you say and twist and you're like, that's go listen to the whole thing. That is not what I said. That's not what I said. Yeah. It's like so annoying when people do that. So I'm very intentional about that to not be that person. Hey, guys, I'm here with Jay right now. What's going on, Jay? How are you? I'm wonderful, how are you doing? I'm doing like this microphone says

and I'm doing my best to keep you positive. There you go. You also a part of Kanye West's Sunday Service, which was an incredible album. What a time. Oh my, what a time. What a time. Oh my gosh, like that music touched my soul.

It was like so, so good. Listen. So good. We appreciate everybody who still is even listening to that album. You know, everybody's kind of in a different place in their life at this point. Right, right, right.

Hello. But, you know, so many of us that were in the choir, we still stay in contact. So many friendships made and, you know, people working together. So I will always cherish that time and what we were able to do to kind of inspire bringing the choirs back,

especially being raised in the church, being raised in the nineties, early two thousands, all the gospel of it all. So yeah, to be able to help inspire and shift the culture a little bit. I love that. I love that. Guys, I'm sitting here with the one, the only Kenyon Dixon.

How are you feeling? I'm good. I'm good. How you doing? I'm good. So how are you balancing being a family man and working in this industry? That's an incredible question. It's really just taking it day by day. It's kind of hard to pinpoint the balance because I'm living it in real time. You know what I mean?

But I always think it's interesting. My daughter, so I've been nominated for three Grammys. Every single Grammy award, which has been back to back, my daughter has come with me. She thinks that this is a yearly thing now. She doesn't understand. It's connected to if I get a nomination for something. So I think stuff like that for me is,

it keeps me grounded because it's so funny because we're at the Grammys on the carpet, all dressed up and then it's like, by the end of the night, you're back home, like none of this ever happened. So I think I keep those moments and those experiences with me, just to remind me of, you know what I mean,

the full scope of life and the human experience really.