Keep it Positive, Sweetie - Eat The Fish & Spit Out The Bones w/ Queen Naija

Episode Date: July 13, 2025

Episode 1 of Season 8 is here !! In this powerful and personal episode I sit down with the multi-talented Queen Naija for a real conversation about growth, grace, and glowing from the inside out. We talk about so much from body image, to the pressure to be perfect, mom guilt, and learning to love yourself at every stage. We talk therapy, fasting from social media, honoring our faith, and how she’s shifting the way she shows up as a woman, artist, and mother.

Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Sweeties, I truly hope this season of Impact is enhancing you all. I have learned so much from our guests this season, and I'm so grateful to be able to share all these conversations with you.

Y'all know we do not gatekeep around here. We are all in this to learn, love, and grow together. Today's guest is the queen of real talk, raw vocals, and relatable lyrics. From YouTube star to R&B chart topper, she's given us music that feels like a page out of our own journals, and we love her for it. She's beautiful, bold, and always brings the vibes. Sweeties, please give a warm welcome to the one and only Queen Najah.

Hi, love. How you doing? I'm good, how are you? I'm doing great, even better since I'm here with you. I know, that's right. I love it, I'm so happy we finally made this happen. You hit me probably a couple months ago on Instagram saying how you love the podcast.

And one thing I will say about you in the short time that I've known you is that you have this beautiful spirit of humility. And you were like, I love your podcast. And I was like, oh my goodness, wanna have you on. All the things you're like, I'm just glad you know who I am. And I'm like, and it was so beautiful for you to be so known to still say,

I'm just glad you know who I am. It was like, I was like, this girl has a beautiful spirit. And I'm like, of course I know who you are. I go through that a lot, cause I be in my little bubble. So like, I be feeling like, I don't really know who know me or not. So I never want to be that person like,

you should know who I am. You know what I'm saying? Right. But I knew it. I was like, you know how like you see people name pop up and you're like, what? I'm like, oh my goodness. Cause I admire your work. So it just, it really felt good to know that you actually saw the podcast and you enjoyed it. And I'm so excited to my goodness, because I admire your work. So it just really felt good to know that you actually

saw the podcast and you enjoyed it. And I'm so excited to have you on today. Thank you. I'm happy to be here. Yes. So let's get into it. So you are from Ypsilanti, Michigan. I didn't know how to pronounce it at first.

I was like, girl, how do you say this? I was born there. And then pretty much, I just, since I was, until I was six, I stayed there. But I kind of been everywhere around Detroit. I lived in Detroit before. So that's why people usually say she from Detroit, but like, yeah, I've been all over the outskirts,

the in skirts, side skirts. All over, that is funny. And then you became known through your YouTube, five million subscribers. That's funny. And then you became known through your YouTube. 5 million subscribers. That's insane. Yeah. Like, when you started, did you think that it would get that big?

So I kind of had two YouTubes. I had my old YouTube, where, well, my first YouTube, when I did it with someone else. And that was more like a couples vibe. And then once I broke off into my own space, I had already had my fan base, like people who genuinely had liked me. But then once I started showing me my, like, just queen alone

and just like, well, I didn't really do music that much then. But I had already built a fan base with my personality and things like that. So once I dropped my song, like they was already behind it. Yeah, that's, I love that. I love that. They called you the, let me make sure I get it right, cause I don't want to misquote it,

the first soul star of social media generation. When they say that, what, like that's huge. I mean, you know, you just said I got a lot of humility. So I was like, what? Wait a lot of humility. So I'm like what Okay, so I'll accept that but um, yeah, I mean maybe because I You don't get I guess you don't get too many people coming from YouTube in that sense I'm just like vlogging and stuff, right? You do have people who started singing on YouTube like the Bailey sisters. Yeah, like Justin Bieber

They started they were singing on there, but me, I was just, I wasn't on there really just singing. I was just, I was doing crazy stuff. Like, you know, so. I love that. How much of that crazy stuff is really you? Like you just put it out there. Pretty much all of it, but I'm gonna be honest,

like just over time, I was probably like 22 on there. So just with growth, it's a lot of things I don't do anymore that I used to do when I was younger. No, for sure. But I still got that side. I still can be outlandish. I'll be trying to contain it in certain areas, like right here. So I'm trying to keep it very cute and classy.

Sweetie, I love it. You are funny. No, be yourself. I love that. No, that's what makes you unique. It makes you you. And that's whatie, I love it. You are funny. No, be yourself. I love that. No, that's what makes you unique. It makes you you. And that's what people fell in love with.

So I love that. We both are very active on social media. And we were talking offline about just how people can make you look at yourself differently. Like, you say, I didn't even notice until somebody pointed it out. And I was telling you how there's this one girl that always talks about how big my nose is. That's crazy. Yes. Maybe so worried. So worried and recently um I was looking at it more and more and I was like well maybe I should get plastic surgery, get my nose done and you were like saying like people make you look at things that you never paid attention to. Yes, no that I never cared about any angle of my face,

like putting on makeup before getting on video. I didn't care about that stuff until I started being in a public eye. People really point out your flaws. And the worst part about it is like, if you already feel that way, it just magnifies it even more. Absolutely, yeah. What are some things that you had to like overcome

being in that space and just even about self-esteem? Because I dealt with body dysmorphia. I felt like I just didn't look like everybody else. I was like, this is what the men want. I don't look like that, you know, because there's so many opinions out there that are being thrown at us. I dealt with body dysmorphia too.

Sometimes I still deal with it. I've gotten a lot better with it though. Like I used to obsess over being 135 pounds. Like I have to be that. But maybe I'm still close to 160. And I just thank you. I just learned to accept it. Like honestly, like I'm about to be 30. So I feel like I should just love myself in whatever shape that I'm in and you know, to be able to put myself in check and be like, girl, you gotta go to the gym. Like it's time. I'm the same way. I've been eating cinnamon rolls and cookies and stuff like that. So you know to be able to put myself and check me like girl you gotta go to the gym like it's time. I'm the same way. I've been eating cinnamon rolls and cookies and stuff like that so I know it's time to tone it down but

I've just learned to like I guess really just say to myself queen you're never gonna be perfect like you're never gonna be perfect so just get with what you get with what you got. Yep. You know what I'm saying? Sometimes people will do surgery over and over just trying to get that perfect look. And I have done surgery before too. Like, yeah, I had like lipo and then I had BBL and stuff like that.

And I'm just like, it's still not the way I want it. But you can't keep risking your life to go under the table to try to be perfect. I'm like, look, if I got pointy hips, I just gotta accept it. We're gonna have some pointy hips, okay? We still look good though. You look very good. Thank you.

Yeah, I get it, I get it. And it's a real thing. And I think a lot of people don't understand when we decide to be vulnerable and put ourselves out there, we're not also opening up ourselves for attacks. You know, and it's like, it plays a part of our mental health, our securities, and I'm just like why does everybody have to

like point everything? It's so annoying. Yeah, and the crazy thing is I go look at who's talking, I be like... Ma'am, and most of them hiding behind us. I'm like, maybe, we all don't have no room to talk now, come on. We don't. But, you know, I try to keep it cute. I don't try to clap back and stuff that much. But all I'm gonna say is people definitely, they know how to point out someone else's stuff.

And I'm like, That's so true. I think I came to that same realization that these are unhappy people that are behind computers hiding, that aren't happy with themselves. So they have to. I said the same thing.

One thing that I said was like, happy people, if you're so busy being happy, you shouldn't have time to like be being negative. No, you don't have time. Because I'm not always the happiest, but I just know me, I could even if I wasn't like known or whatever, like I can't, I wouldn't be able to go online and type a comment under somebody's stuff to make them feel worse and they might already feel. Because I'm just trying, I'm too busy trying to be happy myself. Right. Yeah. Or get back to happy. That's so true. I can't, I've never been like that. I've never been like that. Has there ever been a moment where you posted something or

vlogged something you like, I shouldn't have did that? Yes. Plenty of times, but like that's all trial and error. Yeah. Yeah. Those were good learning experiences for me because like now I just, I know how to filter things a little bit better unless like I'm just in a super unfiltered mode. Yeah. Like I started Twitch and you know that.

How is Twitch? I haven't gotten on there. It's fun, but I'm gonna tell you, it's dangerous. You really gotta watch it, cause it's live. You gotta watch what you say. Cause they will literally clip the small, they will clip the small things and the next thing I know I'm all over on TikTok.

Right. And they got a whole narrative made up about something. So, but I do like it, it's fun. I feel like I get to be myself more. I don't have to worry about edits and stuff as much, but definitely, yeah. That's gonna help me exercise filtering. No, for sure. I love that.

You have shared on social media that you are interested in doing a gospel album. And you, I've seen you singing gospel songs. You started in church. That's when you found your voice. When did you know like, Oh wait, I can sing. Man. so I grew probably around three or four. Like I grew up in church and stuff. My grandma used to have me go up there and sing No Weapon. I do know that my voice, a lot of people be like Queen make a gospel album right now. Stop R&B and Lord is coming back and things like that. And I'd be like, I'd make a gospel album right now. Stop R&B. And Lord is coming back and things like that.

And I'd be like. Because he is. I'd be so convicted. But I also grew up in that very religious kind of vibe where the prophets would come and be like, your voice is for the Lord. Don't use it for it. But as you all can see, I'm doing R&B.

So that has always been like a struggle with me, but I have learned over time. It's more so like, I'm just trying to get my relationship right with God so that I can hear from him directly. So he could tell me when he's ready for me to stop doing R&B, because I can't say that he hasn't used me even during doing R&B, you know?

And I do feel like there is gonna be a point in time where he might tell me, OK, it's time to do, I don't know, completely worship music. I feel like how I come though is going to be way different. It's going to be different from just the traditional gospel. So I do plan to do that. But I just know once I do it, it's going to take a lot of consecration being set apart.

I'm not trying to be dibbling dabbling doing this and that when I do that because I want it to be very, like, genuine. Yeah. You know? Yeah, and honorable to him. No, I'm with you. I'm working on music, and I had already recorded some songs. And I was telling my manager, we had went to Woman Evolved

last year. And Big West is probably like one of the few guys in the arena and Sarah Jakes had me out there for a panel that she was doing. And first I didn't feel like I belonged there. I'm like, what, like me? Like, I don't know if I'm like, I don't know if I'm like the one, you know, or qualified to be on this stage speaking to all these women about my relationship with God that I'm still working on. And you know, like, at that point, I was still like straddling the fence and like, you know what I'm saying, still in the world doing my thing.

And she was like, no, she said people need to see you because you're where a lot of people are. You know what I'm saying? But you're bringing people closer, you know, because they're like, some people can't look at her as Sarah J. Robinson and be like, yeah, they might feel like it's too far from them. But she's like, when they see you, it's like, okay, it's relatable. And it feels like they probably feel like it's doable. Yes, exactly. Yeah. Because you can't, I always say too, like, you can't just reach people that's already in church. You gotta reach the people that's outside,

the people that might be in a club. But that's the thing too, I be so conflicted with that sometimes. I don't, that's why I just gotta really walk close with God because a lot of times people in church can discourage you too. Like yeah, people are like, you ain't doing this. It's the thin line I I feel like, between being super judgy

and also just, you just got to do things with love, man. And what did he say? The greatest of these is love. Love, yeah. People forget to lead with that. Yeah, they forget to. And then they run people away. So you got to meet people where they are sometimes.

That's so true. Yeah, that's so true. I told Wes, I was like, we've recorded all these songs, but I just feel like I don't want to push people to do things that's going to make them sin. You know, I was like, we've recorded all these songs, but I just feel like I don't want to push people to do things that's going to make them sin. You know, I was like, music is a portal. I said I had to be careful what I'm putting out because I know certain songs

I listen to maybe want to be promiscuous, you know, so like I can't I can't wake up that little demon, you know, like damn, we're not on demon time. I mean, I mean, like, you know, like, oh, yeah, that made me want to do sexy real quick. Exactly. But I was like, wait, did God say we can't be sexy here? Wait, did he say that? And then I'd be thinking in my head like, well, you know, this is for my future husband. I'd be trying to dumb it down.

Like, no, this is gonna, I'm just getting prepared. Prepared for my husband. Yeah, that is so funny. But yeah, like we were having those conversations. At first he was like, OK. And I was dodging the studio. He kept saying, we got to get back in. We got to get back in.

I was like, yeah. I completely understand you. I got to find that voice in that lane and really hear from God. What is it that you want me to sing? Because like you, I don't feel like it's straight gospel music. Yeah.

You know? And I was talking to a friend of mine, Pastor Brenda Palmer, and she was like, Crystal, she said, look at Major, look at Stevie, Whitney, all these great artists. She was like, the music wasn't bad. It was just secular. Yeah, but it makes you feel good. It's happy music. That's real life experiences too.

That's what I be telling. It's my thing is I can't go super raunchy. Once I start going super raunchy, I'm like, all right, I'll get convicted. It's been a couple of songs that I made. I'm like, dang, but but like, you know,'s been a couple of songs that I made I'm like hey But but like you know as long as I don't go super I'm like wait. This is just experiences Yeah, like real life, but I know that I can't just use my voice only for that cuz like when am I gonna edify? God when I'm gonna glorify God you know and I don't want to be one of those situations where we at the gates and God like

Baby, why don't you use your voice for me? That's the gift I gave you. Of many gifts. And I was like, well God, I thought I had more time. Like, I don't, yeah. Najah, you on my street, cause recently I've been hearing him more and more and I just look at what's going on in the world.

And even when I was a kid, my mom was like, we're living in the last days, living the last days. And I'm like, no, something's different now. I'm like, you're coming any day now. Like, and I was like, I just want to be ready. And every day I'm talking to. And I'm like, nah, something's different now. You're coming any day now. And I was like, I just want to be ready. And every day I'm talking to God, I'm like, God, I just want to honor you in everything I do.

I know I'm not perfect, but you know I'm trying. That was my prayer just in the car before I got here. I literally was praying. I swear, I was talking to God. I was like, God, I know I'm not perfect. I know I can't be, but help me please desire what you want me to desire. Because I don't want to want what's contrary

to what you want. And I really don't want to want was contrary to what you want And I really don't want to get I don't want to get left here Neither and all this stuff that's on a news that I try not to watch like the news and stuff I'm looking at everything the Bible was really unfolding and I'm like, hey, do I make this album? Like I don't want to focus on like too much on myself. I mean, I don't know how long we got You know, that's real and I want to scare on too much on myself. I mean, I don't know how long we got. That's real. And I don't want to scare people either, but it's also like... But it is.

I'd rather scare them than for me and not to say, hey, do better. And then they weren't scared enough, and they end up going to hell. You know what I'm saying? Something that we say could have changed their mind or changed their trajectory to be like, let me get in the Word. Let me find an intimate relationship with God myself. I'm working on it. Yeah, me too daily.

It's hard. It's really not easy, especially with everything around. Yeah, I was talking to another girl and we were talking about how it's not easy, but having your tribe, people. And I've noticed like friends falling off who aren't on the same path as I am or kind of distancing themselves

because you feel awkward when you're like, when you're around somebody who's really trying to pursue God or Jesus Christ. And then they're like, I'm still trying to be, so they kind of kind of distance themselves from you. Yeah, you gotta kind of let them and love them from a distance, you know, that's probably God.

Yeah, that's so true. But I do have a, talking about the tribe, I have a, like a, I go to this private church that's more so online, because I feel like trying to go in person is a little hard. But I've been going there for like three, almost four years, and they really help me.

They really keep me accountable and things like that. Before that, I wasn't going to church like that. I felt very convicted. Same, it was like a year that I didn't go to church and that was because the church I was going to, it was some scandals happening and it just kind of pushed me away. I was like, I don't know. And I'll be feeling bad for stuff like that too

because I feel like churches that go through those scandals and it run a lot of people away, but I'd also be wanting those people to understand that we're looking at humans here. That's the same. Yes. I always say that. That's a human being, just like we are. Just because they have an anointing. We both have anointing on our life, and we're not perfect. We still mess up every day. So you can't just let that run you away from church and be like, well, I don't want to serve God no more. I might as well just do

this. You need to eat the fish and spit out the bones. Yeah. Or find a God to help you find somewhere else to go. You know? But yeah, I don't know. I just kind of got lost. No, that's real, though. No, I want that.

You're exactly right. And I remember calling. I called somebody, and they said the exact same thing. They said, Crystal, they are human just like we are. They are like, look at some of the disciples. God chose them, but they weren't without flaw. Yeah. Peter cut off that man's ear. Ma'am. A lot of us want to cut off some ears, you know?

Yeah. Yeah. And the people he chose were not perfect people. And even after they started following him and walking with him, they were with Jesus. We didn't have that luxury to be in the flesh with him. You know, he's with us in spirit. But if they still messing up, you know what I'm saying? He knows. Yeah. I can't imagine. But yeah, that is so true.

And I love that you do have some type of congregation that you can, that can hold you accountable and that you can be, you have a shepherd that can lead you as well. That's so important because girl, we'd be lost out here. There's so many influences. Yeah. Yeah, especially in our industry.

Yeah, and you got to pay attention. You can't like always accept everything from everyone. Talk about it. You have to have like just one source. Yes. Because we get, we can get confused with so many different sources. Yeah, because everybody's like the universe

and the stars aligned and all this stuff. I'm like, listen. Yeah. No. Jesus'm like, listen. Yeah. No. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Yeah. And I be trying to be like, man, I want to knock you. But like at the same time, I'm not going to allow for that to. Mm hmm. And I don't like be like, no, this is but I try to like be an example in my life so that they can see like, OK, wait, wait, there is something to this

Jesus guy. Let me look into this. Let me try to read and study up on him and learn for yourself. You know, I tell everyone, don't take my word for it. And once you start reading that Bible, it really, he convicts you on things. He opens your eyes to things. And then a lot of times you see what you were being taught

wasn't even right. People are manipulating the scripture. You're like, wait, that is not even what it says. It's church saying that they got the... I'd be like, that's wait. They've been saying that for years. That was never in the Bible. Yes. Yes. Yeah. At my church, I go to Change Church and Dr. Darius always said, he goes, this is in the Bible. And he's like, read it for yourself. And he gives a study plan so that we can like take the sermon and then actually study it for ourselves. My babysitter goes there. Really everybody goes there. Yeah a lot of people go there. Yeah. Wait, does Paisley go there? Do you know who Paisley is? Yes, yes. She goes there? Yeah, because our husband's a producer. Yeah, yeah she goes there. Yeah, she's so beautiful. I might have to take a visit one day. Yeah, come on.

And we have, it's a way that we, they want us to be able to have a place to worship because a lot of us don't go to church because people ask for pictures or certain things we they they want us to be able to have a place to worship because a lot of us don't go to church Because people ask for pictures or certain things so they make it to where we can get the word and then get home Yeah Yeah, I had dealt with that when I used to live in Houston. I tried to go to this old school church Because I grew up in a very like old school Pentecostal college church and I tried to go one time and I'm like, they recorded? I'm like, oh man. Oh no, that's definitely, praise and worship, they allow people to go to like the altar

so that you can actually like praise and dance and sing with the choir. And one guy like had his phone up and then like he put it down and then like, you know, he turned around and he saw me. And they're saying, no, his phone's going up. And he's like, and I'm like, are you serious right now? Yeah. Like, what are we doing? I'm like, put that phone down and pray for it. Right. Yeah. Don't

worry about me. You need to be worried about the Lord. You're about the wrong thing, sir. Yeah. But no, yeah, definitely. Let me know when you want to come. For sure. Yeah. We would love to have you. Yes. I love that. I feel like I went to the, I brought my kids to the, they had some sort of harvest thing. Yes. With the bouncy houses. Yeah, we do so many things for the community. Like we have, it's, I love my church. It's not just about coming and getting the word. It's about how we can impact the community. You talked about not saying yes to everything and same thing with me with roles I take. What are some things that you had to say no to in the industry? I'd be like, yep, nope, I have a boundary here.

I'm not doing that. Well, I know when I first came out and I first had my craziest buzz, like after medicine, I was doing this shoot for Vivo. And it was just like a lot of, we went up this mountain in LA. I think it was, I didn't know at the time, it was like Marilyn Manson's mansion that he was renting out.

And that whole day, I was feeling crazy. It's on one of my vlogs. I was feeling so crazy that day. And I remember the night before, I had, I don't know if you ever experienced this, but I had sleep paralysis the night before. Wow, that's scary. And I remember hearing. I've heard about it, but it was different this time. Like the night before I heard all these screams in my ear.

I don't know. So when you were staying in that house. No, not the house. This was the night before we had the shoot. OK, I was in my hotel room. And then the next day, I just felt uneasy. Right. So we get up to this mountain and we're about to shoot and I'm putting on all these, you know, dresses.

And it was just a content piece for like some songs I was performing live. And they had like certain, they had like, I don't wanna like say everything, but they had certain things that could have been in the camera that I felt maybe they didn't. I felt symbolized certain things and I was like, uh-uh, take that out.

Yes. Like I was, I think I got into this and I still don't know what it means, but this empty pool that it was like a smaller pool though. So it kind of reminded me of a baptism pool, but it was empty. It didn't have water in it. It had like this statue next to me,

but the statue was beheaded. It didn't have a head on it. It was just very evil to me. I was like, get that out of here. Like, a lot of times they be like, oh, this is for art and things like that. But to me it's like. You gotta be careful,

because they be putting stuff in there and it has another meaning. Yeah, like I don't know what this means. So I'm not gonna do it. You know what I'm saying? And I feel like, maybe that's, I don't know. Sometimes I'm like, well it. You know what I'm saying? And I feel like maybe that's I don't know sometimes I'm like well maybe that's the reason why I'm you know I'm just been in my own bubble and I maybe feel like I haven't gotten to certain heights or whatever yet but that's cool I stand

stay true to myself. Yes always. Yeah and you know gotta continue to keep blessing me so. Yeah. But yeah it's been little things like that like symbolism and things like that for sure. That's really big in our industry. Yeah. Everything. Don't got to be dark all the time. Right. Like why does it gotta be so dark? Right. You know, going through enough darkness in real life. We need some light. We do. So yeah, that's good. You took a break in 2022. What made you want to step back and just say, let me just take a minute. In 2022, was this after I did the tour? I did Mary J. Blige's tour, I opened up for her in 2020.

I probably took a break after that because I probably felt like I was doing a lot and I really just wanted to focus on my family, my kids. I felt like I was just an absent mom. I had that mom guilt, you know? So I just felt like I needed to get my house and order it in that sense. I just wanted to be a mom again.

I have these like huge spans of like being a mom and then being, I don't wanna say celebrity, but being a singer. Yeah, being a singer comes with a lot. Like I'm about to start gearing up to drop a project. And so I know I'm about to be really busy. And I've spent time with my kids and things like that. So now it's time for me to be on the road.

Yeah. In those moments where you're feeling mom, because I'm not a mother, in those moments, what are you feeling? And what kind of toll does it take on your emotions? I just feel, I have little thoughts in my head. Like, man, what if they have a resentment towards me when they get older?

And you know sometimes how you think you'll, some parents will think they're doing so good. And then when their kids grow up, it's like, mom, I went through trauma because of this and that. That's real. And I'll be like, wait, I thought I did my best. Like, that's the kind of things I think about.

So I try to balance it out as much as I can, because I don't want that from my boys. I don't want them saying, mom, you weren't there. And the babysitter had to raise me and this and that. And I'm just like, but I was doing this for you. And like, I wanted you to chase your dreams too. Yes. You know, it's definitely a lie. You know, I mean, but chase your dreams too. Yes. You know, it's definitely a lie.

You know, I mean, but I was thinking too, like even if I just had a regular nine to five, I still would be away from my kids too. So it's just one of those things where I got to continue to pray on how to balance it all out. Yeah, I was going to ask you, now that you've kind of gotten past that, have you found a way to balance both? Um, yeah, I think I just need to know when to stay home.

Yep. And need to know when it's time to go work. And I've been staying home a lot lately, so. That's good. Yeah, but to the point where it's like, okay, Queen, you gotta go get back out there and sing and stuff. You said that being a singer takes a lot. What are some of the things that people may not know that go into getting ready to put out an album, getting ready to go on tour? People think you could just, for putting out a project, people think you can just go to the studio, record a song,

do a one take, and put it out. It's so not like that. They don't understand. Even once you're done recording a song, they're like, what's taking so long? All the paperwork and things behind it, you got to make sure it's cleared and the producers and people agree with their splits and things like that. Sometimes the lawyers take back and forth communicating with each other. And it just, it takes a long time.

So, you know, you can't just, and then after that, after all that's done, you have to roll it out to where it's like, it can be marketed well, so people can, like it can be in everyone's face. So like, that's really, people just don't know. Like even going to record a song, like I had recently showed myself recording a song live

and they were like, wow, I have a whole different respect for a recording artist because we literally do takes over and over again to get it right. I probably do about 50 takes to make sure something is right. And like, it's just not that easy. And then getting prepared for a tour, maybe you gotta go to the gym before that and make sure you can breathe. Walk on the stage. Right.

Yeah. And then I'm naturally not a dancer, so I got to get some choreography, some movement, you know, to like be able to. Yeah, I feel like I'm rambling now, but no, you're not. No, that's it's good because I feel like people don't understand that, even with acting, the takes that we do. But I find Getting in the music booth and singing and doing all those takes more annoying Because my producers are like again again again again, I'm like really yeah, but that'd be me on my own self

Yeah, I'd be like it sounded good in my ear. Yeah, that was me. I was working with Pooh Bear, like, not too long ago. When I was in Miami, and I asked you for the link, I was like, I was in the studio. And he was like, and I was like, nope, get it again. Get it again. That'd be me on my own self. And it was like, you just got it right.

And I'd be like, nope, again, something was off. Yeah. So like, I'm like a super perfectionist when it comes to that. Did you study music? No. OK, because that's somebody who nobody heard something, something's off. I always hear things that people don't hear.

I hear when something's off key, when something's flat, in the slightest way. That's a gift. And I'd be like, wait, no, nudge that over, because that's too early. I don't know why. I didn't go to school for it or anything. My brain just knows how. Yeah, that's a gift from God. That's amazing.

Yes, it is. I love that. No, and I love that you brought them into the studio with you. Yeah. Because people don't understand. Are you like a early studio girl or do you go at night time? Um, you know what? I used to go at night, but I realized I'm tired. Yes. So I think. I hate night sessions. Yeah. So I started. Same, girl. I hate night sessions. Yeah. So I started just starting early in the afternoon

until the evening. Yeah. So I could still have that time to give back to my kids, too. Right. Yeah. Some guys, like, they literally, oh, yeah, I just left at 7 this morning. I'm like, what?

Yeah, that's crazy. I'm like, no, I'm going home. I got to go home. I got to sleep. Yeah. Would you say you enjoy the studio more or being live on stage? I would say I really love, I used to actually say I hated being like doing live but

when I'm at my tours the energy that I feel from my supporters like singing my music back to that is so fun. Oh my goodness. It's so lit. I do like, I like singing my music back, that is so fun. Oh my goodness. It's so lit. I do like, I like being on tour. I like doing live stuff. Yeah. But if it's a crowd that I know is not really used to me,

I'd be a little nervous. Right. What was it like opening up for Mary? She's like huge. It was amazing. Like I'm just so happy and thank you to Mary again for giving me the opportunity. But it was a lot of, I guess, older people in the crowd.

So I was like, they ain't going to know who I am. But turns out, it was a lot of people there in the beginning for the opening. And I did gain a lot of new supporters and new demographics. I was even looking at the people who was coming to my meet and greets. And it was different people of all like Cultures I was like

It was really fun but in the beginning I like I said I was nervous because you got those people that sit in the Front that they'd hear from Mary To try to hype the crowd up, because I like to feed off their energy. Yeah, it's that energy. Yeah, it really is. It's a dance that you do with your audience. Yeah. But I have learned also, too, you just got to hype yourself up.

When you got dancers, feed off of their energy. But you got to know how to be the hype. Yeah. Hype yourself up. That's so true. What is something that you can share that you learned from working with Mary and being on the road with her,

just as a professional? Mary. She said Mary. It was just, you know, the crazy thing is we were, we didn't like run into each other a lot, often because we were so busy like, Right. Trying to get ready for the show.

But at the end of the tour, we did have a little party for, and then I sat next to her and was talking a little bit, but the music was loud so we couldn't talk a lot. But I just remember her saying to me, take your time. She was just saying take your time. I don't know if she meant in relationships, I don't know if she meant, but she was looking at me like, take your time. Like, don't know if she if she meant in relationships. I don't know if she meant, but she was looking at me like, take your time.

Wow. Don't rush. Yeah. I was just like, OK, I'm going to take my time. Yeah. You probably been through some stuff. Yeah. She can. Yeah, she can. Yeah. Definitely. Give you advice on that. Is there in in growing in this industry, what are some of the lessons that you learned about yourself or just about business?

Because I know a lot of times when you're new to this, you went from YouTube to being this breakout star where everybody knows who you are. What are some things that you learned? Well, I want to say the most, the biggest thing that I probably learned was, how can I say this? I hate saying this, but when it comes to business,

you can't think about people feelings. It's not about being nice in business. And I'm a very nice person. So a lot of times in the past, I have inconvenienced myself or other people, Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Even like people that like I work with. Yeah. Just inconveniencing myself a lot. Mm-hmm.

And just trying to, I want to make sure everybody's straight. But at the end of the day too, you can't be too much of a push over too. I've learned that in the business. Because when you're not like stern about something, like people will try to, you know, run over you or like control things like that. So that's something I'm still working on as far as being a business woman. Just really being that balance between being stern but not being that person that's like,

I don't not like working with her. Right. And there's a way to be worried. Exactly. You don't want that. Yeah. I have people around me, and that's what I love about me and Wes's relationship,

where I can be honest with him, where sometimes you're afraid to say what's really on your mind because you don't want to hurt their feelings, or people are sensitive, and it's like, ah, I really just want to say what I want to say. He's like, no, say what you want to say. I can say it to him, and then he can be like, all right, got it, let me fix it.

You know? Yeah, it's good because I can't do that with everybody. You know, because I will be a B, you a B to them, even though it's no, no, this is a woman who's passionate about her business and she knows what she wants. She's very sure of herself. If a man did it, it'd be like, oh, it's different. But when a woman does it, it's different.

So they said the same thing on the Poor Minds podcast about how women usually get the... people don't really take them as serious in business. Yeah. Wow. No. So I appreciate having a man who has my back to say, hey, no, say what you need. And if I'm like, yo, Wes, I'm not with it.

Or why didn't he say, you know what? I got it. You are absolutely right. It's never like a... And it matters too, like having a really good manager and having like... Yeah. It's different. No, it matters. like having a really good manager and having like, yeah. It's different. Yeah.

No, it matters. Yeah. Because if you don't have that, if you're not able to express yourself, things just don't get done the way you need it to. And this is your business, your brand that you're building and that I'm building. And I think it's a way to make sure people know

that they're appreciated, to treat people with respect, but to also demand that respect and know that, hey, when she comes in, like, it's time to work because she going to work with us. You know, and I always, I'm in the field with them. Like, I'm never like, okay. Definitely turn in different, for sure. Really?

Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm just thinking, because my, because I recently, just over time, you know how sometimes you gotta get a different team and stuff, so my last manager was a woman. And she was great, but I noticed a lot of times she had to work a little bit harder to get things done

because she was a woman, but my new manager now is a man. And I just, it's just different. Treat them different. It's just really crazy. It's sad too that like, and women have to be harder. They have to go harder to get that same thing that a man can walk in and be like, oh yeah, I got this.

I'm like, how do you? That's crazy. Yeah, we have to change that. That's how God made it though. Yeah. We gotta. The man is in charge. Right.

Right. Right. No got to. We got to. Right. Right. Right. No, seriously. I think for me, one of the biggest things that I've had to learn and still learning is when you have a good team, you don't have to control everything. Because like, I know how one thing's done. If it's not done a certain way, I'm very meticulous in type A. So I'm like, okay, I hear y'all. Yeah. I'll crack'all. Yeah.

Hey. Hey. I'll crack it up. Big Wig said, clock the T. That's funny. I'm trying. So I take time to like go away and I don't call them. I just make sure you're good.

Y'all got everything you need? All right. That is so. And I know they'd be like, thank God. Go to Miami and leave us alone. That was so me too. Like, OK, what's happening? Like, I want to have my hand in everything. But yeah, when you have a good team, you don't have to. Yeah, you don't have to because everybody know their role.

Yes. And they should also learn you to know what you would like. Exactly. Yeah. But not saying take your hands completely off because it's still your baby. And at the end of the day, no one, I don't care how much they love you and love your brand. No one's going to treat it like you would treat it. So it's still like making sure And at the end of the day, no one, I don't care how much they love you and love your brand, no one's gonna treat it like you would treat it. So it's still like making sure that you're on top of it and whatever, I like to make sure that I can do

what everybody else is doing. When we dropped our merch, I think it was in December, they're like, we gotta, I wanna learn Shopify. I wanna learn, make sure I know how to do this. Like, where's this going? How much tax is coming out? What are we doing? I wanna make sure we're doing everything right.

And I made sure I brought on the right people that if I didn't know, they could teach us. But if nobody else is here, I know how to pack it up and ship it and print it and get it out here. You know, and it's so important. That's so important because that's where I was in the beginning of my career. Just kind of letting everybody take the lead. I'm just like, oh, well, I'm just here. And I was always like, not I was always like under the assumption that you just you just be the lead. And I'm just like, oh, well, I'm just here. And I was always like, not, I was always like under the assumption

that you just be the artist, you just make the good music. No, I actually gotta know a lot what's going on. I need to know what's going on. Yeah, I took that from Beyonce, like when she fired her dad, and that's what actually helped me. I had a, shout out Sean Finney, my brother. He's amazing.

We had lunch one day, and I was trying to figure out a restructuring situation within my company. And he said, sis, Beyonce fired her dad. And that's all I'm going to say. And I said, wow. I said, I'm sitting here worried about letting somebody go that ain't my daddy. How hard would that have to be?

You know, and the stance that she took and how much she believed in herself, she really inspired me to like stand on my own two feet and how she's like very hands on. I'm like, that's how I want to do it and look how far she's gotten with it, you know? So she's somebody, shout out to B. She's someone that I really look up to when it comes to like really handling your business

as a woman and being respected and heard. And even with songs, how they were like, that's not a hit, that's not a hit. Nope, take it back. And she was like, and all these are what? Number one. I was like, talk to me. Yeah, so.

That's just, yeah, I need to do that too. Yes. Those songs came from your experiences, you know? So the way you deliver them is what resonates with your audience. So somebody else who may have not gone through that, like, oh, this ain't it, this isn't a hit. And then those be the ones that go. Oh my goodness, yes. That's actually what I'm, I'm not gone through they're like all this ain't it this isn't hit and then those be the ones that go

Oh my goodness. Yes. That's actually what I'm going through anything right now, but that's what that's just a situation I'm in right now trying to figure out what's gonna be my next single. Yeah, and I feel I Feel like I know this one single is like this one right here. Like they really don't feel it. Yeah, but you know sometimes Being signed to a label they'll look at like what's most upbeat or what seems most popular or what, you know. And I do know that they could know some things that maybe I don't know, like what could cross over. But like when you know something,

you just gotta push for like, no, this one right here, we gotta make sure we put this out, even if it's not the first one. Exactly. Yeah. So I'm glad you're able to say, no, we've got to do this one. Yeah. Your being in the studio, what is your creative process like? Because everybody's is different.

Everybody's is different. I feel like mine's changed over the years. I used to have to like, I used to wake up in the middle of the night and I would hear a melody. Are you serious? Yes. And I would like, I hear a melody and I'm like, or I could be anywhere.

I could be on the toilet. I could be anywhere. Yes, and it comes. And I just hear a and I'm like, or I could be anywhere, I could be on the toilet, I could be anywhere. Yes, and it comes. And I just hear a melody, and then so I start just singing the melody and then I wanna go make that a beat. So really I'm a producer too, I just don't press the button.

Right. But I tell the producers like, put this instrument and I'll like get a pen and a paper. That's fire. Or a pen and a on a table and I'll like beat and I'll do this. And I'm like, make that into a beat. Are you, that's so cool. Yeah, like, but now I've had to open up a little bit more

and allow for people to send me like certain beats and then I'll just go in there and I'll like mumble. I'll mumble cadences that I like and then fill it in with words. And I used to completely be like, no, I don't want no writers. I just want to write my own stuff. But I'm open to writers now, like co- in with words. And I used to completely be like, no, I don't want no writers. I just want to write my own stuff. But I'm open to writers now, like co-writing with people.

Even if someone wants to give me a song. Yeah. I tell them, like, OK, but I got to make it completely like like mine. Yeah. If I got to switch up words. Yeah. I'll do it. I never take something like fully on. Right. Putting your thing, adding my little put that on it. Yeah. No, but that's smart, too. Yeah. Because there's money in your publishing and writing, too. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, little because that's smart too. Yeah.

Because there's money in your publishing and writing too. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I get that. Hello. Because if my voice was not on it. Yes. Exactly.

So yeah. So that's what I do. I just mumbo jumbo. And then sometimes like I will have a what is it? What's the word? I'll have a not scenario but a concept. Yeah. Concept. I'll have a, not scenario, but a concept. Yeah, concept. I'll have a concept in my head like,

it'll be a good song about so-and-so or da-da-da. And then I'll be like, I'm gonna like just write about that. But so my current manager now, I don't know if you know, but his name is no ID. He's taught me, yeah. So yeah. So he's taught me that a good song can go on any beat.

You just gotta have the conversations first and then your song is right there in the conversation. So I have been working on, rather than just writing words down, trying to make stuff rhyme, we'll have a conversation first in the studio and then next thing you know, my song is right there. We'll just talk.

We'll get to these deep talks about these things. And I'm just like, wait, write that down. And then it turns into a song. That's fire. Who are some people that you would love to work with? Artist-wise or? Yeah, or producer, because there's some incredible producers and writers.

I've never got a chance yet to work with Pharrell. I think he's super dope. He is, yeah. It would be nice to work with The Dream. I haven't I have yet to work with London on a track. We tried to do something, but we didn't end up making nothing, but that was like a while back. But pretty much, I'm down with whoever

wants like as far as artists, if they want to work, then we can work. I kind of used to have this like dream list of like people that I wanted to collab with. But I don't really have that anymore. It's just like, look, if we going to work, we going to work. We going to work.

If not, I could hold this on my own. You can. Yes. Who have been some of your favorite people to actually collab with that you've already collabed with? Big Sean, definitely. He's so freaking talented. And then y'all both from, yeah, that's by Michigan.

Yeah, we both from the same place. Who else have I worked with that I really like? Ella May, she's a very, she's very much a girls girl. Yes. I love her. And then I work with Mariah, Mariah the Scientist. And we have a song coming out soon. But that, she's, I just love girls, girls.

I love people that are super genuine. I love people that check on you outside of the music. Like, I'm just thinking about you. Like her, she checks on me a lot. We haven't done a song yet, but yeah, I just enjoy those genuine people, those genuine vibes. Teyana Taylor is dope. Love to, yes.

I could go down a list. Yeah, that's fire. I love that. When you talk about that, I also would like to ask you, when it comes to where you see your music going, is there, I know we talked about gospel. Is there, like, do you, like, what else do you see yourself doing? I'm going to be honest.

I see myself getting nominated or winning a Grammy. I see myself doing that. I got to speak that. Yes. I used to be like, no, I don't care. No, no, we getting next to the Grammy. And I don't know when it's going to happen, but it's going to happen.

And when it do, I want you all to come right back to this clip. We will. She said it here. Yeah. I know that I will end up doing, is it weird to say that I don't really like the term gospel because I want to run people away? I want to do like more so Christian contemporary worship or Christian R&B fusion like where it has that sound that

people want to listen to but it's still talking that real real about God. There's a lane for that. Yeah, they do have a lane I've seen and it it's real good. Yeah, it's really good. I've been working out to it. It's really good. Yeah, I'm like, OK, this is about God. Yeah. Right.

But I do feel like God is going to take me to higher heights right now where I am, even in this R&B lane, to where it's going to open up that bigger fan base. So then when I do finally you know cross over to that side I'm bringing all them folks with you. Yep it's so funny you say that because I've noticed a lot of these like big stars are turning their life over to Jesus and but they I'm talking about hundreds of millions of followers and they're bringing them with them. And they're influencing them. Yes. And like I said sometimes you gotta go get the people and meet them where they are be them with them. And they're influencing them. Yes, yes. And like I said, sometimes you gotta go get the people and meet them where they are, be relatable with them. Yes.

I mean, I feel like that's what I'm doing right now. Yeah. And I'm not gonna pretend, like I said, I love doing R&B music. I love the way it sounds and things like that. And not just R&B, I wanna cross over to other things too, like alternative and things. I just like different music, but I know for a fact

that once I gain that bigger fan base, you know, it's going to bring them over. It happens. It happens. Yeah, I'm sure of that. Our theme for this season is impact. Impact. Yes, impact. And I want to ask you, even with your music, what is something that you intentionally do to make sure

that you're leaving a positive impact on your listeners? I feel like I do that more so through my personality. I was thinking that on your social media. Yeah, I'm always talk about God. I'm sorry. I don't care. I know I goof off and joke around a lot, but I'm gonna always get a word to God. Yeah. And then just always keep that radiant energy and positivity regardless of what I may be going through.

I always tell people to just maintain a, a lot of people don't believe in being humble, but I believe in staying humble and always being happy for others. And just, just stand consistent in chasing, not chasing a dream, but just stand consistent in chasing, not chasing a dream, but just staying consistent in trying to be, trying to do whatever it is that you would like to do.

Right, yes, for sure. What do you do to protect your peace? Because there's so much noise in our industry, especially when we're on social media, it's like, what do you do to protect your peace? Well, like I said, I have those people around me that keep me accountable, keeping that relationship open with God. But also, I'm a big believer in therapy.

Like therapy, a lot of people would be against it, but therapy has worked so well for me. Oh, I need to schedule me an appointment. She just hit me up. I'm like, oh, man. But therapy is definitely a really good thing. And then just having that quiet time to yourself. Like, I have this car that I just sit in. Really?

Yeah, I just sit in my car sometimes. I can just get away from the noise. And sometimes you got to put down that phone. And I'm talking to myself too. I'm not trying to contradict, but sometimes you gotta put the phone down and delete the apps and just really sit with yourself and do something on the outside that you wanna get.

Just some peace. That's how you keep your peace. Cause that phone is distracting. It is so distracting. I'll find myself going back to Instagram. I don't even want to go there. Girl, I was telling somebody a few years ago, I fasted from Instagram, and my thumb was still,

even I deleted the whole, and it was gone, like the app was gone, but my thumb was programmed to, I was like, this is crazy. There's gotta be something in there. Is there gonna be something in there? I was fasting, I was fasting too from social media, and I had deleted the app, and I'm like, wait a minute, you wanna fast? Or real, because I did the same. I was fastened too from social media, and I had deleted the app. And I'm like, wait a minute, you want to fast?

Or if I didn't delete it, my thumb is still clicking. I'm like, wait. Yes, that thing is programmed. My thumb has a mind of its own. Yes. Yeah, it's really addictive. It is. But it's bad because we so programmed to do it

for so long, you know? Yeah. I put a timer on my phone. Instagram has some. I do like that about the app. I put a timer too, but sometimes I be clicking forward. I mean, I ignore it for the day. I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, like Instagram has, I do like that about the app. I put a timer too, but sometimes I be clicking more. I be like, ignore for the day. I be like, ignore for the day.

Ignore, wait, let me just look a little bit more. I do like the 15 more minutes. And then I finally be like, ignore for the day. Like, I know it gets, once it gets to a point where my head start hurting from looking at the screen, I'm like, okay, queen, now this is too much. What are you doing? What are you doing? Like, so yeah. That is funny. I love that. So you have a new album coming out. Are you able to share any information on it? So my supporters know, my album is done basically, right? But I had this little contractual thing where my label said I gotta put out an EP first. So I am putting out an EP.

Okay. And it's amazing. I went to go record, that's what I did in Miami. Okay, dope. I went to go record it, and it like, I was like, this is so good, I might have to go change some stuff on the album. Yeah.

Like, cause you know, yeah, the more that I grow and like I just keep making good music, I'm like, so either way, whether it's an EP, single, whatever album, whatever's coming out, it's gonna be good. I'm really excited about it. So, yeah, it's gonna be rather soon too. Okay.

Yeah. We definitely gonna look out for it. Let our audience know where they can find you so we can support you. Tap in and keep up with everything. Y'all can find me everywhere. That sound crazy. Queen Nijah everywhere.

Q-U-E-E-N-N-A-I-J-A. And also make sure you guys follow my Snapchat and follow me on Twitch. Cause I be acting a fool on there. Definitely you can see the unfiltered me. Not this one. Yeah, that's so funny. Definitely tap in on Twitch y'all.

Queen Aja, thank you so much. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was dope. It was, it was. Thank you. Thank thoroughly enjoyed this. It was it was it was thank you. All right, sweeties today I am wearing a denim dress by Fashion Nova. I love this dress because it is made of recycled jeans. So dope and innovative shoes are by Dolce & Gabbana. Earrings you guys already know at this point, both taken by Netta.

Embrace it by Van Cleef. Y'all, now, wasn't that one of the most warm and down-to-earth conversations? I just love her. She is so humble, so real, and just full of grace. She reminded us that you can shine and still stay grounded. And that's the kind of energy we're always here for. Until next time, y'all know what to do.

Stay kind, stay lifted, and as always, keep it positive, sweeties. See you next time.