The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Charlie Wilson On Quitting Drugs, Gap Band Struggles, Bobby Brown, Patti Labelle, Kanye West + More

Episode Date: February 7, 2024

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Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.

What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. We need help! That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast

Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay.

Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers

all people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other. So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese investigative journalist who on October 16th, 2017, was assassinated. Crooks Everywhere unearths the plot to murder a one-woman WikiLeaks. She exposed the culture of crime and corruption that were turning her beloved country into a mafia state. Listen to Crooks everywhere

on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Wake that ass up. Early in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlemagne the in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha Guy.

We are The Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building. A legend. That's right. Just got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ladies and gentlemen, Charlie Wilson. Hey. How are you, black man?

How are you? I'm good, man. Yes, sir. How are you? I'm blessed, black and highly favored. Congrats on the Hollywood Walkwood walk of fame thank you so much what did that mean to you uh it was basically a miracle for me because um uh not far from where i got to star uh maybe a block or so that's where i was homeless

so it was like a miracle full circle you. You know, I was like, wow. It looked different down there because things has changed so many years ago. But, and then when we went to park to wait for them, for them to be ready for me to come, I was like, oh, wow, we're just right around the corner from the total experience where it used to be. And so I was like, oh, wow, we're just riding around the corner from the total experience where it used to be. And so I was like, wow, okay. So that's why I slept around the corner there. So anyway, it was a miracle. That's basically what I got to say.

That's all I got to say, man. Very emotional day that day then. Yeah, man. It was everybody came. Everybody that I sang with, they were all there. The lady who was on the commission of the Walk of Fame, Anna Martinez, she's like, I've never seen this many stars, never, ever seen this many stars show up for a guy that's getting a star. Wow.

I said, well, I showed up for them. That's right. That's right. Yeah. To sing with them, so they showed up for them. That's right. To sing with them. So they showed up for me. That was really a cool thing. Everybody was there.

Yay. Snoop. Don Tolliver. Tyler, the creator. Todd. Todd Dollason. Amazing. Jimmy Jam and Terry it was just so many only somebody to get

a chance to make it was Pharrell and Pharrell was in Paris I guess it's Fashion Show Week. Yeah. What's the kid's name, Cruz? Metro Boomer.

Metro Boomer. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And the guy took me on a tour with him. Who? Oh, Bruno. Bruno Mars. Okay, okay, okay.

So he was flying in. He got the message late, and he said, wow, man, I'm sorry. He got in. He had to get to Vegas because, you know, he's got his residency. But everybody else was there, man. It was amazing. Do you have memories when you was

homeless like walking down that boulevard and looking at those stars oh yeah well the first time i saw the stars was before all of the hoopla and craziness uh i was my first the gap Band's first album, we was, I flew in to mix it at the record plant. And, the single and the album. And,

of course, Stevie Wonder was running late getting out of there. He was still in there mixing something. Anyway, that was my first time meeting him. And,

we went to the piano. He sang. We sang together. And that was the first time I ever had met him. So he knew he was late. Come on to the piano, man. How would Stevie know he late? Man.

Somebody come. Somebody come. Somebody told him. He don't use no time. He don't use time, you know. But he just do his thing. But anyway, we just went out there and had some fun together. But when I was leaving, I remember looking down.

Before I got there, I remember looking down at the at the stars I was like wow because I was in front of the Chinese theater and uh and I was putting my hands and like that in front of in the hands and the footprints and stuff like that and I walked to see the stars I was like wow maybe one is a maybe I can get one of these and somebody lady was saying that's not impossible, I was like, wow. Maybe one of these days, maybe I can get one of these. And somebody later was saying, that's not impossible. I was like, yeah, but it's me. We didn't have no record out. Nobody.

And she said, it's not impossible. I said, I didn't say it was impossible. I'm just talking about me getting one. I don't have a record out or nothing yet. I said, I'm talking about me. She said, I'm talking about you. It just went through that whole little thing for a while.

And I was like, wow, would it be cool if I could get one of these? Yeah, you got one. Yeah. Do you feel like it took long? I feel like it took too long to get it. It was a beautiful thing for me that day. Do you feel like that? And a lot of stars do feel like it takes, you know, a long,

it takes so long for some people, certain people to get it. Do you feel like it took? Oh, yeah. Everything that ever happened to me took a long time. They got thumbs. Everybody had a thumb. But it's all good. Yeah.

You know, it's all good. Yeah. I'm blessed. And those who really thought they had a thumb on me or whatever, on my head or whatever, most of them died out. And the ones that everybody kept me away from because they thought I was a disease or I was bad for the person, they all died from drugs. Wow. Hey. Okay?

Yeah. And I'm still alive and well. Amen. 30 years later. That's right. Still sober. That's right. Come on now.

Now, for most people that don't know, how did you get out from being homeless to back to where you needed to be? I mean, I read the story that you said a lot of your brothers and sisters that were homeless with you would protect you. They would make sure that they would hide you and get you the food.

They said you were almost like Dracula. You almost came out in the night. Oh, yeah, I had to because I didn't want nobody to see me the way I looked at the time, you know. Yeah. But the lady that was the doctor at the rehab and the counselor, she's the one that bought me a house and then I asked her to move in with me and you know that whole thing I don't know you like that I was like I can't be

in here by myself ma'am and so but anyway that's my wife yes I took her with me. So I took rehab with me. I never looked back. That's right. Yeah, I've been sober all that time. Never looked back at none of them. They had a bet on me that I would have her smoking in about a week. Never looked back at none of those people. Some of them

dead. But everybody I wanted to hang out with, they all gone. For people going through something like that, what advice would you give them to be able to quit and not look back? You have to change people, places, and

things. So the people you knew, you got to get rid of that person. The places you used to go, you can't go there no more. And the things you used to do, you can't do that no more either. So it's a rough situation. I know about it. Because prior to that, before I went to this last rehab,

where I met my wife-to-be at that time, man, I had been through seven rehabs because somebody else wanted me to go. So I just didn't know if I was going to make it. But, man, God is good, man. Yes, sir. Yeah, he's good. Yes, sir. And worthy to be praised.

So I just take my time and take it one day at a time, one hour at a time, a minute at a time, or whatever it was. I did that all in years. But I know I had a powerful support group behind me, with me.

And so she was slapping hands and, uh-uh, get out of here. Who are you? You can't come back here. What's your name? What's in that briefcase? You got dope in there? You know know she was just like my mom seriously nobody come in the room that's right so and that is very powerful and speaking of power you got a new song called superman that's that's yeah tell us about that what inspired superman is the story my story my wife and I. Yeah, and so the stereotypes, they call them stereo hearts now. And they wrote, because they knew my story.

So I said, we got to do a record that would tell my story. So they came up with that. We came up with that idea and uh so it's about it's about me and my wife giving you the affirmation because you know it's we were listening to the record and uh the camera guy lost right here it was like he was asking he was like you know do you feel like in a relationship you still need that affirmation you still need your wife to look at you as superman and to call you superman and i'm like hell yeah i've been with my wife i've been with my wife 30 years

yeah man that's the same thing with me it's like hey man we we go listen 24 hours a day seven days a week. For 30 years. This year will be 30 years. No days apart. Can you do that? I damn near did. I've been doing that my entire 25 years. Since high school.

I'm 32. I'm 30 years old. I'm talking about no going to the store. I'll be right back. None of that. I'm going to the store. I'll be right back. We're going together.

We go together everywhere yeah no days apart no they don't do that no we don't that's what i think that's what i said no no no do that we'll be together how wild was you charlie that you needed that kind of supervision it's not that i needed the supervision it's just when i first met her in the rehab she was like boy if we're gonna be together because i was ma'am, I can't do this by myself. She said, I don't even know you. I was like, you know, thanks for the house, but I can't be in here by myself. And I ain't got no car.

I was looking at her bin. She was like, don't look at that. Oh, my God. But I'm just saying, you know, she was like, I'm not going to be sitting around here while you travel the world. I'm not going to do that. I said, so what you talking about? She said, we got to be together every day. I was like, every day?

She's like, yeah, every day. And I was like, okay. I tried that myself. I tried that. You didn't think she was going to laugh, did you? She was like, one long night, she was like, forget this. Man. I tried that. You didn't think she was going to laugh, did you? You was like, one long night, she's going to be like, forget this. Man. It was amazing.

And after a while, yeah, it was like, what's this? I can't. I ain't never did this before. But it was like, you know, I fell in love with her. So I was like, this is cool. We hold hands every day, all day, everywhere. But it was beautiful. And it's still beautiful.

Sure, it kept you out of a lot of trouble. Oh, man, yeah. People would walk up to me. all day everywhere. But it was beautiful and it's still beautiful. Sure, it kept you out of a lot of trouble. Oh man, yeah. People would walk up to me, hey Charlie, what's going on? Put the big rock in my hand. I was like, dude, I don't do that no more. I'm sober.

That's what they told me. Why'd you put it in my hand then? What about the women with the poom poom? Would you put that big poom poom in your hand? I don't do that no more. I don't do that no more I don't do that no more I don't do you no more It's all good No man

My whole lifestyle changed And it's still changing For the better of everything I mean now she's She picks the clothes She Produces the show And she

Does the line up And It's amazing she's amazing man She knows how to First she comes with the show the songs I'm like You sure that's going to work just do it

just do it but when I come off you did good I said but that line up better ask the people did they like it so she produces all of that for me and

put it all down, man. And then she picks all the clothes between her and... She picked that this morning? She got you looking clean, man. She did. Gucci'd out. That jacket is fresh, okay. She be doing it.

She be doing it. She got Gucci sneakers on. I like that. Okay. You know, we had to ask, you know, of course, 50 Years of Hip Hop was last year. We had DMC. So we're on a tour. In the beginning of the tour, the whole Gap Band, the whole staff, the whole management,

everybody that was part of the whole tour, hey, we love you rap guys. And it was kind of like this. Oh, we love you Run D&J because you're not going to be here in two years. This rap shit is going to die, whatever. So you have open access. Here's the hot food. You don't have to just eat the craft table. You can come in the green room, this and that.

The buses over here. Here's the real good showers and stuff like that. All of a sudden, halfway through the tour, we start, no, y'all can't go over there no more. This is true. No, y'all can't go over there. No, no, no, y'all over here. They put us in the broom closet. So one day we're in the broom closet sitting there, me running Jay.

Say this is me running Jay. The promoter and Charlie Wilson's manager, Charlie Wilson and the other guy from the Gap Band, they come in our dressing room. So your run, that's the MC, this is Jay. So it's the promoter, knock on the broom closet door, boom, boom. Can we speak to y'all guys? Okay, cool. Promoter, manager, Charlie Wilson, the other guy on the broom closet door. Boom, boom. Can we speak to y'all guys? Okay, cool. Promoter, manager,

Charlie Wilson, another guy from the Gab Band. We'd like to talk to you about something. Charlie Wilson, run DMCJ, is standing like this. Wow. Charlie?

It's a flyer. We loving every minute of it. Mad as a fuck. Excuse me, guys. For the rest of the tour we would like y'all to close the show we're not paying you no headline money but we would like y'all to close the show

ain't that right y'all it's the funniest shit ever that's right you had his back to him the whole time that's what he's saying he was mad that the rap guys was closing because they didn't nobody expect the rap to last that long yeah I mean I was glad that the rap guys was closing because nobody expected rap to last that long.

Yeah. I mean, I was glad that it was like how it was with them. I was really, really... I was happy about them. I was glad to be doing some dates with them. It was just like... It was crazy, man.

I was like, man, this is going to really take really take off i knew it and i wanted to be with russ uh and um he wanted to sign us oh for management or through the label yeah yeah and my brother my brother was like man he probably some clindelani simmons you know we don't want to mess with him but But it was just like my brother was. And but we didn't take that route because it would have been really, really huge for the band to bend with Russ because

I know he would have had some things going and we would have did some records with them some rock and some black. You know, it probably would have been big. But I enjoyed it myself man so did you have your back to them man no do you wish i don't know what they told me i don't remember half the stuff

that's been too many damn years ago man i don't know nobody was right what he was talking about from back then is there anything you wish you would have done differently because you said if you were to sign with russ it would have you would have did records with these people would have been rock it probably would have been big is there anything that you wish y'all would have did different back then no i don't wish nothing like that anymore because uh it turned out the way god wanted it to be because i think, you know, if I would have did what the Italians wanted me to do, they offered me a million dollars to leave the gap band. And when the Italians came and said, I'll give you a million dollars to leave this group

right now. And I was like, man, you're trying to get me to leave my brothers? And I didn't understand what the guy was talking about. I cussed him out. Because it's my family. You know, he said, I want you to be the black Elton John. We got the writers for you

and everything. I didn't get it. I was young. I just didn't get it. You know, I just know that at that time he was trying to make me leave my brothers and I didn't want to do that but I think if I would have done that I wouldn't be here now because I

mean at that time I was 20, 21 years old, 21 years old you talking about millions and millions and millions and millions and millions of dollars and cocaine, cocaine, cocaine, cocaine, cocaine so I probably would have died like the youngest brother of Bee Gees. Damn.

I probably would have died young and ignorant. That's right. Yeah, so that's how I look at it now. God don't make mistakes. At all. No, he'll make you go around in a circle for a long time until you get through bumping your head so many times and you know and um so i turned it all down and uh and uh my oldest brother said man you better you than me brother

because if it had been me i'd have left me i'd have left me long time ago. That was a lot of money back in that day too. A million dollars? Come on, man. You were young too. In 71, 72? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, 72. And we'd had it. With that record we put out at that time,

didn't sell no more than about 26 records. People don't have that kind of integrity no more. No. That kind of loyalty no more. No, so I went through the whole thing the whole situation with my brothers and all of that stuff all of those years

and without anything so never got paid for anything for how long the whole time the whole time for how long? the whole time the whole time with the gap man? the whole time not a dollar not even for shows?

my brother who was getting all the money? my brother that's why he said I would have left me a long time ago I didn't know it was like that I was believing everything you know you got your big brother you gonna's why he said, I would have left me a long time ago. I didn't know it was like that. I was believing everything. You know, you got your big brother. You're going to believe everything he say. Don't do this. Don't do that. So-and-so, he's the corporate.

He's the guy. He's the guy. He's the one that's taking from us and all of that. Amen. We was just having that conversation this morning just about business. When it comes to doing business with family, how do you treat them in that situation? Do you sue them? What do you do i i didn't they both dead now oh man yeah yeah i had a conversation with lord let me be able to talk to him before he passed yeah i had to

by two hours he couldn't talk that much he was on his deathbed but i asked him everything I needed to know. I said, man, I ain't mad at you, man. You see, Gap Band, we had 15 top 10 hits. Me? I have 13 number ones. It's a big difference.

You could do the Super Bowl halftime show I could be doing a lot of that but you know how do you feel about award shows you know the Grammys was just on and everybody saw the speech that Jay did are those things important to you? not anymore

I've been there 13 times so hey it's just some TV moments for people than 13 times. So, hey. It's just some TV moments for people. And I know who they're going to give it to. We know who they're going to give it to. You ain't going to get too much of this. That skin is too dark.

You said unless you a rapper? Yeah, unless you a rapper. Jay-Z can get one of them. That's good. What, they don't award R&B singers, soul singers? Man, that's in the pre-grammage show. That's where you're going to get most of your stuff. It's not aired.

You leave there and go to the big room, sit in your seat, and wait and see if you're in anything in that one. It's all good. You feel like you get the flowers you deserve? The amount of hits that you, like you just said, and the amount of number ones? Thirteen number ones. You see that guy right there?

And that lady right there? Yeah. Yeah, that's my manager, and that's my wife. there that's my manager and that's my wife and that's my son you see what I'm saying so anything happen for me them two they give it to me

it comes from that way that's my flowers that's the root of the flower tree so that's all you need that's all I need Yeah. That's the root of the flower tree. So. That's all you need. That's all I need.

Yeah, the validation. I don't need nothing else because them other folk ain't gave me nothing. Yeah. And everybody that could have helped me is gone. So now they're trying to hug on me because I'm still making number ones. See, I'm the oldest guy out here. The oldest making number one records. That's me.

There's nobody else making number one records that's my age, but me making number one records. So I don't care about none of that other stuff. Your work speaks. Yeah. Why do you think artists care so much about stuff like the Grammy? I have no clue. It's you know validation yep they look for validation and things like that you know i went through those phases man long time ago and we we always we've been together a long time and

and we felt a little weird back in the days when the first started going, you know, man, we should have won that. I said, I know. I performed in pre-Grammys before, and I thought that was going to get me to the next level. Wreck the place. But it didn't get me to the telecast. You know. Yeah. but it's all good i did all that long time ago now yeah if they ask me i'm not doing i don't want to do that you wouldn't do it why do you connect with the youth so much like you look at a lot of artists sometimes they phase

out but i feel like the youth loves you right whether it is yay like you said or tyler the creator or you know bruno mars or even you know uncle snoop like it feels like they just gravitate to you want to do more music but you don't see that too much why do you think that is because i can still sing my voice down sounds the same that's right yeah maybe even better to be honest yeah yeah yeah yeah i can still do that and so that's how you keep reinventing yourself and yeah i know i know exactly what because i'm always with you know tyler got makes records for me don toliver makes records for me and everybody has been making records for me so I'm like I don't know when he's going to put those records out

but some of them already made the records for me you see so we've been looking at it you know it's like hey uh whenever he wants to put them out but uh the fun

of it is that these guys I'm with a lot of them all the time, so I know what sounds that they're using. I know what kind of vibes they are. I'm not copying, but it feels good to me. So whatever feels good to me and is super for them, those are the kind of records I actually put out. Basically. I don't copy, but I do

listen to what's going on when I'm with the kids. And I love that. I see you're really close with Kanye and Snoop. How did that even happen? I was in Snoop's business a long time ago. My wife told

Snoop one time, Snoop, you can't be around my husband smoking. I was like, who is this lady telling us we can't smoke, man? We ain't listening to that. No, man, who is this? So, next day, she called.

I'm not bringing my husband back down here no more. He's not coming. What's wrong? I told you, I don't want no smoking around him. He's just got sober. And then ever since then, he said, okay, word.

Everybody put it out. So every time I come, they be like. Hey, yo. Right. I said, what you got? Mm-mm. You had got Snoop to stop smoking at one point right yeah I thought it was a year

it ain't been no year when he was doing his speech he said I said I'll stop smoking for 120 something days whatever it was I said I thought it was a year. He said, come on, work with me, work with me, man.

I said, you in doggy years. So it made a money. I told him, I said, man, you got to cut that out, man. You can't be in here with these kids like that, man. He was like, really? I was like, word? I was like, man, come here, man. Let's talk about that.

I said, man, wife pregnant, you know, you can't be in here smoking like that with these kids man. He said, okay. I said, so go get your shit and throw it away. He came in there with them boxes, dumped them in the

trash. Boom, just throw them all away. And so Shante said, the boss later said, Uncle Charlie, what did you say to Snoop? And I started laughing. I just told him that he needed to change his wicked ways for a minute. And he did that. And I enjoyed being around him. Tupac, I was coming back to the studio the next day, and Tupac was in the room.

I didn't know he was in that room. That's where Snoop was the day before. Is your country falling apart? Feeling tired? Depressed? A little bit revolutionary? Consider this. Start your own country. I planted the flag. I just kind of looked out of like, this is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. There's 55 gallons of water for 500 pounds of concrete. Everybody's doing it.

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That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, guys. I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire? Join me every week for Post

Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. leaning into her dreams. I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves. For self-preservation and protection, it was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay.

Like, grace. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're gonna figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty

on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Marie. And I'm Sydney. And we're Mess. Well, not a mess, but on our podcast called Mess, we celebrate all things messy. But the gag is, not everything is a mess.

Sometimes it's just living. Yeah, things like J-Lo on her third divorce. Living. Girls' trip to Miami. Mess. Oh, Zimpik.Lo on her third divorce. Living. Girls trip to Miami. Mess. Ozempic. Messy, skinny living. Restaurant stealing a birthday cake.

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And we'd like you to join us each week for our show, Civic Cipher. That's right. We're going to discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people to hopefully create better allies. Think of it as a black show for non-black people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home workplace and social circle exactly whether you're black asian white latinx indigenous lgbtqia plus you name it if you stand with us then we stand with you let's discuss the stories and conduct the interviews that will help us create a more empathetic accountable and

equitable america you are all our brothers and, and we're inviting you to join us for Civic Cipher each and every Saturday with myself, Ramses Jha, Q Ward, and some of the greatest minds in America. Listen to Civic Cipher every Saturday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I walked in, boy, Park just went crazy. Everybody started jumping around. He said, I just said your name. Two seconds and you walked in the door. And man, they was losing their mind. And

he was like, oh man, listen to this. I need you to sing this. And I said, okay, but I can't do it right now because I'm here for Snoop. If he come in the door and I'm singing for you, he gonna be upset and then uh that's how pocket Snoop beef started and then there's but so uh I didn't get a chance to do the record cuz Snoop we went back in his room he locked the door turn the music loud loud loud it was knocking Snoop Park want to do Charlie to come say hey yeah and a month later he got killed i didn't get a chance to do it you kept uh you kept snoop from leaving his wife too oh man we called him my wife was talking to shantae and downstairs and i went upstairs she was packing and she made an unpack i said baby you need to stay with your husband it's all good good. You need to. And she was down crying and I went upstairs. I mean, what's up?

It's what about as you know, what's going on downstairs? As you know, your wife's getting ready to leave your, he's like, finna leave me. What you mean? I was like, man, she already packing mommy down there, making her take her clothes out. Like she wouldn't go nowhere. I said, excuse me? She was crying, crying, crocodile tears. So she had her stuff

luggage at the door. So I talked to him a long time about just family and life. And he sat there and listened to me. He said, man, I never heard nobody talk to me like that.

So I was just in his business all the time. Yeah. But your connection is powerful. You know what I mean? To get Snoop to stop smoking for four months. And then, you know, even just, he just looks up. So you can see you have a very strong connection. Yeah.

He did. He did. He did exactly what I asked him to do. Shantae did exactly what my wife asked her to do. And they still together. That's right. Wow. What about Kanye? How'd y'all connect like that?

I was supposed to been doing a session with Yeezy. Yeezy is Kanye. Not that one. It's not. Yeezy. Yeezy? Yeezy is Kanye. Not that one. It's the... Yeezy. I get my Yeezys mixed up. You get your Weezys and Yeezys. Yeezy.

Yeah. He didn't show up. We went out to the studio and the guy said he didn't show up. We went out to the studio, and the guy said he didn't show up. So they said, is this playing or something? He didn't get something. I don't know. It was some kind of message they sent to me.

I'm like, man, you made me drive all the way down here. I was mad as hell. So I went home. The next day, they called. Kanye called. They said, hey, can Charlie come do the session with Kanye? I was like, like I said, yeah, I'll call him. He said, man, you want to go down to the thing with Kanye?

I said, yeah, let's go. So we came in from the back door, and I said, here we go again. I said, where's Kanye? He tapped me on the shoulder. Oh, you here? Yeah. Okay, so we went in there, and he played the songs. And my brother had, my youngest brother passed two days after that,

and something like that. And we did the songs and I said, you want to do some, I said, can we do some more? He's like, you want to do part two? I said, yeah, day two. So we went, ended up going to, coming here, out here. And I did, I don't know how many songs i did then he wanted to produce uh one of the songs it's called you are there was already a hit basically so we gave it to him

and uh his his people was like you know yo yay man, we did everything to this record, man. It's already done, man. I tried everything, everything. He said, man, just bring the stuff over here. Let me see. It was already a hit. Yeah. But they did try to do some stuff.

Not, yeah, he just, like, left it alone. But it was already a hit. When he came to your Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, he had the black mask on, dressed in all black. What did you think about that? Well, that's what he's

doing. I haven't really talked to him. I did talk to him about it. He made me laugh at what he said. I'm not going to say what he said. What did you say to him? You're a damn fool. What did you say to him? I said, why do you have the mask on?

No, he said, the reason why I wear the mask. And he told me what he said. He just fell all over me. I laughed so hard I was almost on the floor. That's when we started taking pictures when the ceremony was over. And I laughed about what he said. He'd get upset if he heard it.

Why'd you tell the people that? I ain't gonna say what he said. But he'd know what he's doing. He'd know he's getting the rise out of people. Exactly. Kanye ain't crazy. Ain't nothing crazy about Kanye. He does things what he wants to do. And if I'm around,

he pumps his brakes You know a lot Did you have that conversation with Kim and Kanye when they were going through it They said like you know what cause people listen to you Cause you the OG you've been through it Did you say Kanye Kim Wife you go talk to Kim downstairs

And me go talk to Kanye We didn't do it that way but I did talk to when I called he would give give Kim the phone you know or he'll call and give Kim he'll call be calling somebody or he'll call Kim and hand the phone to her and she's

and give it to me and I was like what's that all about but it's... Could save that one. There's some situations you can't fix, you know. You can try, but you can't fix everything. But I mean, that's family too.

That's real family. He told his people when we was in Paris. I went out there. I did like 15 records in two days. Wow. So everything that he had on his album, I mean, he was, I recorded all of those records. And I did all of the backs.

And then he wanted me to do all of the leads, and I didn't hear that part. He had told my manager. I didn't know he wanted me to do all the ties parts I didn't do them all and I was trying to get to it late that night that was a tied horse

and then I left it alone and we were supposed to come back so I saw him at my ceremony he told me where he was at and I said, okay. But I had to come here to do a lot of stuff.

I got Good Morning America in the morning. Nice. So this was a new album that you did the vocals for? Yes. I did all of those, a lot of that stuff and he wanted to do, he wants to do the whole album, my album.

And so we didn't get a chance to do that. He wants to EP your new album? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, he wanted me to do all of the stuff that we was doing for him. He wanted to do a lot of, he got a lot of records, man. Mm-hmm. So he wanted to take those records and make a record for me.

Wow. You know, you said something earlier man about the the grammys and how you would never perform there now and i think about this year like this year they had uh celine dion showed up jody mitchell performed there for the first time billy joel was there like as a as a veteran in this game a legend you wouldn't want to do something like that just to i would love to but they never asked me hey man i'm not doing that no more with them kind of people man yeah i'm not doing that because i don't have to do that you know the the the pages it's all of that that i've done and you know it don't mean nothing to them it's fine with me yeah because it don't really mean nothing

to me but i got it that's right that's really mean nothing to me, but I got it. That's right. Because how many people, see I got the most number ones in any R&B artist in this country. Billboard number ones. Than anybody that's solo, that's dead or gone. Yeah, see it's hard to get number

ones at R&B. Urban back in the day, you might get a top, you might get two, number two. You might get top five but it's hard to get urban number one i imagine yeah you might think it's number one because it's been played a hundred times yeah yeah yeah and when you think about it is that really too many of y'all left it's you it's stevie Wonder, it's Ronald Isley. And none of them have had no number ones in a long time. Patti LaBelle, long time. But it's all good.

She did her thing. You know, the gospel is where they hit it and she's there. Okay, that's fine. You know, if you're just not giving your life to the Lord, I mean, you should have already given your life. God damn, Charlie. It ain't never too late, man.

No, I know it ain't never too late. But I'm saying the reason why I said it is because you're straddling the fence. Damn. I get you. You said Patti LaBelle's straddling the fence? No, I'm just saying people that wait and because you can't get no more radio,

you want to go gospel side. Go strutting to the gospel side. That's what I'm saying. Don that wait and because you can't get no more radio, you want to go gospel side. Go strut to the gospel side. Oh, okay, okay, okay. That's what I'm saying. Don't run over there because of that. Right. I'm not saying Patti did that, but it sure looks like that. Man, what is you talking about, Charlie Wilson?

Hey, man. Hey, Patti LaBelle. Let me tell you something, man. I'm the only one been shouting on the stage ever at my concert, so I ain't never stopped praising God. Never, ever, ever, ever. Yes, sir. So the lady asked me yesterday, you going to do a gospel album? I said, I would love to, but since you're over here on this station, when if I do one,

you tell him that Charlie Wilson been doing gospel all his life, and he's been doing R&B all his life. So don't y'all try to get you church folk just to try to nail him up against the wall because he ran over there. It's not that I'm running nowhere. I've been praying and praying two or three times a day asking God for what I need to have. And so I quit asking him for what I need. I just started thanking him now. Lord, I know I got a whole lot. I just want to thank you for everything I've ever gotten and everything that I didn't get.

So I thank you because the scripture says in all things, give thanks. And so that's what I do now. You know, I'm having a good time, man. Sometimes I can't get the words out to say what I'm trying to say. What else is left for you though? Like what else would you like to do? Is it something that you want to do that you feel like you haven't done yet in your career? At 71, still smoking hot yeah i would like to um continue doing music with these kids and they still calling yeah they're still calling so they're

gonna keep me relevant yeah you don't see retirement no time soon well if you gotta if you retire you gotta get you gotta retire from being retired. I already know that's how it's gonna go. Because they ain't gonna stop calling you. So, they haven't stopped calling me yet, so I'm having a good time, and if I can just continue to do that. And I don't

know what else I can do other than make records and I got a documentary that I'm getting ready to do. Cause I have to tell it. My side of the story. Yes. The correct way.

That's right. You won't, you won't let them know the truth and nothing, but the whole truth, but the truth, but the whole truth and nothing, but the whole truth. Exactly.

And you know, I remember one time TMZ was like, why do you want your brother to make no money? What? He got, he got his mind and everybody else's. What are you, what are you talking about?

But anyway, it's all good, man. good man and i went through all of that and and i love my family i said i don't forgive all everybody that's ever done anything to me i don't care and i said you know they said well you know wait man when next time you go do this this festival you make you sure you get 60. I said, man, that's my payroll. What are you talking about? What are you talking about? Crumbs. Because that's what you've been used to doing? That's not my payroll, buddy. You'd have a baby right now.

A man having a baby if you found out what I was getting. Well, it is 2024, Charlie. Men can have babies nowadays. No, they cannot. No, they cannot. No, they cannot. Don't say nothing. Jess, Jess.

No. Jess. If I ever seen a man having a baby, I'm going to run the other way. You won't see me nowhere around if it's some man having a baby. What is your relationship like with the OGs, with the people I just named? Oh, man, we all cool. Okay. We're all good, man.

We all good. Man, we all cool. We're all good, man. We all good. Man, we all good. I'm having a good time, man. Everybody, they all see me getting the flowers that people are giving me that they know that I deserve and that I should have gotten a long time ago. But I'm happy, man, in my life because i'm happy with my my immediate family that's my life now my support family and my real family so hey man i there's nothing that i need i was always telling my wife listen i just got to get this $800 million to get this lotto. She was like what are you going to do with that?

I said what's it mean? She said what are you going to do with all of that? I said I don't know maybe we'll just throw it over you you know the top of the bed we can sleep on it or what. She was like

you don't need that we don't need that we have enough i was like come on baby it's the lotto i want you know i want to take you on the cruise this is like you know this these yachts now 400 foot yacht whatever i was like let's get do some she said i don't want to do that and we don't need that mm-hmm I said okay yeah so you played a lot of you didn't play the lot of it I've been playing a lot of I face you been talking to God yeah cuz we don't need that you think we could ever rebuild something like black Wall Street you made me think about that just now oh man I would love love to build it.

That would be great. You can do that with the $800 million. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That would be great to do that. And for my hometown, it would be great. If I got the $2 billion, one of them lottos hit hard like that, that's where I would go to do that.

Rebuild Black Wall Street in your hometown. Yes. That's right. Because that's where it was. That's right. Greenwood. Greenwood. Greenwood, Archer, and Pine.

That's right. Down there on Greenwood. Yes, sir. So that's what I would do. I'm glad you said that, man. But I'm having a good time in life, man. I don't need nothing. She's right.

I don't really need nothing. We have a lot. We have love, and that's all we really need you know well we appreciate you for joining us yes and i told you last time you was here you know we can make it all right was my wedding song the acapella yeah we can make it all right the words in that song if you never listen to it you just google it listen to the words and we can make it all right. They don't put nothing on your voice any, Charlie, when you're in the studio. Water. I know that's right. Water's on my voice. That's all I drink. I drink a lot of it.

Before I go saying, I have to have at least a gallon of water in my system. There you go. Takes all the mucus and everything down. I used to warm up a different way and one guy said, you're doing all that. That's not it. You're warming up the wrong way, and one guy said, you're doing all that, that's not it.

You're warming up the wrong way. I said, well, that's what I was taught about Seth Riggs years ago. He said, well, that was the old school way. But I was like, just drink this water, man. I was like, wow, that's good for me. I like it. You've been doing it ever since. That's all I've been doing.

Still hitting them vocals like it. I've been doing it ever since. That's all I've been doing. Still hitting them vocals like that. Man, can I say this about Babyface? I will tell you something. He wrote a song for the Gap Band and me years ago. And it was, I want to rock with you, baby. All night long. He wrote that song for me. Wow.

But that wasn't the original version. He produced that in there because he left the original version because he was doing his speech he was talking about you know that he came down to the total experience and he left him and said no man Charlie said he don't like that record they lied on me man and so all those years Kenny was

mad he was really hurt about that he came out and said I said that we don't like the record but now man he said man I found the original of that you want to hear that I said come on man get the thing together let's go put the record out because it ended up with Bobby Brown end up with the record right yeah absolutely classic yeah I said why did you give all my records to Bobby Brown man? I said he lied on that he can't produce and he can't produce for the gab bed and all that.

So he stayed mad, angry, hurt feelings, not angry, but hurt feelings for 25 years. Wow. Long time. Baby Faith or? Kenny. Kenny. Okay. Okay. Yeah.

Baby Faith. Wow. And I used to tell him, I said, man, I swear on God. I never, ever said that. And I told him, I used to tell him year I said, man, I swear on God. I never, ever said that. And I told him, I used to tell him year after year after year after year. And finally, he said, Michael said, man, he didn't say it. He said, I believe it now. I believe it.

Who told him that? Yeah. I don't know, man. Whoever it was. But I know my brother said it. Yeah. Yeah. So it was just miscommunication.

It was a lie. It was a lie. It was was a lie it was a lie but I mean listen that's God right because we don't get Bobby Brown if that don't happen maybe Charlie like nah I wanted that record I wanted that record

cause first of all I never heard it but when I heard his version cause what Kenny did he just went on produce the record produce the produce till it got to what it would be for Bob you know it would work for him you know because

after yearning for your love that rock with you record was the next record for us that's why he brought it and it would have followed yearning for your love and it didn't get it didn't work it didn't make it so it's good followed yearning for your love yeah wow and it didn't get yeah it didn't work it didn't make it yeah so but now it's good because i'm gonna get the record i was supposed to have in the back in the beginning man he said just give me a little time i'll have it ready

i was like i asked mike i said how you doing he says don't rush him don't rush him just let him go on do it i said i said, I ain't going to rush him. So he should be through with it about a couple weeks. Oh, so he working on something for you now? Oh, he's working on it now. So y'all doing another, the OG version of I Want to Rock With You. Yeah, the very first version of it. Wow.

Yeah. Wow. Every little step had to be Bobby, though, because you couldn't dance like Bobby. What? Oh. Oh. Who you talking to? Wow. What you talking come on man you can't do that step Bobby was no joke with them feet now man John he was no joke but guess what he

got it from? Man, come on, man. You got to understand. Them kids, I took them kids on their first tour. New Edition. Yeah. It was a gap band. But the other guys would always say, it was Rick James.

Rick James ain't showed you no steps, man. He can't dance. What's wrong with you? Rick James wasn't taking all his clothes off. It was me James. Rick James ain't showed you no steps, man. He can't dance. What the hell wrong with you? Rick James wasn't taking all his clothes off. It was me pumping the speakers. Rick James, he was doing the same thing he saw me do. Yeah. Because I was on the road with him, too.

Yeah. Man, come on, man. Yeah. But his buddies, they didn't want to give me that. That's all good. There's no problem. If I would just be sitting like this, He'd drop his head when he started talking. Because he know what's going on.

Yeah. Don't go get shit. Don't go. You don't play with him now. Uh-uh. You don't play with him now. Y'all play with him now. I know that's right. He got some move now.

I was just showing. He was humping the speaker. He was dancing one leg up. Don't play with him now. Don't play with y'all. You was the original bad boy, nasty boy boy i was taking off my shirt and i was everything and and was pulling them gonna pull them down and and uh and uh and the girls were screaming hard and my brother was coming i don't pull them down it's like it was just like a little act you know all over that

floor all over the floor man i'll be humping speakers slide down pump the other one it was all good what other records did you you miss out on like you like damn i should have did that well no it's just it's like i used to talk to teddy and i was like come on man y'all know you know that uh uh my prerogative you know all that stuff bobby did that so you know all that stuff Bobby did you know that yeah man it was for you you know but I was thinking of you cause you know that's who I got my stuff from you forget man

he used to call it four to the floor and uh but it so I mean I was the move I played the move bass Yeah, when all of the record them hot up tempos. Yeah, I played those basses bass parts. So he copying that ports and then Don It's all good man. I knew some demo way back long time ago man. I don't trip no more with I thought it was good and when I first heard Guy, I said, I was like,

hey man, is that my voice? What's all this? I thought it was some outtakes. I was like, man. I was like, wow. You was inspiration. Yeah, it was Aaron. Aaron said, man man I carried your

picture in my back pocket I was like wow okay that boy can sing I'm sure they give you the credit though oh no they always have Aaron he's talking too much they made him stop talking about it teach me

I was like man he would be the singing oh man Aaron was something else still like my son today I love him to death all over the world wherever I was going I'd see him and we'd just be talking

he did yearning for your love I said let me do one of your records just because you did one of ours. And so I loved him, man. I still love Guy. I was hoping they could get it back because I used to tell him, I said, I know you shaved your head,

that boy that shaved his head, he's got a cane and R. Kelly. I said, Aaron, don't let him put another record out. You got to go and put your record out. Y'all put another record out. Then all of a sudden, I don't see nothing wrong. I said, okay, it's over now. Damn.

You told him that? Hell yeah. So you've seen it happening. Yeah. I've seen it happen. I said, don't let him put another record out. You got to put a record out now. And then it didn't get there fast enough.

Because when that's coming to that bumping ground, I was like, it's gone now. He gone. You know. So there's no getting it back when an artist do that? R. Kelly? Back in those days? Yeah, yeah, yeah. He kept writing and writing and writing and writing and it didn't stop.

And then, you know, you got to wait on Teddy. Teddy's writing for everybody. Heavy D and the boys, he's going. He's writing for everybody. So he ain't back at a guy right now. He ain't doing that. And, you know, Blackstreet, he's doing a lot of other stuff. Now you say, I do hear a lot of Charlie and Aaron now when you say that.

Like, don't be afraid. That could have definitely been your writing. Oh, man. Come on, man. Them was my kids. Yeah. Wow. It happened a long time ago back then. Yeah.

But I'm having fun. I had fun then. I'm still having fun. I love all those guys, and I love all of the kids that are coming now to me and still getting the records, and it makes me feel good. I ain't gonna hook up with y'all all day, man. I'll see you over there. I appreciate you. We love talking to you.

He always be ready to go. He's ready to go? No, no. I love talking to you. Come. I appreciate you. I love these stories. You ready to go? No, no, no. I love you. Put your head in, baby boy. Right. Put it in. I love these stories. These are the best stories. These are the stories you can't do. I got a lot of them, but I ain't going to say it.

I can't see my manager's face. He's behind me. But if he was over there, he'd be like. Let's go. Does he get mad when you tell the stories before, like before sobriety? Will he get mad? Yeah. Now, he'll tell me when he don't want me to do something.

Okay, okay, okay. He'd be like. Mm-hmm. Yeah. He get mad? Yeah. Now, he'll tell me when he don't want me to do something. Okay, okay, okay. He'll be like, cut it out. Yeah. Because sometimes I have to be telling some of the stuff that was done to me, and I get excited. Because I did that yesterday. I was just going, going. I got angry. I was like, I wasn't angry.

I just took too far. And I said, you know what? We can get sued, so don't put that out. Don't play that. And the lady said, okay. What was it about what we can get sued so don't put that out don't play that and the lady said okay what was it about people get sued I just said that because it shouldn't be heard like that I was going at it too hard about it

you kind of got a little angry at it didn't you sir but I respect y'all you got your support system you got your wife you got your manager and you even turn to them to look and see a lot of people who don't even they don't listen to the people around no no they're just going at it and then they they're getting they're getting some paperwork and four days from now that's right that's right yeah i don't care i'm gonna say what i gotta say shit you you paid you paid the cost to do that you grown 71 listen so what y'all gonna do next

man what you gonna do next man keep running his mouth up here every day every day keep running his mouth he can sing though can't he no absolutely not he cannot sing he cannot dance

he cannot sing or dance you know what I can do he basically telling you to close the interview but you don't get the hint. He did it twice to you already. You ain't get the hint. Because he know you ain't got nothing going on. I don't know why.

You know what I'm saying? What y'all going to do next? You know, I ain't got nothing else. You better ask some people to come up here. He said, I know you ready to go. Then he said, all right, what y'all going to do next? You just staring at him. You know what I'm saying?

Thank you for coming, Mr. Wilson. We appreciate you, brother. Charlie Wilson. Let's play Superman right now, man. Let's play it. You want to introduce it? Let's introduce the record. Y'all, this is Uncle Charlie.

Charlie, last name Wilson. This is my new single. It's called Superman. Yes. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Wake that ass up. In the morning.

The Breakfast Club. Good morning. Wake that ass up. In the morning. The Breakfast Club. Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete.

Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory oh my god what is that what was listen to escape from zakistan that's escape from z aq is stan on the iheart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts hey guys i'm kate max you might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more.

After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you.

Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other, so join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese investigative journalist who on October 16, 2017, was assassinated. Crooks everywhere unearths the plot to murder a one-woman WikiLeaks.

She exposed the culture of crime and corruption that were turning her beloved country into a mafia state. Listen to Crooks Everywhere on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.