The Breakfast Club - Rita Ora and Charles Hamilton Interview

Episode Date: April 21, 2015

Rita Ora and Charles Hamilton stop through to discuss working together, how they got their music on Empire, Rita's upcoming US debut album, Charles social and mental issues and much more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I'm very interested in this combination. Charles Hamilton and Rita Ora. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And guess who got here first? Who? Right. Rita Ora?

Rita Ora. Talk about being professional for once. I'm joking. I'm not. So I guess Charles Hamilton's a diva. That makes sense. No. Nah, not at all.

It was traffic. Horrible traffic. What's up with y'all? Y'all having sex with each other? What's going on here? No, no. Not today. Not today.

Hey, Charles. I see you, Charles. Way to bounce back with Rita. No, we thought we'd keep it very professional. No, I mean, he's my boy. He's my brother. She cool. How did y'all get together?

Go ahead, Charles. Well, I mean, he's my boy. He's my brother. She cool. How did y'all get together? Go ahead, Charles. Well, it was a simple ask. I asked if Rita could be a part of it. You know, the beat and the song already had a hook line to it. But I was feeling Rita's voice for a while. So I just asked. We have the same management team. I asked if she could be a part of it.

And they were like, yeah. So it was strictly because you were a fan. You liked Rita. Yeah. Gotcha. Yeah. And then the management team thing asked if she could be a part of it and they were like yeah so it was quickly because you were the fan you liked reading yeah gotcha yeah and then the management the management team thing helps too you know you have the connection let's get it because this is like your comeback and so you know it was a little um gotta have the right first look right it was a good collab though it was really natural it wasn't like no label kind of meat label kind of stuff no it wasn't forced at all it was all really like I heard it and I was like, who's that? And they were like, oh, we're looking after Charles. And I was like, really?

And I loved his, you know, his old stuff and all of that thing. And I was like, oh, man, let me hear it. So I heard it and I loved it. I mean, a lot of people collab though, but y'all travel together. Y'all been doing shows together. Y'all do interviews together. That's a little different. I know.

It's like a marriage without the sex. You know what I mean? Man, you put me in the high seat already. But see, you know, Rita Ora already thinks that all black guys have big penises. Oh my God! What I said was, Sheltos maybe sometimes can refer to penises might looking large. Now you gotta explain the whole story. Oh, I gotta explain the whole story. Oh, no, no, no.

Now they gonna think you was looking at Run DMC, and you was like, damn, Rev Run got a big ass penis. whole story what I was saying was I just took my wisdom teeth out and my dentist you didn't take them out well not me personally my dentist had shell toes on and I was like falling asleep you know and and he was like a really like put together Caucasian looking dude right with white hair really like profesh and if he shell toes on and I was like, damn, he must be like, he must have that spice somewhere, right? And anyway,

so I passed out. So I passed out, I woke up and all of a sudden, like I just said, oh man, you got a big penis. But I was still high,

you know, from the painkillers. So this is a good ad for wearing shell toe Adidas because that means that everybody with shell toe Adidas, every man has a big penis.

Especially the real Adidas. How do you know that Adidas didn't do something to you while you was knocked out? And that was like your subconscious mind speaking what it just had seen. Don't say that. No, for real. I ain't gonna do that.

It was in like a real fancy, fancy area. Uh-oh. It was like West Hollywood. So I thought, like, you know, go to there. You know, I don't know. She's just like, I don't know. Sorry, Charles. Well, Charles Hamilton. I'm quiet. yeah he first thing he said to me when he came in here was come on answer this is not lip service because we had some history together actually yeah what happened on lip service did he eat somebody out at lips no he didn't that wasn't happening

all black guys the same he did not do that what happened what Charles Hamilton did do though was have sex with somebody after the show. Oh, damn. Oh, I knew it was something. Yeah, he did. And she talked about it on the radio. She didn't give you a bad review or anything like that. Yeah, I'm thankful for that. But he also had a girlfriend at the time, I think,

so that wasn't really good for your relationship. Terrible for her. There's nothing wrong with that, Charles. I smashed a lot of Angelique's friends and people that she's had on her show. That's what the show was for. That's when he was young and wild. My goodness.

Now, Charles Hamilton, you have always been very blatant and said things that have been on your mind, and it's gotten you into trouble quite a bit. So what's going to be different for you this time around? Pure wisdom. You know what I mean? Like, just because something's on the front of my mind to say doesn't mean I have to say it.

Right. You know, and got to be wise about your reaction and stuff. Like, if I was wiser about my reaction about certain things that came up, I'm sure I would've gotten a better response from the public. But I just like, jumped out at the first thing that came at me and

it didn't turn out well. Isn't that part of your charm, though? Well, I mean, it's not intentional. Like, i don't intend on you know being a loose cannon no one intends on that but at the same time there's a like i said pure wisdom you know the older you get the more wisdom you get imparted and things you say and things you do it always works better once you're successful like kanye can get away with it you know what i'm saying yeah when you want to come up it's like like, ah, he thinks he's arrogant.

He thinks he's all that. Bad attitude. I think it comes with proving yourself. And I guess men just have that kind of thing, instinct in them, where they feel like they always have to make their presence known. And I think it was that mixed with, you know, I mean, I've been a, me as a fan, I'm speaking of, you know, I've just, I think lyrically and storytelling wise, like, I think Charles is great. And I feel like despite anything that like the music speaks for itself, you know what I mean?

Now, Charles, you're from Harlem? Harlem. Now, growing up, you know, listening to your music, you don't have that typical Harlem style because you came up in Harlem when Dipset was on fire and Mase was on fire. Where did you get your style from? Because it's different from anything I've up in Harlem when Dipset was on fire and Mase was on fire where did you get your style from because it's different from anything I've seen in Harlem I mean I respect Dipset I just retweeted Cam the other day I respect Dipset respect Cam I love Big L to death um but they kind of were the voice of what I was against as far as like what the young people

were doing when they were listening to my when they were listening to hip-hop like they i wasn't really messing with some of the movements that was sparking so when i got into hip-hop it was around like eminem um i like of course i listen like i wasn't i live in harlem and of course i listen to hip-hop but like like i took some elements of jay's music some elements of eminemem right believe it or not one of my biggest influences is fab like he like he definitely with his punchlines and stuff like he definitely paved the way for me to kind of step in and add a little sense of humor now with that with that being said you know cuz you were against it said growing up in Harlem did you have problems you get bullied was

there like yeah because you were against it. I mean, I wasn't like... Against the message, not against it. They didn't bully you just because you didn't like Dipset. No, because he was got style. He was all against that style. I wasn't, like, yes, I was bullied growing up, but I was against like good kids

getting beat up in school. Right. You know what I'm saying? Like, just because they're wearing the color red or they're wearing the color blue, like, you know, like. So you were against the celebration of the gang culture, the celebration of drug selling. I want you to be clear, because I don't want to see a comment, Charles Hamilton says he was against Dipset. Nah, yeah.

Thank you for that. Thank you. I didn't want to see, like, I went to Rice High School, and that's the first black Catholic all-male high school in Harlem. It closed down. But, like, there were dudes that would listen in the dip set, and they would, you know, like, I'm ready, and they would go deck like one of the biggest nerds in the school. That's not funny, Sean.

That's what he used to do. That's what he used to do. That's what he used to do. But go ahead. But, you know, and I didn't respect that. It's like, if you're going to be a gangster, why don't you go deck that crip over there? You know what I'm saying? And like, Mr. Crip, why don't you go deck the blood?

Nobody likes a bully. At all. So when I started rapping, I had to go even harder to be nicer than these dudes who was actually gangbanging to get their respect. Ironically, as soon as I get their respect, I had to leave the school because I couldn't afford the tuition. But every high school I went to since then, I would try to spit

and get my name known. Say what you want about Charles, but he really is gifted. On top of the fact, I played the piano in every school I went to. So it's like people know who I am, but they're just not necessarily clear on how they know me or whether or not it's like people know who I am, but they're just not necessarily clear on how they know me or whether or not it's the kind of respect that you would give your average hood superstar. Right. Now you did have a public unraveling. What was it? Was it the pressures of the industry? I've heard it was mental health issues. I've heard it was drugs. What was it?

I mean, I just, I didn't fit in. You know what I mean? There were some things that I disagreed with, and it started to affect the personal side. The business started to affect the personal, so I just decided I was going to fall back from everything. A lot of people were misunderstanding my moves. You know what I'm saying? To make it clear, I'm the one that told the videographer to put the video of me getting punched out

you posted it yeah I posted it first me and you have that in common we've both been punched on camera what are you about to say Rita I mean you know I was about to say my thing got to talk on the mic Rita

what you about to say Rita go ahead Rita talk that talk put your lips on the mic okay oh man you're so stupid. Do you know that?

Okay, no. I mean, I don't want to get involved because, like, you know, he hasn't even mentioned or spoke his part or anything. But me watching that, I was like, don't get in a battle with a guy. Sorry. Don't get in a battle with a guy as a female, right, and then do the one thing that you know the guy can't respond to which is physical violence on camera because you know that's a move right there knowing that he won't hit you back because if he did he's gonna look like the

bad guy so don't so if you can't handle what he's spitting in a battle don't get in the battle do you know what i'm saying and then and then then hit someone because that's the only thing you can do because you haven't got a respected response. That shit to me is whack. I never realized that video was a battle. Whatever. I'm misunderstanding.

He was freestyling, battling, and then he says something that she took offense to. I mean, but the crazy part is no one knows what she was talking about. I'm the only one that knows what she was talking about in her verse. so she was sending me some low blows too so it was just like all right if you want to go there like i can i do this you know what i'm

saying but the reason why i told him to put it out is because there's a lot of domestic violence issues in the world and like i had the opportunity to at least show people with my actions how to respond to a woman when she gets physical. And then Jay-Z just trumped you years later. I mean, you know. But we always talk about that. If a female hits you, run. I never understood the backlash you got for that. Because I'm like, what did y'all want him to do?

Beat the girl up? That happens with everything, I think. Anytime somebody gets hit on camera, everybody has a billion different ways they would respond. Well, I think he was very gentleman with his response. Absolutely. Who was it? They said it was that girl.

Mary J. Blige's stepdaughter. So that was Kendu's daughter. Yeah. Did Kendu ever call you about that? We never spoke about it. I've been to, I don't know if I should talk about their stuff but no you shouldn't go ahead rita nah i'm gonna leave it alone they're a beautiful family you know what i'm saying and i respect what they do but at the same time like i feel as though given the opportunity to speak on the matter

as opposed to being, like, casted aside for it, you'd understand it a little bit better. Absolutely. Was that your girl or something? Yeah. Oh, wow. Okay, okay, okay. So it was just like— He brought up abortion, and clearly he got a pregnancy, had an abortion, and then—

You can't do that in a battle rap. And you can't battle rap a girl that you had an abortion with. It was the abortion that gets her. But he said she was taking low blows too though Yeah, like she Like what did she say that was so low? Like she had already, damn No, no, no Come on Charles Don't even get involved

No, no Cause if you explain it one time, you don't have to explain it again Yeah but he doesn't need to cause it's past that and it was just like such a moment that doesn't need to be remembered Nah, she That's the third time you mentioned a penis charlamagne today all right you're on fire man but she um i think oh man like no let me what's a love load to you in a battle though i mean i'm trying to respect her whole family okay you know what i'm saying so she's bringing up stuff that she told the family, the total opposite. And it was like, what she's saying in the verse contradicts the kind of relationship

that her father and her stepmother know us to have. Okay. So it's like, I can't call you out on your stuff right away, but what I can do is make you feel really whack about a decision you made that we didn't talk about it. Did you give her the money for the abortion? I didn't know it was going to the abortion. Oh, right. You are out of control.

I want to know. But let me ask for Rita and for Charles, for both of you guys, how difficult is it when sometimes things that go on that's outside of the music and all of that, it really kind of overshadows sometimes what you do have going on? Especially you, Rita. People always talk about who you're dating. I mean, yeah. You know what?

To get to get like a perspective of it from my angle, you know, it comes to a point where you really have to just not talk about it and have that awkward silence at interviews where it's like you know what i'm not talking about it because then you start getting into this kind of repetitive thing where you kind of just keep talking about this and then you forget that you're actually here for something else like you know you get all this information we have this song together and you know for example i've done you know so much things in the past two years or i've been focusing on my first debut album that like you know, so much things in the past two years where I've been focusing on my first debut album that, like, you know, things get overshadowed, like relationships and, like, fashion and, like, you know, campaigns, whatever it is that you want to name it.

But at the end of the day, that's what it's all about, really. It's like we're in 2000 and... What year are we in? I'm joking. 2015. 2015. And it's like, you know, it's about building a 360 empire, you know? If you can do it, then do it. You wouldn't sign no 360 deal, though. Well, no, but I have.

Really? Yeah. With Roc Nation? She said, I wouldn't, but I have. If I, I wouldn't, but I have, yes. Oh, okay. Now, you played Christian Grey's sister in Fifty Shades of Grey. Yes, I did.

Now, did they edit you, or did you really just have four lines in the movie? Well, basically, have you read the novel? Yeah. Hell no. Well, if you read the novel, you see that my character is literally only in it for one scene, which is that scene that was in the movie. Got you. So my character's progress in the novel is the same that it's going to be with the upcoming movies coming out.

Because you decide for the next two, I heard, right? Well, I can't speak about it, but Sorry, yo. It's been leaked. Oh, it has? You signed on for the next two? Even though you had problems with the writer E.L. James? I didn't have any problems with anybody. Okay. But it was, you know, it's

you're crazy. You're putting words into my mouth all the time. That's what it said in there. I had problems. Yeah, it said you had problems with the writer. No, I had no problems with the writer. It was more of a, just, you know, how the movie

wanted to be looked at and the writers, it's like it's baby. What did you like the first movie? Because I mean, reading the book, did you think it was,

I guess, actual and factual to the book? Yeah, I mean, I loved the movie and I think Sam Taylor with the director is an amazing kind of story turner,

female in this industry who's really powerful so I think it did a great job. Yeah, they said you had a fallout with the writer because of your small role. They didn't even name, E.L. James was the person.

No, actually, I said to her, why don't you write a bigger part so I can get a bigger moment in the role? She's like, have patience,

there's a second and third book. I'm like, yeah, yeah, because in the second and third book, I get kidnapped and then there's a whole big palaver over. Are you supposed to say

all this right now? Yeah, a lot of people do this. If you don't read to say all this right now well it's in the local read the book if you read the book you know yeah and i also read that you uh you wanted to get you want to get it popping in hollywood you want to what's popping like you're cool you might think somebody want to have sex that's good i mean that's good yeah i've got to ask you because i never know what you mean like like you want to get your acting career going. No, well, it kind of is going a little bit. I mean, I'm not trying to kind of, you know, step on anybody's toes because my music and my album is the biggest kind of priority for me right now. You know, I haven't even released an album in the States yet.

So for me, the drop is the most important. But, you know, I've had these opportunities from Harvey Weinstein and all these companies that, you know, want me to kind of build my platform. And I don't disagree with that, really. I mean, it's not about the role for me. It's about building my kind of... Brand. Yeah, my career.

And I'm not that kind of ego to be like, no, I'm not doing it because it's like a 10-second thing. I'll do it because it's all about your connections and your relationships and being smart and putting your pride to the side and actually getting your ducks in a row. You know what I'm saying? Speaking of ego, you said the Sony leaks came out and one of the execs didn't know you as

Sony. Sony leaks? Yeah, the emails. The email leaks came out. Oh yeah, I didn't really pay any attention. And one of the execs didn't know you but she was supposed to have a meeting with you. Do you see that and be like, oh she don't know who I am, I'm not going? I had no idea that that was even a thing.

I didn't even know that. I don't even know what you're talking about. You don't f*** with the blogs, huh? No, I stopped messing with the blogs. There's probably so much on you in there. How do you see it all? I just like looking at my Instagram filters and making sure my body's right. There you go.

You got a lot of stuff on there in the blog. That's the most important thing. I'm joking. When you guys did the song together, did you... Your body is great, but we'll ask the ankle, but you good. Shut up! Did you know it was going to be in Empire? No.

We're really happy about that. Straight up. That was some really fun... That was a fun day. How did that even happen? They just submitted the song or... Yeah, I mean, just a couple of connects. I didn't burn all my bridges.

Okay, good for you. So after you, I guess, defecated on Jimmy Iovine, was there no backlash from that? Never did I. I thought you said something about Jimmy Iovine was the Illuminati. No, my personal opinion is Jimmy Iovine is a really great guy. And what I said in the video was Jimmy Iovine is a close thing you got to got. Mind you, I said that because I was in a very dire position.

And if Jimmy or any executive for that matter decided to step in and change my life on some Iggy type ish then obviously you would see him

as a deity yourself you think it's really that easy like a guy can just push a button and say you're the next super star

I'm only doing this so I don't get fined that's a good response you still gotta have the music people still have to I'm only doing this so I don't get fined. That's a good response. Because you still got to have the music. People still have to gravitate towards you in some way, shape, or form. But I guess he feels like if you push that button, that they're going to force it on you.

Do you believe that, Rita? Do you believe they can just push the button and boom, automatically you're a superstar? No, but I think you're born with something that makes you stand out, and then I think it's up to you to perfect it and bring it out to the public. It's called star quality. Got you. Do you know what I mean?

Now, what do you think, Charles? You think it's something that they can do that they can push a button and... I'm only doing this so I don't get fined. I guess that's a yes. So, look, Charles, did you suffer from mental health issues? Because there were things about you were bipolar. Yeah, I mean, I see a doctor. You know what I mean? Like, I've gone through what I've gone through.

A lot of stuff. Before I got into the game, I had baggage. I just didn't expect my baggage to overwhelm me the way it did. So now I'm just kind of in a position where I can, you know, at a very more relaxed rate, still make the kind of music I want to make. Now, bipolar as far as what? Extreme highs and lows. Okay.

That's life, though. No, it's not. There's some people that really... Could you let him answer? That's just life. I mean, you know, it's a fact of life, but in my case, it is really bad. Like what?

Give us an example. I'm only doing this so I don't get fined. So, listen, was there a point where you realized, okay, something's wrong, mentally? I just kept on going, but family was who stepped in and said, I need some sort of intervention. It was mostly family. So they the ones that made you snap out of it? Because I mean, it's a lesson that a lot of people could learn from you. Yeah, that's what I was asking, because there's a lot of kids out there that deal with it

and sometimes they don't know how to get by. Right. I mean, well, my music is for them. Actually, I have, like, a very select group of people who I want to hear my music. I'll talk about that

at another time. But, yeah, like, I hope someone who suffers from bipolar or any mental disorder or has been through the fire, you know what I'm saying? I hope they can listen to my music and, you know, see my presence and find me to be somewhat of an inspiration. They used to try to diagnose me with all that stuff. Bipolar, ADD, try to put me on Ritalin.

Really? Yep. I wonder why. My pops just dismissed all of that. He was like, nope, he ain't crazy. He's just acting out. And you're still acting out? Yeah.

I'm not acting out. I think it was more severe. I remember talking to you early on. I feel like you said that you were using heroin and then you just kicked it cold turkey

or something. Yeah, in high school. And I think, I think, like, if I could, if we can get into that

for a second without you, without you, like, blacking on me or whatever. No, no, no. It's interesting because you're the third person I heard this month say they kicked heroin cold turkey. Turk said it. Turk, yeah. Somebody else was up here and said it. But Turk was in jail.

I don't think he had it. Oh, he went to jail. Oh, the other guy. The guy that, what's the Italian dude's name? Lilo Brancato. Both of them say they kicked heroin cold turkey. They both went to jail, though. But, yeah, let's talk about what happened.

It was an experiment in high school. You know what I'm saying? My life is full of experiments. So I don't want my usage of any narcotic, if it isn't weed, to kind of shape what you think about me. me but i think at the time what i was trying to do was undo some damage that a lot of mainstream rappers were doing as far as putting out their their other than weed drug habits and how it makes them better rappers um you know you don't necessarily want a heavyweight drug to be what makes you better because not only is that bad for you that's a bad influence to everybody else now what people can say as far as me smoking weed is you know charles you've been diagnosed with something you shouldn't smoke you know at the same time there's a medicinal value in it and

there has been facts about marijuana being prescribed for people with bipolar so you know i i i stamp it's 420 you know what i'm saying i'm i gotta i gotta put it up and you've also said people some people never even come back from that yeah at all you're doing certain drugs you you don't and like in my case like i had i the way i cleaned up was i was still in high school and i like i had to go home to a christ mother. So it was just like, I got to remember all these Christian values. It just like, it wasn't worth it to keep doing hard drugs. You know what I'm saying? Like, I may have had my moments where I was just like, damn, I missed this high, like, later on in life.

But those moments never shaped my behavior. Everything that I've done was intentional like I intentionally acted out you know what I'm saying like I intentionally put the video out you know any controversy that you can bring up it was a hundred percent from me what introduced you to her uh my classmates hey what's going on that was a hollow bard high school early college went to like five high schools. Damn. Wow. You only did it once? Nah. I was on it. And it was just... And I was just like...

No rehab, no nothing, just... Nah. Just one weekend, kicked it. Wow. You still been shooting? I mean, I popped like twice. Okay. But like, what it does to your body, it's not really a mental drug, it's the dependency

that's mental. It puts a weight on your body. You know what I'm saying? And so people feel as though they can sit down and watch movies. And my classmates at the time, the way we got into it is a whole other story. But they felt as though they could sit in a classroom for an extended period of time while they're out here. Because the classes were like two, three-hour classes. Because it was a college.

The way the school is structured if you graduate from there you get your associate's degree and it was a high school so the classes were like hours and hours and stuff so we would get cooked and sit in class and you know make bets on whoever could leave the class first but the reason why we even got into it is because we found out in history class and we had been discovering this over the years, that opium is in almost everything. So it's like, why not try it? You know what I'm saying?

What are we going to lose by not experimenting? Because with so much opium around, with there actually being traces of cocaine and Coca-Cola, you know what I'm saying? Hard narcotics are in everything we consume. So why not just go for it? What do you like, Rita? You know, 420, woo-woo. But like once in a while. But you know, I'm more about like,

I like a good drink. I'm English. I'm with you. So like, I like that. What's your drink of choice? I like a whiskey or a beer. Whiskey's hard. Or a beer or a gin and tonic.

But like, you know, that kind of stuff. It's hard to make girls that drink whiskey. Really? It's hard. Now, Charles, these kids that were selling you heroin, do you ever look at them? Hold on, hold on. Is it hard for you to orgasm? No.

Oh, okay. He said no. The people that were selling you heroin, do you ever look at them and be like, how could you do that to a kid? Nah, 98% of them are dead. Karma, maybe? Well, I mean, I was in 10th grade when I started, and I was like, I can make my own decisions. You know what I mean?

At the time, I was living in the Bronx, and my school was in the Lower East Side. So that long travel, you have enough time to raise yourself as a man. You know what I mean? Like, at the time, I was living in the Bronx, and my school was in the Lower East Side. So that long travel, you have enough time to raise yourself as a man. You know what I'm saying? Like, I had my father around. There's very few influences other than Eminem, Dipset, and whatever was on another radio station. On Hot 97 at the time.

Y'all wasn't. Y'all wasn't. We were fine. We weren't here. We don't worry about that. We're not that petty. Yeah, whatever was on hot at the time, that's what I was being raised by.

But I had some sense. So my thing was, instead of... I'm going to go really in as far as the social aspect of everything I know. I wasn't in my hood both living and school-wise because I had left Rice High School. So I wasn't anywhere familiar. The people who I was going to school with

are white just like they would call me in Harlem. And, you know, it was like a culture shock for me. So, like, we understood each other while we were underground. You know what I'm saying? It was just like, look, I'm not judging you. You're not judging me. We actually had some really deep conversations. You know what i'm saying it was just like look i'm not judging you you're not judging me we're actually we actually had some really deep conversations you know what i'm saying but like we we would go so hard in a conversation making sure that the other person in the

conversation would know that this is not the drugs talking this is my pure intelligence i want i wanted back then and right now i want people to understand like i'm an intelligent dude and i take pride in my intelligence. Where are you at now socially? I stay to myself. Okay. You know what I mean? Like, I try not to get involved in too much of the hoopla.

Like, I appreciate the buzz that's going on with the record with me and Rita, but I try to stay away from it all. Did you have any reservations of working with Charles, Rita, when they first approached you about doing this? No, no, because I don't judge people by things apart from when I met them, when I meet them. And I met him, and I just kind of was like, he's the coolest, nicest guy I've ever met.

And I respect him a lot, and I think he's one of the bravest people I've met in a long time. Now, do you feel like you got some catching up to do? Because I remember when you was on the cover of XXL with B.O.B. and Currency and Wale and Cudi, and all of them have had pretty good careers. Do you feel like you got catching up to do? Well, not really, because all I wanted was a select group of people to listen to my music.

I didn't care if Brooklyn Girls was a hit, you know what I'm saying? Like the songs that bubbledled like windows media player and uh loser those were my type of records that i wanted people to hear and the people that gravitated toward that they got it they got like a first chance listen and that's not really the phrase i want to use but they got like a up close and personal interaction with me because i would make my most personal music and give it straight to the fans. No marketing, no nothing. Like, I would take fans' email addresses and send it to them. So, like, I have a very close relationship with my fans.

So, though I'm thankful for the XXL thing, like, I'm not necessarily in a rush to, you know, oh, I got to beat B.O.B., I got to beat Wale. It's not even about that. Like, really, it's about the people who've been listening to my music. Who are these groups of people you keep talking about? Just people that like Charles Hamilton? Or do you have a, like, select race? I don't know.

Gender? Like, what is it? Class? No, there's no. A star chaser is someone who wants to get closer to the person who inspired them the most. That's your team? My fans are called star chasers. So, like, all of my star chasers, no matter where they are,

no matter what they've been through, where they're from, they can get in contact with me. You know what I mean? Like, as far as how you become a star chaser, even if you want to be one, showing interest in me and how I'm surviving from day to day and understanding the skill, the intelligence, classifies you as a star chaser. I always wonder why you never stayed independent

because you always talk about being up close and personal with your fans and not really loving the system and staying away from people. What made you sign to a major instead of just staying that way? Yo, hated to love it, the money. Okay. You know, and like...

You mad at people for getting the money? You know, it comes with compromise. You know what I'm saying? But do they compromise your music as well? We're working on that. As long as they ain't compromising your booty hole. Oh, man. Yeah, no to that.

No to anal Rita? I'm not getting involved. But I think also our team's great. Like, our management turned first. turn first like honestly i don't know what i would do without them and i think charles would agree with me on that like they they really support us in a way where not a lot of managers really do oh without question yeah they're great turn first a lot of managers would cut you off immediately once you was going through everything you was going through yeah yeah i mean i was on violator really yeah okay okay so i mean they they showed love but it's not like with turn first like turn

first is actually cares like yeah they do they do us and they do reggae they do ellie golden they do a bunch of different genres too which is what makes them really dope and for you um charles hamilton didn't they put you like they made sure you got your psychiatric help. They wanted to make sure you were taken care of before you even. Yeah. Started recording with them. That's a big deal. Because a lot of times with labels, it's like, okay, it's not making us no money right now.

I don't know what's wrong with this guy. He's out of here. Mm-hmm. Now, Rita, you was defending Madonna. Yes, I was. For that kiss she pulled on Drake at Coachella. Why don't you guys get Madonna on the show? He gave her donkey of the day.

Okay, for that. I did. You did a what? He gave her donkey of the day, okay, for that. I did. You did a what? I gave her donkey of the day. What does that mean? The jackass of the day. Why am I a jackass? Not you.

He gave Madonna. I said Madonna. Why? I just feel she's too old for that. She's 56 years old. And it's a difference between being 50. You can be 56 and sexy, but 56 and slutty, that don't work no more. See, that's why people like you make people feel like they have to retire.

And they don't have to retire just because of their age. They retire because they physically can't move. She don't have to retire because of the age, but she can evolve. I mean, she's evolving, though, like, in your face. Like Prince evolved. Prince stopped performing all them freaky songs. Well, that was part of his religion, though. I think because he was a Jehovah Witness, he decided not to do that anymore.

Well, I mean, being in Prince's company, not boosting or anything like that, but, like, knowing him, for God, I don't even know how I do, even though, like, wow. Whatever. And you're bragging. But I have to because he's major. You would brag, too, if you knew Prince. I did. When I saw him, I didn't know what to say.

I don't either, still to this day. I said, the only thing I could think to say was, I grew up Jehovah Witness, too. Well, I think he's... Did you? That's all I could say. Did you? That's all I said to him. But you didn't really.

Prince was like, uh, okay, great. But did you? That's all I could say. Did you? That's all I said to him. But you didn't really. Prince was like, ah, okay, great. But did you? That's all I can think to say. It wasn't no, I'm not. What I'm saying is, are you lying? Or you have grown up with him?

Oh, no, I really did. I did grow up with him. Oh, okay, right, right. Prince looked at him and just kept him over there. Oh, no way. He said, we have to talk about that one day. Yeah, that's good.

You should. How'd he float it away? No, he really floated. He had a purple cape on and I took a picture. Did he have a cape? He did have a cape really floated. He had a purple cape on. And I took a picture. Did he have a cape? He did have a cape. I know.

And a purple cape. And I took a picture of him. And I had the picture. And then the picture went black in my phone. No way. I swear to God. He had two chicks with him too, yeah. I think.

What was the question? About Madonna. Madonna. Oh, no. Yeah, because we're not off track. No, I just said what I thought was the truth. And I think she paved the way back then. And she's paving the way now for people her age.

And if I get to that age and I can still move, I still want to be looked at and respected. So I'd love to go on stage at her age and kiss someone and people tell me this and that. But at the end of the day, she's really paving the way for people, not only her age, but for us, young artists, at this time and this day and age well how do you stay focused with so much of your life and your personal life in the blogs and news

all the time well i guess it's like it's like what uh charlemagne said like i just don't really look at blogs anymore i don't i i just like i focus on my instagram and my twitter and all that but i just really try to keep it to myself i mean it's it's up to me who I date. I'm 24. If I was a 24-year-old girl and I didn't have this fame, nobody would be judging me for anything. You know what I'm saying? Very true. Except people in your hood. Except people in my hood or wherever,

but I feel like I'm just living my life, really, and I'm kind of blessed for that. Who are you dating now? Are you dating somebody now? Well, I'm just doing my thing. Ricky Hill. Charles Hamilton. Can you just?

Oh, man. She's dating Tommy Hilfiger. She's dating Tommy Hilfiger's son right now. I'm just doing my thing. Hill Charles Hamilton Can you just Oh man She's dating Tommy Hilfiger I'm just doing my thing Like I said Awkward silence In interviews But everybody don't ask you These kind of questions

Yeah they do Yes they do Really Absolutely Yeah they do And actually he's an artist as well Rich Hill I think his name used to be

Or is that a different song Well I'm just gonna do An awkward silence Because it's about music And you got raining There you go Cause y'all to do an awkward silence because it's about music and you're raining. There you go. Because y'all could do a song together. Who?

What's the guy's name? Ricky Hill. Why are you guys so good at this? I'm a Ricky Hill figure. Seriously. It's like, I want to learn how to do this. Tommy Hill figure. I want to learn how to interrogate people, like, with my boyfriends.

Like, I wish I could do this to, like, whoever I date, you know? You can hire us. You can. So what's this? What's that? Yes. It's out of control, but it's a good technique.

It's only because you're young and you don't care right now. When can you get somebody that you really, really in love with? You're going to learn the art of interrogation. You don't know if I care or not. That's not nice.

That's very true. Yeah, see, she cares. You was in love before. Are you now? I like how your keeps popping up. What y'all? You are out of control.

Turn around, you rude piece of s***. I can't even deal with you. How about now? It just kept popping out. I wasn't trying to look, but every time I tried to ask Charles a question, it was right there. I'm too young for you, pervert. Unless it's not a big deal. I'm too young for you.

You can't even make chicks cum on whiskey. Listen. I can't even do it right now. If Tyga can date Kylie, I can eat your pussy. When's the album dropping, Charles? This is awkward. We're looking at an EP in June

and an album in September. What about you, Rita? Your next project? My single comes out May the 11th in the UK. I mean in Europe. And then it comes out July in the States. You do The Voice in the UK too, right? I do, yes. I do do the voice i'm a coach in the uk and uh we just finished it was amazing actually so the voice in the us is is pretty interesting to me too what you're gonna do be a judge i mean i'd love to you know do the us coach but i'd like to release my music first you know i mean i think

pharrell does an amazing job on the show and he looks really good I mean I got this idea from him the beach you don't think Pharrell too old for you I mean he don't look old you guys are both maybe I don't want to know you don't you actually really young after you look great no thank you very much all right well we got Rita aura Charles Hamilton you guys for joining us. And Charles, you got to come back when the music drops and tell us who these people that you're catering your album to.

Because you said you don't want to speak about it at this time. I'm only doing this so I don't get fined. Nice. Got you. There you go.

Thank you. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. 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. 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. Hey, y'all. Niminy here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Executive produced by Questlove, The Story Pirates, and John Glickman,

Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing.

Check it. And no one did you know, I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was called a moment. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, 1974. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. James Brown, Bill Withers, B.B. King, Miriam Akiba. All the biggest black artists on the planet. Together in Africa. It was a big deal. Listen to Rumble, Ali, Foreman, and the Soul of 74 on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.