The Breakfast Club - Tamia Interview

Episode Date: May 14, 2015

Tamia stops through to chat about her upcoming music, her marriage to Grant Hill and much more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you?

Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd 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. Real people, real celebrities, real talk. Join the Breakfast Club. Weekday mornings, 6 to 10. real people real celebrities real talk join the breakfast club morning everybody it's dj envy angela yee charlamagne the guy we are the breakfast club have a young lady in the building yeah miss tamia hey what's up tamia feeling good you like the og real real basketball life yes absolutely yes before it was popular i'm not gonna say before it was popular to do so. Before it became a reality show. Yeah, that's true.

Remember I had to grant it for 16 years. Yes. She has to think about it. She's like, what's happening? Well, you know, we've been together almost 20. Wow. Dope. Yeah.

And it's also your birthday this week, right? Isn't your birthday coming up? Yes. What are you guys going to do? We are going away. We're going to go to the Exumas. I love the water, the beach. Oh, this is a big birthday for you too, right?

Yes. Bring it up, Emmy. This is officially a cougar. Oh, you have entered vintage vagina territory. Absolutely. That's when any woman that's over the age of 40, aging like wine. She's aware.

I'm aware of this. Round of applause for you for not aging like wine. She's aware. I'm aware of this. Round of applause for you for not aging like milk. Okay? Yes. But congratulations to you two for both still being a power couple. Thank you. And to him for finally making it in a video

a couple of years ago. He did. Very quickly, though. Very quickly, yes. He's never like, Tamia, why can't I be your love interest? For the most part, a lot of the songs that I've done

have been sort of like, I'm over you, you know. Oh, he doesn't want to be in that one. Maybe he will be in that one. Yeah, yeah. So that was the one song that was actually

like a good song. So he just made a cameo at the end. Are you the reason he's never gone broke? I mean, I know he's a smart guy, went to Duke and all, you know,

but those ballplayers tend to blow their money. No, he's very conservative. Yeah, he doesn't have any, you know, vices ballplayers tend to blow their money. No, he's very conservative. Yeah. He doesn't have any, you know, vices in terms, he doesn't like cars or, you know, anything really kind of expensive. So he keeps all his money. Absolutely.

So who's the one that's the extravagant one? Is that you? That would be me, the Taurus. But still, I'm sort of, I'm really a homebody as well. But I do like nice things. He can kind of tolerate. He can put up with anything. Oh, okay.

Yeah. Probably me. How do y'all keep it spicy after so long, 16 years? Do y'all dress up? Who says they keep it spicy? Have you asked about their sex life? You don't know if their sex life is spicy. Maybe they don't even sleep in the same room.

Exactly. It's a stranger in the bed. We definitely sleep in the same room. Is it still spicy? Yes, absolutely. Well, you know, I think obviously, absolutely. Oh, my God. We got spicy. That's the question. Well, you know, I think, obviously, I think communication, you know.

Like, put it here, put it there. That hurts. That, that, that. Tie me up. That works. But, you know, guys, they find love through their eyes, and we find love through our ears. So, you have to talk to me a little bit, and I have to show you a little something. Oh, there you go.

That's interesting. All right. Now, this I have to show you a little something. Oh, there you go. That's interesting. This is your first album in a while, right? Yeah, so Beautiful Surprise was three years ago. Okay. And now Love Life. I didn't even know you were on Def Jam. Yeah, this is your first album on Def Jam. For this album, so Beautiful Surprise, I was independent and on Def Jam now for this project.

What made you come back to the major labels? You know major labels suck now. It's not like you need them. Don't say that. Hey, Tina. Hey, Def Jam now for this project. What made you come back to the major labels? You know major labels suck now. It's not like you need them. Don't say that. Hey, Tina. To me, they're kind of like a, I use them like a rich uncle. Oh, you borrowed it. Yeah, it's kind of like we have a joint venture,

so I still have my company as well. But they've been really awesome. I know it goes against the establishment, but they've kind of let me just do my thing. So rich uncle meaning you take money and don't give back? Yes. Okay. You've been in the game long enough to know that everything's recoupable.

Oh, yeah. But that's why we're partners in it. Does your husband ever be like, man, chill out, man. I'm rich. You don't got to get back on that road and go do radio and all of that stupid stuff. No, no. He knows how much I love music. And, you know, it's not really all about the money.

I mean, obviously a check is good. But, you know, I love music. I love performing. I love touching people through music, and I think that it's important that I have something that's my thing as well. And when you met him, you was popping already, so it's not like he...

Yeah, yeah, he has his thing, I have my thing, and I think that also keeps things spicy as well. Were you cautious about dating a ballplayer back in the day? You know, this was before... Social media? Yes, basketball, hearts, and all of those things. So, I don't know. You know how we met.

I saw Anita Baker at a Soul Train Music Awards. I didn't know that. Yeah, and she said, I'm telling you now, and she said, I know this guy that'd be great for you. And she had spoken to him at some party or something, and somehow my name came up. So I kind of met him through a friend, so yeah. What do you think about Basketball Wives now? You mentioned it, the show.

You got to duck down the season. Is it still on? They just put out the trailer for the new season. Oh, okay. They just put out the trailer. Oh, okay. I didn't see it. You know. Okay. They just put out the trailer. Okay. I didn't see it. You know.

Because you once said that wasn't reality. It wasn't our reality. No. Yeah. I mean, you know, it's obviously, it was really their reality. But, you know, I think everyone has things that could do well on television in their life. You know, that's kind of salacious enough. It's just do you want to do that?

Have they ever approached you? Yeah, absolutely, all the time. Really? Yeah. Even now? Even now. But you guys could have your own show. Absolutely.

You know, and I could see that happening. Don't you get tired of the phone calls, though? No. A granddad would grab the phone and say, no. No, no, no, no, no. Absolutely not. Because you guys are both They're not called the house In the spotlight

Yeah no it's just not something That we're into You know Never gonna happen I don't think so Jermaine Dupri co-produced your single And he said that Ciara stole it. Is that what he said?

Yeah, and used it for her song, I Bet, the beat. I have to listen to it. I didn't write it, so. Ciara, nobody listened to your music. No, I listened to it. I told you. No, so we're clear.

I listened to the song, but I didn't hear that. I didn't hear that. I didn't hear the connection with Still. So I have't hear that. I didn't hear the connection with Still. So I have to listen to it even more to hear the connection with Still. So we're clear. Got you. Do you like Ciara's music?

I do, yeah. She's a sweet, sweet girl. See, I'm just trying to clean it up for you. Yeah, she's very nice. Because the vlogs will take it. Beautiful girl. No, she's really nice. She's looked over here like, so let's go.

So moving on. But you are back on the road now doing shows and everything, getting ready to promote this album that's coming out in June? Yeah, June 9th, yeah. So I'm back kind of performing and doing promo and things like that. Where did you film the video? We filmed the video somewhere in California. Oh, okay.

It looks like it's somewhere completely different. I was like, where is this? Yeah, it's somewhere in California, on a side road somewhere. Isn't it a little harder to promote now? Because back in the day, it was just all about the music, but now people want to know so much about your personal life. They want you to be transparent. Right.

It is. I mean, it's certainly changed, and as an artist, it's hard to find that sort of fine line between wanting to share things and still wanting to be your own person and knowing when to stop. And as a parent as well, knowing how much to share and how much not, you know, I have a 13 year old and a seven year old, then they're already embarrassed of us because we're their parents. Oh, 13. Oh, it's a good one. Just wait. Yeah. They're, they're,

you know, just we're their parents. So, you know, know, so for them as well, it's just, you know, a matter of knowing when to pull back on sharing certain things. We were asking a question this morning on the topic on the radio was, what's the freakiest thing you've ever seen your parents do? Everybody was calling in saying how they caught their mom and dad having sex. No, I didn't see. My mom was a single mom, so I didn't see any of that. Your kids haven't ran up on you and granted? Ran up on you.

If they did, they didn't say anything about it. They'll probably call 10 years from now. Remember those noises we heard in the background? I asked daddy, he told me he was posting you up. We had a random conversation

the other day in my house. We were listening to Tamiya, and we were talking about the So Into You song, and when it first came out, because then we had a debate, like, no in my house. We were listening to Tamiya, and we were talking about the So Into You song, and when it first came out, because then we had a debate, like, no, it came out earlier than that, but then Fab took it and made it a, I guess it was, you had your single, and then he made it his single, which was a little different.

That was years later, though. Right, it was years later. That's why I was like, no, that song is way more recent. Like, no, the original. The original. Yeah, so Tim and Bob and myself we we we wrote um so into you and then fab redid the song over at electra yeah like maybe six years that's good that's a whole another check it gave a whole another new life you were in the video and everything for fab still

right yes yeah and then i went and i sort of re-sang my parts yeah when you do songs with guys like fab does grant come on set just to watch you live? No. No. He doesn't. Usually, you know, usually it was during the season. So, no, he doesn't. He didn't come to Sandwich in a Soda either. What is Sandwich in a Soda?

The new single. The new single. Oh! Okay. That's what we need. All that money y'all making. Yeah. He didn't come to that either.'all making. You didn't last year. Yeah, yeah. He didn't come to that either. Now, you were diagnosed with MS. Yes. Explain to everybody what MS is.

Oh, okay. It's kind of a lot of things. It's one of those things where, so in 2003, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It's an autoimmune disease. So it kind of attacks your immune system. But it mimics a lot of other things, like lupus and things like that. So, and everyone's different. How did you know?

You know, I was promoting, I think, Officially Missing You, and I was really tired, which we all are, so that wasn't a clear symptom to me. And I was really sensitive to heat. So I would get really heated and kind of neurologically kind of lose my function to like write and things like that. And so that's where I really started to think that something was wrong. One of my really good friends is diagnosed with MS. And it's been really bad because she has two kids.

And she's so bad that she can't really even walk down the block. It takes her like an hour just to walk down one block. Yeah. And she has to take all these different hormones. It's been really tough for her. But then Montel was on here the other day, obviously. He said he smokes weed. He does.

And that really helps him out a lot. Yeah, he does. You smoke weed? You try it? No. The voice, you know? Oh, the voice. A lot of singers.

Rihanna smokes, and she sings pretty good. Right? No, she just got really good. Rihanna's vocals were bad for a minute. But they sounded better. They sound really good now. So how do you cope with it? Well, you know, I think with Montel, he has pain.

And so I think the weed is good for the pain. Right. I don't have pain or anything like that. And I've been actually very good. I do a lot of homeopathic things. And I have a regular doctor, and I have a homeopathic doctor. So we do different types of therapies

and things like that. So I've been good since 2003. That's great. And my family had a rough time, and her husband was cheating on her and everything. Oh, yeah, and stress exacerbates everything. Right, and then she felt like she couldn't do anything about it

because she can't really even, you know. How old is she? She's probably, like, 34 or something. So she's pretty young still. She was actually hiring call girls off of a website. Oh, that's stress. Yeah. That's stress.

I mean, stress will kill you. I mean, could they have sex, though? You don't want to ask your girlfriend to have sex while she's battling something like MS. I mean, she's been having a really rough time. Like, she can't pick her kids up. She feels, you know, she can't. But she doesn't want to leave her husband because she's really nervous about it because she's like, now what am I supposed to do, you know?

And it's not like he was emotionally cheap. It's not like he was just ordering some pom-pom to get by. I mean, relationships, you know, yeah. I mean, relationships have ups and downs. And, you know, if I can't if I can't give you some for for a little bit, you're going to have to like hold off for a second. I agree. I'm going to try and pull it together and then we're going to get back on track. You've never had you guys have never had any like bad public scandals or anything. No. Which is fantastic. Yeah. It's a good like relationship goals, as people say.

Yeah. I mean, every relationship has ups and downs and and and, you know, roller coaster rides. But yeah, I mean, he's he's awesome. He supports me. I support him. Obviously, I'm not the same girl I was that, you know, 25 when we got married and he's not the same guy. And we you know, our dreams change, our goals constantly change. And it's all about supporting each other and being there for each other. And you both have still been successful in working, so that helps too. Yeah. Yeah, it does.

You ever had to fight a white girl? Because white girls love girls. No. No, they've never tried it. But to me, it was also that chick that everybody was on. You know what I'm saying? So that had to be hard for him too, I'm sure. No, everybody is pretty much, they're pretty respectful.

I mean, if something happens and somebody says something or it's a girl, then, you know, he has to politely say, hey, or if it's a guy, you know, I need to kind of, you know. Check it. Yeah. There's a nice way you can do it. You're working with Tricky Stewart now, right? I did. Yeah.

I worked with him again. I actually worked with him on my very first project really yeah yeah wow yeah so he's been in the beginning do you feel like you have to adapt to whatever the sound is now not necessarily no i think that um that's kind of where artists kind of fall in a trap i think you kind of you have to stay true to who you are as a sound and and vocally, you can kind of vocally adapt, but you should never kind of change who you are. Do they ever come to you with records already written, and it's like, twerk, twerk, twerk.

I meet this guy in the club. And you're like, no, I'm a wife and mother. No, I mean, you know, I might be able to twerk. But, I mean, you know, I don't know. I'm just kidding. I'm working on it. I'm working on it. I'm working on it. It's not cute right now.

Um, but, um, yeah, I think, you know, it's, it's no,

no one's, no one, they've never sent that to me. How did you and Quincy Jones get cool? Cause I always remember the cues. Yeah. Yeah. Um,

you know, when I was 19, I got to, um, he had a song called, you put a move on my heart and I got to go in and kind of audition for it. And he liked it, and he took me all over the world. Wow.

Yeah. I'm surprised you never wrote a book on just how to, you know, maintain a great relationship, great career. Because y'all have been together for a long time. Grant and I, yes. Yeah, you know, we talk about it. You know, maybe one day, but we talk about it. You know, maybe one day, but

we're trying to live our life, let alone tell someone else how to do it. Are you a sports fanatic? No, I'm not a sports fanatic. His mom and dad are. If there's anything going on, they're like, oh, are we going to dinner? We can't go because the game is on.

I'm not. And I'm not sure he is either. Really? Yeah, I'm not sure about that. He played basketball for a long time. He did. To the point where I was like, I had grand time. Did you make him retire?

Because he was playing for a long time. Did I make him retire? He was going to stop. Hey, I'm smarter than that. You know, I'm not going to make a man stop doing what he loves. You know, that has to be his decision because I don't want him 10 years later going, you made me stop. You know, his knees had to hurt, so he stopped. When y'all in the Zoom, he like, yeah, you know that last season in the league paying for this trip.

Yeah, I was like, how much they pay? Okay, just one more year. Six more months. Six more months. Six more months. You got it in you. You can do it. So y'all don't sit around and watch sports all day? Because I know guys I've dated that all they do is watch sports.

And all the time they haven't. He doesn't. I mean, he does some things now for the NBA and for March Madness. So I think he watches that for that. But yeah, we don't really, not really. So what do y'all watch at home? Okay, so the children take over the television most of the time, and they're usually wanting us to watch them do something,

you know, some sort of acting, singing, something. Okay, that's nice. Yeah, we don't really, and we live in Florida, so we like to be outside. And if Grant sits down near a television, he's definitely falling asleep. He's not watching TV, he's falling asleep. You're making it sound like y'all are grandparents already. Well, when we're at home, you know, we travel a lot, and we're both sort of, you know, working,

and we take the kids all over as well. So when we are at home, our home life is very kind of calm and quiet. What about porn? Nothing wrong with a little porn, Amy. Y'all watch it? Not together, no. Separately. Now the name of the album is Love Life.

Is it going to be like autobiographical in a way? Is it going to be your love life? Yeah, it's sort of about loving life and about love life. So there's a lot of songs that are, you know, love songs and it's kind of about loving life and, and about love life. So there's a lot of songs that are, you know, love songs. And, um,

it's kind of just a, a happy album. Um, it's not as deep and dark as maybe, um, some of my other ones. It's kind of in a better place. Is it weird doing like deeper,

darker music when you're actually pretty happy? And not really. I mean, music sometimes is, is almost like acting. It's just, you know, I think artists, we, you know, we're very sensitive. If you start crying, I'm going to start crying. I don't even know why.

I'm just going to start crying. So you could tell me a story and I can feel it in a way that I can really, you know, relate to it and sing about it, even though I have no idea what it feels like to have gone through that. You can tap into your emotions. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, I mean, sometimes there are things that I've personally gone through, and then sometimes there are things that I write about that maybe someone's told me or, you know, a girlfriend said something and it triggered something, and, you know, she'll never know it was actually her.

What are your rules for dating for your daughter, for your 13-year-old? Never. She shouldn't be dating now. She's 13. She's not dating now. She's on the phone, I'm sure, with guys. No. With guys?

Boys, I mean, not guys. You're a fast ass. She was sneaking out of her house. She told us this morning she was sneaking out of her house. I didn't say 13. I said when I was in high school. Oh, okay. I sneak out and go to the club.

No. We're not doing that right now So what's the age that she can date Oh I don't know Yeah I really don't I mean you know yeah No I don't What do you think about R&B now

Well I definitely think there is good R&B Out there Like what Let me think. Let me think about it. You're like, damn, I didn't think

he was going to follow up with you. Wait a minute. What kind of interview? Well, you know, listen. It's okay if you don't like me.

Yeah, okay. I can't think off the top of my head, but there is. There's a lot. We like Miguel. I like Miguel. I love Miguel.

Yes. And thank you. Okay. Yes, he's very good. Kendrick Lamar. And, you know Okay. Um, very good. Uh, Kendrick Lamar and, you know,

what do we say? That is, he's rap. Okay. Hip hop. August. I've seen him maybe. Um,

yeah. And let us see. And people like that, you know, Anthony Hamilton. Okay. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay. Your 16 year career. Has anybody ever said to me, you're too happy? Because you got to think, you know, the Mary J. Blige's and the Keisha Coles, they go through heartbreak and they sing about it. K. Michelle's, yeah. K. Michelle, that's successful. She's got some heartbreak songs. You're too happy.

You can't sing about your marriage and having children and being happy. I mean, I guess I would tell them, you know, I still live my life just because I choose not to, you know, sing about it. Obviously, there's things that I've gone through, whether it's health-wise or, you know, family things that, you know, I just don't display it. And I choose to be happy. Point blank, period. That's it. And officially missing you was a heart, like a debt to your heart. Yeah. I mean, and when I sing songs like Stranger and Me, I look at the audience and someone's like crying.

I mean, I know I'm sort of just used as a vessel. I didn't necessarily have to go through that. But, you know, through me and the music, you know, I'm helping them sort of deal with it in a way. Are there songs that you perform that you cry during? Yeah, all the time. Stranger in my house. No, well, no. Don't help her out.

Which songs do you cry to? It depends on what's going on in the audience. Sometimes me, someone might say something, or I might look out there. Like I said, if I see you crying or doing something, yeah, I might

cry. Break down. We appreciate you joining us this morning. I'm sensitive. break down yeah we appreciate you joining us this morning thank you you know it's so whack man the people from Def Jam was like to me it's boring you know what I mean

we want y'all to make her seem exciting shut up shut up it only takes three minutes I can be boring I mean listen there's nothing wrong

with boring they'll be like it's so quick she's so boring don't listen to them I just find you boring they lie about you oh well thank you thank you

they lie about me. Let me talk to them. Those damn label people. That's why you should have signed to a major. Right. See, now they are acting like a label. See? We appreciate you joining us.

No, but I'm excited. We never had a chance to meet you before. Yeah. So it's great that you came through. Yeah, I'm glad to be here. Every morning when we work out, we listen. Nice. All right.

Well, it's Tamiya. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zaka-stan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-a-stan 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 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. Hello, my undeadly darlings. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you?

Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd 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.