The Ebro, Laura, Rosenberg Show - 113.) Jessie Reyez Gets Emotional On ‘Retirement’, Grammys, + A Little Vengeance (6/4/26)

Episode Date: June 4, 2026

Today on Ebro, Laura, and Rosenberg - Laura, and Rosenberg are talking to Jessie Reyez about the World Cup, new music, "Couldn't Be Me," Michael Jackson Mocie and so much more! (6/4/26) Support the s...how on Patreon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Just don't call in a podcast. The Ebro-Lora Rosenberg shows. Welcome to the program, man. We got on the program right now. My girl. Jesse Reyes. Our girl. No, my girl more than you.
Starting point is 00:00:18 It's my girl more than you. My girl more than you. You see what a hater. My girl more than you all there. We go way back. We go way backer. Backer. Backer.
Starting point is 00:00:30 the time you mispronounce my name that was last yeah miss print no that wasn't a mispronunciation i called you someone completely yeah you called her yesi or t's yes because i was thinking about yesy and first of all racist no and that's all of our friend too no yesy can i tell you we we tortured him for weeks after that no they still do it's coming up right now i had like it was like i had a stroke it was a lapse because we obviously like we text so like you're like you're like you're like That's funny. I was dying. It was perfect.
Starting point is 00:01:03 I loved it. humility and its finest. It's also getting old, man. Let's just be honest. It's what happens. But your brain just sometimes it glitches and you can't figure out why you can't get out of it. It's a real thing. Y'all will get it.
Starting point is 00:01:16 Don't say that. Don't put that on me. No, it's just happen. It's just part of the game, man. Listen, you have been working very hard for, I mean, a lot of your life now. I mean, it's been like the last 13, 14 years straight, right? The last, well, technically, yeah, but from what the world has seen, the last nine years straight. But before that, to get momentum.
Starting point is 00:01:37 Add it. Agree, agree. Yeah, yeah. It's been, it's been nonstop. But just before that, it was before anything was, like, legitimately documented. But it was open mics. It was busking. It was linking with people.
Starting point is 00:01:49 I'm surprised I didn't get killed because it's just like random linkups on online. Like, you do music, yeah? You do music. I'm coming over the night. Dead ass. And then you go to a studio, a studio. You go to someone's house and then you go in their closet. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:02:01 That was the soundproof. And you're just like holding on the guard being like, well, I hope this goes well. Didn't get chopped up, didn't get raped. Woo. My God. But it's real, though. Yeah. Super real.
Starting point is 00:02:11 It is real. We've had you on so many times in so many different moments. Poetry books. You talking about being and dealing with the loss of loved ones through dealing with immigration and what that's all about. And now we sit at a time in history where. where everything we've been kicking and screaming about, not only on our show, but you and your music
Starting point is 00:02:35 and you and your community, right? It's like on everyone's front doorstep. And because we had so many people who didn't think the boogey, I keep saying it didn't think the boogeyman was real or that we could reach this level of... Fuckery. There you go. And I just want the audience to just,
Starting point is 00:02:54 as you now ascend to these higher heights, if they're not familiar with, you go back and see some of the amazing. and work you've done in the past. Thank you. Because you've put on. Not only for just, you know, immigrants and indigenous people and,
Starting point is 00:03:09 but also just like your songwriting for so many people too. Thank you. Yeah, man. It's beautiful, but it's sad. Someone said that the other day because we posted far away and I was like, holy shit,
Starting point is 00:03:20 that's so crazy that that faraway video is so relevant now and it's been so many years. How many years ago was that? 2019? Yeah. And then he had 209. And the pandemic hit. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:03:34 Yeah. But it's nice because it's not something that I've had to conscious. What's nice is it's not something I've had to consciously do. What's sad is how relevant it still continues to me. Because obviously if something's close to you and your artist, that's what you're going to create about. But like. More than never now. Well, for us, because I love you because you're not even American.
Starting point is 00:03:55 Yeah. So you're seeing it from the other side. Which is crazy because when I was on tour, my mom was like, meha, please. He's like Pilar's because they're going to, they find out they're going to kick your ass out because they're like, what the fuck is this bitch talking? You ain't even fucking from here. I got cousins and I got an experience. I used to live all here and stuff too.
Starting point is 00:04:12 So it's like, well, I live all here. So it's like, yeah. But I told my mom, I was like, fuck it. If they do it, I want to retire anyway. So they kick me out. They kick me out. Well, and you're originally from Toronto. Yes.
Starting point is 00:04:21 And then, but your family immigrated from. Colombia. And but you lived in, I think, Miami for a lot. Yeah, I live in Florida for Latterdale. Shout out Broward. Yeah. And so first shout to your mom. It feels like I mean. Yeah, shout to your mom and shout to your whole family who you write about in your songs all the time. And we've had interviews with you about how you basically were a terrible, you know, active child. And you were like apologizing to your parents because you were all over the place. But I think that's one of the reasons your fans feel so close to you because you just feel like my home girl. You know what I mean? Just like people are going through the same things. Especially in the Latino community, I think it's just beautiful. Like I told my sister that you were coming on.
Starting point is 00:05:05 And she was like, please, get me a video. Get me a picture. Is this his name? Amanda. Hi, Amanda. Yeah. And she was just telling me, she's like, she's pulled me out of some dark spaces. And I just, you know, I think it's so beautiful that you continue to do that.
Starting point is 00:05:23 But specifically, even having these conversations, these heavy topics in your music. And it's very brave. because even you hearing your mom be like, Miha, think quidado, be careful. It's a fear that I think anyone who's an immigrant has experienced. You know what I mean? Like, it really hits home when it's like
Starting point is 00:05:43 having to feel your parents be scared. Scared of you saying too much or, you know, the consequences. And like, it's like, yo, it's triggering, bro. Like, you feel it because it's such a familiar feeling. So I just, I've always commended you for being able to be strong and pull from pull inspiration from that. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:06:02 I think too, on our show, Ibro-Laura Rosenberg, when you think about the dynamic of the show, what you guys were just talking about is something that Jewish families have had to have the conversation
Starting point is 00:06:14 with their children. Obviously, we all know that black families have had to have that conversation with their children, right? And that's kind of the connective tissue as we deal with a world, but more specifically a society that, you know,
Starting point is 00:06:29 criminalizes, ostracizes, marginalizes the groups that we all represent, right? Where you just, you have to, um, you have to equip your loved ones, right,
Starting point is 00:06:41 with awareness. But like you do through your music, not only do you equip people with awareness, you equip us with storytelling and joy and fun. And the things that are, we need for survival, right? Like,
Starting point is 00:06:52 because despite all of the shit, we still continue to find joy and thrive and live. and love on each other and celebrate tradition and culture and all of it you know what I'm saying so and you I want to get you space to talk about how you bring all that together in your music because your music is it's very cultural first and foremost um but it's also it's very R&B you know what I mean it's very hip-hop like you bring everything into your music and for a while I was concerned that it was like too good that people weren't going to like love you you know how I know you was a song right you know that where you're like, yo, this is fire.
Starting point is 00:07:30 This is so good that maybe mainstream people won't even. It's too much for them. Like, it's too great for them to wrap their brains around it. So, like, I've always thought of you with that kind of artist. It made me, and that's why I hold you so near and dear because you're that phenomenal to me. But what's your experience? And talk about putting all that music in the same space.
Starting point is 00:07:45 You fucking right. It's a difficult, like, it's a difficult, um, shit, fuck it. I'm going to say, so remember, I feel like I've told you all that. I used to smoke weed and then I stopped and I stopped and told myself, I prayed on it, and I was like, I'm not going to smoke until I hear my song on the radio, and I heard it on the radio. And then a year passed, and I prayed on it again. I was like, I'm not going to smoke again until I, like, a book a tour. And then I kept up in the irony for years.
Starting point is 00:08:14 And then finally I got to a point that I was like, right, I'm not going to smoke again until I went to grammy. Because that was the pinnacle at the time. I've won, but I've went indirectly through others, not through my own project yet, right? And then throughout the years, I've obviously heard kind of what you said, where, like, I mix everything. And then every now and then there'll be someone that's like, oh, but you need to, like, stream. liner you need to focus like because platforms need to know what playlist to put you in and people need to know how to digest you they need instructions whatever but i'm a mutt i'm a mutt by nature i'm a mutt book like where i was raised around with the music i listened to like who i am the
Starting point is 00:08:45 color of my skin the way i talk the way i was just a mutt which i've always embraced like i love i love that i that i have all those influences and i've always walked around with a chip on my shoulder regarding saying true to myself because it's something that my mom gifted me when I was a kid to just like be me I never gave a fuck and I still don't give a fuck but I realized that one of the impediments at least to like maybe the next level or maybe maybe actually get in the grammy because then you hear about these conversations and for anybody that doesn't know but like the way it works is like okay you'll get you'll get voided in or whatever or what's it called for consideration then you go into your shit goes into a room of peers and people who are judging and then if you got one
Starting point is 00:09:32 hater in the room that's like this isn't fully R&B so she can't be in this category all right fuck fuck you're not wrong because it's a mutt put me in another room all right well this isn't fully rock or well this isn't fully alternative okay well this isn't fully wrap and I didn't really fucking bag that until like didn't I I lost it last year because I was like this is so whack because it fucking artists by nature A lot of artists by nature are free. I'm a free soul. So like, now you want me to conform after years of being free
Starting point is 00:10:02 and building that muscle within me in order to achieve another step of what I used to deem a significant marker of success? You know? It's just not even, because let me take that back, because I don't mean completely used to because I still understand why it's, why it's an honor, why it's beautiful, why it's important. But I think it's fucking bullshit that, that,
Starting point is 00:10:25 that's one of the impediments to artists that are more of a rainbow as opposed to a solid color. You know, because there's not a like, all right, this is a category for someone that could like dance in all worlds and moving all worlds. I just, that's fucking irritating to me. Well, it's also too, they would take someone like you and then, and this has happened, I think, on purpose because Pop has tried to define itself by one particular sound instead of it being truly. just popular music, right? Like it's all things, right? And so there was this concerted effort by the music industry to make a pop sound.
Starting point is 00:11:04 And so then when you know someone like yourself who is an amalgamation of a bunch of amazing things that would just represent what's popular music, whether that's Latin, which is popular music, i.e. Bad Bunny was going on Bad Bunny right now. Hip-hop, which is also a part of popular. R&B is all about popular music.
Starting point is 00:11:23 So if somebody brings all of those worlds together into a project, you would think, it'd be, yeah, but it's a layup, right? You would think, yeah. You would think. Yeah, but I've accepted it. It's fine, because I'm not going to bend. That's right. I know I'm just going to, I'm not going to bend.
Starting point is 00:11:37 I'm just going to continue to, you know, be me. And it's fine because it's not, like, I find I'm satiated in other ways in my career. Well, you got to be for the fans and the love, right? Because you get, and I think that's got to be validating to, to a higher level than a Grammy which you you already have Grammys which is like or any award Which is you have people who line up And spend their hard earned money
Starting point is 00:12:02 Crazy to come see you do your thing live You know what I mean? Like that's a different level Than oh I just click the button on a stream Or I you know I mean hell the fans aren't even voting in the Grammys Really it's you know it's all artists and people in the industry So that's got to be the biggest It's beautiful it's very it's very um
Starting point is 00:12:23 It's beautiful I talked about it the other day particularly with figures because someone asked me, they're like, what does that song mean to you now? And I was like, huh, for now, right now, because I used to cry to that song, I used to not be able to perform that song because I'd be too emotional. And then throughout the years, the tears have remained,
Starting point is 00:12:38 but they've changed ingredients because they're supposed to crying because of the song hurting me, I hear everyone's fucking voice just screaming in your back. And it's a cathartic experience in the room. And then, yeah, man, it's just really beautiful. And then I'll start crying out of out of gratitude As opposed to crying out of it.
Starting point is 00:12:57 I love that. So that like that shift has been something really beautiful. Right. When you walked in, I was like, you were at the beach yesterday. I was at the beach yesterday. We did such a fucking sick event. I'm so happy that it didn't. It was one of those events where a lot of things could have gone wrong.
Starting point is 00:13:12 To be honest, police tried to shut it down. Wait, which beat? And I'm bringing this back because I don't know what beach. I'll let her tell us. But it was back to her fans. Like they'll do anything and go anywhere to love on you. That's cute. That's cute.
Starting point is 00:13:29 That's cute. The, the, yeah, we held an event last night. Was it last night? Yes, was it? Whatever. The day before yesterday. So this album's called The Little Vengeance. And it's funny.
Starting point is 00:13:46 I mean, the album cover, you putting in work on this album cover. What's happening out here? Let me see, hold on. She walking into the water. I don't know if she got clothes on. Laura Stiles. She's naked. She's naked.
Starting point is 00:13:55 I mean, listen, I'm on a fitness journey. I just want to tell you, very inspired by you. Ooh, let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Very inspired by you. Wait, we're going to get a Laura Stiles?
Starting point is 00:14:07 We're going to get. I don't think I'm going to do all that, you know, but the inspiration is there. Listen, you want to see these YouTube numbers go crazy. Let's get Laura Stiles walking into an ocean with fire and water drips. And off her back. Leave that for you, okay? Well, how does it feel? Okay, hold that.
Starting point is 00:14:31 You're dropping a little vengeance on the exact same day you opened for the FIFA World Cup of your hometown. I don't. That's wild. It's a little spooky. It's a little spooky because it wasn't part in that way because it was supposed to come out on May 29th. Everything was supposed to be separate. But now, yeah, now it's happening. Same day as the performance.
Starting point is 00:14:49 June 12. Album drops. Same week as my birthday. and in my hometown. So it's like, and I was, I just felt it building because I was like,
Starting point is 00:14:57 fuck, there's going to be so many logistics, so many everything and someone was like, what are you stressful? This sounds kismet. Like you couldn't have designed it
Starting point is 00:15:04 a better way if it wasn't meant to be and I was like, no, you're right. So I started looking at it like a cup at four. I'm still a little nervous, but yeah,
Starting point is 00:15:11 at least the 13th I'll be able to exhale. Yeah, yeah, yeah. For the first time in a lot of time. It's such a meaningful moment, though. I know for so many reasons, but just to be a Colombiana,
Starting point is 00:15:22 Like, you know what I mean? Like, yo, Ebro, East Colombians, man. When it comes to soccer, oh my God. You know, I know that we used to be over in Long Island City, Camillo throwing parties for Mad World Cups. Yeah, we used to just go because the Colombian fans were so insane. And it was so fun. The energy is so wild.
Starting point is 00:15:45 So I just, it's going to be, they're just going to turn it up for you. I'm excited. This is a beat of 250. During Black Music Month, we celebrate the legendary Prince, one of the most influential artists in music history, born Prince Rogers Nelson. On June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Prince changed music forever with classics like Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, and 1999. His sound blended funk, rock, soul, and pop into something completely original. But Prince was more than just an incredible performer. He became a powerful advocate for artists owning their music and creative freedom.
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Starting point is 00:17:50 Because I have family member. My aunt, she's, you know, 75 hit me the other day. One of our shorts popped up on like, I don't know, some YouTube, Facebook thing that she's in with her church. Yes. Who knows, right? I've been on the radio 30 years. She has never talked to me about anything I've ever done. Ever.
Starting point is 00:18:15 That is so funny, Ebro, because something like this happened to me. I don't know if you remember. Remember when Vibe Magazine, in the back of the magazine, they would have like collage of people at different events and parties? I was like in the corner and my mom was like, oh my God, mind you. I've been in radio for like 10 years at this point. She's like, look at you. I'm like, mom. And she was showing all her friends.
Starting point is 00:18:36 I was like, I've done a lot since dead. And she was just so proud. And she never mentioned, because, you know, I would tell her what I do, but they were looking at me like, okay, sure. Right. Sure. And then it was such, it was such an important moment for her ebrook. So I feel you on that So has that happened to you
Starting point is 00:18:51 That's happened to me But not so much with FIFA The moment that happened to me Was when I were with Carlos Beavis Oh shit And then everyone was like Everyone was like Holy shit
Starting point is 00:19:00 That was the That was the That's the moment Yeah Wow Maybe after our perform It'll cause the shift too But no
Starting point is 00:19:08 That's funny It sounds like I'm saying Now they've been known big time But like That's what it sounds like You are though You Funny
Starting point is 00:19:17 But to But I would have to assume this FIFA thing has brought you to some new fans for sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe it's hard to measure at this point. Like, it hasn't fully set in yet. Man, I know it's difficult because I've just been like this. Yeah. I just have blinders on and just like, so it's kind of been.
Starting point is 00:19:36 To keep you focused? Yeah, yeah. It's kind of been nonstop. For me to have told you that I've stopped and, like, taken notice of the demographic going would be a lie. I'd just been going. Going. Yeah. And how are you?
Starting point is 00:19:49 Tired. I'm tired. What kind of, like, you're sleepy, tired or, like, emotionally drained, like, my brain? Like, I don't have it. Like, tired. That's funny. I yon on cue, Jesus Christ. I'm tired, and the kind of tired I am, sleep does not fix.
Starting point is 00:20:08 So that's why I was, like, for this. Oh, that's, that's right. I was talking about the, so the part is called The Little Vengeance, and the title comes from a quote from Frederick Nietzsche that's a little vengeance is more human than no vengeance at all. Remember when I was reading this book, I think it was thus spoke Saratustra. That's where I pulled it from. And it resonated because I was like, oh, that's kind of beautiful that it leaves room for your shadow self. It leaves room for the darker side of you because we all have it as human beings.
Starting point is 00:20:35 Like we can strive for self-betterment. We can strive for, you know, achieving just a higher self. But at the end of the day, we all have the opposite side. Just day and night up and down, we have that. And I thought it was really beautiful because. because it allowed room for that without judgment, almost just like an expectation. Like, yes, of course, this is part of you too. And then I marinated on it more, considering the context of, like, how I've been feeling
Starting point is 00:21:01 and how I've legit been nonstop for nine years and haven't taken, like, the break I've taken, the breaks I've taken have, like, been seven days. And anything over seven days has been because my body gave out because, like, because I was going too hard and because I thought I was a robot and God was like no and humbled me for a second and then yeah was out and even then you're working on your body to heal even then exactly even then I'm working on my body to heal even then I was working from bed working on fucking community and like on on texting and shit I was just not actually but I was still fucking working in bed crazy I didn't even think of that but yeah so it's been it's been continuous and I've looked
Starting point is 00:21:40 around and I realize that artists don't do that people take fucking breaks and I don't know if it's like the immigrant mentality because I know my work I think is nuts I know all that shit is like and I'm a bit of a workaholic and like all those things have just been like go go
Starting point is 00:21:53 and obviously I've been able to achieve a lot and by the grace of God and also by the grace of those traits but those traits are a double-edged sword because it's not sustainable and I've also like looked around and I'm like fuck this has cost me a lot like I love what I do
Starting point is 00:22:10 but when you excel in one area of your life so much the others suffer Lack of balance. But what the fuck is balance? What the fuck is balanced? Like, I don't understand how people do it. And the only way I could kind of, like, if I squint my eyes, I'm like, oh, that's how you do it because people take fucking breaks that I've never even like,
Starting point is 00:22:30 yeah, I don't know. That's what I was saying. I don't know if it's the work ethic. I don't know if it's the, I don't know, I'm not exactly entirely. I can't pinpoint it because there are so many things that have contributed to the way I operate and the way I've worked and the way I've chased it. But I've reached a point where, like, everything. Like I've done assessment in my life and I'm like, okay, well, this is great, but this suffered, this suffered, this relationship suffered.
Starting point is 00:22:50 This, like, this. This part of me suffered. This part of me suffered. I could like, I could, I've done the inventory and I'm like, okay, you've been lucky with this and life is fucking short. Mm-hmm. So if your soul is tired, then maybe you need a second. And I don't want to drag my feet to do anything because I'm a passionate person. So I want to make sure I fully love what I'm doing.
Starting point is 00:23:14 I don't want to draw. And this tour was a friend. first like I've I've twit for years and I've never once fucking complete never want I've always just been like let's go and then this time I remember because usually I bring my folks my folks sleep on the tour bus they're blessed I got a pup a year and a half ago I fell in love the little pups of love in my life and like I brought up to her too yeah what's the puppy's name I don't want to tell you because I don't want people to see me in the street and call him because he's not that friendly okay you all right you like that he's not that friend I'll tell you I'm
Starting point is 00:23:42 makes me. I'm like, hell yeah, man, fuck people. I love that. What? Especially when guys are trying to hit on you and you're outside and, like, they're like hair bad. He's like, he's not nice. He's like, like, he's not nice. Keep it moving. But anyways, I love, I love my folks and love him and, like, was able to bring him on tour and it was lit. He had like his little doggy bed and shit, but that was America and Canada. And then when we went overseas, obviously, I couldn't bring
Starting point is 00:24:10 him because it was too much logistically. And I didn't want to leaving with anybody and my folks were like oh well like we'll stay back and I was like thank God him I was like yes I was like I'm miss y'all she's like no just thank God that we're here that we could like you know you know he's in good hands whatever yeah yo and I missed home and I do I've had the privilege of bringing home with me so I've never felt that like yeah I've never felt that because I've always been spoiled what was that word dole duly leule hurts oh okay yeah and so I was overseas me like bro I'm fucking tired and I miss home and I feel the the the the longing for roots that I haven't really felt that I haven't really felt.
Starting point is 00:24:47 And I'm sober now too. So it's not even like I had a little morphine button to press. Right. I just had to deal like raw dog that pain and then raw dog that feeling. And yeah. And so when I finish in December like, oh my God. And all fairness to shut out, Biz, because I know you tried to convince me that dropping the book last year was fucking nuts in the middle of a tour. But my brain is fried because I think I'm a fucking robot.
Starting point is 00:25:11 99% of the time, I'm like, no, I got it, I got it, I got it. And so all that cumulative, it cumulatively, it just left me rendered fried. And when December was over and it was six months on the road and then I'm like missing home and all those things. Like I got sick for a month. My body was like, yeah, bitch, like you're forgetting you're not a robot. And then I got humbled for January. And then I, yeah. You got humbled in January in what way?
Starting point is 00:25:41 Sick. You got sick. I got sick. For everything, because my body's so good to me in terms of like letting me thug it out when I need to thug it out. And I'll pop it vitamins and ginger shots and smoothies and meditating and working out and like good to me. But life is balanced whether or not you want to embrace it. So when it's good to me for all these months, for everything, it didn't let me get sick. For every like cold it didn't give me for every like I, you have to pay.
Starting point is 00:26:09 What is it saying? You have to pay the piper sooner already. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. You don't have to pay your tab, B. Yeah. So. I paid my tab.
Starting point is 00:26:15 Sorry. I'm almost done. Sorry. I'm coming around. I was just going to ask you. I was just going to say, what did you do in January? No, what did you? No, but I mean, did you like slow down for a second?
Starting point is 00:26:25 Was it like New Year's? I took a little holiday. I took a little weekend. But it wasn't a holiday. I had a holiday plan. My ass was locked in my fucking apartment in Toronto because I was like, I'm fucked. So I was just taking ginger shots and like chewing garlic, honey and hookah. But she was healing and still working from bed.
Starting point is 00:26:41 January. January, was I was I still doing shit? January, you're free. I was like fucked. Okay, good. But it wasn't, but that's the thing. It's not a, there's a very different thing of a break when you're hot and a break when you're on your deathbed.
Starting point is 00:26:53 Yes. And then come February, February, I think I went back to LA to start working again. Yeah, because you were literally just working on your body to get better. I was working on my body to get better. Yeah. And then February came and then we were talking about, and we had been talking about like, okay, everyone looking at me and being like, you need a break. Like, you're, you're nuts.
Starting point is 00:27:09 But then me being like, well, we just. drop PIM and PIM did well PIM felt good for anybody that paid a memory is the acronym And so I didn't want to take it Thank you very much I didn't want to not take advantage of that momentum
Starting point is 00:27:25 And I've had Like while I was on tour Shout out to Jermai Thomas because I'm not the I'm not the kind to like dual If I'm on if I'm on tour mode I'm tour mode If I'm in album mode I'm album mode But during that tour we finished an album So this album was ready
Starting point is 00:27:39 Like a little vengeance was like ready to go so I didn't want to take a break and then and then leave this album in the fucking oven because God forbid I fall out of love with it. After time and then all that work goes down the drain so I was like no fuck it we're here we're ready I'm just going to map this out so I was like okay if we do this we do this we drop this in June okay after June 12
Starting point is 00:27:58 I'm a ghost after June 12 I'm a ghost and I want to say a break but I don't want to say a break because man makes plans and God laughs and I also don't want to feel like people are beholden to being like up. So part of me wants to say retirement so that no one like, you know. But I also don't want to say retirement because right. And God laughs.
Starting point is 00:28:21 So we'll see. It's in God's hands. But I want to love what I do and I want my soul not to feel like I'm not looking out for it. Yeah. I don't want my soul to feel like I'm not an advocate. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I know my, like, the kind of tired I am, sleep doesn't fix. I just need, I need some roots for a second.
Starting point is 00:28:37 Oh, I could cry. That's so OD. But I just need a second. I just need a second. You can see you're just taking time for yourself. Yeah. That's it. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:28:46 Which is crazy because like even saying that makes me feel guilty for all of the, because there's two sides. For all of the sacrifices for like my squad putting in work for inner child putting in work, I don't want it to seem like it's discrediting or devaluing what that's been worth and how much of a blessing and how much of an outlier this situation is. You know what I mean? The same, like, you just have to hold space for both. I'm grateful, but I'm tired.
Starting point is 00:29:12 But I'm grateful, but I'm tired. The, um, who, Jesse, I'm fragile. Jesse. I'm fragile. Well, not, but it's beautiful because, you know, like the science of it all, right? They say tears in a, in your tears is the stress hormone cortisol. Perfect.
Starting point is 00:29:31 And so when you, when you cry, it's your body, it's your body like literally purging. the stress hormone from your body that could potentially harm you, right? Because you know, you build up stress. That creates sickness, that creates a lot of things. And so crying, that all of that stress, all of that work, all of the things that you've been going through on your health journey
Starting point is 00:29:56 and everything you've done to this, you know, in these last six months for us on this show, you know, we've been grinding it out, building something new. And, but you pack that stuff away. Your adrenaline goes up. You go into offensive mode. You're on attack mode.
Starting point is 00:30:11 You don't really stop. And so the moment you stop to go, sometimes your adrenaline will drop and all of that toxicity now can take over your body because you've let your guard down. That's kind of what happened to you in January. And now you're realizing that you've got all of this built up, you know, whether it's calluses and scars and, you know, stress. that you need to purge.
Starting point is 00:30:40 And that's healthy. Like, it's a beauty. It's actually at your stage in, and where you are in your career, it's a blessing that you even have enough wherewithal and sobriety and sense of yourself to go,
Starting point is 00:30:53 hang on a second. I need to chill. I need to find balance. I need to do better with my body. But I still want to appreciate the people who supported me in the work I've done. Like, all of that is healthy thought. Like, don't, don't feel guilty.
Starting point is 00:31:08 that you need to find a center that is more sustainable into your future. Because that's what I'm here. I've just been going. And now that I've gotten to some places that I am happy with and fulfilled with, I want to find a better center so that I can sustain this joy that I found and doing what I've always dreamed of. Like, I think that's powerful stuff. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:31:35 Thank you. That's the, yeah, health and, and wholeness and like equilibrium. Yeah, man. It's very much the goal. So I've been, so the, I think that's why that
Starting point is 00:31:50 quote resonated because I know maybe there are some people or some energies that are, that feel, the way I feel guilty about it, some people that are like, I can't believe she's doing this or I can't believe that like, oh, what do you mean you're quitting?
Starting point is 00:32:06 I want your music. What do you like, you know? And I marinated on the word vengeance and I was like, that's funny because vengeance doesn't necessarily have to have malice. It can also be something, something, if you squint,
Starting point is 00:32:20 you could look at it like anyone who's taking advantage of you or anyone that's been used to you operating without having boundaries for self and boundaries for soul. The second you put up fucking boundaries, a lot of people are like, what the fuck? Because they can't, you know? You can't take from you anymore. Yes.
Starting point is 00:32:35 And then that, you putting up those fences now looks like an affront or feels like an affront to them. and that feels like vengeance to them. So sometimes vengeance is just letting other people have a front row seat while you continue in your pursuit of peace. Yeah. That was, that's been kind of like the center of this.
Starting point is 00:32:56 And that's also why I loved the fucking the event two days ago at the beach because we were thinking about like what I could do for a moment for this project. And I love being by the ocean. I've been loving doing these canvases that I've been painting with the title, and I decided to paint the whole quote which some people didn't know that it came from somewhere it's not just a little vengeance, it's the whole quote. I don't do meet and greets anymore.
Starting point is 00:33:22 I had some stalker situations happen a few years ago that like fuck me and I was like, you know what, I'm not doing this, fuck y'all, like sorry, but no. So I haven't done them for years. And at fan events like this, like big ones, I still get a little nervous. I still get a little nervous because you just never know when you hear these horror stories about like,
Starting point is 00:33:38 oh yeah. There's just a lot of horror stories out there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know? So I get nervous, but I was like, no, I'm going to, I'm going to do this. Like, this feels good, especially if it might be the last one. Like, who knows? So I want to do this.
Starting point is 00:33:52 But I curated it, and I was like, okay, I'm going to do it by the beach. We'll get, like, we'll get, like, some rope and putting it around so that people will be like, you know, can watch for, like, from a safe distance. And then we played some of the album, like, with the, it was so beautiful. Like, with the ocean as the backdrop, and then this big canvas and then velvet rope around. and then a bonfire or what's it called like a fire pit yeah yeah yeah everyone on blankets like chill right as i'm walking up because i get there police start shutting it down they turned away something like 200 fucking cars and when my cat of like was trying to get sorry when my when my Uber was trying to get down there he was like fuck girl like i don't know i don't know how we're going to get you and i looked down
Starting point is 00:34:30 and there was like a massive hill from the off front and i was like bro i might just fucking roll like because you could see it from the off front i could see everyone just everyone's waiting and I was like, fine. There's, there's so, this is gridlock. So I'm like, I don't know. We're calling my tour manager. He's like, he's like, well, he's like, we could try. Like, and he sent over the security, and they met me down here.
Starting point is 00:34:52 And then now everyone's looking over here, right? And now we're walking over. This wasn't the planned entrance at all. Oh, God. So it's getting seeped out now. I'm walking over. And then I'm like, okay, I'm going to make this a moment, and I'm going to lock it in, and I'm going to look out for me.
Starting point is 00:35:07 This is a moment for me, and this is a moment for others, but they coexist. It's not mixed. So I put on my headphones and I put on some glasses and as I'm walking up where normally I would feel like palpitations going up, all I hear is
Starting point is 00:35:22 could you be love and be love? Just Bob Marley, just going. And I open my eyes and I just see ocean and it was really, oh my God, I'm weak, shit. I just see love because it was just everyone like
Starting point is 00:35:37 and it's being, and it's being Oh my God. It's too early. It was just really beautiful to not feel that fear. It was just love. And when I was protected by music, I was protected by those frequencies. It was just really, really beautiful.
Starting point is 00:36:00 So apart from being like a sick day and a sick memory for everybody, I also had a sick memory for my, like it just, you know, because you see that in movies. Of course. Of like things being, what's it called? like scored, a moment's being scored. And obviously that's what music does. Music scores your life.
Starting point is 00:36:15 But it was the first time for me so curated that it was like thickly done. Like I couldn't even hear the waves. I just heard Bob and then saw love. And then, yeah, and then started doing the painting and then did that for 30 minutes while everyone's like jamming and shit. It was really beautiful. It was fucking beautiful. Congrats.
Starting point is 00:36:31 Yeah, man. That's fire. Thank you. I saw. I like the videos that I saw. I was like, wow. So, wait, Laura, you saw the videos on her story? Yeah, yeah, on her social media.
Starting point is 00:36:39 Yeah, it's beautiful. I like that. Yeah. Yeah. That's dope. Thank you. I get the text messages too. I,
Starting point is 00:36:48 I failed to show it. I've been a part of the Jesse Reyes community for a long time. I think since you launched it, maybe. I think so too, yeah. Yeah, I'm in there. And I respond to sometimes, I'm like, yo, is this? Because she's really good at it.
Starting point is 00:37:03 I'm like, is she texting me only? Or is this? You think it's like a group, like a copy of paste? Is this just for me? Because this feels really. A copy of base. No, you're really good at it. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:37:20 But that's also why people love it. Thank you. Right? And you've been able to build this fan base. The album, I want to go back to, because you brought it up, Pated Memories, which, I don't know. We never did an interview about Pated Memories. I don't think I sat down with you for that one. This is the beat of 250.
Starting point is 00:37:39 We're celebrating Black Music Mom. and honoring one of the most powerful and elegant voices in soul music history. The incomparable Phyllis Hyman. Before Nita Baker and Tony Braxton, there was Phyllis Hyman, born in Philadelphia, and raised in Pittsburgh. She became one of the defining voices of soul and sophistication. Her music gave us timeless classics, like, You Know How to Love Me, Meet Me on the Moon, and Living All Alone. This year marks 40 years since her groundbreaking Living All Alone album, a project filled with honesty, passion, heartbreak, and elegance.
Starting point is 00:38:14 Phyllis didn't just sing songs. She lived every lyric. Her influence still echoes through artists today, including Jasmine Sullivan. Though she passed in 1995, her voice and legacy remained unforgettable. During Black Music Month, we proudly celebrate the timeless artistry of Phyllis Hyman.
Starting point is 00:38:33 Black Music Month Amplified Voices is sponsored by AARP. Hey, y'all's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder what if? Like, what if it doesn't hold up? That sofa was four days old. You should have ordered from Wayfair. With Wayfair, there's no what if.
Starting point is 00:38:48 Just style you love and quality you can trust. Visit wayfair.ca. Wayfair, every style, every home. At Apple? I did? Oh, that's right. I was crying at that interview too because you asked me about this young brother and then I started talking about it, bro.
Starting point is 00:39:03 Yo, I'm so happy, though, that couldn't be me. Went as far as it went. Yeah. Me too. That record is so fire. Thank you. Thank you. It's so well written.
Starting point is 00:39:16 And when I heard, I mean, there's so many well-written things on this album. I mean, including what you did with Wayne, psilocybin and Davies, head and headaches. What was my other joint? Oh, Palo Santo. I guess there's just a lot of incredible records. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:39:37 Um, but I just talk about couldn't be me because I don't know if I ever, we ever actually Like is that based on a real kind of? Forever all my music on my music my first time ever not writing from from like real life is one song on on on on On paid in memories and it's not couldn't be me and honestly it's not even not writing from your life. I just started It was the first time in my life that I was able to take one conversation that I had with someone yeah and then turn that one conversation into a universe. And I did it with one of those songs. But it's not, couldn't be, couldn't be me, was real, what shit?
Starting point is 00:40:14 I wish it wasn't real life. That shit was very fucking visceral. Can you share? He was a bum. You said he was a bum. He was a bum. Certified capital B, man. Holy shit.
Starting point is 00:40:31 Yeah. I mean, it's in the song. It's all in the song, yeah. But I wasn't sure. I mean, it's so. I guess because it's so vivid, like the suburban home and her wearing the makeup and playing the part
Starting point is 00:40:43 and, you know, like all of the things you kind of talk about in the song, right? And kind of like women becoming this person and kind of giving up themselves in a way, I think, is what you were trying to convey mostly in the song. You're like, couldn't be, I'm not willing to give up who I am to play this part.
Starting point is 00:41:04 And you hear that story from women so often. So often. You know what I noticed the other day too? Like I have a lot of guy friends that will sometimes say like, like if I ask them like, how's your family? And they're like, oh, like my dad's like live, whatever. And my mom like, you know, she's like tripping or like she's, you know, stressed or she's. And I realized it the other day that I was like, oh, this is a really common trope that I hear. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:41:30 And then I was like, that's crazy. It can't be us. Like it can't be like that feels like a fucking fault of society that feels like an error that and then I start and then I obviously realize and I'm like yeah there's no there's not significant support for for like for moms there's not significant support for we we but I'm not a mother myself but women in general take on the brunt of child rearing women in general take on the brunt of that yeah and I get it in households where where if if the man is the breadwinner I understand why the balance would be that I get it. However, there's still something to be said of like, okay, well, but you still have to like maintain your, somehow you're like yourself. I don't want to say autonomy because it's impossible to have autonomy when you have like you're so enmeshed with like family. But like a part of you that's still you. And there's so many women that don't that just like give. And then you're left with like a shell of yourself.
Starting point is 00:42:27 So of course the shell of yourself is going to be like stressed or irritable or like to the point that I feel like so many of these. So many guys that are friends of mine that'll be like that'll say that and I'm like oh that sucks But your mom probably didn't have support your mom maybe doesn't feel hurt or your mom is probably not not I'm the consistent bad guy in the dynamic between you and your dad so that last point is Um at least in my experience when I'm talking to men or even in how I'm conducting things with me and my wife in our household Where even men who are like the breadwinner socially there's this kind of of like expectation that men have less responsibility in the house. And that's kind of like a cultural, it's cultural things where dudes are like, yeah,
Starting point is 00:43:14 I went to work all day. Here's the money. I'm gonna go hang out with my friends. Right. Or I went to work all day. I mean, what's going on here? Hey, I just need to eat. I'm going to sleep and y'all just deal with the households.
Starting point is 00:43:22 Like there's no involvement of the man in the house. So the woman is forced to be, like you said, the bad guy, you know, forcing people to follow rules. dad's not there saying, hey, your mom is really trying to keep the shit on the rails every day. Yeah. Listen to your mother. You know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:43:43 And there are dads that do that that are like, yo, bro. I was raised. I remember this one time I was at my boy's house and he bugged out. And I'm like, we were in the room playing video games and he's like, yeah, he's a white kid.
Starting point is 00:43:57 He was like, mom, whatever. Fuck you, mom. You're being a bitch. I was like, yo, wow. But mind you, it was like the house went quiet. I didn't think nothing was going going left We keep playing video games his dad comes home. He's not thinking nothing of his dad walks in the room Mind you we're like 10th grade at the time his dad walks in the room was like yo I heard you call my lady a bitch today
Starting point is 00:44:21 Oh I was like I got a house But anyway but that energy of like a man showing up in the house and letting everyone know Yo, your mom is really trying to keep shit together here. And not just on some, oh, I'm checking in for dinner and I'm going to go be in my man cave. Or I'm checking in for dinner for a couple hours. But what that ends up doing is it reinforces to the kids that the mom's work is not important. If nobody else is validating the work that mom is doing to make sure things are organized, cleaned, schedules are on point. People getting picked up and dropped off.
Starting point is 00:44:57 There's food in the fridge. You know what I mean? Like that has to be. And that's why it's a partnership. But I think what you're hearing from people is the fact that they haven't registered that context. And nobody's told them to pay attention to it. I think my fear of having children was fear of losing my happiness. Same.
Starting point is 00:45:17 And I have a child now. You know, I have, yes, I had a baby. She's five. Yes. And I look at her. Yes, I love her with my entire being. Yes, I do. But I remember telling my partner straight up like, hey, I'm going to continue working.
Starting point is 00:45:30 I'm going to continue my career. I have to. There is no compromising that. So if we're going to do this, we're going to do this together. And I'm not saying like you're just going to financially support. Nah, nah, nah. That's not it. I was like, no, you've got to be there.
Starting point is 00:45:44 And I'm blessed with a wonderful partner that is so there. But I see it in other people. And I see them slowly crumbling. And nobody gives a fuck. Because it's so socially accepted. And when you cry about it, it's like, emotional, she's crazy, she's this, she's that. And like I always say it's like now as a mother, right, and I have help.
Starting point is 00:46:09 And I'm very fortunate that I have help, right? But I'm constantly thinking about, okay, not only yes, I got to make sure she eats and her bath and bedtime. And does she have her doctor's appointment and school? And today is this. It's like a constant thing. And God forbid you miss something you forget. You feel like a failure because everyone makes you feel like a bad mom, you know? So it is a very, very real thing.
Starting point is 00:46:33 But it was a real fear for me because I had my daughter later on in life because I was like, it's not going to be me. I'm not going to be the one that's going to be, you know what I mean, stuck in this life that I hate because I saw it in my mother. Like my mom sacrificed her career to come to this country, to clean houses, to be scrubbing fucking floors just so we can make it. You know what I mean? And yes, it's so real.
Starting point is 00:46:58 And I just don't think people really, really process it till this day. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But I love that. I'm happy that we're conversations like this, like maybe, you know, maybe one, one, two, three people will be like, oh, fuck, I shouldn't give my mom more slack or give my mom or give my mom or talk to her like a human being. You know, not just mom. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:47:19 Not just a service. Not just what she's giving. Not just what she's providing. Yeah. But a lot of this too, remember, we live in a male dominated society, right? And many people come from cultures that are very, you know, patriarchal where it's, you know, the man just provides. And that's the end of it all. Like I remember when I had my first one, Issa was born, my oldest, you know, people were so shocked that I was like changing diapers and going to classes to learn about oxytocin and breastfeeding and delivery and all these things.
Starting point is 00:47:48 And it was for me, I think maybe because it was the woman I was raised by who was like a, you know, activist, Jewish feminists, you know, in the 70s in Northern California who was very much. on some like, nah, bro, like, you know, man or woman, there's some equality that needs to take place in the world. And so it was normal for me. But it was the first time. And even when you would show up to hospitals and show up to try to participate as a man, it would be like, yeah. And you would kind of be like, yo, that's my kid, bro. Like, I don't get to do the stuff to learn the things to help out in this scenario. So some of it is so woven into, you know, how.
Starting point is 00:48:27 we're socialized as human beings that that kind of work has to take place where men have to actively try to participate and show up in spaces to be supportive and be allies and understand how much work it takes while we're also like creating an atmosphere where these conversations taking place because right now going back to where we started the conversation on a on a governmental social level we are not moving forward that is not what's taking place it is very much regressive and you know some of the inroads that we thought we were making are definitely trying to be taken away from all of us it's crazy how when you say um
Starting point is 00:49:07 you were talking about taking a break in June 12th y'all we may not see Jesse for we don't know how long sorry hold you you will see me again because then because the tour was supposed to happen right at the album and there's going to be a little tour but I told like this is the smallest fucking tour you've ever seen in your life 10 days That's exactly what the fuck it is I told everybody I was like You guys got 10 days out of me
Starting point is 00:49:33 And that's it I'm not fucking 10 dates 10 dates 10 dates 10 dates So now So June 12 plus 10 dates Somewhere I'm trying to figure out this balance combo See if I can be a part of this All right so
Starting point is 00:49:46 So When you take time off What you haven't done You said in since nine years Nine years Yeah significant time but you love
Starting point is 00:49:58 performing live yeah but not right now not today but I'm just saying it's in you I've loved it for nine years and you hate it now I don't hate it damn she's just tired you're just tired
Starting point is 00:50:10 that's it I just I'm not I used to rush I used to run to the stage and right now I might like walk walk okay all right that's foreign to me okay because I've never walked all right so that's just tired but that means that it's still in you
Starting point is 00:50:24 That's what I'm really just trying to get to. It's not gone. The love is not gone. I don't think so. Damn it. I think you're just tired. Songwriting and recording. Love.
Starting point is 00:50:34 I used to run to the studio. Okay. Yeah, man. That's why I'm like, but that's kind of me in relationships too. Like, I need space to love somebody. That's right. I need like, and I think that maybe with this too, I just need maybe. I just need time.
Starting point is 00:50:46 I just need time and I need space to miss it. Maybe. And perhaps. And then I'll feel the pool. Do you have like a dream destination? that you want to hit on your time off. Yeah. She's not going to tell us because she's going to be showing up.
Starting point is 00:51:00 Tell me later. Wait, nobody's going to know when she's going to go. You know. 13. It's going to be like June 13. I'm there. And don't they have like those plane trackers? They'll be tracking all the planes leaving Toronto.
Starting point is 00:51:11 I damn. Destinations. You know, they'll be on that whole shit. Yeah. I'm just going to be. I'm just somewhere in the woods with some books and my dog and my family. I love it. So you are you are, uh,
Starting point is 00:51:24 prefer trees and mountains or your beaches both bro just give me green and water earth just whatever is natural and I'm happy and you want to do it with your family well I need some alone time too so yeah I'm gonna isolate between between the two but I love like a dolo trip yeah oh my god I do that at least once a year I'll go camping at least once a year too with that same like maybe yourself hell yeah but I'm in to I'm hella introverted. So that to me is like, I love, it just bring me so much joy to be left the fuck alone and like with some books.
Starting point is 00:52:01 And I have to, and also like, not have to worry about fucking feeding nobody. And like, because I don't eat, I'm my eating, like, I'm good with some fruits and nuts. And like, I'm chill. Give me water. Like, I'm good. We know sometimes other people are like, what do you mean? We're not going to go have a full meal? Like that girl did, that was in those girl dinner TikToks?
Starting point is 00:52:19 Yes, yes. That shit is real life. The girl dinner, I'm like, cool, cucumber and some chicken. Love that. You're good. Yeah. I eat girl dinners. I'm definitely smoothie and some cashews and I'm out.
Starting point is 00:52:30 Nice. See, chill. So I like, I like being able to not worry about anybody. Yeah. And just be like, cool. I'm good with this.
Starting point is 00:52:38 I'm good. Oh my God. I can't wait. I'm excited for you and I'm excited for you. I think you deserve it. Fucking right. Yeah. A little vengeance, June 12.
Starting point is 00:52:48 We got the, your heartbeat record. You got the collab with Money Long moving around. Love that. Shout to Money Long. She's crazy. Now, she's a writer, too. How amazing.
Starting point is 00:52:59 Was that your first time working together? Yeah, and I've been a fan. But yeah, it was a first time working together. Yeah, but she's an amazing songwriter. So what was that like for y'all to get in the same room together and collab? Long distance. Long distance. Yeah, so when I got that first back, I was foaming.
Starting point is 00:53:14 And I was like, oh, my God, I love this so much. Thank you. And, yeah, and then we shot the video together, and she was great. She was such a vibe, so funny. I love her voice, too. Oh, my God. No, she's, she's been putting in that work. Boy, what?
Starting point is 00:53:26 Yeah, she's been putting in that work for a long time. For a long time on both ends. Yes. Yeah. I respect her so much for that. It's because it's such a difficult thing to, like, live between those two worlds and know how much priority to give one career versus the other. So being able to excel in both is such a fucking, like, I just, I just, a commender for it.
Starting point is 00:53:46 Well, and you've had a similar path. You bet. You've excelled both. Yeah, but that, but that made, I think that's why I respect it because I understand how fucking, how, how it can be different. Now everyone's got a fucking opinion about what you're giving and what you're not and yeah, so I commend you for it. Are you loving the state of R&B right now? Yeah. And music.
Starting point is 00:54:04 Yeah, yeah. Yeah, shout out Dustin, shout out Kallani. What? Yeah. They be, what? Shout out Durant. Yeah, it's crazy. Also been a fan from time.
Starting point is 00:54:13 Yeah. From time. Just want to say that, you know, because yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. A lot of amazing shit going on.
Starting point is 00:54:21 A lot of amazing shit. Um, you, start all your song writing with the guitar always or is it sometimes a beat or how does songwriting happen for you? Lyrics and melody happen at once for me and it's just a matter of my emotional state mixed with whatever reaction it has with
Starting point is 00:54:44 either like chords come from anywhere come from a pre-a-bee, come from guitar, come from piano, come from whatever, I just need a bed and then... Something to lay in. Something to lay in. and then my emotions will make whatever. And so for this album, was most of this things that you had
Starting point is 00:55:01 that you asked people to be a part of, or were some of these things, things you guys created together? It's a lot less of in the room by nature of what we do and how much everyone is just always hustling. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's very, it's very... Spotify, it's Jay Shetty. Are you one of those media strategy people?
Starting point is 00:55:19 Scrolling through spreadsheets, searching for an audience that pays twice as much attention to your ads, than they do on social, let me introduce you to fans. And they're here with me on Spotify. Trust me, I know fans. They don't skip, they stay for hours. They don't move on, they manifest. They're not a demographic group, they're fans.
Starting point is 00:55:41 Spotify advertising. You're among fans. This is a beat of 250. During Black Music Month, we celebrate the legendary Prince, one of the most influential artists in music history. Born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7th, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prince changed music forever with classics like Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, and 1999, his sound blended funk, rock, soul, and pop into something completely original.
Starting point is 00:56:09 But Prince was more than just an incredible performer. He became a powerful advocate for artists owning their music and creative freedom. During his battle with Warner Brothers, he famously wrote the word slave on his face to protest industry control over musicians and their work. Prince believed ownership meant freedom and independence. Though he passed away in 2016 at the age of 57, his music, message, creativity, and fearless spirit continue inspiring generations worldwide.
Starting point is 00:56:37 Today, we probably honor his purple badness and his unforgettable legacy forever. No, he doesn't do it for a bit. Listen, you never know. You never know. Somebody be like, ah, not so much. Nothing. Not so much.
Starting point is 00:56:51 I know he's popular people like him, but man. It doesn't do it for me. He doesn't do it for me. Now, I want you to see that. Okay. It's a, it's a,
Starting point is 00:56:57 it's a blockbuster. You know, it's, you know, and I don't know how deep you go with the Michael Jackson legacy of like his creativity and talent
Starting point is 00:57:06 and the story of everything, but it's definitely something like you take your whole family to go. Oh, really? Like, I went with my family. What did you love about it? What do you love the most? What was the biggest takeaway that you were like,
Starting point is 00:57:16 huh? Their reaction. My family's reaction. I'm too close. Like, I feel very close to, like, songwriters who worked with Mike and, like, people who just understand, you know, what went into making these records. And so there's things in the film that just aren't in the film because it doesn't, the whole Diana Ross story. Right, right, right. Or, you know, how.
Starting point is 00:57:38 I don't know about that. That's just wild. I didn't know about that shit. Right. News to me. I was on TikTok, like, no way. But, but, you know, so, and I'm, you know, I'm from a different time where I, and by the way, at the time. at the time when I was young,
Starting point is 00:57:50 I thought it was just speculation. When I got older is when I found out, like it was really something. Yeah. You know, but just even how that dovetailed into the Wiz, which is obviously a cultural classic for my world. Right.
Starting point is 00:58:04 You know, all, and him meeting Quincy Jones. And like that era of like off, you know, because off the wall is my project. That's like my album. And people get mad at me
Starting point is 00:58:14 because I always make crack little shady jokes about thriller and shit. but thrillers the marketed like that's the album and it is it's amazing thrillers amazing but off the wall for me and what it meant in new york city and kind of told michael's legacy and him becoming becoming of age or whatever but anyway i i enjoyed seeing it through their eyes and i rediscovered it again and i rediscovered it again and um and i think just to some degree just the magic of it all and the reason i asked you about it is because as a songwriter right and somebody who contributes like their whole person to their craft right how i always want to ask people who
Starting point is 00:58:54 write as well as you like at this stage of your career you write from a place of like my emotion and what i'm feeling and what i want to share with my fans do you ever see yourself writing from a place of like yo i'm going to write a number one hit song and i'm going to put all the ingredients into this specific song to make sure it's the biggest pop record ever or it's the biggest whatever. Do you ever see yourself writing like that? I've only done that once. And I did it out of spite.
Starting point is 00:59:26 I don't remember I said to them like I'm free. I'm a free creative. So like I never, I hate making that way. I hate aiming. I hate aiming. I hate. And I'll do it if I'm invited in the room as a writer for another artist. And if this is how you want to create, I'm there to support.
Starting point is 00:59:40 I'm a supportive role. So this how we're going to do. They're like, I watch this movie. I have this quote or I like, I thought about this one lyric and then we'll build around that, whatever. But I don't like to do that. The only time I've ever been like, okay, I'm going to make something that has some ingredients was because, should I, should I, should I, fuck it. The, huh?
Starting point is 01:00:03 French boys. And NYB. Okay. So, I made a song with Rike's great producer. It just didn't fit. whatever the fuck project I was working on then. And then the song went into the pitch folder. And it lived there for a while.
Starting point is 01:00:26 And it went into the pitch folder. And I really liked it, but it just didn't fit. And the pitch folder is a folder of your music that is for. For pitching for other artists that might love the song. And then at least the song will see the light of day through someone else. Okay. So it's usually what works. If I'm writing for others,
Starting point is 01:00:43 I'll either be invited into the room and then create with them. Or if I know someone, like, it'll come to the grapevine that someone's looking. and then you send, okay, like, oh, you're looking? Maybe this record for you, yeah. Or I'll go into the studio and play it for them, so I guess three ways. But anyways, we get word that Lisa from Black Pink really likes it.
Starting point is 01:01:02 And, of course, like a fucking child, I'm not playing with the ball. Someone's playing with the ball. Wait a minute, wait a minute, I want the ball. Like, a little bit of that, just a little. But obviously I've done this enough that I know my, I'm like, okay, I'm stripping. This wasn't for you, just.
Starting point is 01:01:19 Like, you know. And then we start hearing from other people being like, yo, that shit, that shit got played. Yo, this record. Yo, Jess. Yo, they're just a lot of that. A lot of that. And it got to me and I was like, fuck, did we give away a wrong one? Like, again?
Starting point is 01:01:35 Like, did I do this? Shit. And I heard it from so many people to the point that I was like, okay, well, maybe we can finesse this back. Or maybe we could like, you know? Oh, man. Maybe I could like, yeah, it was too. to the second the second that shark's milk blood in the water those contracts were fucking signed yeah we're like we're keeping this joint keeping it yeah and I was like
Starting point is 01:02:01 fuck you know you hold the L you take the L sometimes you just gotta keep it moving so I kept them moving and I was like whatever it is this is what I do this is a win it's not even L it's a yeah it's a W different win but it's a win and so then I go to the studio and I'm like fuck bro I'm talking I'm like damn I really I really whatever it is what it is I'm just going to make its cousin. I'm going to make, because it was originally called French Boys. I'm talking about moonlit floor.
Starting point is 01:02:25 Okay. And then I went to the studio that day and then thought of a beat that was like something, something energetic, and then I made New York Baby. Yeah. And then that's the one, which is so ironic that right now,
Starting point is 01:02:40 like that song, you know, it's got the Nix line in it. So I was like, oh, this is perfect. This is great. So maybe it'll serve for, for something in the city, especially right now. Right, right? Yeah, but that's the only time that I've ever,
Starting point is 01:02:55 it's quote unquote aimed. And I don't even think I, maybe I subconsciously did it. And once I was halfway through, I was like, oh, yeah, fuck it. We're making its cousin. And then it came to be. Yeah, I always think about that with writers. Like, you pour your heart into something, right? Yeah.
Starting point is 01:03:07 And then to be able to give your baby away. Usually I'm cool. Yeah. Usually I'm cool. Because you know you're going to give it away or it's meant for somebody else. Yeah, and I just believe in divine designs. Right, right, right. God wanted, it's meant for somebody else.
Starting point is 01:03:20 Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The reason I asked you about Mike is because in the movie, he, you know, and if you know the Michael Jackson story as he gets towards thriller, he's like, I'm about to make, we about to make something nice.
Starting point is 01:03:35 No, no, no, no, we about, we're about to take over with it. Like, you know what I mean? Like, this is what I'm doing. This isn't just like, oh, I'm making a dope R&B album. No, no, no, no. I'm going to make the biggest fucking thing the world has. ever seen. Did you see his affirmation list in the video? In the movie? Is it a aff- I think it is?
Starting point is 01:03:56 Yeah, I mean, he definitely has like, you know, yeah, I believe so. I believe it's in there. Yeah. I love that. I believe so. But definitely like him coming up with like song titles and different things. It's a dope. It's dope. And I hear it's coming to streaming soon according to the rundown with Laura Stiles. So you'll be able to just watch it at home at your own when you take a break. Yeah, so whenever you take a break, you just came back and watch Michael. As just a fan of popular culture and pop music. Yeah. You know what I mean? And a little vengeance, a little vengeance with Yessie. Ortiz. Ortiz.
Starting point is 01:04:33 A little vengeance. June 12th, go get the full project. We love you so much. Yes, we love you. And we won't text you. Actually, you know what? We may FaceTime you when you're on your break. Okay, cool.
Starting point is 01:04:44 And just be like, yo, where you at? What's going on? You're feeling good You're feeling good But that's my way of being like That's my way of being like You don't go too far Don't go too far
Starting point is 01:04:53 Don't go too far kid It might be on the other side of the goddamn world Boy shit Woo No But thank you all I'm so tired of crying in interviews
Starting point is 01:05:07 Man I'm so tired of crying in interviews It's crazy You just touch a Oh boy Yeah But God bless y'all Thank you for always
Starting point is 01:05:16 Welcome in me Of course Such good energy And supporting my music and just wow that sounds like a goodbye but thank you for my like it's been a sick career and I'm just really grateful that you guys have like supported my shit you know thank you so much thank you for your art keep going thank you for giving to us thank you thank you you guys give it up jesse ray's

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