The Questlove Show - Black Music Month: James Poyser Part 2

Episode Date: June 26, 2024

Part 2 of James Poyer's in-studio conversation with Questlove Supreme celebrates the last 30 years of Black Music. James reflects on experiences working with Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Common, and Lauryn Hill. He details the genesis of great songs from classic albums. This career lookback includes humor and some insider access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.

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Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. This week on the Sports Slice podcast, it's all about the NFL draft. And we've got a special guest. The director of the NFL's East West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galco, joins the Sports Slice podcast to break down what really matters when evaluating draft prospects. From hidden traits teams look for to the biggest mistakes franchises make to the players flying under the radar. This is the insight you won't hear anywhere else.

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advice ever. He goes, just give it a shot. But if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit. If you saw it written down, it would not be an inspiration. It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat. Just hang in there. Yeah, it would not be. Right. It wouldn't be that. There's a lot of luck. Listen to thanks, Dad, on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Questlove Supreme is a production of IHeart Radio. What's up, everybody? This is Sugar Steve from Questlove Supreme, and we are back with part two of our conversation with the incredible James Poyser.

We all make fun of each other, but James is a dear friend who has been a joy to work with over the last 20. I did not write this. This is clearly written by somebody else. You have heard him join QLS for our Fred Hammond interview a few years ago, and he popped into Lettucey's chat earlier this year. But this time, James is in the hot scene. If you haven't, go listen to Part 1, where he talks about growing up in West Philly, his years as a gospel musician and ultimately getting down with DJ, Jazzy, Jeff, Grandmaster, Vic, and Gamble and Huff. As we celebrate Black Music Month, James Poyser has been at the Ebby Center of it for nearly 35 years ago.

Enjoy, and thank you, James. Your first year of rotation with professional sales, I assume 91, 92, 93? Yeah. Who are you gigging with? Because I know probably the number one thing I'm asked in my DMs is just like, can I get a gig? Wow, wow. Same.

And you've never had to go through this. You never had to audition and do any of that stuff. Thank God because I don't think I would get the word. So I definitely wouldn't get chosen. So you hear about a gig and you'd have to go to audition. And I remember going to this, I'm not going to say the band. Did you audition for Boysdomin? You were just about to say it.

Right. That was incredible. Oh, because y'all are brothers, and y'all read each other's mind. It was cute. Wait, you were about to say that? But this wasn't the Philly band. This was a New York band that was doing it.

I'll never forget. I took the train up here to rehearsal, and Boys and Man walked in and they was like, okay, let's do the song. And I was like, I don't know the song. And just let's go. And I've never heard the song, so that everybody's playing. And I'm like, and I think Boys and Men said something

walked out on the MD. He was like, yo, man, you're just, you need to know the music. It's like, nobody sent me the music. How was supposed to know what I don't know? It's because it's a voice of men and they were already established? I think because the MD at the time was just like,

you messed up. Oh, right, right. Like the mirror. Oh, damn, I forgot to send you the tape. That's right. That's an empty move. I thought, now I'll admit that I didn't know about, like, the auditions for that.

And after the point, I was like, yo, why didn't y'all call me for? He's like, oh, we thought you knew about it. Everybody knew about it. But I didn't know musicians at all. Yeah. And so, like, how do you know? It's just being in those circles.

You know, being around, you're on the church scene or around the boys and guys in the club scene, you hear about things. Hey, so-and-so is looking for a band. All right, let's put a band together or yada yada. All right, so today, of course, if you're six degrees to black stuff, six degrees to Omar.

I don't know who else is. Man, man, all of them. Yeah, man, man, right. So if you're six degrees to them, chances are you're going to find some work because, I mean, Adam controls at least 17 acts. So he's looking for it, you know what I mean? But what was the lay of the land in the early 90s?

Like, who should I have known to make my dad? My dad wanted me in that session service. thing. So who should I have known to because even Clayton Sears like audition for Boys to Men and I'm like yeah. Oh, Clay. Clay. Clay. And so it was just guys, I can't really put a... You had to play with people

who's the blackstone of, see, I thought knowing Bill Jolly. Bill Jolly for time. Oh, Bill Jolly, Bill Jolly, Bill Jolly. Thank you for saying his name, yeah. I thought knowing him would be like, you're And what's crazy is that it seems to me that the guys that have those runs as MDs are mostly bass players. It's kind of funny. Ricky Minor. Yeah.

Kern Brantley was a guy back in that area that ran pretty much put all the bands together. And now it was black. You know what I'm? Black still. So the bass players are. Those fuckers. Randy Jackson? Yeah.

Yeah. Makes sense. It's a Rachel. I got some songs. Oh, and Rachel. Yeah, so just being around. And I was playing with the wedding bands, too, at the time. Did I if I didn't mention that?

No, you didn't. Oh, my God, I was playing in the wedding bands. And I was making money on the wedding bands, man. I would play the opening, whatever that is, then the ceremony, then the cocktail, and then the actual. Is there a fake book for the wedding circuit? Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, but it's just a lot of the top 40 stuff.

Yeah, all the top 40 stuff. Right. And the horror. It's a Jewish way. I was about to say you got a new day. We were played a whole, like shouting music though. Yeah. But they play like, do-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d.

Everybody's dancing and drunk, they don't know what's going on. So all these city-line avenue weddings, all of those weddings, man, man, yeah. Yeah, it was, it was, now my last wedding that I did, I had to drive an hour and a half to this country club. Best feeling ever. I did the opening thing, whatever, just, a lot of the stuff is piano on. And then the party is with the full band. So did that, did the ceremony, did the cocktail, did the party after us.

I'm exhausted and carrying my keyboard. I had my black tucks on, both of my camera stuff to my car. And this little old lady dismissively, without looking at me, passed me a valet ticket, and I'm like, hey, get my car from me. What? And I quit the next day.

What? I quit the next day. This is not for me. Yeah, yeah. We passed this nice. I wish you would have took that car. And just took it. Yeah.

High school James would have done that shit. All right. So I remember the first time we played together, and I've told this story before, the last day of Ilydorf Half-Life, DeAngelo came to Philly to record the notic, the hypnotic. And then we had like six hours of spirit.

We did a whole lockout, but we knocked the hypnotic out in like, 90 minutes. Like that's how fast he was with harmonizing. Yeah, DeAngela works really fast. Yes. And so we took a food break and then it was like, well, shit, we got, you know,

time on the clock. And we did the whole, do you know the song? Do you know the song? Do you know the song? Do you know the song? Do you know the song? And I was like, oh, damn. All right, he knows what he's doing. And that's when Rich said to me, well, not for nothing. Because in my mind, I was like,

yeah, man, this is how, these types of cords, this is what I want. Come on, you know, no, no, no, no. And Rich was like, well, not for nothing. I said, you got someone does better courts than him in Philadelphia in your own backyard. I was like, who? He's like James Poyser.

I was like, who's James Poyser? He's like, you know, no James Poyser? You know, the guy, he's like describing it wasn't coming to me. And he said Philly International, and I was like, then I remember the Apollo in London and that stuff I was like oh that guy he plays keyboards and so he said yeah

matter of fact I'm going to call him Kadar wants us to work with one of his clients and she's going to come in from Dallas and this was maybe four or five days later so what I do remember though is

because she was young fresh and new circling back to Sugar Steve with doing everything back this is the one time I remember Michael DeAngelo Archer

showing up like no three hours early Oh wow She's fine still fine He was already back in New York And I was like yeah man I said we're working with the girl Erica Badu

What's she at Cutifar's Gump Giff I was running. I said, wait, what? Who? I said, yeah, we're working with Eric Badu. When? When?

When? I said, I don't know, a couple of hours. When she gets here, she's taking the bus down and we're going to work with her. He said, oh, we're, okay. How long? I said, probably like three days or something like that. Oh, we're? Three days, huh?

She's staying there? I'm not even knowing what I'm falling. trap. I said, she's staying down there? I said, I think so. I said, actually, I think some convention in town, so she can't even, I don't know if she's, like, coming from New York or whatever the case. I think she's, like, going crash in Tarek's house or so.

DeAngelo? To be, me. No, no. I am not exaggerating. When I said, yeah. Yeah, she, because she, the first week of Badawism, Tariq let her stay in his apartment because he was doing something else.

Yeah, she's going to stay with Tariq and the motherfuckers was at Sigma. And so then we had a jam that night. Jam session, yeah. Wow. Yeah, we, I mean, we... We never get the Badoolism story, so... Well, I mean, this is that. I listened to the work cassette of day one.

We basically, I think, other side of the game, It came within... Damn near three minutes. Listen, immediately. Instantaneously. Can you all... So tell us about the song's workload situation because I'm like...

So, can I go back a little bit? Yeah, yeah. So at Philly and National, I started working with this guy's... His name is Fatim Dansley. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So me and Fatim were writing songs

here and there doing some gigs. I would go to Overbook and play, and he would sing, you know, whatever. And one day he hit me like, like, yo, just these girls I'm writing for cause a jazzy fat Come on, man, these names. You should come down. So I came, that's when I first met Rich

at the house. So you came to the house? Yeah. Okay. I mean, you guys were on the road, I think, at the time. Yeah, absolutely. So I brought the Jazz East of Philadelphia

to, you know, hopefully work with them or whatever. So that's when me and Rich developed this relationship. Rich Nichols? Rich Nichols. And that's why Rich... Already knew about me. Okay, okay. So was y'all, what's the record,

unconventional ways was that y'all? We live in unconventional ways Yeah he did that Yeah I love that record man That was my one But I will still maintain

that You know Of all the projects We had our hands in I felt that we went By that project Totally wrong Now granted

The fifth beetle In that situation was Mercedes's brother Jay Swift That's right Producer of the far side And And

way before I became known for being Gaga for Jay Dill's music. The shit that he did on their record was, and this is way before it, like, what's the 4-1-1 really was the first yeah, singers can do

what rappers do, too, type of thing. Because I remember, like, when we first got that thing, we just looked at each other in the van, like, wait, she ain't allowed to sing on no loops? Like, what the fuck? It's like a rap record. Like, singers are allowed to make, you know, like, we were, I was against it.

I was like, no, this is like a rap record, no. And, you know, but before that just broke me down to like, okay, this is where R&B and hip hop really meet. Like, the far side record was the far side. The Jazzy Fat, Nasty album, or at least the seven songs that he did, was just like, I never heard that level break beat and beat chopping and all that stuff. And then they got to Philadelphia, and we just undid all that. You did, yeah. And it was cool, but, like, at one point, they could have pulled a fantastic volume one, volume two level of, holy shit, that's allowed on the record.

And that's the one thing I regret about, like, the world not seeing the jazzy, fat nasties that I saw. Yeah, because those J-Siff records were never released. Yeah, no. they weren't they weren't I think at one point we put like one of their songs in that four I think give a dog a bone was kind of that like but yeah so for team brings you to the the fold yeah which makes total sense we weren't to her so we really weren't yeah so what's the plan for baduism how y'all come like how do y'all decide what's what needs to be done how her vision she was just full of like I never saw someone just full of a bunch of ideas yeah

And she mentioned, like, I got something that's going to flip, like, bad boys, what you're going to do? Like, that sort of thing. And I was like, oh, that's cute. Like, she always, she had a lot of courses ready. She was the first person I met that, like, instantly had a clever course ready just in the stash. And so I remember when we sat down, three minutes in instantly, like, the first course he played was just the beginning. Matter of fact, we just... What's on? What's on? What's on?

Other side of the game. Other side, yeah. What's going to do? I'm assuming it comes to you, bad boys. Oh, what you're going to? Oh, that got you. Right, I'm sorry, yes, other side of the game. So literally, when you hear the work tape, and it's not like you had it in the chamber or something.

It just happened. You just, all right, a bridge here, and you just, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, that's dope. And literally, we cut. Matter of fact, that's the tape. That's the tape. Literally, like. Yeah. So what you know is the other side of the game was music.

musically a first take. Yeah. And then you and Rich did a lot of sweetening it up, like the horns and stuff. So I just knew it as a rhythm track. Me, Hub and you. And then it came, yeah, it was like a full song by the time I got home off the road. That song was all tight. I said, oh, this girl's going to make it.

That sort of thing. And yes, Afro was real. It was flat? I was asleep by that point. Like, I don't. It was flat on one side. With Erica, man, I want to talk specifically about Mama's Gun. Yes.

That was your kind of, you know, I don't say your moment, but that was, as I understood it, that was you seeing it top the bottom. That was kind of your executive, you know, this producer decision. Talk about that record, man. Oh, man. So just know that before I had to leave the voodoo tour. I was. I don't even know.

Who did y'all report? Please, James. June. Okay, okay, okay. June, June. Juniors. We started the Voodoo Tour in March 1st of 2000. And all our members that we had the 86th, Natalie Cole out of the theater from fighting.

Oh, wow. I don't understand what you're saying at all. I don't understand what they're, I don't understand. Oh, women were. I know what that mean. Oh, yeah. I went to that show. That show was the first week of Voodoo at the House of Blues.

Oh, my. Was like Chippendale. Wow. And then it got bad. It was doing halfway through the tour. Take it off. That's untitled. Yeah.

No, the first 18 minutes. And mind you, we're preparing like this three-hour extravaganza of every musical reference of his son. And basically, they're looking at it, they watch, like, okay, what song are you going to take your shirt off for one? Which is crazy because to me that leads to where he is today and not like that just ran him away from wanting to be that person anymore in a way. But he's actually back to that down. Oh, is it? Look at you.

Oh, I'm sorry. She's got flush. No pressure. Mr. Archer, no pressure. Do what you need to do to be comfortable and healthy, sir. So mama's gun. Yeah, so mama's gun. Yes, yes, yes.

So, yeah, that album almost killed me, man. Like, well, towards the end of it, where we were working in four different studios at the same time. And I, like, all three rooms, an electric lady. And I was stuck in the studio without going to the whole. hotel for a few days and I had a beard I remember common coming to this and I wrote a post note like

help and then I had a stress attack and the top half of my body stopped working I couldn't move my arms. You serious? Yeah it was that extreme? I went to the hospital I thought they thought I had a stroke but it was just a stress attack. Wow. Yeah it was I was dealing with Erica and I was

trying to insulate her from the label they were, you know, keep on all that. So you were taking it? Yeah, I was dealing with all of that and it was a lot. What was the, what were they pushing for? Let's get this going now. Okay. We need this record now. We need to get this record now.

And Erica was just like, I'm moving to my own speed. You know what I mean? And Erica's funny, man, because I don't know if y'all noticed, well, should I say this? Yes. Sure. If you look at the CD. Oh, the track message is wrong. No, no, not only that.

Okay. Yeah. But the color, if you look at the color on the outside and then look at the actual. color of the CD. Two different reds, if you notice that. And that was just her being like, y'all ain't going to tell me what to do. Oh, that's her.

Wait, okay. Side track, when you buy the 45 of what's going on towards the last 30 seconds, there's this thing where you hear the fake going out. And literally, that was Marvin Gaye's middle finger to Barry Gordon, like, tell me what to do. I do what I want to do.

Right. Wow. So it doesn't give you warm and fuzzy feelings to talk about any of these songs. Because I really want to ask you about Green Eyes. It's like one of my favorite songs of all time. That was one of the greatest experiences I had in this business. Erica's my girl.

No, I know that. That's my sister. Y'all didn't do a lot together. She's called me. She's my studio wife. I'm a studio husband, as she said. So can you talk about Green Eyes? I'm just, why we told my mama's gun?

Can we just because... So Green Eyes, we wrote in Dallas. She has this old, beat up, green, upright piano that's out of tune and it's got paint on it. candle wax everywhere and half the piano keys in the works. And we wrote the song there, you know, it went down there and it just, you know. When did you decide to, like, did the song always have so many changes in it?

Because that, to me, that's why it stands out because it's like, it changes with her mind. That's her. She's super creative and wants to, you know, she, you know, she'll do wherever, you know, you've got to try. You don't want to, you can't ring her in, but you just let her do what she wants to do when just trying to help her get her ideas out. And, you know, produce. All I remember was y'all forcing me. I was definitely the night of the OK player, New York show.

Were y'all on that tour with us? This was old, what year? The cover of the Roots Come Alive is the night of. I wasn't there that night. I didn't come on. It was like 0.3-ish. Oh, okay, okay. Yeah.

Yeah, like all I remember was that I was throat bleating. level of sickness. And you were asleep on the drums while playing. Dog, I never see anything like that. Clever. We're not only tracking individual songs. Like, from what I remember, clever, kissed me on my neck.

Like, she wanted to do it as a suite. Right. And I was like, look, let's just cut one song. And then, you know, when you go to Master, like, attach it and make it like, no, she's like. She's like, she's like. She's like, she wanted to do it all in one day. Right.

Was it booty? And booty, yes. The three of them. And she came in, gave me a barf bucket. There's one point in, at the very end of the clever, I'm so mad y'all to make, you know the anger that you feel on wake up when we didn't put the delay on, what's the last song that we did for waiting for Superman? That's all, rise or, and we didn't put the,

I was like, where's the part of it? I'm so mad. Like, I was trying to. to sabotage clever so that y'all gonna say look just go home and come back again so this is a point where i started doing like i was like uh i'm gonna be drum and bass right now on the rim side and i was just trying to fuck up on purpose and y'all kept all that's what you got oh man i did your production work as well man my probably my favorite project probably both of y'all's one of my favorite projects the al green laid down album oh man i wanted to

I mean, I thought y'all just did just an incredible job of, you know, bringing, like, his original sound, like, all those things we loved about the old records. But it didn't feel like just, you know, cosplay. It wasn't like, oh, let's just make it sound old. Like, they really sounded like they were great songs. And, you know, and I thought y'all did a great job of that. What was it like working with that man? It was a crazy thing.

We cut all them songs in what? Three days? Yeah. What? Because he would just walk in and start singing. And whatever came, that was the song. He was like the Kool-Aid man. Like,

oh, yeah. Matter of fact, if I recall correctly, and I have this on tape, I think we were just messing around with the idea of the title track, lay it down. And then he just walked in and started singing. Like, we didn't meet him yet.

Yeah. We didn't meet him. I know you love that, Amir. We didn't shake his hand or nothing. He just walked in. And when we heard his, voice. I think I was trying to text James, like on the thing, you see me like

what the fuck? You're playing with Al Green right now. But he started singing, so I don't want to be like, sir, this is really an honor to let him cook. Yeah, he just came in and started freestyle and then and then walked up the room and saw Spanky. I was like,

Spanky! Chalmers, Alfred. Yes, he knew Spanky. He knew Spanky. He knew Spanky. Everybody. Everybody needs to speak. Oh, if we talk about songs, can I just throw out one real quick with the two of y'all? I would like to throw out sometimes,

Bilau. I would like to talk about that song and how that came together in such magnificence because it's one of my favorite Amir James collaborations. Amir, you know the... Teasing common. Teasing common. Wait, wait, wait, we kind of, I know we brushed it.

We ain't got a lot of records. I just don't know to do. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Hang on. Okay. I literally just found a bunch of the Al Green kind of work. B sides? No, just the...

Hold up. Hold on. Just the demos and stuff. What you're talking about, Willis? Amir is always like, I just found this. Like, poof. You're right. I'm like... So we tried this once...

Remember, we tried to convince him to cover Crazy with Sharon Jones. Yeah. And we played him Seelow Green's version, and he just felt like, mm-mm.

That sounds scary. That sounds scary. Like, there's something about the chords. Yeah. That he's like, I don't like that. That's demonic. It's against God. But typically, we would just play.

We were playing. The one plan that I think we both had was we got to have, and each song have a break that somebody would want to sample. Right. Exactly. Good plan. But literally, we would just, this is how every session is with us. We'll just play.

I didn't know that you're supposed to like pre-write elsewhere, demo elsewhere. No wonder things go so quickly. And then go in the studio and do it. Like we just go in the studio and write this song. This is it. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying.

Yep, that's me. Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagine. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. If you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. There's two golden rules that any man should live by. Rule one, never mess with a country girl. You play stupid games, you get stupid prizes. And rule two, never mess with her friends either. We always say that trust your girlfriends. I'm Anna Sinfield, and in this new season of the girlfriends,

Oh my God, this is the same man. A group of women discover they've all dated the same prolific con artist. I felt like I got hit by a truck. I thought, how could this happen to me? The cops didn't seem to care, so they take matters into their own hands. I said, oh, hell no. I vowed. I will be his last target. He's going to get what he deserves.

Listen to the girlfriends. Trust me, babe. On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Ago Wodam. My next guest, you know from Step Brothers Anchorman, Saturday Night Live, and The Big Money Players Network. It's Will Ferrell. My dad gave me the best advice ever.

I went and had lunch with them one day, and I was like, and Dad, I think I want to really give this a shot. I don't know what that means, but I just know the groundlings. I'm working my way up through, and I know it's a place that come look for up-and-coming talent. He said, if it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you, which is really sweet.

Yeah. He goes, but there's so much luck involved. And he's like, just give it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit. If you saw it written down,

it would not be an inspiration. It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat, just hang in there. Yeah, it would not be... Right, it wouldn't be that. There's a lot of luck. Listen to thanks, Dad, on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This week on the Sports Slice podcast, it's all about the NFL draft, and we've got a special guest.

The director of the NFL's East West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galco, joins the Sports Slice podcast to break down what really matters when evaluating draft. prospects, from hidden traits teams look for to the biggest mistakes franchises make, to the players flying under the radar. This is the insight you won't hear anywhere else. If you want to understand the draft like an insider, you don't want to miss this episode. Listen to the Sports Slice Podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 and TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. In 2023, former bachelor star Clayton Eckerd found himself at the center. of a paternity scandal. The family court hearings that followed revealed glaring inconsistencies in her story. This began a years-long court battle to prove the truth. You doctored this particular test twice in so-ins, correct?

I doctored the test ones. It took an army of internet detectives to crack the case. I wanted people to be able to see what their tax dollars were being used for. Sunlight's the greatest disinfected. They would uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing.

Greg Lesbian, Michael Marantini. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trap. Laura, Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Ladies and gentlemen, breaking news at Maricopa County as Laura Owens has been indicted on fraud charges. This isn't over until justice is served in Arizona.

Listen to Love Trapped podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts. I've told this story a few times, but common thought that he was going, well, he sprung on us that he was going to be an actor. And literally, we're like, like behind his back, like, I've heard this. And so, yeah, he comes in all excited. It's like, yeah, man, I'm going to do Carmen. Carmen, Robert Townsend and Mike, what's his name that used to run the source, doing a hip-hopper thing and he's like yeah old girl from destiny shout is going to be like old girl old girl old girl going to be one you know leading lady and all that stuff and instantly i was like yo we're going

induct her in the sill quarries this is going to do this shit oh that would have wow wow i'll admit at this point while his relationship flourished with his workwife yes mine was souring a little bit i'm not on worldwide underground i didn't want to say i but yeah yeah and So my thing was like, okay, so I'm going to bring more energy into the full. This is the one time where I was actively campaigning like, yo, we're going to bring her into the, and we were this close. Like, we were, we were close. Anyway, so, you know, he came in, the audition, all excited. He wore, like, a vest in his Jeff hat, like, like, he's going to the club, like his audition clothes and everything.

And he goes there, and we're like, yo, you're going to do it. You're going to do it. and he came back and I didn't get it and we just started clown and right and then he said most got the role and instantly a four-hour session ensues with us any given chance playing umi says and then James really brought up the temperature where he started singing I don't think you and then after two hours of doing that shit then Bilal just started singing to it I was like, yeah, huh? Okay. Well, it was like a joke like,

sometimes I wish I would have passed that audition and then suddenly it was like, whoa, this is something. Why you're bullshit? Right, so that's how that got me. And well, chicken grease also chicken grease was definitely a common song. It was a common song. It was Studio C,

electric lady. Yeah. Yes. Upstairs. All I remember was that DeAngelo was working on the city. Okay, because CDs can only hold 79 minutes. Yeah, 72, 70, well, 79 minutes for some plants, but DeAngelos plant was 72. So he had to drop the second song off of Voodoo, which is a song called The City, which was really like a Roy Hardgrove tutorial of just like amazingness

and I remember Dee was working on the city downstairs and we were working on chicken grease upstairs thinking it was common shit and I remember DeAngelo walked in and he kind of looked at me and James like now y'all know like but it was the thing you know common's all geek like yeah man I got it And then when I went to the bathroom,

you know how like Tupac was waiting for Omar Epps around the locker and juice? That sort of thing. I got out of the bathroom. And he says, yo, man, bro, you know good and well. That boy don't know what to do with that funk. He's going to waste that song. I said, what did you say?

He said, I got to have that song. That's my song. Y'all, y'all doing me without me in there. Wow. And I was like, come on, man. Like, just let him have it. Nah, man, that's my funk. Like, don't give him my funk.

He was right. Yeah, no, he was right. And then I was like, trade off. So it just so happens that two days ago, before then, we were trying to find a song for Ms. Hill to come and do with it. Like, it was like any day now, she'll come off the road. No, they had They had

They had a quid pro-crow arrangement He was gonna do nothing even Yeah, I remember you told me the story in the time and I was mad And she was gonna do a song Yep Well, I mean, eventually that

But there was a Dill of songs She didn't do it She didn't show up And then what we know is ghetto heaven Right I remember that We just did that that day And I said, look, you don't want

the ghetto heavens at the time is the gangstar song. And so I had to broker the trade between Common and DeAngelo to take each other's songs. Gotcha. Yeah. You talk about Common, man. Electric Circus, I want you to talk about New Wave

because I swore that was a stereo lab. Like, I thought they, you know what I'm saying? I got the credit. So I thought it was just so dope how you captured their sound. I mean, it sounded like a stereo lab joint, but you captured it perfectly, man. Well, that's a mirror. Oh, okay.

That was... No, I played it, but we had the part that Kammer was rapping over. That was the whole song. Oh, okay. And we're like, yeah, we're going to send us to stereo lab. And then you came in the studio and was like, no, man, it needs a different hook. Yeah, they got to, like, knowing... I was always listening to dots and loops.

Uh-huh. Yeah, same is. And then I put Dilla onto it. And so basically, I just wanted to brought all their CDs and, like, this is the kind of happy shit they sing to. So you guys got... to find a way to amalgamate that into the song. Yeah, because Dylan and him did that track together. Ah, okay.

And he walked in and said, we changed a hook and then we just created that. But if you can go back to chicken grease. So I think we left the studio around 5 a.m. I left because I was, when them two get together, man, they start talking about, and they start geeking out about music. It's like, I love. It's like a Quest Love Supreme episode without...

I feel like I know this feeling. It's about a clock. You love music, but what? I love music, but I don't love it like, y'all love it. So I was like, I'm taking the cab to the hotel. So I get in the cab, I have to walk out to 8th Street at 5 in the morning, finally got a cab, and I get out in the hotel, and Dee's Rangerover pulls up with him in the mirror.

And they're like, yo! And I was like, what? Because I'm dead tired. Like, getting back seat. seat. And I was held hostage in that back seat for like another two hours while they listened to that song over and over and over. Which one?

Chicken grease. Yes. Somebody has happened. This is vocals on it. This is. No, this is just the track. Oh, it's just the track. I'm sitting there.

You know, them two get together. I remember on the tour bus and voodoo. Them two would be at the front, like watching James Brown. Look, he moved his left knuckle. And the band went to a G-M-I-Oh, and I'll be like, I'm going to the back, going to sleep. He's going, I like music, but not like they like music. Here's the thing, though, I don't know if you remember this, man. But speaking of New Wave, you know that was the last thing that Mary sang on?

Really? Wow. The bike accident, right? She did her vocals. She went to the studio to do her vocals on that. Bike ride home. Oh, I didn't know. Who is this you're talking about?

This is Mary. Mary Hanson. Mary Hanson of Sterile. Oh, okay. They had two votes. Mary Hanson, Latisha. And Latisha. And, yeah, Mary, she died in the biking accident.

Oh, wow. I didn't know that was her last record, though. Yeah, me neither. That was, yeah, one of her last records. It wasn't after she did, it was something related, either, like, Dudley had to communicate with it, like, either her check or something like that. But all I remember was that, like, Dudley had dealt with her hours before, And then as soon as we got to the studio,

it was like she passed away. I have a question. Shut up, Steve. I know. I feel like we haven't done that enough. I know. It was time for one. We've heard a lot about Amir's relationship with Diller.

What was your, like, when did you meet him? This was, like, water for chocolate. You know, Kam was like, yo, man, we go to Detroit. And I'm working with Dilla. And I'd never met Dilla. I'd never seen him. and of course I love the music

but in my mind I'm like dealing with 6-8 300 pounds because the music said bitch I remember going to the house and they open the door up and I'm looking up like oh

oh that's you what's up man yep yep yep yep yep yep exactly yep yep yep yep yep yep so that same that day we woke literally the same thing kind of happened just instantly.

Questions and, I forget what else, but. Cold-blooded. Oh, the questions. Yeah. Cold-blood questions. No. Time traveling. Doing it.

Oh, yeah. No, we're doing it. Oh, funky for you. Funky for you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, okay. Okay. So, I mean, I was just a fan.

Again, the, not only is approach to drums, but what? I loved about him being a piano player, his approach, the way he would put samples together. The chord changes? Yeah, the changes. It was almost like he, instead of 12 notes, it was like 18 notes.

Because just the way things would mesh that you wouldn't imagine. And you can try and play the stuff, but your fingers can't really do it. You don't have enough fingers. You don't have enough fingers. You know, so I love that about them. And, you know, that was my guy. I would go out to Detroit.

You remember when the Anthonyem was a five-star hotel? Oh, I stayed at the Athenium Hotel all the time. Infinity now is like a one-and-a-half-star hotel. Oh, man. Can I ask y'all too a question? Soul Aquarians. I don't even know where to start, but I kind of want to say in 20, in 2024, how do y'all see the Soul Aquarians?

And what do you, in retrospect, like? Man, it's weird. All right, so Ross called me yesterday. Ross Common. And he's been getting poached by, you know, his Hollywood connects and all that stuff. And, you know, the idea of it is nice. But I'm really at a place now where I want a stress-free existence.

And some friends. But y'all are older, I don't know. People, okay, I got you. Never mind. Yeah, but it's just like, you know. Maybe you just do an up. photo shoot and be done with it. There we go.

But even that would take 12 years. That would be, wow. That would take 12 years. I mean, I'm not trying to be like overly dramatical. Like talk a bunch of shit and then cut to, all right, guys, let's organize and do it together. Now, you being for real. But it's just like, I, for one, similar to you, I'll say that I've had four secret hospital trips in the last 20 years. Four of them were always

sole queer and related. Just the stress. The stress of, you know, and I can't do that anymore. Family stress you about more. Yeah, but no, no, not to this level. Okay. So, I mean, yeah, I love the history of it.

And plus, it's also like, I went through so much drama after that photo was taken. Where really the story was like, because people felt left out. I remember that. Not left out, but it was just like the territorial pissing part of it. You know, that story should have been in a mere story.

But because I was in a place where I didn't want to own or whatever, the whole anti-flower shit. I was like, uh, put everybody in it because it's all of it's like all of ours. And, yeah, it's just. What's the James translation? What was your? James had a nice coat from that. I remember he had. I'm like, wait, why am I in the dingy-ass Maurice Balloon T-shirt?

Erica, like, I got you this shirt. But James got a mohair coat. I'm like, mother, damn it. Hey, that whole experience to me was funny because I always, I was looking at like, I am very happy to be here. You know what I mean? It is you. It's me.

Like, it was like, just everybody around. Even the musical side of it before this, I was like, you got to understand what I said. A lot of the stuff was created instantly. So to me it was like, oh, man, I'm just playing and it's people like it. So it was, everything was a bit of a surprise to me at that time. Like, I'm just here. You know, everything was, I was bright out and wish you tell and everything.

So, mind you, when it works, it's beautiful. When it works, it's beautiful. But it's just leading up to that. But it's still working a little bit for James in a way. I mean, like, y'all's love of my life was post-old-word. I'm just talking about all the drama and stuff. I wasn't really. I saw it was affecting him, but I was like, I am just here.

I'm just a piano man. You look like, oh, I'm just the money you met him to the bottom. And to be honest, which you like, we've never broken up. I mean, the moment that Dee wants to go into a studio, So chances are he's going to hit me up or something like that. And shit, we just started working on it, even those small steps. Actually, none of those in them. Pete, I'm sorry.

Uh-oh. That means he's editing himself because he says something he shouldn't. Right. No, no, no, no. I was going to say, oh, by the way, none of our interludes made it because Pete Rock was like, he's all interludes. This is my record. Yeah.

So. James, you look like the Soulquarians pimp. Oh, let me see you. I forgot it. He does. It's like they're all dressed for something cool. He's like, better pay me, bitch. He is.

He looks expensive. Now that I know what I know. I'm going to just ask the question and safe and it's possible. James, what was the biggest lesson you learned, especially coming from a finance background in your experience working on the album that should not be named?

Finance background. Because you touched. What is the album that should not be named? Come on now. Miss lady. Oh, got you. That album. Miss Lady.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. The Miss Education of Lauren Hill. Yes, come on. We're talking our jackets off. The Miss motherfucking education. I mean, the fine-ass thing is, if you're going to look at it from that point of view. I was just keeping it safe, so, but you can go where it's. No, I'm just saying if you're looking at from that point of view, it's like, be careful what you're invested.

Okay. You know what I mean? Some things that you think you're investing in the returns don't come back to where you're supposed to come back if you want to talk funny yeah yeah that was very ambiguous yeah fantastic keep going no I'll say to real so it started with uh everything is everything one day will all make sense for common rich respect the most you know what I asked during those those common sessions I was like dog do you not realize like back then we heard that shit and that was like oh man it was like a Calvin got a job moment right right I said but

Dog, you do realize that that's one of the most tone-deaf, like, a woman doesn't have a time we overbite. I turn it off every time it starts playing. Right, but we thought it was like... Could God, $250 ain't worth it. $350. That was the... Yeah, but yeah, we laughed and he's like, yeah, I realized I was going on the side of history. So it started there.

So with that song, you know, Kamlin was in the session in New York with no ID and they were like, yo, I'm working a song with Lauren Hill, but the vibe ain't right. Can you come up? So I took the train up, sort of reworked the song with him, and it came out great, and Lauren was excited. Yada am. So I get a call a couple months later, and Lauren was like, can you come up to Jersey? So I go up to Jersey to her house,

and I will never forget this conversation. Sitting there, she's eating breakfast. Yeah, I want you to come in and help me work on this album, play some stuff, write some stuff, produce some stuff on the album. Okay. Those three things. Play, write, produce. Got you.

So cool. Three different chicks. So, you know, and we developed a relationship, you know, it was like, Yo, Elle, El Buggy, you know, Lauren, what up? You know, I'd go up there, I would stay days at the house. I was, this was when I was staying in Zion's bedroom, the baby at the time, you know, working in the studio. She already had a crew of guys that she's working with, the Newark guys, Vader and them.

And also my brother Che Pope, was working on some stuff also. So me and Chey, who's still like, He just texts me You know, we're still together But we were working on things for I was playing on some things It was just a lot of moving parts And a lot of stuff happening

Even though some of the other projects She was working on like Aretha Franklin The Rose Stiller Rose You know, I remember her calling me I think it was like Because it's you too, right? Yeah I was in my studio in Philly

And I think it was 8 o'clock at night Can you come to New York So I jumped to my car, drove up there I played on a roses to La Rose You know Crash at the Creeze career of whatnot. So those kind of things was happening at all times.

So towards the end of when the album's being wrapped up, that's when things changed. That's when I couldn't get Lauren on the phone without a manager being on the phone. And it was like, oh yeah, you did agree to that work for hire thing. I was like, what? What you talking about, Willis? Long story shirt, I did file a lawsuit,

But then I dropped the lawsuit because I just, I was, at the time, I wasn't strong enough to deal with it. Because it was a lot of stress. It was a lot of. And, you know, I chalked it up to a loss and a learned experience. Wow, the urban legend goes that James filed, he did, and he won and he got a lot of money. I just need you to know that that was the urban legend. Oh, no. No, he was part of the, he was the one that.

The first one that started the legit situation. So nobody, did anybody ever? Yeah, they did. Three, yeah. Okay. It took him a while, a few years. right? Yeah.

But I was like, just washed my hands of it and move on. I've been cool ever since. You know what I'm good. So yeah, it happened, you know,

learning experience. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. That's a learning experience. Do you feel in general because I hear a lot that like

everyone's rights of passage or trial by fire thing is like the getting gang story? Yeah, that it is. Absolutely. Absolutely.

It is. Yeah. Well, someone's going to get jerk. Yeah. Yeah. So what is the, the thing that you now do different, you had started doing different from that moment. Like, even is it a paperwork thing? Is it a conversation that you now have for? Or...

A lawyer. Or even the lawyer, yeah. Here's the thing, though. Everything that I did in that situation is what I've done with other artists and have continued to do, and it's all been cool. It's just a one-off. It was just that kind of thing. Not that my two senses need it in this matter, but I think a lot of the unspoken elephant in the room of it all is that, perhaps maybe she was under the impression of you know this whole like the Stevie Wonder Prince written and produced the range and da da da da da da like that but I don't know any situation that doesn't require a village like even all the Princess stuff was you know you're Revolution members now saying I wrote that baseline and da da da da da

that sort of thing you know I wish that she knew that because I often wonder if she's punishing herself by stalling as a means to if it was humiliating to get caught out there with the hand in her cookie jar like does she think like see we told you she wasn't a real producer she had people to do it for her but it's like dude like production's literally

giving your two cents to what you think the musicians should do and the you know that sort of thing but I don't know. I feel like if she has a better relationship that, like I'm not judging her because of that. It's like, surprise. Everyone works on everyone's records.

And that doesn't take away from my enjoyment of those records by knowing. Right. You know what I'm saying? If it's dope, it's dope. But I almost feel as though like the insular side of her story starts with, you know, the revolution, you know, because the way that she initially,

I guess she had initially won the case and then they appealed or something and then the last minute, 11th hour videotape revelation of the proof that that they were doing

other people were, yeah, right, that came in the play and then it's, you know, and I almost felt like, wow,

she probably feels like we're judging it and all that stuff, but no. Didn't Michael Jackson scrub some of his name off the credits or something like that?

Greg Filling Gaines. Huh? Yeah, he told us that right? Yeah, all the time. There's Greg Phillengs for writing the bridge

on, everybody. Don't stop. Do you get it on? Everybody a motherfucker in a way. It's... Listen, it's like, you know, I didn't write 100% of the song. I'll be the first of a minute.

She absolutely is supremely talented. But, you know, my little... I played a small part. Just give me that credit. The small part. You know what? I get it. It's a fucked up world.

A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clever Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football or my career in sports media.

Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes

of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show, isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. There's two golden rules that any man should live by.

Rule one, never mess with a country girl. You play stupid games, you get stupid prizes. And rule two, never mess with her friends either. We always say that, trust your girlfriends. I'm Anna Sinfield, and in this new season of the girlfriends, Oh my God, this is the same man. A group of women discover they've all dated the same prolific con artist. I felt like I got hit by a truck.

I thought, how could this happen to me? The cops didn't seem to care. So they take matters into their own hands. I said, oh, hell no. I vowed I will be his last target. He's going to get what he deserves. Listen to the girlfriends. Trust me, babe.

On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, everyone? I'm Ego Wodom. My next guest, you know from Stepbrothers, Anchorman, Saturday Night Live, and the Big Money Players Network. It's Will Farrell.

Woo, woo. My dad gave me the best advice ever. I went and had lunch with him one day, and I was like, and dad, I think I want to really give this a shot. I don't know what that means, but I just know the groundlings. I'm working my way up through, and I know it's a place that come look for up and coming talent. He said, if it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you, which is really sweet. Yeah.

He goes, but there's so much luck involved. And he's like, just give it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head and the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit. If you saw it written down, it would not be an inspiration. It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat. Just hang in there. Yeah, it would not be.

Right, it wouldn't be that. There's a lot of luck. Listen to Thanks, Dad, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This week on the Sports Slice podcast, it's all about the NFL draft. And we've got a special guest. The director of the NFL's East-West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galco, joins the Sports Slice podcast to break down what really matters when evaluating draft prospects.

From hidden traits teams look for to the biggest mistakes franchises make to the players flying under the radar. This is the insight you won't hear anywhere else. If you want to understand the draft like an insider, you don't want to miss this episode. Listen to the Sports Slice podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, for wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slice of Life 12 and TikTok podcast network on TikTok. In 2023, former bachelor star Clayton Eckerd found himself at the center of a paternity scandal. The family court hearings that followed revealed glaring inconsistencies in her story.

This began a years-long court battle to prove the truth. You doctored this particular test twice in someone, correct? I doctored the test ones. It took an army of internet detectives to crack the case. I wanted people to be able to see what their tax dollars were being used for. Sunlight's the greatest disinfected. They would uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing.

Greg Alesspian and Michael Marantini. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trap. Laura, Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Ladies and gentlemen, breaking news at Americopa County as Laura Owens has been indicted on fraud charges.

This isn't over until justice is served in Arizona. Listen to Love Trapped podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Damn, this is, I feel like this is a special episode of Good Times, where Big Mama just passed and whatnot. I'm just happy James felt comfortable having that conversation. So this is what I always want to know, because, you know, you can tell the fiber of America based on interactions in airports. And yeah, to this day That's not what I thought you were going to say. What did you thought I was going to say?

I don't know, but not that. I agreed like I knew what you're talking about. No, I'm just saying that. Yey once famously said that, you know, he'll sit in airports. Like when he designs a Uzi sneaker, he hints the, not like the, whatever, the medicine shoes or the geriatric shoes or whatever they're called. But, you know, everyone always comes up to me and says,

hey, I love your CNN special on racism and all that stuff. Oh, come out. But I know post-thank-you notes, I know that post- thank-you notes, your life might have to be somewhat hellish of people. Do it? Nelson George. Oh, shut up, shut up.

I didn't even, never thought about that. I've never. I've never seen Nelson George and James Poe's in the same room. That is. I'm just saying. A skin. That is hilarious. Oh, my God.

That's going to live rent free of my head now. That is crazy. That is funny. I never thought about it so right at this moment. Between Pimp Aquarius and Jesus Christ. Oh, wow. No, but I'm just saying that, you know, and I know this is very word to say,

but you being... That is you. Yes. Wait a minute. Wow, that is me. You forgot what he looked like. I'm pretty sure that's you. Yeah.

Okay, sorry, moving on. But you being highly utilized and recognizable jiff is actually not none of the scoff at either. That's a new celebrity now. Yeah, being a jiff, I'm not a jiff. You know what I mean? Oh, you are. No, no, I'm a jip, but I'm not the go-to.

Like James, yeah. Like James, yeah. I'm trying to laugh. James tried not to laugh is the greatest. If it's shade or cynicism. Oh, the shade. His face comes up first. Is that a weird feeling for you?

It is. It is. And what does your son say? That's crazy. I get recognized. It's crazy that I get recognized. And the funny thing is always older grandmother. Yeah.

They love Nelson Jones. They watch the Tonight Show. They watch the Tonight Show. Oh, older Grandma. And I can hear, I'm walking in a shade and I hear it, James. Shut up. So when I hear that, I'm instant like, I know. I'm like, hey, I'm like, I don't know.

No, man, that's like the new sampling. Like it really like memes. That's like the new sampling. Like it totally just exposes you to a new audience that never would have got to you otherwise. So it really is a way of celebrity. Yeah, on a fouling note, Amir, I'd just like to ask you. Like, why did you feel like you had to have James on this ride?

Mostly we wanted to double down on a every instrument. Because one person as a keyboard player, then if James is sick, you know, our parents are up there in age, anything good, you know,

I mean, we need to double down. So it's always like two keyboard players, two drummers. Two drummers? Wait. Stroh Elliott. Hey,

I'm in a band called The Roots. Okay, don't do that because visually, people don't think drummer Stroh. Okay, because they see Stroh on an, don't do that. They see him on a little thing thing.

I think I can answer this. A lot of what happens on the Tonight Show is kind of like live scoring of like whatever's happening on the stage. And so James is good at that. I thought that's what he was going to go. That's it, James. That's where I thought he was going to go

is more with Steve's in. I mean, there's other reasons. Right. That's one of the reasons I see. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what I thought you was going to go. Well, besides, he could play his ass off in the obvious things.

I thought we knew that already. James, you're reading right? My reading stinks. So does my. Are we reading? Is it necessary? No, well, so I can write piano music, but I can't play it for shit. Like two staves at the same time?

Nope. Not happening. The guys that can sight read stuff. And is it worth it? It depends on your profession, in my opinion. I don't know, man. I feel like, I mean, once I found the Philadelphia school curriculum is dropping cursive writing and penmanship, well, that's different. They can't get rid of, come on, imagine Kappa not having that.

They don't have it. They're not. Reading music? No, no. Oh, you know, I know the cursive writing. Oh, yeah, no, I know the cursive is a rap. The curse is a rap, yeah. Yeah.

Is there anything we didn't cover? I mean, it's just too much. Wait, you're doing shit now. Like, so talk about the TV shows. Yeah, like, your life as a score. Oh, and thank you for totally awesome, by the way. I think you couldn't believe I saw that movie. That shit was hilarious.

Wait, I don't know totally. I was that movie. It was like a spoof movie with Chris, Chris Katte. Chris Katan? I think it was Chris Katan. The Brennan directed? Yeah, Neil, Neil Brown. My brother, Neil.

This is old. This is like for me. This is, bad. James' current job is the Jason Siegel character on whatever that show is. He just plays low tones and, like, action crime documents. He sits in front of the TV, he goes, Won, won, won, won, won, won.

Yeah, I was about to say, it was frustrating for me because they never know what they want. That's exactly. Or they know what they don't want. Yep, that's it. That's the thing. You got to learn to embrace the notes, meaning whatever they tell you, you know,

I've had to learn that. Take a huge thing. And I was saying, bro, I learned that you were a big part of teaching me that when we did that fame record. Yeah. Because, you know, you talk about me telling you the truth. Like, I would send the joint. And you came back and was like, okay, man, yeah, this is dope. But I think, you know, this part you should change and do it a little or whatever.

And that was the thing that taught me of like, listen, man, like, this is not yours. Yeah. You're working in service of something bigger. So if they want more cowbell, just give them more from cowbell. Exactly. That's the end of it. I had to, you know, I didn't realize I had an ego. But that part.

I thought that you go. The first time you hear when somebody says, that's cool, but no. Wow. So what you mean? When you get the equalizer, how is it fed to you when you're giving scenes? Like, we need something here.

Yeah, so I'm co-scoring that with a guy named Robert Duncan who's done, who did it from the beginning for the first three seasons. I came on on the third season, though. I'm in season four now. So he was a true vet at the stuff. Anyway, so he's been teaching me a lot, Did he find you? Is that why? Dana and Shaquim call me.

Shakam, when I was like, I really want to do the scoring thing. I reached out to a lot of people like, hey, if you need your music for anything, I'm trying to do it. And Shaquim hit me back, you know. It's a whole of the brain side. It's not like, I cold, DMed Ava Duvine. I was like, yo, if you, so she hired me for Cherished Today. And I did the first three episodes before I got fired. You got fired?

Listen, when I got fired, my agent said, you're officially in a composer. Wow, wow. Ooh, what's that like? It sucks. It sucks, but it is what it is. You learn from it. Oh, Mayor, you are so blessed.

That's beautiful. That was a beautiful question. I got fired before. You got fired by who? I got fired by Terry Gilliam. You know that director? Yeah, I did some, like, weird, it was like some NASCAR thing,

and it just wasn't happening. I got the, it's going another way. Different direction. like a whole different direction I was like no problem I knew it wasn't it was for me I just didn't have it I got fired from Sizzler for stealing fried shrimp

Can I say Can I say it one more time? Yeah go ahead Shut up So the scoring you do that pretty much From the crib Yeah From me from the house

So Yeah We're working on Equalizer I started a new show Which I can't really talk about Right now Comedy It's actually a crime drama.

A bunch of, wow, wow, wow, no, actually it's not, that's more equalized. This is more string quartet. Oh yeah, yeah, you're saying. So I've been writing a lot of stuff for that. We know when it's come out, when can we talk about it? When it comes out, because you don't know when you're going to get fired. Preach.

Do you like writing for strings? Is that something different? It's something new. You know, again, I'm pretty much uneducated. a lot of this stuff. But I had to, YouTube University is a beautiful place, man. Like, is Larry even right? What's the crunch education version of scoring?

Like, what did you have to learn the, it's not, and it wasn't anything musical. Again, it's what we talked about, losing the ego and learning, really, really, truly learning that you've got to do what they want. Period. So you can be as musical as you want to be. That ain't it. If that ain't it. If it don't. It's got to stick to the picture.

You got to stick to what they want. Well, I always, you know, the first thing they always lose when I got called was no drums. So. Right, right. You're like, I'm fired. Because it gets in the way of the dialogue. So I'm like, well, I'm not, this is not for me. It's funny, though, that I've read and seen that there's a lot of, like,

really heavyweight producers that try to do this. And they like, no, they like, no. They don't like being told no. Yeah. And, too, like, doing working on TV, that's a different timeline. Like, you don't have time to, sit and talk for two hours about me. It's like, no, we need this shit now.

Yeah. That's what it is. Yeah. All right, so we gotta get you past Ludwig. Like, for me, Ludwig is the tree that has to, yeah. I mean, he started a community and then he did all his glover stuff. He's amazing. And then he did Black Panther and.

Oh, he did Openhawk. He did Openhauer. This is Ledwood Gords and the composer. I got context clues. I figured out what I was talking about. I am a fan. Yeah. but you know

him Chris Bowers is another one it's just like oh yeah so those are the mountains you have to climb to get to the prime stuff yeah those are what is it that you want to score I would love to

to do some big budget Hollywood so John Williams shit action like an action it don't matter it don't even matter yeah you know I love all kind of film you know I love

maybe you need to circle back to common or maybe and uh Maybe a Questlove directed film. The guy who you made fun of not getting the gig, maybe you should call him. Tom is in a lot of movies these days. You know, you know.

Like, for you is, besides the never released Randy Watson record, is there... You've done everything now. Like, what is your preferred method of creativity? Do you prefer live shit? Do you prefer... creating a record from soup

nuts. It's a combination of all of it, you know what I mean? Or when you're doing it, you wish you were doing what's over there? For me, if I do too much of one thing, I get kind of cranking. It's like I got to go, I need to go to a jam session or go play.

You know, it's crazy. We only play less than 10 minutes of music on the show. Really. So you want to play. That's why we started doing those jazz gigs around town just so we could. Oh, was that a third. You can just pop up at a jazz spot and see James Poisonville?

He was at Django, at the Django, which was like a really hip New York jazz underground spot. But now Chief has Uncle Chiefs. Have you guys done games? I play that before it's great. Yeah, so, yeah, Dave Guy and Ian Hendrickson and James. Oh, that's dope. James is really, he downplays his actual piano ability.

Let me find out that James doesn't think that he's a. good piano player. I'm still learning. I'm still learning. As you should. There's nothing wrong with that. Not even. Like, he's a very capable piano player because we wouldn't have utilized him all these decades. Shut up, Steve.

No, but the best thing is a balance of sitting in front of a computer screen doing whatever. Playing with a band, playing live, you know, just a combination of all of those things, doing session work, you know. I love it all. I love it all.

What's the next record that you are working on, like, artist-wise? I'm working with Tank. Oh, God. I'm working on a poetry album. Tanking the bangers. Yes. But first of all, either way, I'm good. Okay.

Okay, but Tank I do. That's my good. I feel like you were given. Yeah, I love Tang. I feel like you were giving other Tank energy. Well, I was given other tank energy because I was just, James Ignat. You're not. Yeah, but Tank, come on now.

That's a girl. A lot of body rolls from my day. That's my, if she's listening. What up, be a baby. That's my, that's my, that's my, that's my, That's my New Orleans accent for her. Which she hates. She's been on this show, Jax.

Which sounds Jamaican. It does. I know. That's what she said. You sound Jamaican. Okay, so before we wrap up, Steve, is there anything else you want to add? James Poysers is a legend. Yeah.

Totally great. No, for real, bro. Thank you. Thank you, man. You know, I will say that, you know, of all the keyboard players in the world from West Philly. You're the best. From all the Jamaican. That's it cool.

You can't keyboard players is out west It's extremely specific You look like Nelson George Yes exactly I wouldn't choose anymore Nelson George now

That's a bit though That Nelson George thing Now I gotta find that on my damn stuff No thank you for doing this And you know Take your flowers And Nah seriously man

Thank these flowers Nah man Thank you for always being a big brother man I appreciate it Thank you for a love Thank you for getting Fonte in the film and TV world. Like, that's dope. Like the evolution of that is like, oh, nine.

That was my first. James, ladies and gentlemen, yes, sir. Love you guys, except for Steve. Anyway, on the end of James and Bill and Laia and Fontello and Sugar. This is Quaseless Love Supreme. We'll see y'all next week. Peace.

This is Sugar Steve. Thank you for listening to Questlove Supreme. This podcast is hosted by Amir Questlove Thompson, Laia St. Clair. Fonte Coleman, Sugar Steve Vandelle, and Unpaid Bill Sherman. The executive producers are Amir Questlove Thompson, Sean G, and Brian

Calvin. Produced by Brittany Benjamin, Jake Payne, and Laiaea St. Clair. Edited by Alex Conroy. Produced for IHeart by Noe Brown and... Westlove Supreme is a production of IHeartRadio. For more podcasts from IHeartRadio,

visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits,

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