The Questlove Show - QLS Classic: Lenny Kravitz (Part 2)

Episode Date: May 25, 2020

In part two of two, Lenny breaks down the hits, the deep cuts, his creative forays and that long-awaited funk album. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ladies and gentlemen, we talk so much about Lenny Kravitz's life in part one of Questlove Supreme interview with Lenny Kravitz. So check that episode out. And now here's part two of our exclusive two-part interview with the great Lenny Kravitz of Quest Love Supreme. So when you got to Mama Said, Mama said was a complete reaction to what was going on.

Right. That's one of my favorite records. Between Lisa and myself. Mine too. It might be, of the old ones, might be my favorite. Is it hard for you to,

okay, so I'm saying, is that the type of album where you're, like you're done with it and that's your... Well, I'm done with every album when it's done.

I'm done with everything once it's finished. I'm on to the next. But I love that record and I don't regret a thing. But the pressure of you still singing, like, it ain't over till it's over. Like, in your mind, is she's still the target of that song? Like, can you...

I mean, it's her song, you know, and it's actually really interesting because, I mean, we're best friends. We're back to brother and sister. I know. She's at your show. We're best friends. I'm with her kids, her husband. We're all together. Everybody's...

It's one big family, which is the way it should be. But she came to a... She hadn't been to a show in a million years since we were together. She had not been to a show on the Struct tour. And she was with Zoe. And it's the first time Zoe's seen her mom at my show. So here's all of us. And I'm singing these songs from Mama Said that are...

About your mama. Wait, time about it. Wasn't I at this show, too? I don't know. Yes. At the Webster Hall. Yes. Oh, shit, I was there for that.

We were doing those clubs. Wait, that's the first time she saw you in a second? Yes. So. Modern family. She's so touched. She was in. Man.

Yeah, I want to know her reaction. No, but she, it was, I looked up. I wasn't, I didn't know, but I looked up and I saw. I was watching her. I was watching her. She was holding hands and both of them with this look on their face. And it was beautiful because it was the first for all of us, right? And then I guess toward the end of the show, they actually ran out, went to the,

to the deli, went to the shop, and got flowers and were throwing flowers. at the stage. Yeah. It was a thing, man. It was a thing. It was beautiful. I had hope for a little bit because I was, you know, watching her. Like, I was trying not to freak her out, but I kept watching her, like, watching it.

I was like, yo, she's really engaged in this. And, you know, you remember that moment where, like, Kadeem interrupted the. Baby, please. Right. You want a different world now? I was so. here. That's Lenny's world too.

I mean, I was on that set. We had Creer already, so. No, it was really cool to see how amicable. So, no, the record is a beautiful memory, and I have no problem with those songs or singing them.

Can I ask, what was their reaction to first hearing it? Then? Yeah. I don't know. At that point, it wasn't, it wasn't, You guys weren't rolling like that. So it wasn't like you finished it?

I, no, I, you know, yeah, it was. So wait. No, I got to say this. I got to say, more than anything in this world, I probably put that shit or more. That was that one was a state of depression. There was a two week period where I didn't sleep, where I was, I had a guy living with me, like, just watching me.

Like, I was ready to, jump out the window. It was bad. I wasn't sleeping. I wasn't eating. You can hear that shit in your voice, man. That song was cut on a, what was it called? Porta Studio. Yeah, a little fourth track. It was cut on a porta studio on a cassette. The track. And then I, and then I went to Waterfront, and then I

did the overdubs, but it started on a cassette. In this room, in this loft that I, man, I was gone. That song was the, was the, was the, was the, was the, was the, period of that record for me emotionally. And which sounds is it? More than anything in this world. One, I'm glad you said that,

because I've been trying to figure out the drum sound for that. Let's just buy a four track already, or dig one out of your 18-story units. I think it's the Alessis, the little gray, Alessi's, little flat one, the curb the drum machine with the tape slap. And also, yeah, the reason why I knew that it was really,

because you sang so dry on it. Oh, it was just like some 57 line around the apartment. Yeah, you sang so dry. No, but even your vocal, like, you didn't put, you didn't do any inflections on it. Right. And I was just like, yo, and I was cheering for you, listening to this shit.

I was cheering for you. I was, because when I heard it, you go get back, man. You know one of those songs, you know one of those songs you can just got rewind over and over and over. And I had the cassette. So, you know, I'd get the end in the thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And then, like, I wore that tape out. And I was just like, all right, Lenny, I believe in this performance. You got to, I felt if you did a video, no, actually, you probably went to jail and got a restraining order. I was like, you got to say anything to the song. You got to set up on her lawn and record a video. That's called street harassment, though. But let me ask this because That's specific.

And although it's How do you know? Why is that street harassment? Yeah, just well a quarter. The University of Twitter. Front lawn harassment. That's a thing. No, that's a real thing.

Oh, okay. But let me ask this because you were straight honest and it's great as a fan. Like, people appreciate that. You had the first album that was about falling in love and then you had the other album that was, you know, about the opposite. And I guess as an artist, when you're sitting in there writing this album,

you're going through all your emotions. You're like, I got to get the shit out. I got to get shit out. But then you put the album out and you have to do promo and press around it, right? So I got to relive the shit. Yeah, like, how do you do that? And at what point, and even now, like, I'm so grateful that you are open and you're still not tired of talking about this chapter because it's important to your music.

No, I love it. On the tour now, I'm singing songs. I'm doing, stand by my woman and different songs from that album, I mean. But how do you do that? Like, how do you do the promo off of these albums too different? Well, then I'm sure it was a different thing. But now they're just these, like, beautiful memories, you know, and parts of my life that, you know, they're still there. How did you, were you disappointed that Black Radio didn't really pick up on it ain't over till it's over?

Because I felt, once MTV started playing the shit out of it. Yeah, on the Pops charts, it went number, so the pop would have been straight pop. It was number two with a bullet because. what's his name had that Robin Hood song that would not they had that movie money and I sat and I sat three months

with that number two of the bullet three weeks and where they put that last bit of money on that thing number three so it went number two I don't know what it did on the R&B charts I don't even remember

did they even promoted to it not to say that Black Radio couldn't have just picked it up but did they even sell it promoted to this Black Radio always used to kind of be like, yeah, that's nice. You know, like, I'd go do promotion. But did they send you to Jack the rapper or? Jack the rapper. Fucking Prince did Jack the rapper.

Stop holding in. Prince did Jack the rapper. R&B people did Jack the rapper. This is Lenny Chris. You got me clapping out. Kevin Hart. So much clapping. Why am I clapping?

I get that to my kids. No B. No BRE, no Gavin, no Jack the rapper, I'm guessing. BRE sounds familiar. Now, that was Black Radio Expo. That sounds familiar. But look, look, it was like I would go, I did do Soul Train. Yeah.

These are the right cuts, too. Because we loved it. But it was always like, all right, great. We do an interview, we'll joke around, and then it's like, yeah, we'll play it twice. That's how they do. That's your ass. That's how I got fired. What I was saying that, it went number 10 on R&B chart.

Okay. It's not bad. Oh, shit. It's not bad. Okay. Because we knew he existed. We knew we loved the music. We just didn't know we couldn't.

It was just not what they wanted. Right. I've never, I guess, beside that, I don't know. I don't even remember. But Black Radio, you know. You're big on Russian Jew radio. Just tell you. What's the station, Steve?

W-U-S-S-R. So, with, with, with, with, Going to go my way. Right. And things totally breaking this. First of all, how did it happen? How did you finally break the ceiling into? Man, that track, first of all, who knew that track had nothing to do with hit records, radio?

No, dude. It's adrenaline. It did. And post-teen spirit, adrenaline rock was still a thing. It just felt like a locomotive train. I didn't see it. Okay, I didn't see it coming. That riff was too effective.

We cut the track. We cut that track in five minutes. Wow. Hey, Alpha State. Because another session was coming in. I was still on that tip, even on my third album, the next session was coming in. I couldn't even block that match out. But, dog.

There's some Greg Phil and Gaines taught us called the Alpha State where when you don't overthink shit and don't, and you just do it. And we're like this, and the next client's in the lounge, and it's like it's getting that thing where we're kind of five minutes over their thing, and they get in there. And we're in there. That puts your subconscious in the state of perfection

that you're not even aware of. You don't think. And then I had the track. I went home, wrote the lyric and the melody, because it was just a jam. I had no idea of melody, wrote these words, wrote the sang it, and was like, okay, record comes out.

They decide it's going to be a single. They're working it and working it and working it. Try to make it happen. Weeks going by. Nothing's happening. I think a big part of the success of that song was the visual. I met... Cindy.

Well, no, well, that. Mark Romantic. Yeah, Cindy became... But Mark Romantic, the director. I met him through Jeff Aeroff, who signed me, and we took a walk on the East River and talked about, let's make a video. the space and there and this light and then that came then MTV didn't want to play it they're pushing

they're pushing not at first oh you got to like work and get it on the thing and then the slow thing and then then then then that video but you were already already pretty established yeah but you know it was it didn't happen right away they worked that record for so they had to twist some arms to make it but When it, it was about to go away. It was about to be done. And something happened and it just went, blam, and that was it.

You know, that was it. Oh, shit. Yeah. But it was a moment. It was a moment. It almost didn't happen. Damn. That video was HD.

Before it was HD. I know. Right? Like, dang, look, you can see his locks all up in there. Wait a minute. I want to go to that show. I forgot. You produced one of my favorite records.

Vanessa Paradis's debut. Okay, see, you're so smart. You always get it back to... Technically, we're... No, no. Okay. Take a compliment. I was producing Vanessa's album at the same time,

and it was Vanessa waiting to come do her session. So it was her session, but I had to still work, right? Right, right. But she was ready to then come in. It was her time, and it was like, well, she can't hear this. What? She can't hear this.

Well, it was kind of like we were cutting tracks. I was cutting tracks for her. Oh, you're using her studio time? No, but that obviously would have been too hard for her. Right. But when we first were cutting it, I didn't know who it was for. I was doing my stuff and I was doing Vanessa at the same time. So it was just like, let's just hurry up, get out of here,

and just take this one home. Yeah. So that record was made at the same time. Okay. Is it in Hoboken also? All of that was in Hoboken. Yeah, the Vanessa Parity record. And I did everything up to circus in there.

Circus was part, New York, part, Bahamas. And wait, we're in Hoboken? It was a building called the Del Aquila building. It's 15th in Washington at the end. It was this big, ugly brown and yellow window spray-painted sweatshop factory. People in there making purses and sweaters and shit. Does it still exist? Now it's a fabulous condominium.

Of course. Everything in Hopeville is a fabulous condominium. Of course it is. Yeah. Oh, damn. Yeah. But it was waterfront, yeah. Wait, so the T building?

Is it now the T building? I don't know what it was. It's at the end, 15th in Washington. It's at the end, that big building. And there used to be like a smokestack. I don't know if that's gone or still there, but yeah. Wow. You skipped over?

What? Justify my love? Oh, man. Oh, man. Yeah, good catch. Well, it never change. Ah. Okay, so my number one question about it?

Yes. Why did they not clear security of the first world? Because I asked Chuck, like, do you feel a certain way? He was like, you know, what the fuck? I don't care. We had a thing for a minute. They were like, they were like, well, we're going to come after you. And I was like, well, you sampled it from this and added it.

I don't know. It was their version of funky drummer, right? Yes. I, yeah. I, yeah. I forgot the original sample. No, it's them trying to do funky drummer on the drum machine. It was, but once I got the...

All the... You did, yeah. I recognized what Joanna came from. Because there's a cowboy in there. Trouble funk. Yeah. Anyway. Ooh.

It's a slowdown. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. You're right. So at the time, like... Well, I was in the studio doing this thing, and I had this guy with me who I was going to play the drums or do something, but they didn't have the mics together. So I was like, I just need a beat that's kind of like this. And this guy gave me the beat.

I didn't know what, I didn't even know what it was. Okay. He's just like, here, use this. And I was like, oh, shit, that's bad. I mean, that's great. Right? And then I put the strings and the stuff. And then I don't know if you know when Madonna's talking, I'm in the back singing this melody in falsetto. That was meant to be the, that was the scratch track of the melody of the song.

But then afterwards, you know, Ingrid wrote the words. Right. To the song. And she started writing this poetry thing to it. So I was like, okay, well, that's dope. So we just left my melody in the back as this sort of distant voice. Do you know the story of The Master Real

or the Master Real of Justify My Love? I think this happened after the fact. Okay, so when we're working on our album, whoever the assistant engineer was... For Justify? For Justify My Love. I guess once the final mix was done or whatever in there, like...

Because we cut Madonna, it wasn't at Waterfront. she wasn't going to come out to Jersey. So it was some place in the city. It did in New York. So it's a studio that I don't even remember which one it was. Right. So he's there doing the time when you're cutting vocals with Madonna. And so something happens and he says he got fired from, he said it wasn't you or, you know,

but the studio fired him. Because? He accidentally erased or changed. shipped a bad edit or like accidentally erased part of her vocal? Right. At the

end of the process. Okay. By accident. And he got fired. But you weren't aware of that. So this story's going completely nowhere. I thought he was going to say he stole it after it. I was so.

No. Okay. I have a follow-up question? Yes. Have you ever heard Alby Shores' version of Justify Your Love? I'll be sure how the version? No. Wait.

No. Hold on, I feel like I should remember that. Why do you know this? Al B-Shore has a version. Honey, I'm home-out? It was a B-side to, you remember on the second album he did the duet with Diana Ross? No matter. Yes.

That's the one. It's the B-side of that, and it has Casey Haley singing on it, too. Wow. Wait, what? Wow, I did not know that. It's called Al-L-L-justify your love. Wait, Nick. Is this on-on-It's on YouTube.

It's on YouTube. Shit. Al. Will. No, Al-A-L. Al-L. Al-L. Allo.

Oh, that's dope. Spell this. A. L. Apotrophy, L, as in Al will. Allul. Alol. How do you know the Steve? Curricature.

You got that 12th is, I'm sure. Wait, no. How do you know this? Because I'm a big Alby Shore fan. You're really. No. Wait, while we're at it. Wait, what?

No, Bill. He should have never tell me that. I missed that one. I didn't. I'm afraid to listen to this. It was a B-side. I didn't expect many people to see it. I'm afraid.

Just hit play. Let's play a little. Right here on Quest Little Supreme with Lennie Kravitz. And then after that, can we play the Young Black Teenagers Version to Maidana? Wow, wow. I'm at the beach. I'm not saying this is good or anything. Oh.

Writers, Albie Shure, Ingers Chavez, Lenny Kravitz, and Chubbett. And Chubb Rappitz. How he goes? Top Rock is on this. I forgot. Oh, my God. Savante swing, Jodicy. Weekend.

Oh, he's using the sample, too. I'm not this weekend. So many checks, many. It's just his version of the song, basically. He ain't even know. That's beautiful. That's Jojo singing just by my love. That sound like it should be in the sex scene in Bumerant.

Yeah, with that wind whistle? The Bound Bound Bwisle. Oh, there is. Lampier. Master of the Pett. on every record during that time. And blue. Yeah, that's not really.

This sounds like boomerang. This sounds like Strong Zay. Yeah, right. But the commercial where he let old boy do his own film. Oh, yeah. Jeffrey Holder. Oh, yeah, Jeffrey Holder.

Don't know, Jeffrey Holden. Steele of vagina. Yeah, excuse me. Yeah, so what's the thing that happens? I never changed, Boss Bill. My brother is on. I didn't know I'll be sure. I'll justify.

So you weren't seeing no checks from this? No, he got a check. It was a B-side, so yeah, it was only on sale for like, what, two weeks? Oh, my God. I'm sorry. We don't like New Wave. And that was a Quest Love's Supreme Court. Jesus Christ.

All right, all right, that was. Al will justify. Because the thing was, I would expect to do that like 10 years down the line. No. No, he did. The second album, the weekend. Second album, bro.

Private Times and the hole now. Jesus Christ. On the B side of that. Diana Ross Duet. Is there any other Lenny Kravitz treats that we don't know about? Yeah.

I got one. I'm over here. Yes, Steve. The Mick Jagger song, the Bill Withers song you did with Mick Jagger. You produced... No. No.

I'm very happy that I did that, but I had nothing. Rick Rubin produced it. Rick Ruben did. Oh, okay. But, and I love Rick, and Rick's one of my dearest friends. Did you not produce a Mick Jagger? I produced a song called God gave me everything on Mick's next solo record. Okay.

On Goddess in the Doorway. Okay. Yeah. I see. I'm talking about, uh, use me. Yeah. It was all right. Wait, Mick Jagger did it use me?

With Lenny, yeah. Yeah. it was a me being a bill withers man and I'm happy I did it and it's cool but it's alright yeah it's

it sounds really good but you know okay I have a general I have a general rule about like working with your idols or whatever like people that you admire

because it could go one way or the other where if they're too famous you can't tell them nothing but I had nothing to do with it like it wasn't my productive It wasn't my thing. It wasn't, it just, you know. Did you wish you had control that song?

I mean, did they take you out of your old? Okay, that's what I'm trying to go with it. Was it too clean? Come on, yeah, it was. Give me that right. It was. Dude, we're talking about Bill Withers. But then again, it was good, though.

It was different. And that's cool. You know, it was different. Okay. But just in looking. I know you're not trying to drive anybody under the drive anybody rolling anybody over the bus but I get it. You're on a Mick Jagger album.

Oh shit, I am. Oh, you just snitched on me. Which one? I forgot. I like it when you were buying it. Which one is, you know? It's a couple years ago. Only a couple years ago.

I forgot, Tom. Look at up. He only got like four solo records. I'm on two. No, but it was, he did a project with which Marley of the moment. It's like, there's probably Damien. It's like Damien, Marley, Jostom. Yes, yes.

They had a band. Dave Stewart. Yeah. That's the name of the band? It was on the... It was the Alfie soundtrack, right? They did a whole album and like... The thing was, he called me directly,

and I thought it was Jimmy trying to fuck with me. You know, it was a big jacket. And I was like, all right. Just like everyone that has that type of story where it takes, you 15 minutes to believe it. I hung up. I called Jimmy. I'm like, oh, wait. Jimmy's like, hey, no, it wasn't me.

And finally, I realized that it was Mick Jagger calling me. But I love Mick. I mean, Mc Jagger, man. You must say no-up to a lot, though, right? Because you don't, it's not like you're the, you always say yes to a lot of things. Like, this was Lenny, produced this, and he wrote this for me, did it, like? I say yes to you.

Did you say that to give me to show? shut up because it's going to work. It's not. Without a doubt. I know Chris is here. I know, Chris, I know, I know, I know Chris, I'm trying to push a button over there. I am. I'm like, uh, gold failure.

Your reaction's late. I know. I know. I'm sorry. Let's back up. Hold on. I say yes to you. Don't.

See, what you don't know is I have a glandular problem. Wait. You know I start sweating. You said, I have a grandfell time. I do. And then suddenly it's a glandular problem. It's over. You killed your momentum.

I thought you're going to glandelibular problem. I have a glangular. My laptop just got hot on my lap. I have a glandia. It just went from a pickle to linguine. We're trying to push this timeline here to get him out. Oh, okay? I ask Missy going to do something else with Cree?

Because I would talk to her today. You did? Yeah, she told me to tell you she loves you. She's probably mad at the guy. You still talked to a guest after they've been on the show. I talked to Cree. Hello. How good is that record?

That was a movie. That was a moment. That's when I was making five. I know. Same time. Both those records were made at the same time in the Bahamas. Wow. Yeah, she's, and she got robbed.

Yeah, she got robbed. She got robbed. She did. They didn't know what to do with her. She was just early, I think. She was early. She was super early. She was super early.

The label, like, folded. It was like a whole, it was. Was she still Freddy, too? So that was like a whole thing. She was after Freddy. I was in college when that record came on. But it's, those that know, know that record. Like, they know.

Amir stole it from me, so he know. You know what? I did steal it from you. You gave me, yeah, my bad. Sorry. That's cool. But I got you a job, so, you know, we even now. We are.

But will y'all ever meet again? Absolutely. We've been talking about it. She said that the same thing. I just been so busy finishing this record. But yes, that would be just a pleasure. With five, that rate it to me. Wait, we skipped an album.

Circus. Oh, no. Yes. Back to. Did I go to circus? Boss Bill's... Yeah, we touched on my way. Yes, we did.

Circus. Well, why didn't everybody not like that record? I don't get it. I remember the lead review, they had the lead review and was it vibe or... I don't know.

It was, I remember, like, wanted to read in an early review on it and it was either in vibe, but they gave you the lead review and they were kind of dismissive about it. They wouldn't have got that, though. What in the hell?

But the thing is... And my fan, like the fan fans, that's their record. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's... But the thing is, is that have we known any musician

to make a song about a genre that they don't like anymore and it's ever worked? Like there's a... Rock and roll is dead. There's a rock and roll is dead. And then Prince answered me with... Rock and Rolls Live in Minneapolis.

And he called me. He said that? He was a big side of gold. No, I know that. He's like, I'm going to answer you. That was for you. Oh, yeah. That was the answer to rock and roll is dead.

Oh. Lord. We go clap back. Wait, is circus to Lenny, like electric circus is to common? Is it like a circus thing? Black people need to stop making albums named after circuses.

I'm just saying. No, but because I'd still, I don't. Circus was all the craziness now of all that was going on. Yeah, but fame was crazy. But Sonny, you were still, My mom was dying. It was just like my world in the circus.

It was a complete upside down thing that was happening. I never felt as though you were off of your deem as far as... I know, right? Straight Philly. I never felt you was off your dean as far as your silence of concern. No.

I didn't consider a departure record. No. Saying Laia, like, with the... I mean, it was different. It was a left turn after I got on. my way and of course the label was like we want one more of those and you know then I went and made circus and took all these weird photographs and made weird videos and you know it was that moment so were you nervous about losing the momentum not at all making okay not at all I didn't

care no why didn't you care because I was I never thought about any of this I just did what came out of me and that that for me is the success you know freedom just this is how I feel, this is what we get right now, whether we like it or not. This is what we get. This is real, you know? Okay. And then you've got songs in there like,

that can't get you off my mind and, you know. Tunnel vision. Yeah, I remember just reading the review and then at the time I went to the, I think it was the warehouse music that was in the mall. I was living at the time, and they had it on the listening station. And so I just listened to it. And I was like, damn, like, I didn't get where the flack was coming from.

It was just out there. It was just kind of an out there record. Yeah. But I think in general, and, you know, it's kind of been unspoken here. But I also feel that critically you've gotten a lot of double standard flack. Oh, absolutely. For shit that, yeah. And it's like the things they were later calling people genius for, they were talking me for it.

Yeah. And I'm saying, you've been in the room. room with me like when okay hope they don't kick me off the the committee but when we go to rolling stone to to vote yeah for the rock and roll off the thing oh yeah like that room controls like all the critical reviews of you know of it's their opinions and i yeah i definitely see people being protective of their teenage history and feeling some sort of way that, you know, I mean, so that's never bothered you, like a review is never. I don't.

I mean, yeah, you read some bullshit about yourself. This is like, you can tell the reviewers got a thing. I mean, I've seen those reviews. I was like, damn, did I like slap his mama? Right, right. You know, fuck your girl. Like, I've seen that, you know. But whatever.

I think Prince said that once. Whatever. He said that. Like, did I sleep with your girl or something? My album should not cause this much ritual. I'm enjoying the journey and I'm still here. So like I'm just grateful, blessed. Like, I'm all good with it.

And you're like a living legend. So at the end of the day, even if you left this world today, you would still be that. Damn, you're getting dramatic. No, I was just saying. Welcome to my ear. That's my here, man. You don't know my idea.

I was just putting it in perspective that at this point, it don't matter. You free. You can do what you want. And you are a legend. So that's the right of a legend. There you go. You're a young living legend, but you are. Thank you, my dear.

Thank you, Mama. Gold velvet. 2%. That is the number of people who take the stairs when there is also an escalator available. I'm Michael Easter. And on my podcast, 2%, I break down the science of mental toughness, fitness, and building resilience in our strange modern world.

I'll be speaking with writers, researchers, and other health and fitness experts. and more to look past the impractical and way too complex pseudoscience that dominates the wellness industry. We really believe that seed oils were inherently inflammatory. We got it wrong. Many of the problems that we are freaked out about in the world are the result of stress. Put yourself through some hardships, and you will come out on the other side a happier, more fulfilled, healthier person. Listen to 2%.

That's T-W-O-P-P-Sent on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert 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. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here. unpack what went down and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black. black people. Really? Yeah. For me,

it's one of the most important years from black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So with five. Thank you, Professor Lowe. Lilley, I'm sorry, I know you're doing this sound for me.

It's all good, man. You're like, what the fuck I walk into? We're just nerds, man. I'm happy to be here. We're like, when we're going to get to the new album? We're going to get to. Yeah, but I definitely have questions about the new Yeah, but we're good. Okay. Okay.

So five questions? Oh, five. That was a record. I bought that. I was working at a record store that summer and I bought it. Purchased? I purchased. You did it?

Yeah, I have a history of stealing music before you go online. Before you go online and stuff. No, I stole it in the real world. And sidewalk harassment. No, I do not sidewalk harass. But, no, I bought that record because that was the first single, the if you can't say no, was everywhere. Like that shit

That was Marcomatic again. Yeah. How did you get Milojovich to do that joint? Was that? Did I say her name right? Yeah.

Milo Jochevich. Oh, okay. Jojovich. So no, you didn't. Curricatured that up. The career. Curricatured this show. To the blacks you did,

we've been calling her that the whole time. Since Blue Lagoon, we've been calling her Milo Jolavis. Sorry. Mark called her. Oh, okay.

Yeah. Mark called her. But that record was I took a different turn sonically Started playing with some electric stuff Started looping some stuff Actually it was Billy Corgan That turned me on some gear

From We were on the same label And we were friendly And he's like man you gotta start using this And check this out This thing Okay Because that was around

Because that was 98 And that was when Smashing Pumpkins Because that was the Adore album. So that was, yeah. So he turned me on to some gear and some stuff. I just started to play around with this. And I started the record in New York. I had a studio on 35th Street between Lex and third.

I had like a little carriage house and I built a studio in there. And which ended up being like a big hangout for a while, turned into a nightclub. And yeah, you'd come in there at night and you'd see. you two and Bobby Brown and Naomi Campbell and this one and that I mean it was it was the spot for a while okay you know

was that the lyrics on that song or that is that based on a real situation that you were going through? If you can't say no yeah yeah shit yeah but I never heard you say shit like bro because that was one of those songs that like I mean it came out is nice I was like 19 so

you know I was listening to it I'm like okay this is dope but then just later on. That song's kind of a bug out. Yeah, I'm like, God, damn, when you think about what you really saying, like, damn, if you can't say no to fucking if you cheat, if you cheat, just think of me. Yeah.

Oh, God. The savagery. But that was a dope record. And then, of course, when that came out, as the first single people were like, after all the rocks, then they were like, oh, what's that? But then fly away. Yeah.

Which, by the way, was not on the album. What? album was done, mastered, turned in. And they, and I'm still in the Bahamas, working with Cree. And one day, the engineer, who was this guy, Terry Manning, great engineer who who ran Compass Point, but he cut all, he cut all that Al Green and Staples Singers. I'm just going to say, Ais Brothers, right? Huh?

Didn't he, didn't Terry also do Isley Brothers as well? No, that was my engineer, Tom Edmonds, who, who, who, my live guy, he had, he was. He did the album with Don't Say Good Night and all that stuff. Say You Will, Don't Say Good Night. Here we go again. How long did you work with that guy? He was my live guy for years. Really?

And then he cut the funk album that's coming later. Okay. He cut a lot of that record when we went to New Orleans. He still, side notes. So there was a point where we started messing around doing some stuff, and his engineer brings in this bucket. Oh, the bucket of water. Yeah, for the claps.

Wait, how'd y'all know? Because you told the story, yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. He learned that from the Ozzy brothers. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They wet their hands and gilin. And that's where... Yeah.

That's Tom Edmonds. Shout out to Tom Edmonds. Well, also, I mean, five, I know that, well, when you were promoting five on television, like, I know that your mom's death was a big part of the development of this record. What... Oh, it's thinking of you, yes.

Yes, yes, yes. But what prevented you from... I mean, were you, at the time, I know that you were distraught with her passing. Like, this could have easily went another way where it was like an album to her. It's funny, it went joyous. Like, she died during circus, right? And I kind of went through the whole morning thing. I went right back on tour like a week after the funeral.

I mean, I was back on the road. And by the time I got finished with all that And he'd gone through it and done the tour And took some time and went to go make five I was having such a good time with Cree Cree brought so much laughter into my life We laugh every day crack up She's so funny

And I kind of started her record And I got into mine and I'd go back to hers But we were all there together It'd be like all right today you're off I'm gonna do my thing tomorrow We're gonna do you and I was in the Bahamas Zoe's mom allowed Zoe to come down

I put her in school she was there for almost a year I put her in school in Nassau and so I was in a good place I had family down there and all of these beautiful songs came out you know the record was very uplifting you had a fresh new sound oh but back to Flyway so Flyway wasn't on the record

Terry had a a park amplifier, like a, it's like a Marshall, in the room. And I was like, oh, I want to try that. So I plugged in a guitar. And when you play a guitar through a certain amp, certain guitar through a certain amp, it makes you go to certain chords because you notice that, oh, wow, these chords are really fat right here. That's where the riff came from just listening to this amplifier. And then I was like, maybe just, I don't know, I'll just mess around with it, cut a B-side or something.

something and cut the song had the track going then I didn't have the words or the melody yet I was driving Zoe to school every day in this Jeep that I had along the ocean just driving driving fast driving to school playing this track for like three or four days with Zoe in the car and then the lyrics and the whole thing came to me I cut it a friend of mine heard it it was like that song's incredible I said yeah but it's not on the album. It's, I don't know. This guy begged me. Good friend, he's like, I beg you, please, put this song on the record. I will not be your friend anymore if you don't put this song on the record. And he was like, I'm like, the record's done. Called Virgin, we worked, there's another song,

I'm sorry, we have to read. Anyway, the rest is history. Wow. I always wanted to know, why did you feel the need to cut your signature locks? I didn't. What happened was. Fly away video, that's what I first. No, no, no, no. What happened? This is, this is the-

Because I saw it and I was like, no, no, this is the truth. I went up to, it's always mom's house in Topanga. To visit her and we're hanging out. We're smoking a joint and we're chilling. She's like, you know what? You need to cut your hair. You need to change your end. It's time.

Yes. I read a story. And I was like, huh? Homegirl left the room and came back with a razor blade. Ooh. Yeah. Not some scissors? Not some scissors?

No. Razors blade. Were you scared? Were you scared? And she's like, you got to do it. Like she didn't cut them short and then? She cut them with a razor blade. Like, you know how much time that take?

Like the, you know what? Love you have to take. have for a woman for her to convince you to cut your hair? Dude. I don't know where where the house is in the house. I will never. Lisa fit in the shave living. And meanwhile, I'm like,

Lisa's hair still locked though. Oh, she's flourishing. She's flourishing. My energy is good, boo, but we need to cut yours. I mean, was this an easy cell? Dude, I was sitting there, I'm I was hot. No, man. And I'm like, and I'm like, I'm

starting to buy it because I'm like, she's like, I'm a D. Samson this mother, mother. I'm sorry. I need her on the show. But that was a good call, though, because I remember. No, but it came from a place of, it came from a place of love. It did. It wasn't shady. But I actually got it more women.

And then I was like, and then I was like, you know what? Because this thing came with me, right? The concerts and the hair flying. And I was like, if I could get over without it, that means that I, you know what I mean? Yeah. So I was like, so you didn't want hair to define you and all that bullshit. No, dude. He's not his hair.

You know? He's not his hair. Take that. Oh, my three. No, because I remember that, that was, it was a good call because when the album came out and the cover, I was like, yo, he got a triple table. Because the first video I had, my dreads were like down in my eyes. He got the triple table. They had to say no.

And then fly away, yeah, they were cut. Yeah, he had to cut. I was like, oh, yeah. He got the number five on the fall of the shop. But it wasn't cut like that. It was just like kind of bumpy and like little afro. But it was like, yeah, man. So that's what happened.

It was a stony gang Malibu. I got scared, man. I got scared. With baby mama. I saw what happened to it. I saw what happened to what's his name of Soul's the Mistive. Opio. Opio.

When people cut their head, it's a rat. When people cut their hair is a rat. But the funny part, it took so long for her to do it. At some point, the high wore off. And you had to be like, Beau, wait. Oh, no, dude. I was staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel and I got back to the hotel and I looked at the mirror. I was like, oh.

Did part of you feel like y'all getting back together? No, no, no, no. There was none of that. Where is your hair? Someone has it. I have it. Oh, okay. I have it.

So today, though. That belongs to Zoe. I have. Wow. But you're back. You locked back. You locked again. I'm coming forward again.

Yes. He's coming forward. Yeah. Yo, did you, I'm good friends with Gershine, Gina Gershine. Are you? You went to high school with? He went to high school together. Okay.

Oh, Bown. Yeah. Sorry. Sorry. That's your reference? Wow. That's your reference. That's right.

Jennifer Tilly. Bail was a joint, but that was so fucking redshan. And she was. Oh. Yeah. I forgot about Boundham. Yeah. Not part two.

Part one. My reference is like. There was a two part Bail? Yeah. Oh, there was. How do you know this? That's not true. Red box cinema.

Do you see my, like, the scares the shit I mean, like, because they know shit. Bro, cocktail. I like mad rated PG porn. Oh, yeah. She wasn't cocktail. Damn. How about Showgirls?

Oh, that's one of my favorite PG. Yes. Versaise. Such a good movie. On stage. Come on. She took advantage. That movie's genius.

On stage. Showgirls is my reference for, like, when something's so bad, it's good. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I say show girls. Yo, but Gina Gershan and Shergirls was such a, fucking pimp and like gangster. I'm sorry. I've seen it a lot.

Just yell out more Gina Gershaw movies. Yeah. Don't encourage. We're only on the side. You get that Gina. I get, uh, because she cocktail, she was a cocktail. She wants to start a,

because she plays Jews Harp. He played with Bob Dylan. Yeah, I know. That's something you could do professionally, play Juice Harp? Yes. Best name of an instrument ever. Matter of fact, wait a minute.

Me and she came out and played Jewshart with us at our first, not loudblooder, in Tennessee. Bamboozle. Bumperchewel. No, no, no, no, no. Bamboozle, that's a spike group movie. Yeah, that's what he was a point in Tennessee? What is in Tennessee? Barrow, Barreau.

Bambu. Bambuquee. Yeah. Bambuquee. Yeah. Black festival. Rolling on the fifth album, people. All right, okay.

Thank you, Bill. Because I got so bad question. Me too. All right, let's just go random. What's next? Lenny? Five, yeah. Five, Lenny, yeah.

Let's go. All right, go. Damn. You kick it off. We just go rapid fire. Rapid fire. Okay. Okay.

All right. We're just going around you. On the new record. Okay. Oh, wow. The song low. Am I detecting a Michael Jackson influence in your vocal performance? Um.

Because it ends with the whole. But very Michael us. That is Michael. That is Michael. That is Michael. He's singing background on the record. Yeah, I was going to say. I was going to say you worked with him when on Storm.

We worked together and I, no, I produced. Well, yeah, well, on his version, it was called Another Day. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's the same song. Right, right. Wait, Storm was initially Michael Jackson's song? I did it for Michael when he was doing Invincible, right? But they didn't put it on the.

record. John was putting the record together with Michael. It said it was too hard. And Michael was like, I'm going to save it for my next record because he loved the track. So it didn't come out. And I thought, I was like, it's never going to come out. So then I went and cut it as storm, but made it kind of smooth, right? But it was written the way I did it for Michael. So we had worked on stuff at Marvin's room in L.A. at John's studio. Oh shit.

It's John McLean studio. That's where we cut that stuff. Okay. So we had worked on different tracks and we had different stuff. And so I had ad libs that were to this groove. And anyway, I put it on. Nice. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, that is Michael. You were like, Lenny's fighting hard. I was like, I've never heard Lenny channel Michael Jackson before. No, no, no. That is Michael. Okay. So, wait, when you got a call to work with Michael Jackson,

you felt like, okay, it's worth investigating? He said, write me a song and produce a song for me. John, he went through John. John called me. We met in the studio, and I wrote the song like a couple days before he came in. I was like, I'm like, what am I going to do? So I wrote this song from where I thought his point of view might have been at that time and wrote that song, and then he came in.

He was like. acted at Marvin's room too? Yes. So you can go to any studio and just pray to God it's harder. It's harder. It's harder. Because I figured you would want to track when people are going with the Lenny Kravitzel

that you want to do it at your spot by harness. Of course, but there's certain times when you just can't, you know? So did it there and it was an amazing few days. Really? He was... It wasn't overwhelming. He was... I mean he started out, he's like, okay,

I taught him the song. So I'm teaching him the song. I'm writing the lyrics out for him, putting it on the music stands. And he's like, Lenny, I want to do it exactly the way you hear it. So you stop me when I mess up. Really? Okay. I'm shocked to do.

No, he was humble, sweet, giving. So we start. And within the first couple notes, he's not phrasing the melody correctly. And I'm like, how do I correct my correction? You know what I mean? Really? I'm going to stop this brother.

Like, and he's out there and he's, you know, the whole thing, man. You know, and I'm just like, um, you got to lay back here that go, and I say,

it goes like this. Man, we did that all day. And he's like, no, I want you to stop me. And I, so,

it was like, it was a bug out. Even when being polite, I always think it's a test of will because you're not the first person that gave me a story where it's like a mammoth Michael Jackson recording session that even though it's, you know, he's polite and that he's going to work you to the bone until he feels is correct, which I never feel that he feels that anything about him is correct. He worked hard, man. And, and, I mean, he worked hard.

And then when it got time for the ad libs at the end, it was like he's screaming, he's at the top of his voice and all that, you know. He's like, he's warming up with Seth Riggs. Right. And then he's like, Lenny, I got 30 minutes. I'm going to have no voice at the end of 30 minutes. So you get all these adlibs now and he just gives it to you.

I mean, blood coming out of him. I mean, and then he's like, and then that's it, you know? I was going to ask, though. But he gives it to you. I was going to ask, though, if last. I'm trying to say latter day Michael Jackson, but like post. Go ahead. Post dangerous Michael Jackson, I always felt,

which is weirded me out because he has the best vocal coach on earth with Seth Riggs. But because he's saying with such a fire and an anger in his stomach, post-95. Yeah, when it got really. Right. Yeah. Which it's like, dude, you're going to destroy your voice. he was so known as having a beautiful velvet tenor. And he stopped using them.

But then he would give you butterflies. But even then, I heard that initially the track. That track is smooth, all them harmonies. But I heard initially that they had to convince him just come naked with your voice that you're old school, you know, and not come so aggressive with it. Right. And so I was asking, like, did you ever once think? like, let me write him a song that forces him to use his singing velvet voice,

which he rarely used post-95. I went straight for the, like, okay, let's give him like a dirty Diana. He wants a rocker. Give him the rock thing, you know? Okay. So that's why I went there, yeah. Yeah, I love the Justplay's remix of Storm. Your version, The Storm.

He remixed that, I love that song. How did that come to be? You guys? The Black Department. That's best as ever. That's so real. That's it. We need to blacken this up.

Wait, I really want to know how did Heavy D wind up producing Guns and Roses? Yo. Heavy song. Heavy used to come hang out at my house in Miami because he was friends with my assistant, Danine, who were friends from back in the day. And he's like, I got this track.

and I mean it was just a phone call right it wasn't bad no no no it's it because at the top of the it was like heavy wait yeah it's like heavy production you bastard yeah

it was one thing Lenny Kravitz heavy D production you bastard one thing yeah I never even though I knew he was doing tracks and stuff because like I didn't know he was producing

he was producing hard and even when I heard the results, like, oh, you're really producing. I still didn't want to register that bum diddle-dil-dil-dil-dil-dil-dil-d-dil-dil-dil. Was producing the song. So how did you guys sell it to Jay? No, I had nothing to do it. I got the call that this was going down.

Oh. Like, come do it. Like, Jay did it. So have you played him the track first? Jay was already on it. Ah, okay. They just wanted me to sing the hook. Oh.

And play guitar. Yeah. So, yeah. There was another. record and I cannot remember the name of it. A couple years back you did a remix competition. It was with absolute. Oh yeah, yeah. The

I'm so into you. Right. Yeah. The Jazzanova remix of that shit, man. I don't even know. I don't even know. I don't even. I probably doesn't know that. I'd have to hear it. Dude. Yeah. It was so many mixes. It's a jam. It's a jam. Ah, God. Wow. Yeah. Yeah. That shit jamming like shit. Like I might put that back in my sets.

Yeah, run that hole back again. Wait, what albums is it on? It was, it wasn't on an album. It was. It was a It wasn't. It was just like, I wasn't, where was I in France? I don't know, some studio cutting that thing. Yeah. It's, it's, I remember the name of it. It was called Bree. It was called Bree. It was called Breed, okay. Absolutely cravets. Absolutely cravets. Yeah, that's why I remember it as. I knew that what the name was song. But yeah, it was a competition or, not a competition, but. Yeah, it was like a remit. Yeah, because like, a bunch of guys. They had a bunch of guys, yeah, yeah. My buddy Eric Robeson, he did a remix. Oh, too.

center acting career I was waiting for that yeah wait I got to damn can I hijack this please because I know we got minutes left

hijack and it say Questlove Supreme but go ahead Oh you can ask it It's Questlove Supreme Not Lai Supreme Thank you Okay So

One of the One of the things that I love best about your career Wait a minute One last music question Okay So much clapping

You've been promising This funk album forever. And it's coming. Like, motherfucker. You've been saying this. Watch out of the 19. I am I am crying wolf, right? Is it still called negrophilia? Because I love that time. Yes, it is. I love that title. But what I'm doing,

the reason raised by ration came out now, that record is pretty much, it's like 99.9% done. I'm going to be making a film to it. That's all. I don't say. I want to say too much. And that's what's going to be coming next. I'll just give you that. That's worth waiting for it. But yes, it's going to be I've been waiting for this record. Concert film or or like, is it a concert film or narrative?

A movie. Okay. And that's going to be the soundtrack. Oh, nice. Yeah. Yes. Just please don't let it be the Superfly remake. No, no. Wait, what? I promise. The Superfly remake? I promise. It's coming out. Bossville's getting a month. I'm getting scared. I'm not to be idle while. You mean the one that's coming

out? Yeah, the one that's coming out. Don't hate on Trevor Jackson now. Wait, speaking of Super. Oh, Superfly. The return? That was a weird, that's on Ice Tea, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Man, I got a phone call from the label.

I kept, and they were like, we need you to fix this track. So they sent me the tracks, and they made me take all the instruments off, and I had to play all the instruments over again to make it sound like Curtis Mayfield-ish. You know, that's, and I was like, well, I'll do anything for Curtis.

You know, he gave me his bass player. Wow. On my first tour, LeBron Scott, Lucky Scott's brother. Lucky's the one who's on the actual Superfly record. His little brother, LeBron, who unfortunately just passed a few months ago, was my bass player. And I used to go to Curtis shows. And I loved the bass player. And the bass player, I became friends.

I was like, man, I loved you to join the band. And Curtis gave the blessing. He's like, you go on, man. You take it. Also, what's his name was your saxophone player for a second? Carl Denson. Carl Denson. For three albums.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. We went past her, but can I just ask the first time you ever heard Cindy Blackman? Because we said her name real fast, but. Cindy Blackman. Cindy Blackman, Santon.

I was friends with a guy named Anton Roney, who's Wallace Roney's brother. Wallace Roney's trumpet player. They call him like the Miles kind of protege. His brother is a sax player. I knew, did some sessions for me. and he knew Cindy because Cindy was at the time dating Wallace. And I was at the time living at Rick Ruben's house in L.A. With those dogs?

Yep. That's a good couch, too. Shampa and one's name is Shampa. I forget the other one's name. They were those black dreadlock dogs. Zoe used to, man, Zoe was so scared of those dogs. I know, because you couldn't see their faces. She was so scared of those dogs.

She used to run screaming from those dogs. The ones look like mops? Yeah, but mama dog runs and then the little babies run behind I love those dogs But anyway I was having a drum audition All these drummers were coming from all over the place

Including Andy Kravitz Yes he did And River Phoenix brought me a drummer River Phoenix Yeah River had a friend That was like his best friend that was his drummer It was the last time I saw River He brought this drummer from Florida

And then there was also another drummer that auditioned and he died. His name, I ended up giving him to Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Not giving, but recommending. I want to know why you didn't choose Andy Kravitz. I almost did because he was coming with some Bonham madness. But Cindy Blackman, boy, she came with the fire. She was playing all that, Elvin Jones.

Right. I mean, just killing it. And she was fine. Side notes, yes. Side note, I used to intern at Roughhouse Studio 4 in Philly. That's where... Oh, that's right. Andy was Philadelphia.

Yeah, where Rough House... So the day he got that call, it was like... He knew it was like... And he had my name. Yes. And he, yo, his attitude was sort of like, you know, Sarenora, bitches. Like, I'm going to drum with Lenny Braddock.

I almost heard it. And then like the sitcom, flashed a back. the next Monday morning. It's like, wah, wah, wah, wah. That's like black woman history, though. Hey, Andy, do you want some coffee? You're okay. And that was the last time a black woman took a job

from my wife's house. I was rehearsing at the lyric theater on 42nd Street, which is the theater and taxi driver where he takes Sybil Shepard to go see the partner. That was that theater. You're so old school.

Why would you choose that spot? Not S-I-R-R-L-R-L-A-R-R-old? I should have, man. It was for sale at the time for like $2. I should have bought it. This was before the clean. up.

Right. On 22nd Street. Yeah, we were rehearsed in there because it didn't cause shit. And that's where Andy Kravitz showed up. And he, man, he was playing his... Where is he? What?

I haven't talked to him since I had a record deal. Wow. Oh, damn. No, no, I interned at Ruff House. And then my last day of interning, I asked Chris Schwartz and Joe Niccolo, Joe the Butcher, can I borrow $1,500 to pay for my past a popcorn video?

They paid for it. I interned it. I interned it. You know a guitar player from Philly named Mike Tyler? Yes, I do. Pops Cool Love. Pike, Mike Tyler was one of the guys in that black Duran Duran. Of course.

Me, Tony, another guy, Mike Tyler. He was the light skin convention. It's like the great, this is the super friends of. I still seem, he ended up in Amsterdam. Yeah, he's got a, yeah, he's got a Dutch. lady and kids and yeah you know Mike Tyler he's playing with L-O mama said knock you up the blonde

oh yeah yeah on the guitar on the on the that's right on the unplug that's right the odorant yeah yeah oh wow LL was killing it it's so weird like ale you need some clear jail

baby no no real talk okay so when I that's no for real that's why I use clear jails did you day because it's one of the best thing you've ever You never said. No.

But here's the thing. Balls love to air joy. Here's a thing, though. When I inducted L.L. at the Kennedy Center honors, right? And told the audience straight up, the reason why I use Secret uncented was because L.L. You said that in front of all those people. It was my best. Chappelle laughed his ass off in the world.

But it was true because Secret keeps you dry. And it's like. And don't ball up. Hey, secret. Made for Man, mad. With that little octopus.

That little sexy octopus. I can't. Yeah. Yeah. Anyway. You're really taking it. That was. 2%.

That is the number of people who take the stairs when there is also an escalator available. I'm Michael Easter. And on my podcast, 2%. I break down the science

of mental toughness, fitness, and building resilience in our strange modern world. I'll be speaking with writers, researchers, and other health and fitness experts, and more, to look past the impractical and way too complex pseudoscience that dominates the wellness industry. We really believe that seed oils were inherently inflammatory. We got it wrong. Many of the problems that we are freaked out about in the world are the result of stress.

Put yourself through some hardships, and you will come out on the other side a happier, more fulfilled, healthier, Listen to 2%. That's T-W-O-Persent on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 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. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack,

so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

So, oh, we center. We got to talk about four years ago. Hunger Games. How did that come about? I loved you in that role. I got a phone call. That's it. What?

It's that simple. I didn't audition. I got a phone call. Well. Gary... You got a great phone. Wait, how do people get your number? The director saw

Precious. I was about... That's what... And Precious... Awesome in that. I just, like, I had, like, a day to... Like, I was on tour, and at least, like, just coming for a day. It's just this little part. You could do it in a day. And I came in and did that. And then... The director of Hunger Games saw that. And just, like, I'm doing this movie. It's called Hunger Games. Just these books.

And I didn't know anything about it. and then I had to go get the book and read it and then I was like okay I'll do it like having no idea that it was going to be like this phenomenon thing after doing pressures and all that emotion and stuff that it took to do that role like hunger games must have been like okay no but it was cool

it was actually that we rehearsed a little bit the scenes it was I mean you know I'm sitting there doing scenes with Jennifer Lawrence and all these folks I mean it was it was cool it was different with your new the movie that I'm doing, the niggrophilia. Are you acting in that? I shall be, yes.

Okay. Directing as well or just? Quite possibly. Okay. Did you write it? No. I mean, I came up with like the story, but I'm having a writer, a proper writer, really. We're trying to get as much out of you as you.

Yeah, that's it. No, I just really dig you as an actor, man. I'd like to see you do more of it. Thank you. And you said how easy it was for Hunger Games to get you, but how did Lee Daniels get you for that role for that movie at that time? Just a phone call, man. Just a phone call. I had phone car.

But that role wasn't simple enough for just a telephone call. Say for me. Put a message in a bottle, baby. Yes, Atlantic. That's called Langstarr, you two. I love the whole movie. No, I was thinking Mr. Telephone Man by new edition. No.

That's Ray Parker, Jr. You're Eric Langstarr's Secret Lovers, but this is the A&M for Barber. Well, they're black period. This is like if your heart isn't in it and all the tracks. The black department. Yeah, man. Okay, so anyway, back to you. What are you asking about?

Oh, Lee Daniel. Yes. So I was having dinner one night at Mr. Chow and. You're some old school. You told us a Mr. Chow story too. Shut up. I'm sitting at Basquia's table. It went up on the top there.

Of course you're saying. And Lee Daniels is sitting across the room with Julian Schnabel, the artist and director, painter and director. Julian brings him over because I've known Julian. Well, I met Julian a million years ago. I actually was supposed to play Basquia in that movie, but I turned it down. You should have...

No, because then we wouldn't have Jeffrey Wright, but it makes sense. No, Jeffrey Wright was genius, but here's what happened. I had just gotten off the let love rule... Now we're going to another story. I had just gotten out of the let love rule tour. And Julian was like, I'm making this movie about Jean-Michel. I want you to play John Michelle. I'm going to come over,

I'm going to start teaching you how to paint I was living in the building with this guy, Shange, who is a character in the movie, who was one of Jean-Michel's friends. And he was just like, you know, you can't do this. The scripted and I love Julian, and it was just like, because I knew him. Yeah.

And I had just come off of my tour and I was trying to become Lenny Kravitz. I was trying to become myself. And I felt like I didn't want to play. Somebody else right now. So he talked you out of it? You're the person he talked to you out? Not only that.

Jean-Michel's girlfriend who was best friends with my girlfriend and the one who found him dead. Right. She had some things to, it just was the whole thing. I was too close to all these people. Side note and shameless plug I talk about. Well, I didn't know that. Are you about to plug your book? Hell yeah, I am.

Because I didn't know that you were the person they talked it out. Her name was Kelly, the girl who was Jean-Michie. But, okay, so, no, but I talked about Julian, because David and Julian sort of had words about each other. David, I talk about, Bowie. Oh, he played, he played Warhol. Right, right, right, right. He played Andy Warhol.

But, yeah, I, shameless plug, I talk about Julian, uh, and, uh, Creative Quest, my fourth book. Creative Quest. Okay. Yes, shameless plug. In bookstores now. Good to know. So then Lee came over at the dinner table.

So, Julian Schnabel, thank you, baby. Yeah, no problem. Me here. Lee Daniels, Julian Schaulman brings Lee over, says Lee wants to meet you. Lee's like, I've been trying to get you, I've been trying to find you, I wanted you to be in Monsters Ball. I didn't get no phone call.

I can't, uh, nobody call me back, your people, uh, I'm like, I don't know what you're talking about. So he, he wanted me. So you know him from a can of paint? No, you knew Lee. I knew he was about his, but I knew nothing about him reaching out to me. Okay.

I had seen those films, yes. Okay. But, and then there was a movie that he wanted, me to star in that was this really hardcore movie that he never ended up making because it was for me to say Lee thought it was extra hardcore tells you how hardcore it was. Hardcore like some oozy's and nine or not crazy. Lee Hardcore, not oozy. Crazy guy on drugs and life.

Anyway, right. So he's like, until we make this movie, why don't you just come and like play this part? And then again, in the Butler and we never ended up making this. film that I was supposed to star in, but he got me to do what he wanted me to do. But it was great, man. I got to work in these films and, you know. Lenny.

Yeah. Oh, my God. What? The greatest night of my life. Okay. Do you remember the dinner? You remember that after you saw the butler for the first time? And the dinner that we went to and the Japanese restaurant.

At N? Yes. Yes. Who was that lawyer? who was telling, was that your friend or was that Cuba Goodingham's friend? Oh, who was that lawyer? That's Cuba's friend, the lawyer. That dude is the most mad, like, I can't, this is what I learned this night.

So the entire cast. I love that guy. Yes, he's the great, I need that guy on the, I got to find Cuba then. You wouldn't even know he was this big, like, defense lawyer, like, criminal. You think I love telling a story. I might not going to mention his name. I don't know his name. Yeah.

Do you think I love telling stories? This guy was born to tell a story. Like, he deserves to be at any dinner party whatsoever. The entire butler cast just watches. That was your first time seeing the complete? Okay, so they all saw the complete butler, whatever. And Zoe and I were at end, and she tells them, like, you know, dad's going to join us. You were all sitting in that little booth in the back.

Right. We thought it was three, but then it was like 3,000 people. Yeah. So everyone came. So what I learned this night was, one, the way that Forrest Whitaker, it takes Forrest Whitaker two months to prepare for a role to get into character. So if it's an accent or, you know, whatever it is physically. Exactly. I think the time before he was dis, I mean, so he had to get rid of that.

Last King of Scotland. Right. So the thing was he couldn't join us at the dinner because he literally, his process of getting rid of a character is crying out. He wouldn't show up. That's right. He had to go do his thing. He had to do his thing. So he had a hoodie. He said crying it out. Is that you? He had a hoodie on and some dark glasses. Oh my God. He was not the butler anymore. He was done.

So once he saw the movie and the only way for him to become Forrest Riddaker again, he walked from, where's the restaurant? Like in downtown, Tribeca. Tribeca. So he walked from Tribeca. And the theater was right there in Tribeca. Right. He walked from Tribeca all the way to Harlem. God, damn. And he says every film It's not even like What did you say?

It's a for cheesecake? No, but this is amazing to me Because he's such a He's such an artist He's such a method actor That the only way for him To come back down to being Forrest Whitaker again

is he has to physically boo and sob The character out So he walks so that's why he couldn't join for dinner but Cuba came Cuba came and his lawyer

He is he's fun He's always down Dude I need Cuba and his lawyer On the show Yeah Cuba is fun Just to talk shit Yeah

I Whatever thought you've had What kind of stories were they telling I mean at the time He was Dealing with Lindsay Lohan Oh shit

There is Oh that's right And the thing Like I only heard his side of the conversation, and I realized that because she was in court every week, that the only way for her to really

generate any sort of like high money, monetary action was to wear designers to court. Wow. So it would be a cool. Oh, that's sad. Wait, paying what? No. Well, Gucci. No, no, no, no. Well, call me back when you can, well, and then you tell this, like, we were there for four hours.

I thought it was your boy. Cuba's boy. Yeah. Yeah. And by the way, this guy doesn't look like a lawyer. He looks like one of the Beastie boys when he's not in. He's got a cap and, you know, New York kid. But, yeah. Lenny, I got to ask you something before we stop.

You've, yeah, I'm realizing now that your entire story has definitely affected my career. Just based on whatever you were associated with back then, Rippling, like whatever. But the one move you did that definitely affected my career, and I'm so happy about, I got one thing up on yay, which is your design business. And first of all,

where does this come from? Like you wanting to, like you are the most buzzed about, spoken about, and talked about, furniture designer, art deco person I've ever

like the way they talk about you at at at Sandow and culture and commerce is crazy to me but what I want to know is you and I were in the audience at the same time when this happened

so we're in the audience doing a legendary Kanye rant oh that night which one right Right, right.

Right. Okay, so basically... You know he didn't know I was there. I know this. I had just landed in New York, decided to go, went through the back door, Master Square Garden. He had no idea I was there. I know this. Yeah.

And the thing was, when I walked by you, like, once it was like 25 minutes, I was like, I got to go. So I walked. And I called... Chris Rock was there, too. Was he with you? He wasn't... Who was I with? I'm about to say stringer bill

Idris Elma. Y'all just so cool. Drop another name. I don't know. It don't matter. It's anybody. No, I mean, Kanye's in town

so everybody. But I didn't see you. I didn't see you, right? No. You were sitting with John McElroe. Right. And so I walked past you as you do.

Wow. And I looked at you. You got to make me a drop a name song. I mean, John McAron. And we struck, I didn't see that coming. I did not see that. Nope.

And we shruged at each other. And his wife Patty. Yeah. And we struck at each other. But what you don't know is that is what set it in the motion. All right, here's the deal. Like, culture and commerce. I became the original nigga in Paris that night.

Yes, you did. Wait, what I want to know is, number one, how long have you been working with culture and commerce and Sandow at the time? I mean, for years, but this whole thing started back in those lofts in New York City in my first album. Right. I didn't have money to buy furniture. I didn't have money to decorate, but I loved vibe and ambiance and, you know, creating that whole thing.

So in Soho at that time, you know, when I was living in Soho and in 88, I mean, Soho was, Broom Street was kind of nasty. We had rats. Kind of. We got, a bunch of my friends got held up knife point in my building. I mean, it was that kind of thing. It was all artists, squatting around. So I would, anyway, I would find furniture on the street. and remake it and make stuff.

Do you shellac? Do I what? Do you shellac? I can't. It sounds like a personal question. So, Lenny, do you schlack? What I'm saying is, last time you asked that.

Excuse me, do you shellac? Not shellac. I mean, but just as far as, no, because when some people listen to me, when people design, they're not hands-on design. designers. They don't select. They don't

Whittle. They don't They outsource some of the shit. When do you learn these words? He's like on the Andy Griffith show. I know what whittling. I know what it is. I'm just saying you don't kind of comment. Yeah, I'm just saying that you actually do the designing. You know, yeah. You hammered. It's not a licensed thing. Just take my name and then

just throw it on something. Exactly. That's what I'm trying to get with. Right, right. No. And so at his well, I know that Latifah was your first. major. Well, that was the first Well, I'd never done a set before. Right. That was the first set. The original QLS. But I mean, we've been doing hotels and condos and products and

you know, for the longs. You know, from a Rolex Daytona to a Lika camera to this, that, working with Leap Star. Did they come to you? They came to you first. Correct. So that's the thing. So basically this 25 minute rent was and and which rent is this which kind of it was basically about how he was he wanted to man as a square garden design he was basically just saying like you know the whole like let me oh that one okay i wanted that one the thing was he he'd been trying to break into a particular

firm this firm uh to use him and by the way is he not killing it like with with the shoes he wants more He wants more He wants more Oh from a Charlie Murphy Ain't nobody paying $100,000 for a white wall I forgot about that

A white wall A white wall Yeah and And they They Didn't take his phone calls Mainly because it's a We come to you

You don't come to us But how did I get brought I don't remember how it started I remember what It ended up being The thing is you don't I don't remember how it started You don't because you don't know your buzz

yo. Like for all of us crabs in the pot, we know that you broke to the other side. For you to design for culture and commerce, that's some secret Illuminati damn shit. I didn't know about it so yeah. So, okay, I rarely I mean, I might spoil a little bit of

a Roots project or whatever, but half a time when you like some shit like, oh, I didn't know you wrote a book, I just really like to make sure some shit is done before I say ahead of time. Oh, you know, next year I'm going to have a book coming out. But, I mean, I will say that once you went with that firm, I took a meeting with them. Oh, you're in the Illuminati now, too.

Yeah, I got, I got, it started, it started, it started to tell me about that. It started with Philippe Stark because he came and saw my work in Paris. Right. And he's like, you need to be doing this for real. And I was like, what do you mean? He's like, you're really good. I like what you're doing.

I see it. I feel it. I'm going to hook you up with my people. That's what happened. And then Philip Stark ushered me in. So, I mean, did he come to the apartment and be like, who designed the place? He came to my house. And he looked at everything.

He looked at the furniture I made. He looked at the design. Looked at all the stuff. The wallpaper we made. He looked at everything. And he was just like, really? Like, you need to be doing this. And I was like, yeah, you know, I do it.

But he was, he looked at me like, no, you need to do this. you should be doing this for real so I'm gonna hook up with my people that was it next thing I got to you know I mean Philippe Stark you know

but I kind of mind of the way that you didn't super pimp it like the secret it's known in the design world what amazza you are like I mean have you been up for awards or any of that sort of thing

no no but we got great projects and do you have an official title because for the longest it was like no one knew what you're going to call your it's cravice design Okay.

It's the name of the company. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We have an office on Crosby Street. And you said there is an everyday person like line situation that if they wanted to have a... Do you have something for broke people? Thank you. One day will it be available at Target and the...

We did, we did, I did a line for CB2. Okay. That's not part of their permanent thing, which is portable. That's accessible you're going to get C2. Where is CB2 located? Crate Barrel 2. Oh, Creighton barrel too. Oh, Creighton barrel too.

Yeah. Thank you. Okay. I'm just getting to a crane and barrel. status. Some of us are just at IKEA, but I'm ready. You want to hook up? What's up? Anything you want, I'll make it for you.

No, I'm going to leave on. Very white. Sorry, sorry. Lenny, please excuse me. Wait, but she put the jacket on. Like, it don't matter no more. Yeah, you got the sweat on. You didn't hear what he said. I heard.

Don't the jacket activate your glandular problem? It's just. You don't pull off of the glensula problem. Between the jacket and that last two minutes. Yeah. But if I take it. Take that cold off. I am high.

Glant to their problem. No, those glands are not a problem. But I do want to take that on that offer because I just move. I do want to say, excuse me. No, no, he just spoke and I thought it was Paul Schaefer. I swear to that. I thought he pushed the Paul Schaefer. I swear to God he said it just like him, bro.

That's a compliment, I think. I can't tell. I thought he pushed the button. Lenny, I just want to say I'll take you up on your offer because I just moved into a new place. So don't make jokes. Where'd you move? I moved to Hollywood. Hollywood?

Are you living in L.A.? Yeah, it's a long story. Is that a problem for you? No, it's not a problem at all. I take shipping, I mean. No, no, no, it's not a problem at all. I just thought we were all. I thought this was a New York crew here.

That's how special you are. I'm born and raised in. Where are you from? I'm from D.C. Okay. So, and then kind of raised in Philly a little. Howard? High school across the street at Bannaker.

Clark Atlanta. Okay. Okay. Yeah. So. This has got to be the most fun show there is. I was about to say because you actually let us do a double episode. That's all I wanted.

Shout out to Carlene Donovan. Yes. Shout to Pauline Donovan. The husband is like, what the fuck? I appreciate this, man. I was waiting for the food to come out and, you know. We tried that the first episode with my root off there. We all fell asleep.

Culinary, you know. I used to feed, but then like we fell asleep. It was better. It was better. But a whole, like, stove thing back there. Like, you know. I like this suggestion. You should have a private chef.

Flying guys in from all over the world. Yeah, flying guys in. Quest loves food. You know, that's a whole thing too. Yeah. You know, Bossville will let us eat on the air. No, because people will be chewing in the microphone. Not at night.

We can do it maybe during the daytime. Back in the day, I used to eat his chicken. Yeah. Oh, you don't eat chicken anymore? That's right. The picture of you at the, yeah. Oh, yeah. That's how we did take a picture.

Yeah. That was early Instagram days. At high bird. You're there at the ground floor, man. Are you, like, vegan now? I go through, well, last year I was raw. Okay. Raw vegan.

Yeah, I was going to say, how come you still look like a teenager? Yeah, I'm going to need to know. Therickrese. I'm going to need your nutritionist number, your trainer's number. Like, do you know what gaining weight is or having a stomach or? Because I got a laundry bag. I need to, launch you back. I mean, off season, I can, you know, have a little fun, but, you know.

Like, do you work out? Like, you just seem like you're stuck in a teenager's body. I eat clean, you know? If you could, would you just retire and get fat? There's a side of me. See, there's a big fat black woman inside of me. Wait, that's weird. You don't know.

No, that's true. You don't know. I understand. I understand. And her name is Mabel. You know we take you at whatever side. I'm saying, like, your metabolism is working overtime, yo. I can get, like, I would shock you.

If I was just saying, like, like forget about it like let's just go let's go pop eyes right now yeah yeah i mean i can do it so i i keep i keep her at bay you know what wait wait wait bo bo bo bo look speaking of running speaking of running and jogging and working out what happened that day in miami with the cops oh bank robber man that's the song that ended up on that record yeah i was jogging in miami and then outside of my neighborhood just a little bit right and a bank had been robbed at that time, and I was wearing

like Army Fatigues in a T-shirt. And apparently the guy who robbed the bank was wearing Army Fatigues in a T-shirt and I got guns to my face. In Florida. Four, five, six cars. Guns pointed, pulled out. Me and my boy are jogging.

It was like, froze. That wasn't the first. I've had guns in my head before. Did you say, dude, I'm Lenny Kravitz? No, I didn't say shit. No, he's black man. At that point, don't fucking matter. And they're like, right.

Yeah. And the guy who's running with me is like he works with me and does security too. And he was like kind of trying to like, he's like, um, look at him. You see who? Not that it matters. I could have robbed the bank, right? But then they were doing the thing where, so they had like five, six cars, guns drawn. We're sitting there against the car.

They're waiting to drive the woman who's like 80 from the bank to look at you. Oh, hell no. If it's me. And all I'm seeing is like the hurricane movie and this one. And I was just like, oh, God, God. And she drove by. I saw her drive by slow. She's looking out the window.

And they let me. And then they find out who I was. And then it was a whole. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. That thing. That's what you give for going to Florida. Oh, this is definitely going to be a $50 million wall seat.

I mean, I just didn't want to get shot. You're not thinking about none of that stuff. Flo Rida. Wow. That's Florida I'm sorry Yeah You did the thing for the Chris Rock show

Right That's right Can I get a copy of that? Sure What's the time? I'm dead out serious too That grandmaster Last one

I totally forgot I used to love that shit Fuck man All right So what questions are we going to text Each other that we forgot to ask We did Vanessa Parodies We did designs

We got creed We did the acting Oh I got one I got one In the 80s What were the alternative black people listening to? I've always wondered that. Aside from like Fishbone and Bad Brains, like what other black musicians were?

That was kind of, that was just kind of it. Fishbone, Bad Bates, of course, Bob Marley. But everybody was listening to Bob Marley. But were you listening to? Trouble funk. Okay. Trouble funk. Yeah, I used to go to them shows, man.

Like a go-go? What? You used to go to the Palladium. Grace Jones. Yeah. Wait, did you name my five albums yet? No, he didn't. To one, I had that written down first.

Well, you asked me during the time I was making Let Love Rule, but... What are your five albums? Of Life? That's hard, man. Okay. All right. Intervision. You're going to have to name...

Everyone gets your... Because we're going to close on this. Oh, fine. Did you ask all your... Yeah, I think I got on my... Rang of your brain. Anything? Anything?

Anything? No one? Okay. Let Love Rule Time. What were your five albums? Inovisions. Okay. Talking book.

acts as bold as love um that's three um wow what else was I listening to at that time oh Bob Marley

um uh catch a fire okay um pink Floyd dark side of the moon okay now

this is a sub question who what did you get hip to after you were Lenny Kravitz as in like late in the game. Hmm. Like I didn't grow up on the Beatles.

My dad had it, but I was like, oh, whatever. Right. But then after a billion Paul's boutique samples, then I was like, hey, wait a minute. And then I got into the Beatles. But who's the one artist that we'd be shocked that you got into after the age of 21, 22?

That's a good question. Well, the one thing that I mentioned, the John Lennon solo material. Okay. Knew nothing about it. Okay, cool. Knew nothing about it, yeah. All right, last thing.

Yeah. Your entire Bahamas. Bahamas are Bermuda? Bahamas. Okay. Entire state in the Bahamas is on fire. Okay. What five things are you saving?

Mm-hmm. No, all human beings are already out. Yeah. My 1958 gold top, Les Paul, that's been on every record since, are you going to go my way? Okay. It's my number one studio guitar. Still to this day?

Yep, still there. Okay. What else is going? Let's see. I don't have a lot there. It's mostly gear. So everything in my house, I'm, well, I got a part. Paul Evans console that's in my house.

Can you carry that? Wait. Okay. Another bucket list question. That's got to, I want that. The Beatles, timeout. The Beatles board on the beach, was that some real shit or just some made-up shit? No, it was there for years.

Wait, what's the story? I heard a story that you found an old Beatles board. No, no, I owned the Beatles. I owned the Abbey Road equipment, the four track, the two track, and the tape machine. Okay. and the board. Everybody, your mom is like, we gotta get him down. Make him stop asking questions.

I swear he was the last question. Yeah, I own the Beatles. Since, are you going to go my way? Still use that board? I just sold it. Motherfucking. Why? It's a Beatles board.

You know, why? It was just, I wasn't using it so much anymore. I have other beetle inputs. And I was like, you know what? It's sitting here. and somebody offered me a lot of bread for it. There you go.

Okay, that makes sense. You know, sometimes you got to just move things around. All right, so you goal is Paul. Yeah. Paul Evans' console out of my house. Right. I have a collection of gold records in my studio that are from famous artists. These are pop culture artifacts.

Right. So I've got Hendricks. I've got, Hendricks only made four albums. I have two of his gold records. Wow. I have from Axis Boldest Love and Are You Experience? I have Sly's records. I have Beatle records.

I have Ike and Tina records. I have Chain of Fools, you know, a ref. I've got the Who. I have a whole collection. Like these are all the ones that are awarded to those artists? To those people, but they don't have them anymore. And they got. So that's four things.

And then the fifth thing would be I have the working lyrics to Sergeant Peppers when Paul wrote it. Wow. Mike motherfucking drop, right? And on behalf of boss bill, unpaid bill, Sugar Steve, Fonte Golo, and it's like, yeah, Lidie, thank this interview. Man, thank you for having me. Thank you, Lidavis.

This is everything I agree. Thank you, Carly. Thank you, Carly. So all this is going to, they're going to hear all this? A two part. I love it. It's going to be in two parts. I love it.

I mean, you know, you know, Jimmy Jam gave us an extra four hours. He did it. We did six hours. Oh, God, this is seven. Wow. And he's still asking me for, like, you know. I'll tell you what, we'll come back in a few months.

We'll get back from Europe, and we'll do three and four. I got to hear a tour stories. Okay. Thank you. We'll finish the rest of the album, and we'll hear what's going on. Yeah, we're still waiting for the blackout. The blackout. Negro filial.

I love that title. It's on Negrofilia time right now. Anyway, this is Questlove. New album and. Quest Love Supreme. Wait, wait, wait. When is the album? When is it out? Yes. September. September. Just September.

September. September. The entire month is. Don't be out of September, man. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Good night, ladies and gentlemen. This is Questlove.

Questlove Supreme was a production of IHeart Radio. This classic episode was produced by the team at Pandora. 2%. That's the number of people who take the stairs when there is also an escalator available. I'm Michael Easter. I'm on my podcast, 2%. I break down the science of mental toughness, fitness, and building resilience in our strange modern world.

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I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, 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 athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it.

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