The Questlove Show - Questlove Supreme: Eric Roberson Part 1

Episode Date: May 4, 2022

Team Supreme’s Phonte interviews his Tigallero collaborator Eric Roberson in the latest QLS solo session. In the first of a two-part episode, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter discusses trading major labels for independence and lessons he learned from his father and El Debarge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-heart podcast. Guaranteed human. 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,

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, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard 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. 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 Slical Life 12 and TikTok podcast network on TikTok. When a group of women discover they've all dated

the same prolific con artist, they take matters into their own hands. I vowed, I will be his last target. He is not going to get away with this. He's going to get what he deserves. We always say that trust your girlfriends. Listen to the girlfriends. Trust me, babe.

On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Quest Love Supreme is a production of IHeart Radio. Ladies and gentlemen, what's up, what's up? This is your host, Questlove of Quest Love Supreme. How y'all been doing? I hope y'all been doing fine. So we're doing it a little bit different this year. We're recording some special ULS episodes this season.

And in order for you guys to get more familiar with anyone on the show who's not me, which is always a good thing in my opinion, I decided that I wanted each member of the Supreme Team to get their own rogue episode and interview and do sort of a one-on-one-ish. And we kicked it off, of course, with Sugar Steve with his dream interview, his epic two-part conversation with Elvis Costello. And they recorded at Lettrylady Studios, one of the first in-person QLS episodes since the pandemic back in March of 2020. So with this particular go-round, we are passing the microphone, if you will, to our brother Fontigolo. Fon Tigolo, what's up, man?

Yes, indeed. What's up, man. Congratulations. It's our first one since the big win, man. Everything. That's right. Everything changed. Yes, everything.

The price is going up. No, boy. Yesterday's price. It's not today's price. I love it. Yeah. So similar to Sugar Steve, Fonte's guest is a gentleman that he has worked closely with. Actually, that I've actually collaborated with as well.

And this particular request of Supreme Guest is none. other than Mr. Eric Roberson, and he's a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, and music industry, OG. And I just want to welcome him. Please welcome him to Quest Love Supreme. What's up, Eric? I'm honored to be on here, man.

Congratulations as well. First chance to get to tell you that. Appreciate y'all having me on here. I'm kind of hell of jealous of your background right now. Yeah, his Zoom, I think, is only second to Will Smith's Zoom. Yes, exactly. Like you will zoom was like that shit looked like HDTD. Yeah, you look like you're in the Garden of Eden right now.

Like what does this represent this particular background? This, this background is part of just my basement and what I've learned during the pandemic. I was doing virtual shows. I teach class sitting here as well. I got I got sound effects and all kind of, you know, all kind of stuff here. Just, you know, applause. I love it.

You know, whatever we need to do. Yeah, so before you got on, before you came on in the mirror, he was talking to us, and he's going to be the one to kind of help us get roll call back, because he got some tools. You know how to deal with no latency? Yes, yes, yes. So there's several different things that we can get fixed, but yes, I told Laiaa let's talk. And Tim, because when the first pandemic started, the first thing I started doing,

I made an album, but the second thing I did was like, how do we do shows? And then I probably spent, shout to my boy, DJ Moss, in L.A., probably about a month or two months, staying up all night, just trying to, all those things, figure out latency, figure out, like, looping things back, like playing things from a computer,

hearing it, and then sending it back into the web. All that stuff, man. We crashed and burned on it. So, yeah, let's talk afterwards. I got you. Forget the interview. Let's talk now. Now, I'm going to leave you out to it.

Again, thank you very much for doing this. And hit it, Fonte. Yo, all right, man. So listen, though, like, I'm sitting here. And as much as we work together, there are just very, I think, crucial things in your life that me and you have never talked about. That's crazy. Like, when we, when we was on the phone the other day after the Fred Hamer interview and you were telling me about, like, what commission meant to you and, like, how something is simple as just seeing gospel singers on an album cover with jeans on. Yeah.

You know, for, you know, for a heathen like me, that was nothing, you know what I mean? But nah, man, yeah, talk about, you know, how you got started. Like, what was your first kind of introduction into music? My dad plays guitar and sings. My sister, I have an older sister, my sister Alicia, love you, Lee. And, you know, I think all my introduction really started from that, just being the little brother had to follow her around. And she was the one who actually had a band in high school.

And she did theater and was making clothes and all kinds. So whatever she was doing is the little brother. I went to the piano lessons. I went to dance recitals. I went to the theater classes. Went to her band rehearsals. And I think a lot of it just rubbed off for me. Of course, we're singing in church on Sunday.

We got choir or two days out the week or whatever you choir, emergency choir, whatever we were in. And of course, then of course, you know, we boomed bapping on the cafeteria table with our friends, freestyle rhyming, dreaming of being UTFO or whoever. So, I mean, you know, I'm from Jersey. It's just like a, I was born in Newark, but I was raised in

Broadway, yeah. Raised in Warwick, I got you. And I think just when it came time to do music, like, what do you do do you do? Like, you know, I was like, do you do gospel music, do you do house music, do you do rap, do you do R&B, you know, I was really struggling with that. But I would tell you that you know, several moments that was really

impactful for me. I remember when like going through my dad's vinyl and realized this was somebody's job, like somebody, they do this for a living. Like, I remember taking a Stevie Wonder record. Like, so he wrote this stuff and like, he put this together like oh okay this is a job i couldn't tell how old i was but i remember that being really impactful like i know my dad goes to work this person goes to work and they do this

they do right yeah yeah you know and my dad would come home and pick the guitar but we had a guitar like in every room you know but with your dad did he have personal did he have like aspiration of being a professional musician or was it just like a hobby just something he did just a hop just a relief just really i think when my dad and my dad was kind of late and joined in church when he joined, he joined. He became a powerhouse in that church as a vocalist. My whole family was in the church before. Mind you, my grandfather is a pastor. My dad's brothers were pastors. My mom's brothers were all deacons. So I think everyone had found church before my dad. My dad was very reluctant. He found it, boy. He found it. And I remember you telling me, I think, isn't like some of your

people, I think it's your grandfather's, like, don't you have some ties in North Carolina? I think I feel like maybe your mom or dad told me this. My mom and dad, my mom and dad are both from, from North Carolina. Yeah, so a town called Greenville and a little town called Stokes is where my family, my family, Greenville, North Carolina, and Stokes, North Carolina.

You know, so, yeah, and everybody's still there. For the most part, I had, you know, some family on my mom's side move up north when my parents relocated, came up north and some of that, but for the most part, most of my family's in North Carolina. Yeah, so when I first heard commission, we won, I think my parents got a tape, a commission tape from the family reunion. And I remember I was ironing my clothes and I put the tape and I was like, oh, let me just put this tape and listen to some music.

I didn't know what it was, right? I didn't even catch the album cover yet. But I remember I was ironing my clothes and I just looked down and my clothes are wet. Like there was drops of wetness on my clothes. And I didn't realize that I had started crying on my clothes. I'm probably like 12, 11, 12, 13 years old. And the music was like punching me in the chest. Like literally was punching me in the chest.

I remember this day like it was yesterday. I remember I saying whatever that is, like point at the point at the radio like whatever that is, I want to do that. Like I want to do whatever that is because it was the most impactful moment. And from that moment on I was like, all right, learn everything I can about commission, learn everything I can about. who's this friend hammock i'll learn everything i can about him and uh and then like said you know up to that point just keeping really 100 you know a young kid growing up a church you had an excuse when you see i'm not going about the name church church people that might not have it came off so cool they sounded great but they didn't come off so cool they were always like three

four years behind what whatever was going on in pop of music okay you have me in the church because you kind of corny you know you can't be in the clubs maybe that's why you that's why you that's why you singing this because clearly if you wasn't as corny maybe you'd be singing what guy and audition singing. The commission came out there at gumbies and jeans on. They look like they look fly. And I was like, why are they singing this? There must be something impactful to it. Plus, it already kind of blew me away and stuff like that. And it was, it was a really monumental thing, but it really more strength in my pen game. It made me say, like, really write something true that could be penetrating to somebody. And I think that was the first, like, first time I got on that

course are doing that man man i want to uh talk to you or wanted you to talk about uh your parents you know i'm saying i mean you know me and you we've been you know we go back god i mean shit it's almost 20 years at this point you know what i'm saying but um you know man your parents you know i i just in the time we work together and i will always see your parents always there like supporting you helping you you know i mean um pulling up at shows you're dad, and I don't even know if we ever talked about this, I know I've never talked about this publicly, but the day that we shot

the picture perfect video, when we shot the picture perfect video in Brooklyn, I don't even know of me and you ever talked about this. This is one of the worst days of my life. We have not talked about this. Oh, wow. Okay. We have done. Okay. Bro, listen. So that

morning, I flew into Philly and then, because we were shooting in Brooklyn, so I flew in Philly and your dad came and picked me up in the airport. So this is like, oh God, maybe we shot it on like a, let's say we shot it on like a Friday or something. I don't know. But anyway, we shot it on a Friday. And literally, I think that Tuesday, that was when my divorce started.

That was when like me and my, you know, pre-year, we separated. So the day of that picture perfect video shoot, I am a fucking wreck. I do not. As much as I had, as much as I wanted to do it. And as, you know, as much as I love everybody involved, man, that shit was a wreck. But I was riding in the car with your dad. Your dad came and picked me up from the airport. And then he took us to Brooklyn, where the shoot was.

And so we were sitting in the car, bro, and, you know, and your dad is, I mean, pops is pops. He's just, hey, what's going on? Young man, what's happening? Let's talk about, you know, he's just on. And I just broke down crying. And he was just like, yo, he's like, man. you are all right and I'd never forget this I asked him I said I said I said I said I said I've got to ask you me I said you know have you ever you know thought of a time where can you ever remember

you ever thought you know in all your years of you know being married you ever thought that like marriage maybe wasn't for you and he was like he said oh that's strong he said that's tough right there why you got a doubt to a science is amazing bro I never get this shit long as I lived, so I was like, damn. He's like, oh, that's tough right there. And I never get, he gave me some of the most, like, timeless, just most perfect advice that has been just like a guiding light,

you know, for everything, you know what I mean, just in my career and just, you know, whenever I have to make tough decisions. And he just said, he said, well, listen, man, he said, look, no matter what you choose, no matter what decision you make, it's going to be the right decision because it's your decision. Godly. No matter what decision you.

you make, it's going to be the right decision because it's your decision. Because it's your decision. That sounds so much like that man. Bro. So, yeah. So that was, so that was, my life was changed in like an hour and a half ride with this guy. What impact did your parents have on your, you'll speak to their impact on you as an artist. So first of all, why, why did you fly in Philly when we shot in New York?

I think, I can't remember what it was. I think we were, because I think you're, if I'm not mistaken, I think. I think your parents were bringing your clothes or something. They had to drive up to Brooklyn anyway. So I think it just made sense. It was like, all right, just flying to Philly and now just ride up with Pops. I think that was the logic. But, you know, before I even answer your question, the interesting thing is maybe the reason why you flew in the Philly is because you needed that time and had that conversation.

I mean, 100%. We know that was the real reason. It's amazing how things work out. But, you know, first of all, I've been very fortunate to have the most amazing. amazing parents in the entire world, just the most supportive, supportive parents from day one to just even today. You know what I mean? Like just really, and that answer is so funny. I always joke to say that my dad has never given me a straight answer ever in life, right? So when I walk to my dad, I'm like, you know, heartbroken. I would say, dad, but did you have to go through whatever?

His answers are usually, that answer is so him. Whatever decision you make, it's going to be the right decision because it's your decision, right? So, for example, my dad's a junior, and he was helping on making sure I wasn't the third reason why he's like, yo, I need you to go your own path. I need to go your own way. And so if I ever said, like, dad, you like this outfit? He'd like, do you like the outfit? Right?

He's like, he never just goes, yeah, it's dope. I do with my entire time of knowing my dad, not one time. Dad, you like this hat? I love the hat. Keep rocking. He'd be like, dad, you like this hat? Are you wearing it? How's it fake you feel?

You know? I love it. Going to where they're at then. Right? It's like, what in the world? But what I did notice is that throughout my life, when I go back and like reflect back on the life, he would never give me an answer. He'd never give me a direction.

But he was always like, little nudge. Okay, he's a little off. Close. No answer. But nudging back again. Just putting up guard rails. Putting up guard rails throughout my entire life through all the, failed record deals throughout, you know, the tough times trying to struggle, going back to college

and whatever. And my mom was more like the, I remember when I had left school, you know, I did the Warner Brothers thing and I went to Island Records and I was out of school for like a year and a half. My mom was like, so what's up with the record deal? And I was like, I think it kind of dried up, mom. She's like, so you know you got your scholarship still, right? You need to go to A building. And I went there the next time and they didn't like offer the scholarship. They were like, I was like, my, I went back. And it was like, they were like, nobody was like bringing it back up. She said, you need to go in there.

You need to sing. You need to sign autographs. You need to hug every single person. You need to do whatever you need to do. But when you walk out of that A building, that scholarship needs to be back. And I was like, okay, cool. I walk back. I love you to them.

I walk in like, hey, you know what I mean to sing at your bar mitz. Whatever. It's like, did it. Yeah, so she would, she'll be the one who was like, you know, I'm going to give you some direction. This is what you need to do, you know, whatever, whatever. And they were the perfect, they're the perfect, I tell you, the two most impactful moments in my childhood. My mom, when I was, I think a freshman of high school, I remember her coming home and she had quit her corporate America jobs. She worked for AT&T.

And she was like, I can't do it no more. I'm done. I'm so, I'm just unfulfilled. I'm done with it. I remember he wasn't talking to us. She was talking to my dad. And he was like, okay, all right, cool. And she acquit her job to start a business in fashion.

Wow. And that was really important. Like, I own my own business. My sister owns her own business now. And I think it comes from that day. Entrepreneurian. Yeah. Exactly.

But then the other part was, I think, like, the next day, my dad had this Lincoln Mach 7, white with a blue rag top suite, gorgeous car. And the next day he put a four-sale. sign on it. And it's sold within hours. Like somebody drove by and bought it like boom. And he went and bought this big old, old gray van to drive my mom's clothes around. So it was like the moments of entrepreneurship and then like support your partner. Yeah, no, true sacrifice and support. Yeah. And and I think, you know, I think I'm an example of entrepreneurship. But at the same time, you know, I, if anybody

knows me and my wife, it's like, that's how we, I'm driving. She's holding the map. She driving, I'm holding them at like, all right, this is the turn. You know what I mean? So I'm constantly trying to figure out what's the gray van in my marriage, you know what I mean, in doing that. And it's completely watching my parents. You know, I give everything to them, you know what I mean? It's enormously supportive.

What I would tell you, my dad, you know, you know what I'm, you know, by pop. Everybody calls them pop. And most of my friends, unfortunately, did grow up with dads, you know, for whatever reason, or whatever. And my dad was not just my dad. My dad was the dad to my community. To all my home. So it was like he

earned that term pop. Like to not just in high school, not even just college, but then all the bands that played from all the musicians that played for me. All the times, all the cats he picked up from the airport. It might have been going through a hard time. Yo, he's like, for real, if anyone's ever earned that term pop. You know, there's one thing to be a dad, you know, and he's been a great dad to me,

but he's been a pop to, like, the music community. Like, these stories I hear all the time because he's taking time to invest in everybody. And what's crazy is they live 10 minutes down the street from me. People will go see them. I call my dad. Before they go see you. I'm like, they come to see pop.

They come to see pop. You know what I mean? And I think that speaks values, you know, for how amazing they are. 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, 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 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 Galko, 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, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 and 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 gonna 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 wanted to go back to one of the things that I noticed when we first started working together, particularly when we would do videos together, like we did picture perfect and then we did, we are on the move and, you know, stuff.

You have a very much, kind of like a theater presence, you know what I'm saying? Like you, the thing I noticed when we were working is, videos like you use your whole body like you use your hands you use your leg like you do like I was like okay he's like really a performer and um one of the first times we went we did a show together and I just remember at the end of the show I was just sitting on the side watching and at the end of you was like you know you're like yo my name is Eric Robeson and it has been my great um honor to perform for you tonight and that is just something that that really resonated with me and I not, you know, I never forgot that because it's, it's something that I think a lot of artists

don't really take and understand the importance of giving a performance, you know what I'm saying, of using the stage as, you know, as your place to really perform and express yourself and give the audience an experience. And I have to think that a lot of that came from your experience in Howard, uh, in their musical theater department. And I just wanted to, you know, you touch on that. Yeah, I mean, I, because my sister, I grew up doing theater, really got heavy. into it in like junior high in high school and then I got a scholarship to Howard

and going to my parents saying hey I want to I want to if I could have majored in R&B I'd have majored in R&B you know what I'm saying? If I got a major in commission I would have major that's right right but obviously that didn't exist so there was a musical theater major I went and saw a performance of

Dream Girl before I ever went to Howard and I was blown away by like just a talent day I was like oh I got to get it together and I'll tell you it was a blessing going you know first of all I was around just kill us the teachers were great the students were great just you saw the future of theater the future of acting the future of everything in that in that department the third floor was the music department the first floor is the theater department and I probably learned more about music on the first floor in theater because theater was talking about like character development and like you know if you say but it's true well what it's true what is true? true me, but it's true to you. And we might talk 10 minutes about just the word true. So let's back it up. What's the first time you ever heard true? Where were you at the first time you ever heard that word? Oh, I heard it when I was in kindergarten. Okay, was it true then. And then, you know, it's like, the teachers would dissect it. Now say it again. Now you're like, so is it true.

Before I can even say it, tears fall on my. I mean, it was like dissecting it. So, of course, now you talk about like trying to write songs and things like that. What if I bring this into that area? What if I bring theater into these? It's all us as singers. and rappers, we're just characters. The songs are just scripts. You know what? The music is just the scenery. The stage is a scene.

It's like, you know what I mean? So it's like, how can we bring this to another level? And for me, whether it's in the studio, whether it's on stage, whatever, yeah, it's like, how can we bring this character? Not just that. If I'm sad, the bass player need to be sad. I can't be pouring my, my own. You all got to be telling the same story.

Yeah, we all got to be telling the same story. So the drummer can't be happy. like, cat, and I'm sitting here like, how could you let me down? Or vice versa, you know?

So I think, I think a lot of my friends from Howard are surprised I didn't follow a Korean theater, but when I also feel like I fulfill my, my theater needs in my music, in my writing, and my performance as well.

Absolutely. You know, and I think the choice, a lot of it came for my desire to write. Like, sure, in theater, I would have been auditioning and in rehearsing

and probably not doing my own material. I'd be taking on other characters with this one. I was like, well, I could write about, you know, I could really dive into it. And it worked. I think when people listen to even to my music, if not every, most songs, you're going to find a song on every album where it's like, it's musical theater. You know what I mean? Oh, yeah. No, you had, it was a record.

I forgot which album was on. It was called The Magician, I think, where you were speaking from the aspect of magician. I was just like, man, I would never do a song like that. would be so scared to do a record. Why? I don't know. It's just, I just thought it was just a really brave choice, but you always took those kind of choices where you were really, like, embody a character.

I mean, it's one thing to rap as that character, right? It's one thing to be slick, Rick, and like, you know, the cop shot the kid, you know, to do all the voices, but you don't really see that in R&B as singers. And I always thought that was really admirable and just always admired you for taking those kind of chances in your stuff. I appreciate it. I appreciate it. Well, you know, I learned a lot from your opinion. You know, if I, and I even say this, you know, the first time I ever witnessed it, a person writing a song without writing it down was watching you.

When we did have in love. And remember what was saying? Yes, indeed. So we did have in a conversation with my dad. I was setting the music up and my dad was talking and you took my dad's conversation. Remember this day like was yesterday? The exact conversation and you made it rhyme. And you were like, the beat was ready.

He was like, yeah, I'm ready. And then you just walked in and took everything that you're talking about and just rhymed it down. It blew me away that somehow you processed all that in your head without putting it on paper. And it took me some time. But, you know, I haven't written a song down probably for the last 10 years probably. Like, you know, so a lot of it is like seeing what you did, of course, hearing what Biggie's doing and hearing Jay-Z, but then seeing what you did. And then for me, applying, like, theater background, for me, my first thing is like, all right, who do I want to be in the song?

What's the character? The more developed the character is, then I just hit record. Because now I just got to make it rhyme. The objective is all there. The character's all there. And then it is making rhyme. But a lot of it was sparked from, like, watching you do it. I was like, you're like, yo, did this cat just literally?

First of all, not only just like that you wrote a song your head, but you wrote a song your head while talking to somebody. That's crazy. Yeah, I mean, that was just, that was, again, just your pop, man. Like, that was pops. He just, you know, would just come in and just drop these jewels and he just start talking. All right, young man, well, tell me about, let me talk to you about this.

He just be talking. I'm just soaking this shit in. I'm like, man. And so I just went in and did it. And the crazy stuff now is like kind of the rules of reverse because you don't write down and I'm constantly like writing prompts like in my phone. Like, I think for me what changed. was the process because at that time,

we did Ben in Love, man. That was shit. That was damn old, 5, 6, something like that. And so at that time, that's when we were recording at the studio. And so that was just kind of my process. I would just turn a beat on, just crank it up, and I would just walk around pace, just kind of just, you know, run it in my head,

just kind of write the verse in my head with the music up. But then around like 2009, that was when, and it's in a studio. We're in some, we're in a studio. So, you know, time is money. just want to be efficient. So that was how we learned just in those early little brother records. It's like, all, get in, get out.

You know what I'm saying? We just had to be, you had to be on it. So around like 2009, once we moved back to when I built my studio at the crib, you know, I mean, my kids are here. I can't be just cranking to three in the morning. You know what I mean? So my process changed. And so that was when I kind of had to go back to just like actually writing either on

paper or, you know, sometimes my phone or whatever, but just going there. And so from the time when we were working, at first it just my whole thing was just like one take i got to get it down it's just one take one take j this what it's got to be but um once i got home and uh talking to another co-collaborative i was feral munch uh talking to him and he had a completely different approach and he would say he said man when i go to the booth i treat it like i'm a director you know what i'm saying he said so i look at my verse like okay i'll do a take but it's like hmm the and in that verse,

I may want to stick that better because that'll lend and I'll just go in and get just the end. You know what I mean? Like he is surgical with his shit, you know what I'm saying? And hearing that approach, I was like, oh my God,

you know what I mean? And so that was kind of where I'm at with it now. It's much more, a lot more kind of methodical. First of all, you know, listen, this can, you already know, you know what I'm saying?

You might with a hand down, come the pins. Man, go ahead. what I think. Go ahead. If I put my money on anybody, and you're a fair of money, Moncton, Monches guy.

I'm honored to collaborate. Oh, man, come on. Munch's guy. Come on. What we talk about. You know, just such a, you've always had such a unique approach. And it's so interesting,

but like I said, the process changes. I'm a fan of people's process. It's one of my favorite words in the entire words. You don't hear me say it several times, even in this interview. But I can't, and people always ask me,

like, who would you love to collaborate? I say, I just love to watch. I love just be in the room. when Farrah Monch is working or when Eric Abaddu is working or when Fonte's working like just so I can see the process of how somebody's putting something together. It's always amazing. And guess what? It always works differently for different.

And it's always different. That's the thing. Everybody's thing is different, man. And it's just, yeah, I remember like, you know, when we were working and, you know, and I would see just kind of, you know, because you would, I would tune into the process like your, you know, your, you know, your platform. And I was just, again, it was just one of those. things, you know, for people listening, you know, Arrow he has a thing. Is it still on Patreon? Is it still, you still on Patreon? Yeah. Yeah. I'll call the process where, you know, he pretty much just Netflixed himself. You know what I mean? But he was ahead of curve. I mean,

you did this shit down there 10 years ago. But, you know, but he has a thing called the process where you can just tune in and watch him create songs. And that is just, again, just one of those things where I'm just like, dude, I would never, like, never, like, oh my God, like having cameras in the studio while up, like, bro, that is, yo, I would rather you have a camera in the dressing room while I'm, like, trying on sweatpants and some shit. Like, camera in the studio while I'm created. Are you fucking kidding me? Like, oh, I just, I can't do it, bro.

I just, it freaks me out. I learned this quickly with you. Me and you have done a million songs, but when we decided to do Pick a Leroy album, right? When we did it too, it was very obvious to me, okay, I am one who wants to go through it to figure it out. You're one who wants to figure it out before you go through it. It was to me exact. We were so exact opposite that we actually were the same in some form fashion, right? And it worked out.

It complimented. But it was like, you know, I'm definitely one who's like, put cameras on me. Like, I'll do what like, I'm down and like, this point gets the wall, like whatever. And you're like, nah, bro. We ain't throwing nothing against the wall. You know, I'm going to feel the war. I got 10 bullets. Hell yeah.

10 bullets 10 to the head. And I think to a degree, you know, maybe I was able to pull you a bit off-centered. That's a beautiful thing about the conversation about collaboration, how amazing the collaboration it is. But it's like you were able to pull me off-center, and I was able to pull you off-center. And that's with the magic of all that, you know,

laid at right there. But yet we had, we definitely had two different type of theories when we came in to do that album. You know what I mean? I've just, stop throwing stuff against the wall because this is not, that's not going to work. He's not going to understand.

Like, no, he's not, me. We ain't just throwing something against the wall. Like, no, we're planning out our shots. And we're going to 10 for 10. It's going to be 10 for 10. Listen, man. Listen, no, it was so informative because I just had never,

because I was never that per. that, you know, and I always admired, you know, that and that was something working with you. It, in a lot of ways, it kind of reminded me of working with Poo, you know what I'm saying, and LB, because Poo was like that coming up. Like, Poo was the guy that Poo would just record nonstop. He would just go in and just bang, bang, rap, gang. And he was way more prolific than I was.

And, you know, that was something that I always admired, you know what I mean? Because I just was never like that. It just always felt like I were wasting people time. I'm like, yo, if I ain't really coming with no heat, like, I'm going to just shut the fuck up because I ain't, you know what I mean? I ain't trying to be. I had just experimenting. Like, when I show up, I wanted to be for real. And so we were working on that album.

First off, you know, for everybody listening to home, to this day, I have no idea how we finished that record. No idea. That was at the time, because I think you were, were you about to have your third son at that time? Or had he just been born? Hey. He had just been born.

So me and five decided we were going to make an album. And we had been talking for about two years. years about planning to do it. You waited until you went on tour. And you called me. I remember the phone call. You said, E, I'm ready.

Let's start. Let's start. At that point, we weren't even calling Tiggero yet. We didn't call it Tillero. You didn't have a title. Let's start the album. And I said,

oh, that's great. I'm in the hospital. My wife has had a baby. And you was kind of like, that's dope, but this is the window. Like, this is the window.

Like, this is the time. I was like literally holding the child like, okay, if this is the window, then let's go. Now mind you, you know, to help out one thing, this is my third child in, you know, in probably six years. So we were having a child like 10. Yeah, y'all was having a stair step. Yeah, a little break. I see, like a three year break.

And then we had another child, right? And so I've been recording with kids in my hand, you know, like for the, last seven years, pretty much, last five years, whatever. So I was, you know, okay, all right, cool. But literally the next, like, two days later, we were, we were cutting. And I mean, 90% of that record was cut literally with that kid, like, hold him. I said it in one of the songs. He's literally, he was like, but then you were like, like, like say, you were in a different

state. I feel like he was in a different state every time you send me something. We, at no point we would ever, we didn't see each other. Nah. What's crazy? It was like, Four and exchange style, bro.

Like, it was straight up just, completely. Even an album cover everything was just hilarious how it all came together. But yet as locked in, we could not have been any more locked in. And I think that's the,

that's the magic of it. You know, I think which is, which is really, really special. When I go back to listen those songs, you know, they were,

they were amazing. I mean, it was a blur because it was really crazy. Total blur. Yeah. But that record, man, listen,

I mean, that record made me, me just a better musician all the way around, just, you know, better singer, songwriter, because it was just, it was very much for me. It was just the thing of just kind of iron-sharpening iron. And, you know, I've just always just been a believer in, you know, when you're collaborating with people that you respect, you know, you just always want to, you want to be on your best behavior, so to speak. You know, you always want to make sure you show up as the best because, you know, I knew like you just had a kid um 2016 that was when um yeah I lost my dad and my man yeah the night

we did um I think the night we did Atlanta um it was like shortly after that I can't remember it was 20 it's 2016 um but yeah uh I lost like my my granddad died on like Tuesday and then my dad died on like Sunday and all of this shit was happening while we're in the middle of the record, you know what I'm saying? And so I knew that you were showing up. I'd be like, he just had a kid. Like I got through what I'm going through. But man, fuck this. Like I, you know, I'm, I'm staying in this. We're going to finish this, you know. And, and I always admire just, you know, your efficiency, just because I knew working with you, I'm like, I know this will get done. I know to get done. And I just always, you know, wanted to just maintain that trust is like, yo, if Arrow will send me

something, he knows I'm knocking it out and it's over with. Yeah, we have, I mean, we had a great relationship over music. It was time. And we, of course, we showed up with, we showed the right time. But it was, it was the craziest time. That shit was crazy to do an album. But you know what? It was even funny, though, like, the whole, how we,

Tiggeraro, we said that as a joke. As a joke. Like, that was the way we sent it to each other. I cut the bridge by Tigger Lero. Lero! And you, and you said, the verse back Tigula and eventually was like I think it's the album

like why you bullshit and this is got this go she might be the net you know so listen man but once again that was the happy medium of like going through it to see if it works and see it works before we go through we kind of like you know because at no point we was

committed we were just having fun but eventually was like that Tigalaya kind of job it actually kind of work a little I'm not tired of it. I'm like, I keep saying it. You know what I'm like? This might be it. So fun time.

I want to ask you bad, so back to your days at Howard and your first deal on Warner Brothers, first of all, you have no idea how excited I was to find out that you wrote the moon, that the moon was your song. Oh, wow. I mean, the moon was, I mean, man, the moon was one of those songs that, I literally remember hearing it one time on the radio when I was probably like, I don't know, 12 or 13 or something. And I was like, oh my God, like, who the fuck is this? This shit is amazing and never heard it again.

And so then, you know, I mean, you know, 15, however many years later, I'm like, oh, shit. You know what I mean? Yeah. How did you get that, that Warner Bros. What was that process like of signing with them? So my sophomore year, the group Shy, who also was Howard, um, they had a lot of, big songs. So they met a DJ. Real DJ.

Right. And they sung the song for him. Two weeks, a week later, they were on the radio with him. Two weeks later, they were senior hall. Two weeks after that, they were millions of copies later, you know, it just exploded. And it was crazy because all of us were singing and doing stuff on campus. But at that point, I was just trying to be the dopest on campus. I didn't even think this could be something outside of this.

And that was big, but the bigger part of it was also like, what, here's my demo. Like, just when you get to L.A., just pass it to somebody. And these were songs that you were recorded previously before. Yeah, just like my demo at that time, my demo at that time, which was just,

I want to say the moon was probably on it. No, no, that's not true. Let me think for a second. No, so, all right, so Derek, who was a member of, Carl, I'm sorry, was a member of Shy, introduced me to his brother.

His brother was married in the group. And he had some producers that were under Teddy Riley and they sent me the track and that's when I wrote wrote the moon and then of course the phones at that point at that point now

I'm doing class and every weekend I'm pretty much like flying out to take meetings and stuff met with Peter Medina met with Little Silas before you passed

and just running past label at the label at the label and what was Little Silas like man he's this very time you know we don't really we get few people

on here to have worked with him but what was he like he was the guy for everyone listening Louis Silas Jr. was the, he was a guy over at MCA Records. You know, he played the, you know, big role, you know, new edition. He formed Silas records like Shantay Moore. Like, he was kind of one of the OGs of this.

What was he like? I just had one meeting with him, but I remember he was shooting straight from the hip. What I remember from him was he said, and this was interesting because when I look back, so he's like, listen, man, I just want to take a meeting with you. I think you already decided, you know, you're going to do the Warner Brothers thing. but I just wanted to meet with you, man, I like your music, this and that, whatever, whatever.

And I was like, I appreciate it, you know. And I was that kind of like, why you, like, why am I here if you think I'm already going to Warner Bros? At that point, I really was going to Warner Brothers. I was the side. He's like, I wanted to meet what you, kind of talk with you. And before I left the room, he was like, so good, man. Hey, man, the music's dope, man.

Listen, if you want, there's something over here. And just let you know, man, I don't know why you're going to want to be there for long. That's the last thing you said as I walked out the door. Like, I was like, okay. all right now walk the door like whatever and sure enough i signed the deal and bennie was out the door benny was like he was the focus on fresh prince of belair like right after that and i was like well he leaving i'm leaving but i but i never thought of like i didn't even think i just didn't

put two and two together you know and um yeah that's something that a lot of artists i've been talked to like now just about how like you know it's signed into a label that's just one of the pitfalls you can have where it's like you can have your guy or your girl, your person that's really riding for you that you might sign to or whatever. They'll get you sign. But if they leave, you kind of lose your advocate. Like, you ain't got nobody fighting for you and you just are back at square one. What I would tell you was almost immediately I got signed to Island records. And the interesting thing was when I went, when I signed with Warner Brothers, I signed in LA and it was like, stop the day. Everybody is his Eric Robbins today. Hey, hey.

Right. And then when I went to, when I showed up to Island, I think I took the train in New York. And when I got there, it was like just a lawyer in the A&R. My boy, Leotis Clyburn, shout out to Leotis. It was just the two of them. It was like, a lawyer and Leotis. I was like, where's the cake? And like, where's the, you know, it's fine.

The straight business. They were like, it's just, it's, you know, it's quiet day. I was like, oh, okay, all right, sign it, whatever, took pictures, whatever. And then I think I got back on a train. I might stay the day in New York. And then like the next day I got home. But when I got back, I remember my manager calling me and going, Yo, Hiram Hicks just got signed as president of Ireland.

And I knew immediately what that meant. It was like, so why the hell do we just sign there? Because he's going to come to wipe everybody out. And sure enough, he did. He came in. It was like, Leotis lost his job. Then it was like contracts. And just wiped the whole thing out.

And it's crazy because, you know, initially you heard your ego, you know, because at first was like, yo, listen to the music first. He's like, I don't even kidding. No, I got my home. I got my whole team. I'm bringing, he didn't care with him. And I'm like, yeah, he's like, I'm bringing my whole thing in. And then later I ended working with hiring.

It was, it was fine because when I worked when I was at this point, years later, I'm like, let's get this money. Like, I'm not even shipping like, you, you know, I'm not, you know, I'm not any worried about that. Let's get this money. But you understand that. Like, that's how it was. The president come in, they're like, I don't care what was here before. I'm bringing my guys. It's a new day.

I'm bringing my people in and this and that and that. And I had to learn, that was the biggest lesson for me that, like, my music. music can't save me. Like, you got to be on a point. You got to be on point because, like, you can't sing your way out of this. This cat didn't care what the music sounded like. He was like, let's get out, like, you're out of here. So that's when I really started learning.

And another thing was really important, too. So Benny Medina's office had this wall of, like, CDs and tapes and that's from ceiling to floor, the entire wall. Like, it's crazy. Of just music, period. Oh, just music, period. And I've been in this office probably like 10 times, right? Just over the last two months or whatever it was.

And there's like a whole row of prints. Here's all the other names I don't know. I mean, just music, music, music. And then when I got signed, I think they said, well, what do you want to do next? You ever had enough time to get some food or whatever? I said, I want you to change my flight and give me some headphones. I want to listen to this wall.

It was the first time I felt like I had the right to say that. And I stayed there that night, just going through like just pulling every season. every tape, every dad out, and just listen that whole wall. And it was the most amazing musical night of my life hearing print songs I never heard for. And then like, well, who's this cat? Oh, that's the new, that we sign. His album was come out, whatever, whatever. And then you never hear that.

And there's people on here who could clearly be the next prince. But it never saw the light of day. It was just like, this wall was crazy. Wow. But it never left me to like, what happened to all those people? Like, what happened to all that music? Like, you know. And I think one of the reasons why I kind of went like the whole independent route was like I never wanted to be one of people on that wall.

Like it just that that's scared the hell out of me like, yo, this is life changing music up here that's never going to be released. It's never going to see the light of day. And the only reason I'm hearing it is because I'm actually signed to these to the way. Sign to it. You know, right, right, right. The only reason I ever heard it. And then, you know, we, we're writing songs and producing songs for people. We've done whole albums on people and the albums never come out.

So you're like, you like, you know, I remember like wanting to be an artist, but yet having a career as a songwriter and seeing an artist get signed, see them flying in, getting put into some glorious hotel and recording for a month. And you think, okay, it can really pop for this person. And then whether it's the president of label, the A&R department marketing team, whatever, they're like, nah. And then that person is back and it's just over. Going hair or construction with it. It's over. It's like, how, wait a minute, how is it, that never set right with me? You know, like, how was it just over?

So the Island Warner Brothers thing was really, really tough. After that, like I said, I went back to school and I was tough because you got to, during the moon time, I was in school. So I was in class while that song was playing on radio and the video was playing. And then I was like, well, I'm leaving to go focus on the album and blow up, I'll be sure I'm the next one, you know. And then the deal started falling apart. Like, as soon as I left school, it was like, pooh, pooh, pooh, pooh.

life really hit. And I had to like really, but so when I went back on campus, it was like, what you're doing back? Like, what is that? You know?

And it was humbling. It was really, really humbling. But my pen wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for that time going back. I became a better student. Like the person you know now, it's that person who showed back up at that school.

Like learning like, oh, I need more. I need to know more. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yeah.

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 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. 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. 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 gonna get what he deserves Listen to the Girlfriends Trust me babe

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. When you were with Warner, that was, was that an album deal or was it just a single deal for the moon? So it was a single deal. It was a single deal. And before we could even go into, the song was 33 on the charts and then Benny left.

So it was like, wow. And I think if we were moving towards, it was moving towards like, we're going to do a whole album deal. And I did an album deal with Island. And then, like I said, that one, that one wiped out as fast as you could possibly imagine. But I remember, like, the song, the moon was doing great.

It was doing great for me. It was growing. It was climbing. And then it was like, let's move. Because, no, it was a great song. Yeah, it clearly was about to happen here is bad. Like, you know, and it was just a whole little president hop for, for a nice, man, it seemed like a year.

You know what I mean? Just trying to go from one label to another. Man, please tell the story. as much as you want to tell please tell the story of doing your promotional tour with Elder Barge All Warner Brothers

This is one of the greatest You told me this story I'd never get to jail We was at the damn Bob Evans Somewhere in the middle of Jersey I don't know where to fuck but I just remember we was at a Bob Evans Like one morning

Right right There's so many levels of it There's so many levels of it There's so many levels of the story. But what I would tell you in just respectfully, I remember one thing, I remember one thing, the rep,

the Warner Brothers rep said, if Elle ever calls you, even 5 o'clock in the morning, once a girl play pool, go play pool with him. You know, he's like, go play pool.

If he ever needs to talk, he ever needs to hang out, like this is one of your main reasons for being on this tour. It's like, if he ever needs you, like, follow through,

like answer the call. And I, you know, we all know that Elle, the bar just had some substance issues, whatever. And this was during his clean period. So I think that what he was talking about is like, if he ever want to play pool, he needs to go out and play pool.

He needs that. He needs whatever. So, you know, we became fast friends in that time. And he was just so amazing, man. Like every hotel we showed up, he went and sat at a piano. He almost did a whole concert in that lobby, like just waiting for our rooms or just, just he was sitting at a piano every time. He was just so musical.

we would do a show, I mean, we did a show, I think in Connecticut, and the sound system was just horrible. And he stood on that stage and he waited, and the sound was just trash. And he waited, let everybody crash and burned. And right before they opened doors, he said, hey, brother, can I just come over there? He talked exactly the way he's saying,

can I come over there and just look at the mixing board if that's all right? And the guys like, yeah, sure. In like, probably 10 minutes, he took the mic back there, and he started turning knobs, and he cleared all. all drama, like all clouds, just clear. The sound sounded enormously incredible that night. And that's just how he was.

He was like, he knew how to work everything. He was the constant professional. He had been through everything. We were driving one time. And I told him, I said, yo, man, I really like your album. The album's great. We were going, they were taking a limo from Connecticut to Boston, I think. It was something like that driving in.

And he says, man, the albums, this album's a money out. I remember that I would never forget this shit. It's the money album. Because you had told him, because you had told him it was a good album. He's like, yo, this is a good album? He was like, oh, no, this is a money album? This ain't a good album. This is a money album.

He said, I'm doing my money album so I can get a chance to do a good album. And he was like, he's like, Marvin Gaye did money albums until he was able to do a good album. Bob Marley did money albums until he's able to do it. He just ran down the line. And then he just said, so this right here, that's just a money album. because I'm getting ready to do a good album and he just wandered off and I just left me thinking like

I need to do my good album I do my good album I do a good album right you know it's like every I mean he just had I could have made a t-shirt off of everything he said you know what I mean you know

I remember we was at his birthday party and uh was this was this the don't don't fall in love man don't fall in love man he saw he saw my eyes was glistening that night and he was like he said hey man

don't fall in love just don't fall in love I was like too late Elle the wisdom of L I make a whole hour more the wisdom of L but it was just it was

to learn like a constant professional man his showmanship on and off stage was just you know he was just tough and it you know and also I was a person it was probably the start of

I was a person who always had vocal issues I mean, I got horse. I mean, mind you, I was doing like two songs in a show and then get out the way. And in those two songs, I was struggling to maintain up, I was getting horse and stuff like that. So to see somebody who sang all day, on stage, all stage, it really, it really blew me away. And it was probably on the steps of like, how do I get to that point? How do I get to a point where I can get more health, like really healthier? Yeah, get that stamina, yeah.

And that was the start of it. Like, you know, I was, I was 19, really. So I was, it was crazy. But it was a good learning lesson for me. Like, yo, this is, this, if you're going to learn for a pro, learn from that on Elder Barge. Was esoteric? Was that your first, um, independently released? Well, not independently.

Was that your first album, period? Like, that actually saw the light of bed. Yeah. Yeah, it's first album, period. So, uh, what's crazy is that I, I moved to Atlanta. And I eventually, eventually ran into. ran into Touch of Jazz. So that was like life-changing moment

was like working at Touch of Jazz. And then I moved back, I went back to Atlanta to just get my stuff. Because for the moment I met Touched Jazz, like the moment I went to Jazz Studio, it's like, I just never left. Rock with you. I was still one of my favorite, like,

records. Just, I love that song. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I mean, you know, like I say, me and Jeff, me and all those brothers at a Touch of Jazz was like, that was graduate school for me.

That was like the life-changing moment for me. But when I went back to get my truck and, like, move out of my apartment, I had a session with Joe and Uncle Sam. I was working at Noontown. Wow. At noontout. Teddy Bishop. Teddy Bishop.

Jazzy Faye. No. He, um, Brian Michael. Uh, Brian Michael Cox. Uh, I mean, just killers in it's in the, in the end. And I think Joe had a concert. So when he went, he's like, I'm going to go to my concert and I'm going to come back and finish the song.

So I went to take a nap. at a friend's house and left just but mind you I'm leaving the next day I'm driving back up to Jersey and someone broke in my truck and took just took the bag out the front seat and that bag was every song I ever recorded up to that point so it's like

everything in high school everything in college everything at Warner Brothers everything on all gone in just a snap like I come out to the car and it's just glass everywhere the truck or whatever and that was like that was really like oh

snap. So I mean, it was like really starting over. You're starting over. I'm about I say it's a full reset. Completely full reset. Yeah. And then I went, I was still working out. Of course, working on Touch of Jazz. And then I just started, I started just working on esoteric. And then it was like, I didn't have a deal, you know. And it was like, at that point, I'm Eric Robeson's a songwriter. Like, I'm proud myself every room I walk in. I'm Eric Robbins and a songwriter.

And did you, had you signed your deal, your songwriting deal with EMI at that time? or was this prior to that? Yeah, I had my publishing deal. I had my publisher deal with EMI at the time. And things were working for me. I mean, as a songwriter, I couldn't have been happier. You know what I mean?

Because at this point, that's some of the music, the child stuff, the Vivian Green stuff, everything's working. But I just wasn't satisfied. And I had it, I actually had a bad,

like a bad breakup. And that's what really sparked it. Like, I was like, let me just close the studio door and just start working. That was the only way I knew how to get back to neutral was like just write.

So I was either writing in the journal or I was writing a song. It was like back and forth. And then the album was done. And it really was like I was just unwilling to sell these songs because they were like, they were way too personal,

way too much. And it was like, I'm just going to put it out. And I remember like really the homies like all laughing. Like what you mean? You're going to put it out? You're going to put it out? I was like,

I think I'm just going to put it out. Like how? You got a record down? Like, no, I'm just going to figure it out and put it out. And that was it. just started. And this is 2002?

2001. And mind you, by no means without a first, by no means, I remember dwelling had rise. I knew of a lot of artists who were independent, and in different states and everywhere. Shout out the fertile ground,

who was the first grew up. Yeah, Navasha. Yeah. Putting out music, like independently putting out music and selling records. So by no means, we were out of first.

If anything that was different, for me and anyone else. I remember, like, I remember Carl Thomas being an independent artist. I remember Kim. I remember Kim before Motown signed him. John Legend before he was John Stevens. We had the Kobe haircut. Yeah, the Kobe haircut.

Yes. Yes. So I remember the difference was like, you know, once you sold a certain amount of records independently, the labels come scoop you up. That's how, that was a normal thing. And I was like, well, what happens if you don't sign? with them. What happens if you sell a certain amount and then just keep going? Keep rocking, yeah.

What will happen then? And I think that if anything is different, that's the part. We got to the point where we could have went to a deal and worked their stuff out. We had sold enough records. We had got enough attention. And then guess what most of the labels, because of my songwriting stuff, knew who I was. And for whatever reason, if there was situations, which we did have some, they didn't work out. But for the most part, like, let's just push through, man.

man, let's push you and see what happens. And it worked out, man. I mean, be honest with you. You sit here and then I had a master plan. I didn't. It just worked out. Really. Yeah.

And when you formed with your label Blue Arrow Soul, was that, like, how did you assemble, I guess the team? You know, was it, you go to your parents and say, hey, I need some help. Is it just homies you work with? Like, how did you work those steps of figuring out what you needed as an independent artist? The first part was the fans challenged me to take it more serious. They wanted more music and it was like, okay, because I thought

I was going to put an album out and then just go back to songwriting and producing for people, but they were like, we want more. We want more. It was like, okay, how do we work that out? The biggest difference, the first step was my dad retired.

And then I remember he came into the studio one time. And at that point, I would do like, I would record all night. And then I might go to the gym for a couple of hours. And then I would, from like 12 to 4, we were just like packing CDs up. and like just making printing packages.

And I would spend that time at the post office. And then when I finished the post office, say 5 o'clock, it was back recording from 5 to 4 o'clock till I just couldn't stand up anymore. And I repeated it. And my dad walked in one day when I was like preparing stuff. He said, what are you doing here? I was like, I got to ship all the stuff off, like ship the CDs off. And he's like, you need help?

That's how I was like, you need help with that? And I was like, if you could take this as a post office, that would be a lot of help. And he was like, yeah, cool. So then I was at that point, I was like, okay, I could just focus on music. And to be honest with you, you know, Jarrell, who has been one of my best friends, he has managed me off and on. He's been around. And I think Jarrell kind of watched for a while and he was like eventually stepped in. It was like, how you need help, let's whatever.

And then the rest of the truth be told, the rest of it was like fans. I think Sweet Locks was around and she was around. It was like, what do? I like, hey, join me. Let's see, you know, it's like, Suelex eventually joined on, Demo eventually joined on, she eventually joined on.

It was really, I mean, mind you, I don't want to naively think that they were just like, it was more like, these are people who also had desires in the industry, but they were around. And the more we talked, it was like, well, I'm trying to do this.

What do you do? You know? There's a mutual win here. There's a mutual win. There's a mutual win. Like even, uh, Dimo, I think he was, he sung background for me on a show.

Like somebody linked me up and he sung background. At that point, it was like house band, show up, whatever, whatever. And then we started picking up a band. I think he came and said, if I show up to a show up to a show, can I do the gig? I was like, yeah, sure, okay. I was like, next show was in Toronto, Canada. He's like, all right, cool. He was in Toronto.

The next show was in L.A. He was in L.A. The next show was in Atlanta. He was in Atlanta. So now I was like, how are you getting here? Like, he's a, well, I got to figure this out. So then I remember like, so can you get my band tickets like that? He's like, yeah, you can do that.

And that's how he started booked. That's how he started. Like, he's been like the role manager, the background singer role manager ever since then, you know, and I remember like Anshia, who now is a powerhouse in the book. She's booking everybody's shows. But I remember we were, there's probably six, seven years ago. She was already in the staff.

She was rocking in the staff. but I said, I need more help in the booking area. Can someone move over? She was like, I move the booking. Imagine she probably already has some insight on it. But then she moved over there and like just started rocking. So it was really just a community of people that were trying to grow, trying to be better. And I was fortunate they joined up with me to join in with my company.

And it's great because now they have their own businesses and their families and their own successes. but yet can invest in mine as well. So it's been great. The history, I mean, the history of just who's worked for me, who's played for me is probably one of my proudest, proudest things. Like just- Man, man, man, killers. I'm honored.

I'm honored to see. Yeah, Demo, man, Demo, I got a shout out. I mean, just first of all, your whole team. I mean, every time we've always traveled, you know, it's always been love. It's always just been, you know, you just have amazing people around. you and that was just a big lesson. I think I learned just from kind of touring with you and just kind of seeing the way you built out your infrastructure of just, okay, like, these is just like people that

he really fucked with and they just fuck with him. You know what I mean? And they trust each other. And, you know, Demo, I got to shout Demo out. Demo saved my life one night. I was, it was after we did, bro, it was after we did Chicago. We did Chicago. and I feel like this is around the same time

to like my dad was done like all this shit is going on so it's after the show and it's late and I'm just in the lobby I don't even I can't remember what it was I was outside talking or something but I was just in the lobby Dimo shows up with a bucket

a goddamn hurls let me tell you something bro he showed with a demo he just in the line with a bucket of hurls and I think he had his kids with him that night. And, uh, yeah, and I was like, I say, yo, I say, yo, I say, yo, man.

I said, you know, I ain't he tried. I said, bro. Man, let me get one of them wings. He said, oh, no, bro, I got you, man. Come on. I got you. Man, he gave me something to wing, bro. Listen, I said, you are the realest dude.

Like, to part with Harals in Chicago, that is the sacrifice. Like, so big up. My brother, Dimo. Man, listen, I need that wing right then. I really needed it. Yeah. But that's a, you know what? good guy, like said, man, you know, and it's funny, you know, as now I'm a parent,

but I watched this guy's being a solid dad to his kids, you know what I mean? And, you know, and I think he's a perfect example of everybody has had to wear multiple hats on my team. And I love watching, like, a venue manager or promoter, watch, finish up negotiations with him. And then watch him go on stage. And then, like, sing. They're like, yo, wait a minute, what's the same dude? it's like but guess what we all had to we all had to do we all had to wear different hats to

to to make all this work you know i mean so so shout out to him like yo find demos music you know you got a new album coming out the whole nine once again like everybody everybody that's in the team is working on something and um and i'm honored like said i'm honored that they take time to build with me and that they're building their own stuff as well yo yo yo what up this is fantay fantigolo listen stay tuned because part two of my one-on-one conversation with My big brother, Eric Robeson, is coming next week. We get even further into life things, some family stuff. We get into the recording process, our making of Tigallero.

We're getting all that good stuff. So check for us next week. It's going down on Questlove Supreme. All right. Peace. Much Love Supreme is a production of IHeart Radio. For more podcasts from IHeart Radio, 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, 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 Cliford 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. Listen to The Clivert Show on the I-Heart Radio app,

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. 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, for wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slice of Life 12 and TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. When a group of women discover they've all dated the same prolific con artist, they take matters

into their own hands. I vowed. I will be his last target. He is not going to get away with this. He's going to get what he deserves. We always say that Trust your girlfriends. Listen to the girlfriends.

Trust me, babe, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.