The Questlove Show - Questlove Supreme: Johnny Gill

Episode Date: March 11, 2020

The R&B legend talks about his career as a solo artist and as a member of New Edition. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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. 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 IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Questlove Supreme is a production of IHeart Radio. We are ready. Here we go. Suprema, Suprema Roll Car. Suprema, Submina Roll Car. Suprima.

Supraima Roll Call Suprema Supraima Roll Call My Yeah Ma Ma Ma Oh yeah Yeah

Yeah Mbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb Bha Supremea Roll Car Supra Suprama Supraima Roll Car My name is Sugar

Yeah And it's such a thrill Yeah To be in the same room Yeah As boss Bill Supreme Subra, sub, sub, sub, suprema roll call

Suprama, sub, sub, sub, subprima role call. And it's Boss Bill, yeah. With the rhyme to say, yeah. One of my favorite jams, yeah. Quiet time to play. Roll call. Oh, D-Cut. Supraima, sub-sopraima role call.

Supraima, sub-supraima role call. It's Lai'em. Yeah. And Johnny Gill to the end. Yeah. We bow from D.C. So he ain't my fair with a friend. Roll call.

Suprema, Suprema, sub. Yeah, the backup. Suprema, role call. Suprema, Suprema, Role Call. Name Miss Johnny.

Yeah. I'm so happy to say. Yeah. I'm in here with all of y'all. Yeah. I'm going to rub you all the right way. Oh, y'all. Suprema, Sats, Sucrema, Sucrema, Rol call.

Suprema, Sucrema, Rold call. Supremma, Sucrema, Rold call. All over my body. Wait a minute. Wait, I'm curious. All right, ladies and gentlemen, normally I don't do the captain, the obvious roll call, but the look of darts thrown in my direction. Because you cheated, man. I didn't cheat, I mean.

You're a deep diver. I stayed far away from my, my mind. I knew that somebody else was going to take that one. I'm sorry. So wait, I'm actually curious. You had a bad. back up one just in case? No, that was it.

That was a fair weather friend. I had to ask Bill to look it up because I was unsure in the lyrics he was saying. I was like, was he said he want to be my fair weather friend because that's not right. He won't be. I want to be. Okay. I was just, I was really impressive. You told me that I stole your roll call and that you had a new one on standby.

I had one almost ready for standby. Mine was a real deep cutoff. So I guess being going first, I don't have to worry about that. But when you guys go late and I get it now, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to another episode of Questlove Supreme on IHeart Radio. How are you? We got Team Supreme in the house. What's up, guys?

Yeah. Good, good. Solid. Sorry. I'm sorry. Anyway, we got Sugar Steve. Hey, man. Wait, wait.

Can we just cut to the chase? Yeah. Did Unpaid Bill just ghost us? I think he did. I haven't heard. He hasn't even been on group chat. I never liked him. You see, Johnny, we have this, you know, co-host who's Mr. Broadway.

It ain't got no time for us no more. Oh, fuck that. That shows over, unless he's working on Max Martin right now. I've got a few Broadway shows and I think a movie. I'm not trying to tell his business. I'm just saying, like, I got stuff going on. Yeah, but it's called Quest Love Supreme. You have to be here.

His name ain't in the title. All right. We could do Quest Love Supreme feature. No, that's what it is. He's going to ask for more money for that. Oh, okay. Never mind. Forget it. Good to know.

And I hope Fonte doesn't get... Someone want to tell Fonte that we have enough Cigs? We got a pack, bro. You see, Johnny, we got another co-host that went out for cigarettes, and he has not come back, but he has been on tour 5,000 times. What? He said he'd go out for cigarettes and, you know... Good. It means they're successful, and they don't have time for us.

Look, right now, we're Marlon, Jackie, Jermaine, and Tito. We're still touring as a unit. right now. And I know we're wanting. I'm here. Ladies and gentlemen. No, no, you guys. No, no, no.

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not even going to waste time. I'm not even going to waste time, ladies and gentlemen. Our guest today is I don't know. He's the last of a, I can't say that word. I won't say

dying breath, but it's not a dangerous species, but he's a singer, singer that sounds like he went through puberty? Right? Right? Yes. A singer-singer. I'm sorry, this is hard to find a male singer these days that sounds like he's, you know, older than 13. Oh, my God.

Or can sing more than one note. Or has a vibrato or knows how to enunciate or, you know. You could just slip off my red dress. Let's get to it. Come on. Leave that on. Ladies and gentlemen, the master. The master himself, Johnny Gill

is one of Quest Level Supreme. Thank you. That's very, very delish. I'm sorry to call you Johnny Jackson right now? Yeah, Jay-G. You know something I thought? All right. Of all the, I'm speaking of the new edition alumnus,

of all you guys, all of them have cool nicknames, but I felt they got lazy with you and just named you J.G. Well, I have two. How come you don't have a... I have two names. It's J.G., I mean, J.G., and then skills is what they call me. And even my company is called J. Skills.

They called me Skills because... That's my nickname from them. It's because when we walk in a room, I would start playing the drums, and they were going, okay. So then I get on the keyboard and start playing that. Then I get on the guitar. I started playing the guitar. So I started playing percussion.

And they kept going, yo, it was like, damn, skills? So that's how that's... I never knew that. I didn't know that. I just heard him call you J.G. All right. I didn't know. He played all those instruments. Did you know that? I could imagine. Oh, okay. Okay. Well, I mean, because of his high school education in D.C. Oh, Duke. Where are you, are you now you're D.C.?

Oh, shit. I'm just saying. As opposed to Philly. I went to, I graduated high school. Wherever you graduate high school, that's where it is. Really? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Really? Right? No. I got her back.

Yeah. Yeah, she's right. That's right. Johnny, you left D.C. at what age? I left around. I was about, I want to say maybe 18 when I left and came to, went to L.A. Yeah, but you clocked more years in L.A. than you have in D.C. Actually, pretty much.

So are you a Washingtonian? What do you call yourself? Confused. Me too. Me too. Skills. Yeah. When's the last time you lived in D.C.?

I lived in D.C. Oh, 1988. Maybe 86. I think in the 87 I was in L.A. So, yeah, yeah, yeah. So right after chemistry, then that was... And that was that, yep. I see.

All right. Well, Lai always switch inside, so, you know, now she's D.C. Shit, Johnny Gill is here fucking right. I'm going to talk about Stacy Lassaw. We're about talking about Duke Ellington. Like, we're about getting in it. DeC. He's in hell.

Yes. All right, so let me say that you're one of our rare guests that I'll say that you came to my attention almost way before your music did because I'll say that in my childhood the Internet for Black kids was right on magazine. Oh, yeah. So you have a friend in Cynthia Hornet. Yes. Because she would do full-blown, like, features on you. And I heard Nari a note. Wow.

Yeah, that was my friend. I knew your face. I knew your life story. I knew everything. I never heard a note. I don't know, you guys. I mean, he really, really just very talented. And you're going to get to see him very soon.

That's how, so. Yes, that's how she talks. No, and that's the thing, like, because I knew they kept comparing you to, of course, either your richness of Donnie Hathaway's voice. Yeah, Donnie. The raspingness of Teddy Pendergrass. And I guess, by association, this is a deep cut from the Dells, Marvin Jr. Yeah, yeah.

Who's Teddy's idol. But just saying that you look like me, you look young. And I was like, no way that this guy has that deep a voice. But finally, one of your videos came on like, New York Hot Tracks. It was like a show that came on like two in the morning on Saturday. Oh, my God. You remember that New York Hot Tracks?

Yes. So thus I finally see. Oh, okay. That's what Johnny Gill. So describe to me. I was a jerk girl issue. Just couldn't get it right. It was dry.

So you were born in D.C. What part of D.C.? Southeast. All right. What is that? It's probably the first place I remember. Why? It's the last place to get gentrified in D.

I'll just put it that way. Oh, it still a problem? It's actually called South East. South East. South East. South East. So every now and then it can come out. But it's buried in there.

And I try to keep it under control and everything. I've got some help for it. No, I'm a minute. I have a question for you, though. Because I know you're from D.C. And I always wondered if, how deep does Go-Go culture resonate with your art? Like, have you ever thought of truly incorporating, like, any of those? Like, did you ever at all immerse yourself in Google Culture or read to straight church?

I was straight church, but I did. I was absolutely familiar with it. And I used to play it. You know, I used to get my mom worked three jobs. When I would come home from school, I would get on my brother's drums. And before you know it, the whole neighborhood was coming around the house. and they were all jamming. I was, you know, but it wasn't something that I put in my music,

but that's how I used to practice. I used to practice go-go stuff. Okay, so with the exception of New Orleans, I'll say that D.C. has, it's steeped in black music culture in a way that's not like any other place in the United States. How is that so? Like, the fact that your brother had a drum set in the household, especially post-70s,

is unusual. My dad was a minister. And, you know, we used to sing and play in church. And he bought all of us just different instruments. And I was one of those kids that was just intrigued by everybody's instruments. My brothers, they couldn't figure out why I could play the bass, why I could play his drums, why I could play the bongos. And I, they wouldn't, you know, as a kid, when you grow up, you know, your siblings,

you're fighting. And it's like, no, get off minds. You don't want them play your toy. So I would play sick. and wouldn't go to schools sometimes. Were you the youngest? Yes, I was the youngest. Oh, you're the baby.

All right, yeah, yeah, okay. They never understood why I could play everybody instruments, but while they was gone, you was practicing. I was getting it in. But I didn't know even as a kid that I was, I would have never been, I couldn't describe it and tell you I was intrigued.

I didn't know, that's what it was. I was just a kid, but I wanted to play the instruments and everybody was fighting, like, no, don't get off my drums, get off my guitar. And so I was like, I'm going to fix you. How old were you at the time when you started sneaking on your brother's instruments? I was about eight. Seven, eight years old.

And we all had instruments. My dad was a manager Joe Jackson. I swear to you. My dad was the no-nonsense guy and would make us rehearse. We would have to go to school the next day, but we couldn't go to bed until we got it right. So all my brothers, we all sang. How many siblings? I have three older brothers, so it was four of us total.

and my dad would make us put us in talent shows, but he used to make us rehearse, and we couldn't go to bed until we got it right, and when we got it right, we got a glass of Coca-Cola. And then you got to go to bed, and then you got to get up early for school. But he was like, you know,

I didn't realize what he was doing and what he was preparing me for ultimately. I mean, not to put you on the spot. Are your brothers as good as singing as you are, I have one that kind of mimics me. He can do what I do. Randy? Yeah.

He's in the group of Two D Extreme. To the Extreme, right? Yeah, yeah. So, I mean, you know, he'll go at me. As a matter of fact, if you go on YouTube on the Arsenio show, you'll see one of me and him going at it with each other on Arsenio. Really? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Trying to out at live each other. Yeah, he was going at me. And I was like, okay, you little Bama? Yes, Bama. It comes back every once and again. Yeah. So, all right, so what did the other ones were just musicians? My oldest brother hated the whole music thing.

He was the oldest. He used to get weapons when we would come home from church because he would sing with his back turn. So my aunt and my dad used to get him. He said when he turned 18, he would never sing again. He turned 18, he didn't have a song again. Really? He was like, I'm done.

He just didn't like it. But he had to because when, you know, my dad used to make us all. sing and play. Just for the family business? Yeah. Was he good? Yeah, he could sing. He could sing. He just didn't want to.

But he didn't like it. Wow. He didn't like it. And my dad, he used to stay on him about, because he used to sing with his back turn, like he didn't want to face the audience. And he would get in trouble for him because they knew he was doing it intentionally. But he just didn't like it.

But he could sing. Wow. Yeah. And no regrets on his part? Like, I could have been a contender or. Never looked back. Never looked back. Never look back.

Oh, okay. Okay, I see. So what was your period at Duke Ellington? I know many of a student, well, you know, that I've gone there and excelled or whatever, but during your period, what was it like in your environment? Like, did you have talent, not talent shows, were you in other groups or? No, you know, I went, and honestly I visited Duke Ellington. Stacey went, and I went there with her.

maybe a couple of few days or so. And at that point, I kind of like we was having, actually we was sitting there talking about the future of my career at that time. And I just went there, I really

went there a couple, like maybe a couple of days at the most. And everybody was saying, well, he went to Duke of Lutton and I was saying. Oh, they were trying to claim you? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I went with Stacy. Where'd you really go? She went there.

So where'd you really go? I went to Kimball Elementary, Sousa Jr. High, and after that, Stacey and I both got, we were tutored. Okay. Well, wait, time out. When did you get your record deal? I was 15. And I recorded the album, and after the album came out, the Johnny Gill album, the first one, was when shortly after that. Wait, I'm sorry.

Wait, wait, wait. All right, I'm cheating a little bit. Jam is texting me right now I hit him early this morning I'm talking to Johnny the day Oh my God And he says

He says he has terrible taste in his own stuff He hated my mama Oh my God Wait He's sending me a paragraph right now Boyer, we'll get to that Oh my God He'll throw me under the bus

Oh shit Hey you hated it from the jump Are you just sick of it? I just You know We stick up it. I'm going to stay. We'll get to that.

We're jumping ahead. We're jumping ahead. I get it. I get it. We on the first time. Anyway, so, yeah, you, so why is it that they claimed you for just three days? Because I became famous. I see.

I see. And man, they always kept, I mean, I would hear it all the time. It's like, yeah, you went to do Gallatin? I said, yeah, for a couple of days. Yeah, because y'all was the first, if you think about it, John, Johnny Guild, Stacey Ladisaw, after that, that's when more famous people came from Duke Ellington. But really, they were the first, like, well, not famous, yeah. But, you know, D.C. is a very special place.

I mean, it was Marvin Gay. I mean, it was. Freddie Pern, I think, was from near as well. Freddie, he was. I mean, you got Tony Braxton. Ellington lived there. It was quite a few. I mean, people that had.

The D.C. connection was how Freddie ended up producing your first album? You know, I don't know. But he, I know that when I signed with Atlantic Records, Penny Allen was the one that actually, that was his idea to link up with Freddie Pairn for some reason. So is the story true? Like, how did you get your deal? Was it? Through Stacey.

Okay, so that was real? I didn't know that was just like a label thing like, oh, Stacey's a glass song. I got him and then, Diana Ross discovering the Jackson Five, like that sort of thing. It was crazy because, you know, Stacy and I, we all grew up in the same neighborhood. Stacey's house was like the, that was the playground for everybody. I mean, you go to school, you come home, change your clothes, and everybody meets up with Stacey's. We know something was going on, whether we were going to be playing,

we was going to be going to the movies or going roller skating, or it was like everybody would meet up at her house. She's the organizing. And I tell you what happened. We were in a Glee Club together in elementary. And even back then, we weren't very good friends. I mean, we just, you know, was acquaintance. And then, when, we were.

One day we were, it was raining and everybody had to go downstairs into her basement. And she said, okay, we're going to have a talent show. She was like, everybody has to do something or you got to get out. And mind you, I wore suits to school. So I was like, I'm going to go to hell out there. Wait, you were always in a dog. I used to wear a double-breasted suits. Wait.

Oh, yeah, yeah. George Jefferson? I was, no, I was, listen, my dad was a minister. And I think I didn't realize it at the time, but I believe that I was really influenced by him and didn't realize that because they used to let my, you know, my nickname, my brothers and my God brothers that was next door, they used to call me, my nickname was Reverendight. Okay. I used to go here come Reverend Knight, but I used to wear suits, and I just felt comfortable in suits.

And nobody made fun of you in your suit. Well, I had three older brothers and three God brothers. Oh, that was going to win. And next door, the ones that at the next door, they would come home for lunch and you see them with blood on their shirt. What happened? They didn't beat up the teachers. Wow.

At one point, I thought people didn't even want to talk to even say hi to me. And it was kind of like, you started thinking like it was something. I had a pretty deep honey. I mean, so I could wear whatever I want. I see. Okay. So what was it? How much time did she have before?

How many years did she have on you, at least a jumpstart? Stacey. Let's see. had about at least three years, I would say. She came out on 81, right? Yeah, 81, because she had that album with Van McCoy. Van McCoy. I think that was the very first one.

Right. That one didn't do it. Let me be your angel. Oh, that was the first one, and then let me be here. Was that Young and in Love, maybe? And then there was the one that she did with Narada. Nara, yeah. I think then she wound up doing another one with Nardah, but yeah, she had about three years on me before that. And, you know, back then, you know, I was just... And y'all just lived on the same block?

No, I lived maybe about 10 minutes from them, but I used to ride my bike over there because that was the stomping grounds. Everybody would hang out over there. So I would go home and I used to ride my bike with my suit on. So wait, I'm curious. No snakes, dress shoes, wingtips. So when she got established, did she still maintain these friendships or was it? Yeah, yes. So when she opened up for the Jackson's and all that stuff, you guys got the door to see her?

We were all, yep, during that time, everybody, we was hanging out back then. And of course, you know, being the player that I had. See, all that thing. I was just about to go there. You know, this was before I was even in the game. You understand. The suit was calling the ladies. Yes.

I was still, I was just standing up on the pimper. You know what I'm saying? All right, this show is going to be crazy. I was killing him. So she had her eye on using her eight years. Reverend Hick was killed. So with your first album, with your first record,

I always wanted to know how did you manage to pull all of these heavy weights? Were you even aware that young age at the level of heavy weights that you've come in contact with? I mean, you mean for which one? The very first?

Well, I'll say in hindsight because they weren't, none of them were household names at all when you're working with them. Right. But eventually, in time, it's like, like your first record,

like freaking Elliot Wolf. Oh, yeah, Elliot. Yeah. Well, first of all, Freddie Perrin alone. Yeah. Give us some Freddie Perrin. Yeah, how did you, how did you,

what was it like working with him? I used to call him Pops. And Freddie and his wife, Chris, Perrin, they took me under their wings. And I swear to you, it was like, Freddie told me and really prepared me for what was to come ahead. I used to stay with them.

And Chris used to, they treated me like I was their son. But Freddie used to tell me all these stories about working with Michael Jackson. I was going to say, for our listeners out there. Freddie Perman was part of what we know is the corporation, like the kind of the last of the you know Motown as a factory where teams of people working together so the corporation was Freddy Perrin

the Mazzell brothers Jamaster Jay's uncles and Barry Gordy and Deek Richards yeah So basically they wrote like I want you back and like all the Jackson 5 early young hits then he wrote like he worked with the Silvers

did Boogie Feber Glory Garner I will survive A little song called it so hard to say goodbye. Frabaris, they needed to Tarvarez. Yeah, Tavares, all the Tavar's stuff, like, more than a woman. And one of the big ones was that Saturday night. Yeah, Saturday night. If I can't have you.

He can't have nobody. Yeah, he was. So, yeah, reunited, yeah, reunited, shake a groove thing, all the peaches and herbs. He wrote a few good songs. Yeah. Yeah. So never heard of him. Anyway.

And I remember recording when they came in and said, we were in the middle of recording when they said, came in and bought Freddie Parenthood. a song and he says, man, listen to these little kids. This little kid sounds just like Michael Jackson. And guess what it was? New edition. New edition. Candy girls. And we were sitting in there and listening to it.

Wow. Wait, he, I think he produced under the Blue Moon. Yeah, yeah. He sure did. The oldies du-op. I bought that. I have that on vinyl still. Yeah. But we sat there, we listened to it, and he was like, oh, oh, this cat is pretty cool. Little did he know. Yeah. Little did you know. Bill did I know. Little did you know.

I was in recording my first album when that single one there. Yeah, but even, okay, so there's one name on the credit of your very first record that is killing me. How the hell did Lawrence Hilton Jacobs? Yeah. Wined up with keyboards. Freddie, boom, boom, Washington. Yeah. Welcome back to Carter.

Yes. Wow. Yeah, he was a writer. Or Joe Jackson. He was a writer. Give me some ice cream, Catherine. Please give me some of the screen. But he was a writer.

I didn't know he was a writer. I knew he had an album out. Yeah, he was a writer. And he wrote the song, I'm sorry. And yeah, yeah. And I was in. Oh, he submitted the song to you, and that's how. Yeah, and he worked well, he submitted to Freddie Pairn.

Okay. And that's how it came about. And I was like, when he walked in, I was like, yo, gosh, Freddy boom, boom, Washington. I knew when I came to Los Angeles that that was going to be my home. and I knew it. I was like, listen, I'm coming back here. This is where I'm going to live.

And I was just a kid. Did you feel as though, well, I mean, back then, I don't, like, Coltillion, how do you pronounce it? Cotillian, yeah. Them as, what were they, what was it like as a label to be on Cotillion? Because it wasn't straight up Atlantic, but, I mean. I didn't know the difference. I was a kid that was walking in the blind.

Were your parents' marriage? in you or like no i had a young man by the name of uh bill underwood mr william underwood very well known yeah he was uh you know like i said in a lot in my life i've had a pretty deep army for many years yeah and you know he he just you know he was like a brother and a father figured to me and he really, really, really, um, just protected me and taught me the game. And it was funny because Atlantic, you know, even when I recorded my first album and they put it out, nobody didn't tell me that, you know your record didn't sell but two copies, right? I didn't know. I'm like, I had no idea that what I did was a failure or success. I didn't know nothing about

anything. All I know is you go in, you record, and back then to get a record, that was some, you something huge. And I just, I always assume that means you're going to be a star. Like, it never dawned to me like, oh, wow, the first one didn't work. I had no idea. I was just doing whatever it was. What was promotion like? Because again, I knew of you. I didn't hear your music. I didn't hear it on the radio in Philadelphia until I saw hot tracks. But like, what was promotion like back then? We had to go to radio stations. We was going from station to station and God bless Frankie

Cocker at the time Frankie and I became great friends later and I'll never forget him and Bill going at it my God that he's like that

but that was his Bill Underwood and they used to I mean but they were really tight but you know I Catillion was a label and

I everybody kept saying I don't know what happened what did you do to Henry Allen, who was the president of Atlantic Contillion Records at the time, because he was a tough, tough guy. And some reason he took a liking to me, and it was like listening. He's like, eh, Johnny, little Johnny? Yeah, he ain't going to be a big star. Yep.

And we're going to move you back to D.C. because we had moved to Columbus, Georgia. Right. And he said, wait, why? Why? Because my mom was getting back. with my dad. Oh. So my dad bought this house, and I'll never forget, he bought this house, and we didn't like it,

and I'll never forget we were all talking and asking him about maybe finding something else for us. And we actually, I remember walking in the front yard of this particular house, and I had my hands in my pockets, and I was looking up, and I was like, man, what I wouldn't do to be in Stacy's shoes right about now? And why did I get a call? A few days later from Stacey saying,

hey, I talked to the president of the label about you, and he wants you to make a tape. He wants to hear your voice. I made a, my demo was a $29 tape recorder where you put the plate on the cord. And that was it. The Radio Shack joins you. Yeah, yeah.

What did you sing on it? I sang, the greatest love of all. And Peebo Bryson is Field of Fire. Wow. And I remember him calling me and asking me to sing on the phone. And I sing the Manhattan, Darling, Shine a Star. Right.

And so he had me to sing that for everybody on the phone. Then he went upstairs to the next thing and put me on again. And I said, yeah, yep, yeah, sing it again. Yeah, yeah, Johnny, have even been on the plane before? I said, no, sir. He goes, yeah, we're going to fly you up here. We're going to put you on a plane. We're going to fly you up.

You're going to be big star. Wait, I got to ask you. All right. So your voice is, it's very unusual. I mean, no, even now. Tell us why. What do you think? Well, it's just that it's very, I think it's for people to use that much power in their barit, are you naturally a baritone?

Like, what are you? Yeah, baritone. Yeah. Like, I don't, strong. baritones to me usually like even in well Barry White is bass but I'm saying usually baritones are more soft

but you're like Mack truck going a hundred miles per hour how do you like how do you train your voice are you the type of that just sings all day in the house and no

well my mom used to tell me that all the time and I used to go okay John Arr we still I asked my mom mom just recently I said, mom, what does the R stand for? She goes, I don't know.

She's always called me John R. So she used to go, John R, can you shut the door? And I would be in the room singing, playing a piano, and singing. And, you know,

I told her later, I was like, yeah, mom. So what did you get to say now? Yeah, yeah, what she said? Yeah, but I meant like, do you traditionally, like,

Seth Rhee? train. No, no, never... No. You know, it was crazy? Is this room too cold for your voice right now? No. Okay. I can sing. None of those things? Okay. Yeah, I actually can sing in my sleep. I've been known to do that. Oh, what do you... Wait, is Johnny the first singer-singer we ever have in this show? Yeah. If he said all that, then yeah, he doesn't know. So I have so many questions about, you know, and God bless, you know, who's out here and everything. You've heard everything like, oh, the air got to be off. My throat closes. Is that real or is that just psychosomatic?

Absolutely. Is it real? Absolutely. Because if I'm around cigarette smoke, I can still sing, but it makes it tough. It makes it tough to be able to do the things that you want to do vocally. But I can still get through it. But I've had places where I've seen where there's cigarette smoke is going, and it's like, hey, this is not good. So for a vocal session, how long can you go balls through the wall hard before your, you're,

wearing out and you have to. Back in the day, I could go non-stop. These days, give me about a good hour, maybe so, and then I'm going to do like a rethink. She comes in and sing them down two or three times and go, okay, that's it. Wait a minute. Didn't Babyface tell me that he's also one take?

When Babyface did our show, he said, you get one song, it's just like, all right, that's it, one take. That's it. I did it. And I can go about an hour. And it's funny because I always sit and listen go, no, no, no, I think I can do that better. No, no, no. So I'm one of those kinds.

But after a while, you know, when it wears down, and then I'll sit, rest it for a minute, and if it feels like I can still go again, I'll go, come on, let's rock, let's go. Is part of that you just don't want to overthink it? I think part of it is just that, you know, the voice, it's a muscle. And it's like, no matter how much, you do to vocalize and exercise and make it strong, it's like anything else it gives out at some point where it's just like, I ain't got it there.

There's been many nights I didn't have a voice. and then you go into showman mode where it's just, I'm like, okay. Is that like now y'all sing? That, now you're saying, and then I can go from Oh, the Robert Beresford Brown Method. Yeah, yeah, you just find ways

to get around it. And I've always been able to just figure it out, even though you know it's like I'm not where I need to be and I know I can't get there, but it's like I'll figure out a way to make it work and make it happen. Okay, the other day, matter of fact, last, what was the couple of days ago, I was playing

I just played That's one You know when you travel I just played Somewhere just a couple of days ago And The The track gave out

Ooh And this was for It's an event that I was doing So I only had to do a couple numbers And I wasn't going to leave there They did not want to Would not let me leave Without singing by my mind

So I'm sitting there And I'm going Okay now what the hell are going to do because the sound, my engineer, the sound guy, he was going, it just got, bro, I don't know, I can't, it's not even in here. I can't get it. Shout out to great engineers all over the world. So I'm thinking, I'm going, oh, what I did?

So you know what I did? Because there was a band that was playing that was going to play even after I finished. So I told them, I said, you know, I said, when I came in, you guys was in here jamming. And I said, I was truly inspired, and you guys sound really good. And I said, why don't you guys come on up here with me? me and let's just jam a little bit. And that's how I started, my, my, and we rocked into that and

kind of swelved into that, to have everybody else to sing along with me because I didn't have the backgrounds, all the other stuff. And it was like everybody was just in there rock, and like, yeah! And one of my buddies looked at me and they knew the bridge and everything, they knew the bridge. And he said, oh, my God. He said, bro, did you just, yo, what, did you, do you know what you just did?

And I said, yeah, I had to think on my feet. Hey, the best do. The best do that. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm 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 what you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. There's two golden rules that any man should live by.

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

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

On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, everyone? I'm Ego Vodom. My next guest, you know from Step Brothers Anchorman, Saturday Night Live, and the Big Money Players Network. It's Will Ferrell. Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo. My dad gave me the best advice ever. I went and had lunch with them one day, and I was like, and Dad, I think I want to really give this a shot.

I don't know what that means, but I just know the groundlings. I'm working my way up through, and I know it's a place they come. Look for up and coming talent. He said, if it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you, which is really sweet. Yeah. He goes, but there's so much luck involved. And he's like, just give it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit.

If you saw it written down, it would not be an inspiration. It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat, just hang in there. Yeah, it would not be... Right, it wouldn't be that. There's a lot of luck. Listen to Thanks Dad on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. All right, so, all right, I'm trying to rush the entire history. Is that one Stacey Ladisaw question real quick?

Well, I'm about to go back to that. Oh, good, good, good, good, okay. But, okay, so, of course, the Walden Jackson Glass team produced the Stacey Ladysol album. with you. Uh-huh. The perfect combination album. Yeah. Okay.

Is Nard is one of my drumming idols? Yeah. And every time I see him, I think he's trying to hypnotize me. Because he has a very... Yeah. He'll really love him. You know, yeah, well, you know. How's your spirit?

Yes. Is he that cosmic? Are you happy? is he that cosmic 24-7? 24-7, where sometimes you start rubbing you go, hey, hey, listen, I don't need the massage, I'm cool. Right. He is like the, you know, like the brothers in the airport that, like, do the Harry Christianer thing, like, walk up? He just came out of nowhere on me in LAX one time, like, brother, I just want to say.

I said, no order to Michael Walton? He said, yes, brother. I just want to say, it's such a pleasure. I'm watching to see you. And he just whistered me to sleep. I thought he was hypnotizing me. Like, literally, he just, I tell you, the universe.

I tell you, man, it's very few special musicians like you come along, you know? We got to be it. No, but he's going to hypnotize us to sleep. Oh, my God. Sounds nice. I could be a nice rest. He wrote and produced enough of my favorite songs.

Oh, yeah, he wrote up. I mean, he's done a lot. Yeah, from Angela Bowfield, to be the Franklin I get to say her first my favorite Whitney Houston I mean this goes on

I was going to say literally for your first three records including the duo album you literally worked with everyone that would normally

be on Clive Davis's speed dial without ever having to be on Arister records which is kind of weird so basically

you just didn't have the muscle at at Wea whatever to push you through. Wasn't hard for them to try to figure out how to market you because, like, absolutely.

By that point, hip hop it settled in and it's sort of like you weren't teeny bopper at all. So, absolutely. How is it to see, but now minutia or kids' kids' music sort of just pass you by while you're like,

hello, what am I chopped liver? Like, well, that's, Back then at least. And now. That's when the universe aligned everything up, and I became a part of a group called New Edition. Remember, New Edition was this kid, was this boy band that they considered or called them Bubblegum,

a bubblegum group. So when I joined them, the thing about their fans, the only thing that they knew of me, and they would say, because I was just, you know, the talk of being a new guy, was, have you guys heard that new guy that can sing? That was like that.

Oh, shit. And, I mean, they weren't to singing. I don't think they were singing in. But that was the way they described me. And it was almost like, okay, so singing is cool. All that's, it's in. Because, I mean, they loved the group. So it was always, and they had their following.

Singing's a novelty now. So, you know, think about it from us. And then there was the Jodic's and the boys, the men. And the list of the whole being, singing thing was like, Oh, that's the end thing. And then you start hearing people going, oh, that can't sing. They can't sing.

And it was like, you're going, wow, okay. But that's, it was just perfect time. And I often say, I think with that and with them, the way that happened, that was really what gave me the exposure that I needed. And I think for even a younger generation to appreciate just me being a vocalist. I wasn't the greatest dancer.

I was just a vocalist. Where did you meet them? And what did it mean for you to just kind of not take a backseat, but to be a team member or be one-fifth of a situation and just have patience until... As opposed to having your own thing. Your turn. So, one, when did you meet them? And then how did you... Who did you nuance a relationship with first?

We actually crossed paths many times. They show that on the movie that y'all knew each other before he became. Yeah, before I even became... Yeah, we were just on a couple of shows, several shows, and we're talking, you know, what's happening and all that kind of stuff. but I you know we we hung out briefly and then I want to say

Michael was probably the one business that you know that I was at a show at a concert a whisper's concert in L.A. He was the one that I said yeah can let me haul at you for a minute yes John one man show are you

do you prank call people You know you do And he goes Do you are So let me ask you a question Like like like Like do you feel like Like you got your judge to do

Like as a singer And I looked And I did this and I went Mm He pulled out his empty pop No No No

So And he asked me And invited me to come to lunch The next day with them And I was like sure Because I was in LA It wasn't doing anything And went to lunch

I'm thinking nothing about it. Then he asked me, say, hey, you want to come check our show out because we were playing? They was doing the ice capades or something. So I said, yeah, not a problem. He calls me. I'm sorry, wait.

Ice Capades, wow. Is that doesn't exist anymore? Is that not a thing? No, just new edition and ice capades. They asked to perform at the half, somewhere in there. New edition on ice. Yeah. Just a halftime show.

Just a half-time. I know. I'm not crying. Guys, don't kill me. I love y'all. So then, they asked me, invited me to lunch again the next day and I'm going, what the hell?

I said, yeah, I'll go. And that's when we sat around and started talking. And then they asked me about being a part of the group. They was talking about they wanted to go back to having a fifth member so that they can, the choreography can look more effective and more.

A little did I know it was far from what that was. I had no idea that there was the kind of turmoil that was going on inside of that group. Right. It was just something that just happened. But, you know, ultimately, I believe that it was just fate and destiny, that this was where we were supposed to be. It was always so interesting that they went with a voice that was so different than the one.

Yeah. Or and from Bobby's, like the one that was gone. Well, that's what you got to give my credit. Mike said, you know, our audience is growing up. And they get tired of like, he kept saying, y'all, it's the bavocom sound that people connecting us with like you know we got to grow up with our audience so his whole thing was like

yo your voice okay so explain to me in hindsight of course and I you know I see of course we all seen a biopic Steve

yes yeah even me okay yes which channel was BET BET he thought of the jury's bringing. Okay, so

just explain to me what, not even the division of labor, but what is truly when you're in a five-man group, like who

is sort of the captain of it that makes decisions or is everything totally just diplomatic and we all get a five-man say? It's always constantly just a bunch of

madness. And I haven't say tug of war, tug of war, tug of war for, for, for, for, for, uh,

power, struggle for power. Who wants to be to be to leader? And when did you feel empowered to be able to use your voice? Because, I mean, you're the late one on the, well,

I came in immediately and said, I was watching two guys that were the security guys. And they were running, picking up girls from airport, going to a store,

taking people, I mean, it was non-stop. nonstop, nonstop, and they're looking at me, and I'm looking at them, and I'm going, yo, and they were like, we haven't slept in days. It's like, it's nonstop, and nonstop trying to handle four or five guys. So I said, you know what? I called a meeting.

I'm the new guy. I called a meeting. And I said, you know, these guys out here and they're supposed to be protecting us, and they got our lives in their hands. And I said, the last thing that I want is some disgruntled worker here who's claiming that They're working hard, and they're saying they're really totally underpaid. I think that at the end of the day that we're going to have to figure out a system that allows them to feel good. I know their job is to protect us, but they'll go the extra mile when you've got great hard workers and your appreciation.

And I said, so we need to sit down and figure this out. And so we came out of the room and successfully got them a raise, and they thought, Johnny for president. I'm protecting him first. You knew what you were doing. You knew what you were doing. I was standing, I was an outsider, so I'm standing there looking at all this stuff that's going on. And, you know, and for me, when I joined the group, the thing is I always had, still had obligations to Motown.

Well, actually, MCA, but when Gerald Busby moved over to Motown. I got to ask so many Gerald Busby questions. Okay. So when I vent that, I knew I still had an opportunity as an artist to be able to express myself artistically. So it didn't matter to me about being a part of the group. As a matter of fact I often said that it was about teaching me

and giving me balance. To be able to be a team player and play, it's like being on the basketball team and knowing what your role is and then actually being able to go out at some point and do what I needed to do as an artist. I always knew that. So I was always comfortable with whatever role that I had to play,

listen, Terry Lewis told me, when we got there and sat at the table to start recording when I came there with them, he He said, you're probably not going to sing on this album. I said, okay. I said, no problem. Just whatever you guys need me to do. No pun intended.

Was it heartbreaking? Well, I can tell you what I did do, though. I became a demo singer because I was singing most of the stuff that they would say, and then they would come back and Rick would sing the stuff that I was doing. I was like, oh, so I'm a demo singer here, huh? Wow. So you sang all five parts? So somewhere there might exist the version of the album.

I was going to say that. I was going to say that. How intense were non-Brook-pane tasks in this period of New Edition? As in, do you guys do vocal rehearsals? Do you guys decide harmonies? No, we left that all up to Jimmy and Cherry. Brooke handled all of the choreography stuff. I'll never forget the day that they asked me but joining the group,

and we went over to Ronnie's house, and they had Brooke the meters over there and so Brooke goes okay so well let me see what it is can he do the cross step and he was like yo can you can you just do the cross step

and it was that and then Brooke oh the two step yeah yeah yeah listen really yeah

like the video like the video do I look like God you had two left feet like that oh yeah man not even a two step a little two step a little

Not even a church boy. Did they make that known? So there was no dancing, no secular stuff at all? No. I mean, the only second stuff that we would get was doing family a cookout when you would hear Marvin Gaye and some of the other ones. But other than that, it was nothing but church music in our house all. So does the Holy Ghost dance in this? That was it.

Wait, so any heartbreak, though. Right? No. Yeah. Yeah. So he had to work. All right. Any heartbreak was hard.

How long did it take? That choreography was real. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. How long did it take for you to finally catch on? Wow, we did, gosh, that's some... It was a while. It was a while, because what Brooke would do, he makes you rehearse and in front of the mirror.

Well, when you learn dances in front of a mirror, for me, because I'm not a dancer, I'm like, you learn these routines in front of a mirror. Then he removes the mirror. Now you have to learn it, and you have to memorize it and the form and all that stuff. So it was almost like, fuck it, just let me start right now. Just remember it from here without the mirror so I can just have it down.

Versus, it was like, no, you've got to learn and see what the form is, what you're doing with the hands, where everybody's hands are. So it was a freaking nightmare. What was the logic of, all right, so when I first seen your first tour with them, you guys use the temptation microphone setup? Yeah, yep. What was the logic in that? And also, anytime you guys perform, you never did the traditional format across.

You always did the diagonal thing. What was the logic behind that? Well, because it would work for the choreography because of the different stuff that we was doing that was intricate. So it was like we were switching mics and switching positions. And so he would sit them at the mics in positions where their best work for everybody because at the end, somebody was going to be over here on this side. somebody's going to be on this side just based on the routines. So, and the five mic thing was really that our whole temptations kind of.

Oh, a tribute thing. Okay. Tribute thing. But it was like we did a little medley there on those, on the mics. But everything had, like Brooke just had an eye and of, that was just out of this world. And he would have you doing stuff where you go, it doesn't make sense to me until it all comes together. And you go, oh, damn. So all the staging and the creativity, that usually is like Brooks' brainchild.

Yeah, and then you would think, oh, man, is he just picking on me? He goes, and he would make us go through each. We would have to go through the whole show from the beginning to the end altogether. Then you go one by one to go through the whole show. Wait, what? And if you mess up, if you start all over again, start back at the top. That's true? Can you imagine what I had to do?

I don't think you understand. But you got it now, right? Because y'all still do shows every once in again. You're not the one that falls short anymore. No, no, no. Mike is always the one that will go left. And then we go, Mike, Mike, that's the wrong one. Nah, y'all wrong, man.

This is the right way. Stowe, this is the right one, isn't it? Everybody was going this way. All right, so since we're here, Jam just hit me now and says, Ask him, why did he hate singing boys to men? Oh, that's the song. Yeah. Dang, Johnny.

You know, when Terry told me, he said, you're probably not going to sing any songs on. the album and then I wind up to start singing these songs like can't stand the rain and doing ad lips and all that stuff I'm going shoot I'm thinking why can't just sing that song so right and um after all those great songs

the very last song that they decided they was gonna let me do a lead full lead on was boys the men so I'm going oh this isn't some some political bullshit I was like oh I think they just messing with me now because they just and I said oh okay so they don't give me this piece of bull to sing as a whole full song.

Like his messages in the song? Wait, time out. Wait, wait, time out though. Yeah. All right. And I was mad. I was really mad. Like, angry.

He's trying to tell you to grow up? But wait a minute. Listen, it's 19. All right, the album came out on 87, correct? 88. Yeah, 88. So I'm assuming you've recorded it in 87. Yeah, yeah.

Okay, so Jam and Lewis are at the height of their powers at this point. Yeah. You had an opinion on a Jammin' Lewis song? Yeah. Yeah. In 87? Yeah, because you've got to remember. I had already sang on, can you stand in rain?

And you're not my kind of girl. And any heartbreak. Any heartbreak. And they let me unleash. And then it was like, okay, now we're going to give you a song for yourself. And I'm going, the hell. Like, really? And so I'm listening to the track before there was even, because there was no vocals on there.

I was going to say, how do you get a song? Who demo, were you demo all the songs on Heartbreak first? I didn't demo all of them. I just would on most of them. I would do ad libs come in, do something of the verse. Somebody else come in. He'll let somebody have somebody else to mimic or whatever I did, and then they'll just kind of blend whatever they would do.

But this is what I'm trying to get out of Jam and Lewis, which they never answer, is when they're creating songs together, who's creating that song that they eventually play the artist like, You've never heard Dust? No. I've never heard Jimmy Jam sing. You never heard Jimmy Jam sing. Never heard Jim.

Oh, my God. Who's singing it? I got to find. I'm going to send you a couple of them. Jam is singing. And when he sings, oh, my God. It's like, you know. That's what it is.

I'm typing right now. I'm afraid of you. He's telling me what your voice sounds like on a demo. Oh, my God. Come on, Johnny. You could do any voice. What's the Jimmy Jam on record? What's that sound like?

Na, na, na, na, na. Na, na, na, na. Na, na, na. So it was like this in the Rod Timberton's demo and rock with you. So how do you want me to do the, what you call him? You know, do your, Johnny, the skills. See, I always thought it would have been Terry that did the demos. No, Terry writes the words.

Tammy does. Yeah, Jerry would do the lyrics and stuff. But Jam would sing the melodies for you. And I used to go, ooh, I want to keep these. I'm going to keep these. You got them? Good, good. Oh, my God.

So I was mad. And I kept saying, okay, so, oh, so now y'all just playing bullshit games now, huh? This is some political bullshit. Wow. So did you say, can I get a better song? Like, again, do you have a different song? Do you have the power to ask that? No, I just said, okay, so you want to play with me?

I said, I'm going to sing the shit out of this song. So I'm going to show y'all about fucking with me. And that's why I went in there. I was mad. Hold on. And I sing mad as hell. I was like, okay, yeah, you want to play with me? That was you mad?

That was me mad. Wow. I kept thinking, man, this is bullshit. All these good songs, they're going to give me this one. Did anybody see the Drew Hill unsung? Oh, fuck, I didn't see you. No, I didn't see it yet. It's new.

It's brand new. Cisco has the same story pretty much about somebody sleeping in my bed. He did not want to sing that song. And so the performance he gave was he was just mad. He said, like, I'm going to sing the fuck out of this song. That's what I did with that voice. Well, and then I would naturally think that you want to sing the fuck out of every song you get. No.

Like, let me sleep through my, my, my, my. Now, my, my, my, my. I recorded that song. You said you hated that, too. I didn't, it's not that I hated it. I wasn't sure about that one. And I kept saying, I don't know about this one, man. What part was the unsure?

Because they were talking about, we recorded it. And Gerald Buzzbee was like, yeah, I think this might be your next single. This is probably going to be your signature song. And I was like, really? And I kept saying, I don't. I mean, it's cold, but I don't know about that one. What was your single? What did you think it should be?

Off of that album, I feel so much better was one of those songs that I was just like, okay. Brow, you feel so much better. Yes. Yo, my favorite shit about that song right there, Karen White's background voice. Yes, does Karen singing that? When she hits that, melody. Yo, I'm done. I'm done.

So I was kind of on-net vibe. I was fine to you where I need them. I know. And I remember telling Terry, we were still, we had just pretty much finished. I did, my very last song I recorded was Lady DeJure. And I remember telling Terry, I said, I looked at him, I said, do you think we got enough?

And Terry looked at me and said, we got way more than enough, Negro. Goodbye. Get out of here. You're gone. Oh, you're trying to pull more songs than them? I just didn't. I was so feeling like, do I have enough?

Is this album going to be? enough of what people expected. That's fucking person. Okay, so wait, let me ask you because again, you are a maverick singer. So, let me ask you, do you respect

the art of simplicity? Absolutely. Can you embrace a song that won't allow you to do your default gymnastics? Absolutely. Absolutely. But in hindsight, back then, could you see it?

Back then, no, no. Terry used to be like, you ain't got nothing to prove. We don't have nothing to prove. It was like, at that point, there was a point where you're just going, you would just go. Every time I would go, I would go all in. It was like, I'm showing you my fucking something. Because if you doubt me, I'm going to show you. So I always thought it was that. So you go zero to a hundred and three seconds and they stop the tape and be like, no.

Just sing the melody. Then they go, okay, now do your Johnny. Now go do Johnny. So. So you have an arrangement with them like. like, okay, I'll sing the song here, but then y'all gonna give me. Okay, give me your Johnny Gil. Sorry, I laughed.

Okay. And let me tell you, it was crazy because the first person that told me and taught me, or at least at that point, I still wasn't there and mature enough to understand it, but Luther told me one day, he said, you know my favorite all-time Johnny Gil's song? I said, what? He said, wait, wait, wait, move, boom, move, move, more. Luther was nice to you? Yeah, I was one of the only thing.

Let me tell you what it happened. I swear to you. Wait, being like, like, yo, it's a miracle. He said he's like what? I've never heard a nice Luther story ever. People, the whole crew used to be happy when I would walk in or come to one of the shows. And they go, yo, Johnny's here?

Because men used to go at it. Just joan in on each other. Yes, John. Stop. And he used to be, and all you could hear in there is screaming. He used to call me and would call and go, listen. He said, this is the song I'm getting ready to release as a single. and tell me what you think.

So you play it and I go, I think that shit sucks. You can say that to Luther Vandos? And I go, you should probably get that to me. So one year he beats me out of the Grammy with Here and Now, and that was going to my mom. So he used to have these movie nights over his house where, I mean, we everybody, who's who he used to come?

So every time I would go over there, he had this little case where he has the, Grammys, and I would go over there and I start hitting the case, go, God. Give me my fucking Grammys. Give me my Grammy. And he goes, security. That's our first Luther story.

The man, I'm telling you, if you knew Luther, he missed his calling. You're talking about somebody was funny as hell and was quick on his feet. Yeah. Yo, he was freaking pure genius. Could he take a joke? I'm like, you know, you got to stay away from things. I can't make no fat Joe.

No, no. We used to talk about his Jerry Cole. We was like, you know, you know you only got half of it only took up here, right? He goes, he goes, I got curly hair. And I said, no, no, no, no, no. You got a half curly hair. I said, this don't even take up in here. But I never had to work with him like that.

So it was always just fun. Like when we would talk, he came. when I got so plastered at my New Year's party I never made it past 12 o'clock I was drinking drinking champagne I mean drinking wine and Luther came we had this band everybody's planning and he

hanging out and I passed out before 12 o'clock Luther called me the next day and said man man that was a hell of a party he said you should have been there I'm like through you man wait a minute

it just hit me It just hit me right now. One question that we never asked, Jam. How do they ever orchestrate a Luther Vandross, Belbit DeVoe? Yeah. Janet Jackson. Yeah.

Song idea, which I know was recorded in Minnesota. So I know you have to be around in proximity. Were you nowhere around when this happened? No. The best things in life are free. Is Luther, Belbit DeVoe, and Janet Jackson. I didn't really think I knew that. For the Mo Money sounds track.

Right. for the more money. Oh, because I did my own on that. Yeah, you had Let's Just Run Away. I had Let's Just Run Away. Oh, yeah. That's my shit. Wow.

That is my all the time. That was a simple, simplistic kind of a joint that we just had to go. That George Duke sample. That was my join. Yeah. Yeah. We got to talk about the soundtrack run too. Yeah, but we also got to talk about LRG.

I just, I mean, not LRG. I mean, LSD. Yes, we'll get the LSD. Yeah, I just, yeah, it was a lot. It's a lot. Yeah, I did my own on that one. I remember. I'll never forget that.

Okay, so when you are, all right, so you and Luther never had a professional relationship, so you could be cordial with each other. Yeah, it was always fun. But, okay, give us an example of like, okay, so when you're doing like Black Men United or something, I mean, when it's time for Gladiator sport, how do you, now I've seen something one night, speaking of LSG. Okay, so we were doing, this is so weird to say, the Roots and Chico DeBarge were doing a show together at like, L.A., what's the outdoor Hollywood Bowl or something like that? Uh-huh.

This must have been pre-Dangelo. No, it was actually phrenology period. Oh, oh, oh. So it was close to be angelo. Right. But the thing was, is that, so, Joe and Chika are doing

no guarantees. I think that was they were joined together. And so by this point, we had just got friendly with Gerald Lavert. Yeah,

because he was part he was part of a dude break you off, right? Yeah. So, you know, he's hanging with us backstage. And so he's backstage

and he's watching Chico and Joe like trying to get the women all roused up and all that stuff and everything. And he's looking at it.

He's like, man, he's like, yeah, I should be good. Yeah. And I was like, wait, what do you mean? He's like, man, I should just go out there and get him. I know that's true. Literally. Yeah. And he was like, oh, I can't help myself.

And he ran out on stage. And then, like, it was like deflating a balloon. Yeah. That's terrible. Chico's microphone and just started. And none of the muscles mined anymore. And literally the art. like it was the craziest shit ever seen.

So with that type of gladiator sport with singing, not now, because again, it's like singers are a novelty today. Yeah, yeah. But back then, how did you nuance it so that you wouldn't hurt people's feelings? Me and Jeryl used to, I swear to you, Jeryl would call me and go, hey, I'm getting ready to do this show in Chicago, blah, blah, blah, blah's on there,

blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I'm going to tear their asses up. Where are you at? I'm coming. I'm like, I'm on my way. So, and we would actually, we would double team. I swear God, I would call them sometime and I'd go, yo, I'm doing the show in Vegas. I got blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Let's go and light the ass up. He goes, I'm coming. I'm on my way. We used to double team. All right. Is there, is there without, you know, because we're not got-j journalism or anything. Who would you say, who did you have a, friendly rivalry with at least like in terms of like

that you wanted to go at. But not level for sport because again, I know that your level of singing is out of this world. But just are, you know, like. You want me to be honest? I'm going to be really honest. And it's not even like it was a rivalry or friendly rivalry because I just never particularly cared for Brian McKnight.

And so every time, I'll be back y'all. Every time I would get on the show or go on a show with him, you best believe you're going to see Johnny tearing that house inside out. And it's always been personal. I just never, I listen. Wait, you know, like, I'm trying to be all politically correct on the show. Make an artist feel safe. Yeah.

And he knows it. I mean, he's not going to see. What happened with him, it's just something happened in the past that was just like. What's her name? This guy always just kind of made it. What's her name? He was cool. and then he was just one of those guys,

sometimey guys. Like, I can't deal with some-timey people. One minute, they cool with you the next minute you see him. I know that's right, John. Like, I'm from D.C. And I'm just so one of,

I'm consistent. The guy that you see, today you'll see next week, next year, and the following. And so I was like, yo. Sometimes he asked me on you. Yeah, so I've seen him on.

Well, we don't talk. We see each other. We've been in the same building. He can tell you what the smokes feels like and smell like, but I'm just saying, but we don't talk. We don't even. I love you, Johnny Gil.

Ladies and gentlemen, Johnny Gaines. I'm just saying. I mean, you know. I'm sorry. Wow. My, my, my. And you know, that's the only thing that I had. My issue was with him was just, I don't like people that are inconsistent.

And when I've seen him when he first started and how much he, and he was influenced by me and all the other things. And then you watch this guy over time. And then you see him and it was like, hey, what's happening? He act like, you know. And then next time you see him, he would. He would turn and act like he's like, you go, you go, what's that man? And he's kind of like to give me that.

And it was like, hey, yo, for real. So one night, we're playing and he was opening. No, he was the headliner for the new edition show. He wanted to close. He wanted to close. And we was like, he wanted to close for real? We was like, oh, and people weren't on clothes. So I was like, okay.

You always say that. We was like, okay. We had an issue where in, I think it was in Westbury. And Mike and I think Ron, they was in a car. and their car got, was in traffic or something. So the show needed to get started, and the show was running really, really far behind. So we had asked him if he would go on first,

and then we were just closed. And he was like, no. So I was like, wow, I'm going, wow, how disrespectful is that? I mean, you know, it was, he realized it was a tough, think about trying to follow after no audition. I'm like, he ain't even got no dance songs. They all ballots. Exactly.

So you imagine trying to follow us what that was like. Yeah. when you could hear an echo by the time we finish in the house. Yeah, because by the time he'd come on stage and I'm not saying, because Brian's a talented guy. I like his music. I'm just saying. But he, so when he said no, I was the only one that was piss and I'm from D.C.

You know, I'm the nice guy. I know how to be politically correct. And then I also know can turn to this other guy where South East come out. So I got on the mic because I told him, hey, listen, we're getting ready to, we can only give y'all what we can because we asked, we wanted to make sure you guys got your money worth. And we asked Brian to go on before you guys, before us, so that we could make sure you guys will get the full show.

And he says, no. I said, so we only can do what we can do. And I think we might have did maybe 15 minutes at the most, 15 or 20 minutes at the most. So then I was, you know, I mean, looking back out in hindsight, maybe it wasn't the right thing to do. But I just said, ladies and gentlemen, get ready for Brian McKnight. Get your pillows and blankets. And so. So Mike was like, yo man

He's like, yo, what's up? Like, yo, you know, you man I was like, listen, man, how disrespectful. I mean, the reality is that we want to give these people there, you know, their money's worth. And I'm going, this is not like it's an every night thing. We was like, you can go on and we'll close.

This is not like it's going to make or break your career. So it was just one of those things that I always felt like, yo, man, you really feel like you're like that? Like that's not, you know, it's not that, you know, it's not that. serious. We all artists and we all need to understand, listen, there's a number of people I'm not going on behind. I understand what my catalog is. I know where I belong and figure out how you make the show elevate and make sure people leave ultimately going the whole show was incredible.

Not somebody brings them here and then I'm coming here, knowing my catalog does not fit there and have and bring people down. It's like figure out where you belong. It's not, it ain't going to make or break your career to figure out how to be a part of a great show, make people leave thinking and feeling like I got my money's worth. So that's just my way of thinking. And then that's the only thing that became an issue for me with him. How the, damn, I dropped my. Yeah.

You could take six, though, right? Take six, too, right? Yeah, yeah, I like that. Claude, yeah, yeah, yeah. Claude, he be in that, you know? Yeah, I like that. So, yeah, no, really, we still don't, to this day. We will see each other in the same room.

We don't speak. We don't see anything. We just keep moving. We got to, we brothers. God, stop it. Everybody can't be. We can't be. We're brothers.

We're silent brothers. So who? I said a silent. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clever Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw,

unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast.

It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

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

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

Listen to the girlfriends. Trust me, babe. On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Ego Wodom. My next guest, you know from Step Brothers Anchorman, Saturday Night Live, and the Big Money Players Network. It's Will Ferrell. My dad gave me the best advice ever. I went and had lunch with them one day, and I was like, and Dad, I think I want to really give this a shot.

I don't know what that means, but I just know the groundlings. I'm working my way up through, and I know it's a place that come look for up and coming talent. He said, if it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you, which is really sweet. Yeah. He goes, but there's so much luck involved. And he's like, just give it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit. If you saw it written down, it would not be an inspiration.

It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat. Just hang in there. Yeah, it would not be. Right, it wouldn't be that. There's a lot of luck. Listen to Thanks, Dad, on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Well, besides, Lou, like, what artist, like, do you truly respect and you bow down to? Who are your favorites?

Of course, Luther, of course, Teddy. Right. Love Jeffrey Osborne. Stevie, my ultimate, you know, that's my heart there. And I ain't named a peer yet. You know you ain't named a peer yet. Did I say Donnie Hathaway? Yes.

Who can I say in this? In the 90s in the years. I love what Neal does. I like Neal. like Jaheim. Okay. Oh, okay. You skip the millennial.

Yeah. I like Joe. Okay. Like Joe. Where do you feel that soul music is... Oh, God. Now I'm asking questions that I hate with journals at. It's going where the people are going.

Like, here, what do you think about young rappers nowadays? No, but it's how... how disheartening is it to you to see well this is like a two prong question one is just like singing

is not what it was when you were coming up especially with now with technology and how it is whereas now you know like well shit anybody would have an idea who's still alive now um yeah i'm just saying like

where your where your auto tune rapper is mostly singing now Well, you know, I don't have a problem. But with that, but then on top of that, I guess right now, it seems as though

like most, when you think of soul singers, it's people that don't look like you. Right, right. And I'm in one hand, I'm like, okay, well, yeah, I can see that you've been influenced by this such and you grew up listening to this artist, so, you know. But are you more to me that more black people aren't carrying the baton or that maybe we just

don't know about them? I still think that there's singers out there. There's a lot of singers that are still out there. There's still singers that are making R&B music. It's not the artist. It's the industry. It's the industry. It's the, you know.

everybody you know music is so it's just totally segregated now there's no I mean everything is based on

research the kids and I streams it's just that we have to look and understand that the one thing

about a hit record is when you say a hit it has something that's magical that resonates with people that's why it becomes unique that's why it becomes special

that's why it becomes a hit because it can connect with people. And I think the problem is that we're allowing the industry's just gotten to a point where everything is a category. And it's so it doesn't even allow even out the new generation and these kids to really, really grow up and be educated to understand what music really is or what's a great song because they're like, if you've never. had soul food, how are you going to appreciate or ever want or even have a desire for

soul food? And I believe that it's just gotten to a point where it's not so much of the artists that are still out there. They're just not getting a shot. It's tough to take, even though there's some, a lot that are making music, but they're not able to not getting an opportunity to be heard. And that's only due to because of the way this industry is now. Everything has been diluted. It's like if it's got a beat, if this person's not on it, if this is the artist, you belong over here. Not because of the song. It's just. based on the AC over here, because that's your name, that's where you are, that's how old you are, and it's just gotten so crazy that it's just hurt the industry, and it's still hurting

us, and I don't think it's going to get any better until we can get, or people begin to understand and recognize and identify when you just got great music, great songs, and you see that it's reacting, people are gravitating, to allow everybody to be able to have and enjoy it, and stop trying to control and trying to put everything in a category, everything, don't necessarily belong in a category. If it's just great, it's great. If it works, it feels good, it feels good. And I just think that it's just gotten so bad now

that we're choking and killing ourselves. But at the same time, what does it feel like for you to still be making new music and be embraced? Like, still be playing on the radio. Still get that number one. I'm so grateful. I'm grateful. And I'm just doing my part. When you listen at the songs that I recorded

on this new album, Game Changer 2, I'm doing as a musician stretching out being able to do music that I enjoy doing, but I never compromise who Johnny Gill is. And I understand that it's important to do that, make sure you stay and be who you are and making sure that my audience can appreciate what I'm doing here. But at the same time, I'm also allowing myself for an artistic standpoint to be able to do and try the things

that I enjoy the music that I enjoy. When you listen to me, myself with Carl Santana and Sheila E. I love that type of music and I was able to be able to enjoy it and bring them on and collaborate with them to do something that I've always wanted to do. But I don't, when you hear me singing, you still hear Johnny.

And I think that it's just, for me, I'm grateful that people, I can see, because when I go to work, there's sold-out shows, which tells you it's a blessing, first and foremost, that they still want to hear from you, more importantly. And I believe that there's just still a number of people that really appreciate what we do.

And I believe everything comes full circle. I think it's cycles. We go through these cycles. But I think at the end of the day, I think that it's like everything else. Real music, true music, true artists, true musicians. It goes through a cycle. But, you know, I don't think that you can keep us down forever.

It always comes back. a question. Okay, so you and Riz did your duet together on the album? Yeah, yeah. Riz being Ralph Trezvon. Thank you. I'm sorry. Yes, Ralph Trez. Is there...

I do know Riz. As a matter of fact, I was talking to him when I came in and he told me to tell you how. Oh, okay. Thank you. He got next. Is... Because the thing is, after the thing is, after the biopic came out. I feel like

this new edition biopic is doing better for you guys what the temptations couldn't do with their biopic and even the Jackson's couldn't do with their biopic. And

you know, I know that there's politics in the group and there's six of y'all and yada yada yada woo. We know the drama. But it's like, If there ever was a time when y'all have millennials in the palm of your hand. Like it's now to the point that, you know, I'd see, I mean, kids born like after 2005, like that young. Yeah.

Quoting the movie. Yeah. And so they're mostly invested in you guys. And you, y'all have yet to really, not cash in, but really just take that. No, you've got it right. That's the bottom of my. have yet to take that victory lap. Yeah. But what does that look like? Because they, y'all did

do stuff like. No, they did. They did. They did. Inclinations. New edition has yet to reunite and tour behind that BETT movie. But they did? I thought you did. No, I mean, we did one show after that movie, and that was the Steve Harvey thing. I think we did. After that, that was it. The internal issues that goes on with this group has been going on for 30-some years. We find our way back. We go off. We have to get you. We come right back.

We're like a married couple. And what I kept telling everybody is that you know what happens with a married couple when they love each other and they keep breaking up, coming back, breaking up. The problem is you have to deal with the core issue here because as much as you love each other, until you deal with the issue and get that straightened out, what you're doing is, you know, you love each other. So you break away, come back, and you still got the same problem. So you end back up with the same outcome. And something has to change. and so even with Kobe just recently we all started texting each other

I love you man I love you love you man this is crazy all six of you It was on the new I would love to see a new I would love to see a new edition group chat And we were actually All the blue bear fighters

We were actually One rebel that has a green green crowd And what I said to everyone Which I think is important is that What we learned was life just sent us all a message that it don't discriminate. Don't give a fuck who you are. And at some point, this call could have been,

and this could have been any one of us. So you realize that at some point, we need to take heed. Then a few weeks ago, not even a few weeks ago, about a week ago. Ronnie's brother, Rob, who works with me, on his way from Atlanta, I was playing Baton Rouge. last weekend he fell ill they had to airlift him actually to a hospital in Atlanta now rob is Ronnie's brother who's the biggest new edition fan and he sits even though

he works with me he's always the guy sitting there going man y'all brothers are man y'all need to stop this you me i need to come together man and he's that guy and i was like when i sat when i got that call and i was like shit i was like okay wait a minute we just got a warning with Kobe. And then who knew a week later that it was going to step inside of our family. And the one person that everybody loves, Rob, it affected everybody.

And it was like, okay, well, so what are we doing here? Does this really, I mean, when you put it in perspective, so I'm the oldest, so I've often said, and I told them, I was like, you know, forget who's right and who's wrong. we all just got to do better. We got to do better. We all do.

And I said at some point, that means that we have to look at ourselves, be honest, and begin to try to figure out what we need to do if we never step foot on stage again in life. But how to get all these years and the things that we've done together and the memories that we've created, the impact that we've had, if we never stand on that stage again,

And there's no rhyme or reason for us as family members, as brothers, to not have some level of a family, of a relationship as brothers, as men. And so we've been, you know, we've talked. We've had those conversations. And that's just where things are. And I think that, you know, time, time heals wounds. And I think that who knows what's going to happen, what lies ahead. But I do know that my main goal, and like I've told them, and I feel that it's important is that, We all better take heed because just as you began to believe,

or you saw what happened to Kobe, and then you see it got even closer in our house with our own family. So we got to take a step back here and figure out what is it that the good Lord is trying to tell us. I suggest the Metallica some kind of monster route. I suggest group therapy. I'm now, I'm going to say Lauren Zander on everyone. I'm sorry. Oh, that's what that is in your schedule?

Okay. Yeah, Lauren Zander. She is the... Amir and Lauren. No, she, Laurenzander is the group whisperer. She keeps groups together. Let me tell you something. It's crazy.

You know what I said to them this evening? What? We need a counselor. This is the first time that sentence has ever been... Wait. That's crazy. This is the first time that. This is the first time that.

Wow. But people don't think about that. People don't think about that. Wow. Very first time. Wow. Seriously, like normally I'm really giving it.

I don't have to pay for no more therapy after I give her this endorsement. No, what Lauren Zander does, she's like well known in the industry and she fixes groups. Basically like managers will hire her to keep groups intact. And it'll be over small shit.

Not to be your business, but that means that both of y'all see her? I don't mean to be. I'm just saying it's a group. I see, I saw her individual. Like she's, she's everyone's person. Like, well, I don't want to write out. Don't put people out.

Yeah. I was just asking if this was the roots, let's start quest left in. Right, right, right. No, no, no. She's not our group person. Okay. However, our good friend, Sean G. knows her very well.

She works with them. The Live Nation people, like, she'll come in the companies and fix, she's the real fix-your-life person. She's a secret, secret fixture. Like, Dan is kind of. like the out. She's the real fix-your-life person, yes. Yeah, yeah, that's funny that you say that. I highly recommend that.

No, seriously. You knew of her when Amir said her name? No, no, no, no, no. She's just the fact that what I suggested that I thought would be a great. And then, you know, everyone was kind of open up, open to it, too. Everybody was open to it. You got to get six people on the line, though. Yeah, I need to see that.

I want to see, and, you know, like, I don't want to wait to y'all, like, 70 doing. Why not? Act. When I'm singing, then I have to stop and go, hold on, all that thought. Wait, no, no, no. I'm only, wait, wait, wait, wait, I'm only, wait, were you with us when we got, Laia, were you with us in Philly when we got that plaque in Philly? The, uh, the dinner.

Which one? You know what I'm about to say? Yeah, but the one where Jimmy came, right? Yes. Yes. So you were there that night when the tramps also performed. I'm going. All right.

I'm just saying no. What happened during this? The tramps performed, you know, because they got honored as well. But it was like, you remember the sketch on Living Color when they were doing the old train? Oh, no. Like, yes, I do remember that sketch. Like two in wheelchairs, three with the walkers with the tennis balls at the bottom. Oh, like one member had like a good leg.

I got up before that happened Yeah, it's No, I'm just, no, more power to them The Tramp's still going Even though they're 80, they're still going on I'm just saying that This is valuable real estate time for a new addition To all come back

And, and, you know, I'll just say I still have never seen New Edition live So I still need y'all, I need y'all to come back And do at least one more tour Oh, I'm lucky Yeah, no, me neither I just get to see pieces, Most people have seen pieces.

My sisters went to see Heartbreak Tour. I was not allowed to go. I was too young. I was like 10. I don't even think I was 10 then. But I was too young to go. I've seen four shows, but I've not seen super group status, new edition, do it. Wow.

Wow. Well, you know, I listen. You're saying you're bored. You're bored. You're waiting. No, I think that, I mean, I'll often say this. And I'll say it again. I truly believe that what we've done over the 30-something years plus that we've had our differences.

And we always seem to find our way back. It always seemed to find its way and come back together. And I honestly believe that this isn't going to be no different at some point. I believe the good Lord's got his hands in it. And it's going to come together. I'm not supposed to save us because when you, you do these meetings at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

It's kind of... You know what? Make it happen. Let's go. It's kind of like what happens in this room with the 30 of us stays in this room. But I think I can at least say that No, in the last two years, your names have been brought up as serious considerations.

I'm part of the board that decides the... So that'll be the... I see what you're doing here. I see what you're doing. No, dude. You're going to make the reunion for four years. Yeah. Four years. I had to, and you do it, you stand in front of a jury and you give your closing arguments, da-da-da-da-da-da, four years in a row, finally with Janet now.

Like, I need a new cause to. Yeah. No, but. So new addition is the new cause. New addition to shock a con, damn it. Yeah, I know. And we're still making records. We're still doing, because I've often said, whatever success that I have, it still reflects on this group.

I mean, I've, you know, had number one records, Ralph, the records that we have that's doing incredibly well. I don't care how you chop it up. You can see it's Johnny and Ralph, but we're all still a part of that tree. And so it still reflects on new addition. You're the voices. Like, you're the crucial part of the tree. Yeah. Yeah, so you know, no pun intended.

You said crucial. Oh, okay, more. But my last question is, but when the last time you talked to Stacy, though? Did she? That's an interesting sentence. Go ahead. Tell me more. No, not. Now the definition of all. DM somebody.

No, she wasn't creeping in my DMs. She's a preacher now? Yeah. So she's still singing in her own way. Yeah, she's still, and every once in the blue moon, she'll hit me, you know. She'd DM me on Twitter once, like three years ago. I hope she's still on Twitter. What was you about to say, John?

No, I was talking about my first concert. No, I know. He looked like he was holding something. I just thought he had something else. I'm just saying. Okay. You trumped his with your DM. I've been DMed, you know, a few times.

On Twitter, though? Damn! I've been damned, too. Y'all, y'all going somewhere else. What you're doing with all this comedy, Johnny? What you're doing with all this comedy got? I got issues. I got issues.

And think about most of my buddies like Eddie and OxyMio and all my crew, it's like I've been around all my life. You're part of that inner circle. So it's like, you are part of that circle. All we do is sit around and busts on each of stuff. And it's like until Eddie goes, yo, y'all look around here. Look at this house. I built this on jokes. Niggas don't want no part of me, do y'all?

Speaking of your buddies, your golfing buddy is Sam Jackson, right? Yes, that's my road dog there. Oh, Sam, he's recovering from back surgery. So I haven't had a pigeon in a while. So he's me and him fight every morning. Oh my God, we just go at it. And I swear to you, I haven't.

As much as I love golf, I just have in the desire to want to play like I've been normally played since he's been off and he's healing. But he's doing much better. He's moving around, walking. I'm just looking and watching and monitoring everything to make sure he's doing

what he needs to do because I need some of that movie money. Because he's got you He convinced you to Yeah, he's the one that got me in this movie The Neil Bogart story So yeah Yeah, yeah He's playing

Clarence Bertha. Yeah, he's playing Clarence Burke Yeah Oh, I said Victor Oh, when is that? That was all Sam's idea I'm just like, he was like, man I think you ought to take a look at this character I was like, what?

Yeah, yeah, you got some characters And you need to get it out Where does this come out? I don't know when it's going to be released Wow Yeah Okay I can't wait for that.

And Sam is playing George Clinton in the movie? Yeah. Wow. Yeah. Really? Yeah. We're on a chorus playing and he's singing all the little songs. I'm like, the hell are you doing?

Sam Jackson? You're throwing off my game. Really? Yeah. I cannot wait for this. Sam Jackson is playing George Clinton in the Neil Borgardt story. That is crazy. I had to say that out loud.

Johnny's playing Clarenceberg of the Five Stairssteps. Yes. Wow. That's me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you see more acting in your future? I mean, it's not like this was your first because I remember those Family Matters episodes.

You know, I like, the whole acting thing is fun, it's cool, but that hurry up wait thing, I can understand that. It drives me for the nuts. I'm like, man. That's one of the things I hated about working at record labels was the hurry up and wait. Hurry up and wait, man, it's like, man. I remember sometimes we would all hang out, be on the set,

and it's 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock in the morning. Eddie's getting ready to do another scene. Everybody in the trailer like this, we're like, yeah. And we're like, yo, this man, you're getting ready to try to be funny? That's what he gets paid for. But I'm like, man, I don't feel bad. I don't feel sorry for you.

Because, man, we do all get to reap the benefits from your hard work. That's nice. That's a good friend. Oh, he's like the male Oprah. I like that. Thanks. He's just, you know, Eddie's just, you know, Eddie's just a pure genius.

I mean, like, he's just, you can do it in his sleep. Yeah. Dolomite brought it back. It was like, don't sleep on him. All right. So, Bill, do you have all year? Damn, hold on, let me look. You're, all right.

All right, this is the thing. Before, I always want to wrap the show, then it's always like 10 minutes when the show's over. Then we're like, damn, I forgot to ask. Did you have a symptom about LSG? Did you add the? I mean, we didn't get on the LSD at all. Yeah, I was going to say, what happened with the idea of LSD? The idea of Eddie.

Eddie replacing... Ah, was that going to happen for real? Yeah, and we're still going to do that. That's what Keith and I was just talking about. Wow. Two months ago, we're going to just bring Pop in and maybe a couple other people just as guests with us on the other LSD album.

Different L. That's something that's going to happen, absolutely. Was that the second time you've been invited into a supergroup, or was that just the one that you picked? Because I feel like... I don't know. I look for work. I'm John.

I don't care. You're just hired. I don't know where we're going to do. I was about it. I was about to say. Anybody else got anything? I'm just trying to make it to you. This is my life right now.

You got some work for boss. I look back at my journey, and I'm like, man, what the heck? I mean, from a solo artist, duet stuff with Stacy to new addition to LSG, then I had heads of stay with me, Bobby, and Ralph. It's like, you know, we just go. I just, I love just doing things and not being put into position that doesn't allow me to the pigeonhole me and allow me to be able to just express myself in just different areas. So I enjoy it.

Do younger artists now call and ask you for advice? Like, you ever think like, okay, well, maybe management, or is management like too much of a logistical, non-creative nightmare for you? Yeah, it's called babysitting, and I'm not a very good babysitter. I go, I think you're an organizer? Well, yeah, they do. As a matter of fact, I'm a daddy. That's how I met.

Matt met you. You organized Janet? Yeah, I see, yeah, yeah. He's an organizer. I'm the, yeah, yeah. Y'all are speaking secret talk, but that's okay. I think we figured out what you're saying. You're saying that sometimes he organizes parties and other things.

No, I just handle and deal with so many of my friends. He's logistic, man. Wow. I'm the go-to guy with most of my friends. That means you know how to get everything. It's just, I don't know. I don't understand it. Well, yeah, right now.

Which answers my question, yes. You do know how to babysit them. Yeah, I do. And solve problems. Can you solve problems? That's my MO. And then you would think that I'm Dr. Phil. I have no idea.

And I'm like, why does everybody listen to me? Because you're a preacher. What's your sign? Yeah, yeah. And what's your son? Yeah, my dad's son. I guess. It's just, it's never ending with everybody.

And I mean, it's just from the who's who to, it's always something. And it's like everybody. I'm just going, why they listen to me? You got it right. See? But I love people and I always understand I knew and I truly understand that when you're listening to people You have to learn how to listen because there's there's an art to that too as well To learn how to listen and always understanding that I don't ever use that if I was you because you're not me Recognizing that there's always two sides or three sides to every story

So when someone's talking you know you're going to be dealing with them telling their story and they're going to be the victim when it's all said and done So you have to learn how to read between the lines, deal with those things, ask those questions. What hand did you have in it? They're not here to defend themselves. Let me ask you what hand do you think you've had in it. I go through it. It's a whole process that you go through. It sounds like a manager to me.

Or a psychiatrist. It's, oh my God, let me tell you. You have no idea. I've lost a few relationships just because of it. They're like, my God, can you just, your phone? It's like, hey, listen, I'm just being obedient. I'm doing what God would believe God would want me to do. I mean, it is what it is.

It is. So you have to at some point, be patient with it. Good to know. I'll call you when I'm down. Listen, I deal with it all. There you go. Yeah. There you go.

Okay, I do remember a question. Yes. One of my greatest regrets about this show is that we'll never get to have Roger Troutman on. You've worked with Rogers. Yeah. Yeah. Can you give us a Roger story? Something about that experience.

Oh, my God. Let me tell you. My very first song I ever wrote and produced played all the instruments on, a song called It's Your Body. Mm-hmm. So I had a dummy vocorder on there, and I had a dummy vocator on there. It was like, yo, that would be cool if we can get rods on here. So I called him. He was in Hawaii, and I asked him if he would be on the song with me.

So he told me to send him the song. And before I sent it, I actually played it from over the phone. And so he's quiet. And he goes, you wrote that? I said, yeah. He said, you wrote that? I said, yeah. You wrote that?

I said, yeah. He said, I'm going to come. and I'll be honored to be on it and I was like, whoa he comes to L.A. He brings his gear

he comes in a black suit with gold trimmed around the lapels and we're going to where are you going to go? So he walks in goes into the other studio and he sets up

he comes back in he says play the track plays the track then he says I'm going into the auditorium the auditorium was in the room the other room

he goes in starts playing and my biggest regret to this day is not recording him each track and when he was playing he was like

like there was no audience and we was just sitting there like this going as he was stacking. Track for tracking, stacking, stacking. And I'm just sitting there going like, damn. And he came back out,

listened to it. He goes, press me right here in this spot. I'm going back into the auditorium. Why does he call it that? I said that was, I guess that's his arena. Behind the mic in the studio.

So, He tells the guy Joe after we finished, he finishes up all the parts and sounded really good. And he looked at Joe, and Joe, it's a Caucasian. He looked at him. He said, you're a credit to your race. We was like this. Oh, wow. But this man was freaking amazing, man.

He was just that moment to watch him. He would be in there doing this recording. and actual performing. We was just sitting there going, yo, we were just performing. Like, we was in there watching

going, going, wow, as he was stacked. Oh, just going full-blown Roger like he does on the stage. Yeah, I was like, man, I was like,

guitar with his teeth and all that stuff. Mistake to just, I wish we could have just recorded that, had that footage. Oh, man. Yeah, yeah,

he was a unique guy. Yeah, that is a regret. I wish he was on our show. Yeah. Well, J.G., man, I thank you so much. Thanks for having me, man. I hope that you will,

because the 30th anniversary, your record is like what? May. Yeah. Coming up in May. So, yeah, I hope that after 30 years' time, you'll love your catalog. I do. Unlike what Jam says. And the meanwhile, I get Game Changer, too, though.

Yeah, of course. Game Changer, I'm telling you, from the beginning to the end, I didn't put no wasted joints on that album. Solid record. Solid record. All approved. Yeah, yeah, it's just a solid album. And I hope that people enjoy listening to and want to hear good music.

because it's still there. It's still there. That's beautiful. Yeah. And you are, to me, our Quincy Jones, man. Whoa. I've said it. I'm saying it.

I'm saying, man. This is just how much respect and how much love we have for you, man. They love when I get uncomfortable. He's not good a compliment, but he needs to take them. Thank you. That's the truth. Johnny Gill. It is.

That's for our generation. Yes. He is that. But he loved black women too. I got one more thing I want to say, Johnny. Thank you for side two of the 1990 album because my niece, when she was born, she would not go to bed.

But as soon as we put on my, my, my, she would stop crying. She would just lay in the bed, and by time by time I'll give my all to you was over, she was knocked out. So thank you so much. You are so R&B. Wow. You saved us.

That child would just would not stop crying until you put on my, my, my mind. Yeah, well, you know, I'm really a messed-up man because I remember the only time that I ever played my music, even for my own good was one night. I was at an award show, and I had this girl I was dating, and I was thinking, I've got to get, I got to figure this one out. So I left, before I left home, I had, I put the champagne on ice,

I sat down, and I said, when she comes back here, I'm going to sit down, and we're going to sit down at the piano, and we sat down at the piano. This was after the show, I went back. I could sit down at the piano and started playing. Matter of fact, it was right before my mind came out. I'm playing the song. And we went from the piano to the floor,

from the floor to the bedroom. And I said, how come I don't do this more often? Because I didn't realize, but damn. Ladies and gentlemen, I was Johnny Gila. Yeah. We will see you on behalf of Team Supreme. Sure, Steve, man. Did you learn anything?

Good morning, good afternoon. and midnight. We will see you on the next go around, ladies and gentlemen. This is Questup Supreme. I have our radio. Thank you. For more podcasts from IHeartRadio,

visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the Fourth.

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 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, 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 bowed. 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. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.