The Questlove Show - Questlove Supreme: Sananda Maitreya Part 1

Episode Date: July 24, 2024

In a special one-on-one conversation with Questlove, Sananda Maitreya discusses his early days. This conversation includes praise for Stevie Wonder as well as crediting Rod Stewart for his trademark rasp. Sananda speaks about time in Harlem and his ambitions as a boxer. Sananda also talks about performing at the 1988 Grammy Awards, with Michael Jackson, Prince, and Smokey Robinson watching from the front row, revealing some extra detail about that set.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers 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 Clivert Show on the I-Hard 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. I'm Daniel Alarcon, and this is my friend. This is much more famous than I am. I wouldn't go that far. But I'm John Green, co-host of the podcast The Away End with my old friend Daniel. On our podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup.

Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the away end with Daniel Auerkone and John Green on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Amy Roboc alongside T.J. Holmes from the Amy and T.J. podcast. And there is so much news, information, commentary coming at you all day and from all over the place. What's fact? What's fake? And sometimes what the F. So let's cut the crap, okay? Follow the Amy and Tj podcast, a one-stop news and podcast. A one-stop news and culture shop to get you caught up and on with your day. And listen to Amy and TJ on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

It's Financial Literacy Month, and the podcast Eating While Broke is bringing real conversations about money, growth, and building your future. This month, hear from top streamer, Zoe Spencer, and venture capitalist Lakeisha Landrum Pierre, as they share their journeys from starting out to leveling up. There's an economic component to community striving. If there's not enough money and entrepreneurship happening in communities, they failed. Listen to Eating While Broke from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Conky, his best friend and business manager.

And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of the first. of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Questlove Supreme is a production of IHeart Radio. Okay, I'm going to try to not geek out as I normally do in these introductions, but... And I would also try to hide my abundant enthusiasm for talking to such a pillar of culture as this novel. It is so weird that our very first exchange is going to be in front of millions of people. I will try to keep my composure of my professionalism. All right.

Ladies and gentlemen of Questlove World listenership, this is one of those air quote, dreams come true moments for this podcast. our guest today has a profound effect on my life ever since his 1987 debut, which yielded five singles that propelled him to the top of the charts. And it can't be overstated how impressionable he was to me in my life at that particular time because I was just about to graduate high school and I was deciding for myself, like, what is it that I want to do with my life? And clearly, I didn't want to live my dad's dream of, you know, respectable politics and entering the world of classical music.

But reading our guests, mind-blowing interviews, and mind you, like, you know, a lot of my idols in hip-hop really weren't given the platform of a village voice or of a spin magazine or of a Rolling Stone. So reading his mind-blowing interviews really had an effect on me. Reading his lyrics had an effect watching and perform, hearing him sing, had an effect his arrangement, his production, and fun fact, a lot of you are going to be mind-blown that are Roots fans.

His liner notes, okay? His liner notes, credits, yes, credits and liner notes. I literally didn't know that a Chinese food delivery box could be an instrument. Like, so just his sick sense of humor in music and on his line, like literally longtime Roots fans who still to this day, despite the fact that I have written eight, And I'm plugging my hip hopist history came out last week. But my eight New York Times bestsellers, despite the fact that I have eight books, Roots fans complain to this day that, and despite the fact that there are no more tangible, well, not no more, but, you know, tangible objects like cassettes or LPs or CDs or A tracks,

is not the primary way that we consume music. To this day, they still ridicule me for not doing epic liner notes, not knowing that our guess is single-handedly responsible for that side of my life. Yeah, I'll definitely say 40% responsible. I don't want to dismiss Drew. I have to cut you off now before you embarrass both of us. No, no, man. Let me just get me get to the end because I know when love is projected,

we somehow try to avoid it like the matrix. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. And if the other team Supreme people were here right now, they do the same to me. But I think it's important that we give flowers and really show respect to the gods. I really appreciate that.

But literally, because I was aware of his life transformation after his first five records, it wasn't until DeAngelo and I were making Black Messiah around like 2011-2012, that DeAngelo hit me to the fact that I had missed like seven or eight albums and not believing what I heard. I pulled my phone out and realized the mountain of music I had missed,

and I have not been the same ever since. I have always wanted to say this. Welcome to Quest Love Supreme. Wow. Sonata, Atreya. Thank you so much for doing this. Thank you for having us. And also, let me say that we're basically two geeks speaking to each other

because a lot of what makes us, speaking of us, both collect, what we are is that particular attention to detail that being a geek bestows upon you. Because when you're a geek, it means that you're paying attention to extra things that others are not. And then when you have a chance to contribute yourself, I mean, I often have said to people, if I write certain things, or I do certain things a certain way, I said, these are for the people who were like me when I could thrill a second engineer on a Stevie Wonder record

when I met him like 15 years later because I actually knew who he was by his name. Okay. And the fact that you knew what Stevie record it was and everything and they were like so thrilled that's like, wow, what a gift to give back to someone simply because I was that kid like you who devoured everything.

Okay. If it was a P-Funk record, if it was a Beatles record, it didn't matter if I got... For me, the only thing I miss about the old vinyl days really is this artwork space. Yes. You know, the presentation you had to make a ta-da, you know, and bring a completely different stamp on the world

before, unfortunately, we began to put thoughts in your head as to the context of the song by the videos. Whereas once upon a time it was the song meant whatever it triggered in your imagination, that was the video that was created. Oh, yes. I want to share something with you that I don't think the world knows. And I can't say her name properly, but there's an artist right now, a very significant artist who is held back releasing videos for a particular album, an epic album.

And I found out maybe four months ago went to go see this particular artist in Connoxie. said how great the show was and noticed that I saw certain visual clips that weren't out in the world. And this artist tells me, hey, you know, you're actually partly responsible for this. And I was like, what do you mean? So when this artist released a record, I said, you know, what I love about this album is that because there were no videos initially, because of course, I thought there was going to be an onslaught of videos that I said it took me back to the time where I explained to this artist when the album came out that I had a, when Stevie Wonder's journey through the secret life of plants came out. Yeah. Yeah.

That for me was my dark side of the moon. Like my dad hated that record. So he was like, here, you take it. And I took it. Put the headphones on and just closed my eyes and imagined, you know, and basically said that I don't want videos for some. in the Key of Life or any of Stevie Wonder's 70s records because in my mind I have a picture of what I see. Yes.

Because synesthesia is real. And I, you know, I was just making a passing comment that, you know, it was great to experience this record without the videos telling me what to think. And I didn't know that I held that much weight. And I guess on the ride home, that must have been a straw that broke the camels back to say, hey, we're going to not release videos because I want people to experience the music. I remember journey through the secret life of plants as a Christmas present one year for my aunt who worked in Sears.

Sears, yes. And so she got it for me. And I remember I was just on the cusp where I was allowed to listen to stuff inside the house that wasn't gospel. But I remember going out to our car and with my little cassero. sat and just playing it because I absolutely, I mean, if it's not clear, it should be that Stevie was one of the absolute pillars of my entire consciousness as a musician, as an artist, as anything that I perceive myself to be, he and the Beatles are kind of just right there at the foundation of how I started to envision music. So I loved that album.

sing while you're allowed with a dozen roses and the thing about Steve was he was like the Beatles, or for me, he was a master class in all of it, songs, arrangements, instrumentation. He was a master orchestrator, like Beethoven, this motherfucker. And it was like just the way he brought further dimension of consciousness into the music just by his understanding of sounds

and how sounds trigger us alone. It's just not enough that's spoken about that. Sometimes I wish our brother Stevie was white just so that he would get much more intellectual appreciation. Yes. You know, because he really, the only peers for me he had, on the level that he existed was the Beatles, was like Brian Wilson,

like these extremely rare contemporaries who were like the Schubert, Beethoven, Mozart's of their time. Mm-hmm. No. So I'm with you. It's interesting that we have that journey through the secret life of plans connection. And also before we travel further, I want to thank you so much for just your contribution that you've made since the roots and since first coming out and just expanding your whole empire of consciousness onto what for me culminated in this Oscar that you, I was so happy that you won. Thank you. in such a memorable year as well. Yeah. Yeah, it was a life-changing year for me, man.

Because I really appreciated, you know, one of my claims to pride is that I was born the same day Slide. So, you know, I remember even Prince saying, you fucker, you're born the same, you and Slide born the same day. You know, I said, ah. He knew that? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wow. No, I'm not sure if Sly knew it. No, no, but Prince knew that.

Yeah. Okay. Wait, I got to ask one question. There's so much I want to learn about your story and your journey, but I've been dying to ask you this question for at least three decades. Okay. Yes. And you already mentioned his name, so I have to ask. Okay. February of 1988, you are about to walk on stage. Yes. And Smokey Robinson's in the audience. Stevie wonders in the audience. Bono's in the audience. Michael's in the front row. With the red fucking jacket that you couldn't miss if you were Stevie Wonder. Yes. Prince is in the front row. I think that's the first time where I tried to like channel vicariously. How does a person give a pitch perfect performance when literally the pillars of gods are literally like in the first three rows?

watching you. And the thing is, I know Michael has an attitude because, like, that was also a weird night for him. Yeah. That was sort of the very, that was the seed of the beginning of

his, you know, his future. And also the beginning of mine. In sound check, I always wanted to know this. Because when I do award shows and I go sound check, you know, they put those big giant cards

on the chairs and you see name, name, name. So when you're sound checking, you see like who's going to be watching you. Because you still gave a pitch perfect performance. Thank you. What was that day like? Or was it just so numbing that it wasn't a footnote for you at all? Well, first of all, the thing is that at some point, you do feel that parallel realities are real.

You know, I used to explain at the very, in the very beginning, what freaked people out. most around me was that I had told them exactly what was going to happen and it did. Because I had this sense even then that what I was going to do I had already done. But this was just kind of a time shift or because this dimension is at a slower rate of frequency than the dimension in which I've already done this, it just takes time to manifest. But I just had this, but I've done this already attitude that informed so much of where I was coming from. And I say that because sometimes, I mean, still to this day, I can be in the vocal booth singing.

And I have this almost out-of-body experience where I hear that the voice isn't coming from me, is coming through me. And I'm basically literally capable of standing in that space where I can see the difference between something that originates from you and something you're just bearing witness to as a witness, to a process. And a lot of times that happens when it seems like the reality that you're about to walk into is already so surreal that you might as well just have that kind of other dimensional experience. I say this, you grew up watching the Grammys, you grew up dreaming that one day would be you, okay?

and then, but what you didn't dream is that damn near, like you said, every one of your heroes, at least in the front row, and at least it distracted you from the millions and millions of people who were watching it. That was like the good thing.

They distracted you from it. But during the sound check and what have you, I just don't pay that much attention to those things. I really don't. I focus out. I get my game head together. I understand what I have to do. And I know what I have to do

to achieve that level. And one of the things that I did have to do was I always shut people out before the gig. I never saw anyone before a gig. And of course, you get a reputation that people don't understand as being aloof or arrogant or whatever. Meditation.

Meditation. Yeah. Put yourself, put your game face on, getting that zone, call your spirit together, and all of that. But here's the secret. Here's the killer. Fortunately, that gig was in between a tour

that we were doing anyway. We were already touring the state. And before I left London, a fan of mine from California had said, I'm going to be like shipping you something that will be waiting for you when you get to whatever my first destination was, Miami or Orlando or some Daytona, Florida. Okay. And so I got there, which is where I took the band to do production rehearsals. I grew up in the Daytona Beach area. and I wanted to return there for production rehearsals for the American tour.

And so when I got there to Daytona Beach, what was waiting for me, but a nice thick packet of shrooms, okay? So I took the schedule, which I remember was 40 dates. And I picked about eight to a dozen,

eight to a dozen that I'm going to do shrew here. I'm going to do this room here. I'm going to do my hair. And it was like, it was just a crazy great experience. and I had no intention of doing that at night. But when I was sitting in the audience and I could see all the silhouettes

and all people in front of me and just the spectacle that it was, I just thought I should be high. I mean, this is not right. And I'm just being honest. I was never like a cocaine guy or heroin guy. I was into like, even as a child, I understood if it kind of gave you different perspective on some shit.

I think it brings you closer to God. Personally. Yeah. I'm a new microdoser. I started microdosing in like before 2020, nothing. I didn't drink. I didn't smoke. None of that stuff. And then, you know, once I started meditating and all that shit, you know what I mean? Like I started. Yeah. Microdosing. As I was getting closer to being called, if I'm not mistaken, I think even Madam Whitney performed that night. Okay. I'm not mistaken. Yeah. It was just an onslaught of like just genius bitches. And I was like, okay, look. Yeah.

I turned to my baby mama, my English daughter, Seraphina, and I say to her, yeah, hook me up one of them shrooms, right? Because she had brought a few emergencies, just break the hospitalization. You're saying? And I said, and she was like, looked at me like, are you sure? I was like, no, no, no, give me on the strings. So I took one, went to bathroom, boom, and next thing, you know, I was able to get out of my head and leave that performance because, you know,

it was also important for me to address the heroes that were present that this is the effect that you have had. This is what you... Dude, I said that. I said, wow, I wonder if they're sitting there thinking I felt this. No, but not that, but I felt like...

Because the thing is, it's also, your thing is so deep. Like, it's not... Your version of the microphone tricks isn't James Brown's, Joe Tex. Like, literally... People don't know that Joe Tech started that shit. Like the pioneer never gets the credit.

There's always the second person that sees it and perfects it. And James Brown is world famous for his derivative borrowing. But, you know, he's still the god. But even to the level where you started doing microphone, like in your history of performance, I was like, oh, wow. He even knows Joe Tex's level of microphone mastery. And a lot of that stuff is you channeling really because it is a collective whatever name one is comfortable giving to it. You know, if I'm in a certain comfortable space, I don't mind calling it the Holy Spirit because ultimately that's who I believe.

That's who I know I belong in the service of. Okay. I do believe that many of us artists, this is precisely why we're here. I mean, I'm asked often, why are you so prolific or how you create so easily? I say, that's just simple. I've never seen myself as separate from the music. I'm an extension of the music. The music is not just a concept.

It's a real spirit, and it can create life, just like a lot of other spirit has the power to create life. So I just believe that I'm a form of music in a human life, and therefore there is no separation between me and the music. It's just at one with my expression. And this is basically what I've always known that I was in the service of because I don't really believe all of these gifts of mine. I believe that I have been that this is my karma and this is my service. And we're selected for our fidelity because everything that I have, everything that I've endured and been able to endure with whatever grace has been, I've been able to summon from the reservoir of mercy is simply by understanding that.

you know, I was taught in Sunday school, seek you first, the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness and all these things will be added on to you. The way I've lived that, the way I have interpreted that my life is the muse telling me, listen, here's the deal. You serve first and foremost to the utmost of your fidelity. You serve the music. You serve the inspiration in the spirit that you're given. And we will look after your life. We will find the right woman for you. We will find what you need because we know what you need. And we know we're not going to give you more than you need to be a distraction from the work that you're taking upon yourself to do.

So, you know, all of that's a part of it. And, you know, that's what we're in the service of. So basically, yeah, it's there moments when it's the same. It's like I rarely will drink or whatever. But if I feel like I need, as any performer, to drink or take a shot of whiskey to just kind of like center myself in the purpose thereof, that you do what you got to do. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations, with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of The Fault and Our Stars, and now I guess also is the co-host of the Away End, a brand new world soccer podcast. I'm Daniel Alarcon, a writer and journalist, and John and I have known each other since we were kids. My first World Cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old.

I watched every game, and I fell in love. On our new podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. For us, soccer, football, is a story we've shared for over 30 years

since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team. Very debatable. And I was their most loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game. I love its history, its hope, it's heartbreak,

and above all, it's beauty. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the away end with Daniel Alarcon and John Green on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On a recent episode of the podcast, Money and Wealth with John Hobriant, I sit down with Tiffany the budgetista Aliche to talk about what it really takes to take control of your money. What would that look like in our families if everyone was able to pass on wealth to the people

when they're no longer here? We break down budgeting, financial discipline, and how to build real wealth, starting with the mindset shifts. Too many of us were never, ever taught. Financial education is not always about, like, I'm going to get rich. That's great. It's about creating an atmosphere for you to be able to take care of yourself and leave a strong financial legacy for your family. If you've ever felt you didn't get the memo on money, this conversation is for you to hear more. Listen to Money and Wealth with John O'Brien from the Black Effect Network on the

I'd Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, earners, what's up? Look, money is something we all deal with, but financial literacy is what helps turn income into real wealth. On each episode of the podcast, Earn Your Leisure, we break down the conversations you need to understand money, investing, and entrepreneurship. From stocks and real estate to credit, business, and generational wealth, we, we'll be We translate complex financial topics into real conversations everyone can understand. Because the truth is, most people will never talk how money really works. But once you understand the system, you can start to build within it.

That means ownership, smarter investing, and creating opportunities not just for yourself, but for the next generation. If you want to learn how to build wealth, understand the markets, and think like an owner, earn your leisure is the podcast for you. Listen to Earn Your Leisure on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcasts presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne.

Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the Hips since high school. Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips. Wider.

This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drink. Sidebar. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they had a bogo. Well, then you got it. Do you want a white collar something here?

Just take it. Oh, what are y'all doing? Microphones? Are you making a rap album? Oh, I would. Come on. I would buy it. Cuts through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake.

That sounds delicious. Oh, you're lucky. I'm not a drug addict. You're lucky I'm not an alcoholic. You are. You are. I'm not a killer. I love this team, and I'm really trying to be a figure in their lives that they can rely on.

Oh. Oh. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. For our listeners that are not aware, where's your beginnings? Like, where were you born? I had the great, great fortune of being stamped by arrival in the great borough of Harlem. In the magnificent year of 1962, the year of the Fender Jaguar, the year of the New York Mets, the year of the Rolling Stones. Okay, there you go, 1962.

And then I was basically, we were actually from, my people were from Newark. I also proudly claimed that East Orange connection, because as you would know, East Orange has produced an abundant amount of bitches that were like making sense. You know what I mean? Yes. I think even Shaq, Shaquille, comes from East Orange. And even my mother's history is kind of wound around Madam Dionne Warwick's. what could have been, what happened, what would have happened if type history. So we came from that area, but my mother was the beloved eldest daughter of the big pastor

of Newark, the Pentecostal Church. And when basically my father seduced her, you know, it was shame upon your family and all that bullshit. And so basically she was kind of banished to a cousin in Harlem who also knew how to take care of how to look after her because my mother's mother died when she was 13. So we were banished into Harlem to live with a cousin, and it was basically two years after that we moved back to Jersey. So that's where I began, and I'm proud to say I was born in Harlem, because it's just one of those vortexes on the earth

that if you have that fortune to be able to do something with that stamp, you're a blessed person indeed. What was your first musical memory in life? The Beatles, I was too. two years old, and it's the first not only musical memory, is my first memory. I would imagine, I almost vaguely think I remember a picture of my father being banished from my life, my biological father. But obviously I would have suppressed that if it was a negative emotion.

But at the age of two, I remember, she loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah, and oh, you don't know something, I want to hold your hand and she loves you. That is the earliest memory I have and I just think it's so awesome that it was a musical memory as well because that was the music that woke up my consciousness to the fact that I was existing in that life. So that was my first memory.

I also remember seeing breakfast, Tiffany's on television when it came on in 1964, I think. It was also two or somewhere around thereabouts. And I remember my mother buying me some Batman cards because that was my first hero was Batman. So those memories around the same time, but they were all the East Orange, New Jersey memories. How long were you a resident in Harlem?

I think no more than two years. I think my first two years. Just the general tri-state area. Like how long were you there? Well, we were there until I was about six or seven when we moved to Florida for the first time, then we moved back to Jersey, then we moved to Chicago,

and we moved around a lot. My stepfather was a first evangelist and the minister, and then later became a pastor and all that. So we were moving around a lot, plus it was just the way I guess the organization he was a part of was growing the time. But obviously things happened to us for a purpose, which hopefully we can extract the better reason.

of. Were they a musical family as well? Do you have siblings that sing as well? Yes, everybody kind of sings, but my mother is mainly the one who sang, and it was apparently her mother, who I sound most like or looked most like, because her mother was, I'm quite sure there was some hidden Sephardic Judaism that was hidden in the situation coming back from the times of Spanish and the reconquista or whatever hell it was. The family tree. Yeah, I get it. Yeah, yeah.

But there are a lot of similarities, apparently, between me and her mother. But it's my mother from whom I get kind of that impetus. She grew up singing in the church. And most of my, the artists that I interview, that are at least of a certain age, kind of have the same story in which, quote unquote, secular music is contraband or or not looked favorably upon. So how are you consuming? Well, you know, our listeners know,

like being a Prince fan was almost like detrimental to my life. And it's funny to hear him say like, your parents were right to punish you for owning these records. But like, were you allowed to purchase albums or how did you, some artists would say like, oh, Marvin and Stevie were allowed, but nothing else. Like, how do you consume music? Are your friends in school telling you, like, what's hip or?

No, basically, you know, you're in a culture where everything is around you. And what I wasn't allowed to do until I was about 15 or 16 was to listen to music in our house that I brought in from the outside. But at some point, you know, on the Saturday, when in my area, Soul Train and American Bandstand were back to back. Yeah. So if I remember correctly, Soul Train came on at 12. and 1230 American bandstand. And I was allowed that at some point, provided, you know, I kept the noise down and went, what have you.

But, you know, you just heard everywhere else what was happening, what was around you. And there were people that were just ubiquitous that you couldn't, you know, you couldn't avoid certain people. But the profile in my home was my mother was a choir director, first and foremost by inclination. So we tended to listen to like a lot of choir music. there was like a lot of James Cleveland.

There was a lot of like Albertina Walker, Inez Andrews, that whole caravan family tree, which should be a documentary in and of itself, the minutia of the genius of black culture, if you just did the caravans. And Inez and Shirley Sees and all those people, because Shirley was also one of the two women who had the most influence on me as a singer.

Oh, God. If I hear no charge one more time, it won't be a moment too soon. Every day that songs are in the household. But she was in the James Cleveland and all of this stuff. And, you know, obviously, Aretha's genius album, Amazing Grace. I kind of got bored with choir music. It was, that was beautiful.

I learned my lessons. I was absorbing everything, of course. But my jam was like the quartet singers, like them dudes in the deeps in the deep south. and they just come in the church and just kill it. Just kill it. And it would always be some dude with some like voice that could cut glass. And there was another dude that used to suspect probably we was on the gay spectrum.

You know what I'm saying? But my brother was holding it down. He was saying he had a high beautiful voice. And the woman was just like fall out and stuff. But see, the church conglomeration or situation of congregation, we were with the Pentecostals, that was more of the Baptist. And the Methodists would have, like, the quartet singing. The Pentecostals was more about choirs and all of this kind of stuff,

and nobody's stealing the light from the pastor. He did. Oh, wow. I did not know that. Okay. There's some of that, you know what I mean? Which is why, ironically, it was Rod Stewart, one of my great heroes. Shout out of respect to Rod.

It was Rod who turned me back on Sam Cookew because I knew Sam Cooke vaguely as a legend in our community from the soul stirers, but I didn't pay that much attention to it because that music wasn't mainly played in our home. But one of the things I've always loved about Rod and the Stones is neither one of them ever wasted any breath, you know, not reminding you of who these heroes were that changed their lives and were not shy about letting you know who they were. So Rod's guy was Sam, Otis, Muddy, and I've always heard some Bobby Blue Blan. But the point is he was real about that shit. So it was when I fell in love with Rod and realized Rod was in the direction that I was going to be taking my own situation.

It was, you know, him and I just started listening to Sam and going, oh, shit, yes, yes, yes, yes. I missed this. This is what, but it was good that I got it when I got it because then I was not only able to listen to the pop stuff. And, and appreciate what an underrated one. of the all-time underrated great foundational pop songwriters he was. Because, you know, if we forget how foundational he was to writing what we call pop songs, not just soul or R&B, whatever. Sam Cook and Buddy Holly were right there formulating what became pop music. And interestingly enough, as you know, they were friends.

They were very close friends. Really? Yeah, so it was Rod who took me back to Sam, and that's when, like, the door opened up again. I thought, yeah. and I always felt in my heart if Sam had lived he would have been doing what Rod wound up doing

and I've always thought I even said this to Rod I really feel like you have a walk in you know because when we love people and we know people love us the different layers

of our physical existence of the different layers of our existence the frequencies that stay closest to the earth you know the densest as obviously we burn it or we burn it

Then there's this magnetic field that goes to the people who love us and who we know we can leave some of this to. They will continue some of our work or our spirit or will take some of our cross upon themselves. And they will continue forward with that vibe. All right. So for me, I'll say like Never Doll Moment Atlantic Crossing are like my two favorite ride albums. But for you, like what's your go-to albums of his? First of all, let me give him his Chris as his flowers. the man has an unerring ear for songs.

He's a great producer, whoever's producing him, or he's just got an unimpeachable ear for songs and great musicianship. For me, he's never made an album where I just thought, well, okay, that's a waste of time, and he's made tons of them. But I would have to say around that period, put loose and fantasy free, Tonight I'm Yours. Well, tonight I'm yours.

do anything that you want to be. But check this out. The story was I was in the military. I was stationed in Hanow, Germany. The base no longer exists. Third Army Division. In the barracks, across from our barracks was a big wreck center. And at the very top was some broom closets.

And I went out and bought the cassette of Tonight I'm Yours. Because up to that point, I had like this nice, sweet choir board tenor. Okay. And my determination was I wasn't going to come out of this closet. it, no pun intended. Until you sing like Rod or something? Until I sang like Rod. Wait, what?

Until I had that voice yet. Because I had the sweet, nice Michael Jackson-y, Stevie type of vibe cultivating along with Frank Sinatra was another huge influence. I had all that. But I wanted that other thing. So the rasp comes from,

because you do have like three distinctive voices, your rasp voice, and then a very sweet, falsetto, and then your natural tenor. So you're saying that Rod Stewart is the impetus of that graph. What? Yes, yes. All that.

Maggie May, wake up, Maggie. The first cut is the deepest. Nick, what? For real? All of that stuff. Baby Jane, okay, one of my favorite songs. Baby Jane, I do you know. Yes, you're right.

Do you think I'm sexy? It's just, come on, man. Do you think I'm sexy is one of the records of light? It's just he nailed it. Has he ever told you the young Turk story? No, I don't think I got it directly from him. Oh. Yeah, no, just recently, he did a benefit.

And I'm always obsessed. And you do this a lot, too. I'm always obsessed with song titles that have nothing to do with what's said in the song. Yeah. And in my mind, I'm like, you're saying young hearts, right? You're not saying young Turks. And I think Michael Jackson at the same situation when a heartbreak hotel basically like the publisher

and the manager's like, look, there's already a song called Young Hearts out there and people are going to confuse the two and it's going to make the paperwork difficult. And there's also the famous story of Radio Gaga from Queen that he was never singing Gaga. But the record company didn't feel comfortable with him actually putting Radio Caca.

Because he was saying all he was on the radio is shit in these days. Oh. And if you listen now, okay, no. Then when you don't think you're supposed to be hearing Gaga, and you will hear a caca, all we hear is radio caca. Makes sense now. Boom.

All right. Look at you all your school and me. This is why we have to converse more often, my brother. Yes. Oh, no, this is the greatest first conversation ever. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you'll say.

Yep, that's me. Cliver Taylor the fourth. 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. I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of The Fault in Our Stars, and now I guess also as the co-host of The Away End, a brand new world soccer podcast.

I'm Daniel Alarcon, a writer and journalist, and John and I have known each other since we were kids. My first World Cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old. I watched every game, and I fell in love. On our new podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. For us, soccer, football, is a story we've shared for over 30 years. since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team. Very debatable. And I was their most loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game.

I love its history, it's hope, it's heartbreak, and above all, it's beauty. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the away end with Daniel Auerkone and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On a recent episode of the podcast, Money and Wealth with John Hobriant, I sit down with Tiffany the budgetista Aliche to talk about what it really takes to take control of your money.

What would that look like in our families if everyone was able to pass on wealth to the people when they're no longer here? We break down budgeting, financial discipline, and how to build real wealth, starting with the mindset shifts. Too many of us were never, ever taught. Financial education is not always about. Like, I'm going to get rich. That's great. It's about creating an atmosphere for you to be able to take care of yourself and leave a strong financial legacy for your family.

If you've ever felt you didn't get the memo on money, this conversation is for you to hear more. Listen to Money and Wealth with John O'Brien from the Black Effect Network on the I'd Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, Ernest, what's up? Money is something we all deal with, but financial literacy is what helps turn income into real wealth. On each episode of the podcast, Earn Your Leisure, we break down the conversations you need to understand money, investing, and entrepreneurship.

From stocks and real estate to credit, business, and generational wealth, we translate complex financial topics into real conversations everyone can understand. Because the truth is, most people will never talk how money really works. But once you understand the system, you can start to build within it. That means ownership, smarter investing, and creating opportunities not just for yourself, but for the next generation. If you want to learn how to build wealth, understand the markets, and think like an owner, earn your leisure is the podcast for you. Listen to Earn Your Leisure on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up?

I'm Miles Turner. And I'm Brianna Stewart. And our podcast, Game Recognized Game has never been done before. Two active players giving you a real look at our lives and what we actually think. on and off the court. Nothing's off limits. We talk trade requests. What's the vibe of that when it's like your star player is like, well, I want to leave.

And then actually now I'm going to stick. We talk tanking. I mean, honestly, like, I might get in trouble for this answer, but I think it's like definitely happening in the WBA. And yeah, we talk about our mistakes too. They pulled me to their side and was like, hey, man, we got a call last night. And you can't be rolling around the city like this tonight before games, no, you know, doing this, doing whatever.

And of course, family stories. They'll be like, Mommy, why did you miss that? Mommy, do you play basketball? Check out Game Recognized game with Stuy and Miles on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Our journey through life is so parallel from living in America to moving to Kenishtown to all these things. Even as you tell the story of your family and all that, like. Yes. I've not shared that on the air, but same story.

By I think 10, 12, 13, you kind of know what your calling is. What is it that you desired to be before you were 18 years old? Like, what did you think your calling was? Well, at various times, I wanted to be a marine biologist for a short period of time, but I was serious about it. I wanted to be a journalist for a very long time. and went to university for one year with the intent of getting accredited.

Yeah, well, there you go. Because your lyrics are just absolutely... Of course you went to school with journalism. I wanted to be... Okay, now I get it. I get it, okay. Yeah, that was going to be my jam. I was quite certain in my heart

that if I didn't make it as the heavyweight champion of the world, okay, then when I realized that my body type did not lend itself towards me becoming a heavyweight before the age of 40, then I downsized to the middleweight champion of the world. And then I had my epiphany when I won the Golden Gloves for the state of Florida in 1980, during my 18th year, when I was beating this kid and his mother was very emotionally supporting him

and cheering him on. and I had a epiphanic moment that whatever I went into boxing to accomplish or to ascertain from the experience, I had gotten it. I had proven something vital to myself. I was tough. I was just littler than everybody else for a long time. And, you know, I needed to do something to assert myself in that particular way. But there was one point when I was hitting this kid in the face pretty easily.

And to hear his mother's impassioned, you know, please for, to, to him to do better, I realized in that moment that the spirit didn't put me on the earth to be hitting mother's children in the face. So you were going to be a boxer? You're a Golden Gloves winner? Yes, in 1980s state of, but it's for the state of Florida. I'll never forget that. It was in Coconut Grove in an arena and Coconut Grove in Miami. And, but I just remember that I actually didn't even fight after that fight because the next fight was the fight. for the title, but the guy that I was due to fight had to pull out at the last minute because of some bullshit I still don't understand. But anyway, that's how I got the title. But that was also

one of those epithanic experiences where I realized it was time to leave that part of warrior training alone and come back to the main arena. So in some alternate life, like you could have been fighting like Ray Boom Boom Mancini or like... Questia. I was really good. I was shockingly good. for someone who basically pretty much wasn't supported in any other type of athletic endeavor. I mean, I was always, you know, I was a great, I love, love baseball. It's my favorite sport. I was a great little baseball player, but I didn't have any ass.

You know, I couldn't get the ball much further than, you know, so, you know, these coaches don't have any patience, you know, we just need to fatten them up. You know, I'm just this kid. We've got all the potential in the world, but you couldn't strike me out. I knew it instantly where the ball was going, the minute it left the bat. I wasn't the fastest kid by a long shot on the team, but I knew how to still base. I was all instinct and everything. It was just pure instinct.

Like basketball. I didn't have any height. I couldn't shoot worth of shit. But I was a great defender, great rebounder, great passer. And the more difficult the shot, the more likely I was to make it, the easier the percentage of shot. The higher percentage shot it was, the lower percentage it was going to get for me. You know what I mean? But the point is that I kept trying to find my athletic new youth,

and I could never find it until by accident I discovered that I had a natural instinct for boxing during the 1976 Olympics. At Great Olympics, when you had Ray Davis, Sugar Ray Leonard, I forget there was like three or four guys on that squad who all went to become going to become great champions. But, yeah, I was a cousin of mine that come down from Jersey to visit us in Florida. And we went into the laundry room after one of the box. boxing matches, and we started piling a bunch of athletic socks on our fists,

and we started punching each other. And I noticed I was really good at it. And next thing you know, I had gotten a respect that I needed, and I had proven to myself what I needed until, like I said, I got the sign that this part of your training is over. All right. So now that I know that you are a real sports head, now I really have to analyze the Kobe and LeBron zone.

because just to see your song titles alone is one thing, but to experience it, I was like, wow, this is a really risky way to go. But in my mind, I always said that serious musicians aren't sports heads, but, you know, time and time again, I'm proven wrong. Yeah. You know, so now I have to get serious about my sports passion. No, it's just that it's, you know, the triangular, the triangulation

of singers want to be athletes, athletes want to be rock stars, rock stars, rock stars, when we move stars. It's that thing. It's like we all want to be... The grass is already greener. But, you know, I had a conversation with someone actually quite recently

about the fact that still the average guy, if you gave him a choice, a champion, you'd be Elon Musk, okay, and Bruce Springsteen, okay? Or Elon Musk and Michael Jordan, fuck Elon Musk. You know what I'm saying? That's just billions and billions

never have to work during your life. But if dude can be like Tiger Woods or Wayne Greske or like, you know, for just like that summer. A hero, yes. Those people, you can be Ronaldo when all of those people in your nation are cheering for you.

There's nothing like that. There's nothing like being, you know, like Bruce and you can play for fucking almost four hours and people are still rapturously drenched and ready to receive more or the utterances that fall from the grace of your table. I mean, that's incredible to be able to have that kind of position

and understand why society or polite society have always been so wary of those of us who practice this magic that they cannot contain because it is a very, very, very powerful force. And it can just take your mind somewhere else away. it can challenge the programming. And we know that all societies that are going to benefit as how it sees itself as a society, there's going to be some programming involved

that we collectively agree to undergo in order to be this kind of relatively cohesive thing called the society, where we're pretty much all on the same page. I didn't ask earlier, where are you currently residing? Where do you live? Well, the last 21 years, 22, perhaps, I've been living in Milano. Oh, Italy?

Yes. Okay. Man, I've been there a few times. I never knew that. Okay. So do you still follow, are you still passionate about sports now? Do you follow it? Well, it's a great distraction for us because, you know, we consume this thing of ours.

Likeosa Nostra. Yeah. This thing is our life. It's like, you know, I say to people all the time, it's not like, you know, what would you do? if you weren't doing this. That's not even a question that, you know, this is what life is about for me. It's consuming.

It's sometimes just so much it can torment you as a beast. So the other thing, the other things, films, sports, books, those are the great distractions that are right there at your fingertips. Excuse me, you can immerse yourself in because also with storytellers. So you need to fall back into these other disciplines to not only get yourself rested, to give your mind a place to tune off somewhere else, you know, less challenging, but also just to keep up with the stories and the things that, you know, are part of our whole media of presentation as artists.

You know, you've got to just keep your hand involved in the arts and be immersed in it if you want to remain an active participant and relevant to where it is emotionally. So, you know, for me, it's interesting because a person that I identify a lot with is Basquiat. He's one of my three favorite. Basquiat, Dalé, and Picasso are like gods to me. And in fact, I had a project that I was going to call Basquiat. And in fact, it was interesting because I wanted, this is something I was going to plan to talk to you about as well. But it got postponed because the Basquehate estate.

wrongly assumed that I was trying to, you know, edge something onto my plate from them. And his people at that particular time were not very hip and young. They were more like guardians and gatekeepers. So they didn't get it. But the conceit of the project is that Basquiao, his secret desire, his unfulfilled desire was to be in a punk rock band. And that he was in a band. and that years later,

a box of cassette was discovered. Yeah. And so with this in mind, what did those tapes sound like? And that was the conceit of this Boscow project is to me to undertake, to provide the music for the secret music he was making

that he didn't live long enough to find the courage to release or whatever or to press himself forward in that direction, but maybe even so, more so than being an artist, what he really wanted to be was a fucking rock star. Have you ever met Michael Holloman at all? Not that I'm aware of Michael Holloman. You know, I do a lot of side projects,

and one of my also wishes was to hear what that music sounded like. So I did this at the Brooklyn Academy Museum, I think in 2012, but I had his partner in that group, Michael Holloman, whom I guess our listeners would probably know if you ever Google any New York City Breakers footage them on Soul Train or whoever their spokesperson is, Michael Holloman was kind of the official spokesperson for the New York City Breakers, but not many people know that they were the black punk art. It's reductive to say wham, but I'm just trying to figure out a duo or whatever, but Michael was his partner in that band called Gray. And so I think one of the biggest misconceptions about you was through the gaze and the lens of rock journalists born in the 40s. Really.

And the thing is, let me give you a preface. So tomorrow, after two years of working on this, my follow-up film to SummerSoul is the Sly and the Family Stone documentary. Oh, awesome. Thank you so much. You're not ready for this shit. You're not ready. And also I'm kicking myself because you would have been the perfect. Interview subject.

Oh, beyond. However, this is what I'm learning, especially of a certain generation of, like, critics, critics that you have to face. Yeah. The Dave Marsh generation, the Rolling Stone, born in 1940s. Yeah, yeah, I get you. I get you. To this day, I can't read, well, to this day, I can't go there.

Brother, I get it. I get it now. I mean, just in case there's something, besides some more lists that these motherfuckers put together. But anyway. I get it. I get it. But see, if I can, for example, even the cultural divide between the schick I was running in

England and not having time to recalibrate the fact that the same potion won't work on the Americans because they don't have, they're just not as academically grounded for as long a period of time as the English. And it's their language we speak anyway. Plus, they have something we don't, which is appreciation of irony. In any event, some of them were aware that I was just dusting off of Muhammad Ali routine, just trying to hype and sell directly because at the end of the day, I didn't believe any of that shit. I was just, but I...

So you're saying that the interviews that you would give like NME could go down easier there, but here with Rolling Stone, then suddenly you're the most arrogant? Absolutely. And then I've always tried to be a gentleman to be real about. my shit. And then there was just one, the first journalist I spoke to my game in America, she was upset that I didn't try to fuck her. So, you know, she wound up doing a smear piece just based on, again, an interpretation of an act, you know, I'm sure you met him, but Muhammad was nothing like his image. He was trying to sell tickets. I know. He knew whether

you came to see him win or lose, you can't. I knew you were doing the Muhammad Ali thing. I knew it. And I was 16 at the time reading that cover story. But the end of me thing was interesting question because I remember it was a young journalist and it was for the cover. I was really excited. And then of course I was too naive to catch this trick. He turns off the tape recorder. He says,

okay, we're finished. Then he looks at me and he says, but seriously, how good do you think you are? You really are? And, you know, I'm like 23, something's 24. I'm not even sure what the kind of question is this? You know, I come from the hood.

You know, it's like, he's like, and And one thing we learn is that, you know, you used to go to like Bethune Cookman talent shows, you know, Thune Cookman College, and you learn quickly, if you don't entertain these motherfuckers, you become the entertainment. Either way, they're going to get the entertainment either through you or from you. But so you kind of, plus I was born in New York and there is a certain swagger. There is a certain swagger that imbues upon those of us who were born there. and grew up there. And I think all those things together. But, you know, basically, I didn't believe all that shit.

But the end of the interview, the guy asked, so how good do you think you are? And I'm not sure if he's serious, but I just look at him and says, I think I'm a fucking genius. Fucking genius. You know what I mean? And that's,

but I also didn't believe that at the time, but I also did believe that I could get there much easier if I did believe it. It was one of those things where, from the earliest moment, I heard the word, it resonated something of recognition inside me, like, well, I don't know what this means, but I think I might have some of this or what have you, but it snowballs from there. And as you know, then at some point, you don't have to say anything. They start to give quotes to what is a

profile and what they feel like people will accept this from him because we're already presenting him as this kind of guy who would say this kind of shit. So, yeah, that definitely was a situation. but there's also another element I've found, which is when you're erudite and you can speak for yourself, they get into this savior complex thing where they want to be the ones to interpret how brilliant they do. Who you are. Right, exactly. It's on them because they love it. Well, they often prefer that image of the idiot savant who is brilliant, but it just doesn't know because, you know, he didn't have much of an education.

And I think I was, I experienced being too intimidating for some of them. Because I was reading the same shit they were reading. I was reading the same journalists, Nick Kent, and all these cats that they were growing up on and revering. All right, folks, I got good news and bad news. Bad news, of course, is the end of part one. Good news is that you can check back next week, you know, to where you get your podcast dependent on when you listen for the Great Part 2.

And there we're going to discuss Sananda's catalog, including his new album, The Pegasus Project, Pegasus and the Swan. We also talk about life turning points. And Sonanda nearly joining in excess. Yeah, bad. All right. See you all next week.

What's Love Supreme is a production of Iheart Radio. For more podcasts from IHeart Radio, visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, 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 Cliford 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. I'm Daniel Alarcon, and this is my friend is much more famous than I am. I wouldn't go that far, but I'm John Green, co-hosted the podcast The Away End with my old friend Daniel. On our podcast, The Away End,

we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the Away End with Daniel Alarcon and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's Financial Literacy Month,

and the podcast, Eating While Broke, is bringing real conversations about money, growth, and building your future. This month, hear from top streamer, Zoe Spencer, and venture capitalist Lakeisha Landrum Pierre, as they share their journeys from starting out to leveling up.

There's an economic component to community striving. If there's not enough money and entrepreneurship happening in communities, they failed. Listen to Eating While Broke from the Black Effect Podcast. podcast network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is Amy Roboc alongside TJ Holmes from the Amy and TJ podcast.

And there is so much news, information, commentary coming at you all day and from all over the place. What's fact? What's fake? And sometimes what the F. So let's cut the crap, okay? Follow the Amy and T.J. podcast, a one-stop news and pop culture shop to get you caught up and on with your day. And listen to Amy and T.J. on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta,

you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real House Wise franchise,

the drama, the alliances, and the T, everybody's talking about. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.