Omarion Part 1

growing superstar. And this man has done it in all sectors, uh, TV, film and music. Ladies and gentlemen, our brother our friends. I loved one, Mr Marri Valentine. Thank you for having me, Thank you for having me yourself. Man. All is well, All is well, and in alignment. Yeah yeah, you're using words. Listen, I want to do I want to do a little promoting off the top. Let's promote off the top of book. Yes, unbothered. Yes, the power of choosing enjoy, the power of choosing joy

out right now. Yes, indeed, just give me give me a couple of bars on that man, how did you just what? What what made you take this road? And upon completion. How do you feel with all of this, have all this good stuff happening around this book? Yeah? So you know, UM, my experience you know, with love uh, in certain instances have been very public, you know. Um, so my life truly inspired this book. You know. Um, there is real power and you know, not allowing outside

forces to you know, cripple your mindset and your perspective. Um. Hence the you know drop title Choosing Joy and UM, you know, the fans dubbed me unbothered Mr Unbothered. You know, they gave me that name, they gave me that title, but it truly, uh, you know, gave a name to a posture that I felt like I've been holding my whole life, you know what I mean. So, UM, it's

journal prompts in there, it's meditation, it's um affirmation. UM, I'm really speaking from my personal experience and going through this business and sharing the importance of you know, being the master of your destiny, you know, UM, choosing you know what's best for you. And because I went through the things that I went through, you know, which was pretty intense, seeing the value of being able to step back and um not allow you know, people to control

my behavior is a powerful thing, you know. Um. I feel like the culture really needs, you know, um, some focus on emotional intelligence. You know, we all speak about mental health, but it really truly starts with one step, you know, and that's you deciding, you know, um to be where you will value to be, where you are appreciated, UM to you know, um uh be unbothered. Yeah, there goes a few bars for your tank. I think that My brother Window used to tell me, don't let nobody

put your emotion. Mm hmmm. Don't let nothing or nobody right put you in emotion. And in the beginning, it started with you know, oh he's promoted to saying we gotta or the people at the radio saying we gotta said no, no, we'll move when it's time to move. We don't have to react. Well, well, we'll let them do what they're gonna do, and then we'll figure out what we're gonna do. And then that's what we'll do,

not based on anything that's going on around us. But when when you adopt it into your into your spirit, into your everyday movements, it's like the choices you make UM dictate how you live your life. You know what I mean, so the choice that the underlying choosing joy is a real choice that you have to make, you have to want to make. They always called me the glass half full, because that's how I choose to see everything right. There is a reason for this, and within

this there's growth. There's going to be learning that understand something in here for me, even if it's only one little thing, I want to grab onto that and make that the reason why I'm experiencing whatever this is. So, man, I applaud you, Thank you, man, I applaud you, thank you. You've seen the congratulations. Yeah. Um, hair your hair, yeah hair, it's nice that you just did you for the pot? No? No, no, actually, um, yesterday, Um I was on a Black Lady Sketch comedy show.

Yeah I just did that. Yeah, ball man, aren't they ball? Ye? Don't don't? Yeah? Yeah, did you go crazy? No? Of course. You know, when you get to be yourself, people don't get you. Were get an opportunity in that space, and I think I think those ladies for that where we get to just change that fun straight up shout out to Robbin, Yeah, Scott Robin is we just get to let our hair down. Gabrielle get let our hair down to have I mean, you let your here there, I'm

working on mine. I'm growing. I'm growing. It's some stuff under here. I don't think. I don't think I ain't got you know what I'm saying. I don't think I ain't wavy. But all right, so listen, we've known you win. But you know, we always treated as if there's somebody watching for the first time, straight up, and they want to know where did o'marion come from? Where? When was the first time somebody said that boy good? When was the first time you said in your mind, oh, ship,

I got something? Yeah, take us back to Inglewood, take us back to the woods. Well, well, you know what, you know, Inglewood was a special place. And you know, when you're from California, you know, back then, gangs didn't look like what they look like now, you know what I'm saying, like gang gang. It didn't look like that. It looked like brotherhood. It looked like being accepted in the neighborhood. You know, uh, you know, elders or o

g s looking after you, you know what I mean. Um, so I was just an inner city kid, you know what I mean? That love to you know, um, discover things. You know what I'm saying. Um, I went to the Boys and Girls Club, you know. Um, I would say it started for me at UM this um this fine art school called LAFA That's where I went to. And when I went to Lafa UM for the summer program, every day we did something different. You know. We did like seven or eight different dance styles. Uh, singing was

a part of it as well. But that's when I booked my first quote unquote gig as a performer, you know what I mean. Um, I came in the game community. No, actually through audition that was happening at the dance studio I was at, Yeah, and that's actually where I met Ro Road for the first time to you know what I mean, on this audition a Road Cliff Um and Ed Moore. You know what I'm saying. So before you know,

I came even into my artistry. You know, I was very much just you know, an inner city you know kid that just you know, had the biggest mole and you know, would try anything. You know what I'm saying. Um, that's when I Um, I was thirteen, I booked my first commercial, you know what I mean, My Pops commercial, which Uh was shot at Dorsey, which is the high school my mom went to. You know what I mean. When you're from l A, you know, it's it's a lot of places, but it's real small too, you know

what I'm saying. So, um, my mom actually was a hair stylus and she worked at a lot of the prominent Um you know, she worked at Millennium. She used to work at this other shop on Hollywood and Vine called Afros of Hollywood. Um so yeah, man, I was just an inner city kid, and you know what I mean, I just you know, after my pop commercial, you know, I got into B two K. You know what I'm saying. And okay, so so at the time, um, one of

the managers was married to my play aunt. So my plate on invited me to a New Year's party and of course, you know everybody was there. You know this house on Cold Facts actually, um right here in the valley and everybody would be there is Actually before B two K even became who we were, you know what I mean. We're performed for Destiny Child. Destiny Child is to come through Black used to come through seven oh two.

You know what I'm saying. All of the girls, Yeah, before you finished for the white people, Can you explain to them with a plate? Okay, I know what you mean. I would like for you to explain to them what you know your mama home. Let me break it down. Let me break it down. So my play on, um was actually okay, well I have to take it back because my nana, which would be my grandmother, was cool with her mother, and you know, they used to run

this hair salon back in the day right off of Crenshaw. So, um, that's how my play on. You know, and my mom they were around the same age, so they essentially grew up together. So you know, my mom had me at sixteen, so she was like a child having a child, So they grew up together. I grew up with him. So that's how that's my play on. She's not literally blood, but you know, she grew up with my mom, so

that's the play on. It's important. I mean, I could start so far back, you know, with this, but really, you know, um, the highlight is is that you know, I was just one of those type of kids that was excited about life. You know, I had no fear virtually, I could go anywhere I wanted to go, and you know, I wanted to entertain. I wanted to be seen from Um jump that you that you just can remember that you were just that kid that like I was dancing for people when you when you kid that literally, oh

come downstairs and do the flip. I was that kid. And also, um yeah, I was that kid. Oh do that dance? Shut up? Oh MARII you know what I'm saying. I was just I had so much energy, so you know, it was just bound to happen. And also too, because my mom was a hairstylar. She used to uh do God's Properties hair. She just a lot of people in yeah, in the industry hair. So I would be around that, you know what I'm saying. Um, so yeah, I was

always like entertaining. I grew up in the entertainment business. You know what I'm saying. Shout out to your mom. Shout out for really giving you your first platform and believing in it because a lot of times people's parents they don't and this is something that that happens that people don't speak about a lot. A lot of entertainers were annoying kids like let's just be real, wait a minute, that's that's a hilarious true. So when yeah, that's facts

work shut that, shut that, shut up. Yeah, yeah, you know what I mean. So so when I'm paring you, he's saying they' worked to make no money, ain't right? All these singing, all these damn songs. They're making no money. But but shout out to the parents though, for real, that that let the kids be creative? Yeah and make noise. Yeah, yeah for the neighbors tolerated, ain't tolerated? You know what? Because that it's a lot of people's dreams that get

shut down. That's true because sometimes the parents are the surroundings may not even understanding exactly like a lot of us are just as bad ass kid that won't shut up when in actuality, this is a kid that could grow to change lives and and and again back to this first generation thing. It's like my parents looking at me, sit in my room all day and make beats and sing and write songs. You know what I mean. It's kind of weird and not eat. Yeah, it's weird. It's weird.

Did you eat to like? You know, I'm gonna eating a second? Do you know what time it is? It's a p M. You haven't eaten all day? I still have. I just move on my wake up clothes. I'm in my drawers, right. But I was so consumed with something. I didn't know what it was. I don't know what to do with it. I just knew that I had to make a beat and I had to write a song and I had to sing that. That's all I knew. Yeah,

I was making noise. I had real amps, you know what I'm saying, like somebody my mother coming in and kicking the door. Hey, hey, my nigga. But they got you those amps. They bought them for me. So it was like it was like listen. They didn't know how to support it, but they also knew not to get in the way. Right, he's working on something. I don't know what he working on. Something didn't let him do he go? Now? His kids be creative? Man, you get him to be too, k What is that? What is

that conversation? Like? How does that conversation go? Easy? Moms was like, Yo, do you want to be in a group or what? Because you know, we was at the New Year's um party and you know the other three boys they started dancing and I'm like, oh, they like, you know, they're doing their choreography, you know what I mean? And they're like, go ahead, Oh you know what I'm saying. I sing and then I dance and then I hit my back flip and they like, back flip. I got

to hit the backflip. Now, how do you well? You know what. I taught myself how to backflip, So I want to say, um, I was well in my double hand backhands spring vibe, but I was like maybe fourteen when I met there. Yeah, fourteen only try to backflip points. No, it didn't go with never did it again? Know I'm good. Yeah. The front flip though, I can get that, which don't mean ship you know what I mean? You know I mean it doesn't with no hands, it doesn't mean anything.

Did you have hands? That's called a dive roll. I'm about to show you these these hands in what you're doing in my little front flip. Let me come out a self taught flippers are damaged individuals. Our bodies are messed. Uh yeah. One time I did twenty hands springs in the road at Sherman Park on the grass. Oh my lord, going, come on, you're still playing for it today? About pick your feet? I flipped off of a garage once over rotated and landing on my neck. Yeah, I was the

daredevil too, so if anything, yeah, that was anything. Come on like that was that was life though, straight up what I'm saying, they got you in the group. It just broke his damn neck. You actually stunching my growth. Now we're supposed to be six six man. That was real. This ship you see this monkey all off the back flip. This is out of control. That's crazy. Those pieces six crazy. So yeah, now you're in the group. Ye now I'm in the group. That's so that's literally your audition. Yeah

the party, yep, the party, like we got it. We got young fellow, we need him. Yep. Come on you you want to be in a group. Oh, you want to be in a group. And I'm like thinking to myself, like Dann, this would be dope. You know. I actually was working on, um, you know, some solo stuff. I was rapping. I actually did this song called I want to be like Puff and I actually got my name yeah I want to be like I was rapping. Yeah, I started, I started rapping and did you have a wrap? Yeah?

I actually got my name from I used to be in this rap crew with with all adults called the Wild Kingdom. And um, there was this dude named Ruckets that was in the group and he named me on Marian. He was like, your name of Marian. I'm like, oh did you what's the science? You know what I'm saying. And Ian king forever. You know what I'm saying, Marian came forever. So really it's just going back to your

rooms at this point, is what you're telling us. Yeah, this is where it start, you know what what I'm saying. Wait minute, My name wasn't cool. It was just empt hurricane. It didn't have the didn't have no kings and queens, it didn't have no motherland, no sense of origin, just a hurricane. So that's where your name comes from. Yep. And then my mom you know, um, the the guy that she was with at that time, you know, um, he used to like manage producers and stuff like that.

So early on, you know what I mean, that machines, planning, fat, all of that. I was exposed to all that. The planet. Come on, think, come on, come on, you know all around you as year is this though, Because I'm trying to figure out I feel like I met you. I met you in ninety. What do you what did you do in the group? Did you join the group? It was like it was like somewhere around there I met you nine. Were you working with Dave Scott? Then we

played basketball together? Oh wow, I don't remember this. We played basketball at a park close to More Park. I think, yeah, something like that, because he was telling me that that you you were in a group. It was I think it was another another somebody else from the groups, like, yeah, a dope, I'm working with him, be super dope. And I was like, okay, cool, I'm you know, because I

was just trying to do my artist thing. But I was fresh off the tours singing backgrounds with Genuine and he was dancing with Genuine and him got rid of club. Oh that's crazy. Yeah we played basketball. Wow, that's crazy. Before I think it was like a holiday or something I was out here for like a Thanksgiving and yeah, that's still wow. So now you're the new lead singer, yes, the group? And do they have a deal yet? No,

we don't have a deal. You know, this process up leading up to us getting a deal was, you know, the schooling in which you know that has been that gift that has constantly, you know, give to me, you know what I mean, like the drive, like working with Dave because you know, I had took some dance classes obviously, you know what I mean, but I never really worked with an individual you know, like Dave, you know what

I'm saying. And he really helped me develop as um you know, in that in that space, you know what I'm saying. So it took like two to two and a half three years of us just really being together and like, you know, every day, you know, besides us being in school. It was like, alright, for the weekend, we're going over here, all y'all practice. All right. As soon as y'all get up, anybody came through the door, was like beach k performed, you know what I'm saying.

So we really um a lot of work. Yeah, we put we we were developed. We were developed, you know what I'm saying. So that's it is. It is because you guys, you guys, you guys were ready. Yeah. The first time I saw you, I was like, yo, yo, we did that a gazillion times, you know, like and I attribute you know, even my staying power and being able to continue to transform our art and having that

that essence. You know what I mean? That that that that eat you know that beginning time for me where it was like okay, no, it ain't about getting it perfect, It's about doing it over again. Now do it again. Now do it again, Now do it again. You know what I'm saying. And I feel like you know, um, all artists you know have a knack for you know, a type of perfection. And you know what I'm saying. Um, So yeah, that's what we was doing. Man, we was perfect. I mean we went to go see pretty much all

the labels. You know what I'm saying. We we we've seen l a read. I speak about this in my book too. You know, um, that experience of you know, being denied, of being told no. And then you know that last meeting was with you know, DamID Fishing and Polly Anthony over at EPIC and it was like, Yo, they had that conversation with us like yo, if y'all don't get signed, and you know, like we pretty much

can't help y'all. You know what I mean. So we was fourteen fifteen, you know, years old, dealing with all right, you know, if y'all if you're gonna make it or not you know what I'm saying, or you're gonna do the best performance you'll ever had or not. Y'all want this deal or not? And obviously we got the deal and then that was it. So every other label turned you down? Yeah, yeah, every other label. You know, l

A Read flew us out. You know, that's the first time I've ever been to the fourth season I put on the road. Yeah yeah, yep, flew us out. We're like, oh, we're signed, We're signed. Oh yeah, l A Read. You know what was what was the label called at that time? The face? Yeah, they was on fire, you know what I'm saying. We was like, yeah, we're home, and it was like no, sir, no sir. Passed on y'all. So

at fourteen fifteen, how does that feel? How does that feel when you feel like you went in front of someone and gave your all, gave your best, You didn't do like you said, you didn't practice this a gazillion times, and you're like, this is my moment, and then you get the phone call or after you perform, you see the reaction and you're like, oh, I don't think this is it? Like what is that feeling like for you?

For for a fourteen, fifteen year old kid. Well, you know it kind of for me at that time, you know what I'm saying, it kind of just went in one air and went out the other, you know what I'm saying, just because you know, um, I don't think that you know, we focused so much on like, you know, failure, you know what I'm saying. Like, you know, we were kind of built in the you know space like all right, let's you know, dissect this performance. Now, what could y'all

have done better? You know what I'm saying, Like what you know what I mean? So every performance was kind of like that. It wasn't like it was the end

of the world, you know for us a moment. Yeah, it was just like okay, whoa, Well they didn't want to you know, and you know what I'm saying, not really realizing or recognizing that, you know, the business was gonna be hinged on the people that were representing us, not understanding that as a kid, you know what I'm saying, Yeah, you know what I mean, but knowing like, yo, I'm coming here to give him of all. So okay, well

he didn't take us, that's fine. Well we got one more meeting, right, all right, cool, well we're about to Yeah, we you know, we was jumping on tables. That's really how we got signed, you know what I mean. Like when we were performing, we was like at you. You know what I'm saying, We're jumping off this doing it. You know what I'm saying. So that's what essentially I

feel like I got ideal. But to answer your question, I think it just felt like, all right, well whatever, you know what I mean, let's keep it going like that's a that's a great mindset. That's a great mindset to not let these things knock you down. Yeah, you know, because you just at the end of the day, it's cliche, but it's true. You just need one the right Yes, yeah, just just one, that one and y'all got that. Yeah, yep. And from that point when you guys get signed to Epic,

how long until the debut album? Well we uh, we immediately started getting into recording, so they fast tracted. Yeah you know what I'm saying, They see TC we win and got our diamond chains. Yeah yeah, we didn't got the diamond chain and we got the locksmith. You know what I'm saying. We went to Jacob You see that was the first check knew that. Did you know you were blowing it? Now? Did you think this was just oh, it's just part of the gave of Steve. Now you

know what you count your money? Yet? Nah? We were kids, man, We're just like, oh, we want that. Okay, here you go, Oh, y'all want this? Okay, Well I'm gonna get this. And then you know, he likell, I'm gonna get this one right here. You know what I'm saying. So, you know, just having access to that, we wasn't thinking about like, hold up, I need this to stretch. Okay, I need this, I need it. You know, Yeah, we didn't. We didn't know about Yeah, because you think you're coming out tomorrow.

You think you think I was coming out to you? Got this is itching me. I gotta get I gotta get out there. I gotta I have to show right. I have to let everybody know. Okay, I'm up, I'm up. What's good? I need rims and the chain my name on it exactly just in case they don't know who I am. So, did you go to Fox Hills immediately after you get your chain? No? Actually hit them all. We were we were in New York. You know what, Jacob was my first my first jeweler, you know what

I'm saying. So you know, we was Yeah, we was introduced properly and like all right, y'all boys, go over here, and now we're gonna get you all in this outfit. We're gonna we're gonna put you all up here right here, and then y'all gonna do this and then it was like heavy lit and it's funny. H Just to give you this little nugget, we we I think we were staying at the Hudson Downtown, New York and uh, we get on the elevator and who's on the elevator. I was about to say, ain't l a read? We were hot,

we most successful group. We get on the elevator. You know, he's like, hey, what's up, guys. He was like, hey, congratulations man, y'all doing great. And it was like, oh boom, and that was a full circle moment for us. So yeah, that was that was that was happening back then and continues to happen. You know what I'm saying. All Right, so let's let's I want to get to I want to get to a song. Okay, I want to get to I want to get the guys to be. Okay,

you're just gonna jump over, I don't mind. We can go back to bumpump Okay, all right, that was my joy. I got to be with my favorite. That's my favorite too, got to be come on, as you know, as a church kid, as a little Steve, as a you know, as a singer and a vibe artist. Yah, gots to be was a grown man period. Yeah, I knew you were serious when I heard that record, because I actually I hadn't met you yet. Yeah, I knew you were

serious at that point. Is that yeah? Yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure, going for the heads, going for the number one spot. It was such a record for kids to have, but like pandemonia, it felt like pandemonia, but it was like, oh yeah, it's it's about to turn all away into these It was like, listen, digital boys, these grown women ain't gonna be able to contain themselves with the vibrations that are connected to this guy's the big record. Right,

come on, this is a problem. Yeah, was it a problem? Yeah? Yeah, listen, listen, listen. I want to manage you and that's what come on? Yeah, yea, I want to manage you hear me? Yeah, yeah, that's facts, that's fact. And we was talking that talk and we was walking that walk to yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. Listen. I was a young I was a young player out here at that time, and y'all was definitely the little valance. That's what they're doing. Okay, I like like, how was it? Like? Okay,

we got bump bump ump, great? Going crazy? Um, you got going crazy? How is it? Going back to Inglewood? How is it? Man? It's so much love, It's so much love, you know what I mean? But all y'all wasn't from Inglewood though. Everybody from parts of l a um yep, different parts of l a Um No, but everybody well not l A. You know, um songs from Compton, something from West l A. And then yeah, I guess you could say l A. But yeah, going back to Inglewood, man,

you know what I mean? Because you know, I was definitely tied to the soil on like my best friend, you know, steal in Inglewood, you know what I mean. So I would be there all the time until until I realized, wait a minute, I'm sitting out here on the porch. I need to go back in the house. You know what I'm saying, because um, you know there was a time you know what I mean, Uh, when when l A has just got real violent, you know as far as the game culture goes, you know what

I'm saying. So I was going back, but I wasn't, you know, like processing that's like, yo, you know, you got some shows in a couple of weeks, right and you know anybody could come over here and start shooting right now. But you know what though, when you grow up, yeah, in that element, it takes a minute. It's hard to process that you're what you're what you're really growing up in.

These are the same streets out and ran up in the tag and flipped off of that's and they were at an age where friends start going different ways like that's that that teenage fourteen thirteen, fourteen fifteen is when your homeboy. When y'all was tending eleven, y'all was just homies. Now he's from a different side of the street, are from another block block away, and now in in l A, y'all have a whole another culture with the colors what I'm saying of like and people don't like most people

don't realize, like you went to school with Nip. Yeah, yeah, high school Joe Pottner growing up, you know what I'm saying. So I'm sure he's probably seen and you early on like, yo, damn, that's my homie as he jumping off the porch. Though, that's facts, that's facts, that's facts, you know what I mean. So it's just like you're saying, like that experience for you being at home, where you seeing you fifteen, sixteen whatever. At that point you're like, damn, the homies is really

out here, active, straight up, straight up and from different sizes. Now, that's facts, that's facts. You can't even pick a side. You're like, yeah, I might just have to get out of here. Yeah, I mean, it definitely was fun though, you know what I mean. Pulling up you know what I'm saying. All my whips in the hood, they're like, whoa, what is this? You have to do that? What is that? I'm like, come on, we out, you know, Yeah, that's the first whip. What's the first? What's the first? My

first whip? I bought myself c O five hundred three TVs. Y'all remember how we used to do it? You know, did you go to Global Times? I was I was a three ten. I was like, over have full sounds, you know, swede headline to come on with the crown in the headline. You know what I mean. He swayed on the seat, you know, he swayed on the floor. Oh yeah, eighteen eighteen yeah, eighteen out of control? Yeah for real? Playing jay Z. Excuse me? What's your name?

Yeah yeah, yeah yeah, shot out to my potting to Chris Mills and three one all tis all the whips. Chris Mills was the coldest to ever. That's facts. That's I've never seen nobody flip cars like him ever. That's facts. And he was in a different one every day every day. That's facts. That guy brou With just the first guy saw, first guy ever saw take off his shoes, his snickers, put them in the in the lambow trunk which was in the front front, and then put on his house shoes.

Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, drive to drive his car. Watch him. I was like, that's different. Let's try that. You have to team Broney yeah, ce L five man and but car has always been a part of my journey. You know what I'm saying. I don't have so many whips. I'm saying cars always whips. You know what I'm saying, I don't even gotta have nowhere to live, make all I care about. I don't care somebody's gonna let me spend a night with You don't know where I'm going

to that town house? Like yeah, yeah, like trying to back am I am? I clothed? Hilarious? Yeah so what Yeah? So now with the sixth, with all of the success, what is the inspiration or or what in fact makes you decide I'm going solo? Is solo before you guys said, it's solo a thing that's like in the beginning, right, It's solo a thing like let's get these solo projects off and then let's get back to business or what

Solo a thing where I'm like running course? Right? So, um, it was like it was two phases from my personal perspective and experience, you know. And one was that we all were doing separate UM covers for the Pandemonium album, and you know, we all kind of felt away, you know, different about that. You know what I'm saying, Oh, I'm gonna have my cover or you're gonna have your cover, or we're all gonna have covers. It's little you know what I'm saying, Oh, I'm about to go solo. You

know what I'm saying. Um, that was kind of the conversation, you know what I mean. But it was it was all It was all supported, you know, up until the time that the group separated. And that was for me. It was not initially my plan to be a solo artist, you know what I'm saying, because I was already a solo artist. You know what I'm saying. I already was

developing myself in music, you know what i mean. So once I got in the group, it was a conscious decision that it was something that it was, you know, I'm I'm a part of this is zick. You know what I'm saying. Yeah, you know, but right up until you know, it was like a lot of the business was super convoluted, you know, Um, people had to pick size you know. The boys was basically you know, like

on the other side, you know what i mean. And it was like You're coming with us, and I'm like, oh I am, and I'm like, okay, well I roll with y'all, So I guess I gotta go back with y'all, you know what i mean. Literally in the car, you know, what I'm saying, um, and then it kind of just

unfolded from there, you know what I mean. We went through a lot of I guess, uh unnecessary you know, tumultuous things because it was people in the middle, you know, really kind of architecting, you know, are our differences, you know what I'm saying, and putting putting them against us, you know what I'm saying. So you know, yeah, yeah, and I mean like yo, as soon as as soon as as soon it was like, you know, we had

the situation that separated us. That was pretty much like yo, oh was going with us, y'all do whatever y'all want to do, you know, which in hindsight, I didn't know what created in my city towards me, you know, from them, you know what I'm saying. And then I'm like in the studio and then I'm hearing these niggas is on you know what i mean, the radio station, and they this in me. So now I'm like, y'all niggas, you know what I'm saying, I'm going again on my ship,

you know what I mean. Um. And that's why you know, not to go super fast forward. But that's why the millennium tour was so special, you know what I'm saying, um, because in hindsight, it was a lot of people in the middle of of conversations that you know, we should have had, you know what I'm saying, We should you know, dealt with you know what I mean. But we were kids, you know what I'm saying, So we didn't know how to articulate, like, Yo, what's up? You know what I'm saying, Whip. No,

we didn't. And and you know, I I would say that like my experience is with the group, it was almost like it was really a lot of outside voices controlling what was going on in the inside. But you know, in the inside, it was up to us, you know, to have that bond, you know what I mean. So we didn't know how to be responsible, you know, with each other, you know what I mean. It's like you

gotta bro, you know what I mean. But in hindsight, it's like your bro lives in a separate household, so his values and the way that he deals with things is completely different from your growing up in your experiences, and if you don't get an opportunity to reconcile that, you know, that's what essentially created the you know, um, the you know, the head butting and you know the disrespect and you know all of that. You know what

I'm saying. Um, So yeah, I think, like you know, it's difficult to backtrack in those type of situations when so much, when so much has happened to lead up to Yeah, the bad energy it was because it's like as you say, with the with the with the architects saying that we're trying to that have their own agenda and needed to do whatever they needed to do to make sure that things happen their way. You know what

I mean? It created so much distance to where without those conversations, without that communication and without that understanding, that that distance was filled up with so much hate, negativity, back and forth and things that nobody knew if they really meant. But I gotta say something back or I gotta feel something back. You know what I'm saying? What what they say? But what do you say? What? And and not one, not at one time did were you

able to? Because here's here's what happens. When you watched The Godfather and the Godfather is talking to Michael, and he says, whoever comes to you and tells you about the meeting. He's the trader. So many times I'd oftend whoever the person is coming to you saying, they were saying yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah right right yeah, well yeah, is more than likely helping to orchestrate or continue to

orchestrate the division. Yeah between you, between you and or between them, and like yeah, I don't wanna rock with you like that? Like that got you though? Yeah whatever that Yeah, And you know, that's been a large part of my experience, even in maturing in business, you know what I'm saying, like, you know, just other agendas, you know what I'm saying, and things being convoluted and not communicated properly, and you know, no real space to have

those important conversations, you know what I'm saying. And then in hindsight, you know, being a man now and having a child and seeing you know, my son and then realizing, you know, when kids are young, how it's really like, you know, your responsibility to make sure that you have that environment for them to feel safe and for to be protected and to learn you know what I'm saying.

And yeah, man, that's largely been my you know experience, and that's why I've always you know, continue to just take responsibility for myself and you know my endeavors and what I say and what I do. You know that is important to me because not always have I had the opportunity to set the records strate you know what I'm saying. And also too, you know, just just looking at my journey, you know what I mean, I'm like one. I'm I'm I'm the only artist other than Beyonce. You know.

Um that is like Michael Jackson, that comes from a group, a shared space, a shared experience on stage. You know, that's different from being a solo artist or deciding that I my solo act. This is all about me, you know what I mean? So um, you know, I feel like my experience is unique in that way, you know what I mean, Like where I come from, you know, the group, and now I even share the stage with my dancers, and it's a different experience for me as a solo artist. And I love you, but I'm not

gonna let you forget Bobby Brown. Okay, you're gonna have to mention but but but you gotta mention but but Bobby. But Bobby still was in a closer error than than Mike. You know what I'm saying like his error was still closer, you know, I mean he directly influenced you know, Bobby. You know what I'm saying, Like, you know, we were come in generations, you know, at least two or three

down generations. You know what I'm saying. Yeah, yeah, for sure, you show, you gotta mention, you know, you gotta miss your boy there he might trap like I had to break up a fight between by I don't want that to No. We we we we definitely, we definitely. But I mean even his experience was a little bit different. You know, he was in the group, and then that's true, that's true, that's true. Well, yeah, I don't know the full story. I don't know the full story. We couldn't

let Bobby go. We thought he was a major talent. Felt like we felt like we could do something with this kid. He was a special kid, and we gave him an opportunity to go solo. So so because of that experience, you know what I mean, Like my me, me stepping into being a solo artist was completely different from you know, Bobby and my and my um and my personal uh you know experience, you know what I'm saying, Like b two K you know, not up until you know the docu and this last fifteen year you know,

reunion that things feel like, Okay, it's not undone. You know what I'm saying. Okay, you know we can perform. This is this is about us. This is not about you know, any outside business people. It's up to us, you know what I'm saying. And that was something that you know, Um, I feel like, you know, it was unique to me, you know what I mean, because uh, you know, I guess you know, justin you know, it's one too, justin this one too, now that I'm thinking

about it, justin this one too. Um. But yeah, you know, stepping in the solo start you know into that. It wasn't planned, you know, it wasn't something that I remember. I remember like obviously we were first. Yeah, I remember just us building our bond and me seeing you hurt like you were hurt by that. If I can say that, you know what I'm saying. Of course, like a lot of people think that it's just like, oh, you know, he got a new deal and now he's just he

forgot about it. He up and and no. But it's like it's a brotherhood connected to the there are you know, they're family bonds there, you know. I mean, there's just it's more than just music. And I remember just meeting you, right I think ship it felt like it was right there. Yeah, it was. It was right there, you know what I mean, And and us having those conversations and you just really being like like, I'm here, but it's my dogs though, you know what I'm saying, Like, it's my guys, and

now I gotta do this album. And literally it was like you just got thrown into it, fact facts, facts quick, and from us, from the from the creative side, from the writing and producing side, uh with with with us and the other dogs. It was more so like, okay, how do we help this young fellow man, you know, moving to this new space to this And the craziest thing that you probably don't know what Nickas didn't have no records for you. Okay, No, I didn't know that

y'all made them right there. Yeah, But it wasn't like it wasn't even no real prep for you. Because I think now looking back on it, since all that was happening so fast, you got thrown into the sessions that we were already doing. There were already projects that we were working on that, the building the machine of the Underdogs was working on and then it was just like damn, there, marian is coming almost on some favorite ship y'all know,

the young fellow right from the group. Like it was that and the craziest thing, bro, you know, twenty years later we can have a full conversation. Is Nikkas wasn't trying to do record for you? That's crazy. You're looking at the two niggas who were who end up doing them. That's facts on the All Star we can we talked about it before, you know what I mean, on some on some prior podcast, we didn't. We didn't go in depth because we knew you were coming, so we would

have the real conversation with you here. Now that's amazing, And you know what, that makes sense. That makes sense because I was there when the Underdogs broke up. I remember, Okay, I remember the niggas was about to fight. Yeah yeah, I remember, and you know I got a little Roger come on, Mr Rogers, this is come on, my nigh come because because because Mario was coming, yeah yeah yeah, And you don't understand what working for you, working on

your project did for me at that time. Um, that was your Oh was my first sign of freedom, of being free, being back able to create, not being bogged down with with with the pressures and the you know, I was going through a thing. I could not make songs, I could not make a beat. Nothing was landing. And one day I had to be honest with myself. I said, this isn't working for me. I'm out. That's what came from it. The same day we knocked that wall down together. Yeah, sir,

that's gonna be the same garling. It's going through lady singing, Oh, come on up next, same on me. I'm glad so you can say oh the mon oh in the night saying on me, come on this. This is this that's represents so much. I was free. Yeah, these guys made me at the studio and we was like on the weekend, it was just us dark empty, Tony Dixon, Eric Dawkins, tank and that's facts. He was like, listen, listen, this

is this is it. We just then it was then it was yeah, yeah, he was just like the day, Yeah, that's nothing that Jack. It's like, hey, I was still around. I was stealing around, my long around. I was still see from being the reason we turned out this way, act like I don't want to be with you, man, Why don't won Come on? It was down, it was going down. I was back in my bag. Come on, come on. I was not in my bag before then. I was hurting before then. And that was those sessions.

Working with you, working with Jay, working with Tony, and working with Eric that one weekend put me on a wave. And the crazy thing is bro and I don't think we've ever told you this. Ultimately, that was our first sessions together. Those are our first records writing together. Because you know, I think you know the original Underdogs were Damon Harvey and me. No, I don't think I knew that we started together. I made up to name. First

record is Tyrese. I liked them girls, first ever underdog record, and I left. I left the first time. They didn't want to make me a partner, which now I understand as I got older what I meant to them at that stage. All I really brought with sweat equity, you know what I mean. I'm kid, I'm like eighteen nineteen years old when when we make up the Underdogs and when I came back, Damon had called me and we

just wanted me to come by the studio. At this point, I went done in singing, I got cracking, I'm doing my ship and this nig is there and this is all literally in the same week or two to come on to you show up. So those were the first records that Tank and I worked on together. Wow, that's crazy, yo album. It seemed like it wasn't that long ago though, because I remember being in the studio, you know, even with just you and I. It was some sessions where

it just was me and you. You know what I'm saying, recording records, you know what I'm saying. And I remember coming to see you in the back room, you know what I mean, like, Yo, hold up, let me go see this, because it was just like we can click. Yeah, we clicked, you know, I mean we laughed about it. Man. I don't know if you remember. And then you remember like we shot Dice yeah yeah, yeah, yeah me and you're a little roddy. Yeah. I kept telling you not

to shoot. I told you, yeah, yeah. I was like, no, not, I feel fast. It's like that's what I do, not I said, let me get that. But no, no, this is a wild ship and were all young niggas at the time, but I think you're like eighteen eighteen years old. I'm making me maybe twenty one whatever, and you just came from doing the B two K shows by yourself? Can you flost me? Lost me? Just it was it was like, it was like, how did He was like, yeah, you know, because we saw about shooting Dice. I was like,

you got I was a niggy. What you got on you Nike sho you like, I don't really got no cash, but you know I got this and the check was for a honey bum. I said, nigga, your money good? Oh yeah, yeah. I was acting up back then. Oh your money is good? Nick Cashers right here? Yeah yeah, oh my good list Yeah I was. I respected it with a snapper and he still rolled them. Don't do this with him. I don't know how he does it, but he always wins. Yeah. R listen. It was this

funny ass picture. I gotta find it. I want to computer somewhere because we have been shooting Dice all night and got late. You just left and you left a couple of your rings. Oh I put them motherfucker's around like a uh like an ox chord, like like an ox cord and wrote on the sign, I want my fifteen thousand and two dance moves. Oh my goodness, Oh you'll never see a ring again. I need to see that. I'm gonna send this. I gotta find it. Here's a

part that that was really awesome to me. Um And within your artistry Rural to me at that time was like god dancer. It was like he was like I just thought he was the best thing since since she's and you know what I'm saying, since the Patty Meil. I was like that, you're you're different. And I tried to do his choreography. I don't know if you, I don't know. Everybody told you choreographph that video, the freaky video, don't look that up, don't look like that. But I did.

I did well. I did well. The song didn't work, but I did well. Something about me dancing the songs don't really anyway, So he's not you. Um And And I used to always watch ro Road do choreography, and I would always watch the dancers due to choreography, and I'd be like, it just didn't it didn't catch, it didn't match, it didn't And then I saw you doing

ro Roast choreography, and I said, he's row row. Yeah, definitely, Like I don't know how you was one of my blands morphed into that, but I haven't seen You were the first. You were the you were the you. You. You did it the most you. You. You absorbed the style of the most there. With Jacob Latimore, who really shout JA, I was like Jacob, he's he's tough, but you were the first person I've ever seen be able to absorb that style, like like Nuance for Nuance, it

wasn't just the moves. You got a sauce. Yeah, you gotta yeah, got a sauce. Because because I used to listen, we used to I'm from record playing to the Underdogs. I used to watch you give Mr Chris Brown a lot of business. Chris is so competitive, like he was like, fuck, hey, when you do that? He and Din he could work on it. Yeah, you know what I'm saying. And did he come back with more for you? Yeah? That was

a time. That was the time that I was watching two Titans, and especially at Record Plane, y'all was in the hallway about a hour. That's true. It's crazy, that's true, that's true. And that was earning, sharpening iron like in those moments, Gabe put Chris on a mission. You know that that put Chris on a mission, Like I'm going to get him. Yeah, I'm gonna get him. It wasn't about nobody else. And I'm like, we'll ask him personally, did anybody else make you mad? You made him mad?

Shout out to CB. I just saw some interview that he did and he was, you know, definitely complimented me about my dads and my journey. So salute to see. B R and b Money is a production of the Black Effects podcast Network, but more podcasts from I Heart Radio visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Don't get to subscribe to and rate our show, and you can connect with us on social media at Jay Valentine and at

the Real Tank. For the extended episode, subscribe to YouTube dot com, forward slash R and B Money