October 10, 2024 • 45 mins
In this enlightening episode of the Done There, Been That podcast, host Mike Hill and co-host Ephraim Salaam engage in a heartfelt conversation with Grammy, Soul Train, and 8x Image Award nominated Soul Singer - Actor, MAJOR.
They explore themes of hope, authenticity, and the challenges of navigating the music industry. MAJOR. shares his personal journey, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, the struggle against conformity, and the power of community and therapy in maintaining one's true self.
MAJOR. speaks about the making of his hit song "Why I Love You". The discussion highlights the evolving landscape of music and the significance of staying true to one's artistic vision amidst external pressures
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Y'all.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the Inflection collective part of us are connected, reflective, perspective,
respected defense, shat No captains big facts of Kickback.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
It's here for Thundad Bedad.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
And we are back another edition of the Done there
have been that podcast. I am your host, Mike Hill.
This is my man Ethel Saloon. We are brought to
you by the Inflection Network in our heart radio.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
What's up? How you doing? Man? I'm great, Man, I'm
here with you.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
It's always good to be here with you, but today
I'm I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Why we have a special guest.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yes, we have a Grammy nominated Soul Trained Award nominated
eight Time Image Award nominated Soul Singer, writer, actor, my
man Major Major?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
What's up? What's happening? Fam? Oh my god? I love
this dude. Man.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
You talk about energy, you talk about a breath of
fresh air. Man all, so he's got one of the
we're gonna talk about it. This is why I love you.
I think if you would have sayen that really all
changed at my wedding, I think I still be married.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
He's the reason.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
The thing is about about Major is like he got
married two months before I got married.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
And remember I'm my brother.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I'm about to be caught up if we don't be
busy after this wedding.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
See there, you know he was on his honeymoon and
they have time for that song. Bonds people.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Selfishness, that's of today, how to be selfish.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
When it started, we talked about perspectives.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Get there the top of the day, we're going to
talk about navigating the industry, and not just the music industry,
because you do it all.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
We're gonna navigate.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
We've all had to navigate the industry at one time another,
the ups and downs, eyes and lows, whatnot. One thing
I do love about you major From the first time
I met you at my cousin Deal Hughey's house.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
I had to say it this because.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
But ever since the first time, I was like, this
man has so much good energy, Joey, You've ever just
been around somebody and automatically you felt better about yourself
because this person is full of happiness and joy and
what he has on his head is exactly who he is.
It's all about hope.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Hope. Where does that come from? Hope saved my life? Man.
You know, I in life have.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Evolved to this understanding and this new narrative of hope,
that hope is not the denial of reality, it's the
commitment to believe greater is on the other side of them.
So we're not pretending circumstances aren't real. We're not pretending
struggle or hardship isn't real. I'm just going to hold
(02:54):
on to the fact and the promise that every storm
eventually runs out of rain. And I've lived a life of.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Challenge.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I've lived a life of not always having a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I'm from a big family, ten siblings on one side,
thirteen and thirteen total, but five on another.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And it's just like.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
It's I've come from us realizing that we're gonna have
to work for what we want to see, and the
work is not ever absent of believing that if I
do well at this, if I give my best at this,
I'm gonna see these dreams realize. And it's shown and
(03:40):
proven time and time again in my life when I
was up against odds, I beat them every time.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
And hope, what's the key? Wow, Yeah, this is the fact.
This is fact. Yeah, good perspective, right there, man, Mom
and Daddy were busy.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Yeah, yeah, yes, it's a blended family as well. So
Mama didn't have all of those kids it was, but
they were busy.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah, they were busy. Amen.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
And uh, but I I'm one of It's a blended family.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Uh. The ghetto Brady Bunch called our reality.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
But faith and and centeredness in in our spirituality has
always been.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
The the nucleus from what we build from.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
And so are you the only artists out of the
out of your siblings.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
That's a delicate you know, we had a lot of
put you on the spot here. I'll say I'm.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
The only I'm the only popular artist because artistic. Uh,
we have a very creatively artistic okay family. My mom
was big on making sure we were connected to the
arts somehow.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
I'm the one that pursued professionals. So you don't want
to make money from correct, I wasn't making man.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
But like you said, being a part of a big family,
especially having so many siblings, there is competition, right, that's
always involved in some kind of way. You gotta I've heard,
especially if you're one of the youngest, trying to get
somebody's hand me downs.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
It's the motivation, the food and some kinds I don't
know what.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Your background was, whatever, But how did that in this
music industry prepare you for the music industry about competition
and being seen amongst many. You know what's wild is
my mom brilliantly had a way of making all of
us feel seen and somewhat spoiled. Like it was wild
(05:47):
and we don't come from a lot of money at all,
but it was just this attention that she was able
to give each of us, like in abundance. And I
think really it's connected to the faith aspect, because when
you have faith, when you have hope, you're linked to
a superpower that is God, a supernatural to where it
(06:11):
expands your capacity beyond what normal flow would allow. And
so like we didn't compete too much, however, you did
have to speak up because like if you want a second,
if you if you wanted this or that, when there
(06:31):
wasn't too you know, a lot of the option, Like
you had to speak up in order to make sure
you claimed your space and your territory or or whatever
you wanted to possess.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
And I also learned.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Diversity because I think every single personality is in my
family it's disrespectful, booty, and I'll let them pick who
they are, and you put people on blast.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
You know who you are. When it's ten of us,
they can think it you never know. Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
But I think that that's what prepared me for the industry,
that I was able to experience difference of opinion in
mass early on, community, early on collaboration, early on. My
mom was big on family. You do it together. There's
power in the togetherness you lock in together. And so
(07:32):
I've taken that and I believe that that's what has
sustained me and rewarded me.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
In this industry.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
But I also realize that not everybody has collaboration as
a mindset, as a heart, and you kind of have
to have a heart of collaboration in order for collaboration
to be powerful. To that point, when you talk about collaborateration,
you talk about the industry and being an artist. Has
there ever been a time where you felt a certain
(08:06):
way about a project, right like, this is it? This
is every I've given everything, the hope, the love, the support.
You turn it over, they listen to it and they go, well, major,
this is good.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Yeah, But we.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Were thinking about whatever, whatever, whatever, right, how do you
deal with that and how do you address that level
of collaboration.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
So I will say this.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
We talked about Why I Love You, and you were saying, Hi,
if I had a singer at your wedding, the things
would be different.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Shout out to your your we love we love it.
We always my people. But I will say I'm going
to give an example using that.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
I remember when that song was recorded and how in the.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Studio everything everybody flipped out.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Shout out to Harmony Samuels, my producer of that in
most of my music, but we recorded that song and
everybody's like, that's the one, that's the one. However, at
the time, we didn't have music like that on radio
in that season. There was no Why I Love You
happening on radio. Now you go back in this, you
(09:32):
know seventies, eighties or Luther days and Stevie, of course
you're gonna hear something like that, but we didn't have
that at the time. Probably John Legend was the closest
thing with all of me, but Why I Love You
even sings a different than all of me. But I
remember knowing how powerful the song was, and we shopping
(09:56):
it around this is we think this is the one,
and them saying, yeah, it's too slow.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
For radio. We need to get something up temple.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
So we have another song called keep On that's really fun,
really dope, great, but it's not fully major.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
But I put major in it. But it wasn't. It wasn't.
It was.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
It was like, apparently gonna be my song that competed
with you know, the neo the tray song type of energy,
and I'm like.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
That's not that's not me.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
But I put I put the clothes on because it
was it was. But sure enough, Why I Love You
took off like that. We released both of the songs
at the same time. Why I Love You took off.
All of those people that said it was too slow
for radio, it's not going to do this, We're like, oh,
(10:49):
I saw it from.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I thought from the beginning.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
You know, for me, what I've learned is people don't
always get it in the moment that you may get
in or in the moment that you think they should
grace it. Okay, you may not be my tribe, you
may not be the village of support that's going to
help move this forward. Let me keep going. If I
(11:15):
have a yes in my spirit, if I have a
yes in my heart, lock into that and know that
the right people and the right resources will attract to you.
They will be attracted to what it is that you have,
and you'll find the people that get it. Fast forward
to all those opinions and I can call them out,
but I ain't gonna do it.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
You know, I mean, you already put yours. You try
to start something. You're a sibling. You understand dangerous territories.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
But I remember Empire, Ghazi had Empire and independent and
uh label distribute distributor.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
At the time was like, I know what this feels like,
and this is special.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
He he committed to it, had the whole label behind it.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
The rest is history.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
And I have a song that Stevie Wonder says, I
believe this will be the wedding love song for years
to come. And I'm like, if Stevie sawt we got
some good, we got some good, and we do and
it has literally changed my life. But bro, we get
a lot of that. Everybody throws their opinion on stuff
they don't understand yet. Isn't that incredible how you can
(12:30):
put something out there and if you don't have the
right diversity sometimes in the room or the right person
in the room that has the same ear the same
experience that you have.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
They just don't get it.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
I mean, I've been when I was when I was
at ESPN, and I was there and everybody thought, oh,
he's trying to be like Stuart Scott's trying to be like. No,
I'm just trying to be me. This is who I
my man stud Scott. But they thought because hey, you know,
I even had a guy that told this story before.
I was in the talent office one time and the
guy said, the reason and while you're not moving up
(13:00):
here is because they feel like you're too ghetto. Straight up,
this is what the guy told. Oh, he said, they
feel like you're too ghetto. And we already have one
of those Oh bra whoa. I swear to god, this
is what. And I was shocked. And the guy told me, say,
you can say what you want to. I'm about to
retire blood, I'm this old white guy whatever and stuff
like that. But I wondered, this is where I'm getting to.
(13:21):
Because I hear that, and because of what I had
already gone through before I got the ESPN, it made
me change and I lost myself. So I'm listening to
what they want versus what I want to give them
and what is naturally me. But because I have to
conform to that, I lost myself and it took me
(13:41):
years to get my voice back. How close did has
that ever come for you? I mean, I'm challenged with
it every single year, every single season.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
I'm in a season.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Right now where because I'm in my Soul America kind
of bag, this gumbo of sounds that I believe are
very authentic to me. But I'm trying to because it's
it's somewhat of an anomaly. Now it's been done. Ray
Charles did it. They called Ray Charles in the Country
(14:16):
Music Hall of Fame Ray Charles. Most people wouldn't say
Ray Charles would be country. But these are real realities.
Bill Withers, like, they've done. It's been done. But oftentimes
people judge, and this is very very key. People judge
based on the limitation of their greatest experience. So if
(14:40):
a person hasn't experienced something yet, or they're not familiar
with something yet, they're not often quick to embrace it
until they gain understanding of what that thing is.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
And for me, it took maturity of growing into yo.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
You've rejected some things that you didn't understand and then
in hindsight you're like, I can rock with that.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
And so for me, I've learned to.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I gotta I gotta reset myself often like pull that back,
give the give the grace.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
It's not always personal.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
If you understand that the creator created us with a
brilliant design intention specific to each and every one of us,
it will unfold well and beautifully in right time.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
The only key to this thing.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
That will make or break you is your choice to
be true to your authentic self.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
And I believe that there is going to.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Be a great turnaround for you in this season that
you are moving in. That's going to show and prove
that getting back to the truth you is where your
superpower is. That's the access to it, and there's going
to be an abundance that comes as great reward for
(16:08):
all of the years lost, all of the time and
the tears that you cry, and the private and the
secret places because I know, I know what I'm sensing
and I've been there and it's a frustrating thing. But
when you're unique, understand that the unique things are the
most powerful things. Beyonce Bruno mars Oprah, these are three
(16:34):
very unique things that we're told this does not work.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Try this.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
They locked into their authentic self. Now they are the bar.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Because they set a standard. It's something new and it
says the right ear.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
And like you said, unless somebody's heard it before, we
have these paradigms that're out there.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
We don't know it because it's new.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
And when we're afraid sometimes of the new, we look
at formulas and say that works instead of trying something.
But it takes the and you talked about somebody who
believed in it, and a lot of times it takes
that endorsement. Well it's I always say, I think all
of us in order to make it. Sometimes we need
that Oprah. You know how Oprah can say doctor phil
(17:14):
was somebody before Oprah, uh Rachel Ray, all those people.
But she said, hey, you know what, I like these people.
And when she gave these people that endorsement, and all
of a sudden, oh, we all like them. Everybody saw
its liking them, including the people that probably didn't want
to give them a chance before, because she said it.
You had that, and we all need that in this business. Yeah,
(17:35):
but I'm an independent artist. My mama named me Major.
That is my real name. For everybody wondering major is
my real name? I just you know, artistically, I capitalize
every letter.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Because I mean not that.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And also to help you on Google, when you type that,
find a whole bunch of If you type in all
capture of the period, you find me it is I I,
as an independent artist, wrestle with the co signs that
are consistent and wondering who's going to see me? When
(18:14):
are they going to see me? When are they going
to get it? I have a very very unique journey,
Like I know what it's like to be amongst a
list company and be and share stages with that, but
I also know what it's like to wonder it's my
(18:35):
name on the list, who are they gonna invite me?
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Am I good enough? Am I worthy enough?
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Time?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
At the same time and it's and it's a weird dichotomy,
but I really believe that for what it's bringing me,
it's it's meant to keep me grounded on.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
My why.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
More than anything on purpose, like at the end of
the day and my connecting hearts. Am I leading people
to live in their best life? I believe hope is
my assignment. They call me the Hope Dealer. Tatted it
on my arm because I needed it for myself. Bro,
this is an interesting season and we could talk more
(19:20):
about this season. But hope is my assignment, and that's
hope and love, hope in life, hope in future. And
I have to remind myself that at the end of
the day, if I am committed to the why, to
(19:40):
the purpose of it all, whether it's flagrantly flashy or
intimately simple, I'm locked in to what it is that
I was designed for purpose and it hits different when
the story is told later that he showed up no
(20:03):
matter what, whether it's a podcast that's just getting started
or it's a show on ESPN that's been happening for years.
He showed up fully and well because he understood at
the end of the day, purpose had to be filled, fulfilled,
it had to be met. So that's a shift for me.
(20:23):
It's not easy, but it's a reshift that I do daily.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Bro. Mike had says something.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
He says something about the formula, right, And in today's
music industry, there is a formula that's out there for
popular music.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Right, Ye, Like, how do you number one?
Speaker 3 (20:46):
How do you feel about that formula and how do
you fight against trying to conform into that, because sometimes
formula takes you away from who you are and the
message you're trying to get across.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Whenever you're dealing with humanity, there's an ever evolving reality.
Things come and things go, and I think more than ever,
especially in entertainment, the formula that we once knew is
(21:21):
not the formula now. However, it's very it's very frustrating
trying to keep up with doing what formula mandates or
doing what people quote unquote. I've seen enough in this
(21:44):
industry to know that at the end of the day,
the only true formula that works is authenticity, excellence in
what you give, and consistency. Those three like, that's really
the formula. We get distracted by a bunch of different
(22:06):
formulas that we say work because I will bring it back,
and I can say the Beyonce because I saw it
up close. I'm from Houston, Texas. We went to the
same art school. She she's a few years ahead of me.
But I remember a teacher saying, you keep singing like that,
(22:26):
it's not gonna work. And I said, they're talking about Beyonce,
And I said, I think that that.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Is going to.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
That's gonna be the thing that made because at the
time she only had a no, no, no, and I
think survivor. But they're like, it's not gonna last long
because she's not singing correctly. But it was based on
a formula and based on how she moved, and I said,
maybe that's the thing that's going to get her head.
(23:01):
I don't know too many people that will question if
Beyonce can sing, and if they do, most of them
are just haters, right. But she committed to her authentic
self and was consistent and excellent in her ethic to
where now she is literally the bar. But I remember
(23:23):
when they were saying that's not going to work. So
my thing is, you can You can be inspired from
the formula. You can take notes because oftentimes to get
into the room, you got to know how they play
the game. You learn their game, But don't abandon ship
of what your authentic self brings because what you bring,
(23:44):
if it's good, they gonna ask for more of that
and they even if they don't know it right at
the at the moment, I just learned how to be
able to dance with with the both of them without
abandoning that are authenticity that I believe is truly the
secret weapon. And to follow up on that, like, the
(24:06):
landscape of how you release music to the masses has changed.
So even if you know you're at a label and
they're like, well, I don't know, you can literally as
an artist now just put the music out.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah you can. Is that what we're can leaking? Is that?
Is that what they do?
Speaker 2 (24:26):
No leaking is when you put something when something is
released without your permission or without.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Like outside of the plank. Uh.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
But some people intentionally intentionally leak things because it creates story.
And that's another uh. Marketing like it's it's a ploy.
That's it works for a lot of people, like, oh
my gosh, I can't believe they put that out. Now,
everybody's searching for it. They find it, and then you're like,
oh well it's out now, and then it blows up.
(24:57):
It works for a lot of people. It doesn't work
everybody because if people aren't checking for you, they're.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Not You.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Can be like, well somethings it up. Yeah, but but
we still need infrastructure and strategy when it comes to
marketing a thing. Yes, something can become viral. I know
(25:29):
what it's like to go viral. I've done it a
number of times. Why love you goes viral again every
another month? It's really really crazy. It's not one hundred
and fifty million or sixty million, one hundred and sixty million.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
I don't know. Man, it's a lot. It's a lot.
But what I'm saying is I got I got you
want cheese on it.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
So the thing is a lot of people can Yes,
you can release your own music, but having a marketing
machine makes a difference because there's lots of songs that
are released, actually millions of songs that are released in
(26:12):
a month's time, more than ever before, because anybody can release.
So you have to figure out how you're able to
penetrate an already congested space and make people believe that
listening to you is worth it. I believe they said
over sixty million songs on Spotify and Apple Music have
(26:38):
never been listened to once once. That's some weird stuff.
That's a lot. That's a lot of million. That's a
lot of content. Even if it was just one million
never been listened to once. That's the artists themselves not
playing their own stuff.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Is the thing right now?
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Well, this is a thing because it can be. You
can be a customer of Spotify or Apple Music and
never touch title.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
You can never touch Pandora.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
You can never do this, and well not necessarily Pandora
because Pandora is a little different from those other streaming services.
But you can listen possibly listen to your music on
one format and never touch another. So it's possible. But
that's how much content is out there. So when you
have a strategy, more than just having money a strategy,
(27:39):
it makes a difference. And that's what I always try
to encourage people know your strategy.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
First. Resources are important.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
But if you don't have a strategy, you are just
out there spending and wasting money and time and and
you know, I'm My degree focus at Berkeley College Music
in Boston was entertainment marketing, and so my mind is
always thinking of these things. But it's exhausting because the
(28:10):
independent route, you end up doing ten men, ten men's work,
ten people's works. And there's some great women doing some
amazing things out here, but you end up doing the
work of ten folks.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
And it's a lot. It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
How close have you come to you see what sells
and the money's out there, The glamour, the glitz and
all that, and you probably got a lot of people
that's given you ideas. I mean, as an independent artists,
you guys have an R as well if you're signed
to an independent label. Sometimes they do, but not all
the time. So you have you ever in anything you've
(28:46):
been signed up to, been given an idea that just
totally took you away? But they're saying this is going
to sell if you do this. How tempting is that?
How close did you come? And what's the craziest idea
that anybody's ever given you? I actually, I actually haven't
(29:14):
been in a circumstance where I've witnessed it for other people,
but I haven't yet had to succumb to a circumstance
like that. It is very common. But I also think
sometimes like when people are like, I need you to
sing more songs that compete with and I said it before,
(29:40):
trade songs, and and and and Tank and and Chris Brown.
You're not going to get that from Major because first
of all, I don't have that language.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
I was super sheltered growing up.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Like you know, if I heard any R and B,
it would be voicemen because they were at the top
of the charts, it would be whatever is like at
the time, but the church, but it.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Was mainly God.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
So that's what I'm asking is there has there been
a time that's like, Okay, if you want to do this,
this is what you need to become. And has it
been tempting because we talked about like mc Hammer for example,
mc Hammer started off this whatever and then Gainst the
rap came next thing you know, you got pumps in
the bump and hammil got his thing hanging out.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Yeah. Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Mean, like, you know, people switch up because this is like,
hey man, in order for you to maintain. But what
I'm authentically saying is I haven't yet made a decision
to do something outside of me and maybe that's maybe
that's why certain things haven't hit as big. I do
(30:40):
know that I've been invited to partake in a space.
I'm not going to sing about anything that I haven't lived.
And I know there's a lot of folks and artists
that are singing about.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Stuff that they are not living. Half of them out.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Like, uh, not of them, Mark, and I know a
lot of them, And I'm like, why you're not all that?
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Man?
Speaker 2 (31:08):
You don't even like that and it's it's like, it's like,
it's it's very strange how people don't mind putting on
the costume for it.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
Under the guise of this is my authentic self.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Now, I don't mind you putting on the costume and
saying that's just you know, me performing and being that.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
But like, I'm like, you're going to be miserable.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
And I know a lot of miserable success miserable people
that present successful because everybody.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Knows them, but they're not living who they are.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
I have a song that got me my first Grammy nod.
That's honest. It says I just want to be honest
with all my faults around me, I may let you down.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
I just want to be honest.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
I'm tired of being giving you less than true, when
when true is what is bringing me through. I've been
trying to be perfection when broken is what makes us human.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
I just want to be honest.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
That song shot up the charts for me, but that
was truth for me, Like I'm not perfect.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
I'm not perfect. I know I'm the hope dealer. I'm
not perfect.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
I heard I get depressed often. I get stressed. I
deal with patience issues. I mean, I now have a
language for it. They call it imposter syndrome. I wrestle
with that. I wrestle with feeling like I've manipulated. Like
(32:42):
sometimes when I've arrived at the thing that I've worked
hard for, I started questioning like did I manipulate my
way in here? Like how did I get here? And
I'm like, this is the thing I've been working for.
So I'm like warring with that, Like, but you belong,
you belong that you work hard, you know, you know,
I know you have a very strong spiritual belief and
(33:04):
God has a way of opening up doors that you
never knew would be open. But you're so full of hope,
and you're so full of joy, and you provide so
much happiness for somebody else where is yours? Where do
you get that replenishment from? And you go to therapy?
Oh yeah, okay, yeah, I go to therapy. Shout out
to my therapist. I encourage everybody to go to therapy.
(33:26):
It is not about you being cuckoo. It is not
a statement of you saying that you're crazy, although we
all are. But it is literally just a commitment to
someone who has a perspective beyond yours, a neutral perspective
(33:48):
beyond yours that has the tools to help you navigate
and to move in a way that only sets you
up for the better. In life therapy, it is not
saying that your your psycho and all that.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Stuff, and so.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Yeah, yeah, like, because weakness is found everywhere. Humanity is
full of weakness. A lot of times when you don't
address the weak areas, that's the thing that ends up
dying off of you and you you lose parts of yourself.
But therapy helps you identify strengths and and and weakness
(34:30):
as an opportunity to strengthen, you know. But yeah, that's
that's where I get my pouring my faith. I go
to church, you know, I you know, used to be
extremely active in church. I was the worship one of
the main worship leaders at one church for many years
with Pastora Torre Roberts.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
I want to get back and to get back into that.
Make more time because I'm on the road so much.
I didn't I don't have the I didn't have the
time to do it. But I'm gonna make the time
more because I remember the centering.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
That it provided for me. My wife is.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
Very helpful she's my opposite, and it's disrespectful sometimes, but
it's really good for me because it literally gives me
another advantage.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
I'm like, I did not see that.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Yeah, And of course in real time, I'm not always
saying I.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Didn't see that. I'm like, you don't know what she's
talking about.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
And then I'm like, this actually is something another way
to look at it. But yeah, my village, man, I
try to bring people into my space. I have a
best friend that's I think connected to you, guys, Terrence Williams,
who's one of my closest friends. Him and his wife
Joy are really my close friends. But you know, I
(35:58):
talked to Terrence a lot, and we you know, connect
and challenge and encourage and support. Yeah, you can't do
this thing called life alone. It's foolish to try you you.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Uh. First of all, let me just commend the this
couch and in this area here got three black men.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Yeah, all go to therapy? Yeah three together? Right?
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Yeah individually? Now, I mean this is powerful, man, if
you don't take anything from any of this and men.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
For real, And first I want to commend you brothers,
not only for taking that step but talking about it
because it's under talked about in our communities. There's a
weakness and a softness. Uh, it's a connotation that's that's
attached to therapy and we need it the most. But
(37:02):
you mentioned your wife and her support. How long have
you guys been together. How'd you guys meet?
Speaker 2 (37:10):
Uh? Well, how we met. I was in high school.
Her cousin was my best friend in high school. And
whenever I go to like his family events, I'm like,
who that Like, Oh, that's Michelle. I'm like, yeah, I
remember I took her on before I left for college.
(37:33):
I took her on a date to Olive Garden. I've
been an old soul.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Oh my, what's crazy.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
What's crazy is I was eighteen taking something, taking somebody
to Olive Garden. That's a that's a thirty and above decision,
you know, not eighteen. Most of my buddies were going
to the movies and all this stuff. And I was like,
let's go to Olive Garden. We have a nice studio
dinner date. And I brought flowers and everything. And I
remember her saying he's too old fashioned. And I was like,
(38:05):
she'll be back and I and sure enough. Fast forward
about six years ago, We're at the wedding of that
her cousin's young younger brother got married, and I had
to sing while I love you for the wedding and
I've seen the ship.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
And you probably yeah, perform. Let's I'll say this. I
ain't never been as cool as my.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
And I think it was because stuff was happening for me,
Like I like it was crazy. I think I had
just done star you know, because I'm also an actor, you.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Know.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
Uh, but I just started filming Star on on Foughts
with Queen Latifa, and then you know, that's so August
doing well. I think I just got my my Grammy nomination.
So I'm you know, you knowing it ain't too much.
Speaker 1 (39:07):
Yeah, I'm just like, we should walk up ahead this ship.
What's that? You know?
Speaker 2 (39:12):
And we started talking and fast forward. She's back, you know, yeah,
she'll be back. She's back. We got married four years ago,
well almost four years ago, at the height of the pandemic.
Well it was when they were uh is some of
the restricts. Yeah, he's in some of the restrictions. August eight,
(39:35):
twenty twenty, and it was in Texas and it was
an incredible, incredible wedding we've been married almost four years,
and I'm super grateful. I'm super grateful for her perspective.
She's an educator, she's an introvert. I'm an extrovert that
you need to challenge. That is challenging. It's challenging, Okay,
(39:57):
it can be so imagine you're thinking, come on, let's
show the people what we do, and she's like like, no,
you know, that's hilarious. You know, but I love it.
It's it's it's really really great. Yeah, well, brother, let
me tell you this. Love looks good on you.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
It does. Keep that love alive, man, and continue to
sing to her. I don't know. If she sings, you
will continue to see her. Obviously that work. That's amazing.
Appreciate it as much I think she should. I'm prettyire.
Concert when the Royalty chacks come in, she probably appreciated.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
Then.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
Guess she can have with aver she you know, but
we were I remember.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
The thing is I think because I think so much,
she's like, okay, all right, your little singing when we do.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
When I do concerts, I spot her in the audience.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
She's saeming and it's smiling and everything, and I'm like, oh, this.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
Is definitely give her role for sure. For sure.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
Before we go Man, we we do a segment called
Unfiltered with the last minute of The show Man where
we asked our guests when they knew they had done
their been that when they knew that that one defining
moment of their life that kind of changed everything for him.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
Mm hmm okay, I'm what's the answer? Now? We got time,
we got editing equipment. So you know it's crazy because
I don't I got a call from.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Oprah during the pandemic do it? When Oprah discovered my
song why I Love You after years of it being out?
Speaker 1 (41:46):
Uh. She says, how did I not know about this song?
Speaker 2 (41:50):
And I was about to, uh, you know, write out
a few folks that I told that are part of
her community.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
I said, y'all should tell Oprah about this song. This
I think should like And she says, who who didn't?
Who did you ask?
Speaker 2 (42:04):
And I said, no, no, no, that's not and she liked
the song and that you're using it for it She
used it for it wasn't I don't know. Gil I
did meet her during that during the Grammys recently. No,
I didn't know. It's some people that work in, you know,
on her team, and I'm like, you gotta let her
hear it. But anyway, I think that was one of
(42:25):
the moments that she called and and and she was
calling from an unknown number and she said major Oprah
and I'm thinking it was Joy Joy.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
She knows I think it.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
Should be funny because her show was just on TV
and uh, and I'm like, Joy quit playing. She said, no,
this is Oprah Winfrey and I said I heard the
tone and I said it is you Hey good and
I said good, got me good. And we talked for
(43:00):
about ten good minutes. I have to get something to
start recording, and I'm like, this is nobody's gonna believe that.
Speaker 1 (43:07):
It just called my home.
Speaker 2 (43:09):
So I think that that was one of those things
that was like affirming me in it because it's literally,
this is Stevie first under hearing the song, Patti LaBelle
calling me on my way to church about it, both
of them getting these phone calls from these legends. It's
kind of weird and crazy than it is, but that's
(43:30):
letting me know I'm on track, not that I've just
arrived though, because you're still ascending, though, brother, You're still ascending.
This is a goofy season. So we we leaning in
on the hope, you know, just trying to keep the
faith strong, bro. And we talk about that, man, that
sometimes it's a goofy season. Sometimes it's a bad season,
but it's a needed season. That's it, the needed seasons.
(43:50):
I always say, the burdens turn into the blessings if
you learn the lessons. So continue to learn lessons. Continue
to continue to be love for us, man. Yeah, your
songs are full of love. Of your songs are full
of joy. Continue to be the hope for us, absolutely,
and we hope nothing but the best and love and
just growth for you and yours for the rest of
your life and your career.
Speaker 1 (44:11):
My man, Thank you man.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
My new EP, The Hope of My Soul Deluxe is
available everywhere, and it's got the soundtrack to that. But
I'm listening more to the words that I give to
help everybody else, to make sure that I'm living the
hope that I'm giving.
Speaker 1 (44:28):
We love it, man, God's work does it all? Man?
My man?
Speaker 2 (44:37):
Major, right here on and done there been that podcast.
All right, that's another episode. We are in the books
once again. You want to think Major, We'll stopping by
and hanging out with us.
Speaker 3 (44:46):
Yeah, it's it's been enlightening. It's been hopeful and it's
been enlightening and I love it.
Speaker 1 (44:53):
And it's authentic. And that's one thing we love about Major.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
He's authentic and this is one of our show is
all about being authentic and being transparent and be transformative
and enlightening as well. So please continue to subscribe, Please
continue to uh join us every single week.
Speaker 1 (45:08):
That will come out hit the button with the like.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
Ain't memberships like I'm so old, We uncle's up here.
It's a subscriber to subscribe. Okay, be a member to
the Wi Fi. Just listen to our ship is great.
Speaker 1 (45:23):
Man, keep coming.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
We got more guests, We got more just authentic conversations
and transformative conversations.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
So please continue to support.
Speaker 2 (45:32):
Tell a friend, to tell a friend, and we appreciate
the ones that's already doing it. And I'm like kill
I mean from Salon And we'll see you again next time.
Y'all.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the Inflection collective part of us are connected, reflective, perspective,
respected defense, shat No captains big facts of Kickback.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
It's here for Thundad Bedad.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
And we are back another edition of the Done there
have been that podcast. I am your host, Mike Hill.
This is my man Ethel Saloon. We are brought to
you by the Inflection Network in our heart radio.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
What's up? How you doing? Man? I'm great, Man, I'm
here with you.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
It's always good to be here with you, but today
I'm I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Why we have a special guest.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yes, we have a Grammy nominated Soul Trained Award nominated
eight Time Image Award nominated Soul Singer, writer, actor, my
man Major Major?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
What's up? What's happening? Fam? Oh my god? I love
this dude. Man.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
You talk about energy, you talk about a breath of
fresh air. Man all, so he's got one of the
we're gonna talk about it. This is why I love you.
I think if you would have sayen that really all
changed at my wedding, I think I still be married.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
He's the reason.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
The thing is about about Major is like he got
married two months before I got married.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
And remember I'm my brother.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I'm about to be caught up if we don't be
busy after this wedding.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
See there, you know he was on his honeymoon and
they have time for that song. Bonds people.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Selfishness, that's of today, how to be selfish.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
When it started, we talked about perspectives.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Get there the top of the day, we're going to
talk about navigating the industry, and not just the music industry,
because you do it all.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
We're gonna navigate.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
We've all had to navigate the industry at one time another,
the ups and downs, eyes and lows, whatnot. One thing
I do love about you major From the first time
I met you at my cousin Deal Hughey's house.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
I had to say it this because.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
But ever since the first time, I was like, this
man has so much good energy, Joey, You've ever just
been around somebody and automatically you felt better about yourself
because this person is full of happiness and joy and
what he has on his head is exactly who he is.
It's all about hope.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Hope. Where does that come from? Hope saved my life? Man.
You know, I in life have.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Evolved to this understanding and this new narrative of hope,
that hope is not the denial of reality, it's the
commitment to believe greater is on the other side of them.
So we're not pretending circumstances aren't real. We're not pretending
struggle or hardship isn't real. I'm just going to hold
(02:54):
on to the fact and the promise that every storm
eventually runs out of rain. And I've lived a life of.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Challenge.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I've lived a life of not always having a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I'm from a big family, ten siblings on one side,
thirteen and thirteen total, but five on another.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And it's just like.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
It's I've come from us realizing that we're gonna have
to work for what we want to see, and the
work is not ever absent of believing that if I
do well at this, if I give my best at this,
I'm gonna see these dreams realize. And it's shown and
(03:40):
proven time and time again in my life when I
was up against odds, I beat them every time.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
And hope, what's the key? Wow, Yeah, this is the fact.
This is fact. Yeah, good perspective, right there, man, Mom
and Daddy were busy.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Yeah, yeah, yes, it's a blended family as well. So
Mama didn't have all of those kids it was, but
they were busy.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah, they were busy. Amen.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
And uh, but I I'm one of It's a blended family.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Uh. The ghetto Brady Bunch called our reality.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
But faith and and centeredness in in our spirituality has
always been.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
The the nucleus from what we build from.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
And so are you the only artists out of the
out of your siblings.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
That's a delicate you know, we had a lot of
put you on the spot here. I'll say I'm.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
The only I'm the only popular artist because artistic. Uh,
we have a very creatively artistic okay family. My mom
was big on making sure we were connected to the
arts somehow.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
I'm the one that pursued professionals. So you don't want
to make money from correct, I wasn't making man.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
But like you said, being a part of a big family,
especially having so many siblings, there is competition, right, that's
always involved in some kind of way. You gotta I've heard,
especially if you're one of the youngest, trying to get
somebody's hand me downs.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
It's the motivation, the food and some kinds I don't
know what.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Your background was, whatever, But how did that in this
music industry prepare you for the music industry about competition
and being seen amongst many. You know what's wild is
my mom brilliantly had a way of making all of
us feel seen and somewhat spoiled. Like it was wild
(05:47):
and we don't come from a lot of money at all,
but it was just this attention that she was able
to give each of us, like in abundance. And I
think really it's connected to the faith aspect, because when
you have faith, when you have hope, you're linked to
a superpower that is God, a supernatural to where it
(06:11):
expands your capacity beyond what normal flow would allow. And
so like we didn't compete too much, however, you did
have to speak up because like if you want a second,
if you if you wanted this or that, when there
(06:31):
wasn't too you know, a lot of the option, Like
you had to speak up in order to make sure
you claimed your space and your territory or or whatever
you wanted to possess.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
And I also learned.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Diversity because I think every single personality is in my
family it's disrespectful, booty, and I'll let them pick who
they are, and you put people on blast.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
You know who you are. When it's ten of us,
they can think it you never know. Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
But I think that that's what prepared me for the industry,
that I was able to experience difference of opinion in
mass early on, community, early on collaboration, early on. My
mom was big on family. You do it together. There's
power in the togetherness you lock in together. And so
(07:32):
I've taken that and I believe that that's what has
sustained me and rewarded me.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
In this industry.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
But I also realize that not everybody has collaboration as
a mindset, as a heart, and you kind of have
to have a heart of collaboration in order for collaboration
to be powerful. To that point, when you talk about collaborateration,
you talk about the industry and being an artist. Has
there ever been a time where you felt a certain
(08:06):
way about a project, right like, this is it? This
is every I've given everything, the hope, the love, the support.
You turn it over, they listen to it and they go, well, major,
this is good.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Yeah, But we.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Were thinking about whatever, whatever, whatever, right, how do you
deal with that and how do you address that level
of collaboration.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
So I will say this.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
We talked about Why I Love You, and you were saying, Hi,
if I had a singer at your wedding, the things
would be different.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Shout out to your your we love we love it.
We always my people. But I will say I'm going
to give an example using that.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
I remember when that song was recorded and how in the.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Studio everything everybody flipped out.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Shout out to Harmony Samuels, my producer of that in
most of my music, but we recorded that song and
everybody's like, that's the one, that's the one. However, at
the time, we didn't have music like that on radio
in that season. There was no Why I Love You
happening on radio. Now you go back in this, you
(09:32):
know seventies, eighties or Luther days and Stevie, of course
you're gonna hear something like that, but we didn't have
that at the time. Probably John Legend was the closest
thing with all of me, but Why I Love You
even sings a different than all of me. But I
remember knowing how powerful the song was, and we shopping
(09:56):
it around this is we think this is the one,
and them saying, yeah, it's too slow.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
For radio. We need to get something up temple.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
So we have another song called keep On that's really fun,
really dope, great, but it's not fully major.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
But I put major in it. But it wasn't. It wasn't.
It was.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
It was like, apparently gonna be my song that competed
with you know, the neo the tray song type of energy,
and I'm like.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
That's not that's not me.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
But I put I put the clothes on because it
was it was. But sure enough, Why I Love You
took off like that. We released both of the songs
at the same time. Why I Love You took off.
All of those people that said it was too slow
for radio, it's not going to do this, We're like, oh,
(10:49):
I saw it from.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I thought from the beginning.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
You know, for me, what I've learned is people don't
always get it in the moment that you may get
in or in the moment that you think they should
grace it. Okay, you may not be my tribe, you
may not be the village of support that's going to
help move this forward. Let me keep going. If I
(11:15):
have a yes in my spirit, if I have a
yes in my heart, lock into that and know that
the right people and the right resources will attract to you.
They will be attracted to what it is that you have,
and you'll find the people that get it. Fast forward
to all those opinions and I can call them out,
but I ain't gonna do it.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
You know, I mean, you already put yours. You try
to start something. You're a sibling. You understand dangerous territories.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
But I remember Empire, Ghazi had Empire and independent and
uh label distribute distributor.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
At the time was like, I know what this feels like,
and this is special.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
He he committed to it, had the whole label behind it.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
The rest is history.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
And I have a song that Stevie Wonder says, I
believe this will be the wedding love song for years
to come. And I'm like, if Stevie sawt we got
some good, we got some good, and we do and
it has literally changed my life. But bro, we get
a lot of that. Everybody throws their opinion on stuff
they don't understand yet. Isn't that incredible how you can
(12:30):
put something out there and if you don't have the
right diversity sometimes in the room or the right person
in the room that has the same ear the same
experience that you have.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
They just don't get it.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
I mean, I've been when I was when I was
at ESPN, and I was there and everybody thought, oh,
he's trying to be like Stuart Scott's trying to be like. No,
I'm just trying to be me. This is who I
my man stud Scott. But they thought because hey, you know,
I even had a guy that told this story before.
I was in the talent office one time and the
guy said, the reason and while you're not moving up
(13:00):
here is because they feel like you're too ghetto. Straight up,
this is what the guy told. Oh, he said, they
feel like you're too ghetto. And we already have one
of those Oh bra whoa. I swear to god, this
is what. And I was shocked. And the guy told me, say,
you can say what you want to. I'm about to
retire blood, I'm this old white guy whatever and stuff
like that. But I wondered, this is where I'm getting to.
(13:21):
Because I hear that, and because of what I had
already gone through before I got the ESPN, it made
me change and I lost myself. So I'm listening to
what they want versus what I want to give them
and what is naturally me. But because I have to
conform to that, I lost myself and it took me
(13:41):
years to get my voice back. How close did has
that ever come for you? I mean, I'm challenged with
it every single year, every single season.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
I'm in a season.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Right now where because I'm in my Soul America kind
of bag, this gumbo of sounds that I believe are
very authentic to me. But I'm trying to because it's
it's somewhat of an anomaly. Now it's been done. Ray
Charles did it. They called Ray Charles in the Country
(14:16):
Music Hall of Fame Ray Charles. Most people wouldn't say
Ray Charles would be country. But these are real realities.
Bill Withers, like, they've done. It's been done. But oftentimes
people judge, and this is very very key. People judge
based on the limitation of their greatest experience. So if
(14:40):
a person hasn't experienced something yet, or they're not familiar
with something yet, they're not often quick to embrace it
until they gain understanding of what that thing is.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
And for me, it took maturity of growing into yo.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
You've rejected some things that you didn't understand and then
in hindsight you're like, I can rock with that.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
And so for me, I've learned to.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I gotta I gotta reset myself often like pull that back,
give the give the grace.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
It's not always personal.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
If you understand that the creator created us with a
brilliant design intention specific to each and every one of us,
it will unfold well and beautifully in right time.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
The only key to this thing.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
That will make or break you is your choice to
be true to your authentic self.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
And I believe that there is going to.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Be a great turnaround for you in this season that
you are moving in. That's going to show and prove
that getting back to the truth you is where your
superpower is. That's the access to it, and there's going
to be an abundance that comes as great reward for
(16:08):
all of the years lost, all of the time and
the tears that you cry, and the private and the
secret places because I know, I know what I'm sensing
and I've been there and it's a frustrating thing. But
when you're unique, understand that the unique things are the
most powerful things. Beyonce Bruno mars Oprah, these are three
(16:34):
very unique things that we're told this does not work.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Try this.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
They locked into their authentic self. Now they are the bar.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Because they set a standard. It's something new and it
says the right ear.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
And like you said, unless somebody's heard it before, we
have these paradigms that're out there.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
We don't know it because it's new.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
And when we're afraid sometimes of the new, we look
at formulas and say that works instead of trying something.
But it takes the and you talked about somebody who
believed in it, and a lot of times it takes
that endorsement. Well it's I always say, I think all
of us in order to make it. Sometimes we need
that Oprah. You know how Oprah can say doctor phil
(17:14):
was somebody before Oprah, uh Rachel Ray, all those people.
But she said, hey, you know what, I like these people.
And when she gave these people that endorsement, and all
of a sudden, oh, we all like them. Everybody saw
its liking them, including the people that probably didn't want
to give them a chance before, because she said it.
You had that, and we all need that in this business. Yeah,
(17:35):
but I'm an independent artist. My mama named me Major.
That is my real name. For everybody wondering major is
my real name? I just you know, artistically, I capitalize
every letter.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Because I mean not that.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And also to help you on Google, when you type that,
find a whole bunch of If you type in all
capture of the period, you find me it is I I,
as an independent artist, wrestle with the co signs that
are consistent and wondering who's going to see me? When
(18:14):
are they going to see me? When are they going
to get it? I have a very very unique journey,
Like I know what it's like to be amongst a
list company and be and share stages with that, but
I also know what it's like to wonder it's my
(18:35):
name on the list, who are they gonna invite me?
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Am I good enough? Am I worthy enough?
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Time?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
At the same time and it's and it's a weird dichotomy,
but I really believe that for what it's bringing me,
it's it's meant to keep me grounded on.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
My why.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
More than anything on purpose, like at the end of
the day and my connecting hearts. Am I leading people
to live in their best life? I believe hope is
my assignment. They call me the Hope Dealer. Tatted it
on my arm because I needed it for myself. Bro,
this is an interesting season and we could talk more
(19:20):
about this season. But hope is my assignment, and that's
hope and love, hope in life, hope in future. And
I have to remind myself that at the end of
the day, if I am committed to the why, to
(19:40):
the purpose of it all, whether it's flagrantly flashy or
intimately simple, I'm locked in to what it is that
I was designed for purpose and it hits different when
the story is told later that he showed up no
(20:03):
matter what, whether it's a podcast that's just getting started
or it's a show on ESPN that's been happening for years.
He showed up fully and well because he understood at
the end of the day, purpose had to be filled, fulfilled,
it had to be met. So that's a shift for me.
(20:23):
It's not easy, but it's a reshift that I do daily.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Bro. Mike had says something.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
He says something about the formula, right, And in today's
music industry, there is a formula that's out there for
popular music.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Right, Ye, Like, how do you number one?
Speaker 3 (20:46):
How do you feel about that formula and how do
you fight against trying to conform into that, because sometimes
formula takes you away from who you are and the
message you're trying to get across.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Whenever you're dealing with humanity, there's an ever evolving reality.
Things come and things go, and I think more than ever,
especially in entertainment, the formula that we once knew is
(21:21):
not the formula now. However, it's very it's very frustrating
trying to keep up with doing what formula mandates or
doing what people quote unquote. I've seen enough in this
(21:44):
industry to know that at the end of the day,
the only true formula that works is authenticity, excellence in
what you give, and consistency. Those three like, that's really
the formula. We get distracted by a bunch of different
(22:06):
formulas that we say work because I will bring it back,
and I can say the Beyonce because I saw it
up close. I'm from Houston, Texas. We went to the
same art school. She she's a few years ahead of me.
But I remember a teacher saying, you keep singing like that,
(22:26):
it's not gonna work. And I said, they're talking about Beyonce,
And I said, I think that that.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Is going to.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
That's gonna be the thing that made because at the
time she only had a no, no, no, and I
think survivor. But they're like, it's not gonna last long
because she's not singing correctly. But it was based on
a formula and based on how she moved, and I said,
maybe that's the thing that's going to get her head.
(23:01):
I don't know too many people that will question if
Beyonce can sing, and if they do, most of them
are just haters, right. But she committed to her authentic
self and was consistent and excellent in her ethic to
where now she is literally the bar. But I remember
(23:23):
when they were saying that's not going to work. So
my thing is, you can You can be inspired from
the formula. You can take notes because oftentimes to get
into the room, you got to know how they play
the game. You learn their game, But don't abandon ship
of what your authentic self brings because what you bring,
(23:44):
if it's good, they gonna ask for more of that
and they even if they don't know it right at
the at the moment, I just learned how to be
able to dance with with the both of them without
abandoning that are authenticity that I believe is truly the
secret weapon. And to follow up on that, like, the
(24:06):
landscape of how you release music to the masses has changed.
So even if you know you're at a label and
they're like, well, I don't know, you can literally as
an artist now just put the music out.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah you can. Is that what we're can leaking? Is that?
Is that what they do?
Speaker 2 (24:26):
No leaking is when you put something when something is
released without your permission or without.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Like outside of the plank. Uh.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
But some people intentionally intentionally leak things because it creates story.
And that's another uh. Marketing like it's it's a ploy.
That's it works for a lot of people, like, oh
my gosh, I can't believe they put that out. Now,
everybody's searching for it. They find it, and then you're like,
oh well it's out now, and then it blows up.
(24:57):
It works for a lot of people. It doesn't work
everybody because if people aren't checking for you, they're.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Not You.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Can be like, well somethings it up. Yeah, but but
we still need infrastructure and strategy when it comes to
marketing a thing. Yes, something can become viral. I know
(25:29):
what it's like to go viral. I've done it a
number of times. Why love you goes viral again every
another month? It's really really crazy. It's not one hundred
and fifty million or sixty million, one hundred and sixty million.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
I don't know. Man, it's a lot. It's a lot.
But what I'm saying is I got I got you
want cheese on it.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
So the thing is a lot of people can Yes,
you can release your own music, but having a marketing
machine makes a difference because there's lots of songs that
are released, actually millions of songs that are released in
(26:12):
a month's time, more than ever before, because anybody can release.
So you have to figure out how you're able to
penetrate an already congested space and make people believe that
listening to you is worth it. I believe they said
over sixty million songs on Spotify and Apple Music have
(26:38):
never been listened to once once. That's some weird stuff.
That's a lot. That's a lot of million. That's a
lot of content. Even if it was just one million
never been listened to once. That's the artists themselves not
playing their own stuff.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Is the thing right now?
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Well, this is a thing because it can be. You
can be a customer of Spotify or Apple Music and
never touch title.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
You can never touch Pandora.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
You can never do this, and well not necessarily Pandora
because Pandora is a little different from those other streaming services.
But you can listen possibly listen to your music on
one format and never touch another. So it's possible. But
that's how much content is out there. So when you
have a strategy, more than just having money a strategy,
(27:39):
it makes a difference. And that's what I always try
to encourage people know your strategy.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
First. Resources are important.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
But if you don't have a strategy, you are just
out there spending and wasting money and time and and
you know, I'm My degree focus at Berkeley College Music
in Boston was entertainment marketing, and so my mind is
always thinking of these things. But it's exhausting because the
(28:10):
independent route, you end up doing ten men, ten men's work,
ten people's works. And there's some great women doing some
amazing things out here, but you end up doing the
work of ten folks.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
And it's a lot. It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
How close have you come to you see what sells
and the money's out there, The glamour, the glitz and
all that, and you probably got a lot of people
that's given you ideas. I mean, as an independent artists,
you guys have an R as well if you're signed
to an independent label. Sometimes they do, but not all
the time. So you have you ever in anything you've
(28:46):
been signed up to, been given an idea that just
totally took you away? But they're saying this is going
to sell if you do this. How tempting is that?
How close did you come? And what's the craziest idea
that anybody's ever given you? I actually, I actually haven't
(29:14):
been in a circumstance where I've witnessed it for other people,
but I haven't yet had to succumb to a circumstance
like that. It is very common. But I also think
sometimes like when people are like, I need you to
sing more songs that compete with and I said it before,
(29:40):
trade songs, and and and and Tank and and Chris Brown.
You're not going to get that from Major because first
of all, I don't have that language.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
I was super sheltered growing up.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Like you know, if I heard any R and B,
it would be voicemen because they were at the top
of the charts, it would be whatever is like at
the time, but the church, but it.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Was mainly God.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
So that's what I'm asking is there has there been
a time that's like, Okay, if you want to do this,
this is what you need to become. And has it
been tempting because we talked about like mc Hammer for example,
mc Hammer started off this whatever and then Gainst the
rap came next thing you know, you got pumps in
the bump and hammil got his thing hanging out.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Yeah. Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Mean, like, you know, people switch up because this is like,
hey man, in order for you to maintain. But what
I'm authentically saying is I haven't yet made a decision
to do something outside of me and maybe that's maybe
that's why certain things haven't hit as big. I do
(30:40):
know that I've been invited to partake in a space.
I'm not going to sing about anything that I haven't lived.
And I know there's a lot of folks and artists
that are singing about.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Stuff that they are not living. Half of them out.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Like, uh, not of them, Mark, and I know a
lot of them, And I'm like, why you're not all that?
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Man?
Speaker 2 (31:08):
You don't even like that and it's it's like, it's like,
it's it's very strange how people don't mind putting on
the costume for it.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
Under the guise of this is my authentic self.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Now, I don't mind you putting on the costume and
saying that's just you know, me performing and being that.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
But like, I'm like, you're going to be miserable.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
And I know a lot of miserable success miserable people
that present successful because everybody.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Knows them, but they're not living who they are.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
I have a song that got me my first Grammy nod.
That's honest. It says I just want to be honest
with all my faults around me, I may let you down.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
I just want to be honest.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
I'm tired of being giving you less than true, when
when true is what is bringing me through. I've been
trying to be perfection when broken is what makes us human.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
I just want to be honest.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
That song shot up the charts for me, but that
was truth for me, Like I'm not perfect.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
I'm not perfect. I know I'm the hope dealer. I'm
not perfect.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
I heard I get depressed often. I get stressed. I
deal with patience issues. I mean, I now have a
language for it. They call it imposter syndrome. I wrestle
with that. I wrestle with feeling like I've manipulated. Like
(32:42):
sometimes when I've arrived at the thing that I've worked
hard for, I started questioning like did I manipulate my
way in here? Like how did I get here? And
I'm like, this is the thing I've been working for.
So I'm like warring with that, Like, but you belong,
you belong that you work hard, you know, you know,
I know you have a very strong spiritual belief and
(33:04):
God has a way of opening up doors that you
never knew would be open. But you're so full of hope,
and you're so full of joy, and you provide so
much happiness for somebody else where is yours? Where do
you get that replenishment from? And you go to therapy?
Oh yeah, okay, yeah, I go to therapy. Shout out
to my therapist. I encourage everybody to go to therapy.
(33:26):
It is not about you being cuckoo. It is not
a statement of you saying that you're crazy, although we
all are. But it is literally just a commitment to
someone who has a perspective beyond yours, a neutral perspective
(33:48):
beyond yours that has the tools to help you navigate
and to move in a way that only sets you
up for the better. In life therapy, it is not
saying that your your psycho and all that.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Stuff, and so.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Yeah, yeah, like, because weakness is found everywhere. Humanity is
full of weakness. A lot of times when you don't
address the weak areas, that's the thing that ends up
dying off of you and you you lose parts of yourself.
But therapy helps you identify strengths and and and weakness
(34:30):
as an opportunity to strengthen, you know. But yeah, that's
that's where I get my pouring my faith. I go
to church, you know, I you know, used to be
extremely active in church. I was the worship one of
the main worship leaders at one church for many years
with Pastora Torre Roberts.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
I want to get back and to get back into that.
Make more time because I'm on the road so much.
I didn't I don't have the I didn't have the
time to do it. But I'm gonna make the time
more because I remember the centering.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
That it provided for me. My wife is.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
Very helpful she's my opposite, and it's disrespectful sometimes, but
it's really good for me because it literally gives me
another advantage.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
I'm like, I did not see that.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Yeah, And of course in real time, I'm not always
saying I.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Didn't see that. I'm like, you don't know what she's
talking about.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
And then I'm like, this actually is something another way
to look at it. But yeah, my village, man, I
try to bring people into my space. I have a
best friend that's I think connected to you, guys, Terrence Williams,
who's one of my closest friends. Him and his wife
Joy are really my close friends. But you know, I
(35:58):
talked to Terrence a lot, and we you know, connect
and challenge and encourage and support. Yeah, you can't do
this thing called life alone. It's foolish to try you you.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Uh. First of all, let me just commend the this
couch and in this area here got three black men.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Yeah, all go to therapy? Yeah three together? Right?
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Yeah individually? Now, I mean this is powerful, man, if
you don't take anything from any of this and men.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
For real, And first I want to commend you brothers,
not only for taking that step but talking about it
because it's under talked about in our communities. There's a
weakness and a softness. Uh, it's a connotation that's that's
attached to therapy and we need it the most. But
(37:02):
you mentioned your wife and her support. How long have
you guys been together. How'd you guys meet?
Speaker 2 (37:10):
Uh? Well, how we met. I was in high school.
Her cousin was my best friend in high school. And
whenever I go to like his family events, I'm like,
who that Like, Oh, that's Michelle. I'm like, yeah, I
remember I took her on before I left for college.
(37:33):
I took her on a date to Olive Garden. I've
been an old soul.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Oh my, what's crazy.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
What's crazy is I was eighteen taking something, taking somebody
to Olive Garden. That's a that's a thirty and above decision,
you know, not eighteen. Most of my buddies were going
to the movies and all this stuff. And I was like,
let's go to Olive Garden. We have a nice studio
dinner date. And I brought flowers and everything. And I
remember her saying he's too old fashioned. And I was like,
(38:05):
she'll be back and I and sure enough. Fast forward
about six years ago, We're at the wedding of that
her cousin's young younger brother got married, and I had
to sing while I love you for the wedding and
I've seen the ship.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
And you probably yeah, perform. Let's I'll say this. I
ain't never been as cool as my.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
And I think it was because stuff was happening for me,
Like I like it was crazy. I think I had
just done star you know, because I'm also an actor, you.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Know.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
Uh, but I just started filming Star on on Foughts
with Queen Latifa, and then you know, that's so August
doing well. I think I just got my my Grammy nomination.
So I'm you know, you knowing it ain't too much.
Speaker 1 (39:07):
Yeah, I'm just like, we should walk up ahead this ship.
What's that? You know?
Speaker 2 (39:12):
And we started talking and fast forward. She's back, you know, yeah,
she'll be back. She's back. We got married four years ago,
well almost four years ago, at the height of the pandemic.
Well it was when they were uh is some of
the restricts. Yeah, he's in some of the restrictions. August eight,
(39:35):
twenty twenty, and it was in Texas and it was
an incredible, incredible wedding we've been married almost four years,
and I'm super grateful. I'm super grateful for her perspective.
She's an educator, she's an introvert. I'm an extrovert that
you need to challenge. That is challenging. It's challenging, Okay,
(39:57):
it can be so imagine you're thinking, come on, let's
show the people what we do, and she's like like, no,
you know, that's hilarious. You know, but I love it.
It's it's it's really really great. Yeah, well, brother, let
me tell you this. Love looks good on you.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
It does. Keep that love alive, man, and continue to
sing to her. I don't know. If she sings, you
will continue to see her. Obviously that work. That's amazing.
Appreciate it as much I think she should. I'm prettyire.
Concert when the Royalty chacks come in, she probably appreciated.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
Then.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
Guess she can have with aver she you know, but
we were I remember.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
The thing is I think because I think so much,
she's like, okay, all right, your little singing when we do.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
When I do concerts, I spot her in the audience.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
She's saeming and it's smiling and everything, and I'm like, oh, this.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
Is definitely give her role for sure. For sure.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
Before we go Man, we we do a segment called
Unfiltered with the last minute of The show Man where
we asked our guests when they knew they had done
their been that when they knew that that one defining
moment of their life that kind of changed everything for him.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
Mm hmm okay, I'm what's the answer? Now? We got time,
we got editing equipment. So you know it's crazy because
I don't I got a call from.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Oprah during the pandemic do it? When Oprah discovered my
song why I Love You after years of it being out?
Speaker 1 (41:46):
Uh. She says, how did I not know about this song?
Speaker 2 (41:50):
And I was about to, uh, you know, write out
a few folks that I told that are part of
her community.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
I said, y'all should tell Oprah about this song. This
I think should like And she says, who who didn't?
Who did you ask?
Speaker 2 (42:04):
And I said, no, no, no, that's not and she liked
the song and that you're using it for it She
used it for it wasn't I don't know. Gil I
did meet her during that during the Grammys recently. No,
I didn't know. It's some people that work in, you know,
on her team, and I'm like, you gotta let her
hear it. But anyway, I think that was one of
(42:25):
the moments that she called and and and she was
calling from an unknown number and she said major Oprah
and I'm thinking it was Joy Joy.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
She knows I think it.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
Should be funny because her show was just on TV
and uh, and I'm like, Joy quit playing. She said, no,
this is Oprah Winfrey and I said I heard the
tone and I said it is you Hey good and
I said good, got me good. And we talked for
(43:00):
about ten good minutes. I have to get something to
start recording, and I'm like, this is nobody's gonna believe that.
Speaker 1 (43:07):
It just called my home.
Speaker 2 (43:09):
So I think that that was one of those things
that was like affirming me in it because it's literally,
this is Stevie first under hearing the song, Patti LaBelle
calling me on my way to church about it, both
of them getting these phone calls from these legends. It's
kind of weird and crazy than it is, but that's
(43:30):
letting me know I'm on track, not that I've just
arrived though, because you're still ascending, though, brother, You're still ascending.
This is a goofy season. So we we leaning in
on the hope, you know, just trying to keep the
faith strong, bro. And we talk about that, man, that
sometimes it's a goofy season. Sometimes it's a bad season,
but it's a needed season. That's it, the needed seasons.
(43:50):
I always say, the burdens turn into the blessings if
you learn the lessons. So continue to learn lessons. Continue
to continue to be love for us, man. Yeah, your
songs are full of love. Of your songs are full
of joy. Continue to be the hope for us, absolutely,
and we hope nothing but the best and love and
just growth for you and yours for the rest of
your life and your career.
Speaker 1 (44:11):
My man, Thank you man.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
My new EP, The Hope of My Soul Deluxe is
available everywhere, and it's got the soundtrack to that. But
I'm listening more to the words that I give to
help everybody else, to make sure that I'm living the
hope that I'm giving.
Speaker 1 (44:28):
We love it, man, God's work does it all? Man?
My man?
Speaker 2 (44:37):
Major, right here on and done there been that podcast.
All right, that's another episode. We are in the books
once again. You want to think Major, We'll stopping by
and hanging out with us.
Speaker 3 (44:46):
Yeah, it's it's been enlightening. It's been hopeful and it's
been enlightening and I love it.
Speaker 1 (44:53):
And it's authentic. And that's one thing we love about Major.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
He's authentic and this is one of our show is
all about being authentic and being transparent and be transformative
and enlightening as well. So please continue to subscribe, Please
continue to uh join us every single week.
Speaker 1 (45:08):
That will come out hit the button with the like.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
Ain't memberships like I'm so old, We uncle's up here.
It's a subscriber to subscribe. Okay, be a member to
the Wi Fi. Just listen to our ship is great.
Speaker 1 (45:23):
Man, keep coming.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
We got more guests, We got more just authentic conversations
and transformative conversations.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
So please continue to support.
Speaker 2 (45:32):
Tell a friend, to tell a friend, and we appreciate
the ones that's already doing it. And I'm like kill
I mean from Salon And we'll see you again next time.
Hosts And Creators
Mike Hill
Eunice Elliott
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