Coco Jones

Joining Tank and J this week on The R&B Money Podcast is the phenomenally gifted Coco Jones. Coco will discuss going from running drills with pops on the Tennessee soil to performing live at The Soul Train Awards (mic on). They will converse about music education, humble beginnings auditioning, sneaking out the house and the first time somebody recognized her abilities. From Bible to Broadway, Enjoy the insanely talented Coco Jones on The R&B Money Podcast

Extended Episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/RnBMoneyPodcast

 

Follow The Podcast:

Tank: @therealtank  

J Valentine: @JValentine

Podcast: @RnbMoneyPodcast 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
And Money. Well take vala. We are the authority on
all things ladies, and tell me what's going on. I
am taking in ton and this is the R and
B Money Podcast, the authority on all things, all things

(00:26):
R and B. Who's the day in the building? Uh
we we We talked about um new addition going from
boys to men. This young lady has gone from young
lady to grown woman. Um, right before our very eyes.
She is gifted, she is beautiful, and she is none

(00:47):
other then miss Ko. Welcome girl, girl? Did you hurt that?
That was a good I just it just the lord.
It is from me being a rapper before we get started. Um,

(01:10):
tequila to you. Um. You went crazy on the Soul
Training Awards. The Michael Michaels did nickas Mike's be off whatever?
Oh this is delightful? Is this it's it's it's support

(01:31):
of life that you know most privy tips to die
you all is good? Yeah, because normally sequila comes with
the side of burn, but this is good. It's comes
to sneaker. Here comes with that is co cou You
went so crazy on the Soul Train Awards. And I

(01:54):
hate to start right here because we're going to go
back to the beginning, right, But you were going so
crazy and I actual so you didn't get to see
the show because I was doing so much running around
and I sat and watched the show on TV and
you started singing, and I was like, that's singing. Yeah,
that's that's R and B music. No, that's how you deliver,

(02:18):
Mike on. Okay, you're giving them face fit. You know
what I'm saying. You drip everything. You're giving him the
whole thing. That again, you're talking about my hair, be la.
The hair was late. I mean, write that down so
you know that next the hair was late, not dripped,

(02:38):
because then drip was I mean, I just wanted to
say dripped from head to talk. That's fine. Wanted to
be just adding to your Lord, Jesus Lord. The last
supper was out there. You know what you can say.

(02:59):
I was eating like it was the last supper. You know.
It makes me like you wrap two you can say that, Okay,
you do you wrap? Can you wrap? I'm not even
going to speak on that because the girls who really
be rapping really be rapping. But sometimes I do surprise
myself with a little bar. But I just don't see Baddy.
I surprised myself too in my earlier days. Everything Okay,

(03:24):
MC hurricane, I was, I started, I started, I was
a terror in the hood? Was it really empty? Hurricane?
Hurricane in the hood? I battle? You know, this ain't
about you. It bothered me, and and and something you
said that was really dupe before we started, Like you know,

(03:47):
you're hearing you sing and you getting into that moment
and delivering, and then the announcer the commercial comes up
and starts talking while you're singing, and I get it. Um,
you know, I guess in terms of the format of
the show or whatever they have to do to promote

(04:07):
and all these cool things. Okay, well I look at
it like this, right, That's why I said how much respect?
But at the same time as a fan anger and
when somebody getting busy, like the other young fellow cue
getting get busy to go to fucking commercial. Okay, guys,

(04:29):
First of all, it's a whole show, and they got
to fit a whole school show into the lineup. They
cut something else, not the singing. What they're supposed to cut.
I don't know something I don't right, And then we
gotta figure out, Okay, if there is a commercial then
let's set aside. Let's find a moment to where that

(04:52):
can be because it's going to be re aired, right,
so let's find a moment for that full performance to
be televised. That's a performance is available for people to watch.
It's just not on the entire show. And they had
already told me that before I even did my performance.
But here's why I said humble beginnings, because a year
ago I was watching it mad as hell? Why am

(05:14):
I not on it? So now I'm there, and then
I'm gonna be mad that they cut my performance a
little bit. No, I know, it's just a start. You
are doing it the right way. We're gonna be angry
for you. Thank you. I'm gonna custom that's how I
live my life because we are so oh you. He
won't have my performance, said, he's not gonna get the

(05:36):
fool me, then I'm not. I'm not coming. I haven't
screamed one day, maybe one day. I just got here. Okay,
I'm just happy to be here. You're gonna be here.
You're here, You're gonna be here, and we want we
just we are celebrating. We are in the space of
motivating and encouraging those kinds of moments. Those are the

(06:00):
moments that are going to continue to inspire the next generation.
As you are the new generation of R and B,
but the next the kids coming. You know what I'm saying.
When I was a kid seven years old, you already
had a record deal of anyway, when I was a
kid seven, eight, nine years old watching amazing performers on television.
You know what I mean, those are the things that

(06:21):
inspired me and so that you know, for me, your
entire performance I felt, you know, wasn't necessary in that,
but I digress. It upset us. Thank you and we'll move. Yeah,
you doing this for me some training to um uh

(06:50):
letkoko umleko ko man. You've referred to you as this.
A few say it is they throw throw. Um Let's
go back too, as you say, humble beginnings, the very beginning,

(07:13):
Like when was the first time somebody said, oh, that
baby right there got it? Or that you saw and
felt that moment happening. He was like, ship, that's so
funny that you asked that the first time somebody noticed
that I could really sing? I don't even think I

(07:35):
was two years old. So basically, my mom had her
friend over and her friend was a violinist and they
were talking and I was just watching Barnie. Literally they're
talking and the ladies like, hold on, I'm sorry, she
just stopped talking. My mom's like, what what, She's like,
your kid, they're singing everything back in perfect pitch. Your
child has a perfect ear. And my mom was like, okay,

(07:58):
like period, when I tell you from then on, I
literally have never stopped making sounds, singing, humming, like in
all the baby videos. It's all I'm doing at all tonight.
Literally it's crazy like I'm always making some sort of music.
And that was the first time it was noticed, the
first time I felt it was like I would come

(08:18):
from athletes. My dad played professional football, so I know
what it's like when you like score and everyone reacts
to the score. It feels like you ate that. You
know what I'm saying. You feel that momentum, You feel
that energy in the house with Mike Jones. When Mike
when like Nick's just running around like going Mike y'all.
First of all, but he's not the rapper one like
the name Jones. Okay, like's not that one, but m Yeah,

(08:43):
we'd be outside doing drills in the summer I'm like, sir,
I'm in third grade. I don't know what this has
to do with much, but okay, here we go outside
with like. But I was also very competitive, like I'd
be the one on flag football, like dodging all types
of dudes and then like I'd go and score and
then I like hose and they'd be like were period.

(09:04):
Like I was always so competitive, so I knew that
feeling of like doing something good and seeing the reaction.
And I remember I had done like this little Broadway
type show with my school like young kids, and I
had a little solo and I remember seeing the reactions
and I was like, this is the same reaction as
when I score. I was like, what is this? It's
giving everyone's cheering, so I'm like, what does this mean? Um?

(09:26):
I say that was like the first time that I
really noticed it really young though. All of this stuff
was really young. You from the south, right, I'm from Tennessee.
Was it country at first? For you? Was it country
music or no? You know what's funny? It was definitely gospel.
My mom was like, you are going to serve the
Lord with this voice of yours. I was like, okay,
She's like Courtney you will serve the Lord with this voice.

(09:48):
That's my mom. And I was like, okay, I'm nine,
so like whatever you want to do, that's what we're
gonna do. Like what am I going to object? So
my mom was trying to get me in all these
gospel lanes and it just wasn't happening. It wasn't panning
out like I was supposed to join the one Christian
group like pure in RG help. You guys are a
group right now. If you are, I'm out side. I
hope you're doing well. If you are. It just like
wouldn't work, Like the doors would just keep closing, and

(10:10):
the doors that would openly wanted to pose. I did
want to you for Christ you can post. Don't even
do that. Don't put yourself in a box. Do what
the post for crisis. It's like this, you not need
to cross. I don't think that's gonna work. You know,
it's it's the heart. He didn't work. Now it works.

(10:34):
It didn't work for a media. I think it was
just like God had a different plan for how I'm
going to impact you know, because you can be in
the gospel category and be a light, and you can
be in the secular music and be a light. It's
about your actions. It's not about like what job you do.
You can be a postman and be a light. You

(10:55):
know what I'm saying. It's about what you're caring, what
you're bringing to the world, what you're what you're offering,
what you're talking about. So it just wouldn't pan out
like that. But the doors that would open would be
like like Kids Bob or like a commercial about like
a broccoli cereal and I'd be like, I do it,
and it would happen. And that's just kind of how
it panned out. And you're doing this from Tennessee. Yes,
I would um audition and they'd have like cattle calls

(11:17):
and things like that, and I would do music there
like as much as they could offer me. I mean,
but I was also just trying to figure it out.
Like my mom made this ghetto little EP on her computer,
and I was like talking about basketball and singing about
like sleepovers and stuff. But you know it was really dope.
Was I would do all these live performances like if

(11:38):
you want to pause there, sleep over something, I want
to know what, you know what the basketball friends and
they come over and then it starts. It's sleep. You know,
stop playing with me because it would be giving soul.
This one, this one about basketball, it was like, uh,

(11:58):
it was like jump ball, Hey, kicking it to me,
watch me you work. I'm jumping out of the gym.
It was fire. It was fire. And then I had
this other one about like doing char excuse me, don't
play with me because I always was giving soul now

(12:19):
and they had like a cute look. It was like
funky like anyway because all that was like all these
like older muic muic and guys like that's what they knew.
They didn't know hip hop like always put the old
niggas world. It's just so funny that that always happens.
And it really did give that. Like this guy that

(12:40):
was a judge at a talent competition that I won,
he was like, I'll work with you for free until
until when I saw he saw the talent so it
would be him and like he'd be like Courtney, you're ready,
I'm like here we go, rob jump out. I felt
like I was personally eating a stop. Wait, why is

(13:06):
what side is that it's actually giving that? Okay, I
still don't like it. I don't care because if you
listen to it, you'd be like, Okay, this kind of
has a little sleep. I'll send it to you. I'll
find don't I'm gonna find it. They always act everyone.

(13:29):
My mom has every song of that. This is my
camera right here, Mama Jones, Mama Jones, can you send
this jump ball? Jumball? Is that what it's called. I
don't know what we're gonna call it? Jump off? It's
the basketball song. We need to hear the backs, the
basketball song. My mom would also help me, right, I'd
be like, thanks, girl, but you want to know something crazy.
When I was also a rapper because I used to
sing a rap as well. My brother, my older brother,

(13:50):
would write all my raps about the sleepover, different ones. Okay,
I'm trying trying to flash. I'm trying to put two
and two together. That's all. That's all I'm trying to do.
There were other songs. It was what I was going
through in my life, not doing chores, my best friend
moving away, basketball sleepovers. I mean, I don't know that's
what I'm actually with it. I'm what it is supposed

(14:15):
to be. There. At that age, you were writing your life,
which is crazy because that's when we preach right, you
were literally like writing the very nuances and it sounds funny,
but the simplest things those are hit records. Okay, sleepover
record right now, my son will sing the mess out
of a sleepover. That's what I'm saying. But we need

(14:37):
those records again, we actually do for kids. Like when
we we had Ray Parker Jr. On here and he
talked about Riddy missed a telephone man for a new edition.
Obviously you don't even need a telephone many more really,
but in that when he wrote that record, when I
was a kid and I heard that song, it connected
to him. So we actually do need that again. We

(14:58):
need younger artists, especially if you're you know, preteen or teenage.
You should be singing about that. You shouldn't be singing
about you know, we're growing up. We should not be
a club in your song. Yeah, but you know what
they do. They had kid clubs when I was young.
I don't know, you never you could go outside. I
went to a kid club. He went outside. You couldn't go.
Oh he was religious. They had a bang called Black Saturday.

(15:25):
Who boy. Okay, okay, mine was not giving your manager.
She's from the bank should interesting. Yeah, yeah, but back
to Coco Jones writing the songs about basketball, Oh my god,

(15:46):
trying to install. I did play for a really long time,
and then when I started singing, I was missing practice
and stuff and I couldn't balance them both, and I
just chose singing, all right, So we went to missing
preg this is and so apparently at some point things
started getting crazy. When was that? What? What? What time

(16:08):
period was that where you just felt like there was
an influx of demand for what you what? What's your
gifts were? Um? Around twelve? Around twelve is when I
did Next Big Thing, which is like American Idol, Disney's
version of that. Actually Chloe and Highy were on it too,
but I did that. And then once you kind of

(16:29):
become one of the people that they go to, they
send you out to a lot of things. So I
was on tours, I was performing, doing our shows. I
was getting into it. Yes, I was doing shows, and
then I would be auditioning at the same time for roles.
My acting was real, real crusty at that time. They
say I wasn't getting a lot, but I was getting
better and better with time, and I just would always

(16:52):
be in l A and every summer I'd be like,
all right, y'all, I'm gonna go be Hanna Montana. I'll
see y'all. I don't know when i'mnna seyall again, but
you know, you can definitely come to show. Whatever I was,
I was just I knew I was going that way.
I was like, is this for me? I don't know
about job? So twelve years old, you get your ears,
you get you get your you get your Mickey Mouse ears.

(17:15):
I mean that's when I was really really working with
um Disney Channel a lot. And I mean that's like
the perfect place to be at the time, you know,
because you want to be doing me personally. My mom
is not a stage mom. My mom was like if
you're not trying to work, I'm going home. I'm tired.
So I was always the one like, Okay, what can
I do more of? Like I was hungry for it

(17:36):
this whole time, you know. So for me, it was
like the perfect scenario, like I'm doing these guest stars
and then I get this movie and it felt like
a dream to me, Like it was just like a dream.
Like I would go to the park and I'd sing
there and then I get to ride rides, no lines
like this was everything. This was everything I ever needed,
you know, I was very very happy. But yeah, for

(18:00):
you though, was it a choice to go to Disney
Route or was that just what was available? It was
it was just we didn't know anything. Like we were
just like going, like I'm just grateful that my mom
and dad had started some businesses, so they did know
like certain things like Coco is is my business name?
And I have like business you know, it's all business
savvy the things that they did. But as far as

(18:22):
like we have never stuff like that and like to
protect me and whatnot. Um, but as far as knowing
what we were doing in the industry, we were just
going through the doors that opened. Like your dad still
playing at this time. Oh no, no, no no, he retired
when I was much younger. Okay, so they were able
to focus on pushing your career. Well, yeah, my mom

(18:43):
was really the one that like would be on the
road with me, and then my brother and sister. They
both played sports, so my dad would be like nurturing
their careers, you know what I'm saying. And um, it
was really just like whatever opens, that's where we're gonna,
That's where we really go, you know, and my mom
she did a really good job of just finding as
much opportunity as she could. You know, for a while
she was management, agent, stylists, you know everything. You know,

(19:07):
that's crazy because it's like it's like it's so different
because where I guess where we come from, or where
I came from, anyway, we didn't. I just didn't know
what that was. I knew I could sing, I knew
I could write a song. I know I can make
a track. I didn't know what to do after that.
My mama didn't know, you know what I'm saying. Father, military, mother,

(19:29):
working two jobs at department stores. Did you do any
like talent shows or anything? I mean, I was I
was already already a professional gospel singer in high school.
But if it wasn't church, yeah, I wasn't doing it.
I didn't. I didn't know much about it. I wasn't
doing it, you know what I'm saying. So it was
always choirs, and I had been introduced to John p

(19:51):
Key and all these things at an early age, so
that's you know, I still didn't know what it was
on the other side of the teleged of the team stream, Yeah,
I still didn't know how any of that work, because
it sounds like from what you're telling us that you
were the one pushing forward early, I mean finding these
things to get involved in. Yeah. Yeah, I was very

(20:12):
very passionate. Like I would wear like my pajamas to
the studio because I knew I had to get up
for school, but like I would rather be there doing
that all night, and my mom will be like like, no,
my one more try. And you know another thing too,
Like I would sing all the way through. It was
old as equipment, so I would have to sing the
takes all the way through. I feel like a lot

(20:35):
of the stuff that I do now is because of
how hungry I was and just using whatever resources were
around me. Yeah, it was definitely scaring, and my mom
like she saw my passion for it. My passion for it.
What is the moment if you're looking around and you're like, Okay,

(21:01):
I've arrived. We're not a national normal. I don't even
using that I who N O N. But we call
it l E V A N O N. My big break,

(21:30):
My big break was definitely let it Shine. I mean
that is still what people talk about and associate me with.
First even with all this other stuff going on. Um,
I remember like the audition process and pretty much everybody
that we know was in that auditioning room. You know,

(21:52):
all of us as little kids and young girls, young
black girls, so like it would just get smaller and
smaller and smaller and smaller this pool. And I think
I auditioned like seven times, so that meant we had
to come to l A multiple times. You know, you
have to fly here to audition. Yeah. I didn't move
here until I was an adult, okay, or like if
it was important, important, then they'd be like, all right,

(22:14):
let's get out. So what was the audition on their dime?
Or you all had to pay for it to get
got it? Got l O L got it? If you
want it, you want it, come on, okay, you need
to be there very much. It's giving or next. Um.
So when I got that film and it came out,

(22:35):
it was the number one TV movie that year, and
I just remember the momentum like right after that, like
it was like Okay, now you're gonna have this TV
show and you're signed, you're at a record label. Dada
da da da, Like it was just going so fast,
and it feels kind of like now, you know, like
all this momentum and and like building up to something.
But I was fourteen, you know, and I didn't know.

(22:57):
I didn't know that that would ever stop. So I
was like, so j'all, so y'all try to play here
we go so but literally, like it was all these
things that were supposed to happen, and I did put
out a project. It's so crazy, like Victoria wrote on
my first EP. Yes, and Tommy was on it too.
Tommy produced it on it too, like all the people

(23:20):
like we you know, we are all like doing big
things now. But it was like Taylor Parks was on
it too, like crazy. But it all was like going
like this and then it just like stopped, but not drastically.
In my mind, it felt like that, but it was
more like, Okay, my management at the time did not
know like what to do. They didn't know how to

(23:40):
create opportunity. They knew how to keep because they know
how to keep umbrella to right, What do you mean
as far as like the movies, No, not even just
the business side of it. From from your business side
of I'm talking about the business that you guys were in.
He's like you were signed to Hollywood Records, right, and
they're connected to said, well you said it, I said,

(24:06):
I did, you know what? But all of these companies
were connected to each other though yeah, yeah, I mean
they kind of it's like a it's not a full
package deal, but you kind of know if you have
a show, you're gonna make music, and if you're doing
really well, they're going to try to put you on
a show, you know, and you're only going to do

(24:26):
a deal with their company. You're you can do whatever
you want to do. But at the time, I mean,
when you're a young kid and this looks like the
next obvious step, the whole golden ticket, that's what you're
gonna do, you don't think like you know that I
have leverage. Let's see what you can do for me.
Like but I was like sign it, but my mom

(24:49):
was like, mmmm, something in my schando since now. So
I did do the record deal, but I didn't do
the TV show. And I asked that because our podcast
is informative, we wanted to be as informative as possible,
and your situation is so unique for a guest that
we've had. That's why I asked that, Like, you know,

(25:10):
because it's kind of American Idol is like you said,
like when you when you do American Idol, you're signing
to a certain label that's connected to American Idol. It's
not like, oh, I want American Idol and now I'm
about to go do you know this this whole campaign
and go meet all these labels, right, run it up?
Ain't running it up? No, it's giving like we put

(25:32):
you on, You're gonna stay right on. But like, these
are all things that I wanted to I didn't I
didn't know what shopping, wasn't going to other labels, and
I didn't know any of that. I was like, I
want to do. What can I do to be Raven
Hannah Montana? Like what can I do? This is what
this is what you do. This is what we're doing.

(25:53):
You know. So at the time, like it looked like
all of these things we're gonna work out, But there's
also a formula, and if you're a black girl who
can sing, you're not going to fit into that formula.
Like you're already throwing throwing off the balance, you know,
because I don't look like those girls that I said
I wanted to be, Like, I definitely don't sing like them.

(26:13):
I don't even the music doesn't even fit me that
I'm being told to do. So what now what? And
I didn't do the TV show? So now the main
marketing strategy is not I didn't do that. Was there
a reason you didn't do the TV show? Um? I
think part of it, from what I mean, I don't.
I don't really know because I was much younger. But
part of it, I feel like, was how long I

(26:35):
was going to be under you know, that umbrella to
keep being longer and longer. Yeah, um, and then a
little record company and then also to like I knew
that I wanted to like have a different type of longevity.

(26:56):
And so I do feel like my mom was smart
and like to thinking what we could get from the experience,
but not diving so deep in that you're really really
stuck as that character, you know what I'm saying, Like
stuck because it can happen. Yeah, and especially if you
do it really really well. Yeah, you were that person

(27:17):
you everyone foreverever in the transition. Is that much more
difficult or growing up for that matter, Yeah, is that
much more? Yeah? And I think I mean God was
definitely protecting me, but at the time I was like
so disappointed because it just wasn't I was like, this
is what I was saying. I was going to do
the whole time and didn't pan out the way you
when you say slow down as you put it in

(27:42):
that moment, What does that feel like to you? And
what are you doing too? I guess feel the space
or feel the time avoid that you're feeling. Man. Well,
I was also trying to graduate early, so now I'm
like fifteen, are you in school or homeschool? Homeschool? Trying
to graduate early because I was like, I need to
move to leg now. I need to move there because
that's where the opportunities are. That's why I'm not like

(28:04):
this big star, I'm here, I need to go. So
I was trying to go like finished school and get
out of there. And um, I also was like, I
guess I was really in my religious mindset because I
was like, where am I sinning? Because this isn't happening
the way it's supposed to happen. So what man? What
didn't I do? Right? And so I was like like

(28:26):
my friends would call me like the Nune because I like,
I'm gonna sit this one out and let y'all have
you're not feeling no, no, no, no, no, not that
I'm not feeling that. I just don't understand that because
I wasn't raised that way. So there is no there
is no um there is there is there's nothing telling

(28:50):
me because I did this, this is not happening right.
That's the best way that I can put it, you
know what I mean. There's no like commandments of I
didn't follow that, so this didn't happen for me. I
never think, well, I don't. I don't have that. In
that church space that we were in, it was very
much everything was connected to you know what I'm saying.

(29:11):
The good and bad things were definitely centered around how
are you living? You know, it could be anything anything,
you know what I'm saying, Like you said some bad
words last week. That's why the Lord is you know,
that's why this, this, this opportunity didn't come through it.
You gotta slow that down, you know what I'm saying.
I gotta trying to tell you something. You doing something.

(29:32):
It's all it was. It's all it was always that
you're not doing something right. Therefore, that's why this is
not happening. Boy, very much done. But no, at the
time like I really like was diving into that, like

(29:53):
what exa. I was like, how do I live perfect?
Because that must be why my prayers aren't answering. So
I'd be the nun like the goody like I wasn't
doing it. I was not doing nothing, but I just
wanted to graduate and I wanted these things to work out.
And then I got dropped and then I was like, oh,

(30:13):
now I'm rebellious because something someone wide and I'm curious.
I'm sixteen, I haven't done anything. All the girls are
doing everything. I'm done, girl, I'm outside. You know, if
this was really me talking to God, I'd be like, okay,
what's that? He like? Are you being real? I'm like,

(30:34):
I didn't do anything. I was sitting here and now
and it's not okay, So I'm done. And that's really
how I was like. And I mean I wasn't out
here while because first of all, I was home school.
It's not like I was about to go like I
went to like some parties with the girls who would
dance with me, like my dancers, and I'd be like
sneaking out. Yeah, Like I was so not like really

(30:54):
with it, you know what I'm saying, um, but then
I did graduate. She's the greatest. This is great, literally,
but you want to know something so funny? Can I
can I tell a funny story? Okay? So this this
was the first time I ever snuck out right, and

(31:15):
my mom and dad went to go somewhere my sister
for volleyball. So me and my brother were at the house.
My brother was like, I'm sticking out and I was
like what. He was like, I'm sneaking out. I was
like I was older than him, Like I was I
was sixteen. Yeah, I was sixteen and he was fifteen.
He was like, I'm out. I was like where. I
was like, where are you going? He was like, I
don't know, it's gonna be outside. I was like, well
what if? I mean like, I was just like, wow,

(31:38):
we're rebellious. Okay, okay. I was like, so me too.
I was asking my I was asking my dancer. I
was like, where the party it. She was like, okay, yeah,
you can come to me this party like it was
like deep Nashville. Now, I don't really go outside like that.
I was with my mom. I was very much like
trying to like be booked. I was on set. The

(31:59):
only times I went to Ashville. Was for the studio sessions, auditions, performances,
and now I'm gonna go to the party. Right how far?
It's like yeah, And here's the thing too, Like we
had a long driveway, so I was driving with no
lights on. I was like, I was sweating. I was like,

(32:19):
I was it's forest because my neighbors are snitches because
they was gonna tell. I was like, I was scared.
I was driving, could not see. I have my glass zone.
It's so much forestry and deers. I was like, oh
my god, Bamby, please like I can't today. Okay. So
I sneak out right and my mom sends like this text.
She's like, thank you guys so much for like not

(32:41):
having any attitude. And we were like stay home, we
love y'all. And I was I was like, no, no problem, girl.
I was at this party, right. I was at this party.
And so then this guy that I had liked at
the time, who also went to my church. I was
such a square. He went to my church, but he
was like the rebellious type. I was like, oh he's
dead and at least sting okay, shurts that it was

(33:05):
so hot, okay, So he was saying he was gonna
come there or whatever, and I was like, okay. Period.
So when I walked in or whatever, I remember it
was like a cloud of smoke. This is my first
time like even being around anything. I was like, oh
my god. I was like, this is the haze. This
is the this is the spirit, this is the dark
spirit haze. This is that. I was like. I was

(33:26):
like I should leave, and then I was like I
must stay. So I went in there or whatever. So
then I was like dancing with my friend and I
couldn't find my phone. This was after my mom had
texted me. My phone had like a bedazzled case, like
somebody was going to see my phone. It was like
pink bedazzled Claire's sparkles bright and so I'm like, okay,
where's my phone. Now I'm really freaking out because I

(33:46):
didn't snuck out. I just responded to I said, you're
welcome in the group chat. I'm scared. So then I
was like I was asking my dancer. I was like,
my phone, my phone, my phone, I can't find it.
So literally all these girls, I felt like such sisterhood,
very much cheated sisters. Literally all of us came together.
We did like this and they had their phones with
the lights and we went like all through the dance
floor and like we didn't see it. So I was

(34:07):
like freaking out. I was about to have a breakdown.
And then the DJ was like, yo, we gotta pay
phone at the d J booth. Pay phone at the
DJ booth. I was like, oh, thank you Lord. I
went and got my phone. I was like, okay, I
really need to leave. That was the Lord's saving me.
I should just leave. And then I was like I
want to stay. And then I stayed. And then the
guy that I like came and I was like he
did church. I'm not saying his freaking name. You know

(34:35):
who you are. That was nice to your little system,
but she was bad. I was just trying to hang
with shoot up. She was that. But anyway, so yeah,
he came to the party or whatever, and then like
I was like, oh my god, food up mooving it
out of but anyway, Yeah, so then I went home
and I didn't get caught or anything. But that was

(34:56):
like my first time sneaking out fully sixteen is great.
This is so yeah, that was my first time speaking out.
You did get caught. I did not get caught. I mean,
I'm telling now, but girl, don't drive me mom anyway.
But yeah, so I got dropped in stuff and like
I was just I didn't know what was happening. You know.

(35:17):
It's also so weird, Like I was watching a lot
of interviews. I would watch like interviews like Beyonce being
interviewed like Kobe, Like I would watch anything like just
to see what these people that I looked up to
what they were talking about, and like what they would
say about the journey. And I'd be like, I always
feel like they were not saying enough about the journey,
like where's the bad parts? You know, like where are

(35:38):
the where are the bad Like how long did it take?
What did you do? Did you get dropped right? Like
all of these things I was looking for, like to
to make it feel normal that it wasn't happening good
for me. So that's why I try to be like
more transparent about everything that happened, just because I was
like is this okay? Like does this mean I'm still

(36:00):
when or what what does this mean? So yeah, that's
kind of like what I was doing to feel the space. Yeah,
and you lived still with your parents at the time. Yeah, yeah,
I was sixteen. And then when I was seventeen, I
graduated early and I moved to l A and I
was staying with like kind of like godparents type, and
then I got this opportunity to be on Broadway. So

(36:20):
then I moved to New York by myself. And then
I was like, oh, I'm definitely not. I have a
roommates in the same year in the same year book
a Broadway show. That's so. Then I was in New
York and all my family came to New York for Christmas.
But for the most part, I was like there by
myself seventeen and then I turned eighteen. I had my
eighteenth birthday in New York. That's where were you staying

(36:43):
in New York? I was staying they had like they
had put me up in this like oh it's house.
It was not giving, but you know, um respectfully be
giving overworks and underpaid. I wasn't living for that. Yes,
I was like, isn't it labor of something? I don't

(37:03):
know one to three, four, five, six, seven. It's almost
like eight to nine shows a week, depending on what
you want, okay. And then I was like, Okay, who's
doing here? In makeup, They're like you. I was like,
who's doing design you? Well, who's putting my MinC on you?
I was like, okay, Literally I was over there. I
was like, so it's the same scripts, same everything every

(37:24):
day and we're doing this mostle time to day. Hey,
yay guy, how long were you on bay? I did
that like almost a year. Yeah, you were training for
but that's a that's a deep training, you know what
I'm saying. And it was at the time it feels
a way, but that's real training. It was. I was like,

(37:48):
I'm sorry, y'all. Y'all deserve way more than this because
this is a lot. Like it was the hardest job
I think I've ever done, like being on top of everything.
I remember the first couple of shows was like if
I didn't know where I was supposed to be placed,
like the other girls that played my friends and stuff,
they would look at me and I'm like, this is
a live show. Oh my god. It was too much.

(38:09):
I was so I was so green, And then by
the end of it, I was like, anyway, I got
right there. I'd be like happily because I've done it
so much. I go like a robot. You know that. Yeah,
and then like at the beginning, I would always be
nervous because I had to kiss this guy because we
were in love, and I'd be like and then by
the end, I was like, all right, anyway, let's get
this over come on, Tom, give me literally, Like I mean,

(38:32):
it was just crazy, like how how different my mindset
was on it at the end versus at the beginning.
But I don't know I would I think I would
do it again, but it would have to be like
definitely bossed up. And then also like it's not it
would be like a very much passionate project. It's like

(38:53):
when you do Broadway, you know it is a labor up.
Yeah you know what I mean, and because you really
did to show up in your tools, your tool and
but it's like you never if you can have no no, no,
if you can if you have to my life to
pick the project, then that's uh, that's the plus. If

(39:14):
you can pick the project in the moment, that's the plus.
But but outside, but the work, I respected that how
many we do okay, okay, how much right like um okay,

(39:34):
But it was like it was the the best experience
for me because of you know, of course the people
that I was on the road with, they were like
you know, from TV shows and from movies, and they
were they were the real deal. I was this singer guy,
you know what I mean, who was the only singer
guy on the stage in this you know, kind of

(39:55):
prominent role. And they're looking at me like what you got?
What you got out? I think it's so interesting because
when I was doing it, I was like the girl
from Disney. So they were like, what are you doing?
That's like, I really don't know. Actually, doesn't you're doing something?
You got to go to the trenches. I mean, it's

(40:16):
it's it's all preparation for all of these things that
we're involved in. And it goes back to you're so
trying to wards performance. You're prepared for those moments. It
showed everyone is not prepared for when that light come
on and when it's time to do your job. You understand, Okay,

(40:39):
this is my spot, these are my these are my
these are my notes, this is how I'm supposed to finish.
And I'm gonna handle this like a professional, you know
what I mean. You've got so many artists out here
now and I won't even say now we've always had.
We've always had some bullshit at times, but I think
it's it's it's more. It's it's it's normalized now that

(41:03):
people aren't ready ready. And I think also because we
are in this fast culture, so then sometimes people do
pop off fast because of social media and trends, and
then it's like, yeah, what do you do when you
were just singing and doing something on your computer? You know? Well,
I think it's I think it's like like if if

(41:24):
we're saying, okay, this this record is jumping off, TikTok
is going crazy, this major label comes in and say, hey,
you're popping, We're gonna give you a deal, let's go,
and then you just throw them to the wolves. And
that's the part that the development costs money, but I
want to spend that, but that's the part that's missing.
So it's like that's why we have I think more

(41:46):
of it. You know, We've always had the bullshit for sure,
but I think we have more of it because there
are more avenues for people to get cracking and people
will just throw money at it as opposed to throwing
some type of tutelage and education and I'm just standing
at it it's a fun word to need it. We
need it. And so um, let's get out of New York. Okay,

(42:09):
back to back to BA. You're back to l with
no roommate. I was blowing it. That was not a
big Okay, that was not a big But I had
all these you know, I had savings and stuff because
I've been working since I was literally twelve. Yeah period. Um,

(42:33):
so yes, I was back in l A auditioning and
this was pre COVID when you would go into rooms
and like meet casting people and stuff. It just seems
so so long ago when we would go into rooms.
But I'll be driving like all over the place, Santa Monica, downtown,
North Hollywood, auditioning, auditioning, auditioning, auditioning, auditioning, auditioning, auditioning. Oh

(42:55):
d Like, at least I'm grateful that, like I did
have opportunities an audition. Some people just want that, you know,
just the fact that they even are getting a shot
to take It's like, oh my gosh, wow. But I
think for me, like my pride was chacked because I
had already expected it to go. I already thought I
was at this level and go up from there. But

(43:17):
it was like it doesn't matter what you did when
you go into these rooms. They do not care your
brand new. So I felt like I was constantly like
just proving myself to people, like proving it, proving and
proving it. And at the same time with music, I'm
independent now, so like I don't really know what I
want to sing recording to now when you come back

(43:38):
to l as. Yeah, but like very much independent, like
whatever I want to spend my money on to do,
you know, because when you're independent, it's on you, and
then the people that want to rock with you, you you know,
maybe get it on the back end or like just believe,
you know. And I had plenty of all of those
different things. So like I would make music and then

(43:59):
I was all to go into this music school. But
that was just see I could feel my my family
that I was in school, you know, because they were
like when is she doing out there? And my parents
would be like, she's in school, but um, I was
doing that too. That was that didn't lead too much,
and like it was so crazy because every time it
would get to the point where it looked like I

(44:21):
would need to pivot and like do something else, something
would happen literally every time I would get something or
like a song would pop off, or like I would
get a sponsorship like a promo, like a content piece
to do something on social media. And my numbers were
not even giving like that. So it was just so

(44:43):
they would come like something would always keep me going.
I mean that it worked out, if that's what it was.
If I was thinking if I was none none of that,

(45:05):
I got thirty none steps. I got a question. Yes,
some totally different. You mentioned it the school. Uh huh.
What were your expectations of music school did you have?
Did you walk into because you said something you were like,
it didn't really pan out. So did you have expectations

(45:28):
when you when you signed up for music school like
this is going to help me through get X yres it. No,
I did not expect that. I I only wanted to
go to the school to network and to possibly learn.
I was thinking I was going to learn how to produce.
I was like, okay, I can learn that there, Lauren.
I was studying like music business, like entertainment law, like

(45:51):
I was like, I want to learn what all of
this stuff means. Those were the things that I really
knew I could get out of it. But what I
thought was gonna pop me off was a job like
acting role. So that's where I was like, whenever I
get this role, I'm out of here. I don't even
care how long I was studying any of this. I'm
gone because this is what is going to open the
door for me, you know, because I think sometimes people

(46:13):
it's a it's a weird space with um with the
music business and music education, and I think a lot
of people don't look at it as really a real
resource into making it because so many people have done
it without it. So it's I and I sit in

(46:37):
a funny space because I didn't you, I didn't utilize
I didn't go to school for music either. But I
do understand the value of it, and I think sometimes
it's it's not really it's not really brought up at
all when people talk about, Okay, this person went to
Berkeley School of Music or this person you know, they
went to the engineering Academy and these type of things.

(46:57):
And I personally think it should be promoted a little
more because I do think we need more people that
you know, have some form of education in music business
and in music period. I think that as we look
at a curriculum for music business. I don't think that

(47:17):
that's been curated no properly. And I think that there
are so many things, so many nuances and actual music
business of us doing the music business that's not in
a music business school, that at some point there's we're
going to have to help curate that program so that

(47:40):
when people come out of music school music business school,
they're not starting over from the very beginning, because that's
normally what happens. Now if you have the gift, like
if you go to Berkeley or one of those schools
and you come out in here, or you know, you
technically savvy, you know how to you know, you engineer,
you know all these cool things like there's a there's
a there's a good chance that you can be a

(48:02):
dope session engineer, or catch a tour and go on
the road, or or catch a cool engineering job for
up and coming rapper or something like that. You know
what I'm saying. Like, but when it's just music business.
The things that I've seen from music business school is
that they it's a book thing for the more go go,

(48:24):
you're awesome and all things. That's what you've told them. Okay,
you told us without telling them if you flexed on them. Okay,
since you were this high, you've been doing it at
a high level. We're gonna get into your mind, your
R and B mind, and be mind. Your top five?
Why does everything sound like a bad beer commercial? This

(48:46):
is the mop. Your top five singers and singers and
singers and singings and singers, top five and be sunk.
Can give us a little bit the next My tough

(49:19):
five aready your top five R and B singers male
or female? Okay, well, I already hit. I already thought

(49:40):
about this. They're all female, um in no particular order,
but five of them. Brandy, Jasmine selevant, you're going to heavy,
go ahead? And her Yeah, Barrier Alia Wow, Oh that's

(50:05):
the toughness. Who dangerous sounds like they check ball man?
Whose monsters? Who want to go no one, no One?
I feel like they all have different elements. Like Jasmine
is like this raspy, soul, full type thing, and like

(50:27):
Aaliyah is like this vibe you can't help but be
like you. Her songs are magnetic, you know, and they
stick in your head. Beyonce is the execution. It's going
to be executed to perfection, you know, her is like
artistry like all these instruments you know who that Brandy Yea,

(50:51):
the vocal behind you already knew. I feel like as
I listened to your music and your EP, like your
body of work, you cover all of that ground, You
cover all of your inspirations in your music, because it
was like you, you really were morphing into different moments,

(51:12):
you know what I mean, which is tough to do,
to be able to you know, cater your voice to
the different sonics, into the different tempos, and like I didn't,
I didn't lose anything from you from a tempo record
to a slow record. Did you write all of them?
I don't feel like you should stay here and now

(51:33):
get better here or you should like everything was like okay,
because and then that comes with the execution when you
talk about Beyoncet like you didn't. You didn't, you didn't
lay off on any of those moments, on any of
those tempos, like we gotta nail that. Let's do that again,
because if it's not the run, then it's got to
be the swag. And if it's not the swag, then

(51:54):
it's got to be the cadence. And if it's not
like you were on all of that. Congratulations you're top five, Welcome, Welcome,
R and B songs, Okay, um and no order, say
my name, Disney's Child, thinking about you, Frank Ocean, Wow,

(52:18):
when you touch me? Brandy, don't you do this today? Okay?
Some spear fingers, you know that one? That's one of
my favorite records of all time. Okay, um focused by
her with the harps, It doesn't mean And then I
said my own song, just my luck, Come on, shout

(52:40):
out yourself. Why shouldn't your song we want of your
top five? I mean I realized that the theme here
is do whatever you play? And damn right, how you
went to that? Brandy? When you touch me? Oh my
gosh's listen? Brand be saying one time at this R

(53:02):
and B with an R and B night that I
used to host every Wednesday, and Brandy singing, came in there, singing,
and I saw dudes huddled up, Oh my gods, huddled
up together, shoulder to shoulder in frenzy. It's like I
wasn't one of those guys. It was. I just wasn't

(53:26):
women in this like an artists together. It was guys
huddled together, strong, solid dudes that were had, there were
they were, they were broken, they were emotional, Brandy had

(53:46):
done that. Her vocal is serious. It is, it is.
It's the backgrounds as well, like it's the detail. It's
not she don't play, she don't. And it's like, what's
crazy is you remember the song and you web were
the ad libs? Like, that's a whole another verse is
the ad litle You've been trying to sing all the
parts running out of breath. It's a whole thing. I

(54:08):
want to sing your ad libs in the backgrounds at
the same time, at the same time, well along with
this lead line that Rodney's playing, What is the lead line?
I want to do all of that. Okay, here we go.
You're making an R and B voltron Okay, we're building.

(54:28):
We need the vocal performance, style, styling, and passion for
the artist for this voltron Who are you getting the
vocal from? Put your phone down? Put your phone down? Alright, alright,
Google is not your friend. I was gonna say the vocal,

(54:51):
I would say, Jasmine, I want Jasmine's vocal on this
voltron Um. Vote you go on with that, Yes, Jasmine
your vocal. I'm gonna say, I mean, I could say Brandy,
of course, but but I love Jasmine. I love it.
This is like, this is this is one of my
vul Drahn's. This is one of them. Okay, this one

(55:14):
you're just building here, you're gonna build another one that
it already did. The Brandy one is like it's on
its own, leading the pack. And then this is the
second in command performance style on stage. Beyonce m would
pick that as well. Yeah, did you go to them
to run two two? Get on my nerves. I have

(55:39):
a thing where I only want to experience these things
at the top tier, Like I would rather I want
to go to the concert. When she's like, hey, co going,
I'm like hey, she's like, come to the concert. I'm like, okay, yeah,
I'm on the way. Where's it that? Oh that's a
little she didn't know what the show was that you're
not really proud of to be huh, like like the

(56:01):
rest of us, I'm saying, like, I just I just
wanted to be experienced that way as I was in
the audience experience in Beyonce. I want to be like
I want to come and say don't We'll talk about
your membership after this. Um, Okay, styling of the artists.
What you want put the trip? Who who put who

(56:23):
put that ship on? Put that on? She did? She?
I mean, the trends are still very much the trends. Absolutely,
she definitely put that on. Absolutely, And I also feel
like she was sexy. But it wasn't giving like, Okay,
new mystery, huh, it's really we're all out here when aperio, Okay.

(56:45):
It was more like how does she? What is that?
What's under there? Like what is this? I'm captivated by
the unknown? You know. I just feel like that's something
that is not as popular anymore, like you know what
I'm saying, Especially like as women, you feel like, Okay,
this is what everybody doing, this is what this is
what I gotta do what we do? Like, well they
care if I don't, you know. Well, so I liked that.

(57:07):
For me, it was like, oh wow, she gets to
like not have to do that. You just gotta decide
what you want to be on and and not you
and stand on the right. Of course you do. But
then you know, as a girl, as a young girl
coming up, all you see is the certain things that
are like it right there right. I just feel like

(57:31):
she for me was like a breath of fresh air.
I could wear that too and feel like that's something
I would wear. I would want to do that, not
feel like, Okay, I have to do this to keep up.
You know, passion of the artists who you don't get
the heart from. Then, because Beyonce also has a passion

(57:53):
as well, I'm going to say, Michael Jackson, mm hmm,
oh you want to rehearse eight to ten hours a day.
I don't want to play with it. Yeah, the passion
was passionate. Yeah, you don't want to play with it. Yeah,
I'm playing with it. Yeah, he didn't play car being polished.

(58:14):
That's man, that's yeah, it's different. I love it different.
That is different. That's a great vultura. That's a great vultura.
And then I also had to say dancing. But you
guys didn't ask me that well, performance style. Oh okay,
that is that is fact. Yeah, come over here, thank you.

(58:43):
And I'm sad. None ain't nothing. I'm no, ain't nothing, right,
don't make me regret? Oh yeah, in fact? Okay, oh yeah, okay, sorry,
we got listen, we got we got we got something
else for you. Lord what and don't go to your

(59:03):
damn phone for it. Neither. You can't get this out
your phone. I ain't singing no names. I have to guess.
I ain't saying no names there. Who's doing you gotta
looking to the clouds when he's saying might have been me?
Might have been there? I don't know what it was

(59:25):
like singing no names like you saying no names? You
say names? What is this? What happened? I might you
need a breakdown. You listen his song first, though, you
see you see what you see what he's doing? Huh?
You might catch you by the four seasons playing the

(59:47):
piano the lobby. You what I ain't saying no name?
Definitely master your second floor? Second, no names, get to
it extra garlic like my steak oscar style. What is

(01:00:11):
going on? So we have a portion of the show.
Segment of the show. It's called I ain't saying no names.
Will you tell us a story? Funny or fucked up?
Are funny? Oh? I was over here trying to guess
the song. I was like, no names, names And the

(01:00:31):
only rule to this game. You can't say no names.
We don't do no snitching here. You can't say nobody
name tell your story though, Um, come on, listen. Let
me think, because me telling this story, I mean, I'm

(01:00:52):
in the stories. So I'm like, what do I want
to say on the interwebs to win? So I like it?
I like it. I like, give me. You can't say
it was me Mini and Mickey do that? Oh my gosh.
And I told a good story already and didn't say

(01:01:14):
no name. Let me think. M I'm scared. I'm also
a little naive. People you got them, you got you
got the stories, and now you got the stories. M
h yeah that's the one when it hits you. Yeah,

(01:01:39):
oh mm hm oh yeah. Should I thank you management?
I love that management. I love that Yeah. Yeah, oh no,
I have to keep that in mind. Say no names. Okay,
so before you saw this is Coco Jones, I ain't

(01:02:04):
saying no names. Whoa um, okay, I'm going to talk
about a first date that I here went on. So
basically this okay, fine checked. So this was a recommendation

(01:02:33):
from a friend. My friend was like, I think you
guys would really hit it off because the impression that
I get from this guy is that you guys were
really match. You know what I'm saying. You guys seen
birds of a feather flock together type and I was like, okay,
my friend had never recommended me do any first dates
and nothing like that, so I was like, okay, cool,

(01:02:55):
I'm gonna see what's talking about. So the first kind
of date was like all like kind of a group
hangout type thing, like to get just get the vibe.
And then like you know how, girls were like, are
you gonna go the bathroom? So basically means like you
want to go talk to it in the bathroom, and
so it's like, yes, I do. Great, So we're go
in the bathroom. And after I had met him, like
I thought, he was like mad fine, like da da

(01:03:16):
da da da tall. You know, in l A it
really be giving like you're either five eight or year
six spot. Like it's rare for me because I'm tall.
I'm always like year five ten. Okay, all right, I'm
five ten anyway, so I was like he's actually tall,
Like oh my god, he's cute, like funny da da

(01:03:38):
da da da, Like I was a girl, I think
you ate that. She was like okay, par so cool.
So after the group haying, he was like, yeah, let's
hang out one on one and I was like yeah,
for sure, so he like he was like, you want
me to pick you up? Da da da da das
and the carbos like whatever. I was like, you know,
like you can pick me up whatever. Yeah, Okay's friends

(01:04:04):
charming and like, you know, I had these impressions like
he's like cool, like suave type, you know, like the
like with a little side of like corny, which I
like that, like I don't like, like yo what I'm like, Okay,
I can't read you. He's so scary, like I like
a little fun because I'm like a little corny too,
you know. So we go on this date or whatever,
and um when he gets there to pick me up,

(01:04:26):
I get in the car and there's a balloon ball Yes,
there's a balloon, a happy birthday balloon. And it's not
my birthday, and I don't think it's his, Like why
would you want to hang out with me on your birthday?
I just met you? This is crazy. So I'm like, oh,
I'm like what is it? What's that? And he's like okay.

(01:04:49):
So he's like I wanted to do something a little different,
you know, like and it was like hard to get
a reservation. So I told him it was your birthday.
So we got to like pretend it's your birthday, like
is that okay? And I was like okay, Like I was,
I was thinking this is different. I'm never gonna forget this.

(01:05:10):
But then I was like, do you buy a balloon
for every girl? Like it's a lot of balloons. I mean,
I don't know how you get down, but like, is
this what you're doing? Every time? I was like is
he doing this? Because like I'm in the industry and
I like, like the raw raw, Like what's happening. I
was like okay, But in my mind, I'm like, but
I think he's being like nice and trying to be different. Okay. Cool. So,

(01:05:31):
like we drive and we go to the wrong destination first,
the old restaurant, and it wasn't even there anymore, so
that we had to go to the other one. And
so it's kind of like a longer drive, and I'm like,
let's play some of our favorite songs so that we
could like not have to like sit here and talk
all the time, Like we got a long drive. So
he plays some of his music and I did not
like any of it. Like that was also very concerning.

(01:05:55):
I was like, what are these songs? Like I've never
heard them and I don't like them at all. So
I was like okay, and the balloons like bouncing around
the background, I'm like oh. I was like oh, I
was like okay, next, so so literally like he gets
he was like, I just have one more song, like
I need to play it, like this is my favorite cover,
and I was like, okay, a favorite cover, Like okay,

(01:06:18):
so no names, it's this song, this cover and I
can't even sing the song because the song would give
it away. Well, no, it's a cover, okay. So I'm
just gonna say a hypothetical song and pretend to be
him because I need to play this out. We're driving
or whatever and he's singing his heart out and I

(01:06:39):
just met him, so let's pretend it's uh revo uh.
And so he's like zlight and it's not on tune
like he's he's not giving it's like zat I don't
wagon like he's singing, and I'm like all the cool
points went out the window, Like I said, I like cool,
I like cool, what the what? The song outside not

(01:07:03):
not the main dish, like save that on the side
so I can dabble in. It's not not even family
style honestly like kids, a kid's portion of corn, kids portion,
like you can fit it in the small plate that
the couple one. And I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait,
this is not who I met the other day, Like,
what's going on here? The balloon? I'm like, oh, the balloon.

(01:07:25):
I'm holding the balloon and I don't like the song
and he's singing his heart out and then he like
takes my hand and he's like, z this is I'm
like so I'm like, I'm telling my hand is the
mic and I'm like holding the balloon and I'm like okay, wait,
wait wait, I'm just like what happened? Where did the
cool points go? So then we pulled up to the restaurant.

(01:07:47):
I didn't even get to play my songs, you know,
I didn't get to play anything. And he's still singing
and the ballet is like are you So he's looking
in the window and he's like dah and I'm like okay,
and the guys that are you coming out like I
don't know and he's like we just gotta finish this
real quick. And he's like like literally, I don't know
what was going on. I didn't know what was going on.

(01:08:10):
So I'm like I'm getting nervous because I'm like, oh
my gosh, like what did I sign up for? What? What? Where?
Who is this man? So anyway, the song finally ends
like and I was like trying to like get get
that over with. So I was like, I was like,
come on, let's go. I was like the valets like
waiting on us, like come on, and he's like okay, yeah.

(01:08:31):
I was like come on please. So then we get
out or whatever and he's like, well, is that too much?
And I was like no, no, no, no, it's fine.
But I'm like so I'm like carrying this balloon. I'm
like walking past people like ah, you're Darren. So this
date was on Halloween, so just think about that. This

(01:08:51):
was on Halloween. So I'm carrying this balloon and people
are like Halloween Birthday, Like oh my gosh. They're like
they're like, get Jerry Jerry. Jerry Jay comes out. He's
like I do not see a lot of Halloween birthdays,
but man, oh man, aren't we special hall And I'm
like yes, yes, So it's so nice. And then the
guys like it's I tell her all the time, like

(01:09:13):
it's her birthday, like you know, she gotta live it up.
And I'm like, like, this is so not what I
thought was gonna happen. Not what I thought was gonna happen.
So literally like that's where we're like the balloon is
settled because it was messing with the heat lamps and
so I had to like I was like sit your
as the balloon was like settled there, and like I'm
talking to him and everything, like I would say, it

(01:09:34):
would give like oh yeah, like your wifey. I was like,
oh first, it was like it was like your cap
because there's no way he did. I was like, you
don't even know me. I'd be like, oh, yeah, I've
tried that that that food before. Like shrimp is really good.
He'd be like, shrimp, he's good. You're so wifey, Like yes,

(01:09:55):
I'd be like a protein. I mean, I don't know.
I don't think that qualifies me. I haven't asked me
like any core questions about myself, but shrimp he is good.
I guess like yeah. So like we're talking or whatever
and the progresses or whatever, and I know I'm like

(01:10:16):
not really feeling it if I'm just ready to go,
Like you know when you really like somebody. You're like, oh,
you know, there's a little lounge waking. It's kind of
cute like whatever. But then I was like, yeah, I'm
so so tired working, working, you know, man working, So
I just need to go. I'm gonna rest, like I
need to rest. And he's like, yeah, no problem. He

(01:10:36):
drops me off whatever whatever, and then um, he like
walks me to the door, and I was like literally
I was looking at him and I feel like I
literally gave him telepathy. I was like, you are going
to get embarrassed. I would really appreciate it if you
just settled the score and leave. And then I felt
like he was like understood, thank you so much for

(01:10:56):
telling me I will head out, so anyway, he didn't.
It gives me whatever, but I get into my house
or whatever. And then he texted me and he was
like I just cannot get over how beautiful you looked.
He was like, thank you so much for spending time
with me. Sleep well, and um text me tomorrow. And
then he was like good night me and more I

(01:11:19):
was like damn. I was like, man, I said good night,
and yeah, that was an interesting story. I don't know what.
I don't know what that was. I really don't excited. Why,

(01:11:43):
like what see and that's what that's what's not gonna
work for me. It's like, yes, for sure, yes this
is all very much young because even the verbage that
shrimp is nice your wife, like that's a very young
I don't like they throw that out like that, you
know what I'm saying to It was just like I

(01:12:03):
felt like, I don't like to feel I feel I
want to feel valued and like, oh you you are
treating me like a prize. You know, yes, I want
to feel that, but I don't want to feel like
you're you're you're looking at me up on this pedestal
like wow, hope one day I can get up there,
because then I'm like that means I'm looking down at you.
Why am I on a date with you and I'm

(01:12:23):
looking down at you? You know, I don't want to
feel like that anyway. If that was a funny ish story,
kind of cringe, let me use that. But I didn't
count them out that. I didn't count the out. You
didn't count you gave him another day? Yeah, yeah, I
actually did, like, oh, ship, but don't be over here

(01:12:44):
buying balloons for the first day. That's not hot. It word.
It did not work. No, no no, no, no, no, no
one here, it did not work. I I liked him,
but it wasn't giving that, so you liked him. I
I don't know. I don't know that happy birthday balloon,
you little corny fellas. Okay, it's but corn is memorable.

(01:13:11):
Corn is memorable, rememberable doesn't Corn doesn't break down anyway.
I thought he was a good guy. That's why I

(01:13:31):
gave him more of a chance because I was thinking
about it and I was like, Okay, he definitely went
all the way corn city with it. But the opposite
of that is the too cool for school like I
do this, like I say everything. Everything that I'm saying
sounds rehearsed, Like I'm not nervous at all. You don't
give me no type of butterflies, like whatever, you know.
I don't want that. So I'm going to give the

(01:13:53):
guy a chance. Yeah, yeah, you know what I like,
Did you get a chance? Yeah? Yeah, Because you just
never know. You never know, you never know, you never know,
never know. I've seen some odd couples wherever like, Okay,
you don't look like it's her birthday. I know. I
was like man, what y'all really got me? Carrying it

(01:14:15):
balloon around? Literally, always remember it. I will never forget it.
I'll never forget it. I'll never forget it. And I
still like, I still think the guy has great qualities
and all of those things. It's just giving. That's not
how it was gonna pan out. But if a guy
was corny on the first date, I'm definitely gonna have

(01:14:37):
another day with him because I'm like, you're nervous and
you're trying. The effort is there. We'll take that. Yeah,
come on, now the level of corn watch this and
be like, you know, when I get my change. This
is a little side right here, just enough to compliment
the entree, just enough to compliment. Don't over don't be

(01:14:58):
overbearing with the core. Like half a cob, half a
cop at best, a whole car right there with it,
right there with it. Just a spoonful of sugar makes
medicine go down. You know, you get it. Um Coco Jones,
thank you, thank you. Um we we we think you're

(01:15:21):
really dope. Thank you. We appreciate the light. Yeah, we
appreciate your energy. Um pure in r G. Don't do
that because they could be a whole group right now. Great,
bringback Greg. That's what I did. I'm never gonna live.

(01:15:42):
You're still high up on the cool with us. Still
you got it. I see so much um, so much
dope shit in your future than you and I see it, um.
I see it in the very simple space of you
just being you. Thank you. You know what. I absolutely

(01:16:03):
that you will never you will never have to compromise
who you are and people are going to love it.
They're already gravitating to it. And it's just gonna keep
taking you higher and higher and higher. So from R
and B Money, Um, you have our support. You have
anything you need from us that goes without saying thank you.

(01:16:23):
I need a hit song with a duet. Let's get
into that sounds simple, Yes, that's easy, that doesn't sound
all Yeah, okay, great, that's done. So listen you just
heard it first. There's gonna be some music. Yeah, we
just poke some R and B money Koko Jones. Yeah,

(01:16:44):
I done for Jones. You're saying to get a little chance,
we're gonna talk about it. We're gonna talk about it.
Take Valentine and this has been the R and B
Money Podcast featuring the Don't Coach Coach, Thank You Guys,

(01:17:09):
R and Molly. R and B Money is a production
of the Black Effect podcast Network. For more podcasts from
I Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Don't forget
to subscribe to and rate our show, and you can
connect with us on social media at Jay Valentine and

(01:17:30):
at the Real Tank. For the extended episode, subscribe to
YouTube dot com, forward Slash, R and B Money