September 11, 2025 • 19 mins
In this episode, I sit down with actor and singer Keith D. Robinson to talk about his powerful role as Dr. Ted Richardson on “Beyond The Gates,” his soulful new singles “Foolish Love” and “Forever Bae,” and the inspiration behind his upcoming album Love Episodic II.
Keith opens up about balancing music and acting, staying authentic in R&B, the fan reaction to his character’s storyline, and how he continues to thrive in Hollywood.
It’s an inspiring and fun conversation you don’t want to miss!
For more delicious scoops of entertainment and celebrity news visit IceCreamConvos.com.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ice-cream-convos-podcast--2027902/support.
Keith opens up about balancing music and acting, staying authentic in R&B, the fan reaction to his character’s storyline, and how he continues to thrive in Hollywood.
It’s an inspiring and fun conversation you don’t want to miss!
For more delicious scoops of entertainment and celebrity news visit IceCreamConvos.com.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ice-cream-convos-podcast--2027902/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Coma ice coma.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
But but on the grind all day, every day, ice
cream combos always real. They never play download up podcast
listen on any day?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Why didn't not do this sooner?
Speaker 4 (00:23):
On that thing?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
And ever say exam r best host of all time?
All of the faithful listeners will say.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
They never alive check every story.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
They run like me with the Brahms Win not the
Social Report anything.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
It should be a crime entertainment news year.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I gotta get mine from I C C.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
And you should be in Klin to do the same
if you got half a mind, I do go sn
this lady to shine like Franking Stein tell it to
day designed ice creamcombos, dot com tune in this influence
fluent but ice cream comtimes.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Well, I am super excited to be talking to you.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I already know you need no introduction, so we're not
even going to play around like that. But Keith, you
know what I thought about when I was preparing for
today's interview, Well, our conversation.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
What were you thinking about?
Speaker 5 (01:29):
The last time.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I talked to you was before the world completely went
to shi, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
I interviewed you in twenty twenty about.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Your family, about what film Open, You and Essence Open.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
Oh woll you remember Open now?
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:51):
I do, I do remember Open Yeah, yep.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
I came right down to Atlanta and they had us
set up somewhere and I sat down with both of
you and we talked about the film, and I was like,
it's been five years since I talked the KTI probably
don't even remember that conversation, but that is all right.
But I just thought it was so cool that we are.
It does, it does, and so much has changed since then.
(02:15):
So you have so much going on. You are the
epitome of a triple threat. We're talking acting, singing, directing.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
You are.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yes, you are the quintessential star for lack of a
better term.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
So the first thing I want appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Oh absolutely, The first thing I want to jump into
is this music. So I'm just scrolling through Instagram like
I always do, and you are one of the people
that I actually enjoy following because your your social media
account is it's just fun.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
It's fun.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
We get to see you travel, we get to see
you be a daredevil, you know, we get to see
you on set, behind the scenes. It's always a lot
of fun. And then I even caught this bop and
I said, hold.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
Oning Keith foolish love like hold doing Keith.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
We got a bop right here, and you said and
I was like, uh so you want to talk about it?
And you were like sure, So here we are, here
we are today, so let's talk about this new album.
So the new album Love Episodic two. When are we
expecting to get that?
Speaker 4 (03:28):
You expect you'll be getting at this fall Winner, Little
fall WINNERI ish one right when it's time to put
on your sweaters, in you and your turtlenecks, We're gonna
have hit you with a whole body of work.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
But I've been I've been leaking singles on.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
The album almost been a part of a year, so
I've been kind of teasing it, and I think now
is the right time to release the whole body work.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
I've been anxious, so I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
One of the things that you said that I thought
was really cool is you said, anytime that you go
into a new role, it usually ends fires new music
and your new role on Beyond the Gates as doctor did.
Richardson gave us this beautiful, beautiful R and B Ballot Forever.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Played, Yeah, exactly, That's what just fired. I mean to
be honest with you. The song had been in my
backpack for a while.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
It was partly about a true story based upon my
own personal relationship at the time that never came to fruition,
so I kind of tuck that song away, never to
be played again. And then along comes this role and
you know, like I said, I'm always looking for songs
that fit the role, and this song just kind of
really matched where my character Ted was with his wife Nicole,
(04:47):
and what better way to try to win her back
through and through a R and B record that reminds
them of their love and while they even got to
this space in the first place. So it kind of
worked out. It was kind of a you know, serendipity,
I guess. So that's what inspired for everybody. So it's
kind of a based on a half of a true
story in half of a fictional one.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
I Got you, I got you well.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
First things first, congratulations on joining.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
The cast up Beyond the Gates.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Now.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
One of my ICC friends wrote me when I told
them I was going to be talking to you, and
she said, I have a question for Keith. Okay, she said,
how is he handling the transition into Ted on Beyond
the Gates and then she said, I love the transition,
just wish Ted would stop entertaining Leslie.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Well, number one, it starts. I'm handling the transition.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Find the question is how is she handling the transition
along with the rest of the fans, because at first
it was definitely a transition for them.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
It was a knee jerk reaction.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I think when they said saw one Ted come in,
then I came in, you know, as who they know
from so many other things, so that was a that
was more of a transition for the fans than I.
So hopefully she's handling the transition well. But I think
what was the second part of the question.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
Again, she said, when you're gonna stop entertaining you know?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
You know now if I stopped entertaining the Leslie, then
it's not as entertaining. So it's like, it's all about
the drama. That's up to the writers. And uh, I'm
I'm having a lot of fun playing this role with
with uh, with with the opposite Leslie.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Tricia Grant.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
She's amazing, and I think people are really engaged in
just kind of upset and in the throes of why
does he keep falling in this same bear trap. So
you know, hey, we're gonna we're gonna drag it out
as long as y'all keep eating.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
I know that's real. You know, it's so funny when
you came.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
When you joined the show as Ted, I was like, oh,
they did the amp VIV with the fresh prints.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, it's the am VIV.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
But of the other things that I noticed fans of
the show are really going up for, aside from your
fantastic performance in this role, is the fits.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
If I see one more, you be wearing them suits. Bruh, bruh.
You'd be wearing them suits appreciation.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You know what.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
I love them.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I'll be trying to take them suits home with me.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
That's That's a shout out to Jureza Withers, who was.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
The UH is the UH. She's amazing.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
She's sister from from she came from Bolding, the beautiful
three time Emmy winner, and she's she's just survivable component
in the character of the show as we are.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
She's amazing. So she keep me looking right.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
I think when I first got on, people were like, well,
his clothes though, because we hadn't even by the time
I was on set. I hadn't even had a chance
to have a fitting or even meet with her. People
don't realize. So once we got in told we got
in the test flow, She's, uh, I'm always excited to
look at my clothes and see what we're gonna wear
that day.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Oh yeah, the fits be fitting? Now, Keith, you be you.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Be dressed and yes.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
So congratulations on season two and two hundred episodes.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
Y'all are rocking and rolling over there.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Ye definitely and roll in.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So I just wish you's much more successful with this. Now,
let's get back to this music, because one of the
things that I really appreciate you for is forgiving us
that what I consider real, authentic and the keyword is
authentic R and B music, and I.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Sincerely appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
I know I am talking to an Oscar nominated singer,
but I'm just saying, what are your inspirations or where
do you you know?
Speaker 5 (08:45):
I know you write all of your music. If i'm
you know, correct.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Me if I'm wrong, But yeah, you know, where do
you draw those inspirations from? I know you mentioned earlier
you know some things are real life and some things
are fictional. But just staying true to that authentic sound.
Is it a musical inspiration that you grew up with?
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Yeah, I think I'm a motown baby. I mean I'm
an R and B head. I mean, at a very
young age, my mother was a singer, my brother was
heavy into records. So my first learning of you know,
just and falling in love with music was with you know,
to Stevie Wonders and Michael Jackson's, Donnie Hathaway's and stings
and voice and me in Jodensy you know, commissioned the
(09:27):
whinings of a lot of R and B soul music
was heavy in my house as a at a very
young age, so that kind of got in me early.
H And then being raised in hip hop, you know,
from a hip hop baby too, so I think those
influences are deeply embedded in me.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
And then being a storyteller, I've always approached the music
from a lyrical standpoint as a story, you know, beginning
arc to an end. And I like to tell stories,
I mean, you know, I like to you tap into
my imagination when writing records and make sure it has
a strong storyline.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
So I think that has always informed me.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
I think whatever the times reflect as far as the
sound sonically, I mean, you know, with the afrobeats and
you know, heavy whatever that is.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
I kind of adapt to that.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
But the core of it is good old R and
B soul music that comes straight from the bosom, and
I can't shake it if I tried to it.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Gospel music is deeply in me.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
I grew up in the church, so uh, that's what's
always gonna peak my interest and that's what's always gonna
come out of me.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Is there is there a producer that you haven't worked
with yet that you would love to work with.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
There's a ton of them. I would love to work
with Pharrell, of course. I would love to work with
Raphael sat d All. I would love to work with
I mean you, I mean yeah, There's so many amazing
producers and even I know there's some cats out there.
I never heard of that adult, So I'm always attracted
to the beat. I mean, you know, whoever did it
(10:57):
don't matter to me?
Speaker 5 (10:58):
Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Now I know that you've collaborated with the one and
only mister Derek Blanks on your visuals.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
I cannot wait.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
To see this music video for Foolish. I cannot wait.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
It's a classic throwback to R and B love stories,
millennium millennial.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Style I like to call it. But Derek is just
great with the visuals.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
I did a photo shoot with him about six years ago,
so I sought him out for this video because I
wanted it to have the same cleaned and polished look
that we see on the show. So I kind of
wanted to be a little baby becausin of that, an
extension of that, and Derek was the right guy for
the job. And I can't wait for you guys to
see it. I mean, it's it's black love.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
In three D.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Absolutely now, Keith, I just have to ask you, and
I hope I don't catch you off guard with this,
but do you.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Realize that you are an icon? I mean, keep it real.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
You ain't got to be humble with me. I won't
tell no body, But do you really realize? Because when
I think about you, and I think about your career,
your longevity, when I think about your resume, every hot
television show that ever existed, you at least had a
guest starring role.
Speaker 5 (12:22):
That I'm down.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Huh.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Don't make me start running them down and get combative
with you.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
You said every hot team?
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Okay, Okay, okay, maybe not every but a large majority
of some of them. And I'm not talking about just
black shows for lack of a better term, I'm talking
about mainstream, top tier television. Keep Robison, Keith de Robinson,
and I'm just like, bro, like, how many people still
(12:52):
call you CC.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
I hear that, I hear that three times a week.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
I hear that, I hear that I got a couple
names out here.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
So I feel like that's a testament to, like say,
to the longevity.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
I feel very honored and blessed to be able to
say that because it's not an easy business to make
a career out of.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
So I've always taken a blue collar approach to it,
like I'm just a worker. Be I don't icon is
a little bit.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
I can't really wrap my brain around that for me
because I feel like I'm still trying to get all
my dreams out and be discovered.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
A lot of people don't know that I do music.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Like I do.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
So I'm I'm say that, but I don't know if
I can all the way take that in yet.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
I don't. I feel like I'm I'm.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
The same kid that drove out here and his late
teens trying to get on to be honest, and I
can take that same energy and drive towards every project.
So you know, icon, I mean I look at icons
like you know, Quincy Jones and Jamie Fox and these
guys that maybe one day I can sit at the
same table where I'm still.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
I understand.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
I think just my thought process is that we don't
necessarily give people the flowers that they deserve until it's
hindsight or it's after the factor, it's you know, a
dove behind their name, and you know, I just feel
like sometimes we don't really put the accolades or the
(14:25):
risk and or put some respect on it, as Birdman
would say, the way that weed and I just you know,
I know, icon may feel really big to you, but
for me, I just people who impact our lives like
good Grief, like you were the Green Ranger bro, Like
I mean, you know, and I guess that's a testament too,
(14:48):
you know, your longevity, just the fact that you go
into everything with that humble mindset and with that open
heart and with the desire to create.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
Yeah, for sure, that's exactly the bond said for me
for me going on projects, But I feel lucky that
there's a lot of projects that I have done that
are staples in people's lives, and that just that's just
God's grace. I have nothing to do with the trajectory
or all out here rolling the dice every day, walking
in rooms, sending in tapes, trying to be seen, trying
to get noticed.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
And it's worked out for me a few times.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So let me ask you this, because you know we
live in the Year of our Lord twenty twenty five.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
How is keep taking care of himself?
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Well, I mean, I think I think, I'm I'm I'm growing,
I'm always bigg into the physical of it. I mean,
I'm real stickling about being in the gym, staying in
the gym and watching my diet. I'm I think the
older you get, the more you kind of are able
to prioritize what deserves your energy and what doesn't. Uh.
You know, you become more confident, more resolute in your
(15:51):
fate and your shoes, and you know that you know
you've seen you've seen this storms before.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
You've got through them, and you know you know that
just comes with maturity.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
But I think that's my biggest thing has always been
the physicality, working out and taking care of my body
has always been point A for me, and everything else
kind of stems from that, you know, mind, body and
soul and uh, just.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Try to keep stay away from the riff raft you
know what I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Yes, yes, sir, absolutely, yes, indeedy yeah, definitely understand that.
So do you have any special plans for I mean
now right now we have for every day we have.
Both of these songs are literally like they are top
tier songs. I absolutely love them. Keith, do you have
(16:39):
any plans now you're gonna be performing? I've just realized
you're gonna be a city winery on Monday here in Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Yeah, that's quick. I mean I'm going in there real quick.
My man Quinn is headlining. I'm the special guests.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
He literally called me about that last night and I'm
just gonna I'm gonna go in there and do the
single and then have a little fun with the band
and sitting with the band and do a couple of
records of record or two. But I am coming, but
I'm going to do a full set We're looking at
I'm looking at in October, November and Atlanta and then
go going out from.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
There because I'm gonna drop a Christmas record as well.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
So I'm just I'm just trying to service the people
with all the empty my backpack, with all the records
that I've been holding on to for a long time.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Really feed the people that music could. Don't let it.
Don't let it burn a hole in that book bag man. Amen,
we deserve that music.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
Hey, I'm ready to get it to you for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Absolutely absolutely well. I sincerely appreciate you taking time to talk.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
To me today. This.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
It's really a fun conversation as I knew it would be.
I mean, it's you. But I am so excited for
this new music that we are receiving. I'm excited about
these visuals that are coming. Just please any way that
I could support, any way that I can help. I
am here, I am here, I am so proud.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Thank you so much, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Thank you for being someone that we can look at
and be like, that's my damn boy.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
No doubt, I'm him, I'm him, I'm that guy. Make
sure you the video.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
The video comes out September to fifteenth, that's a Monday,
that's a week from Monday. And then the song for
every Bay is going to air on the show Beyond
the Gates on the sixteenth as part of the storyline,
so make sure you lock in for those and uh,
you know, Foolish Love for Every Bad is available on
all digital platforms, so let your peoples know how that means.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Hope, I'll be in a city near near you sooner
than later.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
Yeah, ring the alarm when you come to Atlanta because because.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Well yeah, just wait.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
You know, I'm in the A, so I'm gonna be
around now, so I'll let you know. You know, we
were shooting La in the A. So yeah, I'm Ellen
West Coast right now. But we we We're back to
work top of the week.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Okay, all right, so you have safe travels as you
go to your next destination. But thank you so much
for just being so kind and just taking the time
out to talk to me today.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
This is truly I appreciate you. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
Oh, no problem, have a great day, alright you.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Too, Bye bye bye bye come Sae
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Comma
Coma ice coma.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
But but on the grind all day, every day, ice
cream combos always real. They never play download up podcast
listen on any day?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Why didn't not do this sooner?
Speaker 4 (00:23):
On that thing?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
And ever say exam r best host of all time?
All of the faithful listeners will say.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
They never alive check every story.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
They run like me with the Brahms Win not the
Social Report anything.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
It should be a crime entertainment news year.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I gotta get mine from I C C.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
And you should be in Klin to do the same
if you got half a mind, I do go sn
this lady to shine like Franking Stein tell it to
day designed ice creamcombos, dot com tune in this influence
fluent but ice cream comtimes.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Well, I am super excited to be talking to you.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I already know you need no introduction, so we're not
even going to play around like that. But Keith, you
know what I thought about when I was preparing for
today's interview, Well, our conversation.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
What were you thinking about?
Speaker 5 (01:29):
The last time.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I talked to you was before the world completely went
to shi, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
I interviewed you in twenty twenty about.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Your family, about what film Open, You and Essence Open.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
Oh woll you remember Open now?
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:51):
I do, I do remember Open Yeah, yep.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
I came right down to Atlanta and they had us
set up somewhere and I sat down with both of
you and we talked about the film, and I was like,
it's been five years since I talked the KTI probably
don't even remember that conversation, but that is all right.
But I just thought it was so cool that we are.
It does, it does, and so much has changed since then.
(02:15):
So you have so much going on. You are the
epitome of a triple threat. We're talking acting, singing, directing.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
You are.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yes, you are the quintessential star for lack of a
better term.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
So the first thing I want appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Oh absolutely, The first thing I want to jump into
is this music. So I'm just scrolling through Instagram like
I always do, and you are one of the people
that I actually enjoy following because your your social media
account is it's just fun.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
It's fun.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
We get to see you travel, we get to see
you be a daredevil, you know, we get to see
you on set, behind the scenes. It's always a lot
of fun. And then I even caught this bop and
I said, hold.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
Oning Keith foolish love like hold doing Keith.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
We got a bop right here, and you said and
I was like, uh so you want to talk about it?
And you were like sure, So here we are, here
we are today, so let's talk about this new album.
So the new album Love Episodic two. When are we
expecting to get that?
Speaker 4 (03:28):
You expect you'll be getting at this fall Winner, Little
fall WINNERI ish one right when it's time to put
on your sweaters, in you and your turtlenecks, We're gonna
have hit you with a whole body of work.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
But I've been I've been leaking singles on.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
The album almost been a part of a year, so
I've been kind of teasing it, and I think now
is the right time to release the whole body work.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
I've been anxious, so I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
One of the things that you said that I thought
was really cool is you said, anytime that you go
into a new role, it usually ends fires new music
and your new role on Beyond the Gates as doctor did.
Richardson gave us this beautiful, beautiful R and B Ballot Forever.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Played, Yeah, exactly, That's what just fired. I mean to
be honest with you. The song had been in my
backpack for a while.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
It was partly about a true story based upon my
own personal relationship at the time that never came to fruition,
so I kind of tuck that song away, never to
be played again. And then along comes this role and
you know, like I said, I'm always looking for songs
that fit the role, and this song just kind of
really matched where my character Ted was with his wife Nicole,
(04:47):
and what better way to try to win her back
through and through a R and B record that reminds
them of their love and while they even got to
this space in the first place. So it kind of
worked out. It was kind of a you know, serendipity,
I guess. So that's what inspired for everybody. So it's
kind of a based on a half of a true
story in half of a fictional one.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
I Got you, I got you well.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
First things first, congratulations on joining.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
The cast up Beyond the Gates.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Now.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
One of my ICC friends wrote me when I told
them I was going to be talking to you, and
she said, I have a question for Keith. Okay, she said,
how is he handling the transition into Ted on Beyond
the Gates and then she said, I love the transition,
just wish Ted would stop entertaining Leslie.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Well, number one, it starts. I'm handling the transition.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Find the question is how is she handling the transition
along with the rest of the fans, because at first
it was definitely a transition for them.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
It was a knee jerk reaction.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I think when they said saw one Ted come in,
then I came in, you know, as who they know
from so many other things, so that was a that
was more of a transition for the fans than I.
So hopefully she's handling the transition well. But I think
what was the second part of the question.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
Again, she said, when you're gonna stop entertaining you know?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
You know now if I stopped entertaining the Leslie, then
it's not as entertaining. So it's like, it's all about
the drama. That's up to the writers. And uh, I'm
I'm having a lot of fun playing this role with
with uh, with with the opposite Leslie.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Tricia Grant.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
She's amazing, and I think people are really engaged in
just kind of upset and in the throes of why
does he keep falling in this same bear trap. So
you know, hey, we're gonna we're gonna drag it out
as long as y'all keep eating.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
I know that's real. You know, it's so funny when
you came.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
When you joined the show as Ted, I was like, oh,
they did the amp VIV with the fresh prints.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, it's the am VIV.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
But of the other things that I noticed fans of
the show are really going up for, aside from your
fantastic performance in this role, is the fits.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
If I see one more, you be wearing them suits. Bruh, bruh.
You'd be wearing them suits appreciation.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You know what.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
I love them.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I'll be trying to take them suits home with me.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
That's That's a shout out to Jureza Withers, who was.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
The UH is the UH. She's amazing.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
She's sister from from she came from Bolding, the beautiful
three time Emmy winner, and she's she's just survivable component
in the character of the show as we are.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
She's amazing. So she keep me looking right.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
I think when I first got on, people were like, well,
his clothes though, because we hadn't even by the time
I was on set. I hadn't even had a chance
to have a fitting or even meet with her. People
don't realize. So once we got in told we got
in the test flow, She's, uh, I'm always excited to
look at my clothes and see what we're gonna wear
that day.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Oh yeah, the fits be fitting? Now, Keith, you be you.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Be dressed and yes.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
So congratulations on season two and two hundred episodes.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
Y'all are rocking and rolling over there.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Ye definitely and roll in.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So I just wish you's much more successful with this. Now,
let's get back to this music, because one of the
things that I really appreciate you for is forgiving us
that what I consider real, authentic and the keyword is
authentic R and B music, and I.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Sincerely appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
I know I am talking to an Oscar nominated singer,
but I'm just saying, what are your inspirations or where
do you you know?
Speaker 5 (08:45):
I know you write all of your music. If i'm
you know, correct.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Me if I'm wrong, But yeah, you know, where do
you draw those inspirations from? I know you mentioned earlier
you know some things are real life and some things
are fictional. But just staying true to that authentic sound.
Is it a musical inspiration that you grew up with?
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Yeah, I think I'm a motown baby. I mean I'm
an R and B head. I mean, at a very
young age, my mother was a singer, my brother was
heavy into records. So my first learning of you know,
just and falling in love with music was with you know,
to Stevie Wonders and Michael Jackson's, Donnie Hathaway's and stings
and voice and me in Jodensy you know, commissioned the
(09:27):
whinings of a lot of R and B soul music
was heavy in my house as a at a very
young age, so that kind of got in me early.
H And then being raised in hip hop, you know,
from a hip hop baby too, so I think those
influences are deeply embedded in me.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
And then being a storyteller, I've always approached the music
from a lyrical standpoint as a story, you know, beginning
arc to an end. And I like to tell stories,
I mean, you know, I like to you tap into
my imagination when writing records and make sure it has
a strong storyline.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
So I think that has always informed me.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
I think whatever the times reflect as far as the
sound sonically, I mean, you know, with the afrobeats and
you know, heavy whatever that is.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
I kind of adapt to that.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
But the core of it is good old R and
B soul music that comes straight from the bosom, and
I can't shake it if I tried to it.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Gospel music is deeply in me.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
I grew up in the church, so uh, that's what's
always gonna peak my interest and that's what's always gonna
come out of me.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Is there is there a producer that you haven't worked
with yet that you would love to work with.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
There's a ton of them. I would love to work
with Pharrell, of course. I would love to work with
Raphael sat d All. I would love to work with
I mean you, I mean yeah, There's so many amazing
producers and even I know there's some cats out there.
I never heard of that adult, So I'm always attracted
to the beat. I mean, you know, whoever did it
(10:57):
don't matter to me?
Speaker 5 (10:58):
Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Now I know that you've collaborated with the one and
only mister Derek Blanks on your visuals.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
I cannot wait.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
To see this music video for Foolish. I cannot wait.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
It's a classic throwback to R and B love stories,
millennium millennial.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Style I like to call it. But Derek is just
great with the visuals.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
I did a photo shoot with him about six years ago,
so I sought him out for this video because I
wanted it to have the same cleaned and polished look
that we see on the show. So I kind of
wanted to be a little baby becausin of that, an
extension of that, and Derek was the right guy for
the job. And I can't wait for you guys to
see it. I mean, it's it's black love.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
In three D.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Absolutely now, Keith, I just have to ask you, and
I hope I don't catch you off guard with this,
but do you.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Realize that you are an icon? I mean, keep it real.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
You ain't got to be humble with me. I won't
tell no body, But do you really realize? Because when
I think about you, and I think about your career,
your longevity, when I think about your resume, every hot
television show that ever existed, you at least had a
guest starring role.
Speaker 5 (12:22):
That I'm down.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Huh.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Don't make me start running them down and get combative
with you.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
You said every hot team?
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Okay, Okay, okay, maybe not every but a large majority
of some of them. And I'm not talking about just
black shows for lack of a better term, I'm talking
about mainstream, top tier television. Keep Robison, Keith de Robinson,
and I'm just like, bro, like, how many people still
(12:52):
call you CC.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
I hear that, I hear that three times a week.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
I hear that, I hear that I got a couple
names out here.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
So I feel like that's a testament to, like say,
to the longevity.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
I feel very honored and blessed to be able to
say that because it's not an easy business to make
a career out of.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
So I've always taken a blue collar approach to it,
like I'm just a worker. Be I don't icon is
a little bit.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
I can't really wrap my brain around that for me
because I feel like I'm still trying to get all
my dreams out and be discovered.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
A lot of people don't know that I do music.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Like I do.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
So I'm I'm say that, but I don't know if
I can all the way take that in yet.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
I don't. I feel like I'm I'm.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
The same kid that drove out here and his late
teens trying to get on to be honest, and I
can take that same energy and drive towards every project.
So you know, icon, I mean I look at icons
like you know, Quincy Jones and Jamie Fox and these
guys that maybe one day I can sit at the
same table where I'm still.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
I understand.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
I think just my thought process is that we don't
necessarily give people the flowers that they deserve until it's
hindsight or it's after the factor, it's you know, a
dove behind their name, and you know, I just feel
like sometimes we don't really put the accolades or the
(14:25):
risk and or put some respect on it, as Birdman
would say, the way that weed and I just you know,
I know, icon may feel really big to you, but
for me, I just people who impact our lives like
good Grief, like you were the Green Ranger bro, Like
I mean, you know, and I guess that's a testament too,
(14:48):
you know, your longevity, just the fact that you go
into everything with that humble mindset and with that open
heart and with the desire to create.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
Yeah, for sure, that's exactly the bond said for me
for me going on projects, But I feel lucky that
there's a lot of projects that I have done that
are staples in people's lives, and that just that's just
God's grace. I have nothing to do with the trajectory
or all out here rolling the dice every day, walking
in rooms, sending in tapes, trying to be seen, trying
to get noticed.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
And it's worked out for me a few times.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So let me ask you this, because you know we
live in the Year of our Lord twenty twenty five.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
How is keep taking care of himself?
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Well, I mean, I think I think, I'm I'm I'm growing,
I'm always bigg into the physical of it. I mean,
I'm real stickling about being in the gym, staying in
the gym and watching my diet. I'm I think the
older you get, the more you kind of are able
to prioritize what deserves your energy and what doesn't. Uh.
You know, you become more confident, more resolute in your
(15:51):
fate and your shoes, and you know that you know
you've seen you've seen this storms before.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
You've got through them, and you know you know that
just comes with maturity.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
But I think that's my biggest thing has always been
the physicality, working out and taking care of my body
has always been point A for me, and everything else
kind of stems from that, you know, mind, body and
soul and uh, just.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Try to keep stay away from the riff raft you
know what I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Yes, yes, sir, absolutely, yes, indeedy yeah, definitely understand that.
So do you have any special plans for I mean
now right now we have for every day we have.
Both of these songs are literally like they are top
tier songs. I absolutely love them. Keith, do you have
(16:39):
any plans now you're gonna be performing? I've just realized
you're gonna be a city winery on Monday here in Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Yeah, that's quick. I mean I'm going in there real quick.
My man Quinn is headlining. I'm the special guests.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
He literally called me about that last night and I'm
just gonna I'm gonna go in there and do the
single and then have a little fun with the band
and sitting with the band and do a couple of
records of record or two. But I am coming, but
I'm going to do a full set We're looking at
I'm looking at in October, November and Atlanta and then
go going out from.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
There because I'm gonna drop a Christmas record as well.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
So I'm just I'm just trying to service the people
with all the empty my backpack, with all the records
that I've been holding on to for a long time.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Really feed the people that music could. Don't let it.
Don't let it burn a hole in that book bag man. Amen,
we deserve that music.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
Hey, I'm ready to get it to you for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Absolutely absolutely well. I sincerely appreciate you taking time to talk.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
To me today. This.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
It's really a fun conversation as I knew it would be.
I mean, it's you. But I am so excited for
this new music that we are receiving. I'm excited about
these visuals that are coming. Just please any way that
I could support, any way that I can help. I
am here, I am here, I am so proud.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Thank you so much, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Thank you for being someone that we can look at
and be like, that's my damn boy.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
No doubt, I'm him, I'm him, I'm that guy. Make
sure you the video.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
The video comes out September to fifteenth, that's a Monday,
that's a week from Monday. And then the song for
every Bay is going to air on the show Beyond
the Gates on the sixteenth as part of the storyline,
so make sure you lock in for those and uh,
you know, Foolish Love for Every Bad is available on
all digital platforms, so let your peoples know how that means.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Hope, I'll be in a city near near you sooner
than later.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
Yeah, ring the alarm when you come to Atlanta because because.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Well yeah, just wait.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
You know, I'm in the A, so I'm gonna be
around now, so I'll let you know. You know, we
were shooting La in the A. So yeah, I'm Ellen
West Coast right now. But we we We're back to
work top of the week.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Okay, all right, so you have safe travels as you
go to your next destination. But thank you so much
for just being so kind and just taking the time
out to talk to me today.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
This is truly I appreciate you. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
Oh, no problem, have a great day, alright you.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Too, Bye bye bye bye come Sae
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Comma
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.