July 24, 2023 • 63 mins
As we journey through the world of entertainment, it's not every day that we have the privilege of having an open and honest conversation with someone as dedicated and multi-talented as Meelah Williams of the legendary 90's R&B group. "702." Our chat with her didn't just revolve around the glitz and glamour of the music industry; it spanned personal struggles, parenthood, advocacy, and plans of making a significant impact on the lives of special needs children. From her early days in high school to her transition as the lead singer of 702, Meelah shares in detail the dynamics of working in a group and how her experiences have shaped her into the person she is today.
Motherhood, as we know, is a game-changer, and for Meelah, it's been a journey of personal sacrifices and immense growth. She speaks candidly about her experiences raising her autistic son, the obstacles she's faced, and how these experiences prompted her to become an advocate for special education. As the author of the children's book "Zac's Favorite Socks," she shares how her son's journey inspired her to use her platform to raise autism awareness and provide resources to parents in similar situations.
However, life has not always been a bed of roses for Meelah. She opens up about her personal struggles, including the challenges of balancing her career and raising her son alongside her child's father, Musiq Soulchild . But despite the hurdles, she's optimistic about the future and shares her grand vision for a project dedicated to supporting special needs children. As we reflect on her career highlights, it's clear that behind the celebrity façade is a determined, resilient woman who uses her experiences to impact lives positively. We hope her story inspires you as much as it has inspired us.
SUBSCRIBE!
Visit Sanya On-Air Celebrity Interviews:
Site: https://www.sanyaonair.net/
Follow: IG @Sanya_OnAir
Shop:
Sanya On-Air Apparel: https://sanya-on-air.creator-spring.com
InstaCart: https://instacart.oloiyb.net/c/2932145/1447547/7412
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the InstaCart link.
Production Credits:
Theme Song: Heisman
Digital Studio Design Team: Renaissance Management Services & Studio of Design
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sanya (00:08):
I'm going to turn it off.
I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm,I'm.
Meelah (00:24):
I'm, I'm MPT.
How are?
Sanya (00:32):
you.
Meelah (00:39):
I'm great.
Sanya (00:41):
I'm great, I'm, I'm Bean, I'm Boah.
You are people like me.
Do you even understand that?
Meelah (01:00):
Um, probably not.
I'm grateful, though.
I mean, no, I'm super humble.
Thank you in honor to gosh.
I mean, I never know how totake that.
Thank you so much.
I'm grateful.
That's just like a hugeblessing.
You know what I mean Like tohave had the opportunity to have
(01:20):
people like yourself even feellike that.
It's just like yes, yes, really.
Sanya (01:26):
Yes, really, and that speaks volumes to who you are as
an artist, because you startedcreating music when you were
still in high school.
Yes, and we're grown and we'restill singing the lyrics till
today.
Meelah (01:41):
I know which is crazy.
I'm so grateful for that.
Like there's been like thiswhole resurgence, if you will,
of, like, I guess, the 90s era,and so I'm just like, okay, I'll
take it, come on back.
I'm grateful, like it's weird,it's a blessing because, you
know, social media isinteresting.
(02:02):
It's weird, it's a differentthing.
It wasn't around when I wasaround and so I have this
love-hate relationship withsocial media.
But it's so cool because it cando things like create the songs
to all of a sudden go viral andall the right type of stuff and
just kind of I don't know, itintroduces the younger
(02:23):
generation, you know, to ourmusic.
I'm just grateful for all ofthat because it's been like 25
plus years.
Yes, yes.
Sanya (02:32):
Yes, it's just crossing generations, because I'm a
15-year-old woman and I have a28-year-old daughter and we are
both listening to Get itTogether and I'm like hello, I'm
telling you.
You know, I was.
As I was preparing for thisconversation, I said you know, I
(02:54):
was singing these lyrics when Iprobably didn't even know what
they meant.
For example, you don't know thepain that I feel.
You're taking my love forgranted and you just want to see
it your way.
Why was I singing that song asa teenager?
Meelah (03:14):
I was singing at a mass.
No, you know, it's a funnystory.
It's funny to say that becauseI was like 17.
Irish, which meant LaMisha, andI were like 17, which meant
Irish 12 was like 15.
She's two years younger than us.
It's so bizarre.
We laugh about it now but wesay, you know, like when I sing
it live, I always say that I'mlike I had no idea what I was
singing about.
(03:35):
And we literally recorded thatsong in the middle of the school
year.
We flew straight from Vegasright after school to a session
in LA and in between takes wewere doing homework and Donnell
Jones wrote and produced thatrecord and it took me three.
It took three days for us tocomplete that song, which was so
(03:56):
simple in my mind.
I'm like this is such a simplesong and I thought, you know, I
thought I had done a great job,but it wasn't.
I wasn't delivering how heneeded me to, but there was a
message to his madness I justwant to.
But I think I was so young andhadn't had that experience that,
even though I may have soundedgood, he needed that pain and
(04:16):
friction and that emotion.
Sanya (04:17):
Yes, and I was like.
So, as a grown woman, can younow relate to that song a lot
better and differently.
Let me take my glasses off forthis.
Meelah (04:27):
You can see my face.
Girl, I say that live too.
I'm like.
Now I can.
I can sing it 10 times over and, unfortunately, probably have
been through this song.
Yes, it's the words.
I'm like.
Sanya (04:51):
So you mentioned working with Donnell Jones.
That's huge.
I love him.
He said talk about theexperience in the studio, so he
wanted you to tap into him youremotion a little bit more with
the song.
Get it together.
Share another story working inthe studio with Donnell Jones.
Meelah (05:09):
Okay, so he's gonna kill me.
But I have since told him.
I don't know if he remembers,but it's so bizarre.
Initially we had never workedwith him before.
I was a fan, of course, but Ididn't really know how he was as
a writer, producer.
He had us well, he had what mylet me speak for my stuff.
My memory was he had me, ofcourse, we doing things over and
(05:31):
over.
I was used to that.
That's fine process ofrecording, but he had an
interpreter, like he had someonespeaking to me as he whispered.
He was like I was recording andthen they'd what I was like.
(05:52):
You're right there, like what'shappening, but I love him.
Sanya (05:57):
It happens a lot, though, in the industry.
Meelah (05:59):
It was so bizarre, but you know what I've learned?
That people who are geniuses,such as himself, they are a
little different.
You know, and it balances out.
But I love him so much, so kind.
He's out here in Atlanta onebased as well.
So we run into each other fromtime to time.
(06:19):
I ran into him recently, a fewmonths back for a.
We both were doing somethingfor St Jude's, for cancer, for
children, and he's always sojust consistent every time I see
him.
He did an event for me back inthe day for my foundation,
didn't ask me for anything, justshowed up for me and you know I
(06:39):
appreciate it.
He said the cause was near anddear to his heart and he showed
up for me and saying I'm justlike this is what it's about,
you know, it's like about payingfor it and we should be able to
show up for each other in ourtime of need.
I know he's just a cool dude,you know.
So I'm just happy to see himout touring his stuff again and
(07:00):
getting the flowers that hedeserves, because he's really
talented.
Sanya (07:03):
Yeah, and I'm glad to see a whole bunch of artists
getting the flowers that theydeserve, especially you and 702.
I just want to kind of rewindthe time clock just a little bit
, because I know that as kids weare always having these big
dreams of becoming someone.
Did you become who you thoughtyou would be when you were
(07:26):
dreaming as a kid?
Meelah (07:28):
Yes and no, because although I love to sing as a kid
, I've been singing since I wasseven.
That's the first time I sang ona microphone which was in
church and the church choir waslike my first solo at like seven
years old.
So I learned then that I reallyenjoyed singing and then I
maybe had, you know, a knack forit.
You know, if you will, I'm nothalf-cadetist, but I never knew
(07:55):
if I wanted to necessarily belike a big music star.
I just knew I wanted to dosomething on television or
something in broadcasting orjournalism.
I wanted to go to college,because it's all.
My sister go to college.
She was an HBCU so I was livingvicariously through her.
But then 702 happened.
But I just always knew I wantedto do my mom make she rest in
(08:15):
peace.
Past in October.
She would always tell me that Ialways told her as a little
girl I'm gonna buy you a bigmansion and I'm gonna be rich.
I don't remember saying, Idon't remember the same areas,
but I guess I always knew Iwanted to do something great.
I had no idea would lead tothis with 702 absolutely not.
(08:39):
I was always a one-man band.
I sang throughout elementaryand my mother had me singing all
throughout Vegas as a younggirl.
I performed all kind of talentshows and fashion shows.
I was model and sing.
My mom just had me prettyactive as a young girl.
Once we realized that that Idid have talent, he didn't force
(09:00):
me to do anything but I reallyenjoyed it.
But I wasn't certain.
But I also was good in schools.
I wasn't certain that I wantedto be a big singing star.
No, I wanted to go to collegeand I wanted to do like I said
broadcasting or journalism or bean attorney.
Sanya (09:16):
So when did life take a shift where you said you know
what I want to do thisprofessionally and who helped
you make that transition tosinging professionally?
Meelah (09:25):
So I went in the studio for the first time when I was
like 13, like by myself.
I went in the studio andrecorded the demo I think I
recorded Whitney Houston'smiracle and I got frustrated
much harder than I thought and Iwas like I don't want to do
this anymore.
I quit in like 13 for like fiveseconds.
So then right.
(09:46):
So I got high school, which waslike a year later.
The years later I realized Ireally do enjoy singing all the
stuff at school.
You know the black and white.
And by the time I was a juniorin high school I switched
schools.
I changed over to a performingarts high school, which is where
(10:07):
I met my other two bandmates,lameisha and her sister, irish,
and they had just, they werealready signed to Motown and we
were so proud of them, like allof us at the school was so like,
oh my gosh, we got stars at theschool, like they were on no,
they're legit.
No, they were on BET with withDiane Simpson.
No, they're famous and the bandis there.
(10:29):
You know group of us.
We were so happy for them andthen all of a sudden they were
doing like I guess group, groupshifting and member member
changes and I auditioned.
They asked me to audition, Iauditioned and, yeah, I guess
sort of kind of not really, butsort of kind of you know the
short and the story where therest is history.
So wait a minute.
Sanya (10:48):
So they were already in a group, lameisha and Irish.
They asked you to audition.
You now join the group, but howdid you become the lead singer
then in somebody else's group?
Meelah (10:58):
oh, so that was not.
I don't think that was onpurpose.
That actually happened bydefault, unintentionally.
I do realize that.
I guess the executives realizedthat I had a particular sound,
maybe for me, you know.
Sanya (11:25):
I don't see you and I can barely hear you, as I don't
know if you're on a phone andsomeone's calling no, I
shouldn't be hold on.
I don't see you.
Can you?
I hear you, but I don't see you, okay that usually happens is
someone calling they'll just see, you know, I told no, I
(11:54):
shouldn't be.
Meelah (11:54):
You know everything.
It's blocked, everything offyes, don't see the picture.
Sanya (12:16):
I don't know.
I see you.
You said you told Brandon what.
Meelah (12:23):
I was having technical issues earlier.
I had no wifi for hours.
We had an outage in my area.
Sanya (12:28):
Oh, wow, you know what can leave the studio and then
try to come back in.
Yes, that's what I'll do, I'llmove you and then you come back.
Okay, so technical difficultiesit happens in podcasting.
So this is another podcastingtip Just get through it, just
(12:49):
keep on talking.
So that's like really an ahamoment for me.
I didn't even know.
So.
Mila, my own business in highschool.
She sees two girls, lamisha andIrish, starting a group and
they are successful.
They are reorganizing andadding more members to the group
.
They ask her to audition.
She does, and then she joinsthe group.
(13:11):
702 becomes 702.
Record label executives realizethat she has a voice talent and
makes her the lead singer.
That happens so often in a lotof groups where, when they start
the group, everyone thinks thatthey are going to be on the
same playing field.
Okay, you sing this verse, yousing that verse.
(13:34):
Okay, you got two verses, I'llget two verses.
That's how a lot of groupsinitially start and then
something happens and then oneof the members are pushed into
the forefront and then it causesdysfunction and tension amongst
everyone.
Okay, there you go.
Sorry about that, but you weretalking about the record label
(13:58):
pushing you to the forefront.
Meelah (14:01):
Right, pretty much so, yeah, when I joined.
So initially you know, it was afour girl group of quartet.
And then I joined and MichaelBivens decided to just only keep
myself.
Myself and another girlauditioned together and we both
were kind of like, you know, inthis gosh it was like a boot
camp, if you will, and we had toaudition to make sure that it
(14:22):
makes sense, to make sure wewere the right fit.
But instead of just keeping memaking it a trio so by the time
I was the only one that hadjoined the group I needed to now
get on these songs that werealready recorded before I joined
, to add me.
You know, just add me.
So I think initially the planwas to just bring me in as a to
(14:45):
help to assist with lead vocals,just just kind of bring in more
additional lead vocals, so itwasn't just all on one person.
But then I came in and then Ijust started leading the songs.
They put me on like just thebackgrounds first, and then of
course I'll come in and likesplit the difference between
(15:05):
LaMisha, who was already on thevocals, the leads, and she take
one, she take one.
You know they leave her on oneor whatever, and then I come in
and sing the other part so thatthere was an introduction of
this new girl.
But, ultimately it just likewent from me being on just one
verse to okay, one verse and abridge to okay, both verses,
(15:26):
both verses and a bridge, okay,the entire song.
And it didn't always happenthat way, but more often than
not that's what just theproducers and the executives
ended up just going with.
I think I mean, looking backnow as an adult and hindsight, I
think I just had a sound ofradio friendly sound that they
just were, I guess what is fancyit was, they fancied it and
(15:48):
they were just very.
It was something that clearlythey were looking for.
I don't know, I didn't listen,I was just trying not to get
replaced.
I'm like I was, I'm coming in,I'm coming in as a feeling, and
so everybody's replaceable in mymind, okay, right, it was like
I'm just doing my job.
But you know, unfortunatelydefinitely took its toll on on
(16:11):
the group, you know, becausethere was just all these
different dynamics and different, you know, we were young and
different feelings and everybodywas just kind of not
understanding what was happening, and I'm sure there were things
that we weren't being told, andyou know, goodness, it's a
shrewd business, you know, butat the end of the day though,
that's what it is.
It is a business.
And at that time it was kind oflike let me just shut up and do
(16:34):
as I'm told.
You know, now, of course, as awhole grown adult, I definitely
would have, you know, asked morequestions or challenged things
or, you know, maybe done thingsa little differently.
But at the time I'm just like,oh, okay, I just got here, okay,
I got to sing this, I got tosing that, I got to just singing
Right, right, right.
Sanya (16:51):
But that's an adult that you can kind of look back and
learn those lessons so that youcan now show up better.
And the music.
But do you find we see thishappening a lot when it comes to
groups?
So do you find that when groupsare dismantled, do you find
that it is because of the recordlabel or it's because of the
(17:13):
nuanced difficulties of peoplejust can't really work together?
Meelah (17:17):
It could be.
I think it's a little bit ofboth, you know, because we
started out, we are like, firstof all, I always say let me just
put the disclaimer out therethat we have way more great
times than that.
But it was not an easy road forme.
You know, I went through a lot.
I went through a whole lotactually, but thankfully, you
(17:41):
know, now we can talk about it.
You know, we've that's so oldand water under the bridge,
we've matured and we've forgivenand all that I could stuff.
You know I'm sure I wasn't theonly one who went through things
that I mean, we all have ourown stories and experiences.
But unfortunately I do feellike it's a little bit of both.
Because on the executive side,like I just explained, you have
the record label just kind oftelling you hey, this is what I
(18:03):
need you to do.
And then when you're with yourcounterparts, you guys have to
have one mind, body and soul andbe like joined at the hip.
You know we are.
You're not really allowed, whenyou're in a group, to have any
individuality, and when you do,you stick out like a sore thumb
and that's not the purpose ofbeing in a group back then
anyway, you know.
(18:23):
So it's just, it's just kind ofit creates this tension and
like this weird synergy, or lackthereof, you know, and there's
like animosity.
That just naturally happensover time, you know, especially
when you're developing andbecoming a young woman and
there's adolescence and you know, and you're really still trying
(18:44):
to find yourself and at the endof the day, like I'm just, you
know, you want to just do whatmakes sense in your mind, which
is your job, right, but that'sgoing to create discord and
dissension and just naturallyjealousy, you know, because one
is looking like, well, if you'resinging all the parts and then
(19:06):
it means you get more FaceTimeor whatever the case may be.
You know, you just startfeeling away.
But I mean, listen, I was thelead singer but I never felt
like it you know, aside fromusing my voice because and I
didn't have that type- ofattitude
but looking back, I mean now I'mlike maybe if I would have had
(19:27):
that type of attitude, I don'tknow, maybe we could have went
further, who knows?
But I was never a mean girl andI hate to say that,
unfortunately, you know, nicegirls finish last.
So and this is not to playvictim or be like I'm all
perfect, absolutely not.
We all had, I think, acontribution to the ultimate
(19:50):
demise.
But I came into a situationthat was already, you know,
established, a situation thatwas a family-originated group
and it just wasn't always theeasiest.
And then I come and, like yousay here, I come out of the blue
and become this Lee Singers,like you know, and that
(20:11):
naturally, stuff like thatthat's going to naturally create
, you know, some drama down theline.
You know what I'm saying, butlisten, I told them.
Since then I'm like listen, Iget how you guys felt, or how
you know, I can admit that.
Like I get how, if it was theother way around, I'm sure I
would have been the same way.
It's just a difference in how Iprobably would have approached
(20:34):
it.
But you know, we all havedifferent personalities, but
it's okay, things happen.
The great thing is we got greatclassic songs out of it.
You know what I mean.
We got some hits out of it andthe music is still going, so I'm
happy about that and the factthat we are good now, like
that's what really matters, youknow.
Sanya (20:52):
Yes, yes, and the numbers don't lie.
Those numbers really, reallysolidify 702 as legendary
artists and group.
Was there ever a point in timewhere you, and LaMisha and Irish
, felt like the industry didn'tgive you the recognition that
you deserved?
Meelah (21:11):
No, I don't feel like that.
You know, I just talked aboutthat yesterday briefly on my
live, which I never go live butI just felt I don't know.
I was like, why not?
Because I was already up.
I was already up bright out inBushytales.
I was like, oh, I'll go live.
I had just done anotherinterview.
So I went live and the wordunderrated came up and that word
(21:32):
is I get that word a lot, youknow, whether it's an interview,
whether it's a question posedas a question, or whether it's
from a fan or just in generalconversation.
And you know, I never really Idon't, I don't know, I don't
feel underrated.
I feel like what was supposedto happen for me happened.
You know what I mean.
I feel like the road.
(21:56):
Maybe I took some left turns,you know when.
Maybe I should have gone right.
But in my mind, and not to getall deep, but I always feel like
, hey, god knows what one canhandle, and I don't know that I
was supposed to achieve, youknow, an even higher level of
success than I already have.
I don't know that I would havebeen able to handle it, you know
(22:19):
.
So I'm like this is this, isthis was just my fate and it
just, you know, to me, likeyou're, like how you started out
with.
You know, are you aware of theimpact?
It's like I know, because themusic is still going, that we
were affected and how much issampled today, that you know we
(22:39):
did our job.
But I think it's just how I wasraised and just me trying my
best to really stay grounded andhumble, that I just don't allow
myself to get a little you knowaside myself.
Maybe maybe, maybe I don'trealize the impact because maybe
(23:01):
, as you just said, maybe weweren't acknowledged enough.
But I don't look at it likethat because I think there's so
many things that we haveaccomplished and that we were
acknowledged.
For that I'm I'm okay witheverything, like I'm kind of
like so all of this is still sosurreal to me.
It's so old now but it's stillso surreal.
(23:23):
And when I'm reminded about,you know, things like Good
Burger and the story littlesoundtrack, and you know things
that are just random but thatwere pretty awesome to be a part
of.
You know what I mean.
And you know, of course, thelegendary for the kids who
remember back in the day, thecousin Skeeter and being a part
of that whole you knowNickelodeon Good Burger
(23:45):
situation and I'm just likethose things are things that I
can, you know, recant and tellmy family, my smaller, you know,
the younger generation about, Iwould say my son, but he, you
know, he doesn't care, but youknow, but those like, like, you
know my niece, she's older now,she's graduated college, but
(24:11):
she's you know, she comes fromthat era of the cousin Skeeter
and you know those programs thatwere on when she was really
little, and I'm just excitedthat I can say, or something.
She wasn't pretty too, she wasmuch younger.
But Netflix, you know, is nowrunning like, say, moisha, and
if you blink, you missed this.
(24:32):
Yes, but in Sister, sister, buthey, if you turn that on and
you happen to, you know, justwatch it and binge it, you might
see your aunt.
You know what I'm saying andyou know things like that are
really cool to me.
You know what I mean.
Yes, we know there are aplethora of things that could
(24:53):
have been way more substantialand way bigger, absolutely.
But you know I'm not too mad atthe things that we did
accomplish, yeah, so I just tryto look at it.
I guess what I'm saying.
My final point is just, I'vegotten to a place in life now
where I'm truly grateful, andI've always been grateful.
I'm to the point now.
(25:13):
I'm like looking at life andjust things, as you know, not
empty, you know and the silverlining, which is like, do you
understand how many millions ofpeople in the world strive to be
famous singers?
And God chose little me, youknow.
Yeah, I'll take it, I will takeit.
Sanya (25:35):
But you know out of everything that you said what
really resonated with me andwhat has been proven to be true
your humility and your groundedand you are spiritually
connected, and I'm a firmbeliever too.
That's why I was smilingthroughout.
Everything she was saying iswhatever God has purpose for you
(25:55):
is purpose for you, and we justcan't be, like why didn't you
give me this?
He gave you such a plentifulcareer and life that we just
have to say thank you for whatyou did give me, because you
chose me and I'm not going tolie to you.
Meelah (26:10):
I went through a phase Don't get me wrong, I'm human.
I definitely was with a phase,probably in like my 20s, where I
was feeling like Tag, you know,like why are we doing that, or
why can't I do that, or I coulddo that.
You know what I mean.
I went through that for asecond for sure.
It felt like, well, I want tobe on that scale, like, but I
had to ultimately reallyunderstand that I had a larger
(26:30):
purpose.
Sanya (26:32):
Yeah.
Meelah (26:32):
Which was my son.
You know I prayed and asked Godnot to.
I said, look, god, I want a son.
Please give me a son.
Boom, Okay, you're having a son.
And I'm like, oh also, god,please don't don't let him have
autism.
Like I literally prayed forthat specifically.
God, please don't let my sonhave autism.
Because it was like it wasreally prevalent.
(26:53):
It was growing and growing, youknow, it was becoming more
popular.
And I'm just like I know boysit was kind of new to us, but I
knew that it was like, forwhatever reason, it's more
prevalent than boys.
And I'm like, oh, and, by theway, please don't let him have
autism.
And you know, god, I'm sure Godchuggled and you know I was mad
for a minute.
I'm like, didn't I ask him that?
You know, but it was like Irealize now that there was
(27:19):
there's just a greater designfor my life, you know, and
having a child on the spectrumhas completely shifted and saved
my life, because had I gone anyhigher on the scales of what
folks think 702 could have orshould have, or even Mila could
(27:42):
have or should have done, let metell you something I probably
wouldn't be sitting here talkingto you.
I don't know where I would be.
I'm just saying like I'm sograteful that I'm in my right
mind and not somewhere strungout and not somewhere.
You know, gosh, you know theaccessibility of all the crap
out there at such a young agethe narcotics, the drugs, the
(28:04):
sex drugs and rock and roll, asthey say.
My God, today, like yeah it washe had to.
I feel like he snatched me outlike real quick.
Sanya (28:12):
Let me let me balance.
Meelah (28:15):
Like, let me, I'm going to continue to bless my daughter
, but let me just pull her on inbecause I mean I probably could
have been if it wasn't for mymother and grandmother's prayers
.
I probably would have been awild child.
Sanya (28:27):
Yeah, you know, I say the same thing.
When I found out no, a fewyears after my daughter was
pregnant no, I think when shewas a teenager I looked at her
and I said she saved my lifebecause had I not given birth to
her, I probably would have beenthis wild child, listen.
Meelah (28:45):
I'm telling you, I was on my way, I was in my, I said I
had my son at 31 and I think Iwas 30 when I when I got
pregnant, and so yeah, likeright at 29,.
I was just wild out, oh yeah.
Sanya (29:00):
I was, I was.
I was a senior in college,about to graduate, and you know
college, you are really outthere.
Meelah (29:08):
That baby grounded me.
Sanya (29:10):
Yeah, grounded me, but you know what?
And on two occasions duringthis conversation you introduced
your mother.
You started talking about yourmother and in preparing for this
conversation, I was like, oh mygosh, that's something that we
have in common, because Irecently also lost my mom, I'm
so sorry.
Meelah (29:27):
Oh, my goodness.
Sanya (29:28):
But I wanted to take the opportunity because I'm always
thinking of ways of making surethat my mother's memory lives on
and I see her living on in theway that I interact with my
daughter.
What subconscious ways do youfind yourself mothering your son
and you're looking at him likemy mother used to do the same
(29:49):
thing to me?
Meelah (29:52):
It's a little bit of everything.
Oh gosh, yes, yes, I mean,first of all, I know if he could
really talk, bless his heart.
I know he, I'm sure he lets mehave it in his head all the time
.
I know, I know I get on hisnerves, without a shadow of a
doubt.
Just, I'm like a constantnitpick and I just can't help it
(30:13):
.
You know I'm wiping his faceconstantly.
I'm making sure he's got, youknow, moisturize on his elbows.
I mean it's just every littlething.
I'm like, lord, let me leavehim alone, I can't even help it.
And my mom was saying what shewasn't, as you know, in my face,
like that, but she was veryvocal and you know she was very
(30:34):
maternal.
Zach was like her baby.
I'm like my, you know, I knowyou, I know that's definitely
your second, your third childthat you never had.
But I'm like grandma, like Igot it.
You know I mean I got it.
No, let me do.
You know it's grandma.
So I'm like, okay, I see somuch in myself from my mom, like
Initially, you know I wanted to.
(30:56):
I wouldn't try to like downplayit or deny it, but I mean,
first of all, I look just likeher.
So I'm a twin, especially when,I put my glasses on, so it's
scary.
Sometimes I'm looking like, ohmy god, I look like that lady in
this, like I mean, which is abeautiful thing, it's just a
trip.
You know genetics.
But it's funny because, let me,she just recently told me.
She said Gosh, I see so much ofyour mom in you now, because I
(31:20):
was always the one in the groupthat was kind of quiet.
It wouldn't say, you know,wouldn't speak up, scared to
speak up, let me, she never hada problem speaking up.
She was always bold and vocaland that's my mom.
Mom was that way, no filter,you know.
Just my mom too.
Listen, just just say whatever,whatever, just not and not and
not taking a bit likeunapologetic about it, you know.
(31:41):
And so now I finally have that.
It took me 40 plus years to getthere, but I finally have that,
that being a that strong Womanwho is unafraid or unapologetic
to speak my truth and to justand not this is not to be
disrespectful to anyone in anyway but to finally, especially
(32:02):
in business, in a male-dominatedbusiness, be able to say, no,
I'm not going for that, or no, Idon't like it, or no, I refuse
to do that.
It took me a very long time toget there and I'm finally there
and so so funny.
Yeah, let me just own it.
The other day, one of our othershows, she was just like gosh.
I see Miss Marianne and you.
She's like I'm so proud of you.
Sanya (32:20):
You know I'm fine.
My mom transitioned.
Now, when I look at myself, I'mseeing a lot of my mom and me
as well.
This is how the legacy and thememory lives on, so I just
wanted to create a space here tolet your mother's memory live
on.
Thank you.
As I Spoke at my mom's funeral,that was the title of it, just
(32:42):
being unapologetically black.
Meelah (32:45):
Oh, wow true definition.
Look at that, yeah.
Sanya (32:49):
Have something in common, but you know.
Successful Singer businesswoman.
We are told that women canoften have it all, but it also
comes with sacrifices.
As a successful woman who isalso a mom, what sacrifices had
have you had to make?
Meelah (33:08):
Oh, my goodness, um.
So One of the main sacrificesI've made intentionally Was just
, you know, kind of putting mycareer on the back burner and
just kind of Choosing thingshere and there that I'll be a
part of or that I'll do, and andFocus it on my son, raising my
son, because although my mothermoved here to help me with him,
(33:30):
um, pretty much from the timethat he was born or like when he
was a really small child, Istill Would make certain that I
made time for my son, that Imade certain that he knew that I
was mom.
And you know, even though mymom, like she held it down of
course grandmas don't mind, butI never wanted her to.
(33:50):
First of all, I'm like thatthat isn't her responsibility.
She's here to help you, not to.
You know, take your place.
You know what I mean.
So I would make sure that therewas a time when I was going to
the studio every night, gosh atlike, um, I don't know after,
after, after I picked him upfrom school and after, like,
maybe, homework, um, and dinner,I go to the studio until like
(34:12):
four in the morning and Got home, got a few hours of sleep and
Was there to take him to school.
That was my job, not my mom's.
She would if I wanted her to,but I would never.
That wasn't her responsibility,you know so, and that happened
for like a whole year straight.
However, there were things thatthat I just put on pause.
(34:32):
Um, I always tell people I washaving this conversation the
other day.
I always tell people.
I say, listen, when I realizedthat my son needed me as much as
he does, I slowed all the waydown.
You know, um, I stopped runningout, you know, trying to catch
every audition and Running outtrying to be a part of, you know
, every event here in Atlanta.
(34:52):
Because, you know, in Atlanta,honey, we have lord, every day
is an event.
They have something, sayssomething every day, and
everybody has a red, blue, white, green, pink carpet.
It's always something happening.
Um, and I did that for a whileand I got burnt out and I
realized I'm like, listen, thisis not even, this isn't even me
anymore.
It just doesn't even make sense.
So I put a lot of things Offand just chose to just focus on
(35:14):
my son, to really be that motherto him.
So now I'm I mean, I'm back towork now.
Um, you know, with 702, and wetoured for a while, from like
2017 to 19, right before covid,but I slowed all the way down
intentionally because I had to.
I had to be there for my son,um, because his dad is also in
the industry and we both travelso much, but I'm like one of us
(35:38):
has to be his parent, you know,and you even asked to come here.
Yeah, I'm a firm believer inthat and so I chose to, you know
, just kind of fall back a bit.
Sanya (35:50):
And you kind of wasted over.
Your child's father is a musicsoul child, correct.
Meelah (35:56):
Yes, mm-hmm, so he's always busy as well, and so you
know we try to do our best atbalancing um Gosh career in
raising Zach, co-parentingtogether, but it's, it's it's.
It's not always easy, you know,but we've done a pretty good
job of maintaining Um you know,the friendship and being able to
(36:17):
sometimes still work togetherand still raise Zach.
So sometimes, like when mymother was still alive, we were
able to travel together and dothings together.
Um, but overall, like you know,he understands what I do for
Zach and he appreciated so much.
Like he knows that I go hardfor Zach, like he knows that I'm
, like I'm probably a little I'msure he tells me, okay, I'm a
(36:40):
little too overbearing, I know Iam, but Me too, it's okay.
I can't help it.
It's my only child, like I'msorry.
Sanya (36:49):
Yeah, I always get one.
I love on her every single day.
I don't help it, I just walk byand touch her.
Meelah (36:55):
Yes, and my son now's 14 .
So he's like a moody.
I'm about to go to ninth gradefreaking.
Oh, I pray for you highschooler and those vibes, oh,
it's like oh, that attitude is amess, but I don't care.
I still grab him and hug himand kiss him.
But yeah, his dad, his dad justlooks to be, as he shakes his
head, like, oh my god, more popfor son.
But he appreciates it though,because he knows.
Sanya (37:19):
He does.
Meelah (37:20):
He knows that I could very well Just throw him off on
someone you know and go hard inthe paint to be this ferocious
artist as well, but I've chosennot to even do that because I
just I have a lot of mom guilt.
I'm like I can't do it and Imean, and we talk about bringing
him with us, so eventually he'sjust gonna be on the road with
mom and dad, which makes themost sense, probably, anyway,
right, um, because we just wantto have our eyes on him, since
(37:42):
my mom is no longer, you know,here.
Um, you know, I'm just sooverprotective, so it's just
like, well, I guess you just gotto come with me and daddy.
Sanya (37:52):
I get it and no, it's not .
I love it.
Keep on doing it.
Love on your children.
Let me tell you Life is tooshort.
I don't this space that we'rein.
It's scary to me because peopleare here today and then gone by
tonight.
It's scary, so love on that youcan and another way that you
(38:13):
chose to love on zack.
You pinned a children's book inhonor of your son, zack.
Meelah (38:19):
Yes, favorite socks.
Talk about that.
I'm so excited about that.
It was something that, um.
So I always kind of wanted to dosomething more for children
other than just music.
So I'm like, what else can I do?
You know, um, I established thefoundation.
That's okay, that's cool.
It's like not okay, like that,that's more than okay, it's
awesome, it's it's nonprofitwork, and so that was just
(38:42):
really to raise awareness.
So I was like, okay, but nowwhat else can I do creatively?
You know, um, and so I loverhyming books.
You know, like dr Seuss cat andI love rhyming books.
I always have.
So I was like, well, I'm gonnawrite a rhyming book.
So zack loves collecting books.
He has Tons of books but hedoes not like to read them, he
just likes to look at thepictures.
(39:03):
And, um, he doesn't even likeme to read to the read read them
anymore to him when he wassmaller.
But you know, as we said, he's14 and moody, so he'd be looking
at me like, don't touch mybooks, leave them where they are
and don't try to read them tome.
He's so funny.
But, um, I was thinking like youknow what I think it'd be
really cool to add to hiscollection, like a book that is
mom wrote.
That mommy wrote, you know, andthis character is based on him.
(39:25):
Um, I wanted to be a series.
I'm gonna do another one andit's really just to kind of
introduce Autism.
I didn't really speak about itin this book specifically yet,
um, but I want and thischaracter actually is verbal,
you know, it's kind of theopposite of my son, but, as we
know, autism is a broad spectrum.
So, um, I want to, you know, doanother one, a continuation,
(39:47):
and kind of like a series, andthen another, um, children's
album to kind of go alongside itand, you know, just something
to hopefully Create for otherparents with with kids on the
spectrum or just special needs,children who enjoy Hearing books
, who enjoy reading books notlike my son, but who could be
like my son who just like tocollect them and keep them in
(40:09):
order and systematic order.
Sanya (40:12):
Yes, um but let me, this is so necessary Mila Let me just
tell you, this is definitelygoing to leave another one of
your footprints.
In this light, what most peopledon't know is I'm also an
educator.
I've been an educator for 20plus years.
Thank you, director of my highschool working with special
needs children.
Thank you, the lack ofawareness that's out there.
(40:38):
It is staggering that theseconcerns or development delays
in children.
It didn't just start yesterday,but the information sources are
so limited that parents don'treally know how to tap into it.
So you have just really, reallyhelped another population of
people and you don't even knowit.
(40:59):
So I need to tell you.
Well, thank you that you arehelping people.
I was in my school.
I work at a high school.
I went there and I said listen,if you have any small children,
please join this organizationcalled Proud.
Here is information resourcesthat you need.
Someone who looks like us, yes.
Meelah (41:21):
I know it's mind blowing .
I'm still learning every day,you know.
But what I have learned in my14 years of dealing with this
with Zach, it's ever changing,you know.
They change as they get older.
Sometimes they make progress,sometimes they don't.
Sometimes they make progressand then regress and then, you
know, it's a daily back andforth, you know, with children
(41:46):
on the spectrum.
But, as you mentioned, even ifthese children, even if they're
not on the autism spectrum,there are developmental delays
which constitute to learningdisabilities, which equate to
IEPs, and we don't all know ourparental rights and we don't all
understand, you know, what wecan add or subtract from these
(42:08):
IEPs, these individualizededucational plans for our
children.
We have the right I'm stilllearning but I know that there's
a lot of times especially, likeyou said, folks that look like
us we get overlooked or we get,you know, hushed as the parents.
They just wanna, you know, theyjust want to move on and get
your child through the day andthey don't feel like taking the
(42:30):
time out to really get to thebottom of what it is that your
child's strengths and orweaknesses are.
They will help them to have amore helpful, calming experience
while they're at school, youknow what I mean Like it's
stressful for those babies.
My son is not severe, but he'snot mild either.
You know he's out here, I don'tknow about in Vegas or where
(42:54):
you're in Vegas right yet.
Sanya (42:56):
I don't know about how?
Meelah (42:57):
Oh, okay, why don't?
I think I just swear,everybody's from Vegas.
Okay, I know it's differenteverywhere here in Georgia
there's different levels.
So he's like ASD two, level two, and so he's not fully
dependent on an adult, but he'snot fully independent.
You know he's not fully colddependent and not fully
(43:18):
independent.
So he still needs a lot of help.
But he's come a long way, butwe're still having to gosh do so
many things.
He's 14, but he still has to beprompted for a lot of things.
Most things, you know, he stillis developmentally in terms of
his comprehension on a maybethird grade level.
(43:39):
Maybe depends Gosh.
So it's just, it's interestingto say the least of how these
educational institutions, youknow they marginalize our
special education children.
Yeah, and we don't have a largevoice.
(43:59):
And Georgia, though I will saythe reason I am still here is
because they do offer a lot forchildren on the special men, for
special needs kids.
There are a lot of greatprograms out here and they are
free.
They are.
We've never even we've neverbeen in a tuition based school
(44:23):
and I mean I'm shocked to evensay that out loud, but that's
how God works, cause I didn'teven know how much I was gonna
be and I ended up living rightaround the corner.
I moved here from California andliterally right around the
corner from my house is thisregular elementary school, just
a normal elementary.
But they had a program forpre-K kids who were not
(44:47):
diagnosed with autism yet butwere just developmentally
delayed, with three and fouryear olds who knew?
And my child was, you know, wehadn't even gotten diagnosed yet
but he could go to thiselementary school right around
the corner at three years oldbecause he has some delays.
And I was doing research and Irealized I'm like, oh, I'm gonna
(45:09):
, I'm the whole cluster wherethe elementary, the middle
school and the pre and the highschool that he'll be going to
all have special like well, weknow they all have special
education but all have coursesfor children on the spectrum
from K yes, from K through 12.
(45:30):
And the curriculum is great andit's in a great area.
And I was just like, look atlike, how did that happen?
Sanya (45:39):
Nothing but what I'm telling you.
But you bring up a very goodpoint, because I had to do the
same thing when my daughter wasa little bit in elementary
school.
I had taken her out of privateschool, but I always wanted to
move to a neighborhood or areathat had resources for free,
Instead of paying this tuition.
(46:00):
It's there, it's available.
People just have to do research.
So I just wanted to, you know,just make sure that I magnify
that point to parents out therewho are looking for services for
their children.
Oftentimes you don't have topay for it.
Meelah (46:13):
Do your research, it is they just don't want us to find.
It takes time, they don't?
You have to be diligent.
Sanya (46:21):
Yeah.
Meelah (46:22):
It takes time and it does get overwhelming.
It does get tedious and tiringand frustrating for parents,
especially if you're a newparent.
You know, when I was a newparent, gosh I had, I had.
No, there's no guidebook forany of us.
But you know, I'm just likeGoogling and Googling and
Googling and researching,researching, researching, and
sometimes you do have to digdeep to find those grants and
(46:44):
those scholarships you know, orfor, maybe, the schools that are
tuition based, because, hey,maybe there isn't anything in
your area that's free and orthat is, you know, conducive to
the betterment of your child'sdevelopment.
So maybe you do have to gosomewhere, that where you have
to pay.
But, gosh man, it's really.
(47:08):
It's so layered.
It is because they're alsodifferent and all of our
children need different things.
I know, like in my son's school,they do, you know, autism,
those who are like advanced, youknow, like my son is not
high-functioning, high-maintenI'm thinking about his mother,
sorry, Just kiddingHigh-functioning but they have
(47:33):
like all different levels.
And then they have kids who areDowns.
You know, with Down syndrome,they have that their program
there as well.
It's just really cool, man, tosee the breakdown.
They offer all the therapiesbut, like with my son, it's cool
that they offer therapy atschool, but he needs more
therapy, you know.
So I have to go outside ofschool and do both and do the
(47:54):
private therapies as well.
Just do your research.
If you can get on state-funded,you know things in your state
and cities or where have youlike.
Medicaid like yes, apply for allof those things.
Don't be ashamed to do it.
You know it's our children'srights and they can have these
(48:14):
things.
They can have what's due tothem.
Like, I had to learn that thehard way, like the social
security and all that type ofstuff.
You know it's.
I had a woman tell me.
She told me it there, but shesaid I'm gonna be honest, we
don't know about these programs.
She was a black woman and shesaid I probably shouldn't be
(48:35):
saying this to you because Iwork here.
She said but I see a lot ofwhite families and parents come
in who are well to do and theyget all this help.
You know they apply for thesecertain waivers and these
certain things and they getthese.
You know all of these special,just different types of programs
(48:58):
that they get, like discountsand you know all of these
different and it's sad becausethose families that do really
need these types of resourcesand help we either don't know
about it or we just give up soeasily, because they do make it
hard sometimes.
Sanya (49:15):
Yeah.
Meelah (49:17):
They do.
Sanya (49:18):
So if people aren't able to find resources on their own,
I do want to point them in yourdirection, your organization
Proud, which stands for parentsreaching out to understand
developmental delays.
Yes, how can they join?
Meelah (49:36):
So right now Proud has a Facebook page, the Proud Inc on
Facebook, and it's really just.
You can go on there and inboxme, I'll check it and I read
them and I definitely try andget back to everybody.
The thing with Proud is thatwhen I started it I was so
(49:57):
active and there was a vigor inme to really just be a voice for
parents who didn't have a voice, especially because at the time
I was doing reality TV and Iwas so just kind of I wasn't
sure I wanted to share my storybecause that's sacred, it's very
private, it's your child.
But I'm so happy that I didbecause I ended up getting all
(50:19):
this new traffic of mothers,young mothers who have children
on the spectrum.
But when I tell you, I learnedfrom them and they motivated me
because their parents out therehave not one I only have one but
two and three children on thespectrum and I didn't even know
that that was possible, man.
And so I established Proud tojust be a voice and they said
(50:45):
thank you just for using yourplatform just to be a voice for
those of us that don't have avoice.
So Zach was really little and Ihad done a few concerts and a
few of my musical peers came andwe did some fundraising and,
like I said, one of them beingDonella at one of them and
something I did for parents likea mixer to just let your hair
(51:07):
down after five for especiallythese parents, it was so cool.
But I haven't done any eventsin a while because, I'll be
honest, I went through a hardtime.
I went through a hard time fora while.
This is my child walking in.
It got things, got real, it gottough.
(51:29):
It got tough and his dad and Iseparated and I was a single mom
, thank God.
I had my mom, but it just gothard and so, ok, thank you, zach
, you can turn it off.
You can hang up.
I just kind of gave up.
Thank you, closer to her, but.
Sanya (51:49):
I love seeing all of this .
I love to see you.
I'm looking at him like ohchild.
Meelah (51:55):
This is what I'm up to you off with the iPad, but I
understand what was justhappening.
That was my sister's voice.
This is the IT call, because ITcan't get through.
She's trying to figure out whatis your mother.
She's just making sureeverything's good.
We're good over here.
Yes, she knows I do interviewsand stuff here and there, but if
she can't reach me she'llFaceTime.
It takes a village.
(52:15):
So, yeah, anyway, I gotdiscouraged and that's not to
discourage anyone, but I justlike to be as transparent as
possible Because I don't want tobe up here Like it's so easy,
because it's not always easy.
It gets tough and I got alittle discouraged episode, but
I'm back now.
I'm rejuvenated.
(52:35):
So Proud is going to do somegreat things in the future.
We're planning to do Proud inthe park here in Georgia at some
point, and I have some folksout in Vegas that I've been
consulting with to do somethinggrand in Las Vegas, my hometown
for special needs, because Ihaven't done that and they
deserve it.
So at least we're starting withthe book.
(52:56):
I'm going to be in Vegas thisfall and I'm going to do I've
done so far book signing inTampa, florida, here in Atlanta,
of course, and then Vegas is upnext, so I'm really excited
about that.
Sanya (53:07):
So where can people purchase the book Zach's?
Meelah (53:10):
book.
Yes, thank you in advance forthose that have already
purchased.
Thank you all so much for thesupport.
So it's only online right now,but it will be in stores.
When I do in stores they'realways in store for me to sign
for you a signed copy.
But you can go toBarnesandNovelscom and purchase
it online and also, of course,amazon.
(53:31):
I know we've got some primersout there who love their Amazon,
so it's also on Amazon.
But you have to on Amazon.
You have to type it in Zach'sfavorite socks book.
Got it, zach's favorite socksbook on Amazon.
So it's on Amazoncom Zach'sfavorite socks book and
BarnesandNovelscom and type inZach's favorite socks.
Sanya (53:52):
Yes, got it, got it, got it.
Well, everyone, make sure thatyou go out online and purchase
Zach's favorite socks, and ifyou're looking for more
information a village, a people,a parent who are navigating the
world of mothering or parentinga child with developmental
delays please make sure that youreach out to Proud on Facebook.
(54:15):
What's up next with 702?
One quick question too Is Irishstill in the group, because
I've seen you performing, but Ihaven't seen her performing with
you.
Meelah (54:25):
Yes, unfortunately, irish is not well right now.
She's trying to deal with somepersonal issues.
She's not in a hospital oranything like that.
She just needed to take a break.
Take a moment.
She's not replaced.
She's not out of the group.
There is no replacement.
I'm not into that.
I just always, especially atthis age and stage in life, I
(54:47):
always feel like there can neverbe another, either one of us.
We've been doing this too long.
Yeah, yeah.
So she's not out of the group,that's for certain.
She's kind of good.
She's just kind of taking amental health break.
That's what I mean when I saynot well, just kind of dealing
with some mental health, wantingto rejuvenate.
Sanya (55:04):
It happens and I'm glad Listen.
Meelah (55:06):
You heard what I just said it definitely happens.
I'm like I wasn't well for aminute.
I needed to take a break andsit down and put Proud on pause.
Sanya (55:14):
I'm being a real mom.
You have to do that from timeto time.
You have to disconnect and makesure that your mental space is
healthy enough so that you canshow up successfully.
But the fans were here for it.
They were cheering you on whenyou were performing at Carnegie
Hall recently.
Meelah (55:30):
Yes, it was so awesome.
Thank you.
Yes, it was, man, I'm stillpinching myself.
That was a pinch me moment forsure.
I was just like Carnegie Hallis such a huge deal to me,
that's a career highlight.
I'm underrated where, excuse me.
Sanya (55:46):
I was just at.
Meelah (55:47):
Carnegie Hall.
Sanya (55:49):
One of my friends, that's huge.
Meelah (55:52):
We weren't even allowed to perform there as Black folks
right At that point.
So that to me resonated.
I'm like my grandmother and mymother watching me from heaven
and all of our ancestors, likeBrown Me, chocolate Brown Me is
on the stage.
(56:13):
It was awesome, that was so fun.
And we did Usher's Lovers andFriends Festival, which is super
huge as well, and I mean, thisis only his second year doing it
and we were invited this yearand, gosh, the turnout was so
awesome.
Oh my gosh.
That was just.
It was amazing just to see allthose people out there that they
showed up for us and they knewall the lyrics and they were on
(56:34):
their feet.
It was just.
It's a great feeling.
Sanya (56:39):
Let me I have a message for you, because one of my
friends she was seated in theaudience at Carnegie Hall and
when she found out that I washaving a conversation with you
today, she said please tell Milathat she gave me life.
Meelah (56:52):
Thank you.
Time says thank you, girl,because I was stressed out
leading up to it.
I was so nervous.
Sanya (56:59):
She was just like you.
Look amazing You're outfit,Thank you.
Meelah (57:04):
There's such a backstory with all that.
But thank you so much.
We believe it's in the closet.
Gosh, I'm like if these peopleknew the behind the scenes woo,
thank you, thank you, tell yourfriend.
Thank you so much.
That makes me feel so greatbecause it was.
You know, as females we gothrough a lot Just trying to
prepare for things and you know,I recently just I'm coming out
(57:25):
of a really dark place fromlosing my mother and gosh, I
just I had a hard time at thetop of the year.
So now, with God blessing mewith all of these blessings,
with 702 being super busy, and Ijust I'm so grateful.
You know, I'm grateful to Godbecause I know it's him and my
mom up there like, all right,let me put her on the road, back
(57:48):
on the road.
So, sarah, thank you honey, I'mtrying to continue to get my
life.
Sanya (57:56):
Yes, you have another angel that is standing right
beside you, rooting you on and,you know, continuing to help God
order your steps.
So, thank you, thank you, thankyou.
Thank you.
Thank you for being authentic,thank you for being
unapologetically true, thank youfor sharing your challenges
(58:17):
with us, because we need to showthe world that we, as women,
sometimes we could take off thecape.
We're real, we have real issues, but yet and still, you know,
we have to rest for a moment andthen we can get right back in
the race.
Meelah (58:31):
That's right.
That's right and that's whatour sister, irish, is doing.
She's just taking a pause andget right back in the race, you
know, and that's necessary.
And just so y'all know, for therecord, she is not out of the
group.
I want to make that clear.
And if you do see a temporaryreplacement, that's what it
would be Temporary, but rightnow, like we are so good,
lemisha and I are grateful thatwe're able to do it, you know,
(58:54):
with just the two of us, and wepray that we can continue and
we're just happy that y'all arehappy to see us.
You know, we just want to blessthe people.
Sanya (59:02):
Yeah, blessing the people .
You are so like.
I had a story about my friendin the audience at Carnegie Hall
my daughter and I, who's 28,.
We are blasting your music,Thank you.
She also wanted me to tell youhello.
You've touched so many people,Mila, and I really just want you
to understand that.
Give me blessings, my sister.
(59:24):
You are absolutely amazing.
Meelah (59:25):
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
I needed you today.
Thank you, I really did, Istill, and God bless you,
because this grief thing Iwouldn't wish it on my worst
enemy, I would not wish thisthing on anyone.
So God bless you andcondolences again.
Thank you, yes.
Sanya (59:45):
You take care and continue blessing.
Meelah (59:48):
Thank you, same to you.
Yes, being that my son hasbarged in my room, I guess
that's my cue.
And wait a minute, that's whatmommy gets, because I usually
lock the door when I'm doinginterviews.
I forgot today, anywho, but yes, thank you so much.
I appreciate you.
Thanks for your time.
Thank you.
Sanya (01:00:04):
Bye-bye, bye.
Amazing, amazing conversation.
I loved it.
I absolutely love talking toindividuals who aren't afraid to
have real conversations.
I'm struggling, I'm in themiddle of mourning.
I needed to take a mental break.
I needed to sit down.
(01:00:26):
I was navigating through someissues.
I broke up with my man, but youknow, we're still parenting.
I love that she shared it allwith us, because these are the
type of conversations that weneed to hear, and this is the
purpose of Sonia Onier to unpackcelebrity pivotal moments and
(01:00:47):
milestones, and she unpackedthem all.
Oftentimes, as celebrities, youlook at them and you just see
them performing for you ontelevision or on the movie
screens, or you hear their musiccoming through the speakers
when you're in the car or inyour home, and you kind of
(01:01:07):
dehumanize them, as if theydon't have any feelings, as if
they are so far removed from thehuman experience.
Like us, they put on theirpants the same way you and I do,
one leg at a time.
So this is why you all need tostay tuned into Sonia Onier, so
that you can understand thesecelebrities a lot better.
(01:01:29):
I'm having the conversationsthat a lot of platforms aren't,
or sometimes even thecelebrities aren't even starting
themselves, because sometimesyou all ain't even checking for
it.
You want something that'ssalacious, and this is not what
we do here at Sonia Onier.
So do me a favor once againmake sure that you subscribe to
(01:01:50):
Sonia Onier, which streamsacross every major streaming
platform.
If you are watching this onYouTube, not only subscribe, but
make sure that you hit thenotification button and you saw
the commercials previously.
If you're looking to promoteyour brand on a digital
billboard, make sure that youemail me at SoniaOniernet
looking for some amazingmerchandise.
Sonia Onier has some empoweringmerchandise for you.
(01:02:15):
Make a statement, you don'thave to talk.
The clothing will speak foritself.
So make sure that you look forthe Sonia Onier merch in the
description section of thisepisode and get your shop on.
What else do I have?
So I talked about the billboard, I talked about the Sonia Onier
merch.
Also, shop Instacart using thespecial Sonia Onier link, and I
(01:02:41):
think that's all that I have foryou.
You know I have some otherquestions planned for Mila, but
intentionally I said let me justlet this conversation just take
on a life of its own.
I said God just use me, godjust use me.
And I'm glad to say that I hada very nice conversation.
So 702 is here to stay.
(01:03:04):
20-something years in the game,growing women like me are still
singing the songs.
Our children are singing thesongs.
You're making these videos onTikTok.
Keep this group alive and wellso that the generations coming
up next they can also enjoy themusic of 702, because you don't
(01:03:28):
know the pain that I feel Secondtime in the show.
Anyway, this has been anotheramazing edition of Sonia Onier.
Thank you so much for tuning inSmooches dolls, take care.
I'm going to turn it off.
I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm,I'm.
Meelah (00:24):
I'm, I'm MPT.
How are?
Sanya (00:32):
you.
Meelah (00:39):
I'm great.
Sanya (00:41):
I'm great, I'm, I'm Bean, I'm Boah.
You are people like me.
Do you even understand that?
Meelah (01:00):
Um, probably not.
I'm grateful, though.
I mean, no, I'm super humble.
Thank you in honor to gosh.
I mean, I never know how totake that.
Thank you so much.
I'm grateful.
That's just like a hugeblessing.
You know what I mean Like tohave had the opportunity to have
(01:20):
people like yourself even feellike that.
It's just like yes, yes, really.
Sanya (01:26):
Yes, really, and that speaks volumes to who you are as
an artist, because you startedcreating music when you were
still in high school.
Yes, and we're grown and we'restill singing the lyrics till
today.
Meelah (01:41):
I know which is crazy.
I'm so grateful for that.
Like there's been like thiswhole resurgence, if you will,
of, like, I guess, the 90s era,and so I'm just like, okay, I'll
take it, come on back.
I'm grateful, like it's weird,it's a blessing because, you
know, social media isinteresting.
(02:02):
It's weird, it's a differentthing.
It wasn't around when I wasaround and so I have this
love-hate relationship withsocial media.
But it's so cool because it cando things like create the songs
to all of a sudden go viral andall the right type of stuff and
just kind of I don't know, itintroduces the younger
(02:23):
generation, you know, to ourmusic.
I'm just grateful for all ofthat because it's been like 25
plus years.
Yes, yes.
Sanya (02:32):
Yes, it's just crossing generations, because I'm a
15-year-old woman and I have a28-year-old daughter and we are
both listening to Get itTogether and I'm like hello, I'm
telling you.
You know, I was.
As I was preparing for thisconversation, I said you know, I
(02:54):
was singing these lyrics when Iprobably didn't even know what
they meant.
For example, you don't know thepain that I feel.
You're taking my love forgranted and you just want to see
it your way.
Why was I singing that song asa teenager?
Meelah (03:14):
I was singing at a mass.
No, you know, it's a funnystory.
It's funny to say that becauseI was like 17.
Irish, which meant LaMisha, andI were like 17, which meant
Irish 12 was like 15.
She's two years younger than us.
It's so bizarre.
We laugh about it now but wesay, you know, like when I sing
it live, I always say that I'mlike I had no idea what I was
singing about.
(03:35):
And we literally recorded thatsong in the middle of the school
year.
We flew straight from Vegasright after school to a session
in LA and in between takes wewere doing homework and Donnell
Jones wrote and produced thatrecord and it took me three.
It took three days for us tocomplete that song, which was so
(03:56):
simple in my mind.
I'm like this is such a simplesong and I thought, you know, I
thought I had done a great job,but it wasn't.
I wasn't delivering how heneeded me to, but there was a
message to his madness I justwant to.
But I think I was so young andhadn't had that experience that,
even though I may have soundedgood, he needed that pain and
(04:16):
friction and that emotion.
Sanya (04:17):
Yes, and I was like.
So, as a grown woman, can younow relate to that song a lot
better and differently.
Let me take my glasses off forthis.
Meelah (04:27):
You can see my face.
Girl, I say that live too.
I'm like.
Now I can.
I can sing it 10 times over and, unfortunately, probably have
been through this song.
Yes, it's the words.
I'm like.
Sanya (04:51):
So you mentioned working with Donnell Jones.
That's huge.
I love him.
He said talk about theexperience in the studio, so he
wanted you to tap into him youremotion a little bit more with
the song.
Get it together.
Share another story working inthe studio with Donnell Jones.
Meelah (05:09):
Okay, so he's gonna kill me.
But I have since told him.
I don't know if he remembers,but it's so bizarre.
Initially we had never workedwith him before.
I was a fan, of course, but Ididn't really know how he was as
a writer, producer.
He had us well, he had what mylet me speak for my stuff.
My memory was he had me, ofcourse, we doing things over and
(05:31):
over.
I was used to that.
That's fine process ofrecording, but he had an
interpreter, like he had someonespeaking to me as he whispered.
He was like I was recording andthen they'd what I was like.
(05:52):
You're right there, like what'shappening, but I love him.
Sanya (05:57):
It happens a lot, though, in the industry.
Meelah (05:59):
It was so bizarre, but you know what I've learned?
That people who are geniuses,such as himself, they are a
little different.
You know, and it balances out.
But I love him so much, so kind.
He's out here in Atlanta onebased as well.
So we run into each other fromtime to time.
(06:19):
I ran into him recently, a fewmonths back for a.
We both were doing somethingfor St Jude's, for cancer, for
children, and he's always sojust consistent every time I see
him.
He did an event for me back inthe day for my foundation,
didn't ask me for anything, justshowed up for me and you know I
(06:39):
appreciate it.
He said the cause was near anddear to his heart and he showed
up for me and saying I'm justlike this is what it's about,
you know, it's like about payingfor it and we should be able to
show up for each other in ourtime of need.
I know he's just a cool dude,you know.
So I'm just happy to see himout touring his stuff again and
(07:00):
getting the flowers that hedeserves, because he's really
talented.
Sanya (07:03):
Yeah, and I'm glad to see a whole bunch of artists
getting the flowers that theydeserve, especially you and 702.
I just want to kind of rewindthe time clock just a little bit
, because I know that as kids weare always having these big
dreams of becoming someone.
Did you become who you thoughtyou would be when you were
(07:26):
dreaming as a kid?
Meelah (07:28):
Yes and no, because although I love to sing as a kid
, I've been singing since I wasseven.
That's the first time I sang ona microphone which was in
church and the church choir waslike my first solo at like seven
years old.
So I learned then that I reallyenjoyed singing and then I
maybe had, you know, a knack forit.
You know, if you will, I'm nothalf-cadetist, but I never knew
(07:55):
if I wanted to necessarily belike a big music star.
I just knew I wanted to dosomething on television or
something in broadcasting orjournalism.
I wanted to go to college,because it's all.
My sister go to college.
She was an HBCU so I was livingvicariously through her.
But then 702 happened.
But I just always knew I wantedto do my mom make she rest in
(08:15):
peace.
Past in October.
She would always tell me that Ialways told her as a little
girl I'm gonna buy you a bigmansion and I'm gonna be rich.
I don't remember saying, Idon't remember the same areas,
but I guess I always knew Iwanted to do something great.
I had no idea would lead tothis with 702 absolutely not.
(08:39):
I was always a one-man band.
I sang throughout elementaryand my mother had me singing all
throughout Vegas as a younggirl.
I performed all kind of talentshows and fashion shows.
I was model and sing.
My mom just had me prettyactive as a young girl.
Once we realized that that Idid have talent, he didn't force
(09:00):
me to do anything but I reallyenjoyed it.
But I wasn't certain.
But I also was good in schools.
I wasn't certain that I wantedto be a big singing star.
No, I wanted to go to collegeand I wanted to do like I said
broadcasting or journalism or bean attorney.
Sanya (09:16):
So when did life take a shift where you said you know
what I want to do thisprofessionally and who helped
you make that transition tosinging professionally?
Meelah (09:25):
So I went in the studio for the first time when I was
like 13, like by myself.
I went in the studio andrecorded the demo I think I
recorded Whitney Houston'smiracle and I got frustrated
much harder than I thought and Iwas like I don't want to do
this anymore.
I quit in like 13 for like fiveseconds.
So then right.
(09:46):
So I got high school, which waslike a year later.
The years later I realized Ireally do enjoy singing all the
stuff at school.
You know the black and white.
And by the time I was a juniorin high school I switched
schools.
I changed over to a performingarts high school, which is where
(10:07):
I met my other two bandmates,lameisha and her sister, irish,
and they had just, they werealready signed to Motown and we
were so proud of them, like allof us at the school was so like,
oh my gosh, we got stars at theschool, like they were on no,
they're legit.
No, they were on BET with withDiane Simpson.
No, they're famous and the bandis there.
(10:29):
You know group of us.
We were so happy for them andthen all of a sudden they were
doing like I guess group, groupshifting and member member
changes and I auditioned.
They asked me to audition, Iauditioned and, yeah, I guess
sort of kind of not really, butsort of kind of you know the
short and the story where therest is history.
So wait a minute.
Sanya (10:48):
So they were already in a group, lameisha and Irish.
They asked you to audition.
You now join the group, but howdid you become the lead singer
then in somebody else's group?
Meelah (10:58):
oh, so that was not.
I don't think that was onpurpose.
That actually happened bydefault, unintentionally.
I do realize that.
I guess the executives realizedthat I had a particular sound,
maybe for me, you know.
Sanya (11:25):
I don't see you and I can barely hear you, as I don't
know if you're on a phone andsomeone's calling no, I
shouldn't be hold on.
I don't see you.
Can you?
I hear you, but I don't see you, okay that usually happens is
someone calling they'll just see, you know, I told no, I
(11:54):
shouldn't be.
Meelah (11:54):
You know everything.
It's blocked, everything offyes, don't see the picture.
Sanya (12:16):
I don't know.
I see you.
You said you told Brandon what.
Meelah (12:23):
I was having technical issues earlier.
I had no wifi for hours.
We had an outage in my area.
Sanya (12:28):
Oh, wow, you know what can leave the studio and then
try to come back in.
Yes, that's what I'll do, I'llmove you and then you come back.
Okay, so technical difficultiesit happens in podcasting.
So this is another podcastingtip Just get through it, just
(12:49):
keep on talking.
So that's like really an ahamoment for me.
I didn't even know.
So.
Mila, my own business in highschool.
She sees two girls, lamisha andIrish, starting a group and
they are successful.
They are reorganizing andadding more members to the group
.
They ask her to audition.
She does, and then she joinsthe group.
(13:11):
702 becomes 702.
Record label executives realizethat she has a voice talent and
makes her the lead singer.
That happens so often in a lotof groups where, when they start
the group, everyone thinks thatthey are going to be on the
same playing field.
Okay, you sing this verse, yousing that verse.
(13:34):
Okay, you got two verses, I'llget two verses.
That's how a lot of groupsinitially start and then
something happens and then oneof the members are pushed into
the forefront and then it causesdysfunction and tension amongst
everyone.
Okay, there you go.
Sorry about that, but you weretalking about the record label
(13:58):
pushing you to the forefront.
Meelah (14:01):
Right, pretty much so, yeah, when I joined.
So initially you know, it was afour girl group of quartet.
And then I joined and MichaelBivens decided to just only keep
myself.
Myself and another girlauditioned together and we both
were kind of like, you know, inthis gosh it was like a boot
camp, if you will, and we had toaudition to make sure that it
(14:22):
makes sense, to make sure wewere the right fit.
But instead of just keeping memaking it a trio so by the time
I was the only one that hadjoined the group I needed to now
get on these songs that werealready recorded before I joined
, to add me.
You know, just add me.
So I think initially the planwas to just bring me in as a to
(14:45):
help to assist with lead vocals,just just kind of bring in more
additional lead vocals, so itwasn't just all on one person.
But then I came in and then Ijust started leading the songs.
They put me on like just thebackgrounds first, and then of
course I'll come in and likesplit the difference between
(15:05):
LaMisha, who was already on thevocals, the leads, and she take
one, she take one.
You know they leave her on oneor whatever, and then I come in
and sing the other part so thatthere was an introduction of
this new girl.
But, ultimately it just likewent from me being on just one
verse to okay, one verse and abridge to okay, both verses,
(15:26):
both verses and a bridge, okay,the entire song.
And it didn't always happenthat way, but more often than
not that's what just theproducers and the executives
ended up just going with.
I think I mean, looking backnow as an adult and hindsight, I
think I just had a sound ofradio friendly sound that they
just were, I guess what is fancyit was, they fancied it and
(15:48):
they were just very.
It was something that clearlythey were looking for.
I don't know, I didn't listen,I was just trying not to get
replaced.
I'm like I was, I'm coming in,I'm coming in as a feeling, and
so everybody's replaceable in mymind, okay, right, it was like
I'm just doing my job.
But you know, unfortunatelydefinitely took its toll on on
(16:11):
the group, you know, becausethere was just all these
different dynamics and different, you know, we were young and
different feelings and everybodywas just kind of not
understanding what was happening, and I'm sure there were things
that we weren't being told, andyou know, goodness, it's a
shrewd business, you know, butat the end of the day though,
that's what it is.
It is a business.
And at that time it was kind oflike let me just shut up and do
(16:34):
as I'm told.
You know, now, of course, as awhole grown adult, I definitely
would have, you know, asked morequestions or challenged things
or, you know, maybe done thingsa little differently.
But at the time I'm just like,oh, okay, I just got here, okay,
I got to sing this, I got tosing that, I got to just singing
Right, right, right.
Sanya (16:51):
But that's an adult that you can kind of look back and
learn those lessons so that youcan now show up better.
And the music.
But do you find we see thishappening a lot when it comes to
groups?
So do you find that when groupsare dismantled, do you find
that it is because of the recordlabel or it's because of the
(17:13):
nuanced difficulties of peoplejust can't really work together?
Meelah (17:17):
It could be.
I think it's a little bit ofboth, you know, because we
started out, we are like, firstof all, I always say let me just
put the disclaimer out therethat we have way more great
times than that.
But it was not an easy road forme.
You know, I went through a lot.
I went through a whole lotactually, but thankfully, you
(17:41):
know, now we can talk about it.
You know, we've that's so oldand water under the bridge,
we've matured and we've forgivenand all that I could stuff.
You know I'm sure I wasn't theonly one who went through things
that I mean, we all have ourown stories and experiences.
But unfortunately I do feellike it's a little bit of both.
Because on the executive side,like I just explained, you have
the record label just kind oftelling you hey, this is what I
(18:03):
need you to do.
And then when you're with yourcounterparts, you guys have to
have one mind, body and soul andbe like joined at the hip.
You know we are.
You're not really allowed, whenyou're in a group, to have any
individuality, and when you do,you stick out like a sore thumb
and that's not the purpose ofbeing in a group back then
anyway, you know.
(18:23):
So it's just, it's just kind ofit creates this tension and
like this weird synergy, or lackthereof, you know, and there's
like animosity.
That just naturally happensover time, you know, especially
when you're developing andbecoming a young woman and
there's adolescence and you know, and you're really still trying
(18:44):
to find yourself and at the endof the day, like I'm just, you
know, you want to just do whatmakes sense in your mind, which
is your job, right, but that'sgoing to create discord and
dissension and just naturallyjealousy, you know, because one
is looking like, well, if you'resinging all the parts and then
(19:06):
it means you get more FaceTimeor whatever the case may be.
You know, you just startfeeling away.
But I mean, listen, I was thelead singer but I never felt
like it you know, aside fromusing my voice because and I
didn't have that type- ofattitude
but looking back, I mean now I'mlike maybe if I would have had
(19:27):
that type of attitude, I don'tknow, maybe we could have went
further, who knows?
But I was never a mean girl andI hate to say that,
unfortunately, you know, nicegirls finish last.
So and this is not to playvictim or be like I'm all
perfect, absolutely not.
We all had, I think, acontribution to the ultimate
(19:50):
demise.
But I came into a situationthat was already, you know,
established, a situation thatwas a family-originated group
and it just wasn't always theeasiest.
And then I come and, like yousay here, I come out of the blue
and become this Lee Singers,like you know, and that
(20:11):
naturally, stuff like thatthat's going to naturally create
, you know, some drama down theline.
You know what I'm saying, butlisten, I told them.
Since then I'm like listen, Iget how you guys felt, or how
you know, I can admit that.
Like I get how, if it was theother way around, I'm sure I
would have been the same way.
It's just a difference in how Iprobably would have approached
(20:34):
it.
But you know, we all havedifferent personalities, but
it's okay, things happen.
The great thing is we got greatclassic songs out of it.
You know what I mean.
We got some hits out of it andthe music is still going, so I'm
happy about that and the factthat we are good now, like
that's what really matters, youknow.
Sanya (20:52):
Yes, yes, and the numbers don't lie.
Those numbers really, reallysolidify 702 as legendary
artists and group.
Was there ever a point in timewhere you, and LaMisha and Irish
, felt like the industry didn'tgive you the recognition that
you deserved?
Meelah (21:11):
No, I don't feel like that.
You know, I just talked aboutthat yesterday briefly on my
live, which I never go live butI just felt I don't know.
I was like, why not?
Because I was already up.
I was already up bright out inBushytales.
I was like, oh, I'll go live.
I had just done anotherinterview.
So I went live and the wordunderrated came up and that word
(21:32):
is I get that word a lot, youknow, whether it's an interview,
whether it's a question posedas a question, or whether it's
from a fan or just in generalconversation.
And you know, I never really Idon't, I don't know, I don't
feel underrated.
I feel like what was supposedto happen for me happened.
You know what I mean.
I feel like the road.
(21:56):
Maybe I took some left turns,you know when.
Maybe I should have gone right.
But in my mind, and not to getall deep, but I always feel like
, hey, god knows what one canhandle, and I don't know that I
was supposed to achieve, youknow, an even higher level of
success than I already have.
I don't know that I would havebeen able to handle it, you know
(22:19):
.
So I'm like this is this, isthis was just my fate and it
just, you know, to me, likeyou're, like how you started out
with.
You know, are you aware of theimpact?
It's like I know, because themusic is still going, that we
were affected and how much issampled today, that you know we
(22:39):
did our job.
But I think it's just how I wasraised and just me trying my
best to really stay grounded andhumble, that I just don't allow
myself to get a little you knowaside myself.
Maybe maybe, maybe I don'trealize the impact because maybe
(23:01):
, as you just said, maybe weweren't acknowledged enough.
But I don't look at it likethat because I think there's so
many things that we haveaccomplished and that we were
acknowledged.
For that I'm I'm okay witheverything, like I'm kind of
like so all of this is still sosurreal to me.
It's so old now but it's stillso surreal.
(23:23):
And when I'm reminded about,you know, things like Good
Burger and the story littlesoundtrack, and you know things
that are just random but thatwere pretty awesome to be a part
of.
You know what I mean.
And you know, of course, thelegendary for the kids who
remember back in the day, thecousin Skeeter and being a part
of that whole you knowNickelodeon Good Burger
(23:45):
situation and I'm just likethose things are things that I
can, you know, recant and tellmy family, my smaller, you know,
the younger generation about, Iwould say my son, but he, you
know, he doesn't care, but youknow, but those like, like, you
know my niece, she's older now,she's graduated college, but
(24:11):
she's you know, she comes fromthat era of the cousin Skeeter
and you know those programs thatwere on when she was really
little, and I'm just excitedthat I can say, or something.
She wasn't pretty too, she wasmuch younger.
But Netflix, you know, is nowrunning like, say, moisha, and
if you blink, you missed this.
(24:32):
Yes, but in Sister, sister, buthey, if you turn that on and
you happen to, you know, justwatch it and binge it, you might
see your aunt.
You know what I'm saying andyou know things like that are
really cool to me.
You know what I mean.
Yes, we know there are aplethora of things that could
(24:53):
have been way more substantialand way bigger, absolutely.
But you know I'm not too mad atthe things that we did
accomplish, yeah, so I just tryto look at it.
I guess what I'm saying.
My final point is just, I'vegotten to a place in life now
where I'm truly grateful, andI've always been grateful.
I'm to the point now.
(25:13):
I'm like looking at life andjust things, as you know, not
empty, you know and the silverlining, which is like, do you
understand how many millions ofpeople in the world strive to be
famous singers?
And God chose little me, youknow.
Yeah, I'll take it, I will takeit.
Sanya (25:35):
But you know out of everything that you said what
really resonated with me andwhat has been proven to be true
your humility and your groundedand you are spiritually
connected, and I'm a firmbeliever too.
That's why I was smilingthroughout.
Everything she was saying iswhatever God has purpose for you
(25:55):
is purpose for you, and we justcan't be, like why didn't you
give me this?
He gave you such a plentifulcareer and life that we just
have to say thank you for whatyou did give me, because you
chose me and I'm not going tolie to you.
Meelah (26:10):
I went through a phase Don't get me wrong, I'm human.
I definitely was with a phase,probably in like my 20s, where I
was feeling like Tag, you know,like why are we doing that, or
why can't I do that, or I coulddo that.
You know what I mean.
I went through that for asecond for sure.
It felt like, well, I want tobe on that scale, like, but I
had to ultimately reallyunderstand that I had a larger
(26:30):
purpose.
Sanya (26:32):
Yeah.
Meelah (26:32):
Which was my son.
You know I prayed and asked Godnot to.
I said, look, god, I want a son.
Please give me a son.
Boom, Okay, you're having a son.
And I'm like, oh also, god,please don't don't let him have
autism.
Like I literally prayed forthat specifically.
God, please don't let my sonhave autism.
Because it was like it wasreally prevalent.
(26:53):
It was growing and growing, youknow, it was becoming more
popular.
And I'm just like I know boysit was kind of new to us, but I
knew that it was like, forwhatever reason, it's more
prevalent than boys.
And I'm like, oh, and, by theway, please don't let him have
autism.
And you know, god, I'm sure Godchuggled and you know I was mad
for a minute.
I'm like, didn't I ask him that?
You know, but it was like Irealize now that there was
(27:19):
there's just a greater designfor my life, you know, and
having a child on the spectrumhas completely shifted and saved
my life, because had I gone anyhigher on the scales of what
folks think 702 could have orshould have, or even Mila could
(27:42):
have or should have done, let metell you something I probably
wouldn't be sitting here talkingto you.
I don't know where I would be.
I'm just saying like I'm sograteful that I'm in my right
mind and not somewhere strungout and not somewhere.
You know, gosh, you know theaccessibility of all the crap
out there at such a young agethe narcotics, the drugs, the
(28:04):
sex drugs and rock and roll, asthey say.
My God, today, like yeah it washe had to.
I feel like he snatched me outlike real quick.
Sanya (28:12):
Let me let me balance.
Meelah (28:15):
Like, let me, I'm going to continue to bless my daughter
, but let me just pull her on inbecause I mean I probably could
have been if it wasn't for mymother and grandmother's prayers
.
I probably would have been awild child.
Sanya (28:27):
Yeah, you know, I say the same thing.
When I found out no, a fewyears after my daughter was
pregnant no, I think when shewas a teenager I looked at her
and I said she saved my lifebecause had I not given birth to
her, I probably would have beenthis wild child, listen.
Meelah (28:45):
I'm telling you, I was on my way, I was in my, I said I
had my son at 31 and I think Iwas 30 when I when I got
pregnant, and so yeah, likeright at 29,.
I was just wild out, oh yeah.
Sanya (29:00):
I was, I was.
I was a senior in college,about to graduate, and you know
college, you are really outthere.
Meelah (29:08):
That baby grounded me.
Sanya (29:10):
Yeah, grounded me, but you know what?
And on two occasions duringthis conversation you introduced
your mother.
You started talking about yourmother and in preparing for this
conversation, I was like, oh mygosh, that's something that we
have in common, because Irecently also lost my mom, I'm
so sorry.
Meelah (29:27):
Oh, my goodness.
Sanya (29:28):
But I wanted to take the opportunity because I'm always
thinking of ways of making surethat my mother's memory lives on
and I see her living on in theway that I interact with my
daughter.
What subconscious ways do youfind yourself mothering your son
and you're looking at him likemy mother used to do the same
(29:49):
thing to me?
Meelah (29:52):
It's a little bit of everything.
Oh gosh, yes, yes, I mean,first of all, I know if he could
really talk, bless his heart.
I know he, I'm sure he lets mehave it in his head all the time
.
I know, I know I get on hisnerves, without a shadow of a
doubt.
Just, I'm like a constantnitpick and I just can't help it
(30:13):
.
You know I'm wiping his faceconstantly.
I'm making sure he's got, youknow, moisturize on his elbows.
I mean it's just every littlething.
I'm like, lord, let me leavehim alone, I can't even help it.
And my mom was saying what shewasn't, as you know, in my face,
like that, but she was veryvocal and you know she was very
(30:34):
maternal.
Zach was like her baby.
I'm like my, you know, I knowyou, I know that's definitely
your second, your third childthat you never had.
But I'm like grandma, like Igot it.
You know I mean I got it.
No, let me do.
You know it's grandma.
So I'm like, okay, I see somuch in myself from my mom, like
Initially, you know I wanted to.
(30:56):
I wouldn't try to like downplayit or deny it, but I mean,
first of all, I look just likeher.
So I'm a twin, especially when,I put my glasses on, so it's
scary.
Sometimes I'm looking like, ohmy god, I look like that lady in
this, like I mean, which is abeautiful thing, it's just a
trip.
You know genetics.
But it's funny because, let me,she just recently told me.
She said Gosh, I see so much ofyour mom in you now, because I
(31:20):
was always the one in the groupthat was kind of quiet.
It wouldn't say, you know,wouldn't speak up, scared to
speak up, let me, she never hada problem speaking up.
She was always bold and vocaland that's my mom.
Mom was that way, no filter,you know.
Just my mom too.
Listen, just just say whatever,whatever, just not and not and
not taking a bit likeunapologetic about it, you know.
(31:41):
And so now I finally have that.
It took me 40 plus years to getthere, but I finally have that,
that being a that strong Womanwho is unafraid or unapologetic
to speak my truth and to justand not this is not to be
disrespectful to anyone in anyway but to finally, especially
(32:02):
in business, in a male-dominatedbusiness, be able to say, no,
I'm not going for that, or no, Idon't like it, or no, I refuse
to do that.
It took me a very long time toget there and I'm finally there
and so so funny.
Yeah, let me just own it.
The other day, one of our othershows, she was just like gosh.
I see Miss Marianne and you.
She's like I'm so proud of you.
Sanya (32:20):
You know I'm fine.
My mom transitioned.
Now, when I look at myself, I'mseeing a lot of my mom and me
as well.
This is how the legacy and thememory lives on, so I just
wanted to create a space here tolet your mother's memory live
on.
Thank you.
As I Spoke at my mom's funeral,that was the title of it, just
(32:42):
being unapologetically black.
Meelah (32:45):
Oh, wow true definition.
Look at that, yeah.
Sanya (32:49):
Have something in common, but you know.
Successful Singer businesswoman.
We are told that women canoften have it all, but it also
comes with sacrifices.
As a successful woman who isalso a mom, what sacrifices had
have you had to make?
Meelah (33:08):
Oh, my goodness, um.
So One of the main sacrificesI've made intentionally Was just
, you know, kind of putting mycareer on the back burner and
just kind of Choosing thingshere and there that I'll be a
part of or that I'll do, and andFocus it on my son, raising my
son, because although my mothermoved here to help me with him,
(33:30):
um, pretty much from the timethat he was born or like when he
was a really small child, Istill Would make certain that I
made time for my son, that Imade certain that he knew that I
was mom.
And you know, even though mymom, like she held it down of
course grandmas don't mind, butI never wanted her to.
(33:50):
First of all, I'm like thatthat isn't her responsibility.
She's here to help you, not to.
You know, take your place.
You know what I mean.
So I would make sure that therewas a time when I was going to
the studio every night, gosh atlike, um, I don't know after,
after, after I picked him upfrom school and after, like,
maybe, homework, um, and dinner,I go to the studio until like
(34:12):
four in the morning and Got home, got a few hours of sleep and
Was there to take him to school.
That was my job, not my mom's.
She would if I wanted her to,but I would never.
That wasn't her responsibility,you know so, and that happened
for like a whole year straight.
However, there were things thatthat I just put on pause.
(34:32):
Um, I always tell people I washaving this conversation the
other day.
I always tell people.
I say, listen, when I realizedthat my son needed me as much as
he does, I slowed all the waydown.
You know, um, I stopped runningout, you know, trying to catch
every audition and Running outtrying to be a part of, you know
, every event here in Atlanta.
(34:52):
Because, you know, in Atlanta,honey, we have lord, every day
is an event.
They have something, sayssomething every day, and
everybody has a red, blue, white, green, pink carpet.
It's always something happening.
Um, and I did that for a whileand I got burnt out and I
realized I'm like, listen, thisis not even, this isn't even me
anymore.
It just doesn't even make sense.
So I put a lot of things Offand just chose to just focus on
(35:14):
my son, to really be that motherto him.
So now I'm I mean, I'm back towork now.
Um, you know, with 702, and wetoured for a while, from like
2017 to 19, right before covid,but I slowed all the way down
intentionally because I had to.
I had to be there for my son,um, because his dad is also in
the industry and we both travelso much, but I'm like one of us
(35:38):
has to be his parent, you know,and you even asked to come here.
Yeah, I'm a firm believer inthat and so I chose to, you know
, just kind of fall back a bit.
Sanya (35:50):
And you kind of wasted over.
Your child's father is a musicsoul child, correct.
Meelah (35:56):
Yes, mm-hmm, so he's always busy as well, and so you
know we try to do our best atbalancing um Gosh career in
raising Zach, co-parentingtogether, but it's, it's it's.
It's not always easy, you know,but we've done a pretty good
job of maintaining Um you know,the friendship and being able to
(36:17):
sometimes still work togetherand still raise Zach.
So sometimes, like when mymother was still alive, we were
able to travel together and dothings together.
Um, but overall, like you know,he understands what I do for
Zach and he appreciated so much.
Like he knows that I go hardfor Zach, like he knows that I'm
, like I'm probably a little I'msure he tells me, okay, I'm a
(36:40):
little too overbearing, I know Iam, but Me too, it's okay.
I can't help it.
It's my only child, like I'msorry.
Sanya (36:49):
Yeah, I always get one.
I love on her every single day.
I don't help it, I just walk byand touch her.
Meelah (36:55):
Yes, and my son now's 14 .
So he's like a moody.
I'm about to go to ninth gradefreaking.
Oh, I pray for you highschooler and those vibes, oh,
it's like oh, that attitude is amess, but I don't care.
I still grab him and hug himand kiss him.
But yeah, his dad, his dad justlooks to be, as he shakes his
head, like, oh my god, more popfor son.
But he appreciates it though,because he knows.
Sanya (37:19):
He does.
Meelah (37:20):
He knows that I could very well Just throw him off on
someone you know and go hard inthe paint to be this ferocious
artist as well, but I've chosennot to even do that because I
just I have a lot of mom guilt.
I'm like I can't do it and Imean, and we talk about bringing
him with us, so eventually he'sjust gonna be on the road with
mom and dad, which makes themost sense, probably, anyway,
right, um, because we just wantto have our eyes on him, since
(37:42):
my mom is no longer, you know,here.
Um, you know, I'm just sooverprotective, so it's just
like, well, I guess you just gotto come with me and daddy.
Sanya (37:52):
I get it and no, it's not .
I love it.
Keep on doing it.
Love on your children.
Let me tell you Life is tooshort.
I don't this space that we'rein.
It's scary to me because peopleare here today and then gone by
tonight.
It's scary, so love on that youcan and another way that you
(38:13):
chose to love on zack.
You pinned a children's book inhonor of your son, zack.
Meelah (38:19):
Yes, favorite socks.
Talk about that.
I'm so excited about that.
It was something that, um.
So I always kind of wanted to dosomething more for children
other than just music.
So I'm like, what else can I do?
You know, um, I established thefoundation.
That's okay, that's cool.
It's like not okay, like that,that's more than okay, it's
awesome, it's it's nonprofitwork, and so that was just
(38:42):
really to raise awareness.
So I was like, okay, but nowwhat else can I do creatively?
You know, um, and so I loverhyming books.
You know, like dr Seuss cat andI love rhyming books.
I always have.
So I was like, well, I'm gonnawrite a rhyming book.
So zack loves collecting books.
He has Tons of books but hedoes not like to read them, he
just likes to look at thepictures.
(39:03):
And, um, he doesn't even likeme to read to the read read them
anymore to him when he wassmaller.
But you know, as we said, he's14 and moody, so he'd be looking
at me like, don't touch mybooks, leave them where they are
and don't try to read them tome.
He's so funny.
But, um, I was thinking like youknow what I think it'd be
really cool to add to hiscollection, like a book that is
mom wrote.
That mommy wrote, you know, andthis character is based on him.
(39:25):
Um, I wanted to be a series.
I'm gonna do another one andit's really just to kind of
introduce Autism.
I didn't really speak about itin this book specifically yet,
um, but I want and thischaracter actually is verbal,
you know, it's kind of theopposite of my son, but, as we
know, autism is a broad spectrum.
So, um, I want to, you know, doanother one, a continuation,
(39:47):
and kind of like a series, andthen another, um, children's
album to kind of go alongside itand, you know, just something
to hopefully Create for otherparents with with kids on the
spectrum or just special needs,children who enjoy Hearing books
, who enjoy reading books notlike my son, but who could be
like my son who just like tocollect them and keep them in
(40:09):
order and systematic order.
Sanya (40:12):
Yes, um but let me, this is so necessary Mila Let me just
tell you, this is definitelygoing to leave another one of
your footprints.
In this light, what most peopledon't know is I'm also an
educator.
I've been an educator for 20plus years.
Thank you, director of my highschool working with special
needs children.
Thank you, the lack ofawareness that's out there.
(40:38):
It is staggering that theseconcerns or development delays
in children.
It didn't just start yesterday,but the information sources are
so limited that parents don'treally know how to tap into it.
So you have just really, reallyhelped another population of
people and you don't even knowit.
(40:59):
So I need to tell you.
Well, thank you that you arehelping people.
I was in my school.
I work at a high school.
I went there and I said listen,if you have any small children,
please join this organizationcalled Proud.
Here is information resourcesthat you need.
Someone who looks like us, yes.
Meelah (41:21):
I know it's mind blowing .
I'm still learning every day,you know.
But what I have learned in my14 years of dealing with this
with Zach, it's ever changing,you know.
They change as they get older.
Sometimes they make progress,sometimes they don't.
Sometimes they make progressand then regress and then, you
know, it's a daily back andforth, you know, with children
(41:46):
on the spectrum.
But, as you mentioned, even ifthese children, even if they're
not on the autism spectrum,there are developmental delays
which constitute to learningdisabilities, which equate to
IEPs, and we don't all know ourparental rights and we don't all
understand, you know, what wecan add or subtract from these
(42:08):
IEPs, these individualizededucational plans for our
children.
We have the right I'm stilllearning but I know that there's
a lot of times especially, likeyou said, folks that look like
us we get overlooked or we get,you know, hushed as the parents.
They just wanna, you know, theyjust want to move on and get
your child through the day andthey don't feel like taking the
(42:30):
time out to really get to thebottom of what it is that your
child's strengths and orweaknesses are.
They will help them to have amore helpful, calming experience
while they're at school, youknow what I mean Like it's
stressful for those babies.
My son is not severe, but he'snot mild either.
You know he's out here, I don'tknow about in Vegas or where
(42:54):
you're in Vegas right yet.
Sanya (42:56):
I don't know about how?
Meelah (42:57):
Oh, okay, why don't?
I think I just swear,everybody's from Vegas.
Okay, I know it's differenteverywhere here in Georgia
there's different levels.
So he's like ASD two, level two, and so he's not fully
dependent on an adult, but he'snot fully independent.
You know he's not fully colddependent and not fully
(43:18):
independent.
So he still needs a lot of help.
But he's come a long way, butwe're still having to gosh do so
many things.
He's 14, but he still has to beprompted for a lot of things.
Most things, you know, he stillis developmentally in terms of
his comprehension on a maybethird grade level.
(43:39):
Maybe depends Gosh.
So it's just, it's interestingto say the least of how these
educational institutions, youknow they marginalize our
special education children.
Yeah, and we don't have a largevoice.
(43:59):
And Georgia, though I will saythe reason I am still here is
because they do offer a lot forchildren on the special men, for
special needs kids.
There are a lot of greatprograms out here and they are
free.
They are.
We've never even we've neverbeen in a tuition based school
(44:23):
and I mean I'm shocked to evensay that out loud, but that's
how God works, cause I didn'teven know how much I was gonna
be and I ended up living rightaround the corner.
I moved here from California andliterally right around the
corner from my house is thisregular elementary school, just
a normal elementary.
But they had a program forpre-K kids who were not
(44:47):
diagnosed with autism yet butwere just developmentally
delayed, with three and fouryear olds who knew?
And my child was, you know, wehadn't even gotten diagnosed yet
but he could go to thiselementary school right around
the corner at three years oldbecause he has some delays.
And I was doing research and Irealized I'm like, oh, I'm gonna
(45:09):
, I'm the whole cluster wherethe elementary, the middle
school and the pre and the highschool that he'll be going to
all have special like well, weknow they all have special
education but all have coursesfor children on the spectrum
from K yes, from K through 12.
(45:30):
And the curriculum is great andit's in a great area.
And I was just like, look atlike, how did that happen?
Sanya (45:39):
Nothing but what I'm telling you.
But you bring up a very goodpoint, because I had to do the
same thing when my daughter wasa little bit in elementary
school.
I had taken her out of privateschool, but I always wanted to
move to a neighborhood or areathat had resources for free,
Instead of paying this tuition.
(46:00):
It's there, it's available.
People just have to do research.
So I just wanted to, you know,just make sure that I magnify
that point to parents out therewho are looking for services for
their children.
Oftentimes you don't have topay for it.
Meelah (46:13):
Do your research, it is they just don't want us to find.
It takes time, they don't?
You have to be diligent.
Sanya (46:21):
Yeah.
Meelah (46:22):
It takes time and it does get overwhelming.
It does get tedious and tiringand frustrating for parents,
especially if you're a newparent.
You know, when I was a newparent, gosh I had, I had.
No, there's no guidebook forany of us.
But you know, I'm just likeGoogling and Googling and
Googling and researching,researching, researching, and
sometimes you do have to digdeep to find those grants and
(46:44):
those scholarships you know, orfor, maybe, the schools that are
tuition based, because, hey,maybe there isn't anything in
your area that's free and orthat is, you know, conducive to
the betterment of your child'sdevelopment.
So maybe you do have to gosomewhere, that where you have
to pay.
But, gosh man, it's really.
(47:08):
It's so layered.
It is because they're alsodifferent and all of our
children need different things.
I know, like in my son's school,they do, you know, autism,
those who are like advanced, youknow, like my son is not
high-functioning, high-maintenI'm thinking about his mother,
sorry, Just kiddingHigh-functioning but they have
(47:33):
like all different levels.
And then they have kids who areDowns.
You know, with Down syndrome,they have that their program
there as well.
It's just really cool, man, tosee the breakdown.
They offer all the therapiesbut, like with my son, it's cool
that they offer therapy atschool, but he needs more
therapy, you know.
So I have to go outside ofschool and do both and do the
(47:54):
private therapies as well.
Just do your research.
If you can get on state-funded,you know things in your state
and cities or where have youlike.
Medicaid like yes, apply for allof those things.
Don't be ashamed to do it.
You know it's our children'srights and they can have these
(48:14):
things.
They can have what's due tothem.
Like, I had to learn that thehard way, like the social
security and all that type ofstuff.
You know it's.
I had a woman tell me.
She told me it there, but shesaid I'm gonna be honest, we
don't know about these programs.
She was a black woman and shesaid I probably shouldn't be
(48:35):
saying this to you because Iwork here.
She said but I see a lot ofwhite families and parents come
in who are well to do and theyget all this help.
You know they apply for thesecertain waivers and these
certain things and they getthese.
You know all of these special,just different types of programs
(48:58):
that they get, like discountsand you know all of these
different and it's sad becausethose families that do really
need these types of resourcesand help we either don't know
about it or we just give up soeasily, because they do make it
hard sometimes.
Sanya (49:15):
Yeah.
Meelah (49:17):
They do.
Sanya (49:18):
So if people aren't able to find resources on their own,
I do want to point them in yourdirection, your organization
Proud, which stands for parentsreaching out to understand
developmental delays.
Yes, how can they join?
Meelah (49:36):
So right now Proud has a Facebook page, the Proud Inc on
Facebook, and it's really just.
You can go on there and inboxme, I'll check it and I read
them and I definitely try andget back to everybody.
The thing with Proud is thatwhen I started it I was so
(49:57):
active and there was a vigor inme to really just be a voice for
parents who didn't have a voice, especially because at the time
I was doing reality TV and Iwas so just kind of I wasn't
sure I wanted to share my storybecause that's sacred, it's very
private, it's your child.
But I'm so happy that I didbecause I ended up getting all
(50:19):
this new traffic of mothers,young mothers who have children
on the spectrum.
But when I tell you, I learnedfrom them and they motivated me
because their parents out therehave not one I only have one but
two and three children on thespectrum and I didn't even know
that that was possible, man.
And so I established Proud tojust be a voice and they said
(50:45):
thank you just for using yourplatform just to be a voice for
those of us that don't have avoice.
So Zach was really little and Ihad done a few concerts and a
few of my musical peers came andwe did some fundraising and,
like I said, one of them beingDonella at one of them and
something I did for parents likea mixer to just let your hair
(51:07):
down after five for especiallythese parents, it was so cool.
But I haven't done any eventsin a while because, I'll be
honest, I went through a hardtime.
I went through a hard time fora while.
This is my child walking in.
It got things, got real, it gottough.
(51:29):
It got tough and his dad and Iseparated and I was a single mom
, thank God.
I had my mom, but it just gothard and so, ok, thank you, zach
, you can turn it off.
You can hang up.
I just kind of gave up.
Thank you, closer to her, but.
Sanya (51:49):
I love seeing all of this .
I love to see you.
I'm looking at him like ohchild.
Meelah (51:55):
This is what I'm up to you off with the iPad, but I
understand what was justhappening.
That was my sister's voice.
This is the IT call, because ITcan't get through.
She's trying to figure out whatis your mother.
She's just making sureeverything's good.
We're good over here.
Yes, she knows I do interviewsand stuff here and there, but if
she can't reach me she'llFaceTime.
It takes a village.
(52:15):
So, yeah, anyway, I gotdiscouraged and that's not to
discourage anyone, but I justlike to be as transparent as
possible Because I don't want tobe up here Like it's so easy,
because it's not always easy.
It gets tough and I got alittle discouraged episode, but
I'm back now.
I'm rejuvenated.
(52:35):
So Proud is going to do somegreat things in the future.
We're planning to do Proud inthe park here in Georgia at some
point, and I have some folksout in Vegas that I've been
consulting with to do somethinggrand in Las Vegas, my hometown
for special needs, because Ihaven't done that and they
deserve it.
So at least we're starting withthe book.
(52:56):
I'm going to be in Vegas thisfall and I'm going to do I've
done so far book signing inTampa, florida, here in Atlanta,
of course, and then Vegas is upnext, so I'm really excited
about that.
Sanya (53:07):
So where can people purchase the book Zach's?
Meelah (53:10):
book.
Yes, thank you in advance forthose that have already
purchased.
Thank you all so much for thesupport.
So it's only online right now,but it will be in stores.
When I do in stores they'realways in store for me to sign
for you a signed copy.
But you can go toBarnesandNovelscom and purchase
it online and also, of course,amazon.
(53:31):
I know we've got some primersout there who love their Amazon,
so it's also on Amazon.
But you have to on Amazon.
You have to type it in Zach'sfavorite socks book.
Got it, zach's favorite socksbook on Amazon.
So it's on Amazoncom Zach'sfavorite socks book and
BarnesandNovelscom and type inZach's favorite socks.
Sanya (53:52):
Yes, got it, got it, got it.
Well, everyone, make sure thatyou go out online and purchase
Zach's favorite socks, and ifyou're looking for more
information a village, a people,a parent who are navigating the
world of mothering or parentinga child with developmental
delays please make sure that youreach out to Proud on Facebook.
(54:15):
What's up next with 702?
One quick question too Is Irishstill in the group, because
I've seen you performing, but Ihaven't seen her performing with
you.
Meelah (54:25):
Yes, unfortunately, irish is not well right now.
She's trying to deal with somepersonal issues.
She's not in a hospital oranything like that.
She just needed to take a break.
Take a moment.
She's not replaced.
She's not out of the group.
There is no replacement.
I'm not into that.
I just always, especially atthis age and stage in life, I
(54:47):
always feel like there can neverbe another, either one of us.
We've been doing this too long.
Yeah, yeah.
So she's not out of the group,that's for certain.
She's kind of good.
She's just kind of taking amental health break.
That's what I mean when I saynot well, just kind of dealing
with some mental health, wantingto rejuvenate.
Sanya (55:04):
It happens and I'm glad Listen.
Meelah (55:06):
You heard what I just said it definitely happens.
I'm like I wasn't well for aminute.
I needed to take a break andsit down and put Proud on pause.
Sanya (55:14):
I'm being a real mom.
You have to do that from timeto time.
You have to disconnect and makesure that your mental space is
healthy enough so that you canshow up successfully.
But the fans were here for it.
They were cheering you on whenyou were performing at Carnegie
Hall recently.
Meelah (55:30):
Yes, it was so awesome.
Thank you.
Yes, it was, man, I'm stillpinching myself.
That was a pinch me moment forsure.
I was just like Carnegie Hallis such a huge deal to me,
that's a career highlight.
I'm underrated where, excuse me.
Sanya (55:46):
I was just at.
Meelah (55:47):
Carnegie Hall.
Sanya (55:49):
One of my friends, that's huge.
Meelah (55:52):
We weren't even allowed to perform there as Black folks
right At that point.
So that to me resonated.
I'm like my grandmother and mymother watching me from heaven
and all of our ancestors, likeBrown Me, chocolate Brown Me is
on the stage.
(56:13):
It was awesome, that was so fun.
And we did Usher's Lovers andFriends Festival, which is super
huge as well, and I mean, thisis only his second year doing it
and we were invited this yearand, gosh, the turnout was so
awesome.
Oh my gosh.
That was just.
It was amazing just to see allthose people out there that they
showed up for us and they knewall the lyrics and they were on
(56:34):
their feet.
It was just.
It's a great feeling.
Sanya (56:39):
Let me I have a message for you, because one of my
friends she was seated in theaudience at Carnegie Hall and
when she found out that I washaving a conversation with you
today, she said please tell Milathat she gave me life.
Meelah (56:52):
Thank you.
Time says thank you, girl,because I was stressed out
leading up to it.
I was so nervous.
Sanya (56:59):
She was just like you.
Look amazing You're outfit,Thank you.
Meelah (57:04):
There's such a backstory with all that.
But thank you so much.
We believe it's in the closet.
Gosh, I'm like if these peopleknew the behind the scenes woo,
thank you, thank you, tell yourfriend.
Thank you so much.
That makes me feel so greatbecause it was.
You know, as females we gothrough a lot Just trying to
prepare for things and you know,I recently just I'm coming out
(57:25):
of a really dark place fromlosing my mother and gosh, I
just I had a hard time at thetop of the year.
So now, with God blessing mewith all of these blessings,
with 702 being super busy, and Ijust I'm so grateful.
You know, I'm grateful to Godbecause I know it's him and my
mom up there like, all right,let me put her on the road, back
(57:48):
on the road.
So, sarah, thank you honey, I'mtrying to continue to get my
life.
Sanya (57:56):
Yes, you have another angel that is standing right
beside you, rooting you on and,you know, continuing to help God
order your steps.
So, thank you, thank you, thankyou.
Thank you.
Thank you for being authentic,thank you for being
unapologetically true, thank youfor sharing your challenges
(58:17):
with us, because we need to showthe world that we, as women,
sometimes we could take off thecape.
We're real, we have real issues, but yet and still, you know,
we have to rest for a moment andthen we can get right back in
the race.
Meelah (58:31):
That's right.
That's right and that's whatour sister, irish, is doing.
She's just taking a pause andget right back in the race, you
know, and that's necessary.
And just so y'all know, for therecord, she is not out of the
group.
I want to make that clear.
And if you do see a temporaryreplacement, that's what it
would be Temporary, but rightnow, like we are so good,
lemisha and I are grateful thatwe're able to do it, you know,
(58:54):
with just the two of us, and wepray that we can continue and
we're just happy that y'all arehappy to see us.
You know, we just want to blessthe people.
Sanya (59:02):
Yeah, blessing the people .
You are so like.
I had a story about my friendin the audience at Carnegie Hall
my daughter and I, who's 28,.
We are blasting your music,Thank you.
She also wanted me to tell youhello.
You've touched so many people,Mila, and I really just want you
to understand that.
Give me blessings, my sister.
(59:24):
You are absolutely amazing.
Meelah (59:25):
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
I needed you today.
Thank you, I really did, Istill, and God bless you,
because this grief thing Iwouldn't wish it on my worst
enemy, I would not wish thisthing on anyone.
So God bless you andcondolences again.
Thank you, yes.
Sanya (59:45):
You take care and continue blessing.
Meelah (59:48):
Thank you, same to you.
Yes, being that my son hasbarged in my room, I guess
that's my cue.
And wait a minute, that's whatmommy gets, because I usually
lock the door when I'm doinginterviews.
I forgot today, anywho, but yes, thank you so much.
I appreciate you.
Thanks for your time.
Thank you.
Sanya (01:00:04):
Bye-bye, bye.
Amazing, amazing conversation.
I loved it.
I absolutely love talking toindividuals who aren't afraid to
have real conversations.
I'm struggling, I'm in themiddle of mourning.
I needed to take a mental break.
I needed to sit down.
(01:00:26):
I was navigating through someissues.
I broke up with my man, but youknow, we're still parenting.
I love that she shared it allwith us, because these are the
type of conversations that weneed to hear, and this is the
purpose of Sonia Onier to unpackcelebrity pivotal moments and
(01:00:47):
milestones, and she unpackedthem all.
Oftentimes, as celebrities, youlook at them and you just see
them performing for you ontelevision or on the movie
screens, or you hear their musiccoming through the speakers
when you're in the car or inyour home, and you kind of
(01:01:07):
dehumanize them, as if theydon't have any feelings, as if
they are so far removed from thehuman experience.
Like us, they put on theirpants the same way you and I do,
one leg at a time.
So this is why you all need tostay tuned into Sonia Onier, so
that you can understand thesecelebrities a lot better.
(01:01:29):
I'm having the conversationsthat a lot of platforms aren't,
or sometimes even thecelebrities aren't even starting
themselves, because sometimesyou all ain't even checking for
it.
You want something that'ssalacious, and this is not what
we do here at Sonia Onier.
So do me a favor once againmake sure that you subscribe to
(01:01:50):
Sonia Onier, which streamsacross every major streaming
platform.
If you are watching this onYouTube, not only subscribe, but
make sure that you hit thenotification button and you saw
the commercials previously.
If you're looking to promoteyour brand on a digital
billboard, make sure that youemail me at SoniaOniernet
looking for some amazingmerchandise.
Sonia Onier has some empoweringmerchandise for you.
(01:02:15):
Make a statement, you don'thave to talk.
The clothing will speak foritself.
So make sure that you look forthe Sonia Onier merch in the
description section of thisepisode and get your shop on.
What else do I have?
So I talked about the billboard, I talked about the Sonia Onier
merch.
Also, shop Instacart using thespecial Sonia Onier link, and I
(01:02:41):
think that's all that I have foryou.
You know I have some otherquestions planned for Mila, but
intentionally I said let me justlet this conversation just take
on a life of its own.
I said God just use me, godjust use me.
And I'm glad to say that I hada very nice conversation.
So 702 is here to stay.
(01:03:04):
20-something years in the game,growing women like me are still
singing the songs.
Our children are singing thesongs.
You're making these videos onTikTok.
Keep this group alive and wellso that the generations coming
up next they can also enjoy themusic of 702, because you don't
(01:03:28):
know the pain that I feel Secondtime in the show.
Anyway, this has been anotheramazing edition of Sonia Onier.
Thank you so much for tuning inSmooches dolls, take care.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.