June 12, 2025 • 10 mins
In the premiere episode of Kidversation: A Nerdtropolis Kids Podcast, we sit down with Grammy Award-winner Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas and his daughter Jett.
Taboo and Jet share their experience joining Dora, voicing colorful cockatoos, and debuting their brand-new song "Melodía" for Dora’s 25th Anniversary Tribute Album. They talk about working together as a father-daughter duo, their creative process, and the special bond they share both on and off the mic.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
Well hello Taboo and Jet, it's great to finally meet y'all.
Thank you. It's an honor to be here,
brother. Appreciate you.
No, I appreciate y'all. And first of all, you know,
quick and quick at Tina. I mean, love the names.
How did it feel stepping into the rainforest together?
That's coming from musical birdsand Dora the Explorer and Jet.
Tell us all about that. Well.
(00:23):
It was really cool doing it, father and daughter.
I love doing it with my dad, youknow, It felt like I was at home
just making character voices. Yeah, and it was really fun.
Yeah, we felt like, you know, asas organic and as natural and
as, I guess you could say innateto our everyday life.
(00:47):
That's who we are, man. Like I'm just being transparent
and honest. Like we're reading books with
we're we're adding dialogue and character voices, right?
We're doing podcast like pretendpodcast at home.
So we're practicing her interview skills and just making
sure that these are things that we as father and daughter are
passionate about. Why not dive into it together
and create something that has somuch love and synergy and it
(01:09):
comes from a great place. And then to be part of this
beautiful brand like Dora Dora. It's just it's the next level of
excitement and energy. And we're just very thankful and
blessed. I love hearing that obviously
y'all are bonding with so much great opportunity.
What was your first reaction when you got the call to be part
of Dora, a show that has inspired kids for 25 years?
(01:30):
Me or or Jack? Both of y'all actually when
y'all got that phone call. Yeah.
So, so I'm going to go 1st and I'm going to say the first
initial thing was, man, I get todo voice over work with Dora,
like for Dora, because as an actor, I've done movies before,
but now being part of such a amazing brand that's been around
(01:53):
for so many years has inspired so many kids and so many
families. It was just a a great reflection
of all the hard work and all theopportunities that have been
provided. I know a lot of great people at
Nickelodeon. So just now becoming part of the
family was the next step. And then when I got the e-mail
(02:14):
about Jet, what did you think, Jet?
Well, I was really excited. I was like, Oh my gosh, this is
so cool. I just felt like so happy.
Yeah, it was one of those moments of like surreal moments.
Jet and I get to work together on Dora for us, as you know,
(02:38):
we're, we're Mexican. My, my daughter Jet is Filipino,
Mexican and Native American. So for us, having this beautiful
mosaic of representation on the screen, having an iconic little
matriarch like Dora speak to girls and, and, and, and family
members that represent, you know, our cultural background
(02:59):
was beautiful, man, It was awesome.
Yeah, I love everything that Dora offers to all generations,
all types of people, all types of children.
Is such a a, a, a beautiful show.
And then you we got the films and everything else.
So Dora definitely rocks. And the song that y'all put
together that I just heard and saw the the clip for was
amazing. Such a beautiful and joyful
track. What was it like collaborating
(03:20):
on a song that celebrates the heart of Dora's world?
So Jet and I have been writing music together and creating
songs that maybe they're just inmy hard drive and the world
hasn't really received them. But the beauty is just getting
those that time in and getting to over 10,000 hours of practice
and creative space and sharing experiences making songs.
(03:43):
It was just something really special man.
Because I have been working on melody of the scratch vocal for
a while now for many years. And now to really start
structuring and adding a new flavor to it to really go along
with the episode was something special because it wasn't my
hard drive for many years now tokind of take it out of there and
shape it and write a cadence anda flow and, and actually lyrics
(04:08):
to it was was pretty special. No.
Jet yeah, I did a great job together.
The song is amazing. When I heard it I was like,
typical TV shows don't have music with this quality and this
is something that you can play on the radio every day and I
will never get tired of it. So y'all definitely knocked out
that park. I'm excited to go actually
rewatch that clip and listen to the music.
So y'all need to definitely makean album together.
(04:29):
I'm waiting for that day becauseI think there's so much y'all
can do together. Jet did you?
Do you have any special musical moments in the studio working
together with your dad? Oh yeah, just kind of singing
the song. It was really fun because that
it was just like we were just athome and I was just doing, just
(04:54):
singing a song. And yeah, I loved.
It, and I think that's the best part of what, what this
relationship, not only as fatherand daughter, but just
professionally represents, is like, just act like we're at
home. Because then you take the nerves
away. You take all that, the, the
nervous energy that people sometimes may feel 'cause it's
(05:15):
her first time being part of any, anything in the
entertainment business. And I just tell her, Jet, they
just pretend like we're at home having fun.
We're just vibing and just let go And don't, don't be scared
because I'm here with you and I'm a I'm a guide you and I'm
gonna be there with you every step of the way.
Yeah, I I love the encouragementthere.
Jet, do you remember the first time you saw Dora?
(05:37):
And you know what you thought when you first saw Dora on the
screen 'cause it's such a great,great show.
Well. You know, I did not watch Dora
growing up, but I loved watchingmy dad's episode.
I feel just like it's really cool seeing my dad on the screen
and I'm really excited to see meon the screen.
(06:03):
But I'm just glad that I'm in the store community.
I'm thankful. I'm glad that I get to do it
with such cool people. Yeah, and you know, honestly,
Jet's been a she's been a fan ofNickelodeon, but it's from the
live action perspective. Like she loves Victoria Justice,
she loves the Victorious and Salmon Cat, that girl lately.
(06:25):
So I think going back now, beingpart of Dora the Animated
series, going back and actually watching episodes together,
because now we're working part of it, it can refresh our memory
and she could get introduced to the the older version and get up
to speed to what's happening now.
But you know, we just geek out on anything.
(06:45):
We're nerds at Part 2 Men. So, Nerd.
Nerdtropolis speaks to us in so many ways, brother.
I love hearing that and I've said this many times, Dora
actually can teach adults a lot of things as well as the
children. So I encourage adults to also
watch anything Dora they can find.
Lastly I want to ask this, if the both of y'all could go on a
Dora style adventure in real life, where would you want to go
(07:07):
and what would your explorer backpack carry?
Wow, where do you want to go? Jet, probably.
Nickelodeon. I'm going with you, Jet.
Yes, that is on my bucket list as a 90s kid.
Yeah, Nickelodeon Studios, I would want to go to Machu
(07:27):
Picchu, the pyramids. And you know, our backpack would
of course, we'd have a satellitecell phone to be able to, if
something happens, we can reach our families.
We would have flow water. We would have, we'd be wearing
our Air Jordans. Sorry, sorry.
(07:51):
Following the breads, we would have a Black Eyed Peas, you
know, playlist. We would have sunscreen and what
else, Jet snacks. Yes, snacks and.
(08:16):
And hopefully me too. I want to fit in that backpack
and I want to come with you all.So I'm going to jump on that
backpack. But yeah, great choices.
I'll come to both those trips, but I might be a bit more
excited for the Nickelodeon Studio it.
Was fun. It was fun.
Those good old days. I I, I really hope y'all really
do end up putting an album out soon together.
I really think the world needs something from the both of
(08:37):
y'all. I think what y'all have created
together in the bond that y'all showcase with Dora is amazing.
And yeah, I definitely looking forward for more from both of
you. Jet, you are knocking it out
already and you're so young so Iknow what's going to be in your
future. And some really great bigger
stuff. Yeah, I'm, I'm like grateful
that Jet has a lot of space to learn and to take direction and
(08:59):
really listen. And half the battle is the
fearlessness and wanting to justlearn, get better, put in those
hours. I'm telling you, over 10,000
hours of practice or investment into your creativity or craft
really takes you far. And I also wanted to add that
along with this beautiful experience with Dora, I'm also
(09:21):
creating a podcast that will be dropping soon.
It's called Taboo's Comics and Kicks.
And basically it's about comic books because I, I'm a writer
for, can't say the name, but talking about right.
I've been writing with them for a while now and I have a new
book coming out. So my podcast is called Comics
and Kicks. It'll be dropping soon.
(09:43):
And we talk about comic books, storytelling, toys and action
figures derive from all that. And then Kicks is my love for
sneaker culture. Taboo.
We definitely got to reconnect them because I got some cool
shoes to show you in a bunch of other things to show you all say
geek. Geek mode.
I love it man. We'll do that Taboo Jet.
It was an extreme pleasure. Until next time, thank you all
(10:04):
so much. Thanks man.
Well hello Taboo and Jet, it's great to finally meet y'all.
Thank you. It's an honor to be here,
brother. Appreciate you.
No, I appreciate y'all. And first of all, you know,
quick and quick at Tina. I mean, love the names.
How did it feel stepping into the rainforest together?
That's coming from musical birdsand Dora the Explorer and Jet.
Tell us all about that. Well.
(00:23):
It was really cool doing it, father and daughter.
I love doing it with my dad, youknow, It felt like I was at home
just making character voices. Yeah, and it was really fun.
Yeah, we felt like, you know, asas organic and as natural and
as, I guess you could say innateto our everyday life.
(00:47):
That's who we are, man. Like I'm just being transparent
and honest. Like we're reading books with
we're we're adding dialogue and character voices, right?
We're doing podcast like pretendpodcast at home.
So we're practicing her interview skills and just making
sure that these are things that we as father and daughter are
passionate about. Why not dive into it together
and create something that has somuch love and synergy and it
(01:09):
comes from a great place. And then to be part of this
beautiful brand like Dora Dora. It's just it's the next level of
excitement and energy. And we're just very thankful and
blessed. I love hearing that obviously
y'all are bonding with so much great opportunity.
What was your first reaction when you got the call to be part
of Dora, a show that has inspired kids for 25 years?
(01:30):
Me or or Jack? Both of y'all actually when
y'all got that phone call. Yeah.
So, so I'm going to go 1st and I'm going to say the first
initial thing was, man, I get todo voice over work with Dora,
like for Dora, because as an actor, I've done movies before,
but now being part of such a amazing brand that's been around
(01:53):
for so many years has inspired so many kids and so many
families. It was just a a great reflection
of all the hard work and all theopportunities that have been
provided. I know a lot of great people at
Nickelodeon. So just now becoming part of the
family was the next step. And then when I got the e-mail
(02:14):
about Jet, what did you think, Jet?
Well, I was really excited. I was like, Oh my gosh, this is
so cool. I just felt like so happy.
Yeah, it was one of those moments of like surreal moments.
Jet and I get to work together on Dora for us, as you know,
(02:38):
we're, we're Mexican. My, my daughter Jet is Filipino,
Mexican and Native American. So for us, having this beautiful
mosaic of representation on the screen, having an iconic little
matriarch like Dora speak to girls and, and, and, and family
members that represent, you know, our cultural background
(02:59):
was beautiful, man, It was awesome.
Yeah, I love everything that Dora offers to all generations,
all types of people, all types of children.
Is such a a, a, a beautiful show.
And then you we got the films and everything else.
So Dora definitely rocks. And the song that y'all put
together that I just heard and saw the the clip for was
amazing. Such a beautiful and joyful
track. What was it like collaborating
(03:20):
on a song that celebrates the heart of Dora's world?
So Jet and I have been writing music together and creating
songs that maybe they're just inmy hard drive and the world
hasn't really received them. But the beauty is just getting
those that time in and getting to over 10,000 hours of practice
and creative space and sharing experiences making songs.
(03:43):
It was just something really special man.
Because I have been working on melody of the scratch vocal for
a while now for many years. And now to really start
structuring and adding a new flavor to it to really go along
with the episode was something special because it wasn't my
hard drive for many years now tokind of take it out of there and
shape it and write a cadence anda flow and, and actually lyrics
(04:08):
to it was was pretty special. No.
Jet yeah, I did a great job together.
The song is amazing. When I heard it I was like,
typical TV shows don't have music with this quality and this
is something that you can play on the radio every day and I
will never get tired of it. So y'all definitely knocked out
that park. I'm excited to go actually
rewatch that clip and listen to the music.
So y'all need to definitely makean album together.
(04:29):
I'm waiting for that day becauseI think there's so much y'all
can do together. Jet did you?
Do you have any special musical moments in the studio working
together with your dad? Oh yeah, just kind of singing
the song. It was really fun because that
it was just like we were just athome and I was just doing, just
(04:54):
singing a song. And yeah, I loved.
It, and I think that's the best part of what, what this
relationship, not only as fatherand daughter, but just
professionally represents, is like, just act like we're at
home. Because then you take the nerves
away. You take all that, the, the
nervous energy that people sometimes may feel 'cause it's
(05:15):
her first time being part of any, anything in the
entertainment business. And I just tell her, Jet, they
just pretend like we're at home having fun.
We're just vibing and just let go And don't, don't be scared
because I'm here with you and I'm a I'm a guide you and I'm
gonna be there with you every step of the way.
Yeah, I I love the encouragementthere.
Jet, do you remember the first time you saw Dora?
(05:37):
And you know what you thought when you first saw Dora on the
screen 'cause it's such a great,great show.
Well. You know, I did not watch Dora
growing up, but I loved watchingmy dad's episode.
I feel just like it's really cool seeing my dad on the screen
and I'm really excited to see meon the screen.
(06:03):
But I'm just glad that I'm in the store community.
I'm thankful. I'm glad that I get to do it
with such cool people. Yeah, and you know, honestly,
Jet's been a she's been a fan ofNickelodeon, but it's from the
live action perspective. Like she loves Victoria Justice,
she loves the Victorious and Salmon Cat, that girl lately.
(06:25):
So I think going back now, beingpart of Dora the Animated
series, going back and actually watching episodes together,
because now we're working part of it, it can refresh our memory
and she could get introduced to the the older version and get up
to speed to what's happening now.
But you know, we just geek out on anything.
(06:45):
We're nerds at Part 2 Men. So, Nerd.
Nerdtropolis speaks to us in so many ways, brother.
I love hearing that and I've said this many times, Dora
actually can teach adults a lot of things as well as the
children. So I encourage adults to also
watch anything Dora they can find.
Lastly I want to ask this, if the both of y'all could go on a
Dora style adventure in real life, where would you want to go
(07:07):
and what would your explorer backpack carry?
Wow, where do you want to go? Jet, probably.
Nickelodeon. I'm going with you, Jet.
Yes, that is on my bucket list as a 90s kid.
Yeah, Nickelodeon Studios, I would want to go to Machu
(07:27):
Picchu, the pyramids. And you know, our backpack would
of course, we'd have a satellitecell phone to be able to, if
something happens, we can reach our families.
We would have flow water. We would have, we'd be wearing
our Air Jordans. Sorry, sorry.
(07:51):
Following the breads, we would have a Black Eyed Peas, you
know, playlist. We would have sunscreen and what
else, Jet snacks. Yes, snacks and.
(08:16):
And hopefully me too. I want to fit in that backpack
and I want to come with you all.So I'm going to jump on that
backpack. But yeah, great choices.
I'll come to both those trips, but I might be a bit more
excited for the Nickelodeon Studio it.
Was fun. It was fun.
Those good old days. I I, I really hope y'all really
do end up putting an album out soon together.
I really think the world needs something from the both of
(08:37):
y'all. I think what y'all have created
together in the bond that y'all showcase with Dora is amazing.
And yeah, I definitely looking forward for more from both of
you. Jet, you are knocking it out
already and you're so young so Iknow what's going to be in your
future. And some really great bigger
stuff. Yeah, I'm, I'm like grateful
that Jet has a lot of space to learn and to take direction and
(08:59):
really listen. And half the battle is the
fearlessness and wanting to justlearn, get better, put in those
hours. I'm telling you, over 10,000
hours of practice or investment into your creativity or craft
really takes you far. And I also wanted to add that
along with this beautiful experience with Dora, I'm also
(09:21):
creating a podcast that will be dropping soon.
It's called Taboo's Comics and Kicks.
And basically it's about comic books because I, I'm a writer
for, can't say the name, but talking about right.
I've been writing with them for a while now and I have a new
book coming out. So my podcast is called Comics
and Kicks. It'll be dropping soon.
(09:43):
And we talk about comic books, storytelling, toys and action
figures derive from all that. And then Kicks is my love for
sneaker culture. Taboo.
We definitely got to reconnect them because I got some cool
shoes to show you in a bunch of other things to show you all say
geek. Geek mode.
I love it man. We'll do that Taboo Jet.
It was an extreme pleasure. Until next time, thank you all
(10:04):
so much. Thanks man.
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