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Jon B's R&B Legacy: Tupac’s Last Verse, Michael Jackson’s Magical Call & Nas's Super Soul Bars
Sep 5, 2025
R&B legend Jon B sits with Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur @ChuckCreekmur to unpack the moments that shaped his legacy: • Tupac in the studio two weeks before Vegas—why Afeni Shakur insisted the collab be released • The day Michael Jackson called about Jon’s “You Are Not Alone” remix • Nas pulling up to Jon’s house and rewriting “Finer Things” to get it perfect • The new album Waiting on You with Rick Ross, Donell Jones, Tank, Alex Isley • How marriage, fatherhood, and his wife/manager power Jon B’s 30-year run Subscribe to AllHipHop on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/allhiphoptv?sub_confirmation=1 Check out more of AHH here on social media: https://allhiphop.com https://twitter.com/allhiphopcom https://facebook.com/allhiphopcom https://instagram.com/allhiphopcom Executive Producers: “Grouchy” Greg Watkins and Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur AllHipHop.com, a powerhouse in the Hip-Hop world, was established and brought to life by the visionary CEOs "Grouchy" Greg Watkins and Chuck "Jigsaw" Creekmur.
View Video Transcript
0:04
Hey, peace. What's up everybody? This is your man John B. I want to send a big shout to all hip hop. It's all love,
0:11
baby. What's going on world? It's your man Chuck Creekmer aka Jigsaw here at One
0:16
World Studios and we are here with a legend in R&B sound and a legacy artist,
0:24
John B. What's going on? Peace, man. the first the one of one of the singers with a with a with a name
0:29
that sounds like a rapper. Ah, okay. Yeah. John B. But how you doing? I'm blessed, man. I'm really good, man.
0:36
Yeah. It's good to have you here in the studio live and in person after all these years.
0:42
Um, you have a new album, Waiting on You, that you've dropped. Yes. Sounds very, very classic R&B.
0:49
Definitely. Definitely bringing it back to that, you know, what you know me for, you know. Definitely. tell us what, you know, what
0:55
were you looking to accomplish with this this album? I mean, really just to continue the tradition of putting out good music, you
1:01
know, music that I feel in my heart, you know, I write all my stuff, so it's all very personal to me, you know. Um,
1:08
and it shows people where I'm at right now, you know, in my life. Uh, it's been 30 years of doing this, so it's
1:14
lots of maturity that's gone on, you know, lots of growth. Um, both as a writer, songwriter, and a producer. So
1:21
really showing that, you know, it doesn't stop. And um the relationship I have with my fans, I think they were
1:28
looking for a new album. Everybody was was uh tired of waiting. So it was about time for me to get back in the studio
1:34
and cook some up, you know. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Uh somebody referred to you to me as the
1:40
male Tina Marie. Okay. Hey, I was like, I love them flowers. I was like, what? And I was like, yeah,
1:48
thank you. Yeah. You know, that sounds uh sounds perfect to me. Um Tina Marie was,
1:55
you know, to say the least, um a musical genius and and uh a trailblazer for her,
2:00
you know, I I feel I feel for the females, you know, and um it just shows that soul is soul, you
2:06
know, and it's it always has been. And God don't make no mistakes, man, when he gives you your talents, man. you just
2:12
just up to you to be able to take it and um cherish it and uh and develop it and
2:18
just keep giving your all. It don't matter what how how he colored you, how he made you, you know what I mean? Or the lack of
2:25
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? I feel like it's what is on the inside that really really matters. And um you know, the proof is
2:32
in the pudding, man. You know, just just make good music. Yeah. Just make good music and and that you do. Um
2:38
thank you so much, sir. and and and to do that for I mean this is really 30 years since your first album. That's
2:45
it's kind of hard to process. It it is amazing. Um is what it is. It's uh it's also you know the charge that I
2:52
I get from my fans in the shows and I see everybody so you know just so hyped
2:57
to see me again and um you know all the shows are sold out everywhere I'm going so it's the attendance is amazing and
3:04
everyone was singing the songs. some of the songs I, you know, I they weren't singles, they were just album cuts and
3:09
they're singing those records and it's just so beautiful to see that the relationship continues. And um
3:15
yeah, I'm I'm here for y'all, man. As far as uh singing is concerned
3:21
and conveying my message, you know, I'm going to sing my heart out for you until I can't do it no more. You know, that's just what I'm here for. So
3:28
now you came out, you know, 95, not to stress the the the time, but the that
3:33
period, hip-hop was on fire. Yeah. Um that was a real
3:40
almost like a seminal year like right like the uh golden era. Yeah, it really was. I mean, I will say
3:49
hip-hop and R&B hadn't fused yet because I remember when, you know, R&B radio
3:56
wouldn't play rap songs. They just wouldn't play. If it had a rap on it, it would. They wouldn't play it.
4:02
And um we always had to have two versions of a record that did have a rap on it. One with the rap and one without
4:08
the rap. So, they could play it on the, you know, on the R&B stations. and um vice versa
4:13
for the hip-hop shows. They didn't want to play a song with a bunch of singing on it. They wanted a rap song, you know, and they wanted a hip-hop
4:19
record. So, for me um to trailblaze the idea of a rapper and myself getting
4:25
together and and making uh making a collaboration that we didn't
4:31
give people a choice. We just like here, take it or leave it. This is it. It's hip-hop R&B. You know, it wasn't too many people
4:36
taking those chances. And I'm sure the label kind of fell away, you know what I mean? When they first heard the record,
4:42
they were like, "What are we gonna do with this?" You know what I mean? It doesn't fit a format, man. You know, but um I think Tupac Shakur being on the
4:48
record actually kind of changed everybody's mind. Definitely. you know, um his death was definitely um you know, the one thing
4:55
though that was sort of like, you know, it was a it was a gift and at
5:01
the same time it was it was our situation was so sad that it it was hard for me to live live and ride that wave
5:08
like that without feeling like I was wasn't exploiting my man. You know what I mean? Right. So, at first I was a little bit
5:15
reluctant to put that out as a single, right? And it and if it wasn't for his mother, Afini Shakur,
5:21
coming to uh my aid and saying, "No, my son loved that song. He played it for me. You know, he wanted it to come out.
5:27
I'm blessing you with that record and you could put it out." And I was like, "That's really what drove me to want to
5:32
put the record out." And then Sony, of course, was the label I was signed to. They figured it out. They were like,
5:37
"All right, we needed to put this out." You know what I mean? That's dope. And that was Pac's last
5:42
recorded song verse. Yes, it was. Yes. We were in the studio two weeks before he went to Vegas, you
5:49
know, and um yeah, just to be be with him in that time in that pinnacle moment
5:55
of his life and uh and and to share the you know that that energy in the studio
6:01
together and to collaborate together and to you know bounce ideas off one another. You know what I mean? Should I
6:07
sing it like this man? Yeah. This is, you know, is as as as tough as Tupac
6:12
came off, you know, in his with his persona, that was the nicest guy in the world. He was like he was a hard worker,
6:20
diligent worker, you know, he would be working on another song in the other room at the same time he's working on my
6:26
record, you know. So, yeah, just to be able to see him in his vibe and, you know, that's what I that's what I
6:33
celebrate in my mind is those memories, you know. You know, it's interesting that you say
6:38
in the studio. In the studio. And a lot of people, they don't even have that concept anymore.
6:44
Yeah. Because you can send a joint. Yeah. Um and also I'm reading a book about Tupac.
6:50
It's a definitive sort of biography. Uh over 700 people interviewed for it.
6:58
And it does paint a very different picture of him than than what's what he
7:04
even projected honestly. Um, how was your personal time with him?
7:11
I mean, Tupac was just a very loving guy, man. He was he was uh he was very
7:16
kind-hearted, you know. I mean, I walked in the studio and before I came in the studio, I saw my CD was in his car. M
7:23
um and uh and uh yeah, he had a Rolls-Royce. So, I
7:28
was like looking in the window. Okay, that's a nice car. I looked in the window. I saw my my album Bonafide, my
7:34
first album. I was sitting there. I was like, that must be Pox Car. I hope it's Pox Car. That's dope. If it is, cuz my
7:39
record's in there, you know, might you might have been listening to me or something before he came to the session.
7:44
So, that was dope. And uh as soon as I came in, it was just all, you know, it was uh very, you know, very cool to meet
7:51
him. and he's we had already met at the How You Want It video shoot. That's where I met, you know, he he told me to
7:56
pull up and I came through and uh yeah, man. And uh you know, it
8:01
it's it's just when you have chemistry with someone, it doesn't take much time. You know, I I don't know exactly how
8:08
long the session was in total, but I know it took about three or four hours and we were already 50% done with the
8:15
record already. You know, that happened that fast. And the momentum was so so real. We just kept on following it. And
8:22
uh he really knew what he wanted and I knew what I wanted, you know, as far as the collaboration.
8:28
We wanted to do something that both of us had never done before, you know, and I feel like that that record was definitely that for Tupac because
8:35
I feel like he opened up a certain side of himself on that record where it was a little bit more vulnerable, a little bit more,
8:40
you know, easygoing. Um, and we were we were joking about,
8:45
you know, what do we want to write about, man? you know, it's like I got the melody, we got the basic of it, but what's the what's the the hook though?
8:52
You know, and and I was like, I don't know. I kind of want to get at my ex, like, you know, like like
8:58
it was one of them calls like, "You good?" Like, you know, what's up? Oh, you want to ask her if she's still down?
9:04
Like, all right, cool. That's what I'm talking about, man. So, I I had the melody going and then, you know, sometimes I would
9:11
kind of deviate from the melody, but Pac was always very very focused and he would just say, "Nah, it goes like this." girl, it's all right. You know
9:17
what I mean? And coach me and to produce me the right way to, you know, singing and whatnot. So that's dope. That's dope. You talked
9:24
earlier about being a songwriter. Um, you know, Baby Face is on your first
9:31
album, which Yes. He's like the goat. Yeah. Did Did you guys have a special relationship or did has he did he mentor
9:38
you in any way or absolutely how did you develop that talent? I felt like he was a a mentor to me and
9:43
absolutely is. Um, you know, still to this day, I I I have nothing but admiration for for Baby Face and um, you
9:51
know, always he's always been an influence on me both, uh, vocally and musically with my production and
9:56
whatnot. So, you know, he's he's up there with the Jimmy Jams and Terry Lewis's, you know what I'm saying, Teddy Riley's and, you
10:02
know, and the Quincy Joneses and, you know, so the the list goes on and on as far as the
10:08
influences of R&B and but he's definitely up in there. uh as far as uh
10:13
one of the guys who is essential in my um you know in my development as a as a
10:20
R&B cat you know and um I think it's really about having the time that we had early
10:27
on when I was just in my just cutting my teeth just getting my you know myself started um he was essential in that that
10:35
process and uh yeah I mean it's signing to um Yabia ment Entertainment, his
10:42
production label with his wife Tracy Edmonds at the time was the door that opened me up to signed to Epic Records,
10:49
you know, which was um was an amazing experience to be signed to the majors
10:54
and you know, I'm 18 walking into the Sony building like whoa, you know what I mean? and flying on a Leer jet with with
11:01
Kenny and Tracy to come here New York City for the first well not for the first time but um first time as a you know as a proposed
11:09
you know artist to be you know um that felt pretty cool and uh
11:14
you know I got a publishing deal I got a record deal you know and I my my whole thing was if I'm going to sign
11:22
um I want to work with New Edition I want to work with you baby face I want to work with your brothers after seven I
11:28
want to work with, you know, Luther Vandros, Michael Jackson, and I and I was able to do all of those things. So,
11:35
Tony Braxton, you know, we we had fun, man. You know, man, listen, I was I was going to ask
11:40
you about that. Michael Jackson. Uh, yeah, remixed. I remixed the song for
11:45
Michael. Um, I didn't actually write the record. R. Kelly wrote the record. Um, you are not alone.
11:51
And they didn't ask that many people to do remixes. They just they they reached out to Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis. They
11:57
reached out to me and I I was just like, "Of course I will." You know, and when I
12:02
mixed it, uh Mike had reached out to the studio and called up and he was kind
12:08
enough to give me the compliment. Oh, I love it. It's so not very good. It's different than the original and I like it.
12:15
So, that was cool talking to him on the phone and getting to meet him later on uh at the Brit Awards in London. We were
12:20
actually managed by the same manager at the time. Okay. The Yeah. Jim Jim Jim my Sandy Gallon.
12:27
Gotcha. And uh yeah, that was a really cool experience to shake his hand. You know, that's just the goat of goats, you know
12:33
what I'm saying? As far as um influences, he was my first favorite honor artist, you know what I mean?
12:40
Yeah. Oh my god. So, yeah. Mine too, by the way. Yeah. I mean,
12:45
Thriller, you know, this is not to bait you into anything, but they there's been
12:51
this raging debate, Beyonce or Michael, and I'm like, "Okay, I hear you. No
12:58
problem." But Thriller, that album, Offthe-Wall was great, right? But Thriller was like a whole thing in and
13:06
of itself. And it was a movie, man. It was a movie, literally. Yo, every movie, right? I don't think
13:12
there's ever ever been a um a musical production um that has been more elaborate, you
13:19
know what I mean? Um Thriller was a It was the Haunted House at Disneyland ride, you know what I mean? It was in a
13:26
video, you know, it was just dope and very inventive and uh the song is an incredible record.
13:32
Um and so innovative, you know, there's nobody else who has a thriller, per se.
13:38
Yeah. Um, and it's like what's the song about? It's like no one's ever written a song about going to see Scary Movie. You
13:45
know what I mean? It's crazy. It's a really really original record. So, changed everything. Yeah. It's kind of almost has a Broadway
13:52
uh element to it as well. I I uh I was aware that Michael was a huge Broadway fan. So his hooks had these
13:58
very fanfare big, you know, it's like you could you could see the thriller sign, you
14:04
know, when you hear that that hook, you know, and um yeah, that was a I think he was he was
14:10
in his mode. He wanted to outdo himself on Off the Wall and just elevate everything to the next
14:16
the next level cuz Off the Wall was such a soulful album and just so warm and organic and
14:22
then all of a sudden Thriller came with all the, you know, it's kind of futuristic a little bit more, you know, had that that
14:28
thing. So, yeah, that was dope, though. What what's kept you uh committed to
14:33
soul music? um other artists with your hue have have uh have affected
14:42
you know. Yeah. No, you know what it is what it is. I mean um I feel that that was a challenge in the beginning of my career
14:48
being my you know having my complexion and um walking in having people what
14:54
what are you you know and why why does it matter man you know I'm a singer that's what I am you know and does my
14:59
voice sound good to you or am I right and he's like am I am I ugly to you or something like that you know what I mean so no it's
15:05
just for me I was like it was almost like having you know three arms or something like walking in sometimes you know just you
15:12
just felt like odd yeah Um, and the bunt of a lot of jokes, you know what I mean? Early on.
15:17
Really? Yeah. Yeah. Or, you know, like what? Oh, well, just I mean, people be like, you know, just just making jokes about
15:23
my race, you know what I'm saying? About me being white and and um and that was cool. That was cool cuz I
15:30
never really saw a lot of other artists like in my lane um with my Hugh as you
15:35
say, uh having to hear those same jokes. I I'd hear interviews with them and it was just everything was just smooth. But
15:42
I feel like I I knocked a lot of those walls down to where it's like, you know, after you do it to me, you
15:48
don't have to do it to the next man coming because I already kind of like, you know, took the shock value away from
15:53
that. You know, it's not it's shocking. I kind of made, you know, I had three albums already done
15:59
as a R&B artist and being successful with like, you know, several platinum singles
16:04
before I had any sort of like other guys in my lane, you know, three albums to really really
16:10
be with the world and like let the world feel me before there was a Justin Timberlake or
16:15
Robin Thick, you know what I mean? Or other. So, it's been a beautiful experience to have my time and set my,
16:21
you know, set up myself in a way where I've been able to last all these years. 30 years later, I'm still here doing
16:28
this. And it's not because of the attention I get. It's it's because I love this music,
16:34
you know? I love to write it. I love to make beats. I love the sounds that come out the speakers, whether it's,
16:40
you know, synthesized sounds or organic sounds from a piano and roads or guitar.
16:45
I just love music. So, and anytime that there's a chance for me to write a song and I'm in the mood to write a record, I
16:52
still sit down there. I meditate on my, you know, my music and I I let the words flow and
16:58
evidently now you have a new album, you know what I mean? And it's a it's a celebration that continues.
17:03
You know, respectfully, I'll just say this. Um, I think those jokes are from a
17:09
good place. Yeah. Yeah. Because you were so authentic. Thank you. Now, there were others that
17:16
I don't want to name names, so I'm not going to name names, but there were others um that didn't feel authentic that that
17:23
may maybe we just give them a pass because you're just, you know, passing through
17:29
or you're being marshaled in with I think I think when someone sees
17:35
something like these labels see something working, they're like, why did that work? You know what I And then they
17:40
try to like emulate what they think they can do to do that but do it on a grander scale.
17:47
But you can't really if it's not authentically that you can't just make it that. You know
17:53
what I mean? It's not if it's not going to it's not going to rock well. You know what I mean? You're going to be able to see through, you know, all of the the
18:00
stuff that's not matching up. Yeah. And this is a culture. That's the thing that people need to understand about it
18:06
is like I'm not out here going home, you know, and not listening to R&B music and
18:12
not like socializing with people who listened and and daily live the life of of listening and
18:20
being immersed in R&B and hip-hop culture. Like those are my friends. That's my family. So
18:27
yeah, it's not like a life of of um you know, I live this beachy life at home
18:33
like playing volleyball and going surfing every day, you know what I mean? And then I turn on my R&B hat and you
18:38
know what I mean? And I throw on my black, you know, chain and you know what I mean? And get in my mode
18:44
and it's like, no, that's not what I do. You know what I mean? This is not for dress up. This is not for show. This is
18:50
who I am. And I've been this guy, you know, since I, you know, was in junior
18:55
high and I had a style, you know, this is who I am. And I've been singing R&B, man, since before I
19:01
even got a deal. So really thinking about it, it's like more like 40 40 years of doing this, you know, cuz I
19:08
really started singing when I was like 10. Okay. So, you know, how' you how' you Well, first of all, I
19:14
heard you were Is this true that you were classically trained a classically trained musician? Is that No, it was um that my parents are both
19:21
classical musicians and both both teachers of of music. Um my dad was a professor of music and
19:28
also conducted orchestras and my mother is a concert pianist and taught piano for 35 years. So
19:33
kids coming in and out our house like a musical just you know we were just a
19:38
musical factory and so hence the reason why I took it so seriously early on and was able to
19:45
really excel quickly. um to the point of getting a record deal at 18, you know
19:50
what I mean? Was pretty pretty remarkable for that time, you know? Yeah, definitely. Um wanted to ask,
19:56
well, not not as so much so, but you know, you uh I was reflecting on your
20:02
song with Nas, finer thing. Thank you for asking about that. Oh my god, that's
20:07
what's up, man. Good looking, man. Thank you, man. You know, it's interesting. I was um literally in in
20:16
London not too long ago uh England with with Nas and he was playing with the orchestra. He was doing
20:21
this tour where he had an orchestra behind him, man. A full symphony orchestra. And I mean, if that's not boss, I don't
20:28
know what is, man. That's sophistication at its, you know, at its uh its its
20:33
peak, you know, when you get to have an orchestra behind you. Absolutely. And celebrating your music. Uh so I wanted to come out and uh
20:39
celebrate with him. So I came out that night. I didn't know if I was going to get to run into him or not, but I came I
20:45
came to the uh the back of the you know where he was where he was chilling and uh he's like they got you know John B
20:52
here to see you and he's like R&B John B like the singer John B. It's like, "Man, tell him come in here, man."
20:58
And so I came in there and it was just all love. And I'm like, "Man, I loved our joint, man. You know that we had
21:04
finer things, you know, he was like, "Man, I loved making that record with you, bro. Like, I was honored that you
21:09
had me on there." And I was like, "You were honored to be on my record?" I'm like, yo, this is, you know, cuz it was
21:15
nuts to be able to come to my house where my studio is and you know, Nas had pulled up and, you
21:22
know, playing pool and, you know, just just chilling, you know, and then it's like, "Hey, man, come down and and hear
21:28
this record real quick. I got in mind for us and I played him the beat and he started rocking to it and he's just
21:33
like, man, that's like some male shade smooth like, you know, I could rock over
21:39
that." So man, you know, I really wanted to make a record that kind of made me feel like the beat almost had the same
21:45
kind of pocket as a Street Dreams. Mhm. You know, boom boom
21:50
boom boom, you know, boom boom, that kind of tempo. So I immediately, you
21:56
know, cooked up that for him specifically and uh just to have him, you know, concur and be like,
22:04
I'm on it. two verses, two, you know, I believe that that Yeah, it's um
22:09
and he wrote the song twice, too, to show you his um his dedication. He was just like Pac in that instance of uh
22:17
you know, he wasn't going to let it slide if it wasn't absolutely to his standard that he had in his head. He was
22:23
going to redo it, which he did. I watched him write a whole 16 bar verse, go in there,
22:29
sing it like it's just like that was the record. I was cool with that. Yeah. And then he's like I said, "What
22:34
you think, man?" He's like, "What you think?" I was like, "Man, I love it, man. This is Thank you, man." He's like,
22:40
"I hate it." And I thought he was joking at first. He was like, "Nah, man. I don't like it, man. I redo it."
22:47
And so in the second version, I just kind of I let him be. I, you
22:52
know, when he would speak, he'd be like asking me questions about like people, names, like, you know,
22:58
relationships of people. Mhm. You know, to give him, you know, um,
23:04
you know, food for thought in terms of like, you know, metaphoric things to to to name, people to name, that kind of
23:09
thing. Cars, you know, whatever. We're just talking about just visual stuff, you know, and um,
23:16
yeah. So, the song ended up being very visual. The way that he wrapped that the the ending rap what he came up with was
23:21
like, you know, it's so dope, man. You know, if I was your man, your knowledge would expand till we both are
23:28
equal. Chilling on islands where the sand and the ocean is deep blue. There's three things that I got on my list. You
23:34
qualify. You qualified. You my miss. I count them down like this. Number one, you got to be real. Don't lie to me
23:40
about monogamy. See hung, get out of my grill. Love me if I'm locked up, but out
23:45
on a pill. Keep it tight when I'm in it. Ask me how does it feel. Number two, easy to do. Be who you are.
23:52
Be with me a real G with every beat of your heart. And number three, last but not least, give me peace and I show you
23:58
the world most girls ain't lucky to see. John B. Let's go. Listen,
24:03
I remember that verse. T, baby. You know what I mean? I love I love how people always say your name on their record, too.
24:09
I mean, you know what? Drop in there. Hey, that's that's what makes it hip-hop to me is like,
24:15
you know, because um you know, I just remember um you know,
24:21
like even just Rim, Eric being rock, you know, Eric B, you know, Eric B, you know,
24:28
Raim Rock, you know, all that. Eric B, you know, and just those those little
24:34
things like that just have always uh Yeah. You know, I grew up with with with hip-hop in the 80s, you know what I
24:39
mean? when when when all that was just just getting started and um you know I'm just so honored to have
24:45
grown up during that time man you know with the trunk jewelry and the absolutely you know break dancing and locking and you know what I mean
24:52
graffiti and you know just DJ nothing like it yeah you know so yeah
24:57
um did you ever try to rap I you know rapping is just something it's like it's it's I wouldn't consider
25:04
myself a rapper but rap is definitely something that is a musical tool For me, I have fun freestyling.
25:11
I've been doing that for many years, ever since people started freestyling. And you know, it it's um it's something
25:19
that, you know, if I need to, I can. Okay. But I would never like enter into a
25:24
freestyle battle with someone like that. You know, that's not my move. That's not me. I'm much more um the singer and the
25:31
player, you know, and the drummer, what music guy. your new album. You have Rick
25:36
Ross, Donnell Jones, Tank is on there. Yeah. And Alex Eley. Alex. Now, tell me who Alex Eley is.
25:45
That is the daughter of Ernie Eley from the Eley brothers. So, yeah. That's a great song.
25:50
Thank you so much. Thank you. And I was I figured it was a relative of the Eley, but I wasn't.
25:55
Yeah. Yeah. With the Eley last name. Yeah. No, I mean um she's new. Um, but at the same time, she's got this voice
26:02
that just is so developed and so authentic that it she sounds like she's
26:07
been around for years, you know, already. Um, she's got such a classic sounding voice and I love the subtleties
26:13
of her voice is very shadeesque or you know she's got a little bit of a
26:20
a her energy to her a little bit but um she's got her own thing and her
26:26
jazziness and maturity of her voice is um is what I love. I mean, anyone who could
26:32
come into my studio, hear a joint that I I made and just want to cut it just like that. I love them because it's
26:38
complimenting me as the songwriter and it's like, "No, I want to do it just like that. I loved what you did here." And it melody, whatever. It's just to me
26:46
it's that's why I write, you know, is to get those moments that happen like that. Yeah. Natural. That's dope. Did you um did you get in
26:53
the studio with everyone? Yeah. Tank Tank pulled up um to my studio. He came through. Um, he loved
26:58
the record. When I played it for him on the podcast, I was he was asking me what I was working on. I said, "Man, this is my latest joint." But I wanted to give
27:05
him his flowers because, you know, he's been so influential to me over the years, you know, as a singer, as a as a
27:11
R&B guy. You know, there's only so many of us that are really making moves, like, you know, doing full-on tours and,
27:18
you know what I mean, and really continuing to to just be self-contained, you know?
27:24
It's like, you know, light your own fire, you know what I mean? can get behind your own, you know,
27:29
your own mission and and and be your own leader. And that's what he's done, man. Um, so to have him concur with my record
27:36
and say, "Man, I I got something for that." And I was thinking he was going to sing one of the verses or something. I said,
27:41
"Which one you want? The front you want the the the, you know, first verse or you want the uh second verse or what we
27:48
going to do here?" And he's like, "Man, I don't want you bodied those verses. I don't want to sing none of the verses. Let me put a bridge on that thing." And
27:56
so, and I was like, "All right, bro. Let's give it the bridge of life, man." And he just, that's what he did, you
28:01
know. And, uh, he came he he, you know, he he kind of uh just finessed the record
28:08
with piano and just these strings and just really gave it a an amazing uplift,
28:14
you know, just uplifted the record. Did you ever feel any pressure uh back
28:19
in the day? sort of like the Bad Boy era when there were, you know, hard beats,
28:24
hip-hop beats and things like that. Um, I was I'm I'm going to be honest. I
28:31
I didn't I didn't like that. I didn't like the merger of the I mean, you know, everybody likes some
28:37
songs, but I remember I remember there was a time where it was like the Humpty Dance beat was like the only song the only break
28:44
beat that everybody would sample, right? So I was like that was like five different records that had the Humpty
28:50
Dance sample on it. And I recently saw a tweet with my man Money B talking about that. He's like,
28:56
"Yeah, everybody wanted to sample Humpty Dance when it came out." But oh my god. you know, so that was a little we tried
29:01
to merge, you know, like the groups like Portrait and whatnot back in the 90s and
29:07
um you know, many Aaron Hall, don't be afraid on No, I mean once there's a
29:13
trend that happens in R&B and hip-hop, it's like it kind of is a wave that we all kind of
29:18
want to ride a little bit, you know, and that's what's been beautiful about the music. It's been such a community.
29:23
It's been such a u you know, hey, I'm over here. We in the East Coast, blah blah blah. doing this.
29:30
All right. Well, we doing that same thing over here on the West Coast. What's up, y'all? Boom. You know what I mean? So, you have Nas with Street
29:36
Dreams happening with that same cut and then you have Tupac with, you know what I'm saying?
29:41
All Eyes on Me, the same joint. You know what I mean? So, you know, it's uh
29:47
it's just beautiful to see us all embrace each other like that from from afar. And it's like you don't know who your uh
29:54
your relative is, you know, until you start thinking alike and it's like, "Oh, man. All right. I see y'all, you know." Yeah.
29:59
So that's what I celebrate is like, you know, our likenesses is it's not a bad thing,
30:04
but I just I love it when we can draw the, you know, the lineage. We can show you how it connects. Not be,
30:11
you know, all about the self and I did this and this is what I do and that he want to do it just like me. Nah, no. It's like, no, we got something in
30:17
common. So, let's talk about those things so we can see how how close and
30:23
connected this thing really goes. You know what I mean? It really is. Yeah. Yeah.
30:28
Um, you are married.
30:34
Yes. 18 years. Yeah. 18 years. Got two daughters, man. 18 is my eldest and 11
30:40
is my youngest. Both both, you know, uh just wonderful young ladies and uh
30:46
they're on their way. They're growing up fast though. Tell you that much. They enjoy it. I Yeah. No, it's it's beautiful
30:52
experience. It's a lot it's a lot of grounding that happens, you know, being around my wife and being around my u
30:58
they won't allow my head to go too too out there up in the stars, you know. Um it's more
31:04
about being able to come down from the cloud of being
31:09
who I get to be on the weekends as a rock star and then, you know, come home and be a dad, you know what I mean? and
31:14
be a husband and wash them dishes and do, you know, do the regular dad stuff, you know, take the kids to school and,
31:21
you know, make lunch and stuff like that. And, you know, it's it's it's a beautiful thing to do that. It really is
31:26
cuz I I don't want to be John B, you know, 100% 24/7 a day. You know, that's that's
31:33
that's cool and everything, but I like to take, you know, the leather jacket off,
31:40
put it in the closet and just wear a t-shirt. and chill, you
31:45
know, water my plants, you know what I mean? So, yeah. But, uh, that's what I'm about. And it's, uh, it feels real good.
31:50
I feel like it's, um, making the music feel more mature as well. Absolutely. I was going to ask you, how
31:56
does how does that flow into the the music, especially the the you're also, you
32:01
know, getting older. So, the the music and the time and the family, it all
32:07
Yeah. you know, grows together. It really does. um as you as you mature as a as a as a man, you know, you
32:14
reflect that in your lyrics that you write, you know, you reflect that in the in the music that you create, you know,
32:20
it's just the knowledge is building. So, you know, and you're you're
32:26
really still figuring out as you believe it or not, you're still figuring out what you can do and what you how you
32:31
know just your abilities as you're getting older, you know. I'm getting better. I don't know about anybody else, but I'm getting better with time, you
32:37
know, and I feel like it's um it's something to want to share still, you know. It's I didn't get shy about
32:43
sharing. Somebody asked me the other day, "Do how do you feel about your new music compared to your old music?" And I
32:49
was like, "I love it the same way." And should I should I stop loving it as much? Does it mean
32:56
if it means less to you than it does to me, does that make me value myself less?
33:01
you know, like it's listen, you can grow to like the new music. All right? But for me, I love it.
33:07
Yeah. I I wouldn't have made it if I didn't love it and I wouldn't have put it out if I didn't love it. But I feel like it
33:12
took 10 years to get to this place where I was ready to make another record.
33:17
The road life is real. That keeps me busy all the time. So, you know, that's really what took the lion share
33:23
of my time. And like I said, being a dad and raising my family, you know, being a husband,
33:28
you want to be around for that as well. Yeah. So yeah, I took my time, but this album I think shows the growth and the
33:34
maturity. Yeah. Good. Good. I'm Man, I like that you said all that because I don't know,
33:41
we don't get that enough. And even when the guys are married, sometimes you get this weird
33:46
vibration that's trying to project sex appeal, but like hide that part of them
33:53
like Yeah. No, I'm not hiding it. Uh my wife and I were recently just on two different um you know shows that are you
34:00
know TV um shows are the Sherry Shepard and and uh Tamarind Hall
34:07
and celebrating our 18 years of marriage and you know I'm not I'm not shy at all. We we have been very kind of like
34:13
private with our marriage. I'm not out here exploiting like doing you know
34:19
doing reality shows. We've been offered many times and had to turn them down. No. No. Yeah.
34:24
No, it's it's it's amazing to have people's interest in, you know, our
34:29
lives like that. Um, we recently just did a uh an our first magazine cover. Oh, wow.
34:35
Which was cool. And, you know, she was all dressed up and beautiful and uh, you
34:40
know, it was it's it's nice to share the spotlight with her after this many years. um because she has been so behind
34:48
the scenes, but she is my manager and she is the one who's orchestrating
34:53
everything that you see. Yeah. You know, um from the clothes I wear to videos to uh
34:59
everywhere that I'm performing, she's making sure that I'm there, you know, booking the shows. And
35:05
it's really nice when you have someone who is pulling for not only you but
35:10
themselves. And that's the same household, right? it's both our heads, you know, and so we
35:15
it's a team effort. And I think people can see just how that's paying off for me, you
35:21
know, um as an artist, how I've been able to make such a uh a um a return to
35:27
the game, you know. Um but if it wasn't for my wife, I don't know if this would be the same same interview right now,
35:33
you know. It's uh it's it's it's it's incredible the way that she's uh the job that she's done.
35:38
And I want to thank my entire team, everybody, anybody, you know, who helped out with this album, Waiting on You, and
35:45
the promotion of this album and the, uh, the radio, the video, all of that. You
35:50
know, the touring, it's all looking good, y'all. So, we appreciate you, man, from the highest.
35:55
Definitely. Um, shout out shout out to your wife, man. I I'm looking at the drip and I'm like,
36:02
okay, damn. I'm like, all right. Damn, she had me right something else. No, no, you right. That's a That's a
36:09
sweatuit. I knew I had to be on point. That's a dope sweat too, bro. You're right. Thanks, man. I knew I knew for a fact I
36:15
had to be on point. I was like, man, that's right, bro. What do I wear? I changed it up three times last night. Yeah, I did. I
36:20
definitely did. I do the same crap, man. I do the same stuff, bro. you know, it's uh but I think that it's beautiful cuz she she
36:28
sees me, you know, and she sees um she sees me a certain way, you know, and
36:33
even sometimes you don't you get, you know, you don't look at yourself and see yourself sometimes, you know, you
36:39
you might feel a way, you know, at that moment and just not be your greatest fan,
36:45
right? Because you know who is their greatest fan all the time. But I think it's very important to have you know the attitude
36:52
of gratitude you know and and also wake up with that sense of like knowledge of yourself you know
36:58
um knowing what you won't do right today as opposed to what you will do
37:03
and I know what I'm really about so there's um it's like you know putting on the uh my
37:10
garments is like you know dressing myself with with my attitude you know that's how I feel today you know and I
37:16
think it's important it's important important. I think artists should really take it seriously. Um, it's your chance to be an artist, man.
37:23
So, don't just put your board shorts on a t-shirt and go to the interview, man. You know, unless that's what you're going for,
37:29
to each his own, you know. Some people there people earn the right to be billionaire chic and come out their
37:35
dirty shoes and whatnot. You know, you still you still got money. So, I I get it. But, um, at the end of the day, I mean,
37:42
I just try to, you know, I'm I'm trying to grow old with grace, you know, and they say black don't crack. And I'm
37:47
hoping some beige don't age. You know what I mean? Amen. Amen. I was I about to say, "Yo, you do you you all right, bro? You You
37:54
must have the shea butter in there, man. Shea butter, cocoa butter, all the butter." Wifey wifeies. Uh yeah, she's taking
38:00
care of me, man. She's taking care of me. Big up wife. Big up wifey. Shout out Shout out to the wife. Yeah.
38:06
And um and all the wives and all the ladies out here holding us down, man. You know,
38:11
thank you, love. Thank you. By the way, man, the uh the bestkept secret is a lot
38:17
of rappers I'm I'm I'm speaking specifically about rappers cuz that's what I know.
38:22
Uh are managed by their wives and the ones that are are doing well. Yes. Yes. You know, she she's going to
38:29
pull for you, man, cuz it's it's her household. It's, you know, it's her life, too. It's her her lifestyle. It's
38:34
everything that's going to grow from that. So, it's not just about, you know, getting
38:39
with the corporate situation and they got it taken care of and they take their 20%, you get to do this.
38:46
It's like a lot of them don't really do work well because they don't pull in a realistic way
38:52
for you and where you can live a lifestyle where it's if it's it's it's if it's not the lifestyle you're looking for, then
38:58
they're not doing their job. Yeah. You know what I mean? But if you're living the life that you want to live Yeah. and you're making the type of
39:04
money that you supposed to be making and traveling and you're still making records and the tour is looking good and
39:11
still putting videos out and everything that we're doing right now. You know, it's like that's what you're supposed to have.
39:16
And I see a lot of people signed to corporations and I don't see them. I don't hear them.
39:21
Yeah. You know what I mean? I don't I don't hear them on the radio. I don't see them in the videos. I don't see them on tour.
39:27
Mhm. And you got hits, but you just you signed to a a corporation that's like don't care if you're here or there, you
39:33
know? So, well, John B, I just want to thank you for coming to the platform. All hip hop
39:39
is almost as old as your first album. Right on, man. Do keep doing your thing,
39:46
bro. Thank you. Thank you. Let's enjoy this. Absolutely. Any final words for the fans? Just peace and blessings to everybody
39:52
out here, man, who's been rocking with me 30 years. We just celebrated our 30th 30-y year anniversary of Bonafide, my
39:59
first album. And uh waiting on you is u is available for you. And uh please go
40:05
support, man. Enjoy. And we going to sneak in one of those soldout shows. Let's go. I got you. Peace and love,
40:11
y'all. All right, my man. Appreciate you, Chuck.
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