April 22, 2024 • 46 mins
MC Lyte discusses her latest single and the challenges of finding a successful relationship as a successful woman. She emphasizes the importance of being open and vulnerable in relationships and the difficulty of finding a partner who can match her frequency. The conversation also touches on the evolution of relationships and the changing dynamics between men and women. MC Lyte talks about her role as a producer in the Broadway revival of The Wiz and her upcoming projects as a director and musician. She expresses gratitude for the impact she has had on the culture and her intentions as a multi-hyphenated artist moving forward.
Connect: @CariChampion @McLyte
Attend: The WIZ on Broadway
Learn More: MCLyteNow.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
People want real relationships, and yes, they want to be vulnerable.
They want to be in those relationships outside of familial
relationships that say I'm gonna be naked. I'm going to
strip down all of what it is that I put
together to help me from not being heard. Because this
(00:22):
is the thing. The more vulnerable you are or you
allow yourself to be, the more you can be seen
and the more you can be loved for who you
really are.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
That is you can tell by the voice the great
mc light and she is on today's Naked podcast and
she's being extremely naked, no pun intended. Pay attention. It's
always an education and refreshing. Thank you for listening to
this episode of Naked, and of course you can fast
forward through the commercials. I know how y'all feel. I
wish you guys stop telling me, but we got to
(00:55):
pay the bills. Thanks for listening to this edition of Naked, y'all.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
It's the greatest suspension in the same making. Nick, you
put Charry.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Chappie and carry Chappy is going to be a champion,
a champion, and Carrie Chappie and the Girl un a champion,
the Cary Chappion and.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Carried shepy great susporsion, then the tame nick you word.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Hey, everybody, welcome to you a new edition of Naked.
We are just about rapped with season three. I'm looking
forward to season four. But as we wrap, We've had
so much happen. I've kept you up to date with
what's going on in the world, introduce you to luminaries,
and of course I think it's different about today's podcast.
We have a legend and icon, one of the first
female voices in hip hop, mc light is on the
(01:45):
podcast today. I've interviewed her a few times, but this
time it's really interesting because I could go over her career,
I could talk about all the things that she has
done in terms of the contributions to the hip hop community,
but this felt very much more personal. It felt more
I felt more so about where she is in her life.
She looks amazing. As you guys, if you've googled her
(02:08):
seen her. She is arguably one of the most recognized
voices you might have seen or heard rather some of
her voiceovers for the BET Awards. I know that's where
I always constantly think about her different award shows. Her
voice is just so authentic and true and pure and
it is who she is. But at fifty three years old,
(02:29):
she's divorced and she's dating, and I asked her what
success looks like and she said to me that success
looks like finding a really peaceful relationship. Currently she is
in one, and I thought that was beautiful. But it
also led me to ask her about her latest single,
because she is still putting music out. After three plus
decades in the business, she is still putting music out.
(02:52):
And she said that her latest single Woman, I encourage
you all to go out download it. No one goes
out and buys anything anymore downloaded and support because for her,
she said, it was about a journey and she is
speaking to every woman in the culture, every woman, black, white,
purple of green, that has found themselves at this maybe
(03:16):
not even necessarily midlife, but out of pivot, a turning point,
a revelation. We all, no matter what age, we are,
are constantly learning about who we are and what we
want for ourselves. And she's done something that I think
is really smart. On her social media. She takes everyday
women that you and I know and she highlights them.
But she also has her song Woman laid behind the
(03:38):
visuals of different women, Maya, Angelou, Oprah and Free and
I'm throwing some women out there that I remember seeing, Angela,
Rye Salt and Peppa. You know, women that we know
and we see in the culture who have contributed to
who we are, what we hear, what we listen to,
how we think, how we move, educating us. And I
think it's such a beautiful, just such a beautiful testimony
(04:01):
in tribute to women all over the world to please
go out and support mc light. But more importantly, I
really enjoyed this conversation because this conversation was honestly just
about being a woman and living without further ado, Welcome
to the podcast mc.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Light, Chapion and Carey Chappy and and care with chat.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
The legendary mc light on Naked. It is always an
honor for me to have people on the podcast who
do the work, who paved the way, who live the example.
Nobody's perfect, but I love just about I don't think
there's anything that I could say that you haven't been
a part of that I haven't been a fan of.
And most recently in March, you released an empowerment song
(04:50):
for women and I literally went on your page and
the social media that you're doing for it. Grabbing women
that are in ours, guys that are in our everyday life,
that we know, that we see that are doing the work,
and highlighting the work that they have done is really powerful.
And if we can begin there. Because you don't always
(05:11):
release a lot of music as of late, and when
you do it's with intention. Tell me about this latest project. Wow, yeah,
it's well, it's called Woman. We were in the studio
working on some things. Warren Campbell, who is also my pastor,
and my good friend who comes by way of Heavy,
Heavy D and I were really close, and Warren and
(05:31):
Heavy were close, and so whenever I would see Warren,
it would be at the studio with Heavy. However, when
Heavy passed, Warren and I had a couple of conversations
and I felt like, oh, this is why he and
Heavy were close, because they're made from the same fabric.
And we were sitting in the studio. Now having become
(05:55):
somewhat like brother and sister, we were sitting in a studio.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Like, I quit, what are we going to do? And
I said, well, you know, we Kine is in town.
Let me call him and see if he'll come hang
out with us. Kine of course, was like I'm on
my way. Same thing with Raheem, Hey, I'm in. And
the thing about it is where Warren's studio is you
have to be exceptionally intentional because it's in West Tills,
which is like man's no Man's land.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
To some people.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
And so they all took the trip and we sat
in the studio trying to figure out what we were
going to do, and then Warren put on this music
and immediately Raheem went into the vocal booth and said woman, Woman,
And as soon as he said it, we were like,
there we have it. As far as being intentional, it
(06:42):
just seems like if you're going to put music out now,
especially coming from all of what it is that I've done,
what it is that I do, it has to be
a special occasion. And so, honestly we missed last March.
We've had this song brewing. I think it's been since
two thousand, I don't know, nineteen, maybe twenty nineteen. Really, yeah, yeah,
(07:08):
so you had just twenty nineteen and just released in
twenty twenty four. Yeah, because the pandemic came and who
was thinking about releasing music. We were trying to stay alive.
And so from that, I think in twenty or twenty
one is when Cheryl Salt James made herself available to
get on the record, which how can you pass up?
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Okay? Okay?
Speaker 1 (07:31):
And so I've got two more records with Raheem and Kin,
I've got another record with Salt. But for this occasion,
we all came together for women, and it just seems
like now is a great opportunity to say how it
is that I feel through my story, through salt story,
(07:54):
through Cain's admiration and adoration for women. Here we have
the person fit collaboration with Raheem singing from the crown
overhead to the toes on our feet and all the
melanin that exists in between. Let's celebrate women.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Amen, And as you as this album is coming together,
the intention is for it to be an anthem. Is it?
Is it to just to celebrate women?
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
What is your story connection line? When we are listening
to it, Why did mc light say women and decide
that these are the bars that I'm gonna that that
people are going to put in. And I'm sure everyone
had their written for themselves. I'm assuming I don't know
if they all write everyone. Yeah, but I'm assuming then
if everyone has their own experience. But why was it
important for you to highlight and celebrate women at this time?
(08:47):
Even though it was twenty nineteen when you wrote it,
the idea was always there, there's never not a good
time to celebrate us. But then it comes out it
feels like it's on the heels of something very special,
with women in sports, with women in politics, with women
in the world to make changes, women in every single
institution really making their voices known, Black women specifically. I
want to know your story because I know what you
(09:09):
represent for so many of us.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Yeah, then and now, Yeah, well, I'll tell you what.
There's many chapters to the story. As a matter of fact,
I'm talking now with the literary agent again, twenty years
after the first time a literary agent came to me
and wanted me to tell my story. So there are
many different layers as it relates to this song. Even
(09:35):
though we're highlighting all sorts of women, and all sorts
of women are connecting to the vibe and the content
of this particular record, I'm speaking to the woman before
there's anything that exists outside. So whether she's a politician,
whether she's an athlete, whether she's an actress or a teacher,
(09:58):
or whatever it is you may do for your profession.
I'm speaking to the woman underneath those layers, and I'm
speaking for a particular type of women.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
So this latest Single Woman, I feel as if that
you are doing something that is intentional. It's never not
a good time to celebrate women, But how is it
your story and what you have been through? Although you
highlight so many other women that are in the game
and the struggle making a difference, is your story?
Speaker 1 (10:30):
My story as it relates to this song, is just
being open to tell what it really takes as a
woman who's been in business and has had a certain
amount of success and also has had a marriage and
a divorce, what it is that really makes things click?
(10:54):
And although you know, for many I would imagine it's just, oh,
you know, we go out on a date, you get
to know one another, and then it escalates and then
you make this huge commitment, And I think, well, what
I know is in this particular song, I'm saying a
(11:16):
lot of what it is that I have to offer,
what it is that I expect in return, what it
is that I'm willing to do in terms of loyalty
and love and you know, but I'm also very proud
(11:38):
to say what it is that I've been able to
accomplish on my own, but also what I'm willing to
share in And I think for a lot of people,
especially women who are successful in what it is that
they do, find it difficult to find counterparts to find,
(12:01):
you know, men who can stand up and sort of
be willing to give just as much as they get.
And you know, I could say the same thing for men.
Men can probably have the same argument, which I also
hear men complain I'm looking for someone to really date,
(12:23):
but she just wants this much from me.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
You know.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Just the other night, this guy's like, you know, I'm
really ready to talk relationship and women want me to
send pics of my stuff, like oh no, yeah. I
think all over the globe people are being met with
not enough of what it is that they're looking for.
(12:48):
And I think in this record, I'm unashamed, unafraid to
say what it is that I have to give, what
it is that I'm looking for, and hopefully women can
listen to this and sort of tune in to oh, okay,
she may need that and I need this. Hey, how
about this being unafraid to say what it is that
(13:11):
you're looking for? And I guess that also comes with
experience and also age.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I want to there's a couple of things that you
just said that I want to talk about. The honesty
and the vulnerability. I was thinking about this before we
were recording, and I was thinking of ask starting to
ask questions because I am in the same space where
I like for people to say, when are you most vulnerable?
(13:40):
And it often has something to do with relationships, whether
it's man or woman and woman man, whomever, your mother's,
your mother, father, whatever relationship is, that's where you find
yourself the most vulnerable. And when you are triggered, do
you put up a wall around your heart and decide
to proceed and just transform into a transform chot because
(14:01):
you feel danger of being exposed and you talking about
what you're looking for in relationships, Been married, been divorced.
I hear this conversation with men and women the same thing.
I can't find what I'm looking for. And I've been
trying to say this and it's been going on for
a while. This is not new, but it's been going
on for a while. Where people are still searching. Women
(14:25):
more specifically, because we'll stay there are searching for something,
and the more successful you are, it feels like the
gap gets it becomes wider and wider and wider, and
and and men say the same thing. Is it a
is it in our culture? Is it a black thing?
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Or is it men and women in general? In your opinion,
it's probably uh, I would think now it's a little
bit of both, honestly, Like, I'm just thinking about it now.
This isn't something that we've you know, you prepped me
with these types of questions. But if I had to
(15:05):
just sure, if I hadn't just go off the top
of my dome, it is men and women in general,
because once you've gotten old enough and you're single. See,
it's one thing to marry early, and then you grow
into this knowingness of what I like and what by
by then you've already become extremely tolerant of what's going
(15:27):
on in relationship, either that or not. And you leave.
But if you're still there, you've become tolerant. But if
you've gotten older and you've had a couple of relationships,
you understand, Okay, I won't do that again. And Nope,
that is unacceptable and Nope, not going to tolerate that.
You begin to understand yourself better and what it is
(15:50):
that you will stand for. You know, even what I've
learned since my last marriage is Okay, I'm gonna ask
all the questions. I'm not gonna act like I'm the
cool girl from down the block where if you're doing
it's that, and third, I'm alright with it. Or if
something looks a little fishy, I'm not gonna say I
smell fish or something here is not right. And with
(16:14):
that knowingness it becomes That's how the gap gets larger
and larger, because you can smell what's not right from
really far off and even if you get right up
on it and it doesn't smell right, Okay, this isn't
for me because I'm not ready to I'm not ready
to lower my standard and play these types of games
(16:37):
with you. And right now, I'm not even talking about economically.
I'm just talking about at you as a person. How
it is that you get along or you know, play
games to get along. I'm not into that, so, but
I do think it's a little bit of both. It's
(16:58):
it's woman in man or whatever type of relationship is,
but it's also.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Cultural definitely, do you as as you have this this
this I mean, by the way, this can be an
anthem for so many of us and and what and
what we want, do you find that these conversations are
more and more common? And this is why you were
more willing. I know you said age comes, you know,
(17:24):
have wisdom, and you've been through a lot and you've
seen a lot. But do you also find that these
are conversations that are just being had all the time.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah, I think they are conversations that are going to happen. Well,
you know, it's probably a few conversations happening. One is,
you know, low level still succumbing to the pressures of
what is you know, happening in society today. And then
there's an elevate conversation that's happening where there are real stakes.
(17:57):
People want real relationships. Yeah, and yes, they want to
be vulnerable. They want to be in those relationships outside
of familial relationships. At say I'm gonna be naked. I'm
gonna strip down all of what it is that I
put together to help me from not being hurt. You
(18:20):
want to be because this is the thing. The more
vulnerable you are, or you allow yourself to be, the
more you can be seen and the more you can
be loved for who you really are. You know, all
of this stuff that we put on thinking that people
love us, you don't even know who the hell I am.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yea, that's not me? Yeah, got it, Yeah, got it,
got it. Hey, everybody gotta take a quick break. Mama's
gotta eat. Bills must be paid back in a moment
with MC like.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
Every champion and carry champions to be a champion, a champion,
and carry Champion and carry chat Beata Champion and carry
Champion and carry champetainment and naked work, Harry Champion and
carry Champion is going to be a champion a Champion
And Carrie Chappi and the Champion and Cary Chppion and
(19:14):
carried Shepyament nake you working.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
On y'all remember, well, depending on your age, y'all, remember
that song gotta what show, Gotta get a roughneck? Gotta
what show, Gotta get a roughneck. That's all I can
say without incurring some type of fee, But that, to me,
UH was one of the hallmark UH songs that MC
light had growing up For me, I used to listen
(19:40):
to that, and I swore I was gonna be a rapper.
I mean I swore I wanted to be a rapper.
I'm not kidding you guys. Anyway, enough of me who
was not a rapper. Here's more of MC light. I
love this, I love your honesty. I My hope is
that that everyone can have this and experience this this moment,
whether it's the music, whether it's the other forms of art,
(20:00):
other platforms, so they can have this conversation. You have
always been true with your artistic expression, and there's always
been that common threat of empowering women. But you also
had this one song which I used to love, which
also I think had been in Achilles Hill. For me,
as I started today is like Roughneck. Yes, you already
(20:23):
know where I was going. I could mean recite. Wait,
let me come on, let me get the words again,
because we you know, me and my girls, we love
that and there is so much truth to that. Is
there a part now that you look back on that
song you listen to the lyrics, Are there things about
you say I've grown since that, I've grown since Roughneck?
That's not necessarily what I want or by the way,
(20:44):
that's exactly what I want, just with a little bit
more sophistication, right.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Uh No, when I made this song, it was an
own to the to the guys from my neighborhood, not
necessarily the guys I date. So let me clear that up. Yeah,
it was a real, you know, celebration of all of
the Caribbean guys because I'm my family was one of
(21:13):
two American families on a block full of Haitians, Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Basians,
you know, it was Bahamians everything. You can imagine, this
melting pot in a section called the nineties in Brooklyn,
and so it was just an ode to them. And
(21:33):
you know, I'm sorry if so many during that time.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Well you know, he was like, yes, thank you speak
to us. Yes, no, but but I know what that is.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I know what that flavor is. And you know, unfortunately
a lot of them are too slick for themselves. So
I do prefer, you know, someone who definitely has some swag,
but also it's able to handle their business and their
responsibilities and understanding that at this age, if you're still
(22:08):
out on the street trying, I don't know what you're
doing out there, you know, so yeah, to have that
that kind of hip hop flavor, that swag. I think
it's necessary at least to catch my own for a
lot of us that grew up in the hip hop.
(22:29):
But then there's also a lot you know, as you
get older, you kind.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Of weigh in a way you have been able to.
And I agree with that wholeheartedly. But you do need
some swagger. You gotta have some swagger something, you know
what I mean. You got to have a little and
they and by the way, men want that from women
as well, like they like a woman who is very
comfortable in our own skin and can do. The argument
of the conversation that I have had most recently with
(22:54):
this guy that I am dating is that men now
feel like women have defined themselves by what they do
and what they make, how much money they make, and
who they are, what their title is. And oftentimes you
hear man say, well, I don't want I don't want
to marry myself, or I don't want to date myself,
I want to date a woman. Well, that's true, they've
(23:15):
I have, I believe, and I read this in the
New York Times, but I believe this to be true.
It's a different time it's not when our grandparents were
getting married or our grandmothers were getting married because they
had to because they couldn't get credit cards, because they
couldn't work, because they couldn't make a living. And now
men are being required to have personalities and developed and
know more, and it's making them uncomfortable. And I'm okay
(23:38):
with the learning aspect of this process. But what I
have been able to sit back and really appreciate is
this evolution of women in every possible way. You have
been able to have a career that has expanded over
three plus decades and that has unheard of and and
might I mentioned, look damn good the entire time. You've
(23:58):
never not shown up. Oh yeah, she look good, you
know what I mean? Like, you've never not always been
looking amazing and graceful and elegant but still real. And
you have garnered over the years. People know that you
have different friendships with different people and different celebrities. How
are you able in this game that is so when
(24:21):
people just love you for who you are, if you're
on the top and disappear, how have you been able
to foster these great relationships with people of note that
are really truly seemingly just from my eye not necessarily
know of them that are authentic. How have you been
able to do that with the Jadas of the world,
which I think she's amazing, or with you know, I
think you and Dane are friends. I've seen you in
(24:44):
these worlds and these people really truly seem to have
great relationships, and I wonder how you do that in
this industry.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Well, what I can say about those two really deep
sister hood is at play with both of those people.
And I think it's one because we started out so early.
You know, it's a certain amount of trust and a
willingness to be vulnerable with people who you know want
(25:13):
nothing from you, that have only brought goodness and you know,
love into the friendship. And I think those are the
cornerstones right there for what makes a great foundation for
great sisterhood. And it's wanting. It's wanting nothing. So if
(25:33):
we don't talk, and however long, the first time we talk,
it's not like where you've been I, you know, I,
it's never that state. It's always a state of giving.
It's a hey, how you been, how's it going. Yes,
we are both aware it's been a long time since
we've spoken, but no love is lost, you know so,
(25:56):
and it's a willingness to have an ear and understand
that there will be times when we talk where someone
has much more to say than the other, and so
then you just listen and then the next time, you know,
the next go around, you'll get a chance to say,
(26:17):
bop body boa, what do you think about that? And
then you might get some sound advice from what it
is that you're going through at that time. So I
think it's just a give and take and knowing where
you know the position that you're in and that they're in.
And yeah, it's just a willingness to move.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
With the flow. Amen, Amen, I sive that you I
was reading today, I was prepping for The Wiz. Tell
me if I'm writer this. I was going to attend
tomorrow and I'm looking at the the tomorrow, which is
the opening night of The Whiz, which is on Broadway.
Let me be very specific you all. April seventeenth, which
is a Wednesday. I was looking at some of the
(27:02):
producers and special producers behind the scenes and whose name
do I see? I see your name? Now, tell me
about your contributions as a producer. I'm assuming they said
that's what it said on the playbill. Uh to the Whiz,
which is a remake of a beautiful movie based on
the Wizard of Oz. But then we did it the
(27:23):
black version with the Whiz with Diana Ross, which was
amazing and Michael Jackson and all of these amazing, amazing
luminaries in the culture. And now it is revived. It's
been revived a few times, but I think this is
really special. Tell me about your role in that, and
it's in its release.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
As a yeah, sure thing. As a producer, our company
MC light and Lynn Richardson, we decided that this was
something that we wanted to participate in. When they told
us that there was an opportunity to become involved as producers,
we didn't think, uh, we didn't have the thing. Twice
we were like, yes, you need to do it. So
(28:03):
we wound up going to the opening night at the Hippodrome.
And I think what we loved most about this particular
presentation or rendition of The Whiz is that they took
it out on the road first and then landed it
in Broadway. And you know, usually it's the opposite. You
start on Broadway and then you go out. But once
(28:24):
we heard the plan, we were even that much more
excited about it. I think at this point Candy was attached,
you know, Burst the Mogul and Common and so you know,
lucky for me, Common Coo and my CEO are sore
wars of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated, Sorority Incorporated.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Can't very serious, you got to be very clear.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
And so once we heard about the opportunity of reached
out and spoke to the production. Everything they had to
say was so awesome, Like who wouldn't want to be
involved in the twenty twenty three to twenty four to
who knows how long rendition of the Wiz?
Speaker 2 (29:10):
What does the Wiz represent?
Speaker 1 (29:14):
Freedom? To me, it represents freedom. And I've watched it
across the nation this go out, the end of this
go round. I've seen it in Baltimore at the launch
of seen it in Chicago and San Francisco, And to me,
every time I see it, I learn a little bit
(29:35):
more about each of the characters and how and how
they really represent a piece of who we are as
say humans, but as spirits having this human experience here
and that's the need for love and relationship and courage,
(30:00):
and all of the many things that are represented in
the show, but also what each of them are going through,
and that's a spat of loneliness that is filled with
We can sometimes be filled with fear of the unknown,
(30:22):
but when in fact you open yourself up for collaboration,
because it all starts on a journey where this young
woman feels like she's alone. But if she leaves herself
open along her journey, she's able to collaborate with people
who are going through things that are made or may
(30:45):
not be just alike, but they all have something that
they need to work on that lives within. But it's
these other people that they let in, which to me
are like angels that God is speaking through that says
you are and have exactly what it is that you're
(31:06):
looking for on the outside is actually in. So I
love the story. I've never water seeing it. I hope
that you make it to see it on its day.
If not, it'll be there for minutes.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
So if you missed the beadles to see it, by
the time that this airs, I will have seen it
and I will be able to properly give it its
just due. And it's review that I'm sure is amazing
for you to describe that. It represents freedom and it
makes you understand that everyone is on a journey looking
for connection. That is the essence of life. We are
(31:40):
all in this life right now looking for connection if
we don't have it, and connecting is so important. I
think our bodies craved, our mind's craved, and if we're
honest and open, it's why we It's why sometimes you
get angry, we get sad, we get depressed because we're
lacking that necessary connection to be seen and to be
heard and be valued. And yet again, another project that
(32:03):
you are a part of that speaks to the human condition.
I wonder, I wonder if I mean, I know when
I'm around my girls and I and my people who
love me most, they hype me and they tell me
all the amazing things that I am. Do you understand
your contribution to us as a culture, to the to
(32:25):
hip hop, to women? Do you understand why we all
have this reaction of honor and reverence when when we talk.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
To you, Do I understand?
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Because people don't like compliments. People don't like compliments. It's
hard for people to receive compliments. And when people tell
you that, do you get uncomfortable and do you do
you think it's too much or you're like, yeah, okay,
you're right.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
No, I do not get uncomfortable. Oh good, And yes
I do air more on the side of being accepting
of it, because this is this is what we're working for, right,
is to be able to touch and inspire and lead
people to a better version of themselves. And I can
(33:16):
only become a better version of myself if if I
see the reaction or I'm told the honest truth about
what it is that I have caused. Right, So there's
cause and effect. So I want to know what have
I caused? Oh I did it. That's a good thing.
(33:37):
Thank you, Thank you for letting me know that I'm
moving in in the right direction. And you know, it's funny.
I talked with I don't know what else to call her.
Accept your aid, your assistant, your pre producer, a poice. Yeah,
we talked about these records back here, and I said
I didn't get a chance to attend Norfolk State University
(33:59):
the way that I had planned. I actually sent my money,
filled out my forms. I was on my way and
hip Hop interrupted that and I let it. I allowed
hip Hop to come into my life and lead me
off to Denmark, to Copenhagen where I had my first
tour in September when I was supposed to start at
Norfolk State University. And so these are my degrees, these
(34:21):
are my diplomas. And you know once the last record
I put out was in twenty fourteen, wow, years ago.
And so now my diploma is in what you just
said to me. My degree is in you know that
young kid who said he listened to that song and
(34:43):
now this is what inspired him to do whatever it
is that he's doing now, or people seeing me. I've
been in business for over thirty something years, and it
inspires other people that say, you know what, I'm going
to get into this hip hop thing. I don't know
where it's going to lead me or how, when, why
and what, but I'm gonna go because she was successful
(35:06):
and I can probably do that too.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Very Champion and carry champions.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
To be a champion, a champion and carry chapion and
carry chat be out a champion and carry chapion and
carry Chaffraid is the sports and entertainment getting naked weird.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
Erry champion and carry champions.
Speaker 4 (35:28):
To be a champion, a champion and carry Champion, Nigger
Kitty shot a Champion and carry.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Champion and carry Chappy Entertainment getting naked word.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
I am constantly in awe. And I'll give you just
some names, right, some of which we just mentioned, but
you know, yes, like a Queen, Latifah, a Jada, a
l O, Cool Jay, Fat Joe for that matter. Uh,
the early pioneers of this game have been There have
been a handful, not more than a quite frankly, that
(36:01):
have been able to transition, to pivot to still rely
on the source of what they are, their foundation and
what people made them known, but still work this game
to today. And I often liken it too when they
talk about the actors that were triple threats back in
the day, the black and white movies that you would watch.
My mom made me watch black and white movies, and
you would have to be able to sing and dance,
(36:23):
an act You have to do it all. You couldn't
just be a one trick pony. And I don't know
if you could have looked at your career when you
were at the top of your career and noticed how
you would have been able to pivot and transition and
still be relevant. Not that that matters, but still have
an impact and still be able to do what you
love in various indifferent branches of this interest industry.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Had you known that, Uh no, No, I didn't, But
I do know that I can attribute it to a
great team. You know, it really takes looking at this
industry as a business, and when you fail to do
(37:08):
that is when you don't make it into the land
of ten year, twenty year, thirty year business. You know,
we have people that run our companies that know business
and how to strateguys and how to plan. Yeah, you
(37:29):
need the team, especially if you're going to stay in
your lane, which is creative. You know, with all sorts
of reasons, I can try to come up out of
my lane to do this, that and the third, and
I'm reminded very quickly that's not where I here now.
Also liking it too, you know, as an artist that
(37:51):
creates whatever it is that you're creating, whether it's music
or film, TV, painting, whatever the case. You have this
football that you need a court. You're the quarterback, and
you need a running back to catch that ball and
take it down the field. Not just stuck with all
(38:13):
of these ideas, you become disgruntled because none of them
are coming to manifestation and so you need the team
of people that are going to help you sustain, maintain,
and grow.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
A man for a team. Is there anything any project
before I let you go? Is there any project that
you are working on that I did not mention as
of late? I want to make sure I got two
of them, which is the congratulations on producing the whiz
this freedom play as we just called it because it
is that it is beautiful being one of the producers there,
and also congratulations on the single. And is there anything
(38:45):
else that that you're working on that you wanted to promote?
Speaker 1 (38:50):
Well, there's quite a few things. I made. I directorial
debut not so long ago with a short call break
Up in Love, which it's about a couple undoing but
trying to do it lovingly. It's actually on YouTube. People
could check it out break Up in Love dot com. Okay,
uh huh. And it's going to be more projects that
(39:13):
I look to direct. We have a music video that
i've you know, I've never done a music video before
and so I just directed my first. It's called bu
with an artist called Van Van who is an internet
sensation that's my book.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
I love.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
He and Aris Harris. Uh yeah, everybody loves Van, you know.
But I got a chance to direct their video called
bu and so I'm excited. You can also see that
on YouTube. And we have a whole album coming it's
called One One. Warren Campbell and myself. You know, I said,
(39:54):
he's my pastor, and so it's so great to be
able to do music with someone who under stands where
I am today and you know, doesn't push or press
me into saying anything that doesn't feel natural, that isn't
truthful to who I am. And we're having a good time.
We've got a lot of great people on that record,
(40:15):
common Q tip, Anthony Hamilton. Yeah, got space, Little Mama.
The list keeps growing, but I'm really content with what
it is that we're building and growing. And Woman is
just the first installment to that record. And yes, there's
so many other things going on, but it's a list.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Which I love. Look, keep you busy, keep me creative.
That's where I live. That's my safe space and I
love that for you. Thank you for being so gracious
and tay in the time. I have this one last question,
you can tell me. I think acting, directing performing producing.
Is there something if you have your biggest dream and
(40:58):
you could write it out, what would it be? Is
there something that you can quiet and you're like, you know,
you got to take the you know, as Brene Brown
would say, uh, take the take the power away from
the secret. Would you say it out loud if there
was something that you've been anticipating and wanting to do
but haven't quite gotten there yet.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
Uh, that's a you know, what would be great to
just have a successful relationship.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
Amen, I love that I love you.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
This relates to entertainment. That's great, that's great, that's great.
But really I'm in a great relationship now and I
just want to have all the love and the patience
and compassion that that I can must and so I've
given it to God. And let's see, let's see. I
(41:49):
wasn't even gonna go there by the way. I was like, well,
because you know, I try it. I'm so ultra private,
so I try to respect it. But it said in
essence you were dating someone in twenty twenty three. I
was like, I think she got a boob, but I'm
not gonna get into it. But yes, I let's touch
and agree on a successful relationship, the connection that we
all want as humans.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
Amen, I receive that for you. Thank you for being
beautiful inside and out, and I appreciate the time. I
really do thank you for.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
This time of being on your platform, and I look
forward to the next time we speak, okay or see
each other in person. MC Light, thank you so much
for being naked.
Speaker 2 (42:23):
I want to thank MC light for coming on the
podcast today, and I'm gonna take it one step further.
She is so wise. Wisdom and understanding is something that
I think we all should aspire to. And four. Reading
my Bible the other day, Proverbs three, and I am
going to get spiritual on you guys. It says to
the people on you all. It says, the people who
are going to inherit all the things that they want,
(42:45):
have wisdom and understanding. And I truly believe that listening
to her, her energy, her presence, you could tell that
she has lived a life and she's learned a lot.
And I am so grateful when I cross people that way,
because it reminds me when I come across people like
mc it reminds me of what really truly is our
purpose here and what we should be looking for be
kind and gracious to ourselves to others. But also that
(43:09):
comes with wisdom, and that comes with understanding, if you
don't really truly love yourself, how can you love anybody else.
If you're harder yourself, you're gonna be hard on other people.
And I love that I can see that instead of
us just talking about all of the projects, you know,
which is what we did do, but it was more
of a personal, intimate conversation about where she is in
(43:29):
her life. That's what this single is about. Go out
and support it. She also mentioned that she EPs The
Wiz and I want to go see it on opening night.
Amazing play costumes were amazing. Shout out to Wayne Brady
who played the Wiz. Deborah Cox, you guys know her
as a singer. She played the good Witch Dorothy. She's
an upstart, but she's well known on Broadway, but was
amazing as well. The audience was filled with so many luminaries.
(43:53):
Stephanie Mills was there. Do you guys remember Stephanie Mills
the original Dorothy and the Whiz on Broadway? That is,
you remember Dynah at the movie And if you don't,
you should google all of this. But it was really
it was special. Hillary Rodama A Clinton was in the house,
HRC was there. It was a beautiful, beautiful tribute to
(44:13):
the culture, to our version of fantasy, our version of mystery.
There was so much beautiful singing and in dancing. The
dancing was off the chart. Shout out to my guy
Adam Blackstone who has been on this podcast. He did
a lot of the music and the dancing and it's
just amazing. It was just amazing. God No, Debbie Allen
worked on this in some capacity, but I encourage you
(44:35):
all if you get to New York to see The Whiz.
It is worth it. And shout out to again MC
light for diversifying her portfolio and knowing that this was
a project that she wanted to invest in because it's genius.
I wish the one would have came to me and
said you got some coinage carry for the Whiz, because
I would have given it up. It is arguably. I
bet you it's going to be on Broadway for a
(44:56):
very long time. Do yourself a favor, do your family
and friends of favor, go see it. Perfect gift, all
of the things. It was just spectacular. Now with that
being said, I want to thank mc Light again for
sharing her her heart, herself and being naked. I also
want to really appreciate the moment that we're in. Women
are it. We are on top. Beyonce telling y'all that
(45:21):
I can do I can do anything in any genre.
I don't care if you don't like country music and
you don't necessarily care for what she did. She said,
I'm here and we are here to say I am
one man. Hear me, roar I can do what I
want and I can make it great. I mean literally,
that's what that country album is MC light. Look, woman,
I'm celebrating you. Look at all the things that we've
been through, and when we get to a certain phase
(45:42):
in our lives, we just want peace and we want
people to be there for us as we are there
for them and we support them. Women's sports I could
talk about that all day. I know that you guys
have been well aware of the Angel Reese and the
Caitlin Clarks of the world. W NBA Draft was a huge,
huge success. I have people talking to me about sports
who've never ever ever had any interest in sports. That
(46:05):
also frustrates me because you guys are trying to tell
me what I already know, and I'm like, go sit down.
I already know that, but it's okay. Welcome to the
world of sports. Nevertheless, enjoy this edition of Naked. Support
the Wiz support EMC Light's latest single with an album coming,
as she has shared with us, support women's sports, support
all women period. End of discussion. Thank you all for
(46:27):
listening to Naked. See you next week.
People want real relationships, and yes, they want to be vulnerable.
They want to be in those relationships outside of familial
relationships that say I'm gonna be naked. I'm going to
strip down all of what it is that I put
together to help me from not being heard. Because this
(00:22):
is the thing. The more vulnerable you are or you
allow yourself to be, the more you can be seen
and the more you can be loved for who you
really are.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
That is you can tell by the voice the great
mc light and she is on today's Naked podcast and
she's being extremely naked, no pun intended. Pay attention. It's
always an education and refreshing. Thank you for listening to
this episode of Naked, and of course you can fast
forward through the commercials. I know how y'all feel. I
wish you guys stop telling me, but we got to
(00:55):
pay the bills. Thanks for listening to this edition of Naked, y'all.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
It's the greatest suspension in the same making. Nick, you
put Charry.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Chappie and carry Chappy is going to be a champion,
a champion, and Carrie Chappie and the Girl un a champion,
the Cary Chappion and.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Carried shepy great susporsion, then the tame nick you word.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Hey, everybody, welcome to you a new edition of Naked.
We are just about rapped with season three. I'm looking
forward to season four. But as we wrap, We've had
so much happen. I've kept you up to date with
what's going on in the world, introduce you to luminaries,
and of course I think it's different about today's podcast.
We have a legend and icon, one of the first
female voices in hip hop, mc light is on the
(01:45):
podcast today. I've interviewed her a few times, but this
time it's really interesting because I could go over her career,
I could talk about all the things that she has
done in terms of the contributions to the hip hop community,
but this felt very much more personal. It felt more
I felt more so about where she is in her life.
She looks amazing. As you guys, if you've googled her
(02:08):
seen her. She is arguably one of the most recognized
voices you might have seen or heard rather some of
her voiceovers for the BET Awards. I know that's where
I always constantly think about her different award shows. Her
voice is just so authentic and true and pure and
it is who she is. But at fifty three years old,
(02:29):
she's divorced and she's dating, and I asked her what
success looks like and she said to me that success
looks like finding a really peaceful relationship. Currently she is
in one, and I thought that was beautiful. But it
also led me to ask her about her latest single,
because she is still putting music out. After three plus
decades in the business, she is still putting music out.
(02:52):
And she said that her latest single Woman, I encourage
you all to go out download it. No one goes
out and buys anything anymore downloaded and support because for her,
she said, it was about a journey and she is
speaking to every woman in the culture, every woman, black, white,
purple of green, that has found themselves at this maybe
(03:16):
not even necessarily midlife, but out of pivot, a turning point,
a revelation. We all, no matter what age, we are,
are constantly learning about who we are and what we
want for ourselves. And she's done something that I think
is really smart. On her social media. She takes everyday
women that you and I know and she highlights them.
But she also has her song Woman laid behind the
(03:38):
visuals of different women, Maya, Angelou, Oprah and Free and
I'm throwing some women out there that I remember seeing, Angela,
Rye Salt and Peppa. You know, women that we know
and we see in the culture who have contributed to
who we are, what we hear, what we listen to,
how we think, how we move, educating us. And I
think it's such a beautiful, just such a beautiful testimony
(04:01):
in tribute to women all over the world to please
go out and support mc light. But more importantly, I
really enjoyed this conversation because this conversation was honestly just
about being a woman and living without further ado, Welcome
to the podcast mc.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Light, Chapion and Carey Chappy and and care with chat.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
The legendary mc light on Naked. It is always an
honor for me to have people on the podcast who
do the work, who paved the way, who live the example.
Nobody's perfect, but I love just about I don't think
there's anything that I could say that you haven't been
a part of that I haven't been a fan of.
And most recently in March, you released an empowerment song
(04:50):
for women and I literally went on your page and
the social media that you're doing for it. Grabbing women
that are in ours, guys that are in our everyday life,
that we know, that we see that are doing the work,
and highlighting the work that they have done is really powerful.
And if we can begin there. Because you don't always
(05:11):
release a lot of music as of late, and when
you do it's with intention. Tell me about this latest project. Wow, yeah,
it's well, it's called Woman. We were in the studio
working on some things. Warren Campbell, who is also my pastor,
and my good friend who comes by way of Heavy,
Heavy D and I were really close, and Warren and
(05:31):
Heavy were close, and so whenever I would see Warren,
it would be at the studio with Heavy. However, when
Heavy passed, Warren and I had a couple of conversations
and I felt like, oh, this is why he and
Heavy were close, because they're made from the same fabric.
And we were sitting in the studio. Now having become
(05:55):
somewhat like brother and sister, we were sitting in a studio.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Like, I quit, what are we going to do? And
I said, well, you know, we Kine is in town.
Let me call him and see if he'll come hang
out with us. Kine of course, was like I'm on
my way. Same thing with Raheem, Hey, I'm in. And
the thing about it is where Warren's studio is you
have to be exceptionally intentional because it's in West Tills,
which is like man's no Man's land.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
To some people.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
And so they all took the trip and we sat
in the studio trying to figure out what we were
going to do, and then Warren put on this music
and immediately Raheem went into the vocal booth and said woman, Woman,
And as soon as he said it, we were like,
there we have it. As far as being intentional, it
(06:42):
just seems like if you're going to put music out now,
especially coming from all of what it is that I've done,
what it is that I do, it has to be
a special occasion. And so, honestly we missed last March.
We've had this song brewing. I think it's been since
two thousand, I don't know, nineteen, maybe twenty nineteen. Really, yeah, yeah,
(07:08):
so you had just twenty nineteen and just released in
twenty twenty four. Yeah, because the pandemic came and who
was thinking about releasing music. We were trying to stay alive.
And so from that, I think in twenty or twenty
one is when Cheryl Salt James made herself available to
get on the record, which how can you pass up?
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Okay? Okay?
Speaker 1 (07:31):
And so I've got two more records with Raheem and Kin,
I've got another record with Salt. But for this occasion,
we all came together for women, and it just seems
like now is a great opportunity to say how it
is that I feel through my story, through salt story,
(07:54):
through Cain's admiration and adoration for women. Here we have
the person fit collaboration with Raheem singing from the crown
overhead to the toes on our feet and all the
melanin that exists in between. Let's celebrate women.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Amen, And as you as this album is coming together,
the intention is for it to be an anthem. Is it?
Is it to just to celebrate women?
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
What is your story connection line? When we are listening
to it, Why did mc light say women and decide
that these are the bars that I'm gonna that that
people are going to put in. And I'm sure everyone
had their written for themselves. I'm assuming I don't know
if they all write everyone. Yeah, but I'm assuming then
if everyone has their own experience. But why was it
important for you to highlight and celebrate women at this time?
(08:47):
Even though it was twenty nineteen when you wrote it,
the idea was always there, there's never not a good
time to celebrate us. But then it comes out it
feels like it's on the heels of something very special,
with women in sports, with women in politics, with women
in the world to make changes, women in every single
institution really making their voices known, Black women specifically. I
want to know your story because I know what you
(09:09):
represent for so many of us.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Yeah, then and now, Yeah, well, I'll tell you what.
There's many chapters to the story. As a matter of fact,
I'm talking now with the literary agent again, twenty years
after the first time a literary agent came to me
and wanted me to tell my story. So there are
many different layers as it relates to this song. Even
(09:35):
though we're highlighting all sorts of women, and all sorts
of women are connecting to the vibe and the content
of this particular record, I'm speaking to the woman before
there's anything that exists outside. So whether she's a politician,
whether she's an athlete, whether she's an actress or a teacher,
(09:58):
or whatever it is you may do for your profession.
I'm speaking to the woman underneath those layers, and I'm
speaking for a particular type of women.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
So this latest Single Woman, I feel as if that
you are doing something that is intentional. It's never not
a good time to celebrate women, But how is it
your story and what you have been through? Although you
highlight so many other women that are in the game
and the struggle making a difference, is your story?
Speaker 1 (10:30):
My story as it relates to this song, is just
being open to tell what it really takes as a
woman who's been in business and has had a certain
amount of success and also has had a marriage and
a divorce, what it is that really makes things click?
(10:54):
And although you know, for many I would imagine it's just, oh,
you know, we go out on a date, you get
to know one another, and then it escalates and then
you make this huge commitment, And I think, well, what
I know is in this particular song, I'm saying a
(11:16):
lot of what it is that I have to offer,
what it is that I expect in return, what it
is that I'm willing to do in terms of loyalty
and love and you know, but I'm also very proud
(11:38):
to say what it is that I've been able to
accomplish on my own, but also what I'm willing to
share in And I think for a lot of people,
especially women who are successful in what it is that
they do, find it difficult to find counterparts to find,
(12:01):
you know, men who can stand up and sort of
be willing to give just as much as they get.
And you know, I could say the same thing for men.
Men can probably have the same argument, which I also
hear men complain I'm looking for someone to really date,
(12:23):
but she just wants this much from me.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
You know.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Just the other night, this guy's like, you know, I'm
really ready to talk relationship and women want me to
send pics of my stuff, like oh no, yeah. I
think all over the globe people are being met with
not enough of what it is that they're looking for.
(12:48):
And I think in this record, I'm unashamed, unafraid to
say what it is that I have to give, what
it is that I'm looking for, and hopefully women can
listen to this and sort of tune in to oh, okay,
she may need that and I need this. Hey, how
about this being unafraid to say what it is that
(13:11):
you're looking for? And I guess that also comes with
experience and also age.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I want to there's a couple of things that you
just said that I want to talk about. The honesty
and the vulnerability. I was thinking about this before we
were recording, and I was thinking of ask starting to
ask questions because I am in the same space where
I like for people to say, when are you most vulnerable?
(13:40):
And it often has something to do with relationships, whether
it's man or woman and woman man, whomever, your mother's,
your mother, father, whatever relationship is, that's where you find
yourself the most vulnerable. And when you are triggered, do
you put up a wall around your heart and decide
to proceed and just transform into a transform chot because
(14:01):
you feel danger of being exposed and you talking about
what you're looking for in relationships, Been married, been divorced.
I hear this conversation with men and women the same thing.
I can't find what I'm looking for. And I've been
trying to say this and it's been going on for
a while. This is not new, but it's been going
on for a while. Where people are still searching. Women
(14:25):
more specifically, because we'll stay there are searching for something,
and the more successful you are, it feels like the
gap gets it becomes wider and wider and wider, and
and and men say the same thing. Is it a
is it in our culture? Is it a black thing?
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Or is it men and women in general? In your opinion,
it's probably uh, I would think now it's a little
bit of both, honestly, Like, I'm just thinking about it now.
This isn't something that we've you know, you prepped me
with these types of questions. But if I had to
(15:05):
just sure, if I hadn't just go off the top
of my dome, it is men and women in general,
because once you've gotten old enough and you're single. See,
it's one thing to marry early, and then you grow
into this knowingness of what I like and what by
by then you've already become extremely tolerant of what's going
(15:27):
on in relationship, either that or not. And you leave.
But if you're still there, you've become tolerant. But if
you've gotten older and you've had a couple of relationships,
you understand, Okay, I won't do that again. And Nope,
that is unacceptable and Nope, not going to tolerate that.
You begin to understand yourself better and what it is
(15:50):
that you will stand for. You know, even what I've
learned since my last marriage is Okay, I'm gonna ask
all the questions. I'm not gonna act like I'm the
cool girl from down the block where if you're doing
it's that, and third, I'm alright with it. Or if
something looks a little fishy, I'm not gonna say I
smell fish or something here is not right. And with
(16:14):
that knowingness it becomes That's how the gap gets larger
and larger, because you can smell what's not right from
really far off and even if you get right up
on it and it doesn't smell right, Okay, this isn't
for me because I'm not ready to I'm not ready
to lower my standard and play these types of games
(16:37):
with you. And right now, I'm not even talking about economically.
I'm just talking about at you as a person. How
it is that you get along or you know, play
games to get along. I'm not into that, so, but
I do think it's a little bit of both. It's
(16:58):
it's woman in man or whatever type of relationship is,
but it's also.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Cultural definitely, do you as as you have this this
this I mean, by the way, this can be an
anthem for so many of us and and what and
what we want, do you find that these conversations are
more and more common? And this is why you were
more willing. I know you said age comes, you know,
(17:24):
have wisdom, and you've been through a lot and you've
seen a lot. But do you also find that these
are conversations that are just being had all the time.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah, I think they are conversations that are going to happen. Well,
you know, it's probably a few conversations happening. One is,
you know, low level still succumbing to the pressures of
what is you know, happening in society today. And then
there's an elevate conversation that's happening where there are real stakes.
(17:57):
People want real relationships. Yeah, and yes, they want to
be vulnerable. They want to be in those relationships outside
of familial relationships. At say I'm gonna be naked. I'm
gonna strip down all of what it is that I
put together to help me from not being hurt. You
(18:20):
want to be because this is the thing. The more
vulnerable you are, or you allow yourself to be, the
more you can be seen and the more you can
be loved for who you really are. You know, all
of this stuff that we put on thinking that people
love us, you don't even know who the hell I am.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yea, that's not me? Yeah, got it, Yeah, got it,
got it. Hey, everybody gotta take a quick break. Mama's
gotta eat. Bills must be paid back in a moment
with MC like.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
Every champion and carry champions to be a champion, a champion,
and carry Champion and carry chat Beata Champion and carry
Champion and carry champetainment and naked work, Harry Champion and
carry Champion is going to be a champion a Champion
And Carrie Chappi and the Champion and Cary Chppion and
(19:14):
carried Shepyament nake you working.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
On y'all remember, well, depending on your age, y'all, remember
that song gotta what show, Gotta get a roughneck? Gotta
what show, Gotta get a roughneck. That's all I can
say without incurring some type of fee, But that, to me,
UH was one of the hallmark UH songs that MC
light had growing up For me, I used to listen
(19:40):
to that, and I swore I was gonna be a rapper.
I mean I swore I wanted to be a rapper.
I'm not kidding you guys. Anyway, enough of me who
was not a rapper. Here's more of MC light. I
love this, I love your honesty. I My hope is
that that everyone can have this and experience this this moment,
whether it's the music, whether it's the other forms of art,
(20:00):
other platforms, so they can have this conversation. You have
always been true with your artistic expression, and there's always
been that common threat of empowering women. But you also
had this one song which I used to love, which
also I think had been in Achilles Hill. For me,
as I started today is like Roughneck. Yes, you already
(20:23):
know where I was going. I could mean recite. Wait,
let me come on, let me get the words again,
because we you know, me and my girls, we love
that and there is so much truth to that. Is
there a part now that you look back on that
song you listen to the lyrics, Are there things about
you say I've grown since that, I've grown since Roughneck?
That's not necessarily what I want or by the way,
(20:44):
that's exactly what I want, just with a little bit
more sophistication, right.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Uh No, when I made this song, it was an
own to the to the guys from my neighborhood, not
necessarily the guys I date. So let me clear that up. Yeah,
it was a real, you know, celebration of all of
the Caribbean guys because I'm my family was one of
(21:13):
two American families on a block full of Haitians, Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Basians,
you know, it was Bahamians everything. You can imagine, this
melting pot in a section called the nineties in Brooklyn,
and so it was just an ode to them. And
(21:33):
you know, I'm sorry if so many during that time.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Well you know, he was like, yes, thank you speak
to us. Yes, no, but but I know what that is.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I know what that flavor is. And you know, unfortunately
a lot of them are too slick for themselves. So
I do prefer, you know, someone who definitely has some swag,
but also it's able to handle their business and their
responsibilities and understanding that at this age, if you're still
(22:08):
out on the street trying, I don't know what you're
doing out there, you know, so yeah, to have that
that kind of hip hop flavor, that swag. I think
it's necessary at least to catch my own for a
lot of us that grew up in the hip hop.
(22:29):
But then there's also a lot you know, as you
get older, you kind.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Of weigh in a way you have been able to.
And I agree with that wholeheartedly. But you do need
some swagger. You gotta have some swagger something, you know
what I mean. You got to have a little and
they and by the way, men want that from women
as well, like they like a woman who is very
comfortable in our own skin and can do. The argument
of the conversation that I have had most recently with
(22:54):
this guy that I am dating is that men now
feel like women have defined themselves by what they do
and what they make, how much money they make, and
who they are, what their title is. And oftentimes you
hear man say, well, I don't want I don't want
to marry myself, or I don't want to date myself,
I want to date a woman. Well, that's true, they've
(23:15):
I have, I believe, and I read this in the
New York Times, but I believe this to be true.
It's a different time it's not when our grandparents were
getting married or our grandmothers were getting married because they
had to because they couldn't get credit cards, because they
couldn't work, because they couldn't make a living. And now
men are being required to have personalities and developed and
know more, and it's making them uncomfortable. And I'm okay
(23:38):
with the learning aspect of this process. But what I
have been able to sit back and really appreciate is
this evolution of women in every possible way. You have
been able to have a career that has expanded over
three plus decades and that has unheard of and and
might I mentioned, look damn good the entire time. You've
(23:58):
never not shown up. Oh yeah, she look good, you
know what I mean? Like, you've never not always been
looking amazing and graceful and elegant but still real. And
you have garnered over the years. People know that you
have different friendships with different people and different celebrities. How
are you able in this game that is so when
(24:21):
people just love you for who you are, if you're
on the top and disappear, how have you been able
to foster these great relationships with people of note that
are really truly seemingly just from my eye not necessarily
know of them that are authentic. How have you been
able to do that with the Jadas of the world,
which I think she's amazing, or with you know, I
think you and Dane are friends. I've seen you in
(24:44):
these worlds and these people really truly seem to have
great relationships, and I wonder how you do that in
this industry.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Well, what I can say about those two really deep
sister hood is at play with both of those people.
And I think it's one because we started out so early.
You know, it's a certain amount of trust and a
willingness to be vulnerable with people who you know want
(25:13):
nothing from you, that have only brought goodness and you know,
love into the friendship. And I think those are the
cornerstones right there for what makes a great foundation for
great sisterhood. And it's wanting. It's wanting nothing. So if
(25:33):
we don't talk, and however long, the first time we talk,
it's not like where you've been I, you know, I,
it's never that state. It's always a state of giving.
It's a hey, how you been, how's it going. Yes,
we are both aware it's been a long time since
we've spoken, but no love is lost, you know so,
(25:56):
and it's a willingness to have an ear and understand
that there will be times when we talk where someone
has much more to say than the other, and so
then you just listen and then the next time, you know,
the next go around, you'll get a chance to say,
(26:17):
bop body boa, what do you think about that? And
then you might get some sound advice from what it
is that you're going through at that time. So I
think it's just a give and take and knowing where
you know the position that you're in and that they're in.
And yeah, it's just a willingness to move.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
With the flow. Amen, Amen, I sive that you I
was reading today, I was prepping for The Wiz. Tell
me if I'm writer this. I was going to attend
tomorrow and I'm looking at the the tomorrow, which is
the opening night of The Whiz, which is on Broadway.
Let me be very specific you all. April seventeenth, which
is a Wednesday. I was looking at some of the
(27:02):
producers and special producers behind the scenes and whose name
do I see? I see your name? Now, tell me
about your contributions as a producer. I'm assuming they said
that's what it said on the playbill. Uh to the Whiz,
which is a remake of a beautiful movie based on
the Wizard of Oz. But then we did it the
(27:23):
black version with the Whiz with Diana Ross, which was
amazing and Michael Jackson and all of these amazing, amazing
luminaries in the culture. And now it is revived. It's
been revived a few times, but I think this is
really special. Tell me about your role in that, and
it's in its release.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
As a yeah, sure thing. As a producer, our company
MC light and Lynn Richardson, we decided that this was
something that we wanted to participate in. When they told
us that there was an opportunity to become involved as producers,
we didn't think, uh, we didn't have the thing. Twice
we were like, yes, you need to do it. So
(28:03):
we wound up going to the opening night at the Hippodrome.
And I think what we loved most about this particular
presentation or rendition of The Whiz is that they took
it out on the road first and then landed it
in Broadway. And you know, usually it's the opposite. You
start on Broadway and then you go out. But once
(28:24):
we heard the plan, we were even that much more
excited about it. I think at this point Candy was attached,
you know, Burst the Mogul and Common and so you know,
lucky for me, Common Coo and my CEO are sore
wars of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated, Sorority Incorporated.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Can't very serious, you got to be very clear.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
And so once we heard about the opportunity of reached
out and spoke to the production. Everything they had to
say was so awesome, Like who wouldn't want to be
involved in the twenty twenty three to twenty four to
who knows how long rendition of the Wiz?
Speaker 2 (29:10):
What does the Wiz represent?
Speaker 1 (29:14):
Freedom? To me, it represents freedom. And I've watched it
across the nation this go out, the end of this
go round. I've seen it in Baltimore at the launch
of seen it in Chicago and San Francisco, And to me,
every time I see it, I learn a little bit
(29:35):
more about each of the characters and how and how
they really represent a piece of who we are as
say humans, but as spirits having this human experience here
and that's the need for love and relationship and courage,
(30:00):
and all of the many things that are represented in
the show, but also what each of them are going through,
and that's a spat of loneliness that is filled with
We can sometimes be filled with fear of the unknown,
(30:22):
but when in fact you open yourself up for collaboration,
because it all starts on a journey where this young
woman feels like she's alone. But if she leaves herself
open along her journey, she's able to collaborate with people
who are going through things that are made or may
(30:45):
not be just alike, but they all have something that
they need to work on that lives within. But it's
these other people that they let in, which to me
are like angels that God is speaking through that says
you are and have exactly what it is that you're
(31:06):
looking for on the outside is actually in. So I
love the story. I've never water seeing it. I hope
that you make it to see it on its day.
If not, it'll be there for minutes.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
So if you missed the beadles to see it, by
the time that this airs, I will have seen it
and I will be able to properly give it its
just due. And it's review that I'm sure is amazing
for you to describe that. It represents freedom and it
makes you understand that everyone is on a journey looking
for connection. That is the essence of life. We are
(31:40):
all in this life right now looking for connection if
we don't have it, and connecting is so important. I
think our bodies craved, our mind's craved, and if we're
honest and open, it's why we It's why sometimes you
get angry, we get sad, we get depressed because we're
lacking that necessary connection to be seen and to be
heard and be valued. And yet again, another project that
(32:03):
you are a part of that speaks to the human condition.
I wonder, I wonder if I mean, I know when
I'm around my girls and I and my people who
love me most, they hype me and they tell me
all the amazing things that I am. Do you understand
your contribution to us as a culture, to the to
(32:25):
hip hop, to women? Do you understand why we all
have this reaction of honor and reverence when when we talk.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
To you, Do I understand?
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Because people don't like compliments. People don't like compliments. It's
hard for people to receive compliments. And when people tell
you that, do you get uncomfortable and do you do
you think it's too much or you're like, yeah, okay,
you're right.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
No, I do not get uncomfortable. Oh good, And yes
I do air more on the side of being accepting
of it, because this is this is what we're working for, right,
is to be able to touch and inspire and lead
people to a better version of themselves. And I can
(33:16):
only become a better version of myself if if I
see the reaction or I'm told the honest truth about
what it is that I have caused. Right, So there's
cause and effect. So I want to know what have
I caused? Oh I did it. That's a good thing.
(33:37):
Thank you, Thank you for letting me know that I'm
moving in in the right direction. And you know, it's funny.
I talked with I don't know what else to call her.
Accept your aid, your assistant, your pre producer, a poice. Yeah,
we talked about these records back here, and I said
I didn't get a chance to attend Norfolk State University
(33:59):
the way that I had planned. I actually sent my money,
filled out my forms. I was on my way and
hip Hop interrupted that and I let it. I allowed
hip Hop to come into my life and lead me
off to Denmark, to Copenhagen where I had my first
tour in September when I was supposed to start at
Norfolk State University. And so these are my degrees, these
(34:21):
are my diplomas. And you know once the last record
I put out was in twenty fourteen, wow, years ago.
And so now my diploma is in what you just
said to me. My degree is in you know that
young kid who said he listened to that song and
(34:43):
now this is what inspired him to do whatever it
is that he's doing now, or people seeing me. I've
been in business for over thirty something years, and it
inspires other people that say, you know what, I'm going
to get into this hip hop thing. I don't know
where it's going to lead me or how, when, why
and what, but I'm gonna go because she was successful
(35:06):
and I can probably do that too.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Very Champion and carry champions.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
To be a champion, a champion and carry chapion and
carry chat be out a champion and carry chapion and
carry Chaffraid is the sports and entertainment getting naked weird.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
Erry champion and carry champions.
Speaker 4 (35:28):
To be a champion, a champion and carry Champion, Nigger
Kitty shot a Champion and carry.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Champion and carry Chappy Entertainment getting naked word.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
I am constantly in awe. And I'll give you just
some names, right, some of which we just mentioned, but
you know, yes, like a Queen, Latifah, a Jada, a
l O, Cool Jay, Fat Joe for that matter. Uh,
the early pioneers of this game have been There have
been a handful, not more than a quite frankly, that
(36:01):
have been able to transition, to pivot to still rely
on the source of what they are, their foundation and
what people made them known, but still work this game
to today. And I often liken it too when they
talk about the actors that were triple threats back in
the day, the black and white movies that you would watch.
My mom made me watch black and white movies, and
you would have to be able to sing and dance,
(36:23):
an act You have to do it all. You couldn't
just be a one trick pony. And I don't know
if you could have looked at your career when you
were at the top of your career and noticed how
you would have been able to pivot and transition and
still be relevant. Not that that matters, but still have
an impact and still be able to do what you
love in various indifferent branches of this interest industry.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Had you known that, Uh no, No, I didn't, But
I do know that I can attribute it to a
great team. You know, it really takes looking at this
industry as a business, and when you fail to do
(37:08):
that is when you don't make it into the land
of ten year, twenty year, thirty year business. You know,
we have people that run our companies that know business
and how to strateguys and how to plan. Yeah, you
(37:29):
need the team, especially if you're going to stay in
your lane, which is creative. You know, with all sorts
of reasons, I can try to come up out of
my lane to do this, that and the third, and
I'm reminded very quickly that's not where I here now.
Also liking it too, you know, as an artist that
(37:51):
creates whatever it is that you're creating, whether it's music
or film, TV, painting, whatever the case. You have this
football that you need a court. You're the quarterback, and
you need a running back to catch that ball and
take it down the field. Not just stuck with all
(38:13):
of these ideas, you become disgruntled because none of them
are coming to manifestation and so you need the team
of people that are going to help you sustain, maintain,
and grow.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
A man for a team. Is there anything any project
before I let you go? Is there any project that
you are working on that I did not mention as
of late? I want to make sure I got two
of them, which is the congratulations on producing the whiz
this freedom play as we just called it because it
is that it is beautiful being one of the producers there,
and also congratulations on the single. And is there anything
(38:45):
else that that you're working on that you wanted to promote?
Speaker 1 (38:50):
Well, there's quite a few things. I made. I directorial
debut not so long ago with a short call break
Up in Love, which it's about a couple undoing but
trying to do it lovingly. It's actually on YouTube. People
could check it out break Up in Love dot com. Okay,
uh huh. And it's going to be more projects that
(39:13):
I look to direct. We have a music video that
i've you know, I've never done a music video before
and so I just directed my first. It's called bu
with an artist called Van Van who is an internet
sensation that's my book.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
I love.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
He and Aris Harris. Uh yeah, everybody loves Van, you know.
But I got a chance to direct their video called
bu and so I'm excited. You can also see that
on YouTube. And we have a whole album coming it's
called One One. Warren Campbell and myself. You know, I said,
(39:54):
he's my pastor, and so it's so great to be
able to do music with someone who under stands where
I am today and you know, doesn't push or press
me into saying anything that doesn't feel natural, that isn't
truthful to who I am. And we're having a good time.
We've got a lot of great people on that record,
(40:15):
common Q tip, Anthony Hamilton. Yeah, got space, Little Mama.
The list keeps growing, but I'm really content with what
it is that we're building and growing. And Woman is
just the first installment to that record. And yes, there's
so many other things going on, but it's a list.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Which I love. Look, keep you busy, keep me creative.
That's where I live. That's my safe space and I
love that for you. Thank you for being so gracious
and tay in the time. I have this one last question,
you can tell me. I think acting, directing performing producing.
Is there something if you have your biggest dream and
(40:58):
you could write it out, what would it be? Is
there something that you can quiet and you're like, you know,
you got to take the you know, as Brene Brown
would say, uh, take the take the power away from
the secret. Would you say it out loud if there
was something that you've been anticipating and wanting to do
but haven't quite gotten there yet.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
Uh, that's a you know, what would be great to
just have a successful relationship.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
Amen, I love that I love you.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
This relates to entertainment. That's great, that's great, that's great.
But really I'm in a great relationship now and I
just want to have all the love and the patience
and compassion that that I can must and so I've
given it to God. And let's see, let's see. I
(41:49):
wasn't even gonna go there by the way. I was like, well,
because you know, I try it. I'm so ultra private,
so I try to respect it. But it said in
essence you were dating someone in twenty twenty three. I
was like, I think she got a boob, but I'm
not gonna get into it. But yes, I let's touch
and agree on a successful relationship, the connection that we
all want as humans.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
Amen, I receive that for you. Thank you for being
beautiful inside and out, and I appreciate the time. I
really do thank you for.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
This time of being on your platform, and I look
forward to the next time we speak, okay or see
each other in person. MC Light, thank you so much
for being naked.
Speaker 2 (42:23):
I want to thank MC light for coming on the
podcast today, and I'm gonna take it one step further.
She is so wise. Wisdom and understanding is something that
I think we all should aspire to. And four. Reading
my Bible the other day, Proverbs three, and I am
going to get spiritual on you guys. It says to
the people on you all. It says, the people who
are going to inherit all the things that they want,
(42:45):
have wisdom and understanding. And I truly believe that listening
to her, her energy, her presence, you could tell that
she has lived a life and she's learned a lot.
And I am so grateful when I cross people that way,
because it reminds me when I come across people like
mc it reminds me of what really truly is our
purpose here and what we should be looking for be
kind and gracious to ourselves to others. But also that
(43:09):
comes with wisdom, and that comes with understanding, if you
don't really truly love yourself, how can you love anybody else.
If you're harder yourself, you're gonna be hard on other people.
And I love that I can see that instead of
us just talking about all of the projects, you know,
which is what we did do, but it was more
of a personal, intimate conversation about where she is in
(43:29):
her life. That's what this single is about. Go out
and support it. She also mentioned that she EPs The
Wiz and I want to go see it on opening night.
Amazing play costumes were amazing. Shout out to Wayne Brady
who played the Wiz. Deborah Cox, you guys know her
as a singer. She played the good Witch Dorothy. She's
an upstart, but she's well known on Broadway, but was
amazing as well. The audience was filled with so many luminaries.
(43:53):
Stephanie Mills was there. Do you guys remember Stephanie Mills
the original Dorothy and the Whiz on Broadway? That is,
you remember Dynah at the movie And if you don't,
you should google all of this. But it was really
it was special. Hillary Rodama A Clinton was in the house,
HRC was there. It was a beautiful, beautiful tribute to
(44:13):
the culture, to our version of fantasy, our version of mystery.
There was so much beautiful singing and in dancing. The
dancing was off the chart. Shout out to my guy
Adam Blackstone who has been on this podcast. He did
a lot of the music and the dancing and it's
just amazing. It was just amazing. God No, Debbie Allen
worked on this in some capacity, but I encourage you
(44:35):
all if you get to New York to see The Whiz.
It is worth it. And shout out to again MC
light for diversifying her portfolio and knowing that this was
a project that she wanted to invest in because it's genius.
I wish the one would have came to me and
said you got some coinage carry for the Whiz, because
I would have given it up. It is arguably. I
bet you it's going to be on Broadway for a
(44:56):
very long time. Do yourself a favor, do your family
and friends of favor, go see it. Perfect gift, all
of the things. It was just spectacular. Now with that
being said, I want to thank mc Light again for
sharing her her heart, herself and being naked. I also
want to really appreciate the moment that we're in. Women
are it. We are on top. Beyonce telling y'all that
(45:21):
I can do I can do anything in any genre.
I don't care if you don't like country music and
you don't necessarily care for what she did. She said,
I'm here and we are here to say I am
one man. Hear me, roar I can do what I
want and I can make it great. I mean literally,
that's what that country album is MC light. Look, woman,
I'm celebrating you. Look at all the things that we've
been through, and when we get to a certain phase
(45:42):
in our lives, we just want peace and we want
people to be there for us as we are there
for them and we support them. Women's sports I could
talk about that all day. I know that you guys
have been well aware of the Angel Reese and the
Caitlin Clarks of the world. W NBA Draft was a huge,
huge success. I have people talking to me about sports
who've never ever ever had any interest in sports. That
(46:05):
also frustrates me because you guys are trying to tell
me what I already know, and I'm like, go sit down.
I already know that, but it's okay. Welcome to the
world of sports. Nevertheless, enjoy this edition of Naked. Support
the Wiz support EMC Light's latest single with an album coming,
as she has shared with us, support women's sports, support
all women period. End of discussion. Thank you all for
(46:27):
listening to Naked. See you next week.
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