We Sound Crazy Podcast

Join the Inner Circle.  Crazy Crew, it’s time to level up. Get closer to the show, unlock exclusive content, and stay connected with us beyond the mic. Tap in below: - Join On YouTube Memberships: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/youtubemembers - Join On Patreon: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/patreon Listen on your favorite podcast service: https://pods.to/wesoundcrazy Crazy Crew, join our We Sound Crazy list: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/jointhewesoundcrazy-emailandsms.OYD Stream songs from the episode on our official We Sound Crazy playlists: https://lnkfi.re/8I8Drkfz A living legend steps inside a museum. We Sound Crazy goes live from the National Museum of African American Music in downtown Nashville for one of the most important conversations in show history, sitting down with the Godfather of Funk himself, George Clinton. For more than 60 years, Clinton has pushed the boundaries of creativity, imagination and sound. Through Parliament Funkadelic, he created an entire universe pioneered by the P-Funk movement, helped define Afrofuturism, and laid the foundation for generations of artists across funk, R&B, hip hop and beyond. A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient, and one of the most sampled artists in music history, Clinton sits with hosts Phillionaire, Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony of Louis York, and Tamone Bacon for a wide-ranging conversation about funk, culture, business and legacy. In a first for We Sound Crazy, he is also presented with the inaugural WSC Vanguard Award, a new honor created to celebrate trailblazers whose impact reshaped the entire landscape of Black music. The conversation moves everywhere the man has been. Clinton revisits the doo-wop and Motown years and explains why failing charm school is exactly what set Parliament Funkadelic free to invent the funk. He breaks down Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell and the Minimoog, the night 100,000 Afros bounced at Soldier Field, the bar mitzvah melody that secretly became Flashlight, and how the barbershop in Newark, New Jersey is responsible for 98 percent of his songwriting process. He talks Kendrick Lamar, his dream collaboration with D'Angelo, Prince and Sly Stone, what he tried to get Snoop to do with a royalty statement party, his mentorship of Prince, and the copyright recapture fight he is leading through his nonprofit Protecting Our Legacy. He also reveals he is in Nashville right now because a brand new Mothership is being built in the city, ready to fly at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on July 5th. And he addresses the question every artist is wrestling with right now: artificial intelligence, what he saw coming in 1977 with Funkentelechy, and why he is more interested in making AI funky than he is afraid of it. Press play for one of the most important voices in music history, in his own words, on his own time. We Sound Crazy is your backstage pass to all things music and culture. Special thanks to our We Sound Crazy team! Director: Aaron Walton Director of Photography: Aaron Walton Camera Op: Aaron Walton, Michael Johnson Jr. Editor: Hyyer Creative Producer: Aaron Walton Audio: Trey Smith Audio Photography: Darius Jones Thank you to all of our listeners, as well as our partners at Visit Music City, and a special thanks to the National Museum of African American Music for hosting this conversation. Shout out to Tanisha Nelson, Vivian Chu, Reggie Hudlin and Byron Phillips for making this moment a reality. Special thanks to George Clinton! Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you get your favorite podcast. Follow We Sound Crazy on Social Media:~ Facebook: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscfacebook~ Instagram: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscinstagram~ Twitter: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctwitter~ TikTok: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctiktok Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on YouTube: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscyoutube-subscribe Visit the official We Sound Crazy website: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/officialwebsite #WeSoundCrazy #GeorgeClinton #PFunk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join the Inner Circle.   Crazy Crew, it's time to level up. Get closer to the show, unlock exclusive content, and stay connected with us beyond the mic. Tap in below: ~ Join On YouTube Memberships: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/youtubemembers   ~ Join On Patreon: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/patreon   ~ Subscribe to Email & SMS: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/jointhewesoundcrazy-emailandsms     Listen on your favorite podcast service: https://pods.to/wesoundcrazy   Stream songs from the episode on our official We Sound Crazy playlists: https://lnkfi.re/8I8Drkfz     The We Sound Crazy family rolls out the red carpet this week for the self-proclaimed musical genius and undisputed King of Reality TV himself, Carlos King. Joining hosts Philionaire, Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony of Louis York, and Tamone Bacon, the Detroit-born mastermind behind Belle Collective, Love & Marriage: Huntsville, Bold & Bougie, Grown and Gospel, and a long list of other franchises pulls up to set the record straight on the "Black Andy Cohen" comparison, his deep love for music, and why his ear for talent runs in the family (his father played saxophone for The Dramatics before walking away from the road to raise ten kids).   The conversation moves fast and pulls no punches. Carlos relives the now-legendary moment when a young Keyshia Cole cussed him out on a 106 & Park red carpet while he was still a PA reading questions off a producer's clipboard. He breaks down why Keyshia, Tamar Braxton, and Cardi B set the blueprint for using reality television to launch and protect a music career, and names exactly which current artists (Normani, Chloe Bailey, Victoria Monet, Durand Bernarr) he believes should be lacing up their boots for the same play.   Then the gloves come off. Carlos walks us through the rise and stall of The Encore, his beloved BET girl-group experiment that he calls top two of his entire career, lays out the four reasons girl groups can't survive (ego, men, management, work ethic), and shares why Chloe x Halle splitting too early still bothers him. From there he flexes his Mount Rushmore of gospel singers (Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Aretha Franklin), defends Amazing Grace as Aretha's untouchable peak, and explains why he plays gospel every morning without fail. He also weighs in on why he believes today's R&B falls in comparison to the '90s, why too many singers have never set foot in a church, and why he no longer goes to concerts (his words: lip-syncing, no choreography, no production, no Frank Gatson).   Now without further ado, hit that play button and jump into this episode!   We Sound Crazy is your backstage pass to all things music and culture.   Special thanks to our We Sound Crazy team!   Director: John Dierre  Camera Op: Josh Sowemimo, James Hart, John Dierre  Sound Mixer: Derrick Chin Editing Team: Hyyer Creative Show Producer: Michael “Roux” Johnson Producer: Aaron Walton, Lamont Baldwin Assistant: Brittany Guydon  Talent Producer: Isaac Hamm III  Photography: Ah'meer Holt  PA: Kaye Brasley, Tony Cole Thank you to all of our listeners, as well as our partners at Visit Music City.   Special thanks to Carlos King!   Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you get your favorite podcast.     Follow We Sound Crazy on Social Media: ~ Facebook: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscfacebook ~ Instagram: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscinstagram ~ Twitter: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctwitter ~ TikTok: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctiktok   Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on YouTube: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscyoutube-subscribe   Visit the official We Sound Crazy website: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/officialwebsite   #WeSoundCrazy #CarlosKing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join the Inner Circle.  Crazy Crew, it’s time to level up. Get closer to the show, unlock exclusive content, and stay connected with us beyond the mic. Tap in below: - Join On YouTube Memberships: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/youtubemembers - Join On Patreon: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/patreon - Subscribe to Email & SMS: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/jointhewesoundcrazy-emailandsms Listen on your favorite podcast service: https://pods.to/wesoundcrazy Stream songs from the episode on our official We Sound Crazy playlists: https://lnkfi.re/8I8Drkfz We’re back this week with the Pretty Girl herslelf, the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and actress, Keri Hilson. Hosts Chuck Harmony and Claude Kelly of the genre-defining band, Louis York, sit down with the icon for an intimate, deeply reflective conversation that spans her legendary 20+ year journey in the music industry. From her early days as a teenage prodigy and powerhouse weapon of the elite writing collective The Clutch, to shaping global hits for artists like Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Usher, Hilson peels back the layers on the intense pressure cooker of being a dominant force behind the scenes before stepping directly into the solo spotlight with massive anthems like "Pretty Girl Rock" and "Knock You Down." Nothing is left off the table as Hilson opens up about the devastating heartbreak and depression that followed her meteoric rise, detailing a period of profound "radio silence" where she felt deeply betrayed by her own dreams. She shares her raw, inspiring journey of clawing her way back to the light through spiritual retreats, journaling, and a relentless fight to reclaim her creative hunger. The trio explores her triumphant return with her visually stunning trilogy project (We Need to Talk Love, We Need to Talk Drama, We Need to Talk Redemption), a truthful "me versus me" body of work that re-establishes her voice on her own terms. With incredible behind-the-scenes revelations including how she and Ezekiel Lewis secretly catfished the world on Omarion's "Ice Box" vocals along with sharp, unfiltered critiques on the current state of music industry sonics and cancel culture, this episode is a masterclass in resilience and artistic integrity. Ultimately, Hilson’s story is one of reclaiming her crown, finding profound gratitude in her design, and extending the same grace to herself that she has given to the world. Pull up a chair for a backstage pass to a beautiful, full-circle moment of healing and ultimate redemption. We Sound Crazy is your backstage pass to all things music and culture. Special thanks to our We Sound Crazy team!  Director: John Dierre  Camera Op: Josh Sowemimo, James Hart, John Dierre  Editor/Gaffer: Tony Cole Producer: Aaron Walton, Lamont Baldwin Show Producer/Sound Mixer: Michael "Roux" Johnson  Remixer: Anthony Falcone Assistant: Brittany Guydon  Talent Producer: Isaac Hamm III  Photography: Ah'meer Holt  PA: Kaye Brasley Thank you to all of our listeners and watchers! Special thanks to Keri Hilson! Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you get your favorite podcast. Follow We Sound Crazy on Social Media:  ~ Facebook: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscfacebook ~ Instagram: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscinstagram ~ Twitter: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctwitter ~ TikTok: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctiktok Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on YouTube: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscyoutube-subscribe Visit the official We Sound Crazy website: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/officialwebsite #WeSoundCrazy #KeriHilson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join the Inner Circle.  Crazy Crew, it’s time to level up. Get closer to the show, unlock exclusive content, and stay connected with us beyond the mic. Tap in below: - Join On YouTube Memberships: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/youtubemembers - Join On Patreon: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/patreon - Subscribe to Email & SMS: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/jointhewesoundcrazy-emailandsms Listen on your favorite podcast service: https://pods.to/wesoundcrazy Stream songs from the episode on our official We Sound Crazy playlists: https://lnkfi.re/8I8Drkfz On this week’s episode of We Sound Crazy, the phenomenal Christopher "Tricky" Stewart—the mastermind producer, songwriter, and musical architect behind era-defining hits like Rihanna’s "Umbrella," Beyoncé’s "Single Ladies," and Justin Bieber’s "Baby" joins the crew. Recorded at his beautiful Sessions facility in Atlanta, Georgia, Tricky sits down with hosts Phillionaire along with Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony of Louis York for an intimate, master-class level conversation about his legacy, his creative process, and what it truly means to lead the music industry. Fresh off the announcement of his induction into the prestigious We Sound Crazy Songwriters Hall of Fame, Tricky opens up about what this ultimate honor means to a behind-the-scenes creator, viewing it as the pinnacle recognition for a lifetime dedicated to the craft of songs. Throughout the episode, Tricky takes listeners on a deep dive into his rich musical DNA, sharing how his unique approach to hooks and efficiency was forged in a powerhouse Chicago family that created iconic advertising jingles by day, hit records by night, and praised the Lord on Sundays. He reflects on his early industry breaks under the mentorship of the late legendary A&R, Louis Silas Jr., and his eventual move to Atlanta under L.A. Reid, where he learned the grueling realities of making records that don't just top charts, but actively shift global pop culture. He also shares a rare look into his legendary, brotherhood and partnership with The-Dream, breaking down their lightning-in-a-bottle studio chemistry and revealing how their creative "happy rubs" birthed unprecedented musical magic. Spanning over three decades of undeniable greatness, this candid conversation goes far beyond a standard interview. Tricky shares profound wisdom on maintaining emotional intelligence, staying fluid in a changing industry, and navigating the differences between a standard hit and a culture-shattering smash. From his meticulously crafted work on the Burlesque film soundtrack with Christina Aguilera to his relentless pursuit of the next world-dominating international superstar, Tricky proves why his name belongs on the Mount Rushmore of modern music. It is an unforgettable, gem-filled episode dedicated to giving an absolute icon his well-deserved flowers. We Sound Crazy is your backstage pass to all things music and culture. Special thanks to our We Sound Crazy team!  Director: John Dierre  Camera Op: Josh Sowemimo, James Hart, John Dierre  Editor: Lamont Baldwin  Producer: Aaron Walton, Lamont Baldwin Show Producer/Remixer: Michael "Roux" Johnson  Assistant: Brittany Guydon  Talent Producer: Isaac Hamm III  Photography: Ah'meer Holt  PA: Kaye Brasley, Tony Cole Thank you to all of our listeners and watchers! Special thanks to Tricky Stewart! Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you get your favorite podcast. Follow We Sound Crazy on Social Media:  ~ Facebook: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscfacebook ~ Instagram: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscinstagram ~ Twitter: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctwitter ~ TikTok: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctiktok Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on YouTube: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscyoutube-subscribe Visit the official We Sound Crazy website: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/officialwebsite #WeSoundCrazy #TrickyStewart Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join the Inner Circle.  Crazy Crew, it’s time to level up. Get closer to the show, unlock exclusive content, and stay connected with us beyond the mic. Tap in below: - Join On YouTube Memberships: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/youtubemembers - Join On Patreon: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/patreon - Subscribe to Email & SMS: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/jointhewesoundcrazy-emailandsms Listen on your favorite podcast service: https://pods.to/wesoundcrazy Stream songs from the episode on our official We Sound Crazy playlists: https://lnkfi.re/8I8Drkfz The masterclass continues in part two of this epic two-part release, as the incomparable Antonio "L.A." Reid sits back down with the We Sound Crazy crew. Joining hosts Philionaire, Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony of Louis York, and Tamone Bacon, the music mogul takes listeners even deeper into the golden eras of his career. In this installment, the conversation turns toward the hitmaking powerhouse that was Island Def Jam, an era Reid highlights as one of his most memorable and competitive chapters. He breaks down the high-stakes environment of his A&R room, recalling how he built a "money team" of brilliant music executives and trusted his inner circle so completely that it birthed a historic string of global superstars, from Rihanna and Justin Bieber to Ne-Yo and a legendary comeback era for Mariah Carey. The episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most iconic executive hires in music history: Reid’s decision to bring in Jay-Z as the president of Def Jam. In a fascinating behind-the-scenes revelation, Reid credits Mariah Carey for calling him directly with the genius suggestion to quiet the New York hip-hop community's undercurrent of skepticism. He shares his immense respect for Jay-Z, describing him as true royalty alongside figures like Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama for his ability to shift the energy of a room. The crew also reflects on how Reid orchestrated bringing Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony together in Atlanta via A&R Steve Ferrara, resulting in timeless hits like "Fragile" and "Blame It on Me" for Chrisette Michele's chart-topping number one album, Epiphany. Rounding out the legendary sit-down, the hosts honors Reid with the show's official Trailblazer Award to celebrate his monumental impact on the entertainment landscape. Transitioning from executive talk to personal passions, the conversation winds down with an exclusive peek into his high-end taste, as Reid details his love for custom craftsmanship, what his personal vinyl collection looks like, and the exact bottles of wine he’d bring to a Nashville gathering. Authentic, transparent, and loaded with music history, this concluding half with L.A. Reid serves as the ultimate blueprint for extracting greatness and fighting for the purity of the art form. We Sound Crazy is your backstage pass to all things music and culture. Special thanks to our We Sound Crazy team!  Director: Malachi Fuller Director of Photography: Neither Camera Op: Andrew Meyers, Derek Reed, Malachi Fuller, Neither Gaffer: Tyler Holmes Set Design: Gina Dorsey Producer/A2: Jerel Duren Editor: Hyyer Creative Producer:  Lamont Baldwin, Aaron Walton Show Producer/Remixer: Michael "Roux" Johnson Assistant: Brittany Guydon Talent Producer: Micha "ML6" Logan Photography: Kirk McClain   PA: Keylon Hall, Jonaye Anderson, Ryan Lee Thank you to all of our listeners and watchers! Special thanks to Antonio "L.A." Reid! Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you get your favorite podcast. Follow We Sound Crazy on Social Media:  ~ Facebook: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscfacebook ~ Instagram: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscinstagram ~ Twitter: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctwitter ~ TikTok: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctiktok Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on YouTube: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscyoutube-subscribe Visit the official We Sound Crazy website: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/officialwebsite #WeSoundCrazy #L.A.Reid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices