Queue Points

R&B, love, and community power sit at the center of this conversation with Jean-Pierre “JP” Brice, founder of CMP Radio in Chester, PA. Drawing from loss, hustle, and healing, JP talks with Queue Points about what it means to build a station, show up for your city, and raise Black boys with honesty and care through the language of music. This is a grounded, reflective episode for listeners who care about Black radio, R&B, and the everyday work of community building.​In this episode, you’ll hear:How JP went from a 12-year-old dealing with his father’s passing to founding CMP Radio, and why Barack Obama’s election and therapy were key turning points in that journey.Why R&B, especially the Quiet Storm era, remains a toolkit for love, communication, and vulnerability for Black men, and how it helped JP process trauma and choose a different path.The story behind CMP Radio’s mission to “cultivate mature positivity,” including youth programs, Fusion Fridays, and creating spaces where people in Chester feel seen, heard, and supported.A candid father–son moment where JP breaks generational silence—teaching his son and his friends about sex, condoms, and respect, using H-Town’s “Knockin’ Da Boots” as a conversation starter.How memories tied to songs like Stevie Wonder’s “That Girl” and the work of artists like George Benson, Sade, Chaka Khan, and Phyllis Hyman keep JP anchored in joy, accountability, and a deeper sense of responsibility to his community.Take Action​👉 Tap in with CMP RadioVisit the CMP Radio Foundation website and hit “Listen Now”; andIf you’re able, click the donate button to support the work happening in Chester, PA: https://podcast.queuepoints.com/cmpdonate🎧 Listen to the playlist by JPCheck out the "Jean-Pierre 'JP' Brice's Top 5 (+5) R&B Jams" Spotify list while you work: https://podcast.queuepoints.com/jptop5playlistJean-Pierre “JP” Brice BioJean-Pierre Berman Brice is a Brooklyn-born, Chester, PA-raised media founder, storyteller, and cultural organizer whose work bridges media, youth development, and community empowerment. As the founder of CMPRadio.Net and the CMPRadio Foundation, he transformed lived experiences of loss, incarceration, and renewal into platforms that amplify real voices and champion “Cultivating Mature Positivity.” Through teaching, mentorship, and youth media programs—including work with Chester Charter Scholars Academy—Brice has become a trusted guide for young people discovering their purpose. Honored with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from Americorps and numerous civic recognitions, he continues to build platforms that unite through honesty, accountability, and healing.At his core, Jean-Pierre is a communicator who believes that unity comes through honest conversation, collective responsibility, and narrative control. Whether behind the microphone, in the classroom, or on the streets engaging youth, his mission remains the same: build platforms that make people feel seen, heard, and empowered.Chapter Markers00:00 Intro Theme00:16 Welcome to the Show02:00 Welcome Jean-Pierre Berman Brice ("JP"): Bio, Background, and Early Influences04:19 The Birth of CMP Radio05:56 Transition06:02 What Made JP and the team Start CMP When They Did?06:41 Challenges and Inspirations09:06 Building a Community Platform13:03 The Importance of R&B and Personal Growth15:53 Building Unity and Family Lessons16:55 R&B and Party Vibes17:51 Transition17:59 Father-Son Conversations20:16 Community Engagement and Unity22:04 The Power of Music and Memories24:18 Supporting CMP Radio27:40 Final Thoughts and Farewell29:08 Outro ThemeSupport Queue Points By Becoming An Insider: https://link.queuepoints.com/membership#RnB, #BlackMen, #Masculinity, #BlackMasculinity, #BlackFathers, #BlackMusicHistory, #RBHistory, #QuietStorm, #CommunityRadio, #InternetRadio, #LocalRadio, #CMPRadio, #ChesterPA, #Pennsylvania, #BlackCommunity, #CommunityPower, #LoveIsTheMessage, #QueuePoints, #Podcast, #MusicPodcast, #CulturePodcast, #BlackCulture, #Healing, #Therapy, #Storytelling, #YouthDevelopment, #HipHopAndRB, #BlackJoy, #BlackLove

“The Category Is: Your Favorite Rapper Is A Butch Queen” is a grounded, funny, and thoughtful sit-down between Jay Ray and DJ Sir Daniel about energy, performance, and how Black men show up in hip-hop; not about who anybody is sleeping with. Drawing from Black queer culture and ballroom, they unpack why so many of rap’s most beloved figures move with butch queen energy, and why that matters for how we understand masculinity, vulnerability, attraction, and flair.​In this episode, they get into:What “butch queen” actually means in Black queer culture, and why they intentionally separate it here from assumptions about sexuality.​How artists like Tyler, The Creator, LL Cool J, Slick Rick, Kendrick Lamar, Tupac, Diddy, and 50 Cent embody a blend of masculine and feminine energies in their style, showmanship, and emotional range.​The role of theater, fashion, and performance in hip-hop history, and why showmanship, costume, and “doing the most” have always been part of the culture.​How labeling Black men’s expression as “sassy” or suspect can fuel repression, harm mental health, and sometimes feed into violence, and why giving Black men room to be their full selves is so important.​An invitation to brothers (and everyone who loves them) to think about therapy, balance, and using that butch queen power for something other than ego and chaos.​If you care about hip-hop, Black queer language, and the many ways Black men hold duality on and off the mic, this conversation offers a clear, nuanced lens to sit with.Chapter Markers00:00 Intro Theme00:16 Introduction and Hosts' Greetings01:45 Defining 'Butch Queen'03:43 Cultural Context and Ballroom Influence06:31 Historical and Contemporary Butch Queens in Hip Hop08:51 Spotlight on Tyler, the Creator11:05 LL Cool J: Hip Hop's Original Pretty Boy15:58 Slick Rick: The Ostentatious Storyteller19:35 Kendrick Lamar: The Balanced Butch Queen22:06 Big Butch Queen Energy22:32 Kendrick Lamar's Slow Jam Dominance23:33 Sean Diddy Combs: The Ultimate Butch Queen29:50 Tupac: The Butch Queen Architect36:32 50 Cent: The Messy Butch Queen39:09 Embracing Full Self Expression43:22 Closing Thoughts and FarewellSupport Queue Points By Becoming An Insider: https://link.queuepoints.com/membership

It’s the holidays, and you know what that means on Queue Points: it’s time to talk holiday cheer … and foolishness. Jay Ray and DJ Sir Daniel revisit Patti LaBelle’s infamous 1996 performance of “This Christmas” for the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, where everything that could go wrong absolutely did – no background singers, cue cards [with the lyrics] out of order, and Patti onstage begging, “Where my background singers?” while still belting for her life. The hosts dig into what actually happened behind the scenes and how this one night turned into a yearly meme and a Black camp classic folks quote every December.​​​From Jay Leno and Watch What Happens Live to the legendary Patti Pie era, Jay Ray and Sir Daniel also walk through other moments where Miss Patti broke the internet and reminded everyone why she’s a national treasure with an unmatched sense of humor. This episode is part love letter, part cultural autopsy, and part holiday hangout, perfect to throw on while you’re trimming the tree, wrapping gifts, or rewatching Patti ask for “the next card, honey” one more time.​​​Key takeaways:How a mistimed entrance, wrong cue cards, and late background singers turned “This Christmas” into peak Black camp instead of a holiday standard.​​​Why the performance vanished into archives for years and then found new life as a social media holiday classic that people now rewatch every season.​​Patti’s own reflections on the night, from joking about the disaster with Jay Leno in the 90s to later “not remembering” the moment on Watch What Happens Live.​​How Patti’s other viral moments – the Tyra Banks cupcake segment and the Walmart Patti Pie explosion – cemented her status as a meme-able diva for multiple generations.​​​Why Jay Ray and DJ Sir Daniel see this performance as a joyful tradition and proof that even a hot mess can become a cherished cultural artifact.​​Links to Content Referenced in This EpisodeJames Wright Chanel on The Patti Labelle PiePatti LaBelle and Lisa Lillien on The Tyra Banks ShowPatti LaBelle’s ‘Where Are My Background Singers?’ Moment | WWHL - After Andy Cohen shows Patti LaBelle a clip of her “This Christmas” performance that went viral, Patti says she doesn’t remember the “where are my background singers?” moment.Patti Labelle on Jay Leno In 1996 Discussing 'This Christmas' Performance - Brandon Fonseca (@bless_bands) 31 likes, 3 comments - bless_bands on December 4, 2024: “Throwback Patti talking about the viral “Where My Background Singers” moment @mspattilabelle explaining what happened the night after singing “This Christmas” at the Christmas Tree Lighting on @nbcjayleno 🤣 MUA: @derrick4mkup #PattiLaBelle #Jayleno #LateNight #WhereMyBackgroundsingers #Chrsitmas #Comedy #Legendary”.Patti LaBelle video from 1996 national tree lighting has become a family tradition for saxophonist - Nearly 30 years later, the video of Labelle desperately calling, “Where my background singers!” while frantically asking for faster cue cards has become iconic.National Christmas Tree Lighting, December 5, 1996 - C-SPAN - In the annual Pageant of Peace, President Clinton pressed the button to light the national Christmas tree, dedicating it to peace, love and the young people of the world. He said, "Let us rejoice that our nation is at peace." Ms. LaBelle, the Children's Choir from Roanoke, Virginia, the Mannheim Steamroller band and young dancers from the Washington Ballet performed seasonal numbers. Willard Scott celebrated his 25th year as Santa Claus for the pageant.Chapter Markers00:00 Intro Theme00:16 Introduction and Holiday Vibes00:47 The Infamous Patti LaBelle Performance01:39 Behind the Scenes: What Went Wrong?09:54 Patti LaBelle's Internet Moments15:53 Patti LaBelle's Iconic Sweet Potato Pie19:22 Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes20:18 Outro ThemeSupport Queue Points By Becoming An Insider: https://link.queuepoints.com/membership#PattiLaBelle, #ThisChristmas, #WhereMyBackgroundSingers, #QueuePoints, #BlackMusicHistory, #BlackCamp, #ChristmasMemes, #HolidayFoolishness, #1990sRNB, #NationalTreeLighting, #PattiPie, #JamesWrightChanel, #TyraBanksShow, #BlackCulture, #MusicPodcast, #HolidayEpisode

From competitions to vocal bootcamps with Betty Wright, this episode is all about the phenomenon of Danity Kane and the cultural moment that birthed them. Jay Ray and DJ Sir Daniel reflect on the group’s reality TV origin story and the drama! Getting sent home and called back, endless rehearsals, and the very real work it took for them to become a chart-topping act. They consider whether manufactured groups can be “real,” how Danity Kane fits alongside Destiny’s Child, SWV and En Vogue, and why their reunions still pack out venues with fans who grew up with them.​Key takeawaysDanity Kane emerged as arguably the most successful group formed on a nationally televised reality competition, with multiple hit albums and a devoted fanbase.​Making the Band’s immersive format—showing rehearsals, house life, vocal coaching and conflict—helped audiences build a personal connection with the group members.​The episode spotlights standout moments like Dawn Richard’s studio sessions, Betty Wright’s unforgettable vocal coaching, and Laurieann Gibson’s scene-stealing choreography mentorship.​Jay Ray and DJ Sir Daniel argue that despite being “manufactured,” Danity Kane absolutely qualifies as a “real” group because of their grind, chemistry, and industry trials.​The conversation situates Danity Kane in the lineage of girl groups and explores why reality TV might never produce a phenomenon quite like them again in today’s follower-obsessed industry.​Chapter Markers00:00 Intro Theme00:16 Welcome to the Show00:37 Danity Kane: The Phenomenon01:49 Making the Band: A Reality TV Revolution03:42 Danity Kane's Journey and Impact08:54 The Legacy of Danity Kane11:48 Reflecting on Reality TV and Girl Groups21:55 Individual Successes and Final Thoughts24:16 Conclusion and Farewell25:34 Outro ThemeSupport Queue Points By Becoming An Insider: https://link.queuepoints.com/membership

“Sean Combs: The Reckoning & The Cost of Power” digs into what happens when talent, ego, abuse and an industry built on exploitation collide. In this episode of Queue Points, DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray unpack the recent docuseries “Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” tracing how Diddy’s rise from hungry Mt. Vernon kid to global mogul was shaped—and warped—by the systems and elders who groomed him, and by his own relentless need for power and validation. What emerges is a portrait of a man who mastered the art of packaging Black culture for profit while allegedly leaving deep harm in his wake.The hosts examine how the documentary weaves together their own formative hip‑hop years with Diddy’s ascent, using archival footage and Diddy’s own images to let him “tell on himself.” They discuss how the film balances conspiracy‑tinged speculation with documented fact, and why director Alex Stapleton’s approach avoids feeling like a cheap hit piece even as it surfaces disturbing stories about contracts, control and alleged abuse. From Uptown Records to Bad Boy, they connect Diddy’s business moves to a lineage of “OG predators” in the music industry who turned Black talent into a marketplace built on hidden fine print.From there, the conversation turns to Diddy as a personality: a “hermit crab,” as Sir Daniel describes, who studies people, adopts their style and then moves in on what they value most, whether that’s creative energy, romantic partners or access. Sir Daniel and Jay Ray grapple with how childhood trauma, blurred boundaries and a deep sense of lack may have fed his alleged predatory behavior. They also sit with the pain embedded in stories like Joi Dickerson-Neal’s and Cassie’s, reading them as early and recent warnings about what power without accountability can do.The episode also tackles 50 Cent’s role. The hosts interrogate how homophobia and fragile masculinity continue to shape hip‑hop’s responses to Diddy’s alleged behavior, from casual “fruity” comments on national TV to the way rumors about Diddy’s sexuality overshadow conversations about actual violence and abuse. They argue that sexual violence is fundamentally about power, not orientation, and call out the ways some elder statesmen of the culture are failing younger listeners with shallow, reactionary hot takes.Ultimately, Sir Daniel and Jay Ray challenge listeners to think about complicity and responsibility—who enabled Diddy, who stayed silent, and what it means to truly support healthy, accountable Black media in this moment. They spotlight creators and platforms that are pushing more thoughtful conversations about gender, sexuality and harm in Black communities, and insist that if we want better elders and better examples, we have to actively back the work that feeds us.​Key takeaways:“Sean Combs: The Reckoning” uses Diddy’s own footage and era‑defining archives to show how his rise and alleged abuses were intertwined with the evolution of modern Black music.The documentary situates Diddy in a lineage of powerful industry figures who exploited artists through predatory contracts and behind‑the‑scenes manipulation.Diddy’s alleged behavior is framed less as about sex and more as about power, control, grooming and a deep, unresolved need for validation.50 Cent’s petty, homophobia‑tinged vendetta helped bring the doc to life, raising questions about motive without erasing the seriousness of the allegations it surfaces.The hosts call for supporting responsible Black media and creators who model accountable, nuanced conversations about harm, masculinity and culture.Chapter Markers00:00 Intro Theme00:16 Introduction and Greetings01:01 The Importance of Black Music and Culture05:55 Diddy's Transformation and Influence09:04 Diddy's Personality and Controversies29:04 Cassie's Story and Diddy's Relationships30:17 The Role of Power and Influence33:49 50 Cent's Involvement and Motivations37:18 Sean's Grooming Tactics38:01 Curtis Jackson's Controversial Comments39:16 Internalized Homophobia in Hip Hop43:42 Holiday Shopping and Supporting Black Brands46:40 Closing Remarks and Outro47:04 Outro ThemeSupport Queue Points By Becoming An Insider: https://link.queuepoints.com/membership#SeanCombsTheReckoning, #SeanCombs, #Diddy, #PuffDaddy, #BadBoyRecords, #50Cent, #CurtisJackson, #HipHopCulture, #BlackMusicHistory