- 6 days ago
Muni Long recently joined V-103's Danie B in Atlanta to talk about her latest single, "Richest," taking her time with her new album, her lupus journey, and more.
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00:00It's the People Station, B-103, the ATL's number one for hip-hop, R&B, and throwbacks.
00:04I'm Dani B. in the studio today with a very special guest, Grammy Award-winning songwriter,
00:11producer.
00:12She do all the music things.
00:13Money Long is here.
00:14Yeah, I love that introduction.
00:17Absolutely.
00:18How are you?
00:19I'm doing really well.
00:21I relate so much to you because my mother has lupus.
00:24Oh, okay.
00:25And so when I heard about your lupus and what you've been going through with it and then
00:29hearing about you having to have a lung transplant, that's why I'm like, literally, how are you?
00:34Because I feel like that wasn't too long ago and you already out here moving and shaking
00:38and doing stuff.
00:38Yeah, it's been December.
00:39Yeah.
00:39It's been nine months.
00:42Girl, you good?
00:43I'm good.
00:44Actually, what's today?
00:46The 7th?
00:46October 5th.
00:48Okay.
00:48So three days from now will be nine months?
00:52Wow.
00:53Ten months?
00:54Wow.
00:54Something like that.
00:55Yeah.
00:56Talk people through, like, a day in your life because, again, like, my mom has lupus
01:01and she'll tell me sometimes, like, oh, my hands hurt today or this hurts.
01:04Like, talk to people about, like, what exactly lupus is and how it affects you because I know
01:10it affects people differently.
01:10It used to be, like, I don't have any pain anymore.
01:12What?
01:13Nothing.
01:14No pain, no flare-ups, no swollen knuckles, no red skin.
01:18I used to have, like, butterfly rashes.
01:19My skin is amazing now these days.
01:23But, you know, the number one thing is I am stress-free.
01:27Like, I don't, I got rid of all the things in my life that were making me sick.
01:32Being around the wrong people, being with the wrong people, you know, in relationship
01:36with the wrong people, being friends with the wrong people, allowing people to always,
01:42you know, you got to be the bigger person.
01:43Hey, I'll be cussing people out now.
01:45I'm like, hey, hey, hey.
01:46Don't hold on.
01:47Hey, listen.
01:48I ain't with all that.
01:50And I'm just, like, way more assertive.
01:54So if I don't like something, I will say it immediately.
01:56Like, hey, I don't like that.
01:57I don't like how that's making me feel.
01:58Can we stop?
02:00If I'm uncomfortable, if I wake up and I just am not in the mood, I will be like,
02:03you know what?
02:04I think I need to cancel today.
02:06And I just take care of me now, and I don't feel guilty about it.
02:09I used to feel like I had to, you know, like, oh, these people are dependent on me.
02:15It was to a point where I went, I remember I went to see my Chinese herbalist.
02:20He's like a guru, like a master.
02:23His name's Bruce.
02:26And he assessed me, you know, was like, oh, my gosh, like, how are you not curled up in a
02:33ball crying?
02:34I was like, well, I could be, and I am in enough pain to do that.
02:38But the alternative to getting up and, you know, just popping a few Tylenol and continuing is to just wallow
02:46and be in pain.
02:47And I don't want to do that.
02:49You know, if I only have a couple years left, I want to live them.
02:54You know what I mean?
02:55And it was very difficult.
02:57Some days I couldn't even, like, flip the covers back.
03:00I was in so much pain.
03:01Like, my hands just used to be, like, you know, and people didn't know.
03:04There were so many days I was in pain, hips hurting, feet hurting, couldn't turn my neck, couldn't lift my
03:11arms.
03:13Anything joint, you don't realize how many joints you have until you need to use them and you can't, you
03:19know.
03:20I would have big old golf balls on my elbows, huge lumps anywhere, like, you know, here, just big.
03:29Knuckles would be big.
03:30Like, you know, I had at one point, like, all these ulcers on my fingers and I couldn't, you know,
03:35anything, like, zipping, zipper, anywhere there was contact constantly, like, rings or anything like that, it would just be open.
03:44And it was so bad, and people had no clue that I was dealing with that.
03:49Wow.
03:49And I just took the L and was very, you know, sweet and kind and people saying, you know, oh,
03:56she can't sing.
03:57Y'all have no clue what it took for me to get up and get that makeup on and put
04:01them clothes on and walk through that venue and get on that stage and all those cameras and those lights
04:08and that air condition and not show it.
04:12Yeah.
04:13How much pain I was in.
04:16But, you know, people don't know any better.
04:18They just be saying whatever, you know.
04:20Wow.
04:21I would say that's the biggest thing that I'm grateful now that I just don't have any pain and I
04:27can enjoy my work, you know, instead of laying in the bed like, ugh, another day of, you know, having
04:36to take pain medicine just to get through the day.
04:39Like, wow.
04:41Yeah.
04:42I think that's, like, so powerful.
04:44Even, you know, people that don't have lupus or don't have an autoimmune disease where it's, like, just how much
04:51stress and how stress can affect you.
04:55Mm-hmm.
04:57That's crazy to me.
04:58I mean, feeling like I always have to answer my phone.
05:00Yeah.
05:01I always have to respond to text messages immediately.
05:03Like, all those are little stressors that you don't even really think of.
05:05I don't do none of that.
05:06I don't do none of it now.
05:08Wow.
05:09And it's not even, it's no disrespect.
05:10It's no, like, you know, of course it's, like, you know, my son or, like, my mom.
05:15Yeah.
05:15Absolutely.
05:16You know what I mean?
05:17But anything else, I just be like, well, I'm going to call you back.
05:21Or, like, I'll leave a voice note.
05:22Or I'll be like, hey, Siri, text.
05:24Wow.
05:24You know what I mean?
05:25Like, and if I need a minute or if I just need to take a nap, I just do it.
05:31Mm-hmm.
05:31You know?
05:32Like, I don't feel bad anymore.
05:34I love that.
05:35This is rich right there.
05:36Yes.
05:37It's very wealthy.
05:39Yes.
05:40Very rich.
05:40Tell us about the single, Riches, that we got.
05:44We're playing it right now on V103.
05:46Beautiful song.
05:47Like, your pin game has always been crazy.
05:50Always just going to be crazy.
05:51So tell us about the song and how we got there.
05:54I think the sentiment behind it is, like, you know, obviously my name is Money Long and people
05:58just associate me with a certain aesthetic.
06:03And, you know, money comes and goes and fame and success comes and goes.
06:08And there are days when, unfortunately for me, I can't stay out of the blogs.
06:13I be trying to mind my business, dog.
06:15I really just be just vibing.
06:17But, you know, sometimes there are times when you're in the shadow and you're not in the light.
06:26And for me, being surrounded by people who love me and having somewhere to put all of the love that
06:33I have,
06:33whether it's with my child or with my loved ones or my pets or a significant other, that is when
06:42I feel.
06:42It's almost like the best description is, like, Christmas when you get someone a gift and you really thought about
06:47it
06:48and they open it and they're like, oh, my God, this is what I wanted, that feeling that you get
06:52of, like, you know.
06:55I love that feeling and I feel that all the time when I'm able to, like, love my friends and,
07:01you know,
07:01something simple as, like, oh, I know that my friend loves Paris baguette, loves strawberry matcha.
07:08I'm going to order it in the morning, you know, and just I'm happy that he's grateful for it.
07:13Like, you know what I mean?
07:15I really like to take care of people.
07:16And so I think I'm also getting to a place in my life where I'm not afraid to express my
07:24love, my desire, my care for others.
07:28And I also don't expect anything in return for doing it, you know.
07:33It's like, man, I love you, dog.
07:35You know, you don't have to say it back.
07:37Right.
07:38It's okay.
07:39You know, like, if you are, I also recently found out that my, as far as, like, astrology is concerned,
07:47that my ruling planet is Venus, which is the planet of love, which makes sense why I'm always in that
07:55frequency.
07:58Because I just am just a very loving being.
08:03Yeah.
08:04I literally can feel that off of you.
08:06And you mentioned, like, how you're always in the blogs and stuff like that.
08:11Like, we all know that you have, like, this misunderstood persona when it comes to the blogs.
08:16And, like, we've been sitting in here before we even hopped on air.
08:19We've just been sitting here just chatting it up.
08:21And, like, you're mad cool.
08:23Like, I feel like a lot of the girlies got you wrong.
08:25You know what I will say?
08:28Most of the people who have a problem with, like, how I present, those are the very people that I
08:32need to be speaking to.
08:33I also think that because I'm a touchstone, right, so many people will tell you that you brown, you can't
08:39be successful.
08:40You're a black woman.
08:41You're old.
08:42You got kids.
08:43There's a ceiling on your success.
08:45I'm disproving that every day.
08:47And so I am literally trailblazing in a lot of, not every area, but in a lot of areas.
08:56And so, you know, I think where the area I have found, and I've also read other people say this,
09:03you know, some of our heroes have said this.
09:05You're going to be attacked the most in the area where you are supposed to, in the direction that you're
09:10supposed to head.
09:11So I know that part of my gift is speaking and teaching.
09:15It's also me being my most authentic self and showing people that you can be you and be successful.
09:21Being you, you can get paid to be you.
09:25I'm also very black and proud to be black.
09:28Like, I love it.
09:29I wouldn't want to be anything else.
09:31Love my color.
09:32Love my skin.
09:33Love my hair.
09:34Like, you know, even though I do got a wig on, up under here, up under here, it's real nice,
09:39you know.
09:40And so, like, whatever state that I'm in, I believe I'm extremely beautiful.
09:46And it starts on the inside.
09:48And I think my message and what I have to share with people from whatever platform I have is so
09:55important that, of course, I'm going to be attacked in that area to try to discourage me from continuing and
10:02moving forward.
10:02But because I understand my divinity, I know what my assignment is, I don't let that deter me.
10:07Sometimes I do get irritated and I be wanting to be like, y'all, y'all, y'all focus on
10:11the wrong thing.
10:11Y'all worry about the wrong thing.
10:14It's so many things that y'all need to be, or not need to, but that y'all could be
10:17focused on.
10:17Like, me running my mouth is not news.
10:21It's really not.
10:21Like, why are we, why do we even, why do y'all even care?
10:24Like, you know what I'm saying?
10:25I'm grateful that, you know, people even want to talk about me.
10:28I'm so grateful.
10:29So, please don't misinterpret that.
10:30But sometimes from our mental health, I'll be having to block them, the blocks, because, like, the people, people will
10:35say the most insane stuff and then tag me on it.
10:39Like, why do you want me to know how much you don't like me?
10:43What's something crazy that someone has done that?
10:46Oh, you just got them lungs, girl.
10:47You just got them lungs.
10:49You need to be using them to pray so you don't die.
10:52You know, like, they be saying stuff like that.
10:54Yeah, yeah.
10:55Yeah, yeah, all that shit you talking, somebody else should have got them lungs.
11:00Yeah.
11:01People be saying the wildest things.
11:03I, that, my flabbers are gasted.
11:06Like, what?
11:07And mind you, I see everything.
11:10I see all of it.
11:11So, I'm blocking you.
11:12I'm blocking that, I'm blocking that username in your bio.
11:15I'm blocking all the people who liked it.
11:17I'm blocking everybody who said something.
11:18I'm blocking your sister.
11:19I'm blocking everybody.
11:22My block, the block party is packed.
11:26Okay?
11:26It's so many people on my block list.
11:28And you're never coming out of jail.
11:30You're there forever.
11:31It's purgatory.
11:32Yeah, they'll be like, oh, you blocked me on Instagram.
11:34They'll come on my TikTok.
11:35Oh, you blocked me on Instagram.
11:36Oh, thank you for making yourself known on TikTok.
11:37So, I can block you over here, too.
11:39Yeah, everything.
11:41Snapchat, you gone.
11:42Bye.
11:44Yo, we here.
11:45We're money long.
11:46I'm trying my hardest not to be on her block list.
11:49Hey!
11:51But you mentioned, like, just all the things you've gone through.
11:53I feel like you've gone through so much.
11:55Like, all the stuff that you've gone through in the music industry.
11:58You know, you've been vocal about, you know, what you went through in your prior relationship.
12:03Right.
12:03Prior relationship.
12:04Ex-husband, we still, ex-husband, we still getting through it.
12:07Well, we're not going to talk about it.
12:09We're not going to talk about it.
12:10We're not going to keep giving that energy.
12:11I got you.
12:13But, and then also, like, again, being attacked and stuff online.
12:17Like, how do you continue just to push through?
12:20I really don't care.
12:21Like, honestly, there is an urge sometimes and a desire for me to protect what I've built.
12:27Yeah.
12:27Because in this day and age, like, people don't really care about facts.
12:31So, they'll just make up something and then it'll become, like, the story.
12:35People are like, oh, I heard such a...
12:36I'm like, well, what did you...
12:37Who told you?
12:37I literally seen you in interviews go like, well, actually, I didn't say that.
12:41This is what I said.
12:42Because that's not.
12:43And, like, you know, people, there's no sort of, like, journalistic integrity.
12:46I used to want to go to school for communications.
12:49So, it's like, you need to check your sources.
12:52Like, there needs to be fact checking.
12:54And don't, like, the clickbait headlines have gotten out of control.
12:57Whereas, like, money long addresses...
12:59First of all, I didn't address nothing.
13:00I didn't address anything.
13:02I said X, Y, and Z.
13:05And you are applying it to that situation.
13:07But there are so many things I could have been speaking about.
13:09You know?
13:10And so, like, that's very irresponsible.
13:12And I think...
13:12I've called it out before.
13:13I said it on The Breakfast Club that, you know, we talk about, like, the negativity that
13:19is shrouded...
13:19Like, the black community is shrouded in so much negativity.
13:21Fighting and, you know, these shows where people is, like, throwing drinks on each other
13:26and just being disgusting behavior.
13:28And then, like, highlighting all of the negativity.
13:31Some of these toxic relationships that we see.
13:33Like, I'm not even going to say who it is.
13:34I think we all know what I'm talking about.
13:35And it'd just be like, why do we need to see that being perpetuated?
13:39Why are we not talking about some of these wonderful, like, activism?
13:45You know, some of the causes that people like Angela Rye and...
13:49Like, why are we not focusing on that?
13:54And when I did say...
13:55You know, I did get a phone call and somebody was really upset with me.
13:57And I'm like, well, I didn't say any names.
13:58I just said, you know, the reason why maybe some of our favorite black celebrities
14:06don't want to speak to certain outlets is because you guys are very reckless
14:13with how you present us.
14:15You know what I mean?
14:16Like, people don't be having time for that.
14:18Like, we spend a lot of time working on our craft, perfecting our craft,
14:23auditioning, spending our own resources sometimes to promote,
14:26to go on these carpets.
14:27It's not cheap.
14:29And then we get on there and we've put all this effort into the day
14:32for us to give an interview and you clip a small little piece
14:35and it's something ridiculous.
14:37You know what I'm saying?
14:38And those...
14:39You don't know who people are affiliated with.
14:41You don't know what they have going on.
14:42That could cost them endorsements.
14:44Like, I've lost opportunities because of things that are in the blog
14:47that aren't even true.
14:50And I have to just hold the L.
14:52It's just like, man, that is so crazy.
14:54You know, it's crazy.
14:55But at the end of the day, I refuse to be dehumanized.
14:58Like, I'm a human being, period.
15:01Before I was successful, before people knew who I was,
15:03I was a little country girl from Gifford, Florida.
15:07Grew up on a farm, barefoot, shooting, hunting, fishing, all that.
15:13And I'm still that.
15:14I'm just, you know, in a prettier package.
15:17But I refuse to allow people to bully me out of my humanity.
15:23I will remain who I am.
15:25Of course, evolve and grow and become a greater woman every day
15:29and a greater mother.
15:30But other than that, I'm still finna be my same fried chicken,
15:34watermelon-eating self.
15:35And I'm not ashamed.
15:37I love it.
15:38With some hot sauce, Louisiana.
15:41Again, y'all, in the studio with Money Long.
15:43That's a very interesting thing you just kind of broke down.
15:47So that just kind of led me to this.
15:49This is a random question.
15:50Do you feel like you were more accepted and, I guess,
15:55more so perceived better when you were doing the pop stuff,
15:58as opposed to when you crossed over to doing, like, R&B
16:02and you kind of became more front and center?
16:04Like, what was your experience?
16:06Honestly, I don't know when the line of delineation,
16:09like, I don't know where it's at.
16:10I just know that, like, people love you until they don't.
16:15I think it is this weird, you know,
16:19we say crabs in a barrel all the time,
16:21but we don't actually really, I don't think, understand,
16:23like, digest what we're actually saying.
16:25I think it's a grief that happens when people feel like,
16:28you have gone too far out of reach.
16:34It's a defense mechanism for them to try,
16:37or the coping mechanism for them to try to bring you back down,
16:40like, convince you, like, don't go any further.
16:43Come back.
16:44Come back this way so we can feel safe,
16:47so we can be in proximity to you.
16:48Because if you go too far,
16:50we don't know how we're going to follow you, you know?
16:53Because there's a mentality of, like,
16:54there's a limit to our greatness.
16:57There's a limit to how far we should be able to go.
16:59Even when I go in certain rooms,
17:01I can definitely feel the microaggression of, like,
17:03you should just be happy you're not somewhere cooking and cleaning,
17:05you know?
17:06And I really don't care about none of that.
17:08I think people be looking at me like,
17:10like, they really do look at me like,
17:11where she came from?
17:12Who she thinks she is?
17:15You own this ain't your stove?
17:16You don't own this?
17:17You know what I'm saying?
17:18Like, I never understood them.
17:20I'm in a mall or in a nice establishment.
17:24And, baby, you are employed.
17:27This is not your establishment.
17:28Your name is not on the deed.
17:30Why are you acting like that?
17:32This ain't your money.
17:34It ain't going in your pocket.
17:36You know?
17:37I just feel like everybody,
17:39regardless of what the perception of me is,
17:42everybody deserves to be treated like a human being.
17:45Be kind.
17:46Be nice.
17:46I'm always, yes, ma'am, no, ma'am.
17:47You wouldn't believe how many people get mad at me
17:50for calling them ma'am.
17:52For showing them respect.
17:54Right.
17:54People don't like it.
17:56Because it's so rare.
17:58Isn't that crazy?
17:59I've gotten that, too, because I grew up,
18:01I grew up right here in Atlanta,
18:02and my mom and my dad, they're from South Carolina.
18:05So, like, we literally got popped in the mouth.
18:08Okay.
18:08Like, yes, ma'am.
18:09No, sir.
18:10Like, so when I do that now, it's like,
18:13girl, what you, and I'm like,
18:15it's a respect thing to have.
18:17I don't know what it is.
18:18And my biological father is in the Navy.
18:20Oh, yeah.
18:21So it was definitely yes, ma'am, no, sir.
18:22And if you didn't boil,
18:24them lips be right in the teeth.
18:26Okay.
18:27Wow.
18:27Right in the mouth.
18:29So, yeah, I just,
18:30it was never yeah, what?
18:31Oh, I wish.
18:32Even right now, I still don't.
18:34Like, the most I might get away with is a yes.
18:38But that's just because I'm, like, grown.
18:40Do you let your son?
18:41No, no.
18:42We are teaching him, like, yes, ma'am.
18:43Because he'll be like, what?
18:45I'll be like, excuse me?
18:46Who are you talking to?
18:47Who are you talking to?
18:48Yeah.
18:48Fix that.
18:49Yes, ma'am.
18:50Yes, ma'am.
18:52You know, he's learning.
18:53Aw.
18:54Yeah.
18:54Love it.
18:55Again, we're in the studio, y'all,
18:56with Money Long talking about her current single
18:59that's out right now, Riches.
19:01We're playing it here on V103.
19:02Upcoming album.
19:03Mm-hmm.
19:04Will we win the album?
19:05We got an album release day.
19:07Top of the year.
19:07I keep pushing it back because it's just, you know,
19:09I want to make sure that I love everything about it.
19:11In the past, I've just, like, rushed things.
19:12And we just talked about that, like,
19:14about me being more intentional with the things that I want
19:17and, like, how I want to be, how I want to present.
19:21And so I've rushed things in the past due to, like,
19:23oh, we got to, you know, deadline, deadline.
19:25It's like, hey, this time, this is my third project
19:27with Def Jam Universal.
19:29And I want to be happy with everything, the font, you know,
19:35the spacing, the crop, the texture of the vinyl.
19:40Like, I want to love everything about it.
19:43And it's really about me making something that's quality.
19:47Because I did see something, I think it was Tisha Campbell said,
19:52a celebrity believes they're here to be served
19:54and an artist understands they're here to serve.
19:57I talk about that all the time.
19:58It's like, if I'm asking you to spend your hard-earned money,
20:00especially in today's economy,
20:02I'm asking you to buy a concert ticket, buy merch,
20:04get in your car, pay for parking,
20:06walk to the venue in some heels or whatever your outfit is,
20:08get an outfit, get your hair done, get your nails done,
20:11get your makeup done, or whatever it is.
20:12I'm asking you to do all that.
20:14I want to make sure that for that hour and 15 minutes or whatever
20:19that concert is going to be or however much time I perform,
20:21I want to make sure you're having a good time.
20:22I want to make sure you walk away, or at least for that hour,
20:26you get to escape all of the riffraff
20:29and whatever else you got going on in your life.
20:31And then you leave inspired to action.
20:34Like maybe you want to start your business.
20:35Maybe you might want to record a song or write a song
20:38or whatever it is.
20:39Maybe you might want to tell your person that you love them,
20:41whatever it is.
20:43I'm never feeling like, yeah, celebrate me for,
20:47yeah, you hear this music I made, tell me how great I am.
20:49Like sometimes I be uncomfortable with it a little bit, you know,
20:53like, ah, thank you, thank you, appreciate that.
20:57You know, but also too, like I'm already,
21:01this album ain't even out and I'm already making calls.
21:03Like, yeah, I'm ready to get on that next one.
21:05I got a couple of songs for that next album.
21:07You know, I'm just always working and trying to interpret
21:09the world around me from my, you know,
21:13whatever vantage point I'm at at the time.
21:16Because I'm still growing.
21:17Like sometimes I'll go back and listen to these songs.
21:18I'll be like, ooh, girl, stand up.
21:22Uh-uh, you was crying a little bit too much on this song, girl.
21:25You a thug.
21:29So since you're like in, you're constantly creating and you,
21:33I'm just going to go ahead and say it,
21:34you like one of the best songwriters out there, like period.
21:37Like the songs that you've done,
21:38even the stuff that you were doing in the pop world, you know,
21:41the Kesha's and the stuff you've been doing for the Rihanna's
21:43and all that of the world, like your pen game is crazy.
21:47So now that we're moving into a world with AI
21:50and you have artists like, I think it was like Tyga that said
21:54not too long ago that he used like AI,
21:56whether it was like plug-ins or certain pieces of AI.
22:00Are you open to that?
22:01Or are you just like more of like the purest, like,
22:04mm-mm, like I'm going to write it.
22:06We going to put the instrumentation together ourselves.
22:09Like we not messing with none of that.
22:12I mean, to say that I'm not interested in using technology at all
22:15would be a little bit pretentious.
22:17Like we use computers, we use, you know, beat machines
22:20and, you know, controllers and the MIDI, like all that.
22:25I'll say that, you know,
22:26you don't build a house completely with a robot, right?
22:30It's going to be some sort of manual labor
22:33because there's just certain things like the curves
22:35and like, you know, those hand carvings.
22:37Like there's certain things that are just not possible
22:40without the love and intention and touch of a human being.
22:47I think that the main problem with AI
22:49is that people want to build on foundations
22:54that are not their own.
22:58Like it's this music came from somewhere
23:00and you need to credit that artist
23:02and you need to pay that artist if you want to use it.
23:05Like I'm not saying you shouldn't use it.
23:07I'm saying you should not claim it as your own.
23:09It doesn't belong to you.
23:11You know, it's the same kind of thing with like fast fashion
23:14where people are copying these brands
23:16and then selling it at a cheaper price.
23:20I just feel like, you know,
23:23the same way as like I might be on somebody's vision board
23:27from something that I did,
23:29as long as it's an interpretation and not a direct copy,
23:32you know, all right, cool, it's inspiration.
23:35But I think people have gotten too comfortable
23:38with the idea of just being like,
23:41a good analogy would be like,
23:43oh, I like that lamp.
23:44Like come in your house and just take your lamp.
23:46Like, um, no, no, that's mine.
23:50That doesn't belong to you.
23:51You know, I don't agree with
23:57just typing some prompt into AI
24:00and into like Suno or UDO or something like that
24:05and putting it out and, you know,
24:09people who have zero musical background
24:14because there does need to be a certain reverence
24:16and respect for the craft, I think,
24:17in order for you to make something
24:19that lasts and stands the test of time.
24:22And I do think it's like a bunch of people.
24:26It's like if I lie on my job application
24:29and I know damn well I don't know how to use Excel.
24:31Like, I don't know how to do like accounting
24:34and I'm not a day trader.
24:35But I lied and I got this job
24:37and I'm taking that opportunity from,
24:38not only am I taking that opportunity
24:39from someone else,
24:40but I'm wasting company resources
24:43and trying to, you know, finesse the system.
24:47And I feel like people who do that
24:50are just like really lazy.
24:51And I don't know if you saw the statistics,
24:53but like the highest number,
24:56so R&B, soul, and gospel
24:59are the two top two genres
25:01that are being fed into these,
25:04uploaded into these distributors from AI.
25:07And Suno is the biggest perpetrator.
25:10It's like the program that people are using the most.
25:13And there's more males
25:14than there are females using the platform.
25:18So that interpretation,
25:19how you could interpret that
25:20is there are non-black males
25:26impersonating black women
25:28in a black space.
25:30That is very weird.
25:32It's extremely weird.
25:33And then not only that,
25:36as a black woman in the R&B space,
25:39the way that we have to struggle
25:42to get any sort of,
25:46you know,
25:46I mean, I was going to say something,
25:48but I ain't going to be shady.
25:48To get any sort of like real push,
25:52we be having to pay for our own stuff.
25:56Like, you know,
25:57the resources is like they're hoarded
26:00and it can't be more than one black girl
26:02at a time, right?
26:04So why is it that R&B, hip hop, soul, rap
26:09is one of the most copied,
26:12impersonated, appropriated genres
26:14around the world?
26:16Because that's all K-pop is,
26:18is R&B.
26:19That's it.
26:20I'm not saying I don't like it,
26:21but that's all it is.
26:23You know,
26:24and we can't get,
26:27you know,
26:27the look that we need
26:29to be able to,
26:30I'm not really understanding
26:31why that is.
26:32Because the data is showing
26:33that it's desired,
26:36it's wanted,
26:37people are yearning for it,
26:39there is a demand for it.
26:41Why we got to fight to be great?
26:43I don't get it.
26:45So yeah,
26:45I mean, you know,
26:45I vote no on AI
26:49because I don't think people
26:50are using it in an ethical way.
26:52Right.
26:53Does that make you nervous
26:54as a person that's in the music space
26:57and as a songwriter,
26:58knowing those statistics,
26:59knowing that,
27:00you know,
27:01just call a spade what it is,
27:03like some mediocre white person
27:05in Kansas
27:06can pretty much
27:08put a prompt in,
27:09emulate,
27:10oh,
27:10I want Money Long's writing style
27:12and her voice on this song
27:14and I want it to have
27:15like a gospel,
27:15you know,
27:16twist and that could just take off.
27:19I haven't heard anything
27:20produced by AI
27:21that is anywhere near good
27:23as anything that I have made
27:25or my friends have made.
27:27Nothing.
27:28So,
27:28no.
27:29Like,
27:29you can't compete
27:30where you don't compare.
27:31Like,
27:32you don't know nothing
27:33about what it takes
27:35to make these records
27:36and where it comes from
27:37and,
27:37you know,
27:38we talk about this
27:39before,
27:40even before the AI conversation,
27:41like the church
27:42is a huge factor
27:45in the sound,
27:46in the R&B sound,
27:47in the R&B mainstream sound
27:48and so,
27:50you don't know nothing about that,
27:51you know,
27:53you don't even have the references
27:54to be able to put it
27:55in the software
27:56and I do use like Hicksfield
27:58and things like that
27:59for,
28:01visuals.
28:02Like,
28:02I haven't released anything
28:03but I've just been wanting
28:04to understand
28:06how to use it.
28:07I don't want to get left behind,
28:08right,
28:08because like,
28:10you do need to be aware
28:11of what's going on
28:12so I do be on there practicing
28:14but for my own,
28:14I don't try to monetize it.
28:16I'm not using it
28:17to make money.
28:18I just want to understand
28:19the language of AI.
28:21You still have to know
28:22what you're doing
28:22in order to make something
28:23of quality,
28:24you know,
28:25but again,
28:26I haven't heard AI
28:28make nothing
28:29good.
28:31All of it sounds the same.
28:32It does sound the same.
28:33You know it's an AI track
28:35from like the first
28:36three seconds of it.
28:37It's like,
28:38this is AI.
28:39Yeah,
28:39horrible,
28:40terrible,
28:40no good,
28:41very bad.
28:43Get y'all in the studio
28:44with Money Long.
28:45So we know you're
28:46an amazing songwriter,
28:48we know you're an amazing
28:48singer,
28:49performer,
28:50all the things,
28:51but girl,
28:52you are actress now.
28:53Oh,
28:54you see that?
28:54I see you.
28:56She's so sacrificed.
28:57Tyler Perry,
28:58call me Tyler.
29:00And then you are
29:01sharing the screen
29:03with Paula Patton.
29:04You know,
29:05I had such an amazing
29:06experience with Juan
29:07and Paula.
29:09They,
29:10so I was a little stiff
29:11at first
29:11because I'm,
29:12I came from musical theater,
29:13so I'm used to like the,
29:16the drama,
29:17you know,
29:18very like big movements
29:21and big eyes
29:22and on screen,
29:23it's about subtle movement.
29:26It's about like the eyes
29:27and maybe a nostril flare
29:28or like a glance,
29:31like,
29:31you know,
29:31little thing,
29:32or maybe like tuck the hair
29:33behind the ears,
29:33very small things
29:34and they convey so much emotion
29:37and Paula several times
29:40pulled me to the side
29:41and was like,
29:43what's your,
29:43you know,
29:44you got to think about
29:44your motivation in the scene.
29:45Like,
29:46you know,
29:47he,
29:47he kicked you off,
29:48you kicked him off the song.
29:50You're trying to make it,
29:51you know,
29:52you're about to go out here
29:53in front of this big audience.
29:55Like,
29:55you're under so much pressure.
29:56Like,
29:57she,
29:57she just really broke it down.
29:58I'm like,
29:59okay,
29:59okay,
29:59cool.
29:59She was like,
30:00you know,
30:01I don't think that Naomi
30:02would be crying in this moment.
30:04I think she would be frustrated.
30:05I think she would be,
30:06you know,
30:07trying to figure out
30:07how she's going to eat.
30:08You know,
30:09and she's giving me like
30:09these pep talks
30:11and I just had
30:12the most amazing,
30:13I was so grateful
30:14because I'm like,
30:15wow,
30:16like,
30:16not only am I getting
30:18this incredible experience
30:20on a real set,
30:22on a real TV show,
30:24but I'm getting
30:25a first-hand lesson
30:28from somebody
30:29who is
30:30out here doing it,
30:31like,
30:31at a high level.
30:33It's different than being in a class.
30:35I've taken many acting classes.
30:37It's not the same.
30:38Like,
30:38when you're on set
30:39and like we're blocking
30:40and I'm watching her interaction
30:42with the director
30:43and she's like,
30:44I think I should enter from here
30:45and I should like,
30:46and I'm like,
30:46oh,
30:46wow,
30:46I didn't know
30:47that you could have a choice.
30:48Yeah.
30:49You know,
30:49and just being confident
30:51in that character
30:53and trying to be like
30:55a star
30:56versus like a character actor
30:58where like,
30:59you know,
30:59Denzel is Denzel
31:01in every movie,
31:01but he's every,
31:02he's a character,
31:03but he's Denzel
31:04in every movie
31:05versus like the actors
31:06who you don't remember
31:07their name,
31:07but you know their faces.
31:08Like if that's something
31:09that I want to pursue,
31:12I think this being
31:13my first job
31:14was insane
31:15and shout out to
31:17all the people
31:18at BET
31:19who
31:22wanted me to do this
31:23and like they reached out
31:24to me.
31:24I didn't have to,
31:25I mean,
31:25I did read the,
31:26I didn't have to audition
31:27because they wanted me
31:28for the part,
31:30but I did do a reading
31:31and like,
31:31you know,
31:32just to make sure
31:32that I wasn't like terrible
31:35and she was like,
31:36okay,
31:36I'm glad.
31:36I think it's Robbie,
31:37Robbie Reed.
31:39She was like,
31:41I'm so glad
31:41that you weren't terrible
31:42because I really wanted
31:42you for this part.
31:44You know,
31:44so it was,
31:45it was such a blessing
31:46and I'm so grateful.
31:48It did take a long time
31:49for it to come out,
31:50but I'm so glad
31:50that it finally,
31:51I was actually pregnant
31:52with my son
31:52while we were filming.
31:53That's what I was about to say,
31:53when did y'all film this?
31:54Yeah,
31:55in 2022
31:55or 22,
31:5723 maybe,
31:5722 because I was pregnant.
31:59I was like seven months pregnant.
32:00Oh, wow.
32:01Yeah,
32:01it's crazy.
32:02So if you go back and watch,
32:03I used to see my belly.
32:04It was huge.
32:05I remember the one scene
32:06where you had the big dress on,
32:07the little fluffy dress.
32:08So now I'm thinking,
32:09I'm like,
32:10oh, wow.
32:10Okay.
32:11There was a big belly
32:12up under there.
32:12Yeah,
32:12that's great.
32:14Again,
32:14y'all money long.