00:00We're at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards and we're actually here with Normani. Welcome to Carpet DM. We're so happy
00:04to have you here.
00:05Thank you for having me.
00:06Thank you so much for joining us. So your career is on fire right now.
00:10What would you say is the biggest lesson you've learned about doing things solo and kind of trying to be
00:14your own artist on your own?
00:16Honestly, I think that I'm much stronger than I ever gave myself credit for before.
00:20You know, I'm always my worst critic and I don't wake up the most confident all the time, even though
00:26I may look like it right now.
00:29But, yeah, just learning to trust myself has been a process, but I think that I'm getting a hold of
00:35that more.
00:36Your song with Khalid is one of my favorites right now. What other collaborations are you looking to do or
00:41is there one that you're really going for?
00:43Yes, there's one I'm really excited for.
00:46Tell us.
00:46I can't tell you who.
00:47Please.
00:48I'm sorry.
00:49I love it.
00:50Yeah.
00:51You'll find out.
00:53I feel like you're about to tell me.
00:54I almost slipped up.
00:55Oh, dang it.
00:57I might get in trouble.
00:58Well, I love that you're killing the game right now.
01:00And I feel like so many black women in music are killing the game right now.
01:02How do you think that we can make sure that black women aren't just a trend, that we're really, like,
01:06here to stay and killing it?
01:08You know, I think that it's something that has to be received from everyone, you know, and just making sure
01:15that no matter what ethnicity you are, just supporting and embracing one another.
01:19I think that, you know, skin is nothing but a color.
01:23But it's just such an amazing time, especially for me to be a black woman.
01:27I'm so proud I wouldn't change anything about it.
01:30The fact that I have representation like Beyonce, I mean, Janet Jackson, so many of the list goes on.
01:35And the fact that she is in the building, it's everything to me.
01:39She's the reason why I'm able to do what I do now.
01:43I did it.
01:44That was beautiful.
01:45So one thing, you know, special about the Billboard Awards is they're done by people actually listening to music, and
01:50that's how they vote, just by, you know, buying albums or listening to songs, streaming music.
01:54How do you think that the streaming service, like, music streaming has changed the way that you approach new projects?
02:01Honestly, I feel like it's kind of opened the gates for me to be able to explore, you know, a
02:07lot of different genres that I may have necessarily even known existed.
02:12So it's just, it's cool that I'm able to educate myself on different genres and different worlds.
02:19Instead of just being so, I don't want to say ignorant, but blinded to what it is that I'm so
02:24focused on doing or achieving.
02:26So you've got a pretty big cosign from Beyonce, and I know that Baloo Ivy is a big fan.
02:31Oh, how do you know?
02:33I've heard that on the social medias.
02:34Is that a thing?
02:36That's what I heard.
02:37Maybe I'm starting rumors.
02:38So have you met Beyonce?
02:40Did she give you any advice?
02:41Yes, I met my queen, and it was honestly the best seven minutes of my life.
02:46Seven.
02:47Yes.
02:47I love that.
02:48Well, our last question before you go, you mentioned you're a fan of Janet.
02:50What's your all-time favorite Janet Jackson song?
02:52Can't even choose.
02:54I can't really choose.
02:55It's probably Feedback, All For You, Nasty, That's The Way Love Goes.
03:00Nasty.
03:01Good playlist.
03:01I can tell you're a Janet fan.
03:02Thank you, girl.
03:03We watched it last night.
03:04You were here for today.
03:05We loved it.
03:05I think she was old, even though I didn't know what the song was talking about.
03:07I'm, like, doing all the choreography.
03:09She goes like this.
03:10It's in our eyes.
03:11Yes.
03:12Yes, we love it.
03:12Well, thank you so much, Normani.
03:13Yeah, have so much fun tonight.
03:15Bye.
03:15Good luck.
03:16Oh.
03:17Oh, well, Normani was so great.
03:19I loved her.
03:20I'm a big fan of hers.
03:20I feel like she's another, like, she's about to kick, she's about to kill it.
03:24I just know she is.
03:24She really is.
03:25I mean, like we said, her collab with Khalid is one of my favorite songs, but I really
03:28feel like she's about to kick it off as a solo artist.
03:30She really is.
03:30Well, thank you guys so much for watching.
03:31We are here at the Billboard Music Awards, and you can check out our feed tonight, all
03:36social channels on Refinery29.
03:37We'll be here.
03:38Stay tuned.
