Living in the UK

Have you driven in Cornor? We have, Yeahah. I haven't, Max, ye. I mean, Max, but I mean, I don't know how chill Max is, I'm bad So like we had you know that? they' got the really narrow roads. Yes And we were driving up, we got right the way through and then there was a lorry coming the other way. And so I had to reverse So I'm reversing through the thing. Genuinely, I came so close to crying. And then I' just feel such an ick if I start crying while reversing. It would be a sleake. No, I started. We didn't have sex that week What's up guys? I'm Eve and I'm gonna be on the Romeste showhow. Mage One new message Lady Pixararss Hoppers is now available on Disney plus. You could say that again. Critics are calling it Pixar's funniest movie ever and a wildly entertaining ride. Blizzard Potato, It's certified fresh and verified hot. Now we party This is incredible. I am clear in the rest of the day. Disney and Pixar's hoppers is now available on Disney pllus.G. On any journey using Uber, it helps to know you're getting into the right car. Pin verification adds an extra step to make sure your ride is your ride. Before the trip begins, your app gives you a unique pin. Just tell it to your driver and they'll enter it in their app before the ride can start What' you been Two, five, three, eight That way you know you're in the right car taking the right trip, and your driver knows you're the right passenger. Make sure your ride is your ride with pIin verification from Uber. One more way Uber is putting safety at every turn. Learn more on the Uber app I'm gonna do an intro. Do you want to add anything Okay You to change my pronunciation, let me know. My guest today is a legendary double Grammy winning rapper who has sold over ten million records worldwide. She's also an actor and an Emmy nominated TV host. A choir girl turned hip hop powerhouse from Philadelphia. She signed to the New York based Rough Riders record label, quickly becoming its first lady and one of its breakout stars. herer debut went straight to number one on the billboard two hundred in the US She went on to become one of the defining voices of late ninetighties and two thousands hip hop. Breaking beats and barriers with hits like Wh's that girl? Let me blow your mind and gangs are loving. Her pllatinum selling second album Scorpion is celebrating its twenty fifth anniversary, hitting over a billion streams world. Wide, give it up for the incredible First of all, this is now my new intro for life before beforefore I step into meetings, I'm gonna have people play this. This is like, that's the best intro ever. Thank you. No, it is, it's amazing. And do you know, I forgot that I have a second Grammy. So hearing it, I haven't heard that since the Grammy. So that's amazing.ouble Gammy Oh man, congrat myself. Congrats well done. You know, when you do when you do stand up in America Yeah, they always so when the host bring America I mean, you'll know this from living over here. The difference in attitudes between promoting yourself in America to Britain Yeah. In America you beig yourself up in Britain, you apologize. right? So So when when when I did stand up in America, they'd go to me, What dod you want me to say about you before you come on? And I' go, nothing. And they go, no but you got what's your what credits, you know, what have you been? And I go, donon't say any of that. Youre you going to raise expectations Whereas in America's like you'reasina man, In Britain, it's like He's gonna try and shit some stuff out. He's really sorry This is going be slightly better than you staying at home. Definitely a difference for sure. I know. We're very loud, loud and proud. Have you picked up the British sensibility of I apologize a lot more than I ever did. E. I'm a very I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Yeahah, I apologize a lot more. The American thing in restaurants is pardon my rage I never You know, like serving staff, they always say pardon my reach from. E when there's nothing to pardon. Even when their reach is completely acceptable. No, it's so true. But why are they reaching so much? I feel like that doesn't happen here No. they never reach.. If it's over there, put it there yourself. That's the British attitude. Now we've got gifts for you. Thank you so much for coming on the show for. Thank you for A hip hop legend. thank you. we're all hop fans. Thank you.. I'm so happy to be here. Yeah. Bing people out. What know Well is hop f. I's always like picking on him, sorry, because he's so because look look at his face.'s so cute, isn't it? J? Very cute. Yeah. But ye, it's great. you're like, you know, I think it's Yeah, you, I mean, you're A legend. So it's an honor to have you. So we got you a couple of gifts. Oh my goodness, okay? This is persononaled for you, so please take out a. I'm liking the bottle. Good. Oh in Fort to Mason is one I'm so this is like that's like my favorite place. A. Stop play' so sweet. Yeah. Do you like that? I love it. I a message for you. I really appreciate that. Okay. And then this is your other gift. Okay This is gonna drink that. We've heard you like this. I'm scared You know what My husband is gonna you know what it's the first thing I do when I go into a hotel? What's that? I look at the bathroom and the snacks. Yeah. I swear to God, it's literally my this is the most I love this so much. Do you really? And it's got the ton Do you like the tonyies chocol? Do you love tonies. C chocolate only. Thank you. Yeah, good. You're very welcome. I'm gonna to use b back. I'm gonna dump these out. I'm gonna eat these one day. Yeah Dump them out. No, don't mean dumping them. eat them And then Yeah I love that. Thank gl I'm glad. that's. Obviously that's just for the podcast, but please do give it back before you leave. No no, no, no they're for you to keep. Now you've just got a grrammy Yeah twenty six. ven twenty seven years. twenty. So one of can I just say, this is one of my favorite hip hop songs of all time You're on the root song you got me? Yes You've already got a grammy for let me bl you mind. Why have you only just got a Grammy for you got me? Well, when I did that record, I think I was seventeen. Right. Yeah, I was like seventeen. I wasn't signed. I was just the girl in Philly that rapped. Like I've known the roots since I was like fourteen years old, thirteen. I used to go to their concerts and they knew that I rapped and they needed a girl in a song So when they when I got on the song, they were already huge But I'd gotten signed probably months after that. L the song blew up But nobody thought to go backwards. They didn't think to get in contact with me I think I was on such a trajectory at the time. I was so crazy. I just didn't think about it. So was it like Pop into the studio, you're up and coming. Yeah. We need somebody who can do this verse. You went in and did it. Yeah. And it's like a casual rather than like an official my team get in touch with your team. We just talk to you know, listen, love the roots and I know they got a lot of backlash about this once I got the Grammy. I don't I think it was just the time. Yeah. I was a girl who wasn't signed Um, you know, Jill Scott originally was on that record as well, but she but Erica Bu replaced her in the sense that, you know, it was just the time. It was just the time. So nobody ever got in touch with me. And they also, I never made it to the video. I was supposed to be in the video. and everybody, no one knows what happened with that. I got the wrong address or something. I don't know.erest It was all very just slightly shady and I'm not blaming the roots pere. I think it might have been, listen, they were artists. It could have been the label. But ye, I deserve that Grammy. So how did it come about that you ended up getting it then? Well, I was on a podcast two years ago I was this Yeahah, like two years ago, shout out to Ibro in New York and he kept bringing it up and I kind of was like, listen, it's squashed You know, me and Quest Love had a conversation, leave it alone, and then he kept bringing it up. and then I got mad. And I was like, yeah, yeah.. And then the Grammy association got in contact and was like, we want to give you this Grammy. And I was like, o, that's so cool. Yeah, so they kind of got in touch. So you're on this bookcast, is there a third grrammy that you haven't got that we could try and I know. Yeah, I know. me think Let me think about it. Just have a think as we're chatting. I if we can start out an award That'll be amazing. Yeah We'd love to do that. It's better than some chocolate and the champagne. No This is all good Okay, great, great, great. Now, as I said, you're an icon, a legend But if we can take it back to the beginning, Yes What was u I mean, you know, you talked about going on and you got me and you were just an up and comeer or whatever. and then you've obviously gone on to do such incredible things What were your aspirations the beginning? How did you first get into music? How did it all come about? I mean, I've been writing music and poetry since I was like eleven or twelve. I thought I'd be a singer. I was like in the choir and all that stuff. I played the violin. I was just one of those kids that couldn't sit still. then I decided to start rapping. and by high school, by like fifteen, I said to my mom, like, M, I hope you're not gonna to be disappointed. I don't want to go to college university. I just want to pursue my music. I just knew that I had to do it. and that was it. And I did everything I could, like I pawn things to get on the train, to go to New York to like drop off my demo tape and like all that stuff I just knew I had to be in this business. But lookingoo back on it now, obviously you go that was a great decision. But the truth of it is it was yeah, so it's so unlikely that you're going to make it. Yeah. So what did your family say when you said to the mom this is what I'm gonna to do? I mean, my mom, I have to say, has always been my rock. She she definitely didn't know about the times I was pawning stuff and getting on a train and just going up to New York hundred percent. She definitely didn't know about that. but anytime I had a show in Philly, anytime I had like, you know, I did all the talent shows, especially when I was younger, she was just really supportive. She's always been super supportive But when you when you started how like I mean everybody everybody's trying to become a rapper. Yeah everybody. So ike there weren't many girls. Okay. So I will say that. So like in my high school, Everybody knew that I was Eve with a blonde hair that wraped. That was my full name. Right. But I would battle anybody. L I would battle the Jamaicans in Patois. Like I was dedicated to the cause of being in entertainment. So people always thought I was Jamaican, which is why I always say I'm such a Jaican. but yeah I just knew it though. I just there was no other plan for my life. Like I don't know why It was there that was it That was it. We had Brian Cranson on the podcast and he was talking about acting. Yeah. And he said Sometimes young actors will say to him What should I have as my plan be? And he said If you're coming into acting and you want a plan B Yeah. you shouldn't be in acting. Love that. This should be your only plan. You should be so Desperate to do this.. There is no backup plan. I love that because that's exactly how I felt. The only time when I sort of made a backup plan is when I got out of high school I'd been out of high school like a year and a half and I told myself, if I wasn't signed by seventeen, then it wasn't meant for me. L I had this whole thing. And seventeen had coming onone and I was like, I guess I'm gonna go to NYU. And I had a friend there and I called her and I was like, becausecause I love special effects makeup. That's like another thing that I just love, I always have And I was like, I'll go to school for makeup or, you know, whatever. And Literally the by the end of that week, I think it was like a Monday, Tuesday. byy the Friday, I was in an audition for doctor Dreay Like literally the universe was like, no Like it was like, wow. So how did that come about that? So my manager at the time was like the neighborhood drug dealer. and those are the best managers. Theyre the best managers. Listen Husle. Shout out F. tough. make good margins? I mean they make good margins. I would say this, he was moving out of it. he was getting his life taken. That's what he says But he had another artist that was doing really well already. So I trusted him. I don't know how this came about for him, but doctor Dray's right hand man happened to be in Philly and my manager called me like, hey, we got this one opportunity. You need to come rap for this dude. And I was like, yeah, all right. L I think I was kind of deflated by then I was like, I'm over it. You were almost giving up I was almost giving up because I'm like, I'm going to NYU now. I'm do special effect makeup and it didn't happen. You know, and I go and I rap for this dude at my drug dealer's house, not my drug dealer. Yeah. My manager I drug deal allgly U and yeah, he literally called Dr. Dreay right there. He was like, we found our girl like right after I finished and I was like, So going into that. Yeah, because you'd sort of gone I'm going into special effects makeup. Yeah Do you reckommon that helped in terms of pressure? How do percent if all of your eggs were in that basathket? hundred percent. Because I was like, how many times have've auditioned already? Yeah. How many times have people said no Why is this going to be any different? I'm still going to wrap. I'm still do my thing because that's what I do. Yeah. But I didn't have the expectation. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah And so you're able to just sort of get in the pocket Yeah. Yeah. And then you must it must have been felt incredible, right? once he called drag, I was like, is that him for yeah, once that happened, I mean, I literally he called Dreay. And I was packing my bags to go do a demo in LA like four days later. And that was like, wow This is crazy. But then you have to go and then meet Dreay. I have to go meet Dreay. I do I had to go in the studio and do a demo, a new demo for Dreay. And one of the songs actually wind up on this movie, this old movie called Bworth. and he put it on the soundtrack and I was like, this is insane ane So there's a stories of like there's there's an interview with Exhibit where exhibit talks about, I can't remember I think it might be multiply where Dreay made him redo the opening bar for that like four hundred times or something like that because he was like, you haven't got the intonation right and then I know Snoopps talked about the fact that Dreay's really particular about how to do certain things Is that your experience of? Of course it is, Yes. Yes. For me, it was the word block On satisfaction.. And I was like I'm saying bllock. I can hear you saying it. Everybody else can hear it. He was like, you're not saying it the way I need you to say it. And as soon as I got it, I heard what he heard. and that's what makes him great because it was so simple But so pivotal how this next part worked, I was like, how the hell did you hear that But yeah, he maybe I think twenty five times, I probably did it. That's the thing about lot people say about Dreay's got some sort of vision, right that he''s insane Yeah it's like some next because also you think about it, like so many times when you hear about Particularly hop records being made. Yeah someomebody comes in, they spit the verse It's done. Yeah, right? If they haven't if they haven't messed it up Yeah then it's done. That's it Had you ever encounter somebody at that work cl like that that had to get it. I mean, Not in that way, I would say like Swiss is the same. Siss Swiss is a freaking perfectionist in his own way. his vibe is different. And you don't leave until it's right, but it's a different, it's just different. With Dreay, I've never worked with someone You know, it might be about the beat, whereereas for him the words are part of the beat as well. It's not just the drums. It's like How are you saying this wor? How you How is the melody flowing out of you It's not in that way, no. Yeah yeah Yeah. So how were you saying bllock and how you supposed to say it? I mean now, however you got to play the song to hear it.ight Okay. Be now when I perform it, I don't say it. I still don't say it. When I perform it, I say it how I say it. So like he won that round Are you nervous that one day you're going to see him in the crowd? Hes like, that's not how he say bl. I'd be so mad. I mean, we used to really, really he used to get on my nerves and to a point where It would bring the best out of me. likeike he would never let me leave the studio. I used to hate writing writing choruses and for like blow your mind. If I hadn't stayed there and wrote blow your mind, That whole song I want a Grammy for, I wrote, I can say that. L He would not let me leave. He was like, you can just do it, stop being lazy. I'm like, I'm not ling You know what I mean? I write Rhyes. But if he hadn't kept me there, you know, Yeah. And then when you when you were starting out was like, did you the fact that, you know, Dreay's right hand man picked you up straight away when you're doing a demo, Dreay's pickure up, you know, you're on the path. Yeah Did you, when you were starting out in Philadelphia Were you different every I mean I know you said you were one of there weren't a lot of female raers, but was there there must have been some. So do you what set you apart do you think? Do you have an idea? I think Philly at that time was so what I like to call kind of backpack crunchy hip hop. Right Which I love now because I'm old and I respect it. But when I was younger I wasd be like, o my God Like, you know, tripall quest, I love Rots. I loved, but I still was like, that's not my hip hop. go. I was a battle rapper. I was a street rapper. like I was literally on the corner in a cipher. like And I do think that's a little bit of what made me different because I leaned more into what the guys were doing opposed to like being this like neo so hip hop girl. And I think it was a lot of that thing in Philly. So maybe that was it. you know, I definitely was a tomboy. I was like, I rolle like the dudes. like'm I'm in here. like you're not going to treat me like yes, I'm a girl but I'm not good for a girl. Like so I don't know if it was that kind of thing just having like the feisty, feisty attitude. Yeah, I don't know. And the fact that I was a Jaan, you know, my patois was really good.ike I listened to my bouju Bonon tape all the time, so I got my patois, right? So I don't know. Yeah. So did you now when you listen to all your records, your voice is so distinctive Yeah. You know, a lot of the time, I don't think people who don't listen to hip hop appreciate. People always talk about singing voices. but rapping voices is important too. You know, you sort of think of there's certain people that you think your voice was built for rapping. Do know what I mean? that is I can't I think, you know, DMX is a great example of that, right? He is supposed he was almost like that guy was designed in Is he going to be singing? Yeah like Yeah. I didn't mind his off the red nose reindeer, I thought no, I know because it was nice, but yeah, come on Yeah. So but your voice is like that. Is that something you had to work at or do you think that just comes to you No, that's something that it's grown over the years. So like when I listen to myself, when I'm younger, of course, I'm like, o, wow. I don't think it was something that was designed in a way. I think it was just something that started growing. because when I got with Rough Riders, like I said, I was kind of this battle rapper. I had to learn how to write records. I had to learn how to write songs. I didn't know how to do that. I knew how to write sixteen to twenty four bars and go hard, you know, But I didn't know how to write songs changed a bit. Then working with people like Dr. Dreay, that changed a bit. You know, people telling me you need to slow down a little bit, just bring it back a little bit. So it kind of just happened. It's funny the voice thing. I had to go in and redo satisfaction for a dance track like a few years ago And the guy who recorded me, actually before I even went in the studio, he was just like, Hey, so listen, you know, because you're older, your voice probably is not it's not the same. So we'll just have to go in and out and you know, I'll punch you in and out, meaning You know, he'll record me a bit and he'll bring me back. I was like Okay, but. And when I went in and I did the whole verse, he was like, o Wow. You sound exactly like you used to. I'm like, well, it's so important for me when I'm on stage that people have that same experience. I don't know why, but for me, I'm like, I want to take you back to what you love about me, what you remember about me. It's really important that my voice stays a certain way. Well you're I mean, you talked about, you know, performing live, obviously we share a DJ. mine too smooth. too. Now Martin Obviously he's a deeply enthusiastic guy, full stop. He's great. but he talks about how amazing your lifeve shows are. he's so nice. I mean, it's sort of arrogant. he's part of them, but I mean he's great. he helps the show.n the funniest thing about Martin is you know when he did the verses. Oh yes. And then everybody I don't know, do you know about the memes that went around about him? No So so when he because obviously Martin is a London guy, right? So everybody sees Eve doing the verses. So funny And they're expecting an American guy. And around the top of your verses, there's loads of photos of Martin and it's just like, let's bloody bounce. People would not expect you and DJ have an English accent. No, I know. That was I do a few people said to me like, oh, I was not expecting that I do live here guys But home. But the thing is funny. The thing is like I think, you know as a hip hop fan who when I go to live shows, obviously when you're into that group you're already converted, right? sometimes you say other people with you. and I've I think sometimes hip hop live does not represent what you are on the record enough, right? hundred percent. And obviously, you're friends with the roots, the roots are incredible They're insane. They're one of the best live b But so many times I've taken friends to a hip hop show and it's just been they it doesn't sound like there's sound checks or anything like that. I know. Your attitude to that is completely different. Oh yeah. I hate when there's muffled sound. I hate when it's like Guys, where the and I'm going to tell you, I'm gonna I fought it for years. I used to hold the mic likeike this, you know, I used to scream into the mic because I'm like, I have to, you know I used to have only monitors on the stage, which also you're competing with yourself because the monitors are on stage. No That's why I'm screaming. Yeah. So it took for some role managers to be like, Hey, why don't we try some Nars?ike You're a bit screechy. Yeah. I fought it for years. It was the best thing I ever did. I started doing my sound checks. Best thing I ever did. It doesn't hurt to get some cardio in guys. You got a show. You know what I mean? If the show iss longer than thirty minutes, you might need to do cardio to prepare for your shows. Absolutely. Really? Yes. I eat different and everything. Really? Oh my God. Well this this because, you know I'm forty plus now. Yeah, sure. You know what I mean? So allegedly Allegedly. So I for me, a show is so important' don't wantan to feel winded because I know if I feel winded, then my energy goes down, which then affects the energy of the car. Like I think about this so hard. It's like, but I also, I want all of us to have a good time, not just you you know, I I've been sing songs for twenty five years.. It needs to be fun for me. So yeah, I'm really, really particular. Do you think that's That's why the longevity has happened? because I think it helps You know, hundred talk to anybody that's been around for the amount of time that you have. Yeah and they see it as like a You know, they take it seriously, right? You have to though. Like, you know, we had those times when we were young and just coming out of somebody's basement and doing a talent show or your first few shows when you're in your young twenties. You don't know about that. But you know, I've been able to perform some really incredible places and you know, we talked about the corporates. they don't want me screaming at corporates any. you know, And also I I like for my shows to go bigger and bigger and I like to think outside the box. and I don't know. and festival life. L I love festival life. You know, I just started kind of get into festivals and you kind of have to be good You know, you kind of like, come on, you're part of somebody's good time. And also you're cutting through to people that might necessarily come into this being a fan. one hundred percent. So hundred percent or they might know one maybe they know one record. And that's something I always have said. If you show up and you're not a fan of mine, you're gonna to leave a fan of mine. Yeah That is big for me. You'll like me after. you'll look me up after this. one hundred percent. Yeah. Whas I my thing is Even if you do know me this could put you off. that's what my festival performananceces are like. Never. Now congratulations because Scorpion, your iconic second alm has just turned twenty Five, How does that feel? It's nuts. It's actually very crazy to me. Yeah Yeah like when you that album obviously's got an incredible legacy Yeah. When what sort of happened to you after that album came out, because it's huge, right? Yeah, that was a big deal. That was the album that you know, it was the second album so people were like Can she make it happen again? You know, Will we still be interested? likeike we were the first like there was so much pressure. And then we got, you know, the big singles like Who's that girl? Blow Your mind helped a lot, of course But then it also, that's the album that opened up fashion to me, you know, I was going to runway shows, then I was doing I was on top forty radio stations, then I'd never done that before. So it opened up a whole new lane, especially obviously doing a song with Gwen But yeah, it was a whole new life after that That takes you to the mainstream outside of hitBops. So then you've got non hip hop fans who are suddenly becoming e fans Did that change your experience of like PR and performances and stuff like that? L what was the effect of that? It changed it in the sense of definitely performances, definitely also PR in the sense of Like late night started calling. you know, and late night big TV shows, that's huge. morning shows started calling. That's like, o okay, we' And this is before that was really happening for hip hop, you know, So Yeah, life was a bit different. Yeah. Yeah. And then were you then when you get put into You get put into an environment, you know, for example, a late night show. Yeah. That's not a hip hop environment And so What's your attitude towards like conforming to That space or do you make space conform to you? like what was kind of your attitude towards that? I think I don't think I thought about it that much because I was so young. I think I had the right team around me at the time to be like, hey These are the things we need to be doing to make this go right. you know, my manager at the time had come out of the Will Smith camp. like He knew all the stuff you're supposed to do if we want longevity. you know MIPR was amazing. So I think I had a great team at the time because if it was just on me, no, I would not have known how to do any of that stuff. Yeah Yeah.. I mean, you had a massive impact. Thank you The There's a lot more female rappers now than were when you were coming through. Yeah. What was What was the relationship with you and other female rappers around at the time like? Were we all kind of supportive or prettyt much Really was lucky. I mean, there's only one person I can say that maybe,, but idn't matter. Me and Kim had a moment of something and then moment of something moment of something that was just industry thing though, It wasn't like us. it was more like you there can only be one. You know It was more that industry thing. And then we had a dinner. We sat at a dinner at a Mat cosmetics dinner across from each other and fell in love with each other. L it was like, oh, once we talked, it was fine. But Missy was amazing. you know, Trina was amazing. And even for me like I got to see like Queen Latifa, like those were my heroes, you know, Salt and pepper, whenever I got to meet these women. And a lot of the times we were at the same things or I mean They were different genre. Im I guess a different era Yeah. But you know, award shows, things like that, we would see each other. and Yeah, I always I was fine. I think too because I was a tomboy. like I'm not I am obviously a girl, but I've never been like that jealous girl. I've always been very like, o my God, I love you. Like I was such a nerd when I got in the industry. But but the thing is is like with hip pop because hip hop changes so quickly. Yeah You know, like, you know, I talk to rappers from from from I guess you start around the same time as you even before And their attitude towards people coming through is not that support, you know, they feel like it's changing a way they don't like. Yeah. But you didn't feel that from those artists in the era before you. Some of them, yes, I felt it more, if I really think about it, I felt it more from the exeact side. I really did. I felt it more from these people who sat in these rooms who were supposed to be and R and like all that kind of stuff I used to feel it more from them than I did from the actual once we hung out and once we could talk to each other. There was no issue. You know. It was them pitting us against each other more than anything. Well that's still, I mean that still happens now isn't it in terms of like whenever a female rapper kind of, you know, the whole Nicki and Cardy thing and all of that sort of stuff. Yeah. That you know, you said the exact words, there can only be one. Yeah. That's still true now. it's so stupid. It's so dumb. Like there's too many men. Godless all the men, whatever, but God bless them. God bless them, But, you know, there's too many of them. Yeah. you know, we the end And I don't ever see them being like there's only there can only be one. I mean, I'm sure some of them act like that, but I won't be surprised But with the women, I don't know why there always has to be this one. I mean, there's so many different types of women and voices that need to be represented. And I do think thank God we are at that space now where there are so many different types of female rappers out. Yeah. I think you guys in the UK always had like lots of female rappers before we did. Yeah, I think we did. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, it feels like One of the things that I think and we you know, I don't want to talk about you being a female the whole time, but like one of the things that I think is One is like the attitude that there can only be one. And then also men or the press seem to have a real problem with how women represent themselves, you know, And so like as soon as press or even male rappers think that somebody's being overly sexual thenen it's a problem, Jud It's insane because have you heard so of these les to some of these dudes? Like are you crazy some of the stuff out hear? Like and I've not approved but yo. Calm down. Wow. and listen, and some of the females are not for me. I'm not gonna lie. There's a few of them becausecause I am a woman I'm still gonna wave the flag for my women. Like some of that stuff, I don't put it on to listen to it, but I'm gonna support it. Yeah, some of it's not for me. I have a kid, someome of that stuff, I'm never gonna play for my child. Yeah. But I'm just, you know, we do need representation. all girls, child, all the chicks. Yeah need representation. Are you looking for support in your weight management journey bounds through zepicide may be able to help ZBound is a prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to help adults with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight related medical problems to lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. Zepbound is approved as a two point five, five, seven point five, ten, twelve point five, or fifteen milligram injection Zepound contains terzepatide and should not be used with other terzepotide containing products or any GLP one receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if zepound is safe and effective for use in children. Don't share needles or pens or reuse needles. Don't take if allergic to it, or if you or someone in your family had medularary thyroid cancer, or if you've had multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type two Tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck Stop Zbound and call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or a serious allergic reaction. Severe side effects may include inflamed pancreas or gallbladder problems. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes before scheduled procedures with anesthesia, if your' nursing, pregnant, plan to be, or taking birth control pills. Taking Zepbound with a sulfonal urea or insulin may cause low blood sugar side effects include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems T to your doctor. callall one eight hundred five four five five nine seven nine or visit zeppbounds. liily. com This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a fifty page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online makes sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set upp required compatibility and availability varies eighteen plus Study and play. Come together on a Windows eleven PC. And for a limited time, college students get the best of both worlds. Get the unreal college deal, everything you need to study and play with select Windows eleven PCs. Eligible students get a year of Microsoft three hundred sixty five premium and a year of Xbox GamePass ultimate with a custom color Xbox wireless controller. Learn more at windows dot com slash student offer Law supppplies last ends june thirtieth turnerms at aka. mS slash college PC Now we've got a question from my mother for you. It's on voice no. I've not heard this I have to say this every time I've not heard this question. Yes, yes, yes. So I just want to distance myself from it in advance. Oh my God You This is shanti Romaatia' mom You was such a gorgeous slender lady, Bromish love hippo. And I know he will be nervous and Star Stuck because he's a big fan of yours. You think you are more confident on stage. or in real life know. a wonderful day Take care. Bye That'sott this' a nice question. Yes.'s a very good question. She's great in a voice note e You know that's a really good question. I a mom.. I always say I am definitely probably more confident on stage I'm ward in real life situations. likeike doing stuff like this where there's banter, how you guys say banter beinging able to kind of showcase I guess personality in a way, it's still kind of awkward when I'm on stage, I'm so sure of myself. Right. Also, it's the only time in my life that I feel I'm in my body and in the moment. I't I live in my head and it's the only time where I'm just there And I call it my superhero suit. Like when I throw my superhero suit on the different wig color comes on. like it's just the whole thing. It's the best thing in the world. Yeah. Yeah. L you can't tell me anything. L one thing people I know over myself is I'm a great performer. I know this. donon't care. Girl, that's good. But But you've done so many interviews now, right? Yeah, I mean, I know it's still even this, even this chat is performative, right? It's not performative in that way. but when I say like where I'm able to, I've learned how to be more of myself in this s in these kind of situations you got you go. I've learned how to be more of myself. I think before I was a little more polished because I was on a talk show and you answer a certain way and that's, you know, and I used to well, I have act, you know, I've done shows and I mean on TV or mo. But I think As I get older, I do allow more of myself to come out. But it is still it is awkward. It is awkward. just being you yourself. Yeah, I know it is awkward. And also on podcasts, you can say stuff you regret when versusreous. I mean, the amount of stuff I've said that be fucking career ending. Oh no. Yeah, genuinely. I mean, you will, you've got enough to end me. Oh my go. Probably there's enough for it to be over. if I piss these guys off, Oh God they could end me. But the consequenceces, they'd be ending themselves. This is I'm all they've got. Oh God. No you Now you're gonna go when you're going on tour, you're gonna go on tour again. I'm going on tour. I have some shows through the summer, like festival stuff and then we're gonna do a tour in October, I believe. But like sixteen shows just to celebrate the twenty fifth anniversary all over Europe. Yeah, I'm kind of I'm looking forward to it. It kind of is is a nice way to wrap it up Are you gonna to play the album through or what's the show going to be now? No I'm not to play the album through because also Some people ain't there for the album. You know what I mean? Again, I want to give people a good experience and I can't stand when people do do that. So yes, I'm gonna probably play songs that I've never played, maybe a few, but that's it and the rest will just be for me because it's fun for me to do, you know As is As an audience member, when you go and it's just the album I wouldn't do that. You know when your friends again, do you think they'll play this? you go, no, 'cause it's not on the album. And he go, Do youck can they' do this? and you go, no, it's not the album. No it is on the album, man. The one song. The one. No you're doing a London date as well. secondecond of November. four in Kentish toown. Yes, I'm glad you know that because I forgot. London audiences How do they compare to Europe European audiences different. It's also different in different places. Like Germany loves hip hop. Yeah loves hip hop. France loves hip hop as well, but they're also a little more subdued. It's different London sh L It's great. It's so great. It's great. no it's great.'s great I've never had a bad London show. So yeah, no, London's great. London's amazing. Yeah. It's gonna be good. But someud London audiences they're more reserved, right or are they not Maybe not hip hop, I feel like. Okay fine. Maybe not hip hop. Maybe just comedy How do you feel like performing today? Is it the same as performing back then or like when you're first coming out or? No, it's different. I feel more freedom performing now because I don't have I'm not trying to sell. I'm not trying to sell the current album. I'm not I don't have to hit any quotas for So there's a purity to it. There's a purity to it. like Yeah, that's true. That's a perfect way to say it. It's like how before I was signed, I would just write songs and be like, whatever. I can now just Perform and it's really, really nice. Yeah U And are you you're doing festivals? During festivals through the summer. Not a ton because I went on tour all last summer with Nelly and Ja Rle. and so this summer I want to hang out with my family a little more and do some vacation. So yeah, just every a few weekends here and there. When you do festivals, you go and see other people You can be honest here. It depends, though. I will say this Yeah When I was I had a show my last few shows were in Australia last year. and it was myself and like Mariah Carey and Pitbull and a few people. I did go because I wanted to see Mariah. I do love her U and pitball, I did watch pitball Yeah, but not after because sometimes I just want to get home, I'm done. I didn' M to get it Y few drinks in the back. My team is great. I love hanging with my team. I must say, I actually do have such an amazing team that we just kind of hang out and then I'm like You're hungry, should we go? I'll gonna be honest with you, when I've done festivals doing stand upps, sometimes I'm in the car as the crowd are leaving the tent Genuinely You know, Sometimes you've done what your contract like Yeah. Yeah. I think sometimes it's funny. I do have some friends that will come and hang out and that's different. Like peopleople like, oh, I'm coming to see you. And you're like, o, and they're like, don't you wanna stay? Don't you want I'm like, No, this is my office, essentially, like Yeah yeah Yeah office right now So it's funny. I don't know. But also I don't want to bump into anybody that's seen my setat because because I'm so u I'm such a narcissist that anything they say will take I will take in a negative way I don't see, I don't know, is it, I guess, as a comedian, people want they come up to you and talk about what you've said. Yes, correct, ye. that doesn't happen on like in music. Like if people say, oh, that was I mean, usually don't get that was such a shit performance, hopefully. But usually it's just like, oh, hey, can I get a picture and then keep it moving or whatever, but they don't ever bring up what happened just then. No. So that was stressed me out Jar R than Nelly, what was it like being on the road with them? Oh my God, I have to say, I did watch some of their show, not always, but because there's so many hits, there's so many hits and I obviously it was a soundtrack to a lot of my life. Lots of jar songs, lots of Nelly songs and really good shows. They actually I was really impressed, like really impressed and it was nice to be on a show. and I think it was Nelly's twenty fifth anniversary he was doing. Yeah It was actually really good. We had a really good time and it was nice to see us all as adults because We have definitely all seen each other in debauchery andat smoke. You know what I mean? L we've all been because we all basically came up at the same time. So we were definitely in the clubs and hanging out. So it was nice to see that people had their children road But I mean, Jarll, Nelly and Eve, that's a hell of a nour. It was a good show. It was honestly, it was such a great vibe and everywhere we went, it was so good. The New York showh, of course, was insane. Yeahah. But yeah, 'cause they brought a Shanty out as well. Like come on. It was good. Are you gonna be doing any upcoming shows with other people or any upcoming collaborations We're talking about possibly reimagining some stuff for the twenty fifth anniversary. But we don't want to push it because at the same time, you know, those songs are what they are. and I don't I don't know. Only we are going to experiment and if it comes out right, you'll hear it Okay So there'll be some potential potential experiments, but we won't hear any of the failures. E the shit. No Yeah ye, yeah, yeah. you it. Yeah How across the UK music scene are you like Are you a fan of anybody? Yeah, I mean, I do listen to I mean, I like I go back and forth between like the RM B and I mean, Jooy Crooks is amazing Yeah Of course, Ray is insane. Yeah. I mean, they're all insane, but you know, Ray I love Ri's trajectory. I love her story and she just deserves where she is. Well the story with her is that she was trying to be forced in a certain direction. And she was just like, fuck, I'm gonna to do what I want to do. Thank God and thank God she did it. And thank God she did it because yeah they were trying to push her into that like R and B kind of. sort of their kind of pigeon hole version of what they wanted her to do. Yeah you know, central reallyally dope and stormsy and like, I mean, theres there's a lot of really really great music here. Dave, like there's so much good music. man. As we said, as we keep saying, your're hip hop leedgend. I appreciate. We all think that except for Will. But but you're also a polymath Because you do acting as well. Yeah, true. How did the acting thing come about? That was also a strategic plan for my manager at the time. He was like, longevity. Yeah. And I kind of was like Every ra It was that time when every rapper was in a movie, like Ludicrs was in a movie and Buster Rymes was in a movie and everybody else. And I was like, bro, I don't wantan to just be the rapper in the movie But then I started taking, I said,' if I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it right. And I started taking acting classes. That teacher said to me was, you know, every time you do a video, you're basically acting. And I was like gotot it. And then I was like, if I read a script and this is when I did my TV show. and I was like, if I read a script that talks to me, I will do it. and then it just went off from there. So what was your first kind of fay to it? My first actual role was Triple X. It was not supposed to be my role. I was in the first tririple X for like two point five seconds. Yeah It was because another rapper was sick. So basically they called my manager and I was like, I think it was supposed to be ludicrs in it or something. And they were like, yeo it was even town I was like he said, Yeahah, come do this movie with Vin Diesel. and I was like, okay, cool. So that was I was not supposed to come C do this movie Vin Diesel. I was like, o, cool., I didn't know who he was at that time. Oh, shit, really? I have a clue who Ven Diesel was. I was like, all right. I knowew Samuel Jackson is in it. and I was like, Oh, cool, J. I didn't know who Vin Diesel was. I don't know. And then Samuel Jackson actually, I remember he got mad at me because I was so nervous. I'd obviously never been on a set. I kept cursing and it was a PG thirteen movie and he was like, stop cursing. And I was like from say we your back that. Like I remember him being like, you can't curse. and I'm like, oh God. he was like, 'cause I kept messing up, but I was so stressed. if you've done stress you've done no acting, and then you're on a movie set. Come on. L is a visceral overload right? In with once I saw how big it was Obviously, I did not know who Vin was. but when I got on that set and saw how big the budget was, I was like, oh This is I think you guys are profess There's a lot of money on this.. So yeah, it stressed me out. I was stressed. But then after that, I needed that experience because my next role, movie role was Barbershop. Yeah. So and that was really fun. I still was stressed, Um Ice cube IC Cube was cool. He was very calm all the time and I realized it was because he was smoking so much wheat. Okay. He was chill. you say say would you say that's a good tip for actors coming through. I would say do what makes you feel good, No I'm kidding. You know, Well, you know what's also crazy and don' don't do this either, but I was so nervous to go into the audition before Barbershop that my acting coach took me to get a glass of white wine. and that's how I nailed it because they asked me to improv And because I had that little bit of white wine, I was loose, you know? Yeah. If I hadn't had that, I totally would not I probably would not have been able. you know like the most annoying like one of the most annoying things about the way we are built. Yeah is that as soon as you really want something to go well body produces a set of chemicals to stop that happening. Why is that? It's so wild. So like if you go so I sort think about all of the opportunities like that I've had where I've sort of been if this if I get this gray, but if I don't, it's fine. You get it. like you're so chill in the thing. Why is that? And then as soon as you go on, this would be really good if I get it You become an absolute dick. You before. I know, it's so mad, right? Why do we do that? I don't know. It's the opposite of what you need. Well, you know what it is? If we talk, I guess evolution I guess it's the fear of running from the tiger and we haven't gotten that far from. Yeah. I guess. And our brain's keeping us safe. bullshit. In this time It's not bullshit. keep me safe but you know what I mean? Yeah, But don't keep me safe from a film. I know fairs fair. I know I know. haven't don't drink wine also before auditions. Yeah, sure. I guess.. Or do. We were able to get comfortable when you were in Barbershop? I was. The first one I had my coach with me, which also helped And she was just great. And also Cube was amazing. L Cube would just give us advice and And that was nice. And so so did Cedric, Crically Entertertainer. So people obviously who have been in it, everybody was so welcoming it helped. Oh. And we able to like, because it's that thing isn't it, of being able to perform in a way that you cease to be aware of the cameras and everything and you're just doing your thing. Yes. That takes a while It takes a while. That does, it takes a while But I will say this, being on sets now That is up to the environment that the director sets and the DP. honestly, it's truly that. It's up to what that energy starts off as Because if people are and I've been even on video sets, I've been on sets with people who are a bit hectic anyway Yeah. and then you can't relax at all. So it's up to that what they set, that energy they set. Yeah. do you want to do more you want to do more acting I am coming back to it. I said no for a minute because I was on a show called Queens for Disney, whichich is an amazing show. It is a great show, but I had such a bad experience that it actually turned me off from acting. Really? Yeah, Right after COVID. so already it was nuts. We were shooting in Atlanta. And it was I was also pregnant. It was just so many things. The hours were insane. The show I'm proud of, I'm so happy to be a part of it. It really turned me off. I was really miserable most of the time. And the girls, we started acting like we were actually in a group. I'm like, you know,, we're acting. Like we're in a girls group. L what whyy are we praying in the trailer before we shoot? L What's happening here? L it just it got too crazy. Yeah But I'm slowly coming back to it. I do I would love to get Mbe maybe create, maybe be, you know, exeact producer on something that I do But we'll see. we'll see. Yeah. And what about hosting U I do really like hosting. I mean, I did the Mobos. Yeah, what was that so I watched some the I watched some of the coverage. Yeah, it was cool. It looked it looked like it went well, but that to me it was a lot going on. It was a tough gig. It was a lot going on. It was slightly hectic, but I will say the Mobos team, the producers, they were great. and Eddie Cady, he's amazing. He actually funny. What a funny bl. So funny And he had done it two years prior. so he kind of was like Just do this, do this excuse me. But it was cool. I mean, I was nervous because I hadn't hosted. I actually haven't hosted in years, but I would do it again. I would do it again. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. so if that wasasn't enough Yeah. You're now launching a new business. I am. yes. So tell us all about that. Yeah, so it's a business called well, the business is called Breathe and belieelve and it is a wellness business. even though I hate that word, it's more wholeness. So people who know me, I all my life, I use a lot of different modalities to chill myself out, Reiki or sound baths or meditation. And that's basically what we're doing. We're curating spaces for people to come to to have a moment, two hours, two and a half hours, of peace and quiet or chill But you also come to learn something things. So we'll have some different specialists or u panels Yeah, it's um So is it like is it like a Is like a gym where you come to regular or its not a gy. We're doing it in spaces that you normally really wouldn't think of doing it. We're not having people lay down because that's annoying unless you are at a gym. It's more kind of coming in just for some calm. Just for a bit of calm. And a little bit of community. L and it's something that I do all the time that I got asked to do over the last few years where I was like, whyy are people asking me to do this? How do you know that I'm into this? And then I was like, you know what? Why don't I just try it? So let's see what happens U Yeah. So you excited about it? I don't know if this is a word. you're a meditator. I do, I'm not great. I'm not great. I'm not a great journalist either, but this is what this space is about. It's not about being perfect because sometimes I also feel like Wellness can feel elitist. It can make you feel bad about yourself. And the thing is we're all trying to figure it the fuck out. You know, Just come figure it out with other people who are trying to figure it out. That's it Yeah. It's meditating's trick, isn't it becausecause you' sort of like midway through I started getting really distracted And then I come out of him and I think that was a bad meditate, but you're not supposed to think like that It was supposed to be a competition. But I also think there are many ways to meditate. And I think that sometimes people are like, be still, your mind. Not many people can make their minds be still. You know, there's walking meditations, there's movement meditations, there's, you know, there's staring meditations. L there's so many different kind. And I mean, I'm sure people will hate me of this. I am no expert in any way. If it stresses you out, don't do it. Yeah. Because wellness is not like, don't do it. And maybe you're not there yet. I don't know, but yeah, it shouldn't stress you out. No. I did it. I got one of my kids to do that How was that? ten minutes. Yeah, that's amazing. Yeah, he said it was dreadful. Oh God. He did He was quiet for the time. But I mean It was yeah, it was but he said it was all fun. Oh no. Well Do you know what I thought there? I thought I'd had like a really amazing moment and I thought this is going to be a story that I could tell people So I said I'm going to meditate. We're at Disney. Yeah. And I just said I'm going out to the balcony I just started getting into it. Yeah. And he goes, so what you doing? And I said, I'll explain it to you. come out I said, we'll just do ten minutes. Now I realise ten minutes is too long. For the first time eleven year old kid. Oh yeah, Disney Yeah. Disney We were chose to meditate at Disney. It was just while we're on the slinky doog ride. No We the most insane place to. I think that's cool. No No, no, hold It's like you're there to have fun at e I know but meditation is supposed to be a part of your your life the way canan I just defend myself? And this is a kind of thing that I've had to deal with is haters. Not haters. We call them medit hators. right? But basically No, we were staying at Disney. so this wasn't I wasn't in the theme park. I was meditating I was meditating every morning. and then one morning I was going out to the balcony and he said, what are you going to do? I didn't say He didn't say to me, canan we meditate? And I said, Not until we get to Disney. That's not happened. He noticed I was doing this thing every day and he said, canan I come and do it? And it turned out it was awful for him But I think ten minutes is a lot. I think I should have done three minutes of something thatit I mean. Yeah. Even I do too three minutes sometimes. Yeah, same. I'm using metahaters now,. Yeah. so he's good. I just literally coined it. Come on that. Sounds like a good sitcom Yeah. U Now you live over here now. I do. Yeah. I here almost twelve years? Twelve years Do you love it? I love it.ally for real love it. Do you really? More than I thought I would. Yeah. Yeah when Max and I got married, I was kind of like three years tops Three, four years. what you were going to get you were gonna to basically were you going to convince Max to move? Well, once the kids because I have four bonus kids as well.us kids so four bonus kids. So like once they got older too, I was like, oh, well, we could probably live somewhere else. But to be honest, I really love it. Honestly, genuinely, it's crazy how much I feel at home here Yeah. Yeah, like in my soul, in my spirit, I feel home. there Do you think culturally you're starting to feel more British now No No, I am so American still. I will say though, if you it's funny, like on my socials now and stuff when I do interviews and things, people are like, o, I hear that British accent or like my friends will say to me, Oh, did you hear what you just said Obviously taken on Yeah some things, but I am so loud in American state. Yeah. So you think but you don't you can't see yourself moving out moving away anytime soon. I mean, I'm definitely not moving to America now rightight now. like let's give it a few. Yeah it feels like I think Plans to move to America, just put on pause Yeah for a little bit. Yeah. it's you know, I will say my family and friends thank God. are safe and have been safe and everything, but I It's wild watching it from here. Yeah It's wild. so yeah. Yeah, and you're getting that slant on it, aren't it? Yeah. Do your kids and bonus kids think that it's cool? Do you think you're cool? 'use you you know, they've basically got hip hop legend in the? I think they do. I will say I they have they're at that age where some of them been like drunk videos to me at night from the club when my song is on and I really do feel cool. That's so cool That is cool.' like'll be like and I'll be like Be safe So that is cool. That is really cool. Yeah. Okay, Eve, we're gonna to play a little game that's called MissQoted. We play this every episode. Okay is misquuoted. I'm going to give you Five quotes That you may or may not have said. Oh God. And you just got to tell me whether you said this or not. Okay. Okay Um and there's no stakes here. Okay It's just fun in theory In theory. Yeah. Okay. hereere's your first one. When we first got together, he thought I was high maintenance because of how often I change my hair. I had to say no, I'm a black woman. This is not high maintenance. this is part of the culture. Definitely said that to me I mean, he talks about my hair bonnet and my scrub gloves in his wedding speech So yeah, I definitely said that Um But hecept he understands man. Well now he gets it. Now he knows to ask, how long is the hair gonna to take?? Like it used to be like, we now he's like, can we go to dinner or should I just wait tntill tomorrow? And I'm like, Yeahah, so yeah The you know, one of the things that you know, when I first got together with my wife is her Understanding I have to put two coats of cocoa butter on before I You can evenave my broom, Do you know I mean? It's like the level of moisturizing. No, you need the moistureiz.. And if you forget no, it's not hereute. You look like I was in the car on the way, you like I can't look crusty dust. I't know you cover in sppiderss Webs It' horrendous Okay, well done. that was correct. Okay. Here's your next one Mama is the bum. Definitely not me. sure. I have tried with this Marma, even with those weird sticks that people bring out during Christmas. What are they called Twiglets? Twigglets. Yeah. I'm trying. If I'm drinking, maybe. You know what I mean? Like Christmas drink with a twiglet? I'm not mading. Youve actually mentioned twiglets in an interview with the Times. I'll give you the exact quote. Okay. During Christmas I will have four of those fucking Marmite twiggy things. But that's it Yp, that's how I feel. He's max into Marmot. He loves it. Yeah, he loves it. ' it's amazing. Oh my god, toast, he'll do the toast thing at night with the marmay. Oh my Godd. It's so delicious. Its Really not though. It's actually not. It is. It's actually not. It actually is. And I like salty things Yeah The Mart is so imamy No it's not omami. To me, it's not. It's like is theres anything in America like that? There's not really L like a marmite a vegegetite not flavor America would not have that sh. Oh, hell no. No. Have you gotten into other British food like roasts? I love a roast, of course. Lo a roast, love a sticky toffee pudding. Sticky toffee pudding. I mean, the classic. I've even had when I first used to come here, I don't see them as often. I don't know if people have been like these suck or whatever Banafi H One of Max's friends used to buy them for me when I first for me. In. So yeah, you guys do really good building when was when I was a kid they had this advert for like ready when ready meals first started doing thing. And it was now I think about it. and I think the advert was so racist, but. But it was basically this South Asian family And they were like making the ready meailals for each other. So the husband would come in And he go, what's for dinner? And then his wife would go, Shepherd's pie. and then he'd go, Shepherd's pie. And then it would cut cut to them go a Shepherd's pie. And at the end of it, he'd go, I'll never forget stayed with me from when I was a kid Oh God. what are we having for pudding? And then she'd go, Spotered dick. And then he looked down the camera and go, Spotered Dick I mean, it's not a great name but is it? It' not. Spy Dicker sort of died to death, right? I think so I I reckon you get it at some restaurants still like ones. Okay. hereere's your next one. You're two for two, by the way, congratulations. I'm a smother mother. Definitely me. I am a mother mother What does that mean? I just'm like Grumy cuddles, Gumy squeezes, give me like and he's like, get off me. Yeah, I am a smother mother. and Max is like, ' he's like, Ohh when he plays rugby, I'm like, not never. He's like he's got to play's like and I'm like, no, like I have to play him in bubble wrap Yeah He's okay. Yeah, I'm such a smother mother U Okay, you're three for three. Okay. Here's your next one My life's a sitcom but sometimes you just have to laugh You know I've s That actually in private to people Have I ever said that out loud? To the Gardian in twenty nineteen? Okay yeah. was I'll give you the context. You're talking about something that happened on a school run Ah yes, okay. Yes, yes, yes. I was supposed to say, have I said that al loud? but yah, ' some days You do feel, I do feel. notot as much now. It was more It was more school run things with my bonus kids where I was like Here is this rarapper is now coming to the school gates and they know the parent. You you know what I mean? And like one time I had to go to a school dance and one of the parents And the kids went to posh schools and one of the parents came up to me and was like, My husband loves tupac. What do I was like what is actually what is happening? So ye. Yeah. I mean, I would lose if you're on the school run and Eve turns up, it's just fucking wild, right? School run' difficult. School run is stressful. It's really hard. Okay. you are four for four. Here's your last one Okay Um, It took me years to speak to Prince Normally. I'd say stuff like, Do you know who you are? You're a genius Oh Yes, that's me. And I used to call him an alien as well. That Well actually we changed that. so that is Okay I' say's you've done really well here because we took most of the quote and chang the last word. Okay. The first bite is true, but you'd say, do you know who you are? you're an alien. Yes. whichich is like, you know, I mean, I was still he we was Brnt come on like I that he even knew who I was, and I think about this sometimes. like I know he's I think there's is a ten year anniversary of something with his right now and I was looking at I was just like, this man knew who I was. and I got to. hang out with him sometimes and perform with him U is insane. Like and I just used to look at him like, you're so far beyond what we are. Yeah. didid you feel because know the things that you obviously think about his musical genius. Yeah, but also He had, you know hisis authenticity and his insistence on doing what he wanted to do. Yeah regardless of what anybody wanted for them. Yeah How is he amazing backack then. How huge? Yeah. How huge? like now he was such An incredible, incredible, incredible artist in person and sad that he's not here. Yeah W love to hear what he would do right now. Yeah. Oh God. Yeah What was he like to hang out with? Oh my God, He was so chill. L he was so cool I' I mean, you know, you see how he adorned himself, but he would just talk about cool shit, like and ask you about yourself. He was very attentive, like Yeah, man, very supportive. praised you like as an artist, like you're doing so good and like he was great. He was amazing. There's an amazing There's an amazing video. Kevin Smith, the director talking about he was supposed to be doing a documentary like Prince asked him to this documentary. Yeah. And then midway through the thing you're just like, this isn't working out. L we can't Prince said this. No, Kevin Smith is. I can't, like what he wants us to do is not gonna work. Do know what I mean? Be I think Prince wanted him to documentary, but they made no concessions to being a documentary. He was just doing whatever he's doing So Kevin Smith was like, I love obviously Prinince is ammazing. And so now I can't, I don't think I can make this film, you know, you need to get somebody better at this sort of thing than me.. So he I think it was like he spoke to his, they went to leave And and Prince was like somewhere And he said to Prince's assistant, Can you let Prince know like, I'm really sorry, but I don't feel this is going to be the right thing. And you know it was an honor to be asked, but d d d. And he said u you're going to have to Prince that and And I said, whyy is thates Because we don't tell Prince No. I was like, Yeahah. I used to hear that. I never it's funny. I've never been around his people in that sense Maybe because he brought me in.. But I used to hear that a lot. and that also he was one of the people which did happen to me. he would you like so I knew a month before or I was told a month before that Prince wanted to do this song with me and it's when he calls, you have to drop everything and go immediately. And he did that to everyone basically. But of course you did.. You dropped. I don't care what you were doing Yeah But yeah, he was very much like that. I mean, that system only works if nobody else does that Did you know what I mean?ike If you're waiting on six calls with that person from different people. for whom you have to drop everything ag go immediately. That's trick. That becomes tricker to manage. It will be. Well if you've been absolutely unbelievable. Thank you for having. We have got one final question. The team The team love viral clips. Okay. And so the way that we tackle this is by asking you to tell us something exclusive or something you've never said publicly before. It can be as triveted as you like or as big as you like. It anythingthing that springs to mind that I've never ever, ever said before you can remember I mean That's what I'm trying to say. I mean I don't talked to on like collaborations earlier. you're saying like, you know, you might get in there and see if it works and if it doesn't, you've been it. Have you ever tried to Collaborator when it hasn't worked Yes Let's not talk I thought it was good. thought it was. I thought it was good. I had a good time. And I thought we should have released it, but you know you know, I did a song with a singer. This was years and years and years ago. We were in the same studio, I did the remix. She has such a shitty attitude. I I quoted so much for this verse that I knew she was gonna to say no. And she did and I was so happy. And I was like, this stank ass No I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I't say that. But yeah, so one time. And but since then As we've matured, we've seen each other and it was all good. Oh So yeah. o. well, listen, Ave. Yes As I said, you are a legend. Thank you. But you wear it so lightly. It's been such a pleasure to chat to you. Please. Thank you for having it. Give it up for E everybody