'One Mic', the Super Bowl's Black Music History & the Legacy of Usher (Guest: Michael Motley)

Episode Transcript

*DISCLAIMER: Transcripts are created using AI, and may not accurately represent the content exactly as presented. Transcripts are provided as a courtesy to our listeners who require them.

[00:00:00] Intro Theme (Music by Danya Vodovoz)
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[00:00:30] Introduction and Welcoming Remarks
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DJ Sir Daniel: Greetings and welcome to another episode of Queue Points podcast. I am DJ Sir Daniel.

Jay Ray: And my name is Jay Ray, sometimes known by my governments as Johnny Ray Cornegay, the third what's happening. Good people.

DJ Sir Daniel: You are tuned into Queue Points podcast. The podcast dropping the needle on black music history. 

[00:00:49] Discussing Black History Month and Recent Events
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DJ Sir Daniel: We is here, it is still Black History Month. While you're listening to this Jay Ray, how you feeling?

Jay Ray: Listen, man, I'm feeling really, really great. It's been a beautiful week, you know, uh, that, but for us recording this live Valentine's day just passed. I felt like it was a dope day of just like love period. You know, we got our slow jams can heal us stuff out. I'm feeling really, really good. How you feeling, man?

DJ Sir Daniel: I'm feeling fantastic. Slow jams definitely healed the sinuses because as you can hear, I've got my voice back. I've got, I don't sound like I have a elephant sitting on my forehead. So I feel fantastic. I'm glad to chop it up with you again. And of course, uh, to speak with our guests, I'm very excited about the guests that we have coming on as well.

And a lot of stuff happened over the weekend, including the Superbowl, but we are going to talk about that. 

[00:01:43] Engaging with the Queue Points Community
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DJ Sir Daniel: A little bit later on, but first and foremost, Jay Ray, tell the people how they can maintain a really good relationship. You know, we were coming off of Valentine's day. How can they maintain the love between me, you and them?

Jay Ray: my

DJ Sir Daniel: points, people let them know.

Jay Ray: absolutely y'all. So as we say, every time you hear our voices, if you can hear us, if you can see us, that is the most beautiful thing that you can do, because that means you are tuning in and that's really, really important. You can do us a solid by hitting subscribe wherever you are, that will give you notifications about when we have.

Our upcoming shows and when we have new stuff that you can tap into, check it. If you want to go a step further, listen, share it with your friends, share it with your family, share it with your colleagues, because if you love Queue Points, chances are they will love Queue Points as well. That's also absolutely free.

Another free thing that you can do is you can tap in with us at Queue Points Magazine. As we say, we're really proud of the conversations that we are having over on Queue Points Magazine. We can't talk about everything on Queue Points, y'all. We don't have that amount of time. So Queue Points Magazine is our place where we can dig in to some topics that we don't always get to, right?

Completely free to sign up. 

[00:03:04] Promoting Queue Points Merchandise
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Jay Ray: Now, if you want to keep the lights on Over in Queue Points land, right? You see these beautiful lights, like back there behind DJ Sir Daniel. If you want to keep the lights on, you can shop our store at store. Queue Points. com. We have brand new merch out there. We'll be having a lot more merch this year and you can shop and, uh, you know, stay at, stay up with your boys.

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely. Because y'all aren't going to want to hear Queue Points being recorded at a Starbucks or any other. Wi Fi costs money, internet costs money, you all know that. And in order for us to continue with this quality, not quantity, quality ty, you, we have to be, we gotta sell, sell this merchandise. And the, the shirts are beautiful.

Like, you saw us, all three of us had on Slow Jams Can Heal Us, um. Paraphernalia last week, and we've got even more, the stuff has been upgraded, you don't, you need to get it. Cop it, it's gonna look beautiful in the springtime, throughout the summer,

[00:04:07] Transition
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[00:04:14] Introducing Special Guest: Michael Motley
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DJ Sir Daniel: We have a guest tonight, Jamie, that is going to shed some more light on the history of, um, Black music performers and the Super Bowl. So Jamie, why don't you introduce our special guest this evening?

Jay Ray: Absolutely. So we are so excited. Michael Motley is joining us and we saw so Michael's recent podcast episode and blog post is titled how in living color created the Super Bowl halftime show. And of course, our antennas went up like yes. Michael needs to come over to Queue Points just to hang out just because he's a cool brother and needs to hang out over at Queue Points.

But also we want to talk about the important work that he is doing on his podcast, One Mic Black History. Um, but I'm going to read his bio and then we're going to get him up here because we definitely want y'all to meet this brother. So Michael Motley is a cloud engineer and podcaster specializing in black history.

And championing its integral role in American history, according to Motley, quote, my initiative is to shine a spotlight on lesser known black historical figures and events and illustrate their profound impact. It is our pleasure to welcome two cue points, our brother, Michael Motley. Welcome to the show, man.

Michael Motley: Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. I love it. I love it.

DJ Sir Daniel: Well, you know, we got to lay it out for you and make sure that people know who we're dealing with here. 

[00:05:42] Michael Motley's Journey with One Mic Black History
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DJ Sir Daniel: Michael, please let people know, um, how One Mic, the podcast, um, One Mic Black History, the podcast got started. Absolutely.

Michael Motley: Oh Wow, um, I saw a lot of Black history content that was being Created by people who weren't they didn't look like us. They didn't like me, you know, and I Felt like there was a void there. There was something, a void that I could feel. Um, and, and granted, I didn't, you know, I've never gone to college. I don't have a degree in African American studies, but I've always had a passion for it.

And I just felt like I could, you know, learn on the fly, learn with my audience. So I learned and, and, and study and deep dive into each one of these subjects. And then I, you know, put together a script for the, for the people. I, it's been a fun ride. It's been a fun ride. I've learned a lot.

Jay Ray: Man, oh man, like, so we originally got connected to one mic via your podcast. Of course. Um, you also have like a really active YouTube presence too with your podcast. Um, how did this all come together? Like, was it always like the plan that you were going to do it this way or did it kind of evolve over time?

Like, what was your process and pulling this all together?

Michael Motley: Wow. Well, when I was doing the cut, I was, that was the video podcast too. We were doing, I was putting out videos and, and, and, um, creating a podcast episode. So doing a video podcast is kind of always there. So even when I came up with the idea for one, Mike, I always knew that I was going to do a video podcast and, and honestly, it's exploded so much so that like, One of my videos, one video on YouTube has more views or more listens than my entire podcast in the history ever.

Like I got like 90, 000 views on the podcast and I got like 20 or so videos with like a hundred thousand views. It's

Jay Ray: amazing.

Michael Motley: I can't, I can't, I can't understand it.

[00:07:47] The Impact of One Mic Black History
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Jay Ray: What do you think, to that point, um, why do you think this content, because it is historical content. I remember tuning in on, I was on a road trip and I was listening to you talk about, um, uh, black wall street. I think I had caught something, but why do you think that this content is resonating so much with folks?

Michael Motley: live in a society right now where black people and especially black history is being marginalized and they want you to be increasingly disconnected from your history. So this type of people, and one of the things that I've always told myself is I was going to tell these stories, the stories as authentically as possible.

So even if the story is like, oh man, I probably wouldn't have said that. That still needs to be told because you need to understand that late people were whole, whole people. They weren't, they weren't a myth. Martin Luther King wasn't a mythological person. He was a real guy to put his shoes on, you know, one foot at a time.

You need to see the whole, the whole story.

Jay Ray: right.

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely. And that. And it takes responsible people to do that, to take up that home and be responsible for putting out that history, like you said. 

[00:09:03] Discussing Super Bowl Halftime Shows
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DJ Sir Daniel: So, um, your most recent episode of course, was in, um, response to the Superbowl and halftime shows, um, as a whole, and just tell us a bit about the episode and some of the surprises that people will find out once they listen to it regarding.

You know, yeah, halftime shows in the Super Bowl.

Michael Motley: Wow. Um, one of the things that was super interesting to me, cause you know, I'm a lifelong, you can see the Panther thing back there. I'm a lifelong football fan and I don't even remember, I don't remember. The time where there wasn't a Superbowl halftime show. So when I heard that, I was like, live a color.

Now that ain't right. I can't be right. I can't be right. So when I went and started researching it and looking into it, I was like, wow, this, this actually happened. Like, like Michael Jackson is the progenitor to the modern Superbowl halftime show. And that's, that's crazy to me. I don't even remember.

Honestly, don't remember. His performance and I kind of wish I did I probably should go go back and look like but since then I mean the idea that You got you know Beyonce and and Usher and Prince and Michael Jackson And all of these heavyweights that have carried on that legacy of creating a spectacle.

It's like no other sport Does this know what a sports championship game during that before 1992? I think 92 was the last year before 1992. It was just a regular intermission. Like nobody had any They didn't have any plans. It was just a way to get you from point a to point b You can go take a bio brace go get some more beer You know the idea of you putting on something for during the halftime is a super bowl creation and a super bowl thing They don't do this anywhere else.

So the fact that you turn this into like Even if you don't like football, I need to go see Usher. That's, that's amazing to me. I mean, even me, like I didn't leave my seat. I was sitting here like, yo, why y'all talking? I need you to stop playing and bring out Usher. Like,

Jay Ray: Right. was thinking the same thing. I'm like, when the Usher show started.

Michael Motley: What is Usher coming

DJ Sir Daniel: absolutely

Michael Motley: stop playing.

DJ Sir Daniel: said the same thing, and that's so, and that is a testament to black star power and, um, the amount of money. that black stars bring in. Um, is there a particular Super Bowl halftime performance that you that he resonates with you the most, Michael?

Michael Motley: I am a huge Prince fan. Love, love, love, love Prince. So that, that, that halftime show, that's like. I can't, you can't top it. Like, it doesn't matter what happens after that. This is my guy and I got my moment and we're here. We're good. Now I can die now.

Jay Ray: Yeah.

DJ Sir Daniel: who else can in the middle of you singing Purple Rain? Who else is gonna have the

Jay Ray: The rain come like the rain.

DJ Sir Daniel: while you're singing Purple Rain? If that isn't fine, I don't know what else is.

Michael Motley: Like he knew he knew.

Jay Ray: Hey, no, man, that okay. So fun story, by the way, Michael, um, as you go back and watch the Michael Jackson halftime show. So Daniel, I think you know this because we've talked about it, I think, but there's a new pot. There's a podcast that came out last year, which was actually my, one of my favorite podcasts was called, uh, think twice.

Michael Jackson. Um, shout out to the producers of that show. Um, it does make you think twice. That's all I'm gonna say. So go watch it. Anyway, one of the things I learned from that, I remember, um, watching Michael Jackson at, during the halftime show, so what we learned is that. What we heard as an audience watching on TV is not at all what happened in the stadium.

So fun fact about the Michael Jackson halftime show. It was the first time that the NFL had done this thing. Michael Jackson, who was at the height of his superpowers. This is 1993, two years after dangerous. This is Michael Jackson, right? So the audience did not know what. To do when Michael Jackson came out so we at home are hearing all of this applause According to the one according to think twice Michael Jackson.

They pumped in the audience sound for the TV In the stadium, it was not like that. The people in the stadium didn't know what to do because, you know, Michael was doing his Michael Jackson thing. He enters the stage, he stands there and he's going to stay in there for a smooth minute before he does anything.

The apparently the Super Bowl audience in 1993 had no idea what to do with that. They had never seen anything like it at the Superbowl. You got this black man who don't look like a black man standing up there, staring at me in these sunglasses. Is he broken? I don't know. But at home we heard applause apparently in the stadium that did not happen.

We only heard it because we were watching it. I say all this to say people often talk about They're talking about like the Alicia Keys moment and it's like, Oh, if you go back and watch the video, you know, that's not what happened. And I'm like, but here's the thing. Apparently they've been doing that sort of thing for years with the halftime show.

We're just learning about it now. So. Ooh, but in my favorite, ooh, what is my favorite halftime performance? Actually, I do think it's Beyonce's first performance. I think it's the 2013, uh, Beyonce performance. Although I highly enjoy Rihanna last year, and I highly enjoy Usher this year. But I think sitting at the top for me is that Beyonce.

What about you, Sir Daniel?

DJ Sir Daniel: I'm going to go with the Bruno Mars, Beyonce, um, only because I love the fact that she once again turned the turn the United States upside down on his head for having for doing the, um, formation song and talk about. In regards to black, um, uh, police on black people, violence. So that, that always resonates with me, but you know, as far as entrances are concerned, we cannot sleep on Madonna's entrance.

Madonna's entrance was kind of crazy. That whole procession, like. Visually, that was a spectacle that was a spectacle and we cannot, um, and yes, thank you, Mark McPherson for reminding us that every Super Bowl performance is Janet Jackson Appreciation Day. We will never forget. Uh, what happened to that sister and the almost decade long, uh, ban, shadow banning that she experienced from the, um, from the rest of the, from the world period and for her to come back from that, you know, it's definitely, we don't ever want to forget Janet.

We always speak Janet's name and we always remember Janet on that day. She knows that we, you know, that the people are still rooting for her and call it Janet Jackson appreciation day.

Jay Ray: Yeah, and one other thing you mentioned Madonna's entrance, you know, I still think, um, Diana Ross's exit was like legendary. She went up in the helicopter. I'm like, Oh, Miss Ross is going to get, they're going to bring a helicopter onto the field. They would never do this in 2020, uh, 2024, but they brought the helicopter onto the field and Diana Ross got in that joint and like flew out.

Right.

DJ Sir Daniel: okay. Um, Michael, you know, do you happen to know, like, as far as costs are concerned, like, was, is there a particular performance that stands out as the most costly or, you know, that has any kind of fiscal number behind it? That's like, whoa, that was, I don't know if we're expecting it to cost that much.

Michael Motley: don't, but when I was doing research, they mentioned that, um, that the performance don't get paid. And I kind of eagerly knew that, but they, you know, they cover costs and expenses and they were mentioning that that could, that could, uh, exceed a 13, 13, 14 million. Uh, I'm assuming around, around that number.

I mean, if you're going to tell me I can spend the 14 million, I'm going to spend 14 million. Yeah, it's going to

Jay Ray: is going to be hot. Like,

Michael Motley: everybody. Hey, you want a hotel room? You want to do a Superbowl? I got you. I got

DJ Sir Daniel: And then you could drop music. You can drop a whole project and it's going to sell like Rihanna hadn't put out a project in two years since, um, her performance and all of her catalog entered reentered the charts, how powerful a performance can be. So yeah, this is, it's not anything to, to shake a stick at that's for sure.

Jay Ray: indeed. So, Michael, for you, so going back to One Mic Black History, um, what is one of the most interesting Black History facts that you didn't know about that in doing your show that kind of sticks out to you was like, wow, I did not know that.

Michael Motley: Wow. I, I, I thought about this and I really kind of have to, I'm going to circle it kind of a circle, but I know a lot of people don't, they don't go to church as much anymore. And they ask, you know, what's the reason for the black church in the community? They don't, but there was a time when they were major contributors to the black community and during the early fifties, um, If you were an activist, the way they would normally, uh, get at you is through economic reprisals.

So somebody like Ruby Bridges, his parents, they were, they lost their jobs. They got banned from the supermarket. Um, uh, Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin both had to move out of Montgomery because they couldn't find jobs. They couldn't find any way to, to sustain themselves. So this is where Black ministers had a, a, an advantage because they were typically, uh, only beholden to their congregation.

And that congregation was typically owned by the black community or, or the, you know, their congregation. So they did, were not beholden to that regular black powers, that white power structure. So they couldn't be fired. And they were already leaders within the community. So when it came time to, to step up, they were a natural person to lead, to lead that movement because they weren't beholden to anybody, but that congregation, I granted there was some who mentioned who said that they only should serve the spiritual needs.

Of their congregation, but we left them we left them in 1960 um, so this kind of brings us a little bit to uh to set my second point because in 1955 when um Rosa parks was on the back of the bus and she refused to get up You know i'm saying and they organized a boycott It was only supposed to be one day and I decided that they were going to extend this indefinitely till they got what they wanted so they got uh, these buses, uh, segregated and desegregated.

Anyway, so when they will choose, uh, picking the leader for that movement, they called the, the Montgomery Improvement Association. And that group, like I said, was full of ministers. They were like, well, who's going to, who, who are we going to get to step up? And they chose a 26 year old minister from Alabama, from, uh, from, you know, um, from Atlanta.

And the rest seems like it's history. You're like, Oh, of course they did. But do you know why they chose him? It wasn't because they saw something important to him. They chose Martin Luther King because no one knew who he was. He was in Montgomery and he was so new that he had not learned. He did not have any enemies at the time.

So he was the perfect person to lead a movement because he didn't have any enemies on either side, you know? Yeah, so yeah, no timing and it turns out he was the perfect person, but they didn't know that

Jay Ray: Wow.

DJ Sir Daniel: And see, that's, that's the kind of information that needs to go viral, that needs to be celebrated and shared, um, in these podcast streets. So Michael, please let our audience know what's on the horizon for One Mic, uh, any particular episodes that you're super excited about. And of course, let them know how they can find you and stay in contact with you with regards to One Mic.

Michael Motley: So I have an episode coming out tonight at 12 o'clock it is about uh, Buffalo wings it's about buffalo wings and I didn't even notice it's about a a black man named, um John Young, who fights for control of who invented the Buffalo wing. So I think, I think you enjoy it. I found it with dope. I learned something I didn't know.

Um, so yeah, check, check that out. I'm going to try to explore, move outside of, um, outside of food. Start doing more episodes. I want to start delving more into, um, musical stories. So I think that's the next step is doing more music. I like that idea. You guys talked about sister Rosetta Tharp and, you know, Big Mama Thornton and people like that.

Like, I feel like those stories need to be told and they haven't, and they haven't been, not in a, in a genuine way. Um, so yeah, you can find me on threads at one Mike underscore history or Instagram at just by the same name on Twitter at one Mike. One Mike history. You want to reach out to me? I love talking history.

You want to talk, you can always message me, you know, it's kind of, it's kind of what I do and, uh, at one Mike history. com, you can check out all my episodes.

DJ Sir Daniel: important. Everybody, please give it up for Michael Motley. You know, we've truly enjoyed your presence on the show. Thank you for stopping by. Um, again, everybody, make sure you follow him and make sure you tune in to the latest episode because that just made me hungry.

Jay Ray: Right.

DJ Sir Daniel: Halloween. And there's always a story.

There's a story behind everything that we, that we hold dear to us now. And I guarantee you there's a Black person behind that story, J. Ray.

Jay Ray: Absolutely. Michael, thank you so much for joining us. And for all of y'all who are out there watching us, thank you all for hanging out in the chat. Stay tuned because on the other side of this segment, we are going to be talking about Usher. Um, and of course he just performed at the halftime show, but we're going to talk a bit about his career and just kind of reflect on Usher's place in black music history.

So stay tuned. We will be back, uh, here at Queue Points. We'll see y'all in a second.

[00:24:16] TROY Podcast Mid-Roll Ad
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[00:25:02] Reflecting on Usher's Career
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DJ Sir Daniel: And we are back. We're right smack dab in the middle of a conversation. First of all, shout out to Michael Motley, um, our guests, dropping those gems. And please, please go support that brother and his podcast.

One Mike, we all, we're all about preserving our history and Queue Points is here. We're two we're discussing now the history of one. Sure. It is pretty sure the fourth, I believe, and his. Not just the performance during the Super Bowl, but we've got to discuss his body of work and what I think most important about Usher, we got to talk about his showmanship because that is something that is truly made him the last of his kind.

Jay Ray: I

DJ Sir Daniel: Mark, Usher is the last of his kind, and I don't know if that's really a good thing to say because you, the audience, are, and the people, the young people after us, are the ones who are going to suffer because Usher is the last of his kind. Hmm.

Jay Ray: I think that's really interesting about Usher, and I think this halftime show really brought that to light, and I know that there has been a lot of, or I saw a lot of criticism about, oh my god, that wasn't that great, whatever, whatever. The number of things That Usher had to do on that stage in a very short amount of time Including skating.

I was like, I know ushers into skating. I didn't expect that to show up I wasn't surprised when it did but I didn't expect it cuz I'm like that. I don't know how they're gonna do it It's not enough time, right? So the amount of things that he had to do in the amount of time that he had you talking about his showmanship is Really important I hope what young performers take from the Usher performance and is that you have to hone your craft, right?

You have to take it really seriously because I think Usher's in a unique position in that he was a child star who's. Beginning and we'll talk about it when we get to the music piece his beginning wasn't certain You know what I'm saying? Like that first album. It wasn't certain that Usher was gonna pop You know what I'm saying?

Like the first album ended up kind of being a false start which I know that we'll get to you have to but What we knew then and what we know now is his talent. He was committed and his talent was like really big. There are just I there are names that people throw out that. that are like Usher. I don't think they can do what he did.

I, and listen, that is not to take away from the names that people have mentioned. I think those people are talented too. However, when we consider the amount of hits, That Usher has amassed over the course of his career that are universally loved. There's a special kind of talent that comes with that, that is unique.

And I don't know that there's a bunch of people that can do that.

DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah. When, when I see, of course, you know, on black Twitter specifically and social media likes to play those games and pit people against each other. I really do believe that they are trying to compare apples and oranges. That's what it boils down to me. Like I get why you want. Throw somebody else's name in the mix because those people are sons of usher.

Jay Ray: Oh!

DJ Sir Daniel: No, they, they are, they are sons of usher and they do exhibit qualities that could lead to some comparison, but there's just something, there's something there that's missing. There's a. Well, the kid has the goods. He's always had the goods. He's always had that. They've been able to put Usher in any situation.

Commercially, he fits. He's the boy next door. He is, you know, he's the heartthrob. He's the bad boy when he needs to He, you know, but he's also old enough to have come along where he had enough time to be influenced by a lot of great people that came before him and has hats off to his mother and his whole team.

They made sure that his training wasn't just vocal or wasn't just dance, but he was had a well rounding, a well rounded upbringing when it came to being a performer. Like, I think that was the game plan from the beginning was that I'm not just going to be a singer. I'm going to be a full fledged performer.

You know, I've got. Sammy Davis jr. To look up to I've got Michael Jackson. I've got Marvin Gaye. I've got Prince. I've got all these

Jay Ray: all of these people,

DJ Sir Daniel: Excuse me, all of these people to look up to and to aspire to, to look back on their performances and say, I can do that and, and put my spin on it as a young person. And you're absolutely right.

That first album, you know, we got to give it credit to the bad boy remix. If it wasn't for the bad boy remix, you know, we may have not. excuse me, gotten the usher that we have gotten today. There's a lot that came about. Thank God he was able to have that experience and have that, that sprinkle that sauce sprinkled on the music because yeah, because also remember J Ray, he was an adolescent when he recorded the album.

So of course his voice had to change.

Jay Ray: Yeah, so, um, it's interesting. I did reflect on Usher's first album. And this is something that we've, I've talked about years ago. And Sardinia, I'm sure we've even talked about this. When we reflect on Usher singing the songs that he was singing, like singing a Devante Swings, Can You Get With It at like 13.

It's like, okay, that's inappropriate. Of course, we were children, we were children too, right? So you don't see it that way, but now you're like, well, no, he should not have been singing that song. Um, but I will say as a testament to your point back to that, like his mom, the LaFace team at the time. Was able to shift gears right, you know, so, you know, the first album really was the bad boy treatment, of course But then it's like leaning into Atlanta where he from and like we need to get Jermaine Dupri And here,

DJ Sir Daniel: I think that's where we really see the magic. And again, not for nothing, Jermaine doesn't get the credit he deserves. Like a lot of people that have, if you look at usher and you look at Mariah Carey, people that have

Jay Ray: TLC, all of them,

DJ Sir Daniel: you see all those people that have had the opportunity to incubate with the Jermaine Dupri, he really has been able to give them some hits, some long lasting, legendary music.

Jay Ray: you know, it's so funny that you mentioned that, um, this is an aside, but revisiting the Jermaine Dupri era and the Janet stuff is actually not a bad thing. Like I do think I have always,

DJ Sir Daniel: It's pretty good.

Jay Ray: good. And I've been critical. I was, I've always been critical of the 20 while era, but. It's not all bad.

Like I'm able to go back on it now and be like, Oh, I see where they was going. I see where he was going. Um, so saying all that. So JD now, okay. The first record false start, false start. Good intro. I did not see the my way you make me wanna was like a It was a, it was a lightning rod that flew through the industry.

And as a, as a listener, that was Usher in his bag. I'm like, Oh no, this is what he needs to be doing.

DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah, you make me want to definitely, so I was a big fan of the, um, the, my way joint, like I really, Jermaine has a, has a knack of putting R& B singers over some really hard kicking beats and putting him on that remix. The my way remix was definitely dope. Um, it made the video turn a sure into a bonafide video star.

And, uh, a sex symbol, if you will, cause his chest kept popping out of everywhere. He was wearing less and less clothing, but, um, but no, but to your point about my way, not my way, but, um, you make me want, there's something about a song that impacts radio, like a, you make me want to, that is. I've absolutely geared to women, geared to that demographic, and imagine that he was able to have middle schoolers and women his mother's age, like, really be into him, which is kind of a weird place to be when you're, what, barely 16, 17 yourself.

And you've got girls that you're too young to talk to. And then you have women that have no business lusting after you at the same time, really enjoying your music and also propelling you to superstardom. All

Jay Ray: Cause if there's one thing we know about Usher, we know, we know what type of women Usher into, and he was probably like.

DJ Sir Daniel: the women's.

Jay Ray: it. He like older woman's um, you're right. And then I think to that point of the showmanship because I think there's the moment that we talk about when at least when I like recognized Beyonce and happened in a music video and I remember watching that dangerously.

I'm sorry. Um, uh, uh, Crazy in love and when she looked back at the camera at the end and I've actually talked to several people that was like No, that was a moment Where it was just like oh we saw this Usher had the same moment and you make me wonder when he slid out of them shoes at the end I'm, like, I don't know how they managed to do that, but that's a great ending to a video And yes, this young this young man is a star Um, and I and I think when you now take that, you know, you got a formula Because at this stage, now we get in, we're in usher superstar phase.

Right? So 8701 happens, you get the same incubation. So you got a Jermaine Dupri, you got a Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. You got a, uh, a Brian Michael Cox. You got like, yeah, you know, these people are like the ones. Right. And not for nothing, you don't have to call is one of my favorite Neptune's productions ever.

Yeah.

DJ Sir Daniel: something there has to be, I don't know if it's been studied, but somebody has to tell me what is it about a song that impacts radio that has that kind of effect. It was just the, the perfect combination of kick, the Neptunes definitely had a recognizable kick drum pattern that they use for their beats.

Then there was the synthesizers that, and, you know, and him gliding effortlessly, effortlessly over that music. The video on top of that, it's a conversation that he's having with us at the same time. And then we get to see the visual where he's getting ready with his friends and they're doing the

Jay Ray: And they doing the dance, the slide, the dance, you know, they're doing the slide dance that listen.

DJ Sir Daniel: That's a whole movement. That's a whole, as the kids say, a whole vibe that he cre that he created and made his own. You know, you wouldn't have an Omarion after that doing the, you know, the, the popping and this, where people were crumping and whatnot. I really do think that Usher used his influence in the dance medium and again, Going for the, you know, um, calling back on his influences like Michael Jackson and wanting to do something.

You could tell he wanted his own moment. Performers want their own moonwalk moment. Usher clearly had his moonwalk moment with those videos.

Jay Ray: Yeah.

DJ Sir Daniel: Speaking of Michael, that whole 8701 era, he had a chance to be on stage with his idol. Jackson on tribute

Jay Ray: At the mic. Yeah. So thinking about how important it is to, um, once again, hone your crafts, take it really seriously. Training. I can't say it enough. It's the training. 

[00:39:15] Usher's Diamond Selling Album and the Role of Controversy
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Jay Ray: So every stage it's like, no, we're upping the ante and then we really up the ante to what's now a diamond selling album. There's like how many it is not that many of them, especially black man.

I think Michael Jackson is one. The other one is Usher Raymond. Confessions was just such a big album.

DJ Sir Daniel: I want to, we got to touch on confessions and what kind of propelled professions professions, confessions to the heights that it went, because we also see that, um, controversy helped push that album to number one as well.

Jay Ray: I mean, of course.

DJ Sir Daniel: thing, right?

Jay Ray: Right, which is becoming a thing. So, you know, that's when we realized what type of women Usher was into because, you know, Chili was older than Usher and they was still a cute couple, right? But then we get Confessions, right? Which is, you know, leans into, like you said, the controversy to sell it.

You, of course, have Usher.

DJ Sir Daniel: But also adult, more adult subjects, you know, the whole dilemma over whether or not he had a baby on the way by somebody else was dealing and was dating chili.

Jay Ray: Yep.

DJ Sir Daniel: So that just made for a wonderful storm, but it was costly to the relationship, of course.

Jay Ray: Absolutely. And, um, I think we got one really sentimental, uh, slow jams from Usher during this era. Um, cause yeah, you still listen to these songs today and they're not necessarily begging and pleading. They are confessions, right, of here's what went down, right. And from my perspective, I will say. 

[00:41:15] Usher's Hit Song 'Yeah' and its Cultural Impact
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Jay Ray: One of my least favorite usher songs is one of the biggest hits of ushers career was of course on this record and that's yeah um,

DJ Sir Daniel: Oh, you're not a fan of it?

Jay Ray: I Am not a fan and you know what?

I think it was it was everybody's white whatever if you was going to Anything where white people was doing a thing? Yeah It was there. This is how we do it. Like it was play

DJ Sir Daniel: that's a great, that's a great, um, comparison. It really did become their disempowered, how we do it. Because it became, it became that stadium song.

Jay Ray: Yes.

DJ Sir Daniel: It was definitely athle like a Rockin Jack Jamz type of song. 

[00:42:00] The Influence of Atlanta and Crunk Music on Usher's Career
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DJ Sir Daniel: Um, you know, shout out to Lil Jon and the whole Crunkin E era, which is You know, huge for Atlanta.

Crunky was a definitely a moment. And, um, but yeah, I, I have to admit, I was in the, in the club when yeah, was really burning up the charts. I was working at the radio station and we had a night at, um, club envy. Street and yeah, was really was heading up the charts and the DJ played it at the right moment.

I mean, literally you could see all the program directors were there. We were all looking around at the people losing their minds to that song. And it was like, that song was added. Everywhere, it just kept going up and up the charts. It's just one of those infectious songs that I think Black people definitely like.

Jay Ray: Mm hmm.

[00:42:56] People Dislike 'OMG'
---

DJ Sir Daniel: But to your point, there's also another Usher anthem song that Black people absolutely hate. And I'll

Jay Ray: OMG

DJ Sir Daniel: um,

Jay Ray: much.

DJ Sir Daniel: OMG, I kind of, I love OMG one because to me it's not, I think it fits in perfectly in a, um, Baltimore, um, club set. And I think cause shout out to DJ Danny class, also another, um, Atlanta, Baltimore legend.

I get to, I got to work with him a couple of times here in Atlanta as well. He remixed that joint. And that went bananas. That is a certified club banger. So when people say they don't like, Oh, Oh my God, I'm kind of perplexed. Like Danny clasped his foot in that remix. What is it about? It's, it's Baltimore club music.

And we created Baltimore club. We love Baltimore club music.

Jay Ray: Okay, so I think the thing about OMG. 

[00:43:58] Usher's Musical Pivot and the Impact on His Career
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Jay Ray: First of all, by the way, this is where this is definitely in the Usher musical pivot era. This is definitely and Trey is in the chat like justice for OMG. I love that song. So listen, our homie Trey also is right there with you. Sir, Daniel. I'm not a fan. I don't like that song.

I will say this. I think OMG also suffers from the will. I am effect will. I am in that particular moment in time was producing some of the most kind of soulless music I had ever heard. And I think that's also the problem. So I think part of it is. Not liking OMG is a thing, but I, it could be possibly I'm gonna speak for me.

I'm gonna use the I statement. It could be part of it is that was that era of will. I am productions that I was not. It was way far from like the Justin Timberlake, uh, uh, future sex love sounds, whatever record, which I liked the will. I am stuff on that record. So I think that's part of it. I will say real quick, this is the era from a Usher album perspective that issues.

The, that eschews the, the kind of nucleus that made those, the, the 8701, the my way and the confessions records, like, you know, you get a Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, you get a Jermaine Dupri, you get the core right now, Usher is a superstar. So now he's going international. So he's doing these international club records and all of that.

And so this is. Usher's wilderness period in my book full of hits for usher, right? There's always bangers in that period like there's joints in there that I like but i'm like You got OMG in this period. I don't know

DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah, you know what we kind of skipped over, you know, uh, so with Usher's Super Bowl performance, a lot of stuff kept coming to the surface. 

[00:46:19] Why Don't Folks Like 'My Boo'
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DJ Sir Daniel: And one thing that I was, other thing that was really surprised about, you think people hate OMG, J Ray, people absolutely hate Maibu, and you know, when we were talking about

Jay Ray: My boo

DJ Sir Daniel: When we were talking about this off, off the air, you said that there's a specific reason why they don't like my boo.

And it actually came to fruition during the Super Bowl performance

Jay Ray: Absolutely, people do not like my boo because they do not see it for Alicia Keys Like my boo in my opinion is one of ushers best collaborations like I like that song. I, I enjoy it. So I wasn't surprised when Alicia Keys, when I heard that Alicia Keys was performing, I'm like, Oh, they're obviously going to do my boo. And when I saw people's reactions, I was like, Oh, y'all really, y'all really don't see it for her vocally. That's one thing, but I'm like, y'all don't see it for her at all.

DJ Sir Daniel: at all. And I think that was, and that was the main thing. And it was like, it became a meme immediately as soon as she hit that, or she didn't hit that note at the beginning, everybody kind of collectively did that. Ah, you had one job, Alicia, you had one job. And she did exactly what they said she was going to do.

And people, you're right. I was just really surprised, like how much people do not like this song. I could take it or leave it. It's one of those things. I think it's for me, it's just super, super saccharine. It's really sweet and pop. And, but I get it. It's, it's that, you know, high school sweetheart kind of song and, you know, I could take it or leave it, but, um, that moment of people songs that people don't like, it really kind of shocked me at how much people it's surprising, you know, you really have to be careful who you, um, do a duet with, because that could really, Change the way people feel about a song and there's another usher song.

I can't I just came to me that And I liked it at the time, but when I listened to the subject matter, I was like, this is kind of creepy This is bordering on trafficking and essay.

Jay Ray: which

DJ Sir Daniel: I'm talking about. Um, What is it with Nicki Minaj

Jay Ray: Oh,

DJ Sir Daniel: Oh, what is the

Jay Ray: I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't know this song. Do I?

DJ Sir Daniel: have to go take you to see Usher. Basically, Nicki Minaj is acting as a go between between a young girl and Usher.

Jay Ray: oh no. I don't. Okay.

DJ Sir Daniel: Somebody in the chat, please help me with the name of the song. It just completely left me. Lil Freak.

Jay Ray: So here's the, here's the, it's so funny that we're, we're having this conversation because I do think some of those cringe moments even show up in Usher's current record that I was like, I mean, I wouldn't sing that, but so saying all this to say, I think this.

Era of usher full of hits still there's still a lot of joints that that became a thing but there was also just Stuff like little freak. I think I know if I heard that song, I would probably know that song. Um, because there are some songs that I just blocked out, like OMG, I kind of blocked out. And then I'm like, Oh my God, he's doing the Superbowl.

He's going to have to do that. OMG. So it

DJ Sir Daniel: makes sense for the Super Bowl, though. It's in the

Jay Ray: perfect sense. So speaking of, okay, I know that we, we immediately went into the music. 

[00:50:07] Usher's Legacy and His Impact on the Music Industry
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Jay Ray: I w I do want to say, I, I know I said this earlier, but I think I want to underscore it again. Because Usher's catalog is so diverse, doing that many songs Across that many styles of music is difficult and the fact that they nailed that was really important.

I'm a, but I think the, the, the step further is the fact that there was like all these hidden Easter eggs that seven o'clock on the dot, which people was like, no, no, no. Like he was standing at seven o'clock and you looked at his shadow. So there's that the, the Easter egg about the tribute. You know what I'm saying?

To the, you know, the, the band director that passed away. Yeah. The drummer that passed away that the, the saluting Atlanta, the Atlanta chants at the end. Right. That brought me, that brought, that got me so hype just so there was all of these like little things that I think made that performance really special.

DJ Sir Daniel: And you know, we gotta, here's another thing that we have to give to Usher. Usher's Vegas residency is proof that, first of all, Vegas is not for washed up has beens. Like, people thought, or there used to be this thinking that you go to Vegas if your career is at an end. No, no, no, no, no. Vegas is somewhere you go where you're at the pinnacle and instead of you touring around, people come to see you.

And I think that's a true testament to his, to his talent and to his fandom. And so what also happens is that, that residency allowed him to perfect a show. And you know, that allowed him to, allowed for him to have, you know, say I've done the roller skating thing on stage. So I can do that. On a bigger stage in front of the Super Bowl because I've already done it.

I've done it a million times I'm not scared may have had like a slight Excuse me a slight snafu On stage, but it was seamless. I think blink you would have missed it But I think it needs to be said that him going to vegas is something That a lot of a lot of performers should consider.

Jay Ray: Well, because the beautiful thing about Vegas too, it's kind of like also doing Broadway is you have to do the show so frequently, right? So you can't, it's harder to phone it in, right? Because you have to, these people are paying a lot of money. This is a destination for them to see you. And they expected you to give them the show they want the same show Kiki Palmer got whatever key whatever show Kiki Palmer got I'm getting that show and so it trained I want that too, right?

So you get to train on that stage on those stages in Vegas So I agree. I really do think the Vegas show helped Usher to really fine tune, like what is like to really solidify, I think ultimately what his legacy will be as a performer. I'm looking forward to seeing how this tour goes. We, we're now kind of taking the Vegas show out of this one place and kind of taking it around the world.

Um, And I'm looking forward to that. Um, and I, I think the Vegas show is what probably, listen, this was strategic. I'm sure that Vegas shows was sold this super bowl thing. It was like, you see what this is given. You see all of this buzz, put this dip, put this brother up there on that stage and let him do this thing.

Um, which. 

[00:54:06] Usher's New Album 'Coming Home' and Its Reception
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Jay Ray: Also, of course, brings us to the fact that usher has a new record out. Um, it's called coming home. It is a record record where it's like a lot of songs. So it's 21, it's 21 songs. It's over an hour. Um, it's a record. Um, and I listened to the record and all the way through actually, which is a good sign, I listened all the way through.

Um, and there were many moments on the record that I enjoyed. I will say. I liked the record. I didn't dislike the record. I liked the record. I will say I am interested in performers getting out of the Single, the, the kind of like many producers, many writers moment, I really would have, I really want to hear Usher and Jermaine and all them brothers, like back in the studio, just kind of incubating a project that's like has a consistent sound and all of that.

I felt like coming home. Was, I was like, this is many homes because this is kind of a lot of different sounds where, you know what I mean? So that was the one thing about it that I was like, Ooh, this is a lot of different things and themes and sounds happening. it all where her is a thing, Trey, by the way, you know, that's top tier R& B.

DJ Sir Daniel: so I think what J. Ray, what you're experiencing and a lot of us are experiencing is that Usher, this album, of course, they knew was going to be launched in conjunction with the Super Bowl performance, which will propel him. Which will help out with sales right so then but we also got to remember that usher is every day People like usher who are in our age group are being reintroduced to a new generation each and every single time so I think what we're experiencing on the album on cuts that probably, you would probably throw away in your, you know, because it's not something that's in your wheelhouse, but he probably still has to do cuts to, to appeal to a certain generation so that he can have something to pull them in.

Whereas you and I, especially me listening with, with DJ ears, I'm listening for things that I can spin that are going to bring people on the floor. And I too would love for producers to think about the intros of these songs and what makes a great dance record because the people at Renaissance proved that the people want to dance still.

There's still room for Good, good old four, four beat on the floor for people to, to jam out to that can be played at the cookouts. There's still room for that. And Usher has that in him. Usher can have needs to have that in his catalog as he ventured steps over. He's in his mid forties. He's stepping into 50 and above.

He's going to need those Frankie Beverly and made records under his belt for when he did. May not have, be able to, to jump from off a pedestal like he used to, or may not be on the roller skates like he used to. So I, I agree with you in that aspect. I do want them, and they have it in them.

Jay Ray: hmm. Mm

DJ Sir Daniel: It's in them.

There's some, there are cuts on the album like that now. And I'm like, Oh, that could definitely put that into the mix. I think we just want to hear more of it, but I understand. I think they're coming from, uh, This is still a business and we still got to sell records and we still have to capitalize on this moment.

So there's gotta be something on there for everyone

Jay Ray: You know, and, and I do think, yeah, you're right. And I also get that in this streaming moment, you gotta have all the songs gotta hit the chart. That's such an interesting thing to me. Like I'm like. You know, there was so much more and we talked about this previously. There was just so much more variety on the charts when it wasn't like this.

What, what are you thinking? Your brain is turning.

DJ Sir Daniel: wonder, I would really, I would love it. Maybe this is an experiment and I don't know if usher, maybe the person for it is too late now. I wonder what would happen if they only released this album in physical copies. And what kind of response would that have if it was only available in physical copies and not relying on streaming per se?

Is that death to an artist today? If you're not on streaming platforms, or maybe at least for the first 30 days see what happens, you could still sell physical copies because a artist like Usher that used to sell physical, diamond physical copies. Could probably still do it. These new artists, I don't believe I, if you made physical copies only, I don't think that that would work for them.

But I'm really curious to know if that could work for a, for a, uh, uh, a heritage artist like Usher. Could you do that?

Jay Ray: You know, I think the challenge with physical copies and I love them. I mean, obviously we're, we're very analog. You, we got records all around us, right? I think the world has conspired. against us. And let me tell you, my brother, shout out to my brother, Ed, he is resisting, he is resisted. His requirement for cars is it has a CD player.

Like if it don't got a CD player, it's just not the car for me. And most new cars today don't have them, right? So I think the, the challenge with physical copies is you are, you are relegated to listening to that physical copy in a place. You can't be mobile, right? You know what I'm saying? Or you have to go an extra mile to make that a thing.

You know what I mean? Um, so, but I, I will say when you are hocking physical copies, I do think there is a different conversation that I think there's a different approach. You know what I mean? There's clearly a different approach that you would take

DJ Sir Daniel: Once

Jay Ray: from an artistic perspective. Because if you're selling a physical copy of something, that's when that that sequencing really becomes a thing where you're like, how do I get you for 0.

8

DJ Sir Daniel: was on the show on the, on the album.

Jay Ray: Right. You know, that's why them Janet Jackson records was so good. Not only were the songs good, but it was like, Oh no, she got you from here to here in like a consistent way. So you've knew how you were gotten, you were getting there. So I don't know, but I will say this gets me thinking about ushers legacy.

[01:01:48] The Future of Usher's Career and His Potential Retirement
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Jay Ray: And I'm, I'm curious to your thoughts on this. Like what do you think, what are your thoughts on ushers legacy now that we've kind of come out of this Superbowl moment?

DJ Sir Daniel: Oh, well, his legacy is, is solidified. If nothing, this, this whole moment with the Superbowl Vegas, it's all led up to this moment. His legacy is solidified and we are about to, I don't know what's going to happen next, but he really can write his own. Check if you would at this point of his career Like a beyonce He can he can dip and dive into whatever he wants to do at this point.

He has earned it He's earned the respect He has earned the um, the cultural cachet He's earned all of those things and so at this point, it's really his his game He can do whatever he wants to at this point. I don't think there's that there's There has, you know, he's even the hiccups that he's had along the way.

Jay Ray: Mm hmm.

DJ Sir Daniel: Usher hasn't had a whole lot of controversies. He's had some, some rough stuff here and there, you know, with the accusations and whatnot. Um, I think he's done a wonderful job of distancing himself from other people who are crumbling, who are crashing and burning, you know, he's, uh, he's done a wonderful job of distancing himself in that respect.

I think that part, you know, he's, he's now married again.

Jay Ray: Married again. Two small kids. They as cute as they wanna be.

DJ Sir Daniel: So now he's moving into another era where I do believe he is going to Really? He can call the shots on whatever he wants to do He might I don't even know what his label situation is it these

Jay Ray: Independent. Yeah. Independent.

DJ Sir Daniel: so yeah, he, he's one of those few artists.

Like that's why I called him the last of his kind. He is those artists, those few artists that are around these days that have paid enough dues. They've come along, they came along at the right. They came along to where they're young enough to still appeal and to still dancing, you know, do a two step in, you know, have all the sex appeal, but they've been in the game long enough to where they've earned.

That respect from the industry, not the listeners and the audience, but he's earned that respect from the industry to where he can do whatever he wants. He can release a fashion line. He can, if he wanted to, he could be a model. He, you know, he could release more colognes, just, he can concentrate on those things right now because he is truly a household name.

He is the product. It's not music anymore. Just about the music. Usher is the product and he can literally write his own check.

Jay Ray: Yeah. No, I absolutely agree with all of that. And, you know, to that point of you mentioning, you know, him, he just getting married. So shout out to usher because apparently they got married Super Bowl Sunday as well. And his his now wife is of course the mother of his two youngest children, but Speaking of that legacy piece, I had, I was grinning ear to ear in researching for this show because I saw, um, I went to usher social media and I saw great pictures of his two older children holding the younger children.

And I'm like, that's it. You know what I'm saying? Where you have like they're two older brothers, you know, just kind of holding these These they're they're little sisters because I think yes two little girls, I believe and That's also part of the legacy like usher Just being like a dad because I don't know that we we've realized ushers a 45 year old father of four children Has been married twice.

DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah. Yep. And, and those are things that aren't. Easy to do in the public eye. That's not something easy to do in the public eye. Like I said, he has had his, you know, his public trepidations when it comes to his personal life. But you know, I get it at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if after this tour, Oh, that's what I wanted to ask you.

If after this tour, he said he went and sat down somewhere and was like. And just sat back and didn't do anything for a while.

Jay Ray: That would actually be super smart. So I would not be surprised, especially him being 45 with two younger children. You need time. You know what I'm saying? You need time. And so this could be, let me get all this in now, because in about a year, Y'all ain't gonna hear from me for a minute. I'm gonna go, I'm gonna raise these little girls with my wife, be a husband, be a dad, and be able to take care of, solidify the future of my family and my children.

I would not be surprised. And you know what? And we talked about this on the show before because we talked about the fact that there's all of these people that were kind of eyeing retirement, like a Rihanna, like a Nicki, like a Drake. And I think it's important that it's okay to stop. It's just sure. And so I would not be surprised at all.

DJ Sir Daniel: absolutely. So this is what I wanted to ask you. Another thing that people were so we've had people kind of gagging where the prices for ushers concert and so there were people that were kind of like, hmm, you know, that's It's kind of, um, ballsy to ask that for that kind of money usher. You know, this isn't Vegas, but I, and I think a lot of people, the sticker shock was a lot of people really are still recovering from paying for those renaissance tickets.

Well, let's be honest,

Jay Ray: they, I get it. Pitch how people was gagging at the Janet prices too. Like, Ooh, do you know? Cause Jane is going back out. You know what I'm saying? If you like, Oh no, listen, you either going to go or you not. That's all that's what it is. You're gonna go where you not. Um, that's it. Like I, I don't know how much it costs to run a tour like what Usher's gonna do.

I have no idea. You know what I mean? It's probably it's I'm sure it's expensive. It's not costing 20. You know, he's got a huge crew. It's expensive to do so. Um,

DJ Sir Daniel: the Vegas residency wasn't cheap either. Factor in trap travel as well. So it's like, okay guys, calm down. You know, we are in an era where. concert tickets are heavily inflated, especially if you're in our age group, you know, back in the days, those 20 ticket days, they're done and gone, guys, I'm sorry, we were lucky enough to experience that, but those days are gone.

Jay Ray: Right. Sir, Daniel. I don't know if you saw this. This is an aside. This is not related to usher. Um, but did you see that there is a festival that's going to be happening in LA that's being headlined by like Diana Ross and I was like,

DJ Sir Daniel: The bill, this,

Jay Ray: Everybody was on this bill. I'm like, I want to go to LA Like this would be a festival.

I would go to people gonna be sitting down Like it's gonna be people gonna have good sense at this festival

DJ Sir Daniel: it's gonna be age appropriate for us. It is, listen, that I'm looking forward to, if that, if that's a thing and they not just throwing people's names on the bill like some of these other festivals, I am there. I think I would definitely go to that because, where else are you going to see Diana Ross and Lionel Richie on the same

Jay Ray: On the same bill headlining and Well, all of these people i'm like, oh this seems like the festival for me

DJ Sir Daniel: To be quite honest, J Ray, the likelihood of you and I going to a, say, like a Coachella is probably zero to none at this point. Because, especially since Beyoncé did Coachella and that's never gonna happen again, there's no reason for us. to Coachella and thank you, Mark. It's called the Fool in Love Festival.

Uh, the end of August, August 31st, 2024. I, we might need to look

Jay Ray: Listen,

DJ Sir Daniel: Pretty soon they're going to have clean restrooms and plenty of,

Jay Ray: right.

DJ Sir Daniel: and it's not in the desert, perhaps, you know,

Jay Ray: It's it's, and you know, I was, I literally saw that and I'm like, Oh, this feels like a thing. Like this feels, this feels appropriate.

DJ Sir Daniel: you know, you know, might need to be able to pull out your, um, linen pants and. And Jesus, we use those sandals that you've been, you know, that might

Jay Ray: know, I'm going to be doing a two step with a wonderful older woman there, I'm sure. She's going to be like, come on, baby. I'd be like, come on, man. Let's get it.

DJ Sir Daniel: the move for us, Jerry. Cause I, I can't do, you'll never catch me at like a Travis. Um, what's his name?

Jay Ray: No,

DJ Sir Daniel: His kind of

Jay Ray: Absolutely not. No.

DJ Sir Daniel: this might be for us, but I have thoroughly enjoyed this conversation about usher and you see, 

[01:11:29] The Importance of Voting and Making a Difference
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DJ Sir Daniel: before we close out J Ray, we do have to, um, give our condolences to the, uh, one person that lost their life and the 20 people that were injured during the Kansas city chiefs parade again, America. This, this is our legacy.

I think that I don't, I really do think if America for America wanted to do better, it would do better. It could be better. Unfortunately, we're still giving thoughts and prayers

Jay Ray: Vote, vote for, vote for people in your local elections because the change starts from the bottom up. So listen, you want people to not thoughts and prayers you to death vote for the people in your communities that ain't going thoughts and prayers that are going to actually get some stuff done in your local communities and your states so that you could send those people.

To get stuff done on a federal level. So my goodness. Yes. So sending love, um, want to definitely us also shout out our brother, Michael Motley for coming through and just being a joy. Thank you, Michael.

DJ Sir Daniel: That was absolutely fun. We absolutely enjoyed you, Michael. And, um, yeah, Jerry, let's let the people let them know one more time. You know, like you said, go vote for those people. You need to vote for Queue Points with your.

Jay Ray: absolutely. So first and foremost, we have new merch. store. cuepoints. com go get you some slow jams can heal us merch we're celebrating slow jams all year um so our first merch um drop for 2024 is out now so you can get you some stuff so that's one thing that you can do but thank you so much for listening thank you so much for watching go ahead and hit that subscribe button so you can get um information On, um, Queue Points, whenever we have a new, um, show or something for you to check out.

Also, please go on over to our newsletter and subscribe. Magazine. Queue Points. com That's where you can stay up with all things Queue Points as well. Um, but we just appreciate y'all so much. Um, and I wanna, um, Uh, definitely Kipper gave us the name in the, in YouTube. So I'm going to bring the name of the person that was killed in Kansas city.

DJ Lisa Lopez. Galvin was the person who was killed in Kansas city. So we speak her name and send love to her family and friends. America, we got to do better.

DJ Sir Daniel: Well, listen guys. What do we always say? J Ray in this life, you have a choice. You can either pick up the needle or you can let the record play. I am DJ sir, Daniel,

Jay Ray: My name is Jay Ray y'all

DJ Sir Daniel: and this has been Queue Points podcast, dropping the needle on black music history. We will see you on the next go round. Peace.

Jay Ray: peace.

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