WNTTLK (We Need To Talk)
Choszn Talks Parody Carol Virality, Growing Up in Church Choirs, John Legend Collab, Debut EP & More!
What if your journey to musical stardom started with a stray cat and a church choir? Join us as we chat with Choszn, a rising artist whose story is as unique as his name. From hilarious childhood memories to the profound impact of growing up in a church family, Choszn opens up about finding his sanctuary in music and drawing inspiration from legends like Mali Music and John Legend. Plus, get an exclusive sneak peek into his upcoming collaboration with John Legend himself.
Ever wondered how a parody Christmas carol could change someone's life? Listen to an artist recount their unexpected rise from Miami's strip clubs to viral fame on social media. Discover the power of seizing every opportunity as we explore this artist's transition from hip hop to R&B, the thrill of going viral overnight, and the incredible support from their family. This chapter is a testament to the unpredictable nature of the music industry and the magic of going viral.
As we round off the episode, feel the anticipation build for the debut EP of a new artist on the brink of greatness. Engage with "the chosen ones," the dedicated fanbase, in selecting the EP's title and learn about the tracks that have everyone buzzing, like "Voicemail" and "Diamond, Part 2." Get a behind-the-scenes look at the rigorous preparation for the upcoming tour, including daily vocal exercises and the wisdom of a vocal coach. This episode is a celebration of hard work, passion, and the vibrant community that fuels every artist's journey. Don't miss this inspiring conversation that promises to ignite your own creative pursuits.
Talk Soon! ✌🏾
Stay connected! Follow @wnttlk on all platforms.
What if your journey to musical stardom started with a stray cat and a church choir? Join us as we chat with Choszn, a rising artist whose story is as unique as his name. From hilarious childhood memories to the profound impact of growing up in a church family, Choszn opens up about finding his sanctuary in music and drawing inspiration from legends like Mali Music and John Legend. Plus, get an exclusive sneak peek into his upcoming collaboration with John Legend himself.
Ever wondered how a parody Christmas carol could change someone's life? Listen to an artist recount their unexpected rise from Miami's strip clubs to viral fame on social media. Discover the power of seizing every opportunity as we explore this artist's transition from hip hop to R&B, the thrill of going viral overnight, and the incredible support from their family. This chapter is a testament to the unpredictable nature of the music industry and the magic of going viral.
As we round off the episode, feel the anticipation build for the debut EP of a new artist on the brink of greatness. Engage with "the chosen ones," the dedicated fanbase, in selecting the EP's title and learn about the tracks that have everyone buzzing, like "Voicemail" and "Diamond, Part 2." Get a behind-the-scenes look at the rigorous preparation for the upcoming tour, including daily vocal exercises and the wisdom of a vocal coach. This episode is a celebration of hard work, passion, and the vibrant community that fuels every artist's journey. Don't miss this inspiring conversation that promises to ignite your own creative pursuits.
Talk Soon! ✌🏾
Stay connected! Follow @wnttlk on all platforms.
I can't believe I actually blinked when I was younger.
Speaker 2:So I used to. I love animals. So when I was in Miami there was this cat that would come by our house all the time. But my family is, like, afraid of cats. I mean one time everybody would sleep. I was just outside. We had a hoop outside, I was playing. I just feel the cat's tail come around my foot. I'm like whoa. So I pick up the cat and I bring it in the house.
Speaker 1:I'm like mom look.
Speaker 2:You brought it in the house. My mother ran outside. I swear to God, I swear to God. My mother ran outside and all my siblings woke up, like yo. What's going on, jesus?
Speaker 1:She cursed you out, right.
Speaker 2:Definitely had to In parts of her, for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm not going to lie. Picking up a straight cat and bringing it in the crib is crazy.
Speaker 2:What's up you guys? It's your boy Chosen. My song Voicemail is out now. And what's up, nyla? We need to talk.
Speaker 1:What's going on, guys, and welcome to another episode of we Need to Talk. I'm Nylah Simone. Today, I'm joined by a very special guest. I got chosen in the building.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me, thank you, thank you, thank you Of course.
Speaker 1:How are you?
Speaker 2:I'm doing amazing actually. How are you?
Speaker 1:I'm good. I know you're prepping for tour. I can't wait to see you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, this tour is about to be crazy.
Speaker 1:About to be crazy.
Speaker 2:Crazy Is this your first tour, no, and I was riding around with their camp for like two or three cities and it was an amazing experience. And you know it was crazy because that was like when I really just came into the game. So like just being on tour that early was just a blessing, honestly.
Speaker 1:All right, so talk to me about your backstory, because you've already been on tour. You already have already been on tour. You already have to me a classic record in the books but you know we'll let the world get to that for sure. Um how long have you been doing this?
Speaker 2:um, I want to say I've been doing this for about like three years three years three years.
Speaker 2:I've always been singing. I come from a church family. I'm a pastor's kid, um, so music, music has always been in my blood, um, it's always been a part of me. There's nothing I can run away from or do I want to run away from. It's just something that's like. Music has been my escape since I was a kid. So whatever I was going through, music has always been that number one thing that I can always go to and it never fails me every single time. My father and my grandmother were both singers. My father played guitar, piano and drums, so I get singing from both sides of the family. So that's why I said music can never escape, and I was looking around with it.
Speaker 2:I learned instruments by myself, just off of my own curiosity. Like, music has always been a love for me. I've always been interested in it. It's never got boring to me. You know, some days you could. You know, sometimes you can do things too much and get boring after a while. So, like, it's just like. This has been an amazing process that god has brought me this far and, um, if you would have asked me where I would be, like two or three years ago, I would not sit here. Everything has been a blessing. That's dope.
Speaker 1:That's how you know you were working in God's alignment. Never would you expect right, never. Okay, so two things you talked about. You said music was always your go-to. What were the go-to? I guess records or the go-to musical things that you did to cope or grieve or just get the energy you were looking for.
Speaker 2:I didn't really start writing music till about three years ago, but I was always listening to one of my favorite artists. His name is Molly Music, which I just met. He I just met him like not a couple not too long ago for the first time, which was amazing, and um his I based my sound around him. I'll say that he's been one of my biggest inspirations and just the topics and like seeing him live he's one of the reasons that I'm a very good live performer, like I'm not afraid to interact with a crowd, I'm not afraid to talk to me. So like that's really one of my biggest um inspirations. Um, who else?
Speaker 1:john legend, john legend I can see that one.
Speaker 2:I can yeah I'm not gonna say too much, but john legend for sure, uh what you mean. You're not gonna say too much mr legend might have given me a record. What, yes, he might have.
Speaker 1:What.
Speaker 2:Yes, he has.
Speaker 1:And when is that record allegedly dropping?
Speaker 2:I don't know. Yes, but it's been such a blessing, Thankful to connections that me and my team have. But, yes, he's given me a record and we've finished the record and I can't wait for the world to hear that, but we have so many things in the boat just waiting for you guys. Yes, but that's now.
Speaker 1:That's incredible. I'm really happy for you.
Speaker 2:Yes, and my career is full of circle moments, literally because people I grew up listening to I'm not mean like for, for instance, I just met Meghan Trainor at my label, like randomly it was just like wow she was cool she's amazing, she's amazing I love this chosen us to help listen, man, I'm a kid out of Miami, broad County, florida. Oh yeah, I'm out of.
Speaker 1:I'm a kid out of miami, broad county, florida, oh yeah, yeah, I'm out of broad county, I'm out of pompano I know we, yeah, we have a lot to talk about, all right, so how did you end up in the tri-state?
Speaker 2:all right, here we go. All right, so I was, so I I started out doing shows at like strip clubs and lounges In Florida.
Speaker 1:Yes, in Florida.
Speaker 2:Okay, In Miami I started. I did that for about like a year and a half.
Speaker 1:You're singing at the strip club.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I had.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was not scared they be playing records like that at the strip club. I wasn't singing R&B, I was actually hip hop before. I was not scared they be playing records like that in strip clubs.
Speaker 2:I wasn't singing R&B. I was actually hip hop before I was R&B.
Speaker 1:What? Oh wait a minute, what. You was rapping, Singing rap, yeah.
Speaker 2:I was hip hop before I was R&B Hold on.
Speaker 1:I need to. I gotta go back in the vault. What?
Speaker 2:I'll sing you some records. I was hip-hop before I was.
Speaker 2:R&B. You know, I'm glad it went like that, because now I can do the best of both worlds now, thanks to my team, because it's like the artist development is very important and I didn't realize it until I met my team, like you really got to work and perfect your craft to really get to where you need to go realistically. But yeah, yeah, I was in Florida, I was doing that for about like a year and a half and um, me and my brothers, we came up with something called Christmas Carols, so we did that. We blew up on the shade room like two, two years in a row. So we did that the first year, you know, we thought it was just a parody. We were just like Do you know, the Booster man, the Booster man, the Booster man it was some silly stuff. And then, like it went viral and we were like yeah, it was cool, it was great. We just thought that was one year. But then all our fans were like we need another one.
Speaker 2:We need y'all to come back next year some new stuff. So, man, my homeboy's like we gotta take advantage of this. So we like okay. So we were in the car. We created all our videos in the car. Literally, it's my homeboy, kari, in the front driver's seat, my homeboy, uh, jimmy, in the passenger seat and I'm in the back seat, just in the middle. So that was.
Speaker 2:That was the foundation of all the videos, and like I really wasn't expecting it to go that crazy, especially so fast, like we posted it and we went to sleep, remember, I woke up and I'm like I'm not getting all these followers. Like where are these followers coming from? I didn't have Twitter yet. I didn't have Twitter yet. So I was like everybody's like yo. I found you on Twitter. I found you on Twitter. I'm like Twitter. I'm like Twitter. I don't got Twitter. How y'all find me on Twitter? Somebody I forgot her name, but this girl reposted our TikTok video on Twitter and I remember I was at one of my OG studios in Miami getting ready to record a record and I looked on Twitter. That video had about like six to seven million during that night.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:And everybody was reacting to it on tiktok and I'm like what's going on because, like you know, that's my first time and like really going viral. Yeah, so I was like I was hyped. I was like man, I'm about to. I'm like yo, I'm about to be. I was like it's great, it's up for me and like God just made so many blessings come from that, like so many and um, the second year, we went viral. I went viral. We went viral on uh, instagram on the shade room, and the video started out with us. We were actually doing like going to somebody's house and doing the hood Christmas carol, like I was playing guitar and we had like Kari, my home boy, kari's family, singing.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So the video is Kari's little brother in the middle and all of a sudden they're singing their part and the camera pans to the left and you just see me with like a black turban on Dickie's outfit grills in with a guitar singing. You don't see that? See, I'm just yeah. So I'm just singing and like at the time I was getting ready to go to a show because remember I was doing like two, three shows a night. So like, I'm just like, let me just get this content in before I go. So that's why I was dressed like that. I was like, literally, this is why I was just like I was, let me come, let's do this. And I did that content and then I don't know what happened. I just Kari called me. He was like yo, bro, check your DM. Like right now I checked my DM. It said the shade room. I was like whoa. I was like whoa, whoa, whoa and like I'm checking the comments, everybody's like yo, whoa, whoa. And I'm checking the comments. Everybody's like yo, this is dope, but who's that on guitar? Who's that? Who's that? Who's that? Who's that? He needs a record deal. He needs a record deal. He needs a record deal.
Speaker 2:And there were so many people hitting my DM from trying to manage me and sign me, and I was like I really move on spiritual leading, so like I I made sure before I did anything I prayed on it for first and um, I was just like I'm not the type to just jump at deals and stuff, so I'm like god gave me the wisdom to like, make the right decision. Yeah, and um, one of the people that reached out to me is one of my managers, ken Penn, and Ken Penn made me feel like he made me feel like this was like brotherhood instead of a business. In In reality it is a business. But if you look at my team now, if you put a camera on my team for a good hour, you will see how much of a brotherhood we are, and I couldn't ask for nothing more. Literally, it's been such a blessing.
Speaker 2:God was the reason I moved on Kemper because he told me yes, five. So I was like everything's just been so fire and like just I know it's God because the amount of times I've heard somebody tell me they asked me how long you guys been working there. I was like we only been working there for like a year. They're like what? I'm like, yeah, we only been working together for like a year. That don't even make sense. I'm like no, they feel like we've been together for like four years.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like, but, like I said, it's just a blessing. And um, God just keeps showing his greatness over my career and, um, I feel like he has a plan for me and I feel like I'm walking in those steps and I feel like everybody around me is a part of my journey and I'm a part of theirs and, um, I just can't wait to see what God does.
Speaker 1:Honestly, you and I both. Man, I got a front row seat. I'll be at every show in the city. Yes, yes um, yeah, that's, that's a really dope story. Um, how does your, your parents, feel about it? I didn't know you were a pastor's son.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, yes, my mother is okay. So it's a mixed story kind of. So my father he passed away when I was four and my mother I'm Jamaican I'm Jamaican. And what's your son, I'm Aquarius, okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm Jamaican. I'm Jamaican, and what's your?
Speaker 2:sign I'm Aquarius.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm Jamaican, so.
Speaker 1:Jamaican and Aquarius Jesus. Yeah you're a nice guy and everything but whoa those cards. All right, go ahead Red flag. Yeah, but and he from Miami. Oh, my God, sexy Red told us about you.
Speaker 2:No, let me stop, I'm not that bad, no, but my family is very supportive, very supportive. They just really wanted to make sure that I was stable because I'm the youngest in my family, so that was really one of their biggest worries just to make sure that I was stable because I'm the youngest in my family, so that was really one of their biggest worries, just to make sure that I'm stable. So it took them a while to really understand what I was going for, because they thought, hey, make sure you go to school, make sure you do what you got to do, go to college, make sure you have a good job. And I'm like it didn't feel right being at a job, like it didn't feel right at all, like just being there. It would, it would never work out and I would always question myself, like, why, like what's going on?
Speaker 2:you'd be doing something yeah, I'd be doing something like I'm doing, like why? Like, why is this not working?
Speaker 2:and like I just realized it's not for me gospel music, it's not for you, like I have something better for you, but you just have to do it yeah, like you have to stay patient and do it, and I'm like I'm a young kid, I'm like I'm still in high school, I'm like, yo, what's going on? I'm stressing myself and like there was a point where my family I wasn't talking to my family because they were so upset at the fact that, like I dropped out of school, I was like I couldn't do like whatever what they were expecting me to do and I'm just like, it's just not for me, for me. So I took it upon myself to that's us. That's when I literally started to go out to Miami to like make a name for myself. That's the only reason I was out there. Literally I was making me for myself. I was going putting the face to a name, the name, my name started going around chosen, chosen, who's chosen from you, and like my name went through like three different spellings. I ain't go. It went through like three different spells. They had like a down sign, I had an exclamation, it was everything. So it was a lot.
Speaker 2:But yeah, and like I'm so, I am so glad that I did that when I was young, because I'm one thing if anybody knows me, they know I always follow my heart every single time, every single time. And, like I said, I'm very big on spiritual leading. So if I know that God is telling me don't worry, son, I'm going to take care of you, you're going to be okay, I'm going to listen every time. So, even though I was stressing myself, that's my flesh stressing myself, but I know, I knew I was gonna be okay, I knew it and, um, I was just doing every night, even on days when I ain't feel like getting up going, I was driving to my. I stayed in Broward, so you know Browar, sometimes the traffic is bad. It'd be like an hour and some change to get there. So there would be some days I didn't eat. I would just go straight there perform, do three shows, come back at like 6 am and just like my whole sleep schedule was messed up so at what age were you?
Speaker 2:I was doing this from like 18, no 17 to 18. Yeah what?
Speaker 1:um, because it's interesting how I feel like a lot of people have that story where, like, the family doesn't get it and they think you're going mad because you have this vision that only you see. But you got to do it anyway and let everybody think you're crazy. Like, how did you even, I guess, muster up the strength to do it, despite what people think of you, especially your close you know what I mean Like your family?
Speaker 2:and stuff. People tell me I'm strong, I'm a strong person. Sometimes I don't feel it, but Strong-headed, you mean.
Speaker 2:I can be. But no, that's not what I meant. No, but people tell me I'm a very strong person. I don't let things knock me off my balance. So, like I said, if I know something's for me, I'm going to go for it. And I really, really had to believe in myself Because when I was younger, I was always looking for somebody to believe in me and I sat down with myself and I was like I have to start believing in myself, I have to work towards it. I have to believe in myself Because I can't expect it from nobody else if I don't do it. That's powerful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I have to. That's what really got me through it. I mustered myself to get up, drive, stay there, listen, my social media be running out. After I perform I'll be ready to go home. But I got to connect with different artists. Like I said, get my name out there. I have to be there because it's a part of my journey, it's part of what I gotta do. It was. It was all worth. I don't regret anything. I don't regret anything at all because till now, I still have like connections in Florida, like people see me from doing the shows in Miami. Until now they're like wow. Yeah, they're like wow, and you're just getting started.
Speaker 2:Just getting started. We about to take over. Yeah, I brought something.
Speaker 1:Love that. Wow, that's such a dope story, very, very inspiring. I like that you're able to have that talk with yourself. I feel like so many people aren't able to do that, and you did that at like 17. Like that's crazy. There's some 30 year olds, 40 year olds, that need to have that same conversation with themselves. But, um, all right, so let's talk about diamonds gotcha love that record.
Speaker 1:That is, that is a classic, thank you. Thank you me like such a beautiful record, um amazing performance on the record, and just talk to me about creating that record okay.
Speaker 2:So it's funny because, um okay. So before, when I was doing her christmas carols, I dropped before I signed with my team I dropped an album called the Awakening, and Diamond was actually on there. I was on that record. So when I connected with Ken Penn, my manager, he was asking for some records.
Speaker 1:Wait this was, it was already out.
Speaker 2:It was already out.
Speaker 2:Ah it was already out. So we were like he was like yeah, send me some records, let's figure out what we can do, you know, if we gotta write some more records. And I sent him my album and some other records and he heard Diamond. He was like yo, this is it. And yeah, shout out to Kevin, shout out to him. Yeah, he was like this is it. I remember I was like this is it. I remember I was like okay, if you would have asked me of all the songs on that album, if I would have thought it would have blew up, it wouldn't have been Diamond. Really, I promise you.
Speaker 1:So he said I was like Wow, you really overlooked that record, so you never even pushed that record prior.
Speaker 2:The album just came out but I had to take it down because we were going to redo Diamond. I took down the album out, but I had I had to take it down because we were going to redo diamond. I took down that. So even a lot of people on my tick tock and instagram they're like yo, where's that record? There was that album at. I was like I had to take it down because diamond was on there.
Speaker 2:So, but the thing about the diamond was much slower. It doesn't sound like the diamond does now really, yes, it was much slower. Vocal execution wasn't as great, production was a new grade. So. But he heard we had this thing we like to call skeletons, so we can hear skeletons in records. We don't care who's singing it, we care about the song. Yeah, so he heard a skeleton, but keep in mind I'm young, I'm immature in the music world, so my ears not as trained. Yes, yes. So he's like okay, we're going, gonna speed up Diamond, we're gonna change the key, we're gonna recut it maybe add, take away some words, hear some melodies.
Speaker 1:I'm just like you like all this for this. You like all this for this. I'm like all right.
Speaker 2:I was like all right, cool, and like I remember what happened first. I think I recut the record first Because before it was just a guitar loop I cut the record. I didn't hear the record for like another two, three weeks, because Ken Penn is the type of person of person like he will not show you the record until he feels like it's good enough for you to hear, oh my god, two artists two artists. Listen, he's a song, he's a songwriter somebody's gonna have to pull.
Speaker 1:You know what? Add me in the group. Check, get the record out. It's done.
Speaker 2:That's how that's how I mean. But listen I. I really.
Speaker 2:That's one thing I really appreciate, because we have songs yeah and I'm so happy about that because that's one of the main things I was focused on signing. I was like I want to have songs that people can sing over and over and over again. Yeah, and um, my catalog right now it's up there. It's up there, I'm gonna say that, but no, it's definitely up there. I can't wait for you guys to hear what I got. But, um, yeah, I sent him the thing, he sped it up, he showed me, he showed it to me like two, three weeks later and, um, I was like whoa, I was like this is such a difference.
Speaker 2:But I don't know, I don't how many mixes or versions of Diamond did we have? A lot, we had a lot. It was a very, very high number of versions of Diamond we had and um, but at the end of the day it went through so much. It had to be. It wasn't microwaved, it was cooked, seasoned, everything. It's an amazing record and I'm so proud of it, I'm so proud of how far it's come and I can't wait for the rest of the world to hear it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, love, love, love. No pun intended. Love, love, love, love love, love. Talk to me about writing the record Writing the record. Like the message behind it.
Speaker 2:Got you, so I was a mom. There was this girl.
Speaker 1:He said I was a mom, yeah, go ahead?
Speaker 2:No, I promise, I wasn't, I wasn't. So when I go to sleep, sometimes instead of you know, sometimes people usually play rain and go to sleep I play beats, like on youtube. I just let beats go, so I went to sleep. Yeah, so I went to sleep. I went to sleep and, like I remember I just came back from a show. It was like 2 am. I went to sleep, I woke up and I heard the. I'm like I thought it was my dream at first, but I woke up and I heard the. I thought it was in my dream at first, but I woke up and I seen it on TV. I literally I kid you not.
Speaker 2:I propped up, I grabbed my phone I don't like writing on paper, I'd rather type in my notes so I propped up and I just heard I need love, love, love, love, love, love, da-da-, love, love, love, love. I didn't have the words yet, but I just kept saying I need love, love, love, love, love, love. So I'm like, yeah, that's the melody for sure. And then, once I wrote the chorus I need everything just started. Sometimes I see you in my dreams. So I was like that's why I started out like that, because I heard the beat, I felt like it was in my dreams. So I was like, oh, that's perfect.
Speaker 2:So the back story of it was this girl and she was on the phone. Actually, I literally called. I was like, yeah, I'm going to call you right back. I hung up. I was like, yeah, I'm going to call you right back. Wow, I hung up. I was like I'm going to call you right back and I wrote the song Wow, that's dope.
Speaker 1:That's actually really, really dope. I love that. Thanks, shout out to the inspiration man. Glad I got that record. Okay so, diamond. And then I know you're about to drop a new record. A new record just dropped. Actually, voicemail is out now. Talk to me about the message behind that. This was a newer record, though, right.
Speaker 2:Yes, or is this like a oldie but goodie? No, this is definitely a newer record.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:It's funny. I wrote this record around the middle of the year last year and I don't know he's rubbing off on me. I like the whole record, so it's good enough to show him. So he's rubbing off on me so I kept it. I didn't show it to him. He's like yeah, man, we could always use some songs. I'm like for sure, like in my back of my head. I'm like bro, I got mad songs. I should not have this on you. Yet I got voicemail and I'm like I edited that song like four times and then something in my head I was listening to it and I was like something in my head just like showed to him. I showed it to him. He was like yo, bro, what's this? It's called voicemail. He was like when you wrote this, I was like about a couple months ago. He was like you mean, show me this. I was like no, but voicemail is about.
Speaker 2:I feel like a lot of people in this generation, we always have that one person that we know we cannot stop loving. But sometimes we need to, and sometimes it's so hard to just be like I need to put me first. So if you listen to the chorus, it's Cause I gotta put me first. I'm fighting all these fears in my mind. I'm fighting all the fears of letting you go. No, you didn't take the hurt. No, I can't keep calling your line. So it was like I gotta.
Speaker 2:Sometimes a peaceful voicemail is a message I gotta just let you go for the betterment of myself. It's really hard to. Sometimes we feel like nobody wants to be alone. I'm gonna say like nobody wants to be alone. Nobody wants to be alone. I'm gonna say like, no, but nobody wants to be alone. Nobody wants to be by themselves. As much as somebody would say it, it would get depressing after well, somebody always needs that companion, or somebody just needs somebody around to just be there. And um, I feel like that shouldn't be something we're scared of, like it's okay, it's okay to not want to be alone, but there's a point where you gotta be like I gotta protect myself yeah, yeah, there's a difference between toxic.
Speaker 2:There's a difference between yeah, like self-care there's a difference and people I feel like people really confuse the two a lot. And um, that's really the meaning of a song is a wake up call. I gotta put me first it's a wake-up call. Nice, that's really what meaning of a song is a wake up call. I gotta put me first, it's a wake up call. Nice, that's really what it is.
Speaker 1:I like that. That's dope. Actually, I don't think I picked that up when I listened, but now I gotta re-listen and picture it better For those who are new to Chosen. If you had to pick the Chosen starter pack, like yo, these are the records. You should know from me if I'm tapping it.
Speaker 2:What are those three For right now? Diamond is the only one that's out right now on voicemail, but I have an EP dropping next month, yay.
Speaker 1:All right, wait, let's talk about that. So you got an EP dropping. What's it called? How many tracks? Is there any features?
Speaker 2:Listen, I'm excited about it. We haven't even figured out the name yet. Oh my God, Is it really coming then? No, it really is.
Speaker 2:I promise you All right, they never named it, but I want my fans to just come together. If you haven't, please follow my Instagram. You can join my channel, my broadcast channel. Listen, I wanna. I want all my fans to tap in and just let's come together. Like I have a fan base called the chosen ones. So I'm like let's come together and you know, just figure out a title and just like this it's my first album like officially. So I'm like this is so exciting for me as a new artist and, um, I just can't wait for you guys to hear because I got some records that are crazy. You guys can look out for voicemail on there. Along with Diamond, part 2, featuring the artist, there's another song called Comfortable, which is actually a song from Brent Friars. Okay, and there's some heat on there. I just want y'all to be prepared. If y'all see me at the grand prixs next year, just say I'll be there now man, all right, and you said that's dropping next month.
Speaker 1:Yes, okay, so new project dropping. Are we getting videos? I know you're gonna be on tour, maybe vlogs oh, yeah, for sure, vlog for sure, for sure.
Speaker 2:These shows are gonna be dope, I think. I think atl and brooklyn almost sold out for tour. But yeah, we're going. We're going on tour in three days, three days three days three days. First stop is dallas. Um, it just came from texas, actually from south by southwest, not too long ago.
Speaker 1:And it's you and artists.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:So how did you guys link up, because I know y'all got the features together.
Speaker 2:This is a crazy story. This is a crazy story because when I found, when me and Ken first started working together and I would come down here, I would go between Florida and New York so we would stay with a friend and I would stay downstairs and I would find artists' major stage performance and I'm like, who is this Like fire, like this is crazy. And I was addicted to that song, sober for a Minute, and I showed Ken he was like, oh yeah, that's fire, but little did I know. He already knew who that was, but he knew the manager and everything. I was like all right, small world. And then, um, I was like I wonder what a good feature would be for Diamond and like we were thinking of so many different names and, um, ken Penn being Penn, he didn't say anything, he was just like he's like he don't even know.
Speaker 1:It's already done. I got it he's like I got it.
Speaker 2:And then he likes surprises, ken does not. Oh my God, if one thing he does not, he would just send you something and be like yo, take a listen to this for me. Let me know what you think. This man sent me her verse without me even knowing who the feature was. I recognized the voice while I was listening to it. I'm like can you stop playing with me? Right now he's like I'm not playing. So I'm like is this what I think it is? He was like yeah.
Speaker 2:I was like how did you even make that happen? And he told me the backstory. I was like, like I said, my career is full of circle moments. So I'm like that was just an amazing, amazing, amazing time to just be an artist. So I'm getting to connect with people I've heard and seen online Fans of. Yeah, like, and I met artists Vibe, cool.
Speaker 2:That's my sister for sure. She's chill, always showing love, always supporting, and you know it's love back and forth. Man, her and the team Shout out to Fame. They're always supporting. And I remember I wish we got it on video. But we were in the studio recording and Fame called and then Ken was like Cho, come out. And then she was like y'all wanna go on tour. I was like what she was like y'all wanna go on tour. I was like duh, I'm like sure, let's go. And then, like it went from there. I wish we got it on video, that would've been great content that would've been great content.
Speaker 2:That would've started a documentary, but it was just. It's been so dope to just be thought of and that like it's amazing yeah and it's crazy cause we're going on tour the same around the same time.
Speaker 1:I was on tour last year too, that's going to be a dope tour, the two of you guys. Thanks. I'm definitely going to lose my voice, but it's cool, I'm drinking before and after.
Speaker 2:Yes, me too, me too, me too, he said me too.
Speaker 1:So wait, have you been doing some exercises to prepare for tour?
Speaker 2:I know you got it. I've been preparing, preparing for tour. Shout out my vocal coach, Gordon Chambers how does an artist prepare?
Speaker 1:Do you actually have to, because you can't overuse your voice prior to it, right? So how do you prepare?
Speaker 2:It's a daily thing. It's not like just before. It's a daily thing. You got to make sure you stay in shape. You got to eat right. You can't eat dairy. It's not good to drink cold drinks before um. It's always good to keep your voice warm and, um, I learned that, like I said, from my vocal coach. Gordon chambers has been a tremendous help to me before shows and um, he's just been helping me stay consistent and make it a part of my day. So vocal warm-ups are a part of my day every time. Wow, so that's how I make sure. Because he made it clear to me that if somebody were to call me and be like, hey, I have an open slot for a performance tonight, I need you. Yeah, you got to be ready. I got to be ready, true. Every single time, you never know who's going to call, so I'm like you got to be prepared. So that's, it's an everyday thing, honestly.
Speaker 1:I think it's a good lineup, though, between the two of you, because I think you guys are definitely like leaders of the next for R&B. Oh yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2:She got some other dope artists on there too. I just can't wait to see. Yeah, Remy, so many people. I just can't wait.
Speaker 1:Love that I got to tap in.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 1:All right, so let's play a game.
Speaker 2:All right, set it up, I'm competitive.
Speaker 1:You're the only one playing.
Speaker 2:All right, I'm just playing that out. All right, fucking Aquarius, I'm just making. I'm just I'm just filling that up. Alright, I'm just like, fucking Aquarius, I'm just saying. I'm just saying, man, I'm an athlete, so I'm just being over the top.
Speaker 1:Alright, the older I get, the less I blink.
Speaker 2:You have to fill in the blanks, sorry.
Speaker 1:The older I get, the less I sleep. Yeah, yeah, it sucks.
Speaker 2:How much are you averaging? You think I'm not getting back into my regular sleep program, but before I was probably sleeping like six, five hours.
Speaker 1:Running off it. Are you a nap person? No, no, oh, so you just up? Yeah, I was probably sleeping like six, five hours Running off it. Are you a nap person? No?
Speaker 2:No, oh, so you just up. Yeah, I was up.
Speaker 1:Mm-mm, that ain't going to work for me, but okay.
Speaker 2:I can't believe I actually blinked when I was younger. I can't believe I actually. I can't believe I actually. So I used to. I love animals. So when I was in Miami, there was this cat that would come by our house all the time, all the time. I remember my family is like afraid of cats. I mean one time everybody would sleep. I was just outside. We had a hoop outside. I was playing. I just feel the cat's tail come around my foot. I'm like whoa. So I pick up the cat and I bring it in the house. I'm like Mom, look you brought it in the house.
Speaker 2:My mother ran outside. I swear to God. I swear to God. My mother ran outside and all my God. I swear to God. My mother ran outside and all my siblings woke up like yo, what's going on? I can't believe I did that. It was bad, jesus. It was bad. It was funny, but it was bad.
Speaker 1:She cursed you out right, Definitely had to.
Speaker 2:In.
Speaker 1:Patois for sure. In.
Speaker 2:Patois.
Speaker 1:Had to. Are you kidding me? Jeez, yeah, I'm not going to lie. Picking up a stray cat and bringing it in the crib is crazy. That's crazy. I love animals.
Speaker 2:Come on.
Speaker 1:He said I picked it up and took it home. I wasn't expecting the story to go that way. It happened, we're going to move on from it. I have courtesy. It happened. God bless you, mother man. I would have did the same thing. Alright, I'm a little embarrassed by the fact that I know so little about Blake.
Speaker 2:I'm a little embarrassed. I know so little about what's going on in sports right now because I'm a big athlete. Before everything, I played football and basketball oh, wow before, when I was younger, I was very in tune with basketball like every single time. Now I'm not, so not into it you're fully indulged into this music right now.
Speaker 1:That's really it hey, gotta be focused not mad at that still a part of the culture, though for sure, yeah, still a part definitely.
Speaker 2:Sometimes I though for sure, yeah, still a part definitely sometimes I look back at my life in blank sometimes I look back at my life and I'm grateful that I went through everything yeah it made me the person I am today that's real from time.
Speaker 1:From time to time it's good to do blank. It made me the person I am today. That's real.
Speaker 2:From time to time it's good to do blank, have fun and relax. What is your version of having fun? I go back to Florida and be with my homeboys, Be outside, play basketball and just chill.
Speaker 1:Just chill. Yeah, yeah, I get that. Just chill. I made a complete fool of myself when I blinked.
Speaker 2:I made a complete fool of myself when I didn't put me first A little straight voicemail.
Speaker 1:That was good, that was good, that was good, that was really good. What You've been PR training? Nope, you know A little something. You would. I'm doing a full-time job. I see, you would never believe me if I told you blank.
Speaker 2:You would never believe me if I told you blank. You would never believe me if I told you that when I was 16, no, when I was 17, I got accepted to the Voice.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:But I wasn't able to go because my grandmother passed.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:Literally, wow, literally. That's crazy. I was never there. I was really stuck between basketball and music. So I really chose music after that situation because it made me feel like, okay, maybe I'm good enough for this.
Speaker 1:Something here yeah.
Speaker 2:Smart, but I knew that path probably wasn't for me, because God allowed that to happen. So I'm right let me not rush no, that's real.
Speaker 1:Last one is my personality trait is blank goofy, I'm really goofy.
Speaker 2:I'm really goofy, like uh, first time it might. I'm really chill, like I'll be you're definitely super yeah, I'm chill, I'm raised to myself, but once you get to know me, I'm really a good time.
Speaker 1:I'm goofy for her all right, I like that a good time, all right. Well, voicemail is out now. Diamonds out now. Speaking of a good time, you want to hear a good listen? Definitely tap into chosen. Make sure you guys follow him to shout out your gram so they know yes, please.
Speaker 2:You can follow me on Instagram at C-H-O-S-Z-N, the actual number one, and then N-E, and that's on all social platforms, and I can't wait to see you guys on tour. If you listen to the song, please share it, repost it, tag me and um, I love you guys. Thank you so much for having me once again of course this is so dope of course, until next time.
Speaker 1:Guys talk soon. Peace.