Eat The Fish & Spit Out The Bones w/ Queen Naija

Summary

Keep it Positive, Sweetie

Episode: Eat The Fish & Spit Out The Bones w/ Queen Najah
Release Date: July 13, 2025
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Queen Najah

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Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of Keep it Positive, Sweetie, host Crystal Renee Hayslett welcomes the multifaceted Queen Najah, an artist known for her raw vocals, relatable lyrics, and her journey from a YouTube star to an R&B chart-topping sensation. Together, they delve deep into Queen Najah's personal struggles, spiritual journey, and aspirations within the music industry.

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Queen Najah's Journey and Background

Queen Najah opens up about her roots in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and her upbringing in Detroit, highlighting her exposure to diverse environments that shaped her as an artist.

• "I was born there. And then pretty much I just... since I was until I was six, I stayed there..." (00:50)

She discusses her transition from collaborative YouTube content to establishing her own brand, emphasizing the importance of building a genuine fan base that supported her music ventures.

• "I had already built a fan base with my personality and things like that. So once I dropped my song, they were already behind it." (02:28)

Queen Najah reflects on her evolution from posting eclectic content to focusing on her music, maintaining her unique and outlandish persona while striving for a more polished image as she matured.

• "But I still got that side. I still can be outlandish. I be trying to contain it in certain areas, like right here. So I'm trying to keep it very cute and classy." (03:53)

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Navigating Public Criticism and Self-Esteem

The conversation shifts to the challenges Queen Najah faces with self-image and public scrutiny. Both Queen Najah and Crystal share their experiences with body dysmorphia and the pressure of maintaining a certain appearance in the public eye.

• Queen Najah: "I dealt with body dysmorphia, too, sometimes. I still deal with it, though." (05:02)
• Crystal: "I've dealt with body dysmorphia, I felt like I just didn't look like everybody else." (05:21)

Queen Najah candidly discusses her experiences with plastic surgery and the persistent quest for perfection, ultimately embracing self-acceptance and encouraging others to do the same.

• "I've done surgery before, too. Like, I had lipo, and then I had a BBL and stuff like that. And I'm just like, it's still not the way I want." (06:28)

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Balancing Faith and Music

A significant portion of the episode delves into Queen Najah's spiritual journey and her desire to integrate her faith more seamlessly into her music. She expresses her intention to transition towards a gospel or Christian contemporary worship style while maintaining her R&B roots.

• "I see myself doing Christian contemporary worship or Christian R and B fusion, like, where it has that sound that people want to listen to, but it's still talking real, real about God." (44:38)

Queen Najah shares her internal conflict between remaining in the secular music industry and answering her spiritual call to create music that glorifies God, aiming to make her faith accessible and relatable to a broader audience.

• "Lord is coming back and things like that. And I'd be like... it's more about getting my relationship right with God so that I could hear from him directly." (09:35)

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Industry Insights and Business Acumen

Queen Najah provides an insider's perspective on the complexities of the music industry, from the intricate process of producing an album to the importance of having a strong, supportive team.

• "People think you could just go to the studio, record a song, do a one take and then put it out. Not like that." (26:10)
• "When it comes to business, you can't think about people's feelings. It's not about being nice." (32:34)

She emphasizes the necessity of setting boundaries, being assertive in business dealings, and the challenges women face in being taken seriously within the industry.

• "Women usually get... People don't really take them as seriously in business." (34:19)

Queen Najah also highlights the importance of understanding the business side of music, including legalities, marketing strategies, and the meticulous nature of producing quality music.

• "I have to make sure we're doing everything right. I want to learn Shopify. I want to learn... packing it up and shipping it and printing it and getting it out here." (37:36)

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Creative Process and Musical Aspirations

The duo explores Queen Najah's creative process, revealing her talent for melody and her approach to songwriting, which has evolved to incorporate collaborative efforts.

• "I hear a melody and I... start just singing the melody and then I want to go make that a beat." (39:51)
• "I'll have a concept in my head. Like, it'll be a good song about so and so." (41:25)

Queen Najah aspires to work with renowned artists and producers like Pharrell Williams and London on a track, reflecting her openness to diverse collaborations that can enhance her musical repertoire.

• "I've never got a chance yet to work with Pharrell. I think he's super dope." (42:15)

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Balancing Career and Family

A poignant segment addresses the challenges of balancing a demanding career with family life. Queen Najah shares her struggles with being an absent mother due to her busy schedule and the guilt that accompanies it.

• "I just felt like I needed to get my house in order in that sense. I just wanted to be a mom again." (24:05)
• "I don't want them saying, mom, you weren't there, and the babysitter had to raise me and this and that." (25:23)

She discusses strategies for achieving balance, such as knowing when to prioritize family and when to focus on her career, while maintaining her commitment to her children and her professional aspirations.

• "I think I just need to know when to stay home and need to know when it's time to go work." (26:10)

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Impact and Legacy

Reflecting on the theme of the season—impact—Queen Najah emphasizes the importance of leaving a positive mark through her music and personal interactions. She aims to inspire and uplift her listeners by maintaining humility, positivity, and a strong relationship with God.

• "I just always get a glory to God. And then just always keep that radiant energy and positivity." (46:09)
• "Just staying consistent and trying to do whatever it is that you would like to do." (46:21)

Queen Najah aspires to win a Grammy and influence her audience positively, ensuring that her achievements in the music industry also serve to bring others closer to faith.

• "I see myself getting nominated or winning a Grammy. I see myself doing that." (43:59)

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Protecting Peace in a Noisy Industry

Both Crystal and Queen Najah discuss strategies for maintaining mental peace amidst the constant noise and pressure of the music industry and social media. They advocate for therapy, setting boundaries with technology, and surrounding themselves with supportive communities.

• Queen Najah: "I'm a big believer in therapy. Therapy has worked so well for me." (46:09)
• Crystal: "I put a timer on my phone, like Instagram has. I do like that about the app." (48:18)

Queen Najah shares personal tactics such as sitting in her car to find solitude and limiting time spent on social media to protect her mental well-being.

• "I just sit in my car sometimes so I can just get away from the noise." (47:38)

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Upcoming Projects and Future Plans

As the episode wraps up, Queen Najah teases her upcoming projects, including a new EP and the possibility of altering her album based on her artistic growth. She remains optimistic about her future in both secular and gospel music genres.

• "My supporters know my album is done, basically. But I have this little contractual thing where my label said I gotta put out an EP first." (49:13)
• "Whether it's the ep, single, whatever album, whatever's coming out, it's gonna be good." (49:47)

Queen Najah encourages listeners to stay connected with her through various platforms, promising engaging and authentic content across all channels.

• "Y'all can find me everywhere. Queen Najah. Follow me on Snapchat and Twitch." (49:57)

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Conclusion

The episode concludes with Crystal expressing her admiration for Queen Najah's humility, authenticity, and commitment to staying grounded despite her rising fame. She reinforces the podcast's mission to foster honest, healing, and positive conversations.

• "That wasn't one of the most warm and down to earth conversations? I just love her. She is so humble, so real and just full of grace." (50:15)
• "Until next time. Y'all know what to do. Stay kind, stay lifted, and as always, keep it positive. Sweeties, see you next time." (50:25)

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Notable Quotes

• Queen Najah: "Sometimes people will do surgery over and over just trying to get that perfect." (06:23)
• Crystal: "When you decide to be vulnerable and put ourselves out there, we're not also opening up ourselves for attacks." (07:10)
• Queen Najah: "Happy people, if you're so busy being happy, you shouldn't have time to be being negative." (07:49)
• Queen Najah: "You can't just reach people that's already in church. You got to reach the people that's outside." (11:57)
• Chris C. (Crystal?): "I wanna be an example in my life so that they can see. Like, okay, wait, there is something to this Jesus guy." (18:39)
• Queen Najah: "I can't go super raunchy. Once I start going super, I'm getting convicted." (13:00)
• Queen Najah: "I'm a super perfectionist when it comes to music." (28:19)

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Final Thoughts

This episode of Keep it Positive, Sweetie offers an intimate glimpse into Queen Najah's life, exploring her struggles, faith, and aspirations. Her candidness about personal challenges and professional insights provides listeners with valuable lessons on resilience, faith-driven decisions, and the importance of maintaining one's authenticity amidst fame and success. Queen Najah's journey serves as an inspiration to stay true to oneself while striving for greatness.

Transcript

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazel, and this is the Keep it Positive Sweetie show. Sweeties, I truly hope this season of Impact is enhancing you all. I have learned so much from our guests this season, and I'm so grateful to be able to share all these conversations with you. Y' all know we do not gatekeep around here. We are all in this to learn, love, and grow together. Today's guest is the queen of Real Talk. Raw vocals and relatable lyrics. From YouTube star to R and B chart topper, she's given us music that feels like a page out of our own journals. And we love her for it. She's beautiful, bold, and always brings the vibes. Sweeties, please give a warm welcome to the one and only Queen Najah. Hi, love.

[Queen Najah]

How you doing?

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I'm good. How are you doing?

[Queen Najah]

Great. Even better since I'm here with you.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I know that's right. I love it. I'm so happy we finally made this happen. You hit me probably a couple months ago on Instagram saying how you love the podcast. And one thing I will say about you in the short time that I've known you is that you have this beautiful spirit of humility. And you were like, I love your podcast. And I was like, oh, my goodness. Want to have you on all the things. You're like, I'm just glad you know who I am. And I'm like, and it was so beautiful for you to be so known to. To still say, I'm just glad you know who I am. It was like, I was like, this girl has a beautiful spirit. And I'm like, of course I know who you are.

[Queen Najah]

I go through that a lot. Cause I be in my little bubble. So, like, I be feeling like I don't really know who know me or not, so I never want to be that person. Like, you should know who I am. You know what I'm saying?

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right? But I knew it. I was like, you know how, like, you see people name pop up and you're like, what? I'm like, oh, my goodness. Because I admire your work. So it just. It really felt good to know that you actually saw the podcast and you enjoyed it. And I'm so excited to have you on today.

[Queen Najah]

Thank you. I'm happy to be here. Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

So let's get into it. So you are from Ypsilanti, Michigan. Y' all didn't know how to pronounce it at first. I was like, girl, how do you say this?

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, I Was born there. And then pretty much I just. Since I was. Until I was six, I stayed there, but I kind of been everywhere around Detroit. I lived in Detroit before, so that's why people usually say she from Detroit. But like, yeah, I've been all over the outskirts, the inskirts, the side skirts, all over Michigan.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That is funny. And then you became known through your YouTube. 5 million subscribers. That's insane.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Like, when you started, did you think that it would get that big?

[Queen Najah]

So I kind of had two YouTubes where. I had my old YouTube where. Well, my first YouTube, when I did it with someone else, and that was more like a couple's vibe. And then once I broke off into my own space, I had already had my fan base, like, people who genuinely had liked me. But then once I started showing me my, like, just queen alone and just like. Well, I didn't really do music that much then, but I had already built a fan base with my personality and things like that. So once I dropped my song, like, they was already behind it.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, that's. I love that. I love that they called you the. Let me make sure I get it right, because I don't want to misquote it. The first soul star of social media generation. When they say that. What? Like, that's huge.

[Queen Najah]

I mean, you know, you just said, I, I got a lot of humility, so I'm like, what?

[Chris Renee Hazel]

You're like, wait a minute.

[Queen Najah]

Okay, so I'll accept that. But yeah, I mean, maybe because I. You don't get. I guess you don't get too many people coming from YouTube in that sense of just like, vlogging and stuff.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right.

[Queen Najah]

You do have people who started singing on YouTube, like the Bailey sisters and, like, Justin Bieber. They started. They were singing on there. But me, I was just. I wasn't on there really just singing. I was just being. I was doing crazy stuff, like, you know, so I love that.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

How much of that crazy stuff is really. You like putting it out there?

[Queen Najah]

Pretty much all of it. But I'm gonna be honest, like, just over time, I was probably like 22 on there. So just with gross. It's. It's a lot of things I don't do anymore that I used to do when I was younger.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

No, for sure.

[Queen Najah]

But I, I, I still got that side. I still can be outlandish. I be trying to contain it in certain areas, like right here. So I'm trying to keep it Very cute and classy.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Sweetie, I love it. You are funny. No, be yourself. I love that. Now, that's what I mean. That's what makes you unique. It makes you you, and that's what people fell in love with. So I love that we both are very active on social media, and we were talking offline about just how people can make you look at yourself differently. Like you say, I didn't even notice until somebody pointed it out. And I was telling you how there's this one girl that always, like, talks about how big my nose is.

[Queen Najah]

That's crazy.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Maybe.

[Queen Najah]

So worried.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

So worried. And recently, I was looking at it more and more, and I was like, well, maybe I should get plastic surgery, get my nose done. And you were like, saying, like, people make you look at things that you never paid attention to.

[Queen Najah]

Yes. No, I never cared about any angle of my face, like putting on makeup before getting on video. I didn't care about that stuff until I started being in a public eye. People really point out your flaws. And the worst part about it is if you already feel that way, it just magnifies it even more.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Absolutely.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

What are some things that you had to overcome, being in that space? And just. Even about self esteem? Because I dealt with body dysmorphia, I felt like I just didn't look like everybody else. I was like, this is what the men want. I don't look like that, you know, because there's so many opinions out there that are being thrown at us.

[Queen Najah]

I dealt with body dysmorphia, too, sometimes. I still deal with it. I've gotten a lot better with it, though. Like, I used to obsess over being 135 pounds. Like, I have to be that. But, baby, I'm still close to 160, and you look good, and I just. Thank you. I just learned to accept it, like, honestly, like, I'm about to be 30, so I feel like I should just love myself in whatever shape that I'm in and, you know, to be able to put myself in check and be like, girl, you gotta go to the gym. Like, it's time.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, I'm the same way.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I ain't gonna lie.

[Queen Najah]

I've been eating cinnamon rolls and cookies and stuff like that, so I know it's time to tone it down. But I've just learned to, like, I guess, really just say to myself, queen, you're never gonna be perfect. Like, you're never gonna be perfect. So just get with what you get with what you got.

[Crystal]

Yep.

[Queen Najah]

You know what I'm saying? Sometimes people will do surgery over and over just trying to get that Perfect. Look.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Queen Najah]

And I have done surgery before, too. Like, I. Yeah, I had, like, lipo, and then I had a BBL and stuff like that. And I'm just like, it's still not the way I want.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right.

[Queen Najah]

But you can't keep risking your life to go ma' am under the table. So I'm like, look, if I got pointy hips, I just gotta accept it. We're gonna have some pointy hips. Okay. We still look good, though.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

You look very good.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

No, and I get it. I get it. It's a real thing. And I think a lot of people don't understand when we decide to be vulnerable and put ourselves out there, we're not also opening up ourselves for attacks, you know? And it's like, it plays a part of our mental health, our securities. And I'm just like, why does everybody have to, like, pinpoint everything?

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. If I go look at who's talking, I'd be like, ma'.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Am. And most of them hiding behind a.

[Queen Najah]

I'm like, baby, we. We all don't have no room to talk now. Come on. Like. But, you know, I try to keep it cute. I don't try to clap back and stuff that much. But all I'm gonna say is, people definitely. They know how to point out someone else's stuff and nothing.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That's so true. I think I came to that same realization that these are unhappy people that are behind computers hiding, that aren't happy with theirselves. So they had to.

[Queen Najah]

One thing that I said was, like, happy people, if you're so busy being happy, you shouldn't have time to, like, be being negative.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

No, you don't have time because I'm.

[Queen Najah]

Because I'm not always the happiest. But I just know me. I could, even if I wasn't, like, known or whatever, like, I can't. I wouldn't be able to go online and type a comment under somebody's stuff to make them feel worse than they might already feel, because I'm just trying. I'm too busy trying to be happy myself. Right.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah. Or get back to happy. That's so true. I've never been like that. I've never been like that.

[Queen Najah]

Like that.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Has there ever been a moment where you posted something or vlogged something you like, I shouldn't have did that.

[Queen Najah]

Yes, plenty.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Really.

[Queen Najah]

Plenty of times. But, like, that's all trial and error, you know?

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. Those were good learning experiences for me because, like, now I just. I'm. I'm. I know how to Filter things a little bit better. Unless, like, I'm just in a super unfiltered mode.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

Like, I. Like, I started Twitch and, you know, that was twitch.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I haven't gotten all that.

[Queen Najah]

It's fun, but I'm going tell you it's dangerous. You really got to watch it because it's live. You got to watch what you say. Because they will literally clip the. They will clip the small things. And the next thing I know, I'm all over on TikTok.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right.

[Queen Najah]

And they got a whole narrative made up about something, so. But I do like it. It's fun. I feel like I get to be myself more. I don't have to worry about edits and stuff as much. But definitely, yeah, that. That's going to help me exercise filtering.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

No, for sure. I love that you have shared on social media that you are interested in doing a gospel album. And I've seen you singing gospel songs. You started in church. That's when you found your voice. When did you know, like, oh, wait, I can sing, man.

[Queen Najah]

So I grew. I Probably around. Probably around three or four. Like, I grew up in church and stuff. My grandma used to have me go up there and sing no Weapon.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Oh, I love that song.

[Queen Najah]

So I do know that my voice. A lot of people be like, queen, make a gospel album right now. Stop R B. And really, you know, Lord is coming back and things like that. And I'd be like.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Because he is.

[Queen Najah]

I'd be so convicted. Like, oh, but. And I also grew up in, like, that very, like, religious kind of vibe where the. The. The prophets will come and be like, your. Your voice is for the Lord's. Don't use it for. But as. I mean, as y' all can see, I'm doing R and B. So that has always been, like, a struggle with me. But I have learned over time, it's more so like, I'm just trying to get my relationship right with God so that I could hear from him directly.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes.

[Queen Najah]

So he could tell me when he's ready for me to stop doing rb. Because I can't say that he hasn't used me even during R and B, you know. And I do feel like there is going to be a point in time where he might tell me, okay, it's time to. It's time to do, you know, I don't know, completely worship music or. It's time. I feel like how I come, though is going to be way different.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

It's going to be different from just a traditional gospel or So I Do plan to do that, but I just know once I do it, like, it's gonna take a lot of consecration being set apart. I'm not trying to be dibbling, dabbling, doing this and that when I do that, because I want it to be very like, I'm with you. Genuine.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

You know?

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

And honorable to him. No, I'm with you. I'm working on music. And I had already recorded some songs and I was telling my manager we had went to Woman Evolved last year and Big west is probably like one of the few guys in the arena. And Sarah Jakes had me out there for a panel that she was doing. And first I didn't feel like I belonged there. I'm like, me, like, I don't know if I'm like. I don't know if I'm like the one, you know, or qualified to be on this stage speaking to all these women about my relationship with God that I'm still working on.

[Queen Najah]

Right.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

And you know, like, and I'm at that point I was still like straddling the fence and like, you know what I'm saying? Still in the world doing my thing. And. And she was like, no, she said people need to see you because you're where a lot of people are. You know what I'm saying? But you're bringing people closer, you know, because they're like, some people can't look at her, at Sarah Jakes Robinson and.

[Queen Najah]

Be like, yeah, yeah. They might feel like it's too far.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Fetched, too far from them. But she's like, when they see you.

[Queen Najah]

It'S like, okay, it's relatable. And they probably feel like it's doable.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes, exactly.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

I believe like that because you can't. I always say too, like, you can't just reach people that's already in church. You got to reach the people that's outside.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Come on.

[Queen Najah]

The people that might be in a club. But that's the thing too. Like, I be so conflicted with that sometimes. Like, I don't. That's why I just gotta really walk close with God. Because a lot of times people in church can discourage you too. Like, yeah.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Queen Najah]

They were like, you ain't doing this. It's a thin line, I feel like between being super judgy and also just. You just gotta do things with love, man.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

And what did he say? The greatest of these is love.

[Queen Najah]

Love. Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

People forget to lead with that.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, they forget to. And then they run people away. So you gotta meet people where they are sometimes.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That's so true. Yeah, that's so true. I told Wes. I was like, we've recorded all these songs, but I just feel like I don't want to push people to do things that's gonna make them sin, you know? I was like, music is a portal. I said, I have to be careful what I'm putting out, because I know certain songs I listen to maybe want to be promiscuous, you know? So, like, I can't. I can't wake up that little demon, you know? I'm like, damn, we are not on demon time here.

[Queen Najah]

Like, you know, like, oh, yeah, that made me want to be sexy real quick.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Exactly.

[Queen Najah]

But I was like, wait, did God say we can't be sexy? Wait, did he say that? You know, and then I be thinking in my head, like, well, you know, this is for my future husband. I be trying to dumb it down like, no, this is. This is gonna. I'm just getting prepared.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Prepared for my husband. Yeah, that is so funny. But, yeah, like, we were having those conversations at. She was like, okay. And I was dodging the studio. He kept saying, we gotta get back in. We gotta get back in.

[Queen Najah]

I was like, yeah, I completely understand.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I was like, I gotta find that voice in that lane and really hear from God. What is it that you want me to sing? Because, like, you, I don't feel like it's straight gospel music.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

You know, And I was talking to a friend of mine, Pastor Brenda Palmer, and she was like, crystal. She said, look at Major. Look at Stevie Whitney, all these great artists. She was like, the music wasn't bad. It was just secular. But it makes you feel good. It's happening.

[Queen Najah]

But, I mean, that's real life experiences, too. That's what I be taught. My thing is, I can't go super raunchy. Once I start going super raunchy, I'd be like, all right, I get convicted. It's been a couple of songs that I made. I'm like, dang. But as long as I don't go super, I'm like, wait, this is just experiences, real life. But I know that I can't just use my voice only for that. Cause when am I gonna edify God? When am I gonna glorify God?

[Chris Renee Hazel]

You know what I mean?

[Queen Najah]

And I don't want it to be one of those situations where we at the gates and God, like, baby, why don't you use your voice for the.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Gift that I gave you of many years?

[Queen Najah]

Like, well, God, I thought I had more time. Like, I don't yeah, Naji, you on my street, cuz.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Recently I've been hearing him more and more, and I just look at what's going on in the world. And even when I was a kid, my mom was like, we're living in the last days. We're in the last days. And I'm like, no, something. I'm like. I'm like, you're coming any day now. Like. And I was like, I just want to be ready. And every day I'm talking to God. I'm like, God, I just want to honor you and everything I do. I know I'm not perfect, but, you know, I'm trying.

[Queen Najah]

That was my prayer just in the car before I got here. I literally was praying. I swear I was talking to God. I was like, God, I know I'm not perfect. I know I can't be, but help me please desire what you want me to desire, because I don't want to want what's contrary to what you want. And I really don't want to get. I don't want to get left here.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Me neither.

[Queen Najah]

And all this stuff that's on the news, I try not to watch, like, the news and stuff. I'm looking at everything. The Bible is really unfolding, and I'm like, dang, do I make this album? Do I put this out? Like, I don't want to focus on, like, too much myself. I mean, I don't know how long.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

We got, you know, that's real.

[Queen Najah]

And I don't want to scare people either, but it's also like.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

But it is like, I'd rather scare them than for me and not to say, hey, do better. And then they. They weren't scared enough, and they end up going to hell. You know what I'm saying? When something that we say could have changed their mind or changed their trajectory to be like, let me get in the word. Let me find an intimate relationship with God myself.

[Queen Najah]

I'm working on it.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, me too. Daily. Daily.

[Queen Najah]

It's hard. It's really not easy, especially with everything around.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

But, yeah, I was talking to another girl and we were talking about how it's not easy, but having your tribe when people. And I've noticed, like, friends falling off who aren't on the same path as I am or kind of distancing themselves because you feel awkward when you're, like. When you're around somebody who's really trying to pursue God or Jesus Christ, and then they're like, I'm still trying to be.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

So they kind of kind of distance.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, you got to kind of let them and let them distance, you know. That's probably God.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, that's so true.

[Queen Najah]

But I do have a. Talking about the tribe. I have a, like a, A I go to this private church that's more so online. Cuz I feel like trying to go and purchase. It's a little hard.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

It is.

[Queen Najah]

But I've been going there for like three, almost four years and they really help me. Yeah, they really keep me accountable and things like that. Before that I wasn't going to church. Yeah, like that, like man, I felt very convicted. Like I same.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Cuz it was like a year that I didn't go to church. And that was because the church I was going to, it was some scandals happening and it just kind of pushed me away. I was like.

[Queen Najah]

And I'll be feeling bad for stuff like that too because I feel like churches that go through those scandals and things, it run a lot of people away. But I also be wanting those people to understand that we're looking at humans here.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That's the same. Yes. I always say that that's a human being. Just like we are just to have an anointing. We both have anointing in our life.

[Queen Najah]

And we're not perfect. We still mess up every day. So you can't just let that run you away from church and be like, well I don't want to serve God. I might as well just do this. You need to eat the fish and spit out the bones and you know what I'm saying? Or find. Ask God to help you find somewhere else to go, you know. But yeah, I don't know.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I just kind of got lost. No, that's real though. No, I went that. You're exactly right. And I, I remember calling. Who did I, I called somebody and they said the exact same thing. They said, crystal, they are human just like we are. They are like look at some of the disciples. God chose them, but they weren't without flaw.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

Peter cut off that man ear, ma'.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Am.

[Queen Najah]

A lot of us want to cut off some ears.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, yeah. And the people he chose were not perfect people. And even after they started following him and walking with him, they were with Jesus. We don't. We didn't have that luxury to be in the flesh with him. You know, he's with us in spirit. But if they still messing up, you.

[Queen Najah]

Know what I'm saying?

[Chris Renee Hazel]

He knows.

[Crystal]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I can't imagine but yeah, that is so true. And I love that you do have some type of congregation that you can. That can hold you accountable and that you can be. You have a shepherd that can lead you as well. That's so important because, girl, we'd be lost out here with so many influences.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Especially in our industry.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. And you gotta pay attention. You can't, like, always accept everything from everyone as well.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Talk about it.

[Queen Najah]

To have, like, just one source.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Queen Najah]

Like, because we get. We can get confused with so many different sources.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah. Because everybody's like, the universe and the stars aligned and. And all this stuff. I'm like, listen.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

No, Jesus.

[Queen Najah]

Jesus, yes. And I'd be trying to be like, man, I want to knock you, but like, at the same time, I'm not going to allow for that to.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

And I don't like, be like, no, this is. But I try to, like, be an example in my life so that they can see. Like, okay, wait, there is something to this Jesus guy. Like, let me look into this. Let me. Let me try to read and study up on him and learn for yourself. You know, I tell everyone, don't take my word for it.

[Queen Najah]

Right.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

You know, and once you start reading that Bible, it really. He convicts you on things. He opens your eyes to things. And then a lot of times you see what you were being taught wasn't even wrong. Right. People are manipulating the scripture and you're like, wait, that is not even what it's.

[Queen Najah]

Church sayings that they got that. That I be like, that's weight. They been saying that for years. That was never in the Bible. Yes, but yes. Yeah, yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

At my church, I go to Change Church. And Dr. Darius always said, he goes, this is in the Bible. And he's like, read it for yourself. And he gives a study plan so that we can like, take the sermon and then actually study it for ourselves.

[Queen Najah]

My babysitter goes there.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Really?

[Queen Najah]

Everybody goes.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah. A lot of you go there.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

Wait, I was on a plane go there. Do you. You know who Paisley is? Yes, yes, she goes there.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah. Because her husband's a producer.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, she goes there. Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

I might have to visit one day.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah. Come on. And we have. It's a way that we. They. They want us to be able to have a place to worship because a lot of us don't go to church because people asking for pictures or certain things, so they. They make it to where we can get the word and then get home.

[Queen Najah]

That's good. Yeah. I had dealt with that when I used to live in Houston. I try to go to this old school church because I grew up in a very, like, old school Pentecostal church. And I tried to go one time and I'm like. They recorded. I'm like, oh, man.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Oh, no, that's definitely praise and worship. They allow people to go to, like, the altar. So, like, you can actually. So you can actually, like, praise and dance and sing with the choir. And one guy, like, had his phone up and then, like, he put it down and then, like, you know, he turned around, he saw me. Next thing I know, his phone's going up. He's like. And I'm like, are you serious right now?

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Like, what are we doing?

[Queen Najah]

I'm like, put that phone down and pray for me.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right?

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Don't worry about me. You need to be worried about the Lord. You about the wrong thing, sir. Yeah, but no. Yeah, definitely. Let me know when you want to come.

[Queen Najah]

For sure.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, we would love to have you.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I love that.

[Queen Najah]

I feel like I went to the. I brought my kids to the. They had some sort of harvest thing.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Queen Najah]

With the bouncy house. Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

We do so many things for the community. Like, we have. It's. I love our church. It's not just about coming and getting the word. It's about how we can impact the community. You talked about not saying yes to everything. And same thing with me, with roles I take. What are some things that you had to say no to in the industry? I'd be like, yep, nope, I have a boundary here. I'm not doing that well.

[Queen Najah]

I know when I first came out and I first had my. My craziest buzz, like, after Medicine, I was doing this. I was doing this shoot for Vivo, and it was just like a lot of. We went up this mountain in la. It was this. I. I think it was. I didn't know at the time it was like Marilyn Manson's mansion that he was renting out. And that whole day I was feeling crazy. It's on one of my vlogs. I was feeling so crazy that day. And I remember the night before, I had. I don't know if you ever experienced this, but I had sleep paralysis. No, the night before. Wow. And I remember hearing. I've heard about it, but it was different this time. Like, the night before, I heard all these screams in my ear. I don't know.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

So when you were staying in that house.

[Queen Najah]

No, not the house, but this was the night before we had the shoot and I was in my hotel room. And then the next day, I just felt uneasy. Right. So we get up to this mountain and we're about to shoot, and I'm putting on all these, you know, dresses. And it was just a content piece for, like, some songs I was performing live. And they had, like, certain. They had, like. I don't want to, like, say everything, but they had certain things that could have been in the camera that I felt maybe they didn't. I felt, symbolized certain things. And I was like, take that out.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes.

[Queen Najah]

Like, I was. I think I got into this, and I still don't know what it means, but this empty pool that. It was like a smaller pool, though, so it kind of reminded me of a baptism pool, but it was empty. It didn't have water in it. It had, like, this statue next to me, but the statue was beheaded. It didn't have a head on it. It was just very evil. Yeah. I was like, get that out of here. Like, can we move this? Like, a lot of times they be like, oh, this is for art, and things like that. But to me, it's like, you got.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

To be careful because they be putting stuff in there, and it has another meaning.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. Like, I don't know what this means, so I'm not going to do it. You know what I'm saying? And I feel like maybe that's. I don't know. Sometimes I be like, well, maybe that's the reason why I'm, you know, I'm just been in my own bubble, and I maybe feel like I haven't gotten a certain heights or whatever yet. But that's cool. I stand. Stay true to myself.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes. Always.

[Queen Najah]

And, you know, got to keep. Continue to keep blessing me. So.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

But, yeah, it's been little things like that, like symbolisms and things.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

For sure. That's really big in our industry.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. Everything don't gotta be dark all the time.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right.

[Queen Najah]

Like, why is it gonna be so dark?

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right. You know, going through enough darkness in.

[Queen Najah]

Real life, we need some light.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

We do.

[Queen Najah]

So.

[Crystal]

Yeah, you.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That's good. You took a break in 2022. What made you want to step back and just say, let me take a minute.

[Queen Najah]

In 2022 was this. After I did the tour, I did Mary J. Blige's tour. I opened up for her in 2020. I probably took a break after that because I probably felt like I was doing a lot, and I really just wanted to focus on my family, my kids. I feel like I was just an absent mom. I had that mom guilt.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Queen Najah]

You know?

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

So I just felt like I needed to get my house in order in that sense. I just wanted to be a mom again. I have these, like, huge fans of, like, being a mom and then being. And I don't want to say celebrity, but being a singer. Yeah, being a singer. Being a singer comes with a lot. Like, I'm about to start gearing up to drop a project, and so I know I'm about to be really busy and I've spent time with my kids and things like that, so now it's time for me to be on the road.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

In those moments where you're feeling Mom. Yeah. Because I'm not a mother. In those moments, like, what are you feeling and what kind of toll does it take on your emotions?

[Queen Najah]

I just feel. I just. I have little thoughts in my head, like, man, what if they have a resentment towards me when I. When they get older? And, you know, sometimes, like, how you think you'll. Some parents would think they're doing so good, and then when their kids grow up, it's like, mom, I went through trauma because of this and that.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That's real.

[Queen Najah]

And I'd be like, wait, I thought I did. I thought I did my best. Like, that's the kind of things that I think about. So I try to balance it out as much as I can because I don't want that from my boys. I don't want them saying, mom, you weren't there, and the babysitter had to raise me and this and that. And I'm just like. But I was doing this for you. And, like, I wanted you to chase your dreams too. So, you know, it could. It's. It's definitely a lot, you know, I mean, but I was thinking too, like, even if I just had a regular 9 to 5, I still would be away from my kids, too. So. Yeah, it's just one of those things where I gotta continue to pray on how to balance it all out.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I was gonna ask you, now that you've kind of gotten past that, have you found a way to balance both?

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, I think. I think I just need to know when to stay home and need to know when it's time to go work. And I've been staying home a lot lately, so that's. But to the point where it's like, okay, Queen, you gotta go. Get back out there and sing and stuff.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

You said that being a singer takes a lot. What are some of the things that people may not know that go into getting ready to put out an album, getting ready to go on tour?

[Queen Najah]

People think you could just. For putting out a project. People think you can just Go to the studio, record a song, do a one take and then put it out. So not like that.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

Like, they don't understand. Even once you're done recording a song, they're like, what's taking so long? All the paperwork and things behind it. You gotta, you gotta make sure that it's cleared and the producers and people agree with their splits and things like that. And sometimes the lawyers take back and forth communicating with each other. And it just, it takes a long time. So, you know, you can't just. And then after that, after all that's done, you have to roll it out to where it's like, it can be marketed well so people can like, it can be in everyone's face. So like, that's really. People just don't know like, even, even going to record a song. Like I had recently showed myself recording a song live and they were like, wow. I have a whole different respect for recording artists because we literally do takes over and over again to get it right. I probably do about 50 takes to make sure something is right.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

And like, it's just not that easy. And then getting prepared for a tour, maybe you gotta go to the gym before that and make sure you can breathe walking on that stage.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

And then I'm naturally not a dancer, so I gotta get some choreography, some movement.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

You know, to like be able to. Yeah. I feel like I'm rambling now, but.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

No, you're not.

[Queen Najah]

No, that's.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

It's good because people. I feel like people don't understand that even with acting, the takes that we do. But I find getting in the music booth and singing and doing all those takes more annoying because my producers are like, again, Again, Again, again. I'm like, really?

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

See?

[Queen Najah]

But that'd be me on my own self.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah. I'd be like, it sounded good in my ear.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, that was me. I was working with Pooh Bear, like not too long ago when I was in Miami and I was. And I asked you for the link. I was like. I was in the studio and he was like. And I, I was like, nope. Get it again. Get it again. That be me on my own self. And it was like, you just got it right. And I'd be like, nope, again. It sounded something was off.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

So like that. I'm like a super perfectionist when it.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Did you like study music?

[Queen Najah]

No.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Okay. Cuz that sound like somebody who like, no, I heard something. Something's off.

[Queen Najah]

I always hear things that people don't hear. I hear when something's off key. When something is flat in the slightest.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Way, that's a gift.

[Queen Najah]

And I be like, wait, no, nudge that over, because that's too early. Like, I don't know why I didn't go to school for it or anything. My brain just knows how.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, no, that's a gift from God. That's amazing.

[Queen Najah]

Yes, it is.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I love that. No, and I love that you brought them into the studio with you.

[Queen Najah]

Ye.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Because people don't understand. Are you like a early studio girl or do you go at nighttime?

[Queen Najah]

You know what? I used to go at night, but I realized I'm tired.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes. So I hate night sessions.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. So I started. I started, like, just starting early in the afternoon until the evening.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

So I could still have that time to get back to my kids too, right?

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Some guys, like, they literally. Oh, yeah. I just left the 7 this morning. Like, what?

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. That's crazy. I'm going home.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I gotta go home. I gotta sleep.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Would you say you are. You enjoy the studio more or being live on stage?

[Queen Najah]

I would say. I really. I really love. I used to actually say I hated being, like, doing live, but when I'm at my tours, the energy that I feel from my supporters, like, singing my music back, that is so fun.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Oh, my goodness, it's so lit.

[Queen Najah]

I do like. I like being on tour. I like doing live stuff.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

But if it's a crowd that I know is not really used to me, I'd be a little nervous.

[Crystal]

Right.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

What was it like opening up for Mary? Well, like, huge.

[Queen Najah]

It was. It was amazing. Like, I'm just so happy. And thank you to Mary again for giving me the opportunity. But it was a lot of, I guess, older people in the crowd, you know, So I was like, I ain't gonna know who I am. But turns out, like, it was a lot of people there in the beginning for the opening. And I did gain a lot of. I get a lot of new supporters and new demographics. I was even looking at the people who was coming to my meet and greets, and it was different people of all, like, cultures. I was like, oh, okay, you know who I am, so you know who I am. Yeah, I always do that. So it was really. It was really fun. But in the beginning, like I said, I was nervous because you got those people that sit in the front that they there for Mary. They not trying to see nobody else. They just in the front, just. Where's Mary? I'm like, oh, they just sitting down. Come on, get up.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

And that doesn't Feel good.

[Queen Najah]

It's hard to try to hype the crowd up because I like to feed off, you know, it's that energy.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, it's. It really is. It's. It's a dance that you do with your audience.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

But I have learned also, too, like, you just gotta hype yourself up. If you got dancers, you know, feed off of their energy, but, like, you gotta know how to be the hype.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, that's so true. What is something that you can share that you learned from working with Mary and being on the road with her just as a professional?

[Queen Najah]

Mary.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

She said Mary.

[Queen Najah]

It was just. You know, the crazy thing is we were. We didn't, like, run into each other a lot often because we were so busy, like.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right.

[Queen Najah]

Trying to get ready for the show. But at the end of the tour, we did have a. We did have a. A little party for. And then I sat next to her and was talking a little bit, but the music was loud, so we couldn't talk a lot. But I just remember her saying to me, like, take your time. Oh, she was just saying, take your time. I don't know if she. If she meant in relationships. I don't know if she meant. But she was looking at me like, take your time. Like, don't. Don't rush.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

I was just like, okay, I'm gonna take my time.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

She probably been through some stuff.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

You know, she can pour. Yeah. She can definitely give you advice on that. Is there in. In growing in this industry, what are some of the lessons that you've learned about yourself or, like, just about business? Because I know a lot of times when you're new to this, you went from YouTube to being this breakout star where everybody knows who you are.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

What are some things that you learned?

[Queen Najah]

Well, I want to say the most. The biggest thing that I probably learned was how can I say this when it. I hate. I hate saying this, but, like, when it comes to business, you can't think about people feelings. It's not about being nice.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

It's not personal.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

And I'm a very nice person, so a lot of times in the past I have, like, inconvenience myself or other people. Even, like, people that, like, I work with.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

Just inconvenience in myself a lot and just trying to. I. I want to make sure everybody's straight. But at the end of the day, too, you can't be too much of a pushover, too. I've learned that in the business, because when you're not, like, stern about Something like, people will try to, you know, run over you or, like, control things like that. So that's something I'm still working on as far as being a businesswoman. Like, just really being that balance between being stern but not being that person that's like, I don't. Not like working with her.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right. And there's a way. Exactly. You don't want that. Yeah, I'm very. I have people around me, and that's what I love about me and Wes. Relationship where I can be honest with him. Where sometimes you're afraid to say what's really on your mind because you don't want to hurt their feelings, or people are sensitive, and it's like, ah, I really just want to say what I want to say. He's like, no, say what you want to say. I can say it to him. And then he can be like, all right, got it. Let me fix it. You know, that's perfect. Yeah, it's good. Because I can't do that with everybody, you know, because I will be a B, you know, to them, even though it's. No, no. This is a woman who's passionate about her business, and she knows what she wants. She's very sure of herself. If a man did it, it'd be like, oh, it's different. But when a woman does it, you know, it's different.

[Queen Najah]

So they said the same thing on the Poor Minds podcast about how, like, women usually get. The People don't really take them as serious in business.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

Wow.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

No, So I appreciate having a man who has my back to say, hey, no, Say what you need to. And if I'm like, yo, Wes, I'm not with it, or why didn't he say, you know what? I got it. You're absolutely right. It's never like, it matters too.

[Queen Najah]

Like having a really good manager and having, like, yeah, yeah, it's different.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, no, it matters.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Because if you don't have that, if you're not able to. To express yourself, things just don't get done the way you need it to. And this is. This is your business, your brand that you're building and that I'm building. And I think it's a way to make sure people know that they're appreciated, to treat people with respect, but to also demand that respect and know that, hey, when she comes in, like, it's time to work. Cause she gonna work with us, you know? And I always. I'm in the field with them. Like, I'm never like, okay. Really?

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm just saying because my. Because I recently. Just over time, like, you know how sometimes you got to get a different team and stuff. So I. My last manager was a woman, and, like, she was. She was great. But, like, I noticed, like, a lot. A lot of times she had to work a little bit harder.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

You know, to get things done. Because she was, you know, a woman.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

But my new manager now is a man, and I just. It's just different, different, different.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

It's just really crazy that, like. And women have to be harder. They have to go harder to get that same thing that a man can walk in, like, oh, yep, I got this. I'm like.

[Queen Najah]

That'S crazy.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, we have to change that.

[Queen Najah]

That's how God made it, though.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

He was in charge. Right?

[Queen Najah]

Right.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

No, seriously. I think, for me, one of the biggest things that I've had to learn and still learning is when you have a good team, you don't have to control everything, because, like, I know how I want things done, and if it's not done a certain way, I'm very meticulous in type A. So I'm like, okay, I hear y'. All.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, I'm cracking.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Listen.

[Queen Najah]

That's funny.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I'm trying. So I take time to, like, go away, and I don't call them. I just make sure you're good. Y' all got everything you need. All right. And I know they'd be like, thank God. Go to Miami and leave us some love.

[Queen Najah]

That was so me, too. Like, okay, what's happening? Like, I want to have my hand everything. But, yeah, when you have a good.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Team, you don't have to.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, you don't have to, because everybody know their role, and they should also learn you, too, to know what you would.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, exactly.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

But not saying take your hands completely off, because it's still your baby. And at the end of the day, no one. I don't care how much they love you and love your brand, no one's going to treat it like you would treat it. So it's still, like, making sure that you're on top of it and whatever. I like to make sure that I can do what everybody else is doing. When we dropped our merch, I think it was in December, they're like, we got. I was like, no, I want to learn Shopify. I want to learn. Make sure I know how to do this. Like, where is this going? How much tax is coming out? What are we doing? I want to make sure we're doing everything right. And I made Sure. I brought on the right people that if I didn't know, they could teach us. But if nobody else is here, I know how to pack it up and ship it and print it and get it out here, you know, and it's. Yeah, it's so important.

[Queen Najah]

That's so important because that's where I was in the beginning of my career. Just kind of letting everything, everybody take the lead. I'm just like, oh, well, I'm just here. And I was always like, not. I was always like, under the assumption that you just be the artist, you just make the good music. No, I actually gotta know a lot what's going on. I need to know what's going on.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, I took that from Beyonce, like, when she fired her dad, and that's what actually helped me. I had a shout out. Sean Finney, my brother, he's amazing. We had lunch one day and I was trying to figure out a restructuring situation within my company. And he said, sis, Beyonce fired her dad. And that's all I'm gonna say. And I said, wow. I said, I'm sitting here worried about letting somebody go, that ain't my daddy. How hard would that have to be? You know? And the stance that she took and how much she believed in herself. She really inspired me to, like, stand on my own two feet. And how she's, like, very hands on. I'm like, that's how I wanna do it. And look how far she's gotten with it, you know? So she's somebody. Shout out, baby. She's someone that I really look up to when it comes to, like, really handling your business as a woman and being respected and heard and even with songs how they were like, that's not a hit. That's not a hit. Nope. Take it back. And she was like. And all these are what? Number one. I was like, takashi.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

So, yeah, I need to do that too.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Because, yes, those songs came from your experiences, you know, so the way you deliver them is what resonates with your audience. So somebody else who may have not gone through that, like, oh, this ain't it. This isn't it. And then those be the ones that.

[Queen Najah]

Go, oh, my goodness. Yes. That's actually what I'm. I'm not going through anything right now. But that's what. That's just the situation I'm in right now, trying to figure out what's going to be my next single. And I feel. I feel like I know this one single. It's like this one right here. Like, they really gonna Feel it.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

But you know, sometimes the being signed to a label, they'll look at, like, what's most upbeat or what seems most popular or what, you know? And I. And I do know that they could know some things that maybe. I don't know, like, what could cross over, but like when, you know.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

Something you just gotta push for, like. No, this one right here, we gotta make sure we put this out, even if it's not the first one.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Exactly.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

So I'm glad you're able to say no, we gotta. We gotta do this one.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

You're being in the studio, what is your creative process like? Because everybody's is different.

[Queen Najah]

Everybody's different. I feel like mine's changed over the years. I used to have to, like, I used to wake up in the middle of the night and I would hear a melody.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Are you serious?

[Queen Najah]

Yes. And I'd be like, I hear a melody and I'm like. Or I could be anywhere. I could be on the toilet. I could be anywhere.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Queen Najah]

And I just hear a melody and I. And then. So I start just singing the melody and then I want to go make that a beat. So really, I'm a producer too. I just don't press the button, right. But I be. I tell the producers, like, put this instrument and I'll like, get a pen and a paper or a pen on the table and I'll like, beat and I'll do this. And I'm like, make that into a beat. Are you?

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That's so cool.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, like. But now I've had to open up a little bit more and allow for people to send me like, certain beats. And then I'll just go in there and I'll like, mumble. I'll mumble cadences that I like and then fill it in with words. And I used to completely be like, no, I don't want no writers. I just want to write my own stuff.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

But I'm open to writers now. Like co writing with people. Even if someone wants to give me a song, I tell them, like, okay, but I gotta make it completely like. Like mine. So if I gotta switch up words.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yep.

[Queen Najah]

I'll do. I never take something like, fully on.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right. Putting your thing, adding my little pizzazz on it. Yeah, no, but that's smart too.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Because there's money in your publishing and writing too.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Hello.

[Queen Najah]

Because if my voice wasn't on it.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes, exactly.

[Queen Najah]

So, yeah, so that's what I do. I just mumbo jumbo. And then sometimes, like, I will have A. What is it? What's the word? I'll have a. Not scenario, but a concept.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, concept.

[Queen Najah]

I'll have a concept in my head. Like, it'll be a good song about so and so or da da, da. And then I'll be like, I'm gonna like, just write about that. But so my current manager now, I don't know if you know, but his name is no id. He's taught me. Yeah, so. Yeah, so he's taught me that a good song can go on any beat. You just gotta, like, have the conversations first and then your song is. Right. The conversation.

[Crystal]

Wow.

[Queen Najah]

So I have been working on. Rather than just like writing words down, trying to make stuff rhyme, like, we'll like have a conversation first in the studio and then next thing you know, my song is right there. Like, wow. We'll just talk. We'll get to these deep talks about these things. I'm just like, wait, write that down. And then it turns into a song.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That's fire. Who are some people that you would love to work with?

[Queen Najah]

Artist wise or.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Or producer. Because there's some incredible producers and writers.

[Queen Najah]

I've always. I've never got a chance yet to work with Pharrel. I think he's super dope.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

He is.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

It would be nice to work with the dream. I haven't. I have yet to work with London on a track. We tried to do something, but we didn't end up. We didn't end up making nothing. But that was like a while back.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

But like, pretty much I'm down with whoever want, like, as far as artists, if they want to work, then we could work. I kind of used to. To have this, like, dream list of, like, people that I want to collab with, but I don't really have that anymore. It's just like, look, if we're gonna work, we're gonna work.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

We're gonna work.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

If not, I can hold this on.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

My own, you know? You can?

[Queen Najah]

Yeah.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Who have been some of your favorite people to actually collab with that. You've already collabed with?

[Queen Najah]

Big Sean. Definitely.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. Who else have I worked with that I really like? Ella Ma. She's a very. She's very much a girl's girl.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I love that.

[Queen Najah]

And then I work with Mariah Marita, Scientist, and we have a song coming out soon. But that she's. I just love girls. Girls. I love people that's super genuine. I love people that check on you outside of the music. Like, hey, I'm just Thinking about you. Like her. She. She checks on me a lot. We haven't done a song yet, but. Yeah, I just enjoy those genuine people, those genuine vibes. Teyana Taylor is dope.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Love to.

[Crystal]

Yes.

[Queen Najah]

I could go down the list.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yeah, that's fire. I love that when you talk about that. I also would like to ask you, when it comes to where you see your music going, is there. I know we talked about gospel. Is there, like, do you like. What else do you see yourself doing?

[Queen Najah]

I'm gonna be honest. I see myself getting nominated or winning a Grammy. I see myself doing that. I gotta speak that. I used to be like, no, I don't care. No, no, we getting a Grammy. And I don't know when it's gonna happen, but it's gonna happen. And when it do, I want y' all to come right back to this place.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

We will. Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

I know that. I. I will end up doing. Is it. Is it weird to say that I don't really like the term gospel because I want to run people away? Yeah, I. I want to do, like, more so Christian contemporary worship or Christian R and B fusion, like, where it has that sound that people want to listen to, but it's still talking that real, real about God.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes, but there's. There's a lane for that.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, they do have a lane. I. I've seen.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

And that sounds real good.

[Crystal]

It's really good.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I be working out to it. It's really good.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah. I'm like, okay, this about God. But I do feel like God is going to take me to higher heights right now where I am even in this R and B lane, to where it's going to open up that. Like, a bigger fan base. So then when I do finally cross over to that side, I'm bringing all them folks with you.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yep. It's so funny you say that, because I've noticed a lot of these, like, big stars are turning life over to Jesus. But they. I'm talking about hundreds of millions of followers, and they're bringing them.

[Queen Najah]

And like I said, sometimes you gotta go get the people and meet them where they are, be relatable with them.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes.

[Queen Najah]

I mean, I feel like that's what I'm doing right now. And I'm not gonna pretend. Like I said, I love doing RB music. I love the way it sounds and things like that. And not just R and B. I want to cross over to other things, too, like alternative and things. I just like different music. But I know for a fact that once I gain that, that bigger Fan base, you know.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

It's going to bring them over.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

It happens. It happens.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

No, I'm, I'm sure of that. What we, Our theme for this season is impact.

[Queen Najah]

Impact.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes, impact. And I want to ask you what, even with your music, what is something that you intentionally do to make sure that you're leaving a positive impact on your listeners?

[Queen Najah]

I feel like I do that more so through my personality.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I was thinking that on your social media.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

I'mma always talk about, I'm sorry, I don't care. I know I goof off and joke around a lot, but I'm gonna always get a glory to God.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Queen Najah]

And then just always keep that radiant energy and positivity. Regardless of what I may be going through. I always tell people to just maintain A, A lot of people don't believe in being humble, but I, I believe in staying humble and always being happy for others and just, just staying consistent in chasing. Yeah, not chasing a dream, but just staying consistent and trying to be, trying to do whatever it is that you would like to do.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right.

[Queen Najah]

You know?

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes, for sure. What do you do to protect your peace? Because there's so much noise in our industry, especially when we're on social media, it's like, what, what do you do to protect your peace?

[Queen Najah]

Well, like I said, I have those people around me that keep me accountable, keeping that relationship, like open with. But also I, I, I'm a big believer in therapy. Come on, like therapy. A lot of people be like, against it, but therapy has worked so well for me. Oh, I need to schedule me an appointment. She just hit me up. I'm like, oh man. But therapy is definitely a really good. And then just having that quiet time to yourself, like, I don't, I have this car that I just sit in.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Really?

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, I, I just sit in my car sometimes so I can just get away from the noise. And sometimes you got to put phone. And I'm talking to myself too. I'm, I'm not trying to contradict, but sometimes you gotta put the phone down and delete the, delete the apps and just really like sit with yourself and do something on the outside that you want to get. Yeah, just some peace.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That's so true.

[Queen Najah]

That's how you keep your peace.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Cuz that phone is distracting.

[Queen Najah]

It is so distracting. I'll find myself SC going back to Instagram. I don't even want to go there, girl.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I was telling somebody a few years ago, I fasted from Instagram and my thumb was still even. I deleted the Whole. And it was gone. Like, the app was gone. But my search was programmed to. I was like, this is.

[Queen Najah]

It's got to be something in there.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

It's something in there.

[Queen Najah]

I was fasting. I was fasting, too, from social media, and I had deleted the app. And I'm like, where's. Wait a minute. You want to fast, right? Or, like, if I didn't delete it, like, my thumb is still clicking. I'm like, wait, yes.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That thing is own. Yes.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, it's. It's really addictive. It is. But it's probably because we so programmed to do it for so long, you know?

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I put a timer on my phone, like Instagram has. I do like that about the app.

[Queen Najah]

I put a timer, too, but sometimes.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I ignore for the day. I didn't. Like, I'd be like, ignore for the day. They'll never know.

[Queen Najah]

Just look a little bit more.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Right? I'll do, like, the 15. 15 more minutes, and then finally I'll be like, ignore for the day.

[Queen Najah]

That's like. I know. It gets. Once it gets to a point where my head start hurting from looking at the screen, I'm like, okay, now this is too much. What are you doing?

[Chris Renee Hazel]

What are you doing? So, yeah, that is funny. I love that. So you have a new album coming out. Are you able to share any information on it?

[Queen Najah]

So my supporters know my album is done, basically. Right. But I had this little contractual thing where my label said I gotta put out an EP first. So I am putting out an ep. Okay. And it's amazing. I went to go. That's what I did in Miami. Okay, dope. I went to go record it, and it, like. I was like, this is so good. I might have to go change some stuff on the album because, you know. Yeah. The more that I grow and, like, I just keep making good music. I'm like, so either way, whether it's the ep, single, whatever album, whatever's coming out, it's gonna be good. I'm really excited about it.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

I can't wait.

[Queen Najah]

Yeah, it's gonna be rather soon, too. Okay. Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Well, we definitely on the lookout for it. Let our audience know where they can find you so we can support you. Tap in and keep up with everything.

[Queen Najah]

Y' all can find me everywhere. That sounds crazy. Queen Nijah. Everywhere. Q, U, E, E, N, N A I J, A And also make sure you guys follow my Snapchat and follow me on Twitch, because I'll be. I'll be acting a fool on there. Filtered me. Yeah. Not this one.

[Crystal]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

That's so funny. Definitely. Tap in on Twitch, y'. All. Queen Aja, thank you so much. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was. It was. Thank you.

[Queen Najah]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazel]

Yes. All right, sweeties. Today I am wearing a denim dress by Fashion Nova. I love this dress because it is made of recycled jeans. So dope and innovative. Shoes are by Dolce and Gabbana. Earrings you guys already know at this point, Bottega Veneta and bracelet by Van Cleef, y'. All. Now, wasn't that one of the most warm and down to earth conversations? I just love her. She is so humble, so real and just full of grace. She reminded us that you can shine and still stay grounded. And that's the kind of energy we're always here for. Until next time. Y' all know what to do. Stay kind, stay lifted, and as always, keep it positive. Sweeties, see you next time.