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

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.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.