The Breakfast Club: Grammy Weekend Exclusive

Episode: Grammy Weekend Exclusive (Interview with Ashley Christopher, Brian Michael Cox and Jon B)
Podcast: The Breakfast Club (Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts)
Host: Lauren LaRosa (with guests Ashley Christopher, Brian Michael Cox, Jon B)
Date: February 2, 2026

Overview

This special Grammy weekend episode captures the energy, achievements, and stories of Black excellence tied to the 68th Grammy Awards. Lauren LaRosa hosts one-on-one interviews with three powerhouse guests:

• Ashley Christopher (Founder, HBCU Week Foundation)
• Brian Michael Cox (Legendary producer, songwriter, and HBCU alum)
• Jon B (Iconic R&B artist)

The conversations revolve around music, community impact, HBCU empowerment, legacy building, and the blending of past, present, and future within Black culture and entertainment.

Key Segments & Highlights

1. Setting the Scene: Black Excellence at the Grammys

Host: Lauren LaRosa
Timestamps: 02:21–04:55

• The 2026 Grammys are described as a celebration of Black talent and achievement across genres, with unprecedented representation and victories.
• "[...] anytime I'm somewhere, even if it's not supposed to be about everything black. I'm gonna make it that way. But this year's Grammys to me was very. I'm rooting for everybody black and they winning, period." (Lauren LaRosa, 02:45)
• Lauren teases in-depth coverage from the weekend and exclusive interviews.

2. Ashley Christopher: HBCU Week, Impact & Staying Rooted

Timestamps: 04:55–10:04

Ashley’s Vision & Achievements

• HBCU Week Foundation: Founded to get Black students to and through HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) debt-free.
• Milestones:
  • 12,000+ on-the-spot college acceptances since 2017
  • $150 million+ in scholarships awarded
  • Signature college fair offers 2,000+ acceptances and significant scholarships each year
  • STEM grants and partnerships exceed $40 million
• Notable moment: Tank raises $50,000 in 4 minutes at Brian Michael Cox’s brunch.
  • "He had tank raise $50,000 for HBCU week in four minutes. Like, never seen anything like this. [...] The energy was so crazy." (Ashley Christopher, 05:57)

Giving Back at Home

• Chooses to center the foundation’s work in Wilmington, Delaware, her hometown.
• On resisting the pressure to leave home for bigger opportunities:
  • "You never have to leave. If you do step out, maybe temporarily, but it's never like, I must leave. Like, if I don't leave, I won't succeed. That's never gonna be it." (Ashley Christopher, 07:19)
  • Stresses the importance of serving her own community and being an example for others.

Changing Lives: Kayla's Journey

• Shares story of Kayla Bel Davis, who:
  • Attended Howard on a $40,000 STEM scholarship, graduated debt-free
  • Now pursuing a doctorate at USC
  • "She's one of several hundred. Like, she's not, like, the only one. So I'm so grateful." (Ashley Christopher, 09:28)

3. Brian Michael Cox: Community, Legacy, and HBCU Pride

Timestamps: 13:34–16:08

Motivation & Giving Back

• Cox’s personal mission: Uplifting young talent and giving scholarships, rooted in his own experience as an HBCU graduate (Clark Atlanta), with deep family ties to Bethune-Cookman and FAMU.
• On supporting Ashley Christopher and HBCU Week:
  • "Somebody had to pour into me in that way, right? Whether it was time, whether it was money, somebody had to pour into me in that way, and they did. And I'm the product of that. So for me, I don't ever take that lightly." (Brian Michael Cox, 15:07)
• Emphasizes being a conduit for continued support and representation of HBCUs in the music industry and beyond.

4. Jon B: R&B Legacy, Collaborations, and Artistic Authenticity

Timestamps: 16:42–26:05

Career Update & Collaborations

• Recently took time off, working on next album and touring ("You'll see me in a state near you").
• Praises Tank’s contribution to his 10th studio album Waiting on You:
  • "He [Tank] came and he put the sauce on my song. [...] It was just incredible to have him as a presence on my album." (Jon B., 18:23)

Reflections on R&B and the Grammys

• Celebrates the resurgence and recognition of R&B and hip-hop at the Grammys.
• On Kehlani’s "Folded":
  • "I think it's a great example of how you could be melodic still and how we can think in a sense like we used to think in the 90s or early 2000s and be romantic at the same time." (Jon B., 19:57)
• Champions self-contained artists (writers/producers of their own music), likening them to his own approach.
  • "When you're in the DNA of your music and it gets acknowledged like that, I think that that's the greater [...] that's the real honor of it." (Jon B., 21:01)

On Creative Chemistry

• Discusses the significance of chemistry between artist, producer, engineer, and the collective intent behind making a great song:
  • "The song is the equation of all of those beautiful energies being in the room at the same time and having, you know, a sentiment that is very similar." (Jon B., 22:24)

Relationship with Babyface

• Addresses public curiosity about his relationship with Babyface:
  • "There's no update, really, other than just. I feel very good about, you know, the way that I've represented our relationship, because it's nothing but positive at this point." (Jon B., 23:54)
  • Stresses 30 years of positivity and partnership; refuses to let one moment overshadow the legacy.

Advice to Aspiring Artists

• "Stay in your lab, stay in your bag, get your, you know, get. You got to get in there and make something from nothing, baby." (Jon B., 25:08)
• Encourages perseverance, authenticity, and maintaining creative roots for lasting success.

Notable Quotes

• Lauren LaRosa (Host): "Anytime I'm somewhere, even if it's not supposed to be about everything black. I'm gonna make it that way." (02:45)
• Ashley Christopher: "To be in a room so powerful with so many executives, so many people behind the scene, the creatives that are determining which way the culture shifts on any given day, to have that support... It meant that much to them that they would challenge each other to rise to the occasion." (06:19)
• Brian Michael Cox: "For me, I don't ever take that lightly, you know what I'm saying? Well, I think. I mean, I'm a product of HBCU, of HBCUs... I take a lot of pride in that." (15:07)
• Jon B: "When I say I'm R and B, I mean I'm really R and B. Like I'm. I'm part of the R&B culture and this is the, you know, evidently the RB culture." (18:55)
• Jon B: "It's not about necessarily being the focal point, the star. It's like when you're a part of the whole project, you know, you're part of the whole, you know, making of this thing, you know, and that's the real honor of it." (21:01)
• Jon B.: "Don't wait for anybody to tell you it's okay, you know, and give you the permission or give you the inspiration. Just, you got to find that stuff in yourself." (25:12)

Timestamps for Key Sections

| Segment | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |--------------------------------------------|---------------------| | Black excellence at the Grammys | 02:21–04:55 | | Ashley Christopher on HBCU Week | 04:55–10:04 | | Brian Michael Cox on Giving and Legacy | 13:34–16:08 | | Jon B: R&B, Legacy, Collaborations | 16:42–26:05 | | Advice for Aspiring Artists (Jon B.) | 25:08 |

Conclusion & Takeaways

This exclusive Grammy weekend episode of The Breakfast Club with Lauren LaRosa highlights the deep impact of grassroots leadership, committed artistry, and Black cultural advocacy. Ashley Christopher's HBCU Week story is a testament to homegrown empowerment and generational change. Brian Michael Cox exemplifies giving back and strengthening community roots. Jon B underscores the enduring power of authentic R&B and collaborative creativity, while sharing personal wisdom for legacy creation in music.

Anyone interested in Black culture, HBCU advocacy, or the state of modern and classic R&B will find this episode both inspiring and insightful.