The Breakfast Club – INTERVIEW: 112, Case & Total On The 90s R&B Generation, Biggie's Magic In Studio, Cool Vulnerability + More

Date: October 27, 2025
Host: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guests: 112, Total, Case

Episode Overview

This dynamic episode features a spirited reunion with R&B legends 112, Total, and Case as they discuss their upcoming 90s-themed tour and reflect on the golden era of ‘90s R&B. The conversation moves from their shared musical history, Bad Boy Records culture, and creative collaborations, to the unique vulnerability that defined their music. Interwoven are candid stories about studio sessions with Biggie, Missy Elliott, and others, the impact of their music, and the cultural legacy of the era.

Key Discussion Points

1. The 30th Anniversary ‘Room 112’ Tour: Why Now?

Timestamp: 02:38 – 04:00

• Tour Launch: 112, Total, and Case are touring together for Room 112’s 30th anniversary.
  • Mike (112): “It just made sense for us to just get out there and just show the fans that we really appreciate what they've been doing, been rocking out with us for the last 30 years, man.” (03:25)
• Lineup: Both 112 and Total are managed by the same crew; bringing Case in was a natural fit.
• 90s Nostalgia: Focus on celebrating and reviving the sound and spirit of the 90s.
• First Show Dates: November 5th, with key stops in Stamford and Brooklyn.

2. Getting Back on Stage After Hiatus

Timestamp: 04:07 – 05:04

• Reunion Feels: For Total, returning to performance was easy—“like riding a bike.”
  • Keisha (Total): “Our vibe is very authentic. So it's, you know, just show up and be authentic.” (04:51)
• Family Support: “They actually was like, go do it. Like, bye.” (04:49) Their kids encouraged them to return to music.

3. The Bad Boy Era – Influence and Vibe

Timestamp: 05:13 – 09:34

• Atmosphere: Felt like everything they did was a hit—“just a big old party.”
  • Keisha: “That's where we learned a lot of our grind from that whole era. Just grinding, just out there, going to the tunnel, like, it was just fun.” (06:05)
• Musical Blend: Atlanta roots meeting the New York scene was a cultural “shock,” but fostered unique musical growth.
• Case on Def Jam: Felt like an outsider as the label learned “on the fly how to do R&B.”
  • Case: “I was the last artist that Russell personally signed to Def Jam. So I could always call him and be like, yo…” (07:30)
• Timelessness: Case always aimed for longevity over trendy records.
  • Case: “I never wanted to make, like, trendy stuff. I always wanted to make music... If I could do that, then I'd be happy, and then everything else would fall in line.” (08:26)
• Star Collaborators: Recalled pivotal sessions with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Charlie Wilson.

4. Innovating the R&B Sound – Hip-Hop Crossover

Timestamp: 09:34 – 12:37

• 112’s Contribution: Mike asserts 112 helped pioneer singing R&B over hip-hop beats—merging genres authentically.
  • Mike (112): “We would always challenge people... our niche in the industry was hip hop and R&B. We weren't just hip hop artists... So yeah, the mind frame was, we started that whole trend.” (09:45)
• Challenged by DJ Envy: Wasn’t it the Bad Boy formula or Diddy’s vision?
  • Mike (112): “I’ll give you Mary J. Blige... but 112 really... and yeah, Puff did, you know, he did contribute because we came in, man, We R&B. We R&B, bro... And his vision was like, yo, this is what's going to separate y'all.” (11:35)
• Total’s Identity: Described themselves as “hip hop with a touch of R&B”—Mary J. Blige as a pioneer of the hip hop soul sound.

5. Meeting Puff, Recording with Biggie, & the Studio Magic

Timestamp: 13:25 – 21:36

• Signing to Bad Boy:

  • Keisha (Total): Shared the story of being “discovered” by Puff via Kathy Dukes, writing a song on the spot with Puff's name, and being signed after an impressive elevator performance.
    • “So we ride and ride, and Kathy was like, y' all gotta always be ready... I'll be right back. She comes downstairs, and she was like, okay, I need y' all to make up a song and put Puffy's name in it.” (14:07)
  • Puff called 2 AM to say he wanted to sign them.

• Studio Stories: Biggie’s Genius:

  • Keisha (Total): “Big was like our little big brother... so we went to the studio and he was playing Juicy... Keisha started humming something. Biggie was like, y' all should go in there and put that down.” (15:30)
  • Mike (112): On recording at Daddy’s House—Biggie and Faith’s genius was their ability to write and perform without pen or paper, creating legendary tracks from pure vibe and observation.
    • “Big and Faith are the only two I’ve ever seen [not write anything down].” (21:34)
  • Mike (112): Recounts Big’s process—soaking up stories in the studio, then freestyling “I Got A Story To Tell” based on his surroundings.

• Performance Credits: Efforts to ensure they now get credit for features like “Juicy.”

6. The Era’s Impact and Cultural Legacy

Timestamp: 18:21 – 24:18

• Did They Enjoy the 90s Moment?
  • All agree: Absolutely—it was a “full blown culture,” and they recognized the rare experience of being on Bad Boy.
• Mythic Status:
  • DJ Envy: “Y’ all defined not just a genre, but y’all were the soundtrack to our lives.” (18:40)
• Fashion & Lifestyle: Bad Boy artists set trends, wore black leather and headbands, making an impact far beyond music.

7. Vulnerability and Changes in R&B

Timestamp: 21:58 – 24:24

• Shift in R&B:
  • Mike (112): “Back then R&B was kind of... more hyperbolic, you know what I mean?” (22:57)
  • Songs expressed exaggerated devotion to love; today’s music feels “transactional.”
• DJ Envy: “You gotta be able to sing about something more than threesomes in the strip club. There’s something else going on.” (23:45)
• Case: Hip-hop’s influence made showing feelings less “cool,” stripping away vulnerability.

8. Studio Stories, Collaborations & Industry Anecdotes

Timestamp: 38:36 – 47:42

• Missy Elliott’s Early Connections:
  • Keisha (Total): “Missy told Vita she had a rap voice, and Vita ain’t stopped rapping.”
• Faith Evans & Group Dynamics:
  • Faith often wrote for others—creating unexpected career turns and cross-pollination in Bad Boy's collaborative studio environment.
• Omar Epps Rumor:
  • Keisha (Total): Clears up that Omar never "wrote for Total," but did bounce ideas musically while they were friends.
• Tensions in the Industry:
  • The group recalls confronting Wendy Williams at her radio station over negative rumors, illustrating how artists had to defend their reputations pre-social media.

9. The Essence of Touring – Competition and Camaraderie

Timestamp: 30:43 – 32:24

• Balancing Legends’ Egos:
  • Mike (112): “It's a respect level… I'm actually fans.” (30:43)
• Healthy Rivalry:
  • DJ Envy: “I think that ego is healthy on the tour… the fans [are] the ones that win.” (31:30)

10. Nostalgia and The Enduring Power of 90s R&B

Timestamp: 32:28 – 34:22

• 90s Resurgence: The guests agree late 2010s and the pandemic sparked a revival, with younger generations discovering—and loving—the era.
• Legacy:
  • Mike (112): “We did more than just sing, you know, we contributed to a culture. Like, we are part of history.” (34:12)

11. The Power of In-the-Moment Experience vs. Social Media

Timestamp: 35:05 – 36:54

• Energy of Live Shows:
  • DJ Envy: “I hate when you come out on stage and everybody got a phone. I'm like, it's happening right here in front of you.” (35:48)
  • Being part of a live audience and engaging in the energy is an irreplaceable experience.

12. Growing Up in the Arts, Family, and Influence

Timestamp: 37:09 – 39:51

• Parenting & Influence:
  • Keisha (Total) recalls a childhood grounded by church and a desire to help her mom, with music coming as a “God’s plan.”
  • Keisha: “Like, I really honestly didn't have time to dream because I was so busy trying to figure out, okay, how I'm gonna help my mom.” (37:22)

13. Memorable Studio Collaborations & Funny Moments

Timestamp: 46:17 – 47:56

• “The Best Man I Can Be” Session:
  • Case: Working with Ginuwine, Tyrese, RL, “you gonna kind of act right, even if you don't want to” because of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis’ presence.
  • On the music video: “I think he [Tyrese] was throwing it [the hat] and he walked. I don't know. I was high... I'm not doing all this. Wear my glasses.” (47:21)

14. What the Upcoming Tour Aims to Deliver

Timestamp: 48:04 – 48:53

• Mission Statement:
  • Mike (112): “We want... to be what we set out to be, which is a refuge for all that BS… if we can give you an hour, an hour and a half, three hours of just being able to separate yourself from bills and these badass kids of ours, feel good just for a little while... that’s our mission.”
• High-Energy Show:
  • Both acts highlight the high energy and aim for fans to “just reminisce.”

Quotes & Notable Moments

• On Biggie’s Magic in Studio:
  Mike (112): “We use the word genius a lot… but this is the true definition… he doesn't write anything, him and Faith… they just sing from life.” (20:35 - 21:36)
• On the 90s Legacy:
  DJ Envy: “Y' all defined not just a genre, but, like, y' all were the soundtrack to our lives.”
• On Vulnerability in R&B:
  Case: “You gotta be able to sing about something more than threesomes in the strip club.” (23:47)
• On Tour Competition:
  Mike (112): "Total was our first pick... Case was our first pick... We wanted to bring back that '90s nostalgia, and just bring back that whole era of I knew where I was when I heard ‘Only You’ for the first time." (30:51)
• On Nostalgia’s Purpose:
  Mike (112): “If we can give you an hour... of just being able to separate yourself from bills and these badass kids... that’s our mission.” (48:10)

Conclusion

This episode is a joyful, unguarded celebration of the ‘90s R&B era and its continuing legacy. With laughter, honesty, and a few inside stories, 112, Total, and Case both honor the past and look ahead to sharing its energy with new and longtime fans on their anniversary tour.

For full segment context, see timestamps within Key Discussion Points.
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