INTERVIEW: Carlos King On The Impact Of Black Reality TV, New Production Company, OWN Partnership + More

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Breakfast Club" Episode Featuring Carlos King

Release Date: July 1, 2025
Title: INTERVIEW: Carlos King On The Impact Of Black Reality TV, New Production Company, OWN Partnership + More
Host/Authors: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Description: The Breakfast Club is renowned as one of the world's most influential morning shows, featuring engaging conversations with prominent figures. In this episode, Carlos King delves into his journey in the reality TV industry, his production endeavors, and his commitment to uplifting Black narratives.

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1. Introduction and Setting the Stage

[00:41] Charlamagne Tha God:
Charlamagne kickstarts the conversation with humor, highlighting Carlos King's multifaceted identity beyond being labeled merely a YouTuber. He emphasizes Carlos's prominence as a reality TV producer and mogul, setting the tone for an in-depth discussion.

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2. Carlos King's Career and Achievements

[01:10] Carlos King:
Carlos proudly identifies himself as a multi-hyphenate professional. He is the CEO of Kingdom Rain Entertainment and the host/executive producer of his podcast, "Reality with the King." He humorously acknowledges the mislabeling of his career on platforms like YouTube.

[01:52] Carlos King:
He shares a landmark achievement: being the first Black man to executive produce the "Real Housewives" franchise, starting with "Real Housewives of Atlanta" in Season Six. Under his leadership, this season remains the highest-rated on Bravo.

Notable Quote:
"Season six of the Real Housewives of Atlanta still remains the highest rated season on any show on Bravo." — Carlos King [01:52]

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3. Creation of "Love and Huntsville" and Focus on Black Relationships

[03:00] Carlos King:
Expressing his passion, Carlos discusses his motivation to create "Love and Huntsville." He noticed a gap in reality TV – a lack of shows focusing on Black couples and their relationships with equal footing, diverging from the predominantly female-centric "Housewives" format.

Notable Quote:
"I wanted to do a show for the first time where the man and the woman had equal footing and billing on the show." — Carlos King [03:32]

[03:55] Charlamagne Tha God:
Charlamagne probes into the casting process, curious about whether the couples featured are personal acquaintances or selected through other means.

[04:12] Carlos King:
Carlos explains that casting wasn't based on personal relationships. For instance, he collaborated with Melody Martel, which eventually led to featuring the Scotts, setting the foundation for "Love and Huntsville."

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4. Mentorship and Community Impact

[07:04] DJ Envy:
DJ Envy highlights Carlos's supportive nature, mentioning how Carlos has been a mentor without formal acquaintance, offering guidance and support in navigating the industry.

[07:25] Carlos King:
Carlos delves into his personal experiences as an openly gay Black man in the industry. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, aiming to create a safe and supportive environment for his community.

Notable Quote:
"I know what it's like to be the only one. I'm an openly gay black man... I know what it's like to feel alone." — Carlos King [07:32]

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5. Handling Sensitive Content in Reality TV

[10:11] Charlamagne Tha God:
Charlamagne addresses the delicate balance between storytelling and exploitation in reality TV, questioning how producers like Carlos determine when a line is crossed.

[10:11] Carlos King:
Carlos recounts an instance from "Belle Collective" involving Marie Monroe's mother struggling with drug abuse. Recognizing the potential for exploitation, he made the tough decision to cease production to protect her dignity and mental health.

Notable Quote:
"I did not want to be somebody to use my millions of viewers and audiences to show a black mother dealing with that for the rest of the show." — Carlos King [10:11]

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6. Perspectives on Black Reality TV Stars and Industry Treatment

[15:15] Charlamagne Tha God:
Charlamagne brings up the topic of Black reality TV stars often not securing the same mainstream opportunities as their counterparts, despite their success.

[15:18] Carlos King:
Carlos praises Nene Leakes, likening her to the "Meryl Streep of reality television." He discusses the broader issue of Black women not receiving deserved investments across various industries, attributing it to advertisers' biases.

Notable Quote:
"When it comes to black women in any industry, black women lead the charge. They're the curators... but advertisers feel like if they're not white, would the consumer buy into that?" — Carlos King [15:18]

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7. Partnership with Black Effect Network

[27:25] Carlos King:
Carlos announces his podcast, "Reality with the King," joining the Black Effect Network. He expresses excitement about collaborating with Charlamagne Tha God to amplify Black voices in multimedia production.

[27:32] Charlamagne Tha God:
Charlamagne shares his aspirations for Black Effect, envisioning it as a comprehensive multimedia production company and expressing eagerness to delve deeper into unscripted content alongside Carlos.

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8. Future Vision for Kingdom Rain Entertainment

[32:32] Carlos King:
Carlos outlines his ambition for Kingdom Rain Entertainment to evolve into a multifaceted multimedia production company. This includes expanding into podcasting, unscripted television, and scripted content, aiming to disrupt and innovate within the industry.

Notable Quote:
"I want to be a disruptor in this industry, and I want to have fun creating stuff that people are like, I had no idea you were even thinking about that." — Carlos King [32:32]

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9. Addressing Industry Challenges and Social Media's Impact

[26:15] Carlos King:
Carlos critiques the detrimental effects of social media on reality TV stars, stating that it pressures them to behave in ways that appease audiences, often leading to negative consequences for their careers.

[26:15] Notable Quote:
"Social media has poisoned the reality star into behaving in a way that pleases them... those days are definitely diminishing." — Carlos King [26:15]

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10. Commitment to Authentic Storytelling and Community Representation

[41:20] Carlos King:
Carlos emphasizes his dedication to authentic storytelling and the representation of Black individuals in his productions. He rejects comparisons to industry figures like Andy Cohen, asserting his unique identity and contributions.

[41:22] Carlos King:
He reinforces his mission to honor his community and legacy, ensuring his productions reflect genuine Black experiences.

Notable Quote:
"I'm not insecure... I own a production company. I have a podcast. I'm a YouTuber... I want my people, and I'm gonna talk to my people alone." — Carlos King [41:22]

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11. Closing Remarks and Call to Action

As the interview winds down, Carlos promotes his podcast's new partnership with Black Effect Network, inviting listeners to subscribe and engage with his content across various platforms. The hosts express their support, highlighting upcoming exclusive interviews and encouraging the audience to follow Carlos's endeavors.

[44:46] Carlos King:
"Follow me on Instagram, TikTok, X at the Carlos King underscore. My YouTube is at the Carlos King underscore. Please subscribe to my podcast under the Black Effect Network." — Carlos King [44:46]

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Key Takeaways

• Trailblazing Leadership: Carlos King is a pioneering Black executive producer in reality TV, significantly contributing to the success of "Real Housewives of Atlanta."

• Commitment to Representation: Through "Love and Huntsville" and other projects, Carlos focuses on authentic Black narratives, particularly highlighting Black relationships.

• Mentorship and Community Building: Carlos prioritizes mentorship, aiming to create a supportive environment for Black professionals in the entertainment industry.

• Ethical Storytelling: He demonstrates a strong ethical stance, choosing to halt productions that might exploit vulnerable individuals.

• Industry Challenges: Carlos addresses systemic biases that limit opportunities for Black reality TV stars and critiques the adverse effects of social media on authentic representation.

• Future Endeavors: With Kingdom Rain Entertainment's expansion and the partnership with Black Effect Network, Carlos is poised to further influence and reshape the landscape of reality TV and multimedia production.

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This summary encapsulates the comprehensive discussion between Carlos King and the hosts of "The Breakfast Club," highlighting his achievements, challenges, and vision for the future of Black reality TV.

Transcript

[DJ Envy]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Charlamagne tha God]

Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Yep, it's the world's most dangerous morning short of Breakfast Club. DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne the God. But Envy's not here. Lauren LaRosa is. And we got a very special guest in the building. And I am insulted at YouTube Google cuz I went to go Google Carlos just to see what they say he is. They called you a goddamn YouTuber. You not a reality TV show producer mogul out here.

[Carlos King]

Well, no, I'm definitely a multi hyphenate like everybody in this room. So yes, listen, I'm a CEO of a production company, Kingdraine Entertainment. That's right. I am somebody who has a YouTube channel. I am the host EP of my podcast, Reality with the King. I'm a certified yapper and you know, love it. I'm a libra.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Carlos King is here, y' all.

[DJ Envy]

Yes.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What's happening? What's happening? What's happening?

[Carlos King]

So happy to be here.

[DJ Envy]

Talk about a bit because to Charlamagne's point, when people talk about Carlos King, Reality with the King is a big show. People know the moments. But I don't think people really understand that you were very integral in a lot of our favorite reality TV Real Housewives of Atlanta. The opening seasons. Talk about that journey in your career.

[Carlos King]

Yeah, so listen, I'm the first black man to ever executive produce the Real Housewives franchise in general. So Atlanta was my first one, Season six. And till this day, under my leadership, season six of the Real Housewives of Atlanta still remains the highest rated season on any show on Bravo. So you know, for me, I am somebody who takes my career very seriously when it comes to the amount of work I've done. Real Housewives of Atlanta, Real Housewives of New Jersey. And because of that is when I left the show to start my production Company, Kingdom Rain Entertainment, and now am the creator, executive producer of Love and Huntsville, which is the number one show on Oprah Winfrey's network.

[DJ Envy]

I read an article out that says that that show is responsible for 69% of all original programming hours on own.

[Carlos King]

Yeah. So my production company, Kingdom rank Entertainment, produces 69% of the programs on Oprah's network.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Love that. And he's talking about some goddamn YouTuber.

[DJ Envy]

How do you. How do you figure out, like, what you want to do or what you want to get involved in? Because Love and Marriage, Huntville, original idea.

[Carlos King]

Yes.

[DJ Envy]

Where does that come from?

[Carlos King]

I love black people. I'm somebody who is interested in telling black stories. I love black couples. And I felt that at the time, there wasn't a reality show that focused on black couples and their relationships. When it comes to not the man being behind the woman, like on a housewives or a female ensemble show. One thing I know about men, straight men, they have an opinion.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I'm a little crooked.

[Carlos King]

You know, listen, that's one of the gross. You know what I'm saying?

[DJ Envy]

That's my minutes over there.

[Carlos King]

Listen. A straight black man, as we see with the million podcast people have, they have an opinion. And I wanted to do a show for the first time where the man and the woman had equal footing and billing on the show. And Love and Huntsville has been the number one show on Owned for the past six years.

[Lauren LaRosa]

How did you go about casting the couples? Are these friends of yours or do you know?

[Carlos King]

No. So I had a meeting with a then couple named Melody Martel who wanted to do a show about property preservation. And I was like, not sure about that. So I said, find me some people. I want to do a show about couples. And they introduced me to the Scotts, and the rest is history.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What originally drew you to unscripted TV and what keeps you passionate about it?

[Carlos King]

Yeah. So listen, I'm a journalist. Hey, Portia. Hey, Lauren. I'm a journalist. I grew up watching Oprah Winfrey, the late Ananda Lewis, who was my idol for so many years and still remains. And for me, I wanted to just be somebody who was able to report on real people's stories, real people issues. So when I got the bug and the call to produce the Real Housewives of Atlanta, that's the first reality show I've done. And the moment Charlamagne, I stepped on set, I felt like how you all feel, it's like when your purpose meets your passion. And I felt that God created me to be a storyteller. And to tell people's stories in the most authentic way and doing unscripted is the blessing that I never thought I needed. Wow. It really is.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You talk about why, though?

[Carlos King]

Because the thing is this. I feel like everybody has a story. So when I started my podcast Reality with the King, I wanted to create a safe space where people were able to be unprovoked, not judge, and be able to just sit with somebody who cares about them and say, this is my truth and this is how I feel. And. And for me, when it comes to reality television, there's nothing that makes me more happy than to see regular people live their wildest dreams. I think it's the most important blessing of my life.

[Charlamagne tha God]

When you think about season six of Real Housewives of Atlanta right now, we all know all the historic cast members of Real Housewives of Atlanta. What makes a cast member must watch tv to you? Is it personality? Is it vulnerability? Is it drama? Or just something else that we might be missing?

[Carlos King]

It's all of the above. And what's funny is. So when I cast women and men on my shows, the number one question they ask me is, what are you looking for? And I always say, I want authenticity. The reason why the three of you are so amazing at your job is because people wake up in the morning and want to listen and watch what the three of you have to say. So for me, it's all about being authentic, being vulnerable. And listen, we all like a little excited life that may be a little messy, just like the world is.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Get the scarf on and go live.

[Carlos King]

Well, you know, the hair is laying down. You know, Jess had to get the meth off off her chest. You like how that rhyme? Jess had to get the meth off her chest. That's a hot 16 shout out to Nikki. So for me, I love that. And that's why when Jess went live and was talking, you know, her truth, I called Jess and Lauren and said, hey, I have a podcast called Reality with the King. Want to come on and talk to me? So that's what I do.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Sure did.

[Carlos King]

I did.

[DJ Envy]

But you've been also, too. Even from the first day I met you, you've been really encouraging of us. Like, you spoke to me about just before all of that, and you spoke to me about just this environment. What has that looked like for you? Mentorship wise, too, because it was. I didn't even know you, but you were like, here's what you need to do. Here's what you like. Why are you that way? And what does that.

[Carlos King]

Because I know what it's like to grow up in this crazy business and just wanting to be heard.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[Carlos King]

I know what it's like to be the only in the room. I'm an openly gay black man. Shocker. I know this voice is so deep, so much bass in it. But for me, I know what it's like to be the only one. I know what it's like to feel alone. And I know what it's like to be a black person in a space where everybody feels like they know you. So when I saw what the two of you were going through. Oh, that's great tv. No, listen, listen, listen, listen. First of all, Charlamagne is the Carlos King of radio.

[DJ Envy]

I normally would say Andy Copeland, but Carlos King, definitely. Yes, Charlotte.

[Carlos King]

It's like my spirit at him up, because he was like, I mean, you know, say what you gotta say. Say it now. Get off your chest.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And then gave me a hug before he.

[Carlos King]

And she's crying. And you was like, you felt that way. I had no idea. I was like, well, Charlamagne, she's been crying for weeks.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And they're gonna say, well, I. See, I cry all the time. And don't.

[Carlos King]

Right. Don't. And shut up and don't explain it. So for me, I love black people. I really do. And I am everybody's mentor. I'm known as somebody who loves all the girls. And every single reality star has contacted me to give them advice. They slide in my DMs to no shade to, you know, hop on my shows. But other than that, they do want somebody who looks like me to say, how do I go about doing this? And that's why mentorship is very important to me, because I want to be able to give back to my community in a way that feels safe.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And I heard you mention you want to be the change in the industry. Right? So that's what you're talking about when you say I want to be the change in the industry.

[Carlos King]

Yes. I want to be the agent of change, because there isn't anybody at the scale of producing in which I do that is black. I literally am like, the face of black reality production. And I take that very seriously. And that's why, for me, I have given so many opportunities to black people unscripted. I have created so many jobs for people, and there's nothing, honestly, guys, that makes me happier than when I go to work and I see so many black people look like me and they're working for me, and I promote them and I give them raises And I send them off to do everything. So for me, I want to be that, because no one did that for me. Truly, as a black man in this.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Business, you know, there's always a fine line between storytelling and exploitation in reality tv. How do you know when you've crossed it? And do you care?

[Carlos King]

I do care. I do care. I have a show called Belle Collective. A wonderful woman named Marie Monroe has a mother who abuses drugs currently and has been doing that since Marie was a little girl. It was Marie's decision to have that story be told on the show. We told the story in one particular episode. Marie was looking for her mother, and she was searching for her through crack houses. And we were following it. And we, of course, wanted the end of the story to be she was getting healed, because that was Marie's intention. The moment I saw that this woman had a problem that didn't look like she was going to be healed, I ceased shooting with her. And I said that at some point, will feel like we're exploiting this woman who clearly still has a drug abuse situation that is prominent today. And I did not want to be somebody to use my millions of viewers and audiences to show a black mother dealing with that for the rest of the show. So I cease production on that one.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And then even not before you get to her, even some of the other extra crackheads and some of the houses that y' all followed them in, they was probably like, damn, y' all ain't tell us that they was coming today.

[Carlos King]

Yeah, no, no. We had to blow some faces.

[Charlamagne tha God]

The real crack houses of Atlanta would be fire, though. It would be fire.

[Carlos King]

That would be all serious. The Carlos king of radio, he's calling.

[DJ Envy]

Mocha minutes for the rest of the year.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah.

[Carlos King]

Charlamagne, you are one of the girls. Not one of the girls. Do you know this? Us gays love you. I tell them, I know the kids love me.

[Charlamagne tha God]

They call me. They say, I'm trade.

[Carlos King]

Trade. And what else? They say, what? What?

[DJ Envy]

They say trade.

[Carlos King]

He thinks, do you know what trade means?

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, but it's. It's flattering.

[Carlos King]

Trade is an clock. It. Trade is a black masculine. Well, not black. A masculine man that looks like this, you know, with your basketball shorts and T shirt and everything.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, it's like very light blue. What's up?

[Carlos King]

Yes, we like short brown around over here.

[DJ Envy]

That's what I was waiting for you to say. They be like, he's so round. He's so thick. I be like, can y' all. Oh, my God.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That time I was Walking out of Viacom in 1550.

[Carlos King]

What happened?

[Charlamagne tha God]

I was walking out of Viacom, and it was about four brothers, right? I ain't even paying no attention. I'm walking, right? So I'm minding my business. All I hear is, uh, charlamagne. Don't you walk over here. Don't you walk past us with all that ass and not say nothing excuse.

[Carlos King]

Yes. We love that. Sorry. He was big. Blushing, too. He was. I was.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I went back.

[Carlos King]

All right. Hello. Exactly.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, my God.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So what? I. I want to go back to something that you said before. You were saying that, you know, you wanted to be the change in the industry. What were some of the things that you had to go through before you even got to that? Like, you were ever mistreated in the industry before you got to where you are?

[Carlos King]

Yes, I. Good question. I remember being a producer, and I work really hard, and I climbed the ladder the right way. I was a PA ap. I had every step in this business. And I remember I had these set of mentors who I thought were, like, everything to me. And long story short, I reached out to them for advice, like, oh, my gosh, you know, I have an opportunity to be an executive producer. I need some advice. What should I do? Do, you know, an agent? Should I get an agent? And all these things. Long story short, they went behind my back and told my bosses I did not deserve the promotion. Wow. Why? Because what I have learned in this business is everybody wants you to do great as long as you're not doing better than them. And that was a tough pill for me to swallow. And I remember crying about that because it was my first time experiencing betrayal from people who I thought were looking out for me. So when I experienced that, I said to myself, no black person in my wheelhouse would ever have to go through that again. And that's the reason why my company. I have an open door policy. I speak to everybody from the PA to the grip to the sound person, to the executives, because I want everybody to know that when they work for Carlos King, we're going to have a great time. We're going to work really hard. But you also have somebody where the owner of the company is going to shake your hand and speak to you and say thank you at the end of the shoot.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know what else I always wondered about Black reality TV stars? They seem to not get the same, like, mainstream deals or magazine covers. Why do you think the industry still treats black reality stars like they decide this and not the. Not the entree Especially when they had success like Real Housewives of Atlanta.

[DJ Envy]

A lot of people talk like that about Nene. They feel like she should have more.

[Carlos King]

Yes, Nene to me, is the Meryl Streep of reality television. And we're gonna put some respect on her name. For sure. We all have benefited from Nene Leakes, and I'm comfortable saying that giving a woman her must do in this business. I think when it comes to black reality stars, unfortunately, just like any black woman in any industry, you aren't given the investment that you deserve. You're not. Whether it's the music industry, whether it's journalism, whether it's, you know, the medical field. It's an unfortunate fact that when it comes to black women in any industry, black women lead the charge. They're the curators. You know, they're the tastemakers. But unfortunately, advertisers feel like if they're not white, would the consumer buy into that? And I think they will. And that's why, when you look at Porsha Williams, Portia Capital P, the COVID of People magazine, big deal. Bernadine Peters, right? Angela Basset.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes.

[Carlos King]

You know, like, you look at Portia and listen, I'm gonna say this because I believe in it. I think Portia Williams is currently.

[Charlamagne tha God]

The.

[Carlos King]

Black Kim Kardashian of our time. And I think we need to look at her as somebody who is going to make so many strides in this business. And I believe strongly her People magazine cover illustrated that fact. And when I saw that, I was like, where's her deals now? Only she has. She has Portia. She got a lot. But I'm like that to me. That to me, really showcased, like, this woman's about to set things on fire. Like she did that car.

[DJ Envy]

You said it was iconic.

[Carlos King]

Well, I think Portia is so iconic, and I just love her so much because, again, she's what Charlamagne and I just talked about. She's vulnerable, she's funny, she's authentic. And, you know, she's having a season where she's going through a divorce, and that's challenging. I think any woman who's going through a divorce sees that and understands that. And if you have never gone through a divorce, I think you will never understand what that does to a woman. It does something to a woman. And I've seen it with Nene Leakes. I've seen it on my shows, Love and Marriage. I've seen it across the world. And I think we have to really give her some grace.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah, you.

[DJ Envy]

I was gonna ask, did you see the interview that Simon recently did with Page Six where he talked about the marriage?

[Carlos King]

I did.

[DJ Envy]

How did you feel about that interview and him throwing a lot of the blame on Portia for the.

[Carlos King]

Well, I think this. I think it's one of those situations where. I don't know. Simon. I met Simon at the wedding for the first time. Which wedding was the Nigerian one? Because at the time I was with an African who looked like Charlamagne. That's right, yes.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Where's he from? Yeah, the Molly region. That's where I'm from. Sierra Leone, guinea massage, Senegal. Like, I'm serious.

[Carlos King]

I don't know, you know, that's why you child. He could have been related to Simon. I don't know.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So was he the plus one for the wedding?

[Carlos King]

I mean. Yeah, yeah, he was.

[DJ Envy]

Oh my God.

[Carlos King]

What you say?

[DJ Envy]

Was he circumcised? That's a real question, Gabby.

[Carlos King]

Plus. Yes.

[DJ Envy]

That's an exciting.

[Carlos King]

All my meat cut. So my thing is. Well, I'm vegan now. Charlamagne, so my vegan meat. Stop. Yes. You know, I like a good amount of protein, but my thing is this. I. I met Simon at the wedding day. The Nigerian wedding. It was me. Hey, what up, y' all?

[DJ Envy]

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[Carlos King]

I think what I've had to make peace with is that every iteration of my voice is given to me by God and I love it.

[Joseph Rees]

Books that validated our identity.

[Carlos King]

The library now for me is a safe space. As someone who is writing books that they're trying to take off of shelves.

[Joseph Rees]

And how we as black queer folks relate to our Christianity. Listen to Hella Black, Hella Queer Hella Christian on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Carlos King]

Giselle Bryant sitting next to each other and I saw the love in that room and you had to be there to understand there was love there. I am shocked that Simon has decided to go this route when it comes to creating a narrative about his wife. Listen, I wasn't there. I wasn't in their bedroom. I don't know what happened for sure, but I do think when it comes to a man at the end of the day, I do think there's some sort of protection that needs to happen to where you have to look at her mental health and understand that. I do believe that everybody should tell their own story, but I Do think it comes to a point to where it could be too much. And I think as a man, you have to decide, like, I got my point across, and I'm done. And I hope that Simon, in his quiet times, understands that. I feel like he did an interview, he got his story out, and I think now is the time to be like, all right, bro, we got. We. We.

[Charlamagne tha God]

We heard you also, too, though, you got to look at it and think to yourself, how much of that is projection? Cuz, I mean, he's going through a lot of trying, for sure. He just was locked up. You got deported. Now you got to step set up light shop in a whole new place, even though you're from there, right? Where is he at? Dubai, Nigeria.

[Carlos King]

Now?

[Charlamagne tha God]

I don't know.

[Carlos King]

He's.

[Lauren LaRosa]

He's in Nigeria.

[Carlos King]

Nigeria.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Nigeria, Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

I mean, he can go between both, but I think he's in Nigeria.

[Charlamagne tha God]

He just can't come back to America. I just think when I saw that interview, I just saw a lot of projection.

[Carlos King]

Yeah, I saw a lot of pain. And listen, I'm not here to dissect that man's emotion and what isn't real or not. I believe he obviously. Listen, I know there was love there. I was at the wedding, and Portia teared up, and I saw so much love between those two that I am shocked that things are where it's at now. But with that being said, I do think at some point, you have to put down, you know, the missile and just say, I will deal with this now privately. So hopefully that happens.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Is that all the questions about Portia? Because I know you want to get it out.

[DJ Envy]

No, no, no. That's it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay. Has doing reality TV ever been challenging to you to the point where you were like, all right, look, I'm done with this shit. Like, I'm walking away from this. Like, has there ever been a moment where it got personal for you? Although it's business.

[Carlos King]

Oh, just with the. Okay.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You know what I'm saying? I learned.

[Carlos King]

I learned.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I learned a little bit.

[Carlos King]

You know, Look, I think. Oh, okay, I'm gonna say this now. Okay, look, I think there is a time to. Where you have to take inventory of what's happening in an industry. And I look at reality television now, and it's not what it used to be.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[Carlos King]

I started in 2008. Like, I was there when Nene at least had a quick weave.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Mm.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay.

[Carlos King]

You know what I'm saying? I was there when Sheree had broken gates in her million dollar home beginning. You Know what I'm saying? Like, I was there when things were real and women joined the show because they were like, this could be interesting. And obviously, listen, be famous and all those things and whatever. I don't like where it's heading to where I feel like a lot of people joined the show for the wrong reasons and they don't understand that it's a. You're doing a deal where you have to exchange your privacy for publicity. And when you hear reality stars saying, I ain't talking about that. That's too real. Or when they use social media to turn people against the production because they don't like the fact that the audience doesn't like them in this particular episode. You know what I mean? Like, we all have bad moments. You know, I felt for you when you talked about your sit. I felt bad for you. You're good. But, you know. Cause he loves. He loves. He's like me. He's like. He's like, was my name spelled right? Okay, I'm good. Because that's Charlamagne. Did you get the G in the N and the E? Because the G is silent. Ok. So for me, I do understand that this is a tough industry because of social media. And I have said that social media has killed the reality star.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Tell me more.

[Carlos King]

Because social media has poisoned the reality star into behaving in a way that pleases them. And the reality star, if they're not strong enough and if they don't have the right people around them, they can fall into that trap and they can lose opportunities because nobody wants to be around somebody who constantly is berating someone when you're like, we were good. Oh, but that episode aired and you don't like the feedback that you're getting. That's right. So now all of a sudden, the editing fault. But baby, during the production, we were good. You know, we had a watch party. It was great. You got the episode. You was like, yay. And then user 3079. That's right. Said, I hate UB and you like production. And it's like, come again? So those days to me are definitely diminishing. And that's the reason why. Look. Reality with the kings of hip podcast. And that's why I'm so happy to announce that we have partnered with Black Effect. I heard that was coming.

[DJ Envy]

Congratulations.

[Carlos King]

Reality with the king of black effect. I love that. Yeah. So shout out to Charlamagne. I really appreciate you. Listen, you're somebody who I always looked up to since your days being with Wendy, and I feel like, our stories are so parallel because I know what it's like to be the sidekick and I know what it's like to just want to be able to, of course, service the person who you're working for, but also have your own dreams and desires. So with my podcast joining the Black Effect Network, you know, expect things to be bigger and bolder and listen, I think for me it shows that you have two black men who are powerful in their own individual industries. But I believe this partnership will show the world and the community and the culture that two black men, okay, can join forces with no ego and figure out a landscape to where we can do business on a multi level scale. So the fact that this partnership is happening, me and Charlamagne about to make.

[Charlamagne tha God]

A lot of money and I'm looking forward to, you know, learning the world of unscripted, you know, through you.

[Carlos King]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Because that's what I want Black Effect to be. A multimedia, you know, company. Right, Multimedia production company. So I, you know, we've already talked about doing unscripted stuff.

[Carlos King]

Yes, yes. Including a show with your wife and your kids.

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, I'm not doing that.

[Carlos King]

I tried. She will tell you. Don't even. I'm teasing. No, I love that because I'm, I'm newly single and I love it when, when you have a partner she would never. Who support. No, no, no, no. I love that. Charlamagne, Steve Harvey, I look. And LeBron. I love that when you have a partner that is supportive. And one thing I have listened to you talk about your wife. You, LeBron, Gucci with Akisha Kor and LeBron, you, LeBron, Steve and Gucci have all said I'm good, but I'm great because of my wife.

[DJ Envy]

When you meet, when you see him and his dynamic with his wife, you realize that like literally I thank God for her because she is like. And I watch him and I'm like, oh, you need that. Like it's like yin and yang. Like, she is the. She's the one for real. Like, she's amazing. She would never do that show though. And she would tell me I was.

[Carlos King]

Tease it because I know she would never do it.

[DJ Envy]

We going to sit down with Carter. She be like, about what?

[Carlos King]

No, no, we're gonna sit down and have dinner, but there'll be no cameras around.

[DJ Envy]

I know.

[Carlos King]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[DJ Envy]

But question, when you talk about, you know, working alongside people and one of your just due, where are you and Mona Scott Young today?

[Carlos King]

Oh my God. That's my mentor forever and ever and ever. She was on Reality with the King. The beauty of Mona is this people really try to pit us against each other.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[Carlos King]

I've learned so much from Mona Scott working with love and hip hop. And I saw this black woman baby come in and set shit on fire. And when I say that, I mean with her wisdom and her knowledge. And I've learned so much from her. And she and I, we were just at Connie Orlando's foundation celebrating the BET Awards two weeks ago in la. She is and always will be a woman. And that I have great respect for. And I do feel like when it comes to Mona, a lot of people do not understand the stride she made as a black woman in the music industry, you know, alongside the late Chris Lighty. So, no, I love Mona. We're good.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I love that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Was there one time you felt pressure to dilute black narratives to fit mainstream expectations?

[Carlos King]

No, no, no, no. And it's funny because a lot, not a lot, all of my shows are starring black people. And I've received the notion of like, well, do some shows with some white folks. And I not saying that I wouldn't, I'm a storyteller first. But for me, I hate that because when you say, why don't you do shows with white people or why you only do shows with black people? No one talks to these other production companies and say you have a lot of white shows because they look at it as it being mainstream. And when you say that, you're. I'm gonna say it. You're pretty much calling black folks second class citizens. Like, why not? Why aren't we able to work together? And that's why our collaboration with my podcast and Black Effect is really one of my ways of showing people that sure, I could have went to this network and that network and we had so many offers. But when Dolly Bishop.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Salute to Dolly.

[Carlos King]

Yes. The president of Black Effect, when she reached out to me and said, me and Charlamagne would love for you to be a part of our network, it was a no brainer for me. I literally. And my management will be mad. Cause I thought to myself during the meeting, like, yes, I'll do it, but you know, let the team do their thing. But I was thrilled to know that we could work well together and really show people that, listen, I saw sinners, baby. And I'm all about black ownership and black power.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Absolutely. You're not just producing shows, you're building a brand with Kingdom Rain. So what's your vision for Kingdom Rain beyond even television?

[Carlos King]

Yeah. So listen, we will Be a multimedia production company. We will do podcasting. We will do unscripted television and scripted. And with me at the helm of this production company, it's all about really following the trends of where we are now. You and I spoke about that two weeks ago. But what Kai Sinead is doing with. Yeah, so, like, there's stuff that I want to do. I'm a disruptor in this industry, and I want to have fun creating stuff that people are like. I had no idea you were even thinking about that. And so expect more from us in all facets of this industry.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You think when you watch what Kai is doing.

[Carlos King]

Yes.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Do you think that would work in reality tv? Could you do a reality show that's live like that?

[Carlos King]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, look what Drew Ski is doing with his dating show on YouTube.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's edited, though. That's pretty good.

[Carlos King]

It is edited. But I also. I say all that to say there's an audience that wants to see someone of that stat, of that status doing something unscripted realm. And I think what Kai is doing can definitely work in unscripted, just like having cameras in the house doing it live. Love island is like the hottest show out right now, and it comes on six days a week, and that's, like, around the clock and all that stuff. And I think me and Charlamagne should call Kai and figure out what we can do together to really show some live elements of what he's doing.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Absolutely.

[Carlos King]

Not to put you on the spot, Kai, but, you know, or Charlamagne, we can do it. Do you think?

[DJ Envy]

Oh, no.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Put him on the spot.

[Carlos King]

Yes.

[DJ Envy]

Do you think that Bravo. This is a hard left. Do you think Bravo owns. Owes Kenya Moore some money?

[Carlos King]

Money? Well, look, I don't know Kenya's deal. I don't know Kenya's deal. But what I will say about Kenya Moore is I work with her, and I'm gonna say this. Kenya Moore is one of the rare reality stars who did everything for that show. Everything.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What does everything look like?

[Carlos King]

Kenya Moore cared. She cared about telling her own personal story. She cared about asking questions where things would be swept under the rug. She cared about who was joining the show. She cared about if they fit. She cared about making amends with people. She cared about making sure that Carlos King was happy. You know, like, she cared about. She cared about that. It was very sad to see her be. Let go. But what I will say is I think there's an opportunity for her to return, and I think she deserves to return. She is the sheer definition of a force multiplier. And I want Kenya Moore to be somebody who understand her value and her worth and to do whatever her heart desires. And if that's coming back to the show, fantastic. If that's doing other things, she has a YouTube channel she's doing. We all love Kenya Moore, and she is forever the. The American black beauty of our generation.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I want to ask you something as a producer, Right. When you look at own and you make up like, 69. You said 69% of the content at own. I think about what 50 Cent did with Starz, what Tyler Perry does with BET.

[Carlos King]

Yes.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Is that the move? Is that how producers should be thinking? Like, let me lock in with a network and.

[Carlos King]

Yeah. Honestly, listen, our industry is going through a crisis, and I love so much, listen, I grew up watching Oprah Winfrey with my mother, so to be able to have a production company that I own produce 69% of the shows for her network under the leadership of the president, Tina Perry, the hit up Unscripted, Drew Tappan, to be able to work with them, Charlamagne and to provide so many shows for them. That is the goal. It is the goal to do that. Yeah. No, And I have such respect and adoration for them, and they do for me. And. And I will forever, for the rest of my life as I have breath in my lungs to produce for that network. They have given me so many opportunities. I host reunion shows for the shows I produce for the network, and we have an amazing working relationship. But, yes, I think that is a future. And I think, listen, I think it's with any situation, you find a home that loves you, respects you and values you and. And OWN is that. And look, I'm able to produce for other networks, but for me, nothing is more valuable than my relationship with own.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, I'm not going to say the network, but there was a network that came to me one time and it was like, okay, we want you to be the producer, and you're going to be with this writer, and we're going to be working with three producers and three writers.

[Carlos King]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So figure it out.

[Carlos King]

And I'm like, damn.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So clearly that's. I guess that's where these networks are going nowadays.

[Carlos King]

Well, listen, but you have to really. And I think just follow the model that works for you. What 50 Cent has done for stars and, you know, has done for subscriptions for that platform, you have to know your value and your worth. And I think, listen, you are Charlamagne, and I think you can go to any network and Get a show greenlit for sure, if that's what you want to do. But I also think there's something valuable about going to one home saying, why can't I just produce multiple shows for you guys versus just like constantly running around finding a home to do that for.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Which network fumbled the bag by not locking you into a multi show deal before our own.

[Carlos King]

So, Lauren, your Bob looks good. It's not folded under.

[DJ Envy]

You know what my Bobby doing watching.

[Carlos King]

You, that wasn't that only network I.

[DJ Envy]

Need for real, because I felt like you should have a situation with bravo. I felt like vh. Like there's a lot of networks that you've been loosely associated with, but that we know of, but behind the scenes in a big way. Why didn't that happen after all this Real Housewives success and what's going on in Carlos?

[Carlos King]

Well, listen, I'm somebody where I go, where I'm valued.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And.

[Carlos King]

And sometimes what that means is not that there's any beef or anything, but when you grow up in this business, right, sometimes people see you as one thing. And what I love about OWN is they saw me as a formidable producer, but they also saw me as a extraordinary CEO. They also saw me as talent. So to have a home that sees you as those three things is what means the most to me. And look, I pitch to all networks and I love them all too. However, I value a network like OWN that sees Carlos King as more than one thing. And the fact that Reality with the King has a show on own, okay, that comes on July 18th, so watch it. Um, like that's dope. Like for them to come to me and say, we see your hit podcast, let's create a talk show for our network. You know what I mean? But I also have a show idea. Can you produce it? So I listen. I have nothing but more love and respect for them, and it shows.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I'd rather you see. I'd rather see you doing that on own. I mean, Andy Cohen been at Bravo doing the same thing forever. So I would rather see Carlos King doing that on producing shows, having his own talk show. It just makes all the sense.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Is that what led to that conversation you just had about, like, being seen in the proper way? Is that what led to. Cause there's always been a rumor that there's like this thing with you and Andy Cohen that isn't the best relationship.

[Carlos King]

Yeah, that's false. That's false. He and I are fine. I have said this to him personally and I'll say it publicly. He is Somebody that you have to be blind to not see that. He paved the way for people like me, for producers to be able to host reunions, for producers to be able to be seen as talent, and we're not going to negate that for him. Again, when you are two people doing great work, the audience wants to pit you against each other. They tried to do that with the two of you. Right? They tried to do that with Brandi and Monica. And the fact that you two came together. Brandi and Monica are now on tour. I'm not gonna fall into that trap. I am an amazing version of Carlos King, and at the same time, in my same bre, I can give Andy Cohen his props for being the best at what he does. And I think when it comes to social media who love to try to say you're trying to be him, I'm not. I really am not. I own a production company. I have a podcast. I'm a YouTuber, according to Wikipedia. You know what I mean? Like, I want my people, and I'm gonna talk to my people alone, because a lot of them do say that he's trying to be. Stop falling under the microscope of us being compared to somebody who is white.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's right.

[Carlos King]

You are really shedding light on your own insecurities. I'm not insecure. So when people say, I'm not offended at all, but I do want my people to really respect what I have done and respect my name and respect my legacy and respect. And respect what I have done for my community and what I'm still doing. When you go on set of a Carlos King show, you're gonna see people who look like my cast. I'm the only one doing that. The only one.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

You feel like you get that respect now?

[Carlos King]

No, I don't. No, no, listen. The raindrops, my fans, they see it, but no, listen, I don't. But I don't do it for that. I'm a very spiritual person. I know that God gave me this life to honor him. When I reached the pearly gates, God is not gonna say, now, hold on, honey. Let me see what they said about you on social media, Child, the shade room posting like, they're not gonna do that. And that's the reason why I don't crash out, is the reason why when people try to comfort me, I don't respond to them because I understand that y' all need that, right? Social media is a playground of misfits. And every once in a while, I like to go on the playground and Throw sand. You know what I'm saying? By looking through the comments, we all do. You see a post that shit. You like what they saying? What they saying? Are they saying what I think they're gonna say? What I'm thinking? So I get all that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Can't let it affect you, though.

[Carlos King]

It will never affect me to the point where I'm going to lose the respect of people who give me opportunities. Ain't none of y' all worth that.

[DJ Envy]

I know that's right.

[Carlos King]

Nah, Clock.

[Charlamagne tha God]

It's. That's it.

[Carlos King]

Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

He doing a damn Pac man.

[Carlos King]

Is it Ms. Pacman or Pacman?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Carlos is marching in the NYC Pride Parade this weekend.

[Carlos King]

Yes. God's Love, who serves over 4 million meals for everybody. And I'm so excited to partner with them. So I'll be here on a float and we're gonna have fun. Yeah. So God's Love, it's an amazing charity that I'm a part of. And again, I'm a spiritual person. So to partner with an organization who does great work for the community, I'm honored that they have chosen me to represent them on Sunday.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Absolutely. Make sure you support Carlos King and all he does. Man. The podcast. When is the podcast? This podcast is every.

[Carlos King]

Well, no. Well, now they're on the Black Effect. Prepare to be sick of me.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Okay, okay, okay.

[Carlos King]

I am going to. So Raindrops exclusive talk.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That talk.

[Carlos King]

Listen up, Raindrops. Now that reality with the King is on the Black Effect Network. First of all, download the app. Okay. They got recently Shady with Giselle Bryant and Robin Dixon.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Love that.

[Carlos King]

They got the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. They have a lot of people. Okay. So I'm going to be dropping between four to five episodes a week.

[DJ Envy]

Are you coming for me? Cause I'm daily.

[Carlos King]

Well, you know, the thing is. No, listen, there's room for everybody. There it is.

[DJ Envy]

And I gave you my favorites.

[Carlos King]

Yes. I want. As long as I don't have a bob you in good hands or a bad wig.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You want either or.

[Carlos King]

But that's real hair.

[DJ Envy]

This is mine. Thank you. So what's happening?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Nothing. Nothing. Y' all gonna be deadly.

[DJ Envy]

What's going on, girl?

[Carlos King]

Not girl. I caught him. Girl, I love your bathroom. I think it's so funny.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Tell them where to follow you.

[Carlos King]

Yeah, so follow me. Instagram. TikTok X at the Carlos King underscore. My YouTube is at the Carlos King underscore. Please subscribe to my podcast under the Black Effect Network. Reality with the King. And we do exclusive interviews for YouTube. So I have Angela Oakley from Housewives of Atlanta up right now. We got some more heavy hitters coming up, so subscribe. And like my YouTube channel, too.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Absolutely. It's the Breakfast Club. Thank you. Wake that ass up early in the morning. The Breakfast Club.

[DJ Envy]

This is an I heart podcast.