INTERVIEW: Keith Sweat Opens Up About Writing Through Heartbreak, Award Snubs, R&B Evolution + More

Summary

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The Breakfast Club — Interview: Keith Sweat Opens Up About Writing Through Heartbreak, Award Snubs, R&B Evolution + More

Date: January 9, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God (joined by Lauren LaRosa and Brittany Luse)
Guest: Keith Sweat

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Episode Overview

In this lively and candid interview with The Breakfast Club, legendary R&B singer Keith Sweat talks openly about his career's longevity, writing through heartbreak, how it feels to be overlooked by prominent music awards, his place in R&B’s evolution, and his ongoing ventures. The episode is packed with stories from Sweat’s personal life, lessons on love and pain, humorous moments, and a behind-the-scenes look at the business side of the music industry.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Keith Sweat’s Enduring Legacy & Performance Energy

• Generational Impact: Keith reflects with pride on how his music connects new generations, notably through social media trends and platforms like TikTok and Roblox (05:09, 05:53).
  • “Yo, I created this because I, you know, I write and produce all my joints. So, you know, me writing and producing my joints and people still loving it to this day makes me feel like, yo, I am that dude.” — Keith Sweat [05:27]
• Performance Stamina: Despite years on the road, Keith still loves making a statement on stage and relishes going on after other acts during tours (02:36).

R&B’s Evolution—The OG vs. Modern Era

• On Modern R&B:
  • Keith critiques newer artists for straying from classic R&B’s emotional and sensual core, emphasizing that “R&B is foreplay,” not “just arguing and cursing like rap records” (06:59).
  • “Y' all want to curse in songs. Y' all want to act like R&B is a rap record... R&B is foreplay.” — Keith Sweat [06:59]
• Sticking to Roots: Keith’s confidence in his lane is unwavering—he doesn’t chase trends, which he believes is why his music’s sampled so heavily today (08:31).

Industry Recognition & Award Snubs

• Lack of Major Awards:
  • Despite a long, impactful career full of hits, Keith has never won a BET Award, Grammy, or Soul Train Award, and he talks openly about how that used to hurt but no longer defines him (09:32, 09:43).
  • “When I get on stage, I always say, y’ all are my Grammys.” — Keith Sweat [09:46]
  • On posthumous recognition: “Don’t try to give me my flowers when I’m not here… give it to me when I deserve it.” — Keith Sweat [31:31]
  • “I teach my kids to be the same way. Be proud men. Don’t take a handout.” — Keith Sweat [32:21]

The Origin of Hurt—and Hits

• Pain as Creative Fuel: Sweat reveals his major hits were born from personal heartbreak, particularly a severe breakup (11:46–13:28).
  • “My best songs came from being hurt. That first album was all pain… Make It Last Forever was really make it last. Don’t Stop Your Love was really don’t stop your love.” — Keith Sweat [11:55, 13:11]
• Faithfulness and Regret:
  • Keith openly discusses his faithfulness during heartbreak and his mixed feelings about being told of infidelity—sometimes, ignorance can hurt less (15:00).
  • “You want to know, but you don’t want to know… once you get that confirmation, you’re on a whole nother level, man.” — Keith Sweat [14:19]

On Relationships & Healing

• Fixing What's Broken:
  • Keith prefers repairing a relationship over starting from scratch, arguing that every new relationship will pose its own challenges (20:32).
  • “I like to try to fix what’s broken because… when you get into a new situation, it’s still going to be something you have to work through and fix…” — Keith Sweat [20:32]
• Brutal Honesty: He’s firm about not wanting to play games with anyone’s emotions and stresses modern dating’s risks (17:02).

The Business of R&B Touring & Collaborations

• Tour Economics:

  • Keith shares the practicalities of show line-ups, the economics of touring with groups, and why some acts couldn't join his current tour (41:09).
  • On including Cut Close—not Silk—on tour: “There’s only so much money in the thing… with five guys, you got to split the money five ways… the artist prices have to come down…” — Keith Sweat [42:10]

• Business Integrity & Production Company Deals:

  • On alleged disputes over royalties with Cut Close, Keith is unbothered and transparent: he’ll pay to open his books if anyone doubts him (43:40).
    • “If you think I did something from you. I’ll pay for my lawyer to open my books. You go look at my books and I’ll pay for it.” — Keith Sweat [43:40]
  • Clarifies production company handles most payments; he wasn’t directly responsible for certain deals (44:57).

The Creation of New Jack Swing, Songwriting for Others & Music History

• Setting the Record Straight on New Jack Swing:
  • Keith is clear he was working with Teddy Riley pre-fame and had major input before his own debut. He even wrote on “Just Got Paid” but never got credit (35:37).
  • He advocates for telling his own story rather than letting TV networks control his legacy (32:27).

Afrobeats, Radio, & New Ventures

• Afrobeats as “the new R&B”:
  • Keith sees Afrobeats as soulful, uplifting, and a natural progression for R&B artists (49:33).
• Radio & Entrepreneurship:
  • Keith’s radio show began as the next logical move in his multifaceted career (49:53).
  • He also promotes his candle line (Platinum by Keith) and luxury bags, joking about different “scents” themed after his songs (50:28).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Personal Inspiration:
  “I don’t want to hear nobody else singing to me when I’m going through a heartbreak. I want to hear me sing to me.” — Keith Sweat [19:36]
• On Recognition:
  “Don’t give it to me because now you want to make this big thing... Don’t give it to me because now you want to give me my flowers when I’m not here.” — Keith Sweat [32:21]
• Candid Perspective on Award Shows:
  “If I never got a Soul Train [Award]… I can’t even get on the train… I can’t even get on the Soul Train, man.” — Keith Sweat [39:02]
• Playful Banter:
  Charlamagne and DJ Envy rib Envy about his infamous admission that he “didn’t make his wife orgasm for 10 years” (24:10). Laughter erupts as Keith reacts.
• On Relationship Transparency:
  “If you want an open relationship, just say, ‘I want to do my thing, you do your thing’... Because nowadays you don’t want to play with people’s feelings and emotions.” — Keith Sweat [17:02]
• About Drake:
  “Drake said he the light skin Keith Sweat… but I’m the dark skin Keith.” — Keith Sweat [40:07]
• On Never Winning a Grammy, BET or Soul Train Award:
  “Everybody that has done that—they not even still relevant. I’m still headlining, I’m still doing what I do.” — Keith Sweat [09:46]
• On His Legacy:
  “I do my own documentary and put my own [story] out. There you go.” — Keith Sweat [32:27]

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Important Timestamps for Key Segments

• Keith on Touring & Legacy: [02:36]–[04:36], [41:09]–[43:27]
• New R&B vs. Old School: [06:59]–[08:31]
• Award Snubs & Industry Politics: [09:32]–[10:16], [31:15]–[39:36]
• Songwriting from Pain: [11:46]–[13:28]
• Relationship Philosophy: [15:00]–[21:39]
• Cut Close/Production Company Royalties: [43:40]–[47:56]
• Music History & Song Credits: [35:37]–[37:35]
• Afrobeats & Radio: [49:31]–[50:28]
• Entrepreneurial Moves (Candles/Bags): [50:28]–[54:14]

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Tone & Atmosphere

Keith Sweat’s tone is candid, self-assured, humble about his success but firm on credit where it’s due. The hosts keep the atmosphere light, often joking, while pressing for honest answers. The episode feels like a real conversation among industry veterans, with Keith’s tales oscillating between vulnerability and confident storytelling.

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Summary

This interview offers a rich portrait of Keith Sweat—a pioneer unafraid to speak on heartbreak, the business of music, and the importance of authenticity. Sweat’s reflections on being overlooked by the industry, his refusal to accept “late” flowers, his defense of classic R&B values, and his entrepreneurial spirit underline his resilient, self-defined legacy. A must-listen (or read) for anyone interested in R&B, artist independence, and the life lessons that music can deliver.

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For tour dates, candles, and bags: keithsweat.com

Transcript

[Brittany Luse]

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[NFL Announcer]

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[DJ Envy]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

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[Keith Sweat]

So here's the idea.

[NFL Announcer]

You get it now, you call it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

An early present for next year. What do you have to lose?

[NFL Announcer]

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[Keith Sweat]

50% off regular price for new customers.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Upfront payment required.

[Keith Sweat]

$45 for three months, $90 for six month or $180 for 12 month.

[Brittany Luse]

Plan taxes and fees.

[Keith Sweat]

Extra speeds may slow after 50 gigabytes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Per month when network is busy.

[Keith Sweat]

See terms hold up. Every day, I wake up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wake your ass up.

[Keith Sweat]

The Breakfast Club. We are finished or y' all done?

[DJ Envy]

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Lauren laros is here as well. We got a special guest in the building.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The legendary the icon.

[DJ Envy]

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, Keem Sweat.

[Keith Sweat]

What up, baby?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Good morning.

[Keith Sweat]

How y' all doing? How y' all doing?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Happy New Year, my brother.

[Keith Sweat]

Same to you. Same to you, my brother.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You ain't. You ain't missing no checks. I know that much.

[Keith Sweat]

I don't know I might be missing a few, but I'm whatever. Wherever they at, I'm gonna go get them.

[DJ Envy]

That's right. Now Keith popped out at our jingle ball in Atlanta.

[Keith Sweat]

Oh, I know.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He shut it down.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, man, at the R and B set, man, he had ladies going crazy out there always. Do you ever get tired of it?

[Keith Sweat]

Nah, I love that, you know, I love going on after some people. I gotta make my statement. It's still the same. Ain't nothing change. Make it last forever, baby.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But your music has last through so many different generations though. Like, it don't even matter what crowd Chief Sweat pop up out. They know the words.

[DJ Envy]

They know, right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And you be up there with that cup.

[Keith Sweat]

Smt.

[DJ Envy]

Now you going out on tour with you, Joe Drew Hill and Genuine, man.

[Keith Sweat]

I just had it cut close on my set.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, really?

[Keith Sweat]

Oh my God.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, that's dope.

[DJ Envy]

So where does. Does it matter who closes out a show like that? Do you care? I mean. Cause you got the hits, you got the legacy. Do you care where you perform?

[Keith Sweat]

I really, I really don't care. But nobody really wants to go on after me, you know what I'm saying? But I don't really care because the sweet spot normally is 9, 30, 10, 10 o' clock at a show. That's the sweet spot. So, you know, sometimes people cry about, you know, but I. Nowadays when people come to a show, they, they're more concerned about what kind of show. They don't really care who headlining because, you know, it's like as long as you rock the joint, you know, they gonna talk about you. So that's what I do. I say, you want to close or you close, I don't care who put together the lineup. Well, you know, you can't get me on my show unless. And I agree to it. I gotta agree to it. So you know any, any deals? I do. It's like you gotta tell me who's on the show before I agree to it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Who all over there? Who all over.

[Brittany Luse]

Are we gonna see you and cut close on the stage together doing some massage? I got together.

[Keith Sweat]

Yeah.

[Brittany Luse]

Fire.

[Keith Sweat]

Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is crazy. Joe Drew Hill, Genuine. You gonna try to dance? Cause you gotta compete with Genuine. You gotta compete with dance.

[Keith Sweat]

I don't need to dance. I mean, I don't need to dance. I got dancers. I don't need to dance. You got my dance. I got 8:12 dancers, so I don't need to dance.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I got you. You know when people talk about R and B Keith, like your name is like foundational when it comes to R and B, at what point did you realize you weren't just making songs, you were, like, shaping a whole sound?

[Keith Sweat]

I mean, when I came in, I knew I could do uptempo and slow and they all had the same effect. So, like, there's nothing I can, you know, like, I do afrobeat, R and B, Slow or fast, it doesn't matter. So, I mean, I knew at that point, once I knew I could do whatever, you know, I knew I would, I would captivate, you know, that R B audience because of the fact, you know, everybody in the R B game can't do everything. Or you sound crazy if you're doing the slow. So if you're a valid deal, you sound crazy. Trying to do an up temple joint, it don't work for everybody.

[Brittany Luse]

How do you feel when, like, some of your songs, like, I know I won't be here for long. It's like the Tick Tock and even now Instagram, like, it's like the go to for a lot of the videos that people use for the means when that happens. Like, as an artist, like, when you're watching it, how do you feel when you see people using Your sounds across TikTok and Instagram, like, all these years later?

[Keith Sweat]

I feel good about it because I felt like I did what I needed to do. I accomplished what I needed to accomplish. I made an effect on, On a whole generation, you know, So I feel like, you know, it makes me feel good. It makes me feel proud about. Yo, I created this because I, you know, I write and produce all my joints. So, you know, me writing and producing my joints and people still loving it to this day makes me feel like, yo, I am that dude.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I saw you post. Can somebody please explain to me how Merry Go Round ended up on Roblox? How did you even know what the hell Roblox was?

[Brittany Luse]

Yeah, because I knew you wasn't on Roblox everywhere.

[Keith Sweat]

No, I, I was, I looked at that joint, I was like, damn, what the. What the hell is this? Nah, I don't, I don't even know, man. It's just I, I look at Instagram and, and, and Facebook and YouTube and I like, what the hell is this?

[DJ Envy]

But how did you hear he was on Roblox?

[Keith Sweat]

I just happened to look and see it just happened to go, he ain't.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Just happened to be on no damn.

[DJ Envy]

He was at some chick house that got a little kid.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Never been on Roblox in my life.

[Keith Sweat]

I'm younger than you. I'm on roadblocks and whatever blocks my block. Your block?

[Brittany Luse]

That's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It is interesting to know how you got a whole generation that's redistributed, discovering, like, real grown R B. So what do you think, like, modern R and B is getting right? And what do you think that they're missing that they keep coming back to the OG stuff?

[Keith Sweat]

Well, like, I had a conversation with pleasure and all, some of them young brothers, and I said, man, y' all keep saying R and B is dead. Y' all kill R and B. Cause y' all want to curse in songs. Y' all want to act like R and B is a rap record. You know what I'm saying? I mean, R and B is foreplay. R and B is, you know, y' all took the whole foreplay game out the rap. If you cursing and you trying to make up with your girl or whatever, and you playing a R B song, you curse it. How you gonna make up? Y' all been arguing, so now the record arguing with y'.

[DJ Envy]

All.

[Keith Sweat]

Join the argument. You know what I'm saying? So I'm like, so. Yo, that's not what R B was about. That's what now R B is to mellow out. Mellow. You know what I'm saying? For y' all to sit down, talk it out, talk it out, talk it out. I don't kill the game. So that's why they keep sampling my shit. Because they like omega last. Who can love you like me? Nobody. You know, you got me twisted, girl. You know what I'm saying? I said, that's what everybody's going back to. That's why they resample in my songs.

[DJ Envy]

I got into an argument with this guy at Starbucks yesterday, right? Two days ago, he works there, and he was talking about hip hop and R and B. And he was saying that people are making R and B hip hop. And I'm like, that's not true. I'm like, there are some R and B artists that are hip hop, like Mary J. Blige. I say Chris Brown. But I said, there are R and B artists that are not hip hop. And I'm like. Like, Keith Sweat is an R and B artist. So do you think that when you talk about the cursed in the music, do you think there's different levels of doing it, different ways of doing it? Like the hip hop version to R and B and then just R and B?

[Keith Sweat]

Well, back in the day, R and B was just R and B. Even when Mary did it back in the day, she still did the R and B, you know, I mean. And so I think what sometimes we as R B artists have a tendency to do is we try to be recreate ourselves and we know, follow the trend of what everybody else is doing, which doesn't work for everybody and it shouldn't work for everybody. I'm not trying to follow what everybody else is doing. That's why I'm in this lane by myself or certain lanes by myself. Because. Because I don't care what he doing on the right or he doing on the left. You know what I'm saying? That doesn't make you a pioneer, finding somebody else. Man, I want to follow you. I don't want to follow you. This is what I do. Because for so long people have talked shit about Keith Sweat, but he don't do this, he don't do that, he don't do that. So now my point is I'm just laughing 30 odd years later and say, y' all thought I couldn't do this. And I did. I didn't do that because I didn't want to do this.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What did they say? You could?

[Brittany Luse]

I was about to say, they said, you dance.

[DJ Envy]

That's it. That's the only thing I heard.

[Keith Sweat]

I could dance. You seen me on something. Go back and look at some of. No, not, you know, like, for instance, like, I never won a BET Award.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's BET part.

[Keith Sweat]

I never won a Grammy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's the Grammys.

[Keith Sweat]

You know what I'm saying? But when I get on stage, I always say, y' all are my Grammys. Cause look, you know, everybody that has done that, they not even still relevant. You know, I'm still headlining, I'm still doing what I do. So I'm still able to do tours and, you know, do six, seven thousand or more people. So, you know, Africa been trying to get me over there for the longest. You know what I'm saying? They trying to go up on the money more and more. Please meet this way. Coming to see me. Why you won't go?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I ain't been there yet.

[Keith Sweat]

I've been to Africa. I've been all over. I've been to Cape Town, Durban, you know, Johannesburg, Nigeria. I've been to Africa before. But, you know, I mean, you know, last time I went to Africa, it was funny because they got me. Because, you know, he said, you playing in Africa? I said, okay, so I'm in Africa, right? We in the car driving. So I said, what is sugar? I said, oh, man, they're having a game over there. It's packed Out. It's a soccer stadium. He said, my brother, that's where you perform me tonight. I said, hold up, wait a minute. Let me get this person on the phone. You tell him. He said, it's sold out. Soccer stadium, standing room only. Damn, man. I called back to America. I said, man, if you don't put some more money in my car, oh, wow. I'm coming home. So that's the last time I've been South Africa. When it was soccer stadium, you know, I did it. It was packed out. It was damn bad. And so.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So you thought she was doing a smaller venue?

[Keith Sweat]

Oh, my God, yes, I did. And then I seen. I said, man, is there a game there? No, that's what you were. So. So now they're getting it all together. So, you know, you know, they sent me some stuff. They want me Ghana, Zambia, you know, Kenya. All, you know, they trying to put a whole thing together. But I said, before I go, I want to make sure.

[DJ Envy]

What stadiums you doing?

[Keith Sweat]

The stadiums and the money got to be what it got to be. You know what I'm saying? That's what's up, though.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Do you think pain is necessary to make great R B? Or can joy be just as powerful in these love songs?

[Keith Sweat]

I never been happy making the love song.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Damn, damn. Never.

[Keith Sweat]

No, I mean, you know, like the. My best songs came from being hurt. Make it last forever. That first album was a hurt. Was a. All pain. And nobody was, I think, was all pain, you know, like, we all go through things in our life, you know what I'm saying? And some people, you know, and it doesn't necessarily a female, you know what I'm saying? Things hit you at a, you know, where you least expect it, you know, you could be like one day and be like, what the going on the next, you know what I'm saying? So, you know, that's when I think I get my best ideas when I run the studio after, you know, I'm going through something because that. That's like, for me, therapeutic. I can write songs and be. And it's very therapeutic for me. And I'm like, oh, my God. Because I've written songs in two hours, three songs in two hours. And they were hits, you know, and it was therapeutic for me. It was like me, you know, getting counseling, you know what I'm saying? That type of stuff.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's interesting you said that because a lot of your records do feel like conversations people were afraid to have in real life. So you are writing from personal experience, right?

[Keith Sweat]

Right. Definitely.

[Brittany Luse]

I Don't know if you want to share, but during the make it last forever time, like, what was it that you were experiencing?

[Keith Sweat]

This girl cheated on me. Damn.

[Brittany Luse]

So. Oh, go ahead.

[Keith Sweat]

So I was like, yo. So I went through a whole. It was like, what I really went through. Something just ain't right. Was really something just ain't right. Make it last Was really make it last. Don't stop your love Was really. Don't stop your love. How deep is your love? Was really. Yo, you don't really love me like you say you love me.

[Brittany Luse]

Oh, that was one girl.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

To make it last forever, she cheated on you with another celebrity, a ball player, just a regular dude.

[Keith Sweat]

She cheated on me. She came. She came to widowhood, school reunions, then got a guy with one old. You know, Actually, I was in New York. She came to Atlanta, where I live, and then her girlfriend told on her. Damn. Oh, damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did you get with the girlfriend? Then you knocked off a girlfriend?

[Keith Sweat]

A girlfriend, man. I ain't want a girlfriend. Use a snitch.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That is for laughing. So that's how you felt for you Wasn't happy that the girl came to you and told you what was up?

[Keith Sweat]

That. Nah, that made me hurt more, Nick.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Damn. So you rather be cheated on in peace?

[DJ Envy]

You might not even know about it.

[Keith Sweat]

I want to know what I don't want to know. You know, it's kind of like you want to know, but you. Some things are better said unsaid. You know what I'm saying? You know how that is? You want to know what you don't want to know. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, I'm like, damn, do I really want to know? Because some things will hit you harder knowing, getting that confirmation. Yeah, so. So sometimes you would always have that little bit, and you say, well, maybe that didn't happen, you know? But once you know it did happen, you'll be on a whole nother level, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So you thought she was cheating like you already had?

[Keith Sweat]

I had it in my mind. But she put that compliment, gave you that clarity. And I was like, damn, girl, you.

[DJ Envy]

Ever go back to check how she doing? Be like, I hope she doing bad.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Now you check on Facebook.

[Keith Sweat]

I'm a funny. I want everybody cheating on me to do bad.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did you? Bad.

[Keith Sweat]

How many people was it anybody? Now, that's the. That's the. That's people mentality. Because if you. If they do. If they. They cheated on you and they. And they. And you doing good, they hate. That's the worst they look at you. Oh, God, I left the wrong man. You know what I'm saying? But if you're doing bad, they be, oh, I thank God I left that one. So you be war. Kind of like that's. It's selfish, yeah, but it's real. And if somebody say that's not true, they lying. I don't care what nobody say.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know what's interesting, ke? People would think that you a player and you out here sleeping with a bunch of girlfriends and stuff, but you seem like you was a. A one woman man. Loyal dude.

[Keith Sweat]

What? Look at you. What's that?

[Brittany Luse]

You were faithful in that whole situation before you found out she cheated it.

[Keith Sweat]

I think I was. I don't. I. No, I think I was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So she wasn't cheating back?

[Keith Sweat]

No, no, no. I think I. Cuz I was into her.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I got you.

[Keith Sweat]

You know what I'm saying? If I'm into somebody, I ain't trying.

[DJ Envy]

To mess it up.

[Keith Sweat]

Mess it up. But if I ain't really into you, cuz, you know, sometime you think you into somebody, you ain't into somebody, then you see something else walking by, you be, oh, you know what I'm saying? I guess I wasn't into what I thought you got.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You can be in love, but you still got eyes, right?

[Keith Sweat]

But them eyes can't be open. But. So I'm funny, man. Cause you know, you know the one. If I'm into you, I'm into you. But if you. If I. If I see the slightest little bit of, you know, something that you ain't doing right then I'm like that right now. I'm going through that shit. You know what I mean? I'm going through that. They think they slick, but they ain't slick. And I'm putting them out there for y'. All. Okay?

[Brittany Luse]

All right, Wait, hold on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, that's right.

[Keith Sweat]

Hey, Lord ass go.

[Brittany Luse]

I was okay. Explain. They think they slick. What they doing? What's happening?

[Keith Sweat]

Yo, you know when you get. When you. When you. When you don't wrote songs about bangs, when you don't experience that, you know, when somebody being slick, you know what I'm saying? When somebody doing. Banging somebody else too, you know what I'm saying? So you know what I'm saying? And they, you know, they have a tendency to play that, oh, I'm a good girl role. Don't play it like, yo, my attitude is this, right? To anybody, right? And that's the truth. If you want to open a relationship, just say, yo, I want to do my thing, you do your thing. When we back together, we together. You know, you take care of things with me when I'm with you. And if you want to be with the next man, let him do what he do when he with you. Because if that's what you want, there's nothing wrong with that. Because now you've been up. Because now nowadays you don't want to play with people feelings and emotions. It's a dangerous game out here when you're playing with people feelings and emotions. So it's like I tell people all day long, don't you know? You know that's not something to toy with. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Because if you ever been hurt, that joint ain't no joke. For real. And some people can't handle pain. That kind of pain. I can handle it. You know what I'm saying? Because I go in the student and start singing, you know what I'm saying? Everybody can handle it. So it's like, it's better for people to say, yo, this is what I want to do. You do you. When you do you, I do me. And then when we want to be together, we do it. Yeah, but you cannot keep make somebody or you can't ask somebody to do certain things that you'll only your real significant other should do. And playing games with them, that is not something to toy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So you got to make a real commitment, though.

[Brittany Luse]

Are you in a relationship right now? Are you in a relationship right now?

[Keith Sweat]

Sometimes I think I am. Sometimes I think I'm not.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Man, you got to stop with this. You think you are.

[Brittany Luse]

How does she know when she's playing games? If, like, what are y'. All. Y' all have, like, boundaries or, like, a certain situation set up? Like, there's like. Like, are you exclusive? Like, what is she playing?

[Keith Sweat]

You supposed to be.

[Brittany Luse]

Oh, so y' all are supposed to.

[Keith Sweat]

Be exclusive right now, but it doesn't.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Work like she wearing a wire. Keith, don't talk. She ready to go back and tell the girl. Don't tell her.

[Brittany Luse]

No, I'm just trying to figure it out because I just wanted to know where you coming from.

[Keith Sweat]

Okay. That you. You got it. I know. You know.

[Brittany Luse]

Okay, exactly.

[Keith Sweat]

He backed up from the mic.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's the closest you think you ever been to getting married?

[Keith Sweat]

I've been married before.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, yeah? I didn't know you married.

[Keith Sweat]

Yeah, long time ago. Don't bring it up, though, yo. Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What era of beef was this? You are crazy, man.

[Keith Sweat]

Don't bring it up. We Got to move on to another subject.

[DJ Envy]

Like that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Who do you listen to when you're going through a heartbreak? Because people listen to your music when they go sweat, you just go in there and write something.

[Keith Sweat]

Okay, you think I'm playing? No, I'm not playing. I don't want to hear nobody else singing to me when I'm going to a heartbreak. I want to hear me sing to me, say, yo, this is how you fix your situation. I promise you, I do not listen to nobody else when I'm going to heartbreak because I've written too many songs to heal myself. You know what I'm saying? I go back and listen to, you know, because I've been for Drew Hill, Ron Isley, immature, everybody, right? So I can listen to some of them songs, you know what I'm saying? Say, okay, this. Because like I said, every time I've been through a situation, I've been able to write. So I can go to maybe the second, third album and listen to something that be like, oh, damn, that. And it. And it might heal me. I feel good, you know, I feel good about it. But, you know, LSG album, anything, Something like that, you know, Are you the.

[Brittany Luse]

Type of person after a heartbreak, like, if the person breaks your heart, are you willing to work it out and move forward, or you just completely off the person after that and you moving on to somebody else?

[Keith Sweat]

No, I don't like starting over. I'm a person that don't like. I like to try to fix what's broke because, you know, I just feel like if you. When you get into a new situation, it's still going to be something. Yeah, that's. You have to work through and fix, and then you're gonna have the same problem. So my ad. A lot of times you're going to have the same problems. So my attitude is to try to fix what's broken because you know that person somewhat and that person knows you somewhere. So do what you got to do to fix that. If you think you can trust that person and you feel that person could trust you, or you feel you can get to a middle point where y' all both agree. That's my point. Because going to something else, it's like, oh, I got to meet the family members I got to meet. It's just that whole process, and it takes a long time. And then you'd be like, you're so consumed with a bunch of different. Because there's always going to be somebody who has the. What's the next set of problems? Problems. It's gonna be that. And anybody that say it's not, it's not true because I've experienced that, okay? I gotta deal with this. This one I dealt with in this situation, and I gotta deal with this in their situation. So it's always gonna be something else.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So the current situation, now, why you ain't trying to fix that?

[Keith Sweat]

Don't say I ain't trying. They might. They might think they still slick, you know, so, you know, not after she watched this, huh?

[Brittany Luse]

Not after she watched this. She gonna know she ain't that slick.

[Keith Sweat]

No. Some son just ain't, right?

[Brittany Luse]

Or is it another celebrity that you're dating? Stick to people who are like, non celebrity.

[Keith Sweat]

I don't. I don't do the celebrity dating thing, Okay? I just don't. I mean, because it's. I don't.

[DJ Envy]

Have you tried before?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Have you ever.

[Keith Sweat]

Well, when I got with them, they wasn't celebrities. I don't. I just don't. I. I like to be private, but not be private, you know? I mean, if you don't want to take a picture with me, that means you're doing something wrong. You know what I'm saying? You know? But I don't do the dating, celebrity thing. I've always been like that. I don't. It's just something about me. I don't want to do that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Hold on. When you say not wanting to take a picture with you, what do you mean?

[Keith Sweat]

I mean, you know when most people. You know how people out and. And if somebody don't want to be seen take a picture with you and.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They don't know that sound like them young girls on vacation with their sugar daddy.

[Keith Sweat]

What are you saying? Don't start that. Don't start that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You want to be in the video.

[Keith Sweat]

She hiding you from. You know what I'm talking about? You go with your.

[Brittany Luse]

You want to be in the video, right?

[Keith Sweat]

Yeah. Don't just take a picture of the.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Food and crop my head out.

[Brittany Luse]

I mean, not that you a sugar daddy, but you are Keith Sweat. So it's like I would think that you wouldn't want to be in the.

[Keith Sweat]

Photo if I'm not. If. If that's the one I'm messing with.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I mean, you sugar zaddy like you.

[Keith Sweat]

You know, Don't y' all go. You know what I'm saying? Yo, get them some water. Let me drink some water.

[DJ Envy]

R and B singer have a night off, right? And what I mean by that is, you guys sing to these. These ladies and you guys. These ladies desire. You When y' all get into the bedroom, y' all can't have a night off, cuz it's over.

[Keith Sweat]

Why? It's over cuz you can't have it.

[DJ Envy]

Cuz you are R and B singer.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What you trying to say? Like, what you mean? Like, you got to put it down.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, like if you.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

If you don't, you always.

[DJ Envy]

Is the pressure there for you?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't know why he asking you.

[Keith Sweat]

That, but ain't no pressure for me, man. What the hell you talk about? There's pressure for you?

[DJ Envy]

That lady gave you some chicken wings and sent you on your way.

[Keith Sweat]

Hold up, hold up. Let me ask you something. You not. You are not R B artist, but you're a celebrity. So is there pressure for you?

[DJ Envy]

It's my wife.

[Keith Sweat]

Okay, well, there's still pressure on wife and husband. That ain't that, though.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm glad you bought that.

[Keith Sweat]

No, no.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

In his first book, he talks about how he didn't make his wife orgasm for 10 years.

[Keith Sweat]

Get the out of here, Keith.

[DJ Envy]

We met each other when we were 15 and 16.

[Keith Sweat]

I don't matter you 10 years. What was wrong with the joint? What was wrong with the joint? Doctor Wasn't working.

[DJ Envy]

I used to think sex was porn. You just go bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. I was 16 years old, 15, and I made it come from my mouth, just not from my.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I had to learn.

[Keith Sweat]

Get at the sock. It wasn't working. That's all. Continue on, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

A decade.

[Brittany Luse]

Damn.

[Keith Sweat]

Telling you nothing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right, all right, man. Listen. Is there anything you understand now about relationships that you wish you knew when you was writing them Heartbreak Records?

[Keith Sweat]

Nah, I think I understand everything. I understood stuff back then, but, you know, like, it's always wishful thinking, you know? You know what you know, but, you know, we just have wishful thinking. We hope that when we get into something, it's gonna be, you know, perfect, but ain't nothing perfect, so you know what I'm saying? So the things I felt that it could be ends up being that way, you know what I'm saying? So we all have wishful things. We all want certain things to be amazing and great. That's why I said make it last forever, because that's wishful thinking. That's what make it last forever was about, wishful thinking. We want everything to last forever, but it's just not that way. You know what I'm saying? Things just going.

[Brittany Luse]

You all know this time of year is my recess season. New energy, new plans, new ways to grow my brand new and if you're trying to start 2026 ahead of the game, like really ahead, now is the time to get moving. For me, Shopify has been the platform that keeps my whole merch business tight. As a creator, as a businesswoman, I need my tools to work hard. And Shopify is like having a chief of staff, a personal assistant, and a co founder all in one. And look, I always tell other women building their own brands, especially small, independent black creators, don't overcomplicate it. Whether you're running a side hustle or you're trying to run a full storefront selling in your community or around the world, Shopify takes the guesswork out of everything. Shopify also like, my favorite thing about it is they teach you as you grow, you can look up anything, get information on anything, and it's simple. They give you, like, easy one, two, three steps. I used to juggle 10 different logins and apps. Now one platform I manage my store, sell online, sell on social, even tag products right from my phone, wherever I am. And Shopify Sidekick. Listen, you keep hearing all about AI. Let me tell y' all this AI is a lifesaver. It gives me reports, content, ideas, helps me edit images. It's literally like having a smart assistant in my back pocket guiding me to my next move. So let's be real. It's time to stop thinking and start doing. And there is no better way to do that than Shopify. Use our link shopify.com b e n now to start getting serious about building your future.

[NFL Announcer]

The NFL playoffs are here, and it all starts with Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon.

[Keith Sweat]

Man, it all comes down to this.

[NFL Announcer]

12 teams, six games, three days, and one epic weekend.

[Keith Sweat]

My goodness.

[NFL Announcer]

It's win or go home. And every moment counts. On the road to Super Bowl 60.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's a touchdown.

[NFL Announcer]

Wild Card weekend powered by Verizon. January 10th through 12th. Visit watch.NFL.com for the full schedule.

[Keith Sweat]

You know you going to have bumps in the road, and anything you do in life, there's gonna be some bumps in the road.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I like what you was explaining earlier, though, because you were kind of explaining how to make it last forever. Meaning that when you go through those bumps in the road, that don't mean give up, that don't mean quit. If you really love this person, like let's right.

[Keith Sweat]

You know what I'm saying? You not. It doesn't make you a sucker when you love someone on neither the man or the woman, it'll make you whack for trying to fix what you. What you love. You know what I'm saying? I think it's whack if you walk away from something and you love it. Because sometimes people just try to be hard. Oh, I don't need you. I don't want you. I can go find me something else somewhere else. And you know, you. At that point, you fooling yourself, because you're gonna run. And like I said, you're gonna run into the same baggage somewhere else. So, you know, that's why I said, I hate to start all over, because it's like, you gotta date again. You gotta start just doing all the. And sometimes, you know, when we get older, we just be like, man, I ain't trying to do all that. I mean, as you get older, you ain't trying to do all the same she was doing before. So, yeah, I don't want to do all that, man. I'm not doing all that. So you try to balance everything else out, because, like, for me, I'm too busy working on too many other things to keep like. Like, y' all right. You know what I'm saying? We all business people. You're trying to grow. No matter what we do, we trying to grow and keep growing and keep moving, right? And we ain't got time for the bullshit. So that's what you bringing to me. Just stay where you at. Let me say where I'm at. If you come, if you want to work things out, let's come on, work things out and help me and help me create me, and let me help you create you, and let's build together. That's my whole point in life.

[DJ Envy]

Is there anything you're still trying to prove? Right. You mentioned you didn't get a BET Award. No. Grammy. Is there anything that you want, or you just. Right now, it's all like, I'm just.

[Keith Sweat]

Having a good time and fun right now. I'm just. God is good. And I'm just happy that I've. Like, when I grew. I grew up in the Grand. You know, I grew up in the Projects. Harlem grand project on 25th Street. Moore inside in Amsterdam. Like, for me to even be where I'm. Somewhere where I never thought I would ever be, never had an idea, you know, all my dreams from me walking down the street, watching OJ's on the. You know, at the Apollo. On the Apollo. Glad at night, the marquee, all them people, Teddy saying, damn, maybe one day I'll be there. You know what I'm saying? And to have accomplished that and more than I thought I would ever accomplish, you know, to me, you know, I've gotten my heart's desire, and you know what I'm saying? I got more than what. Because there's a lot of people that will never, ever get their heart desire things they dream about in life. So I think we are blessed, you know, for all those that have gotten certain things in life. We're definitely blessed to have been able to get. Build and get what a lot of things out of life that most people will never get. Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But you know, I think about, like, habit honored Teddy Riley. Like, that was maybe 10 years ago now, right? They got to do that for you. Because if you want to do a new Jack Swing tribute, definitely salute.

[Keith Sweat]

I don't want it. What?

[Brittany Luse]

What?

[Keith Sweat]

Because you know why I don't want it if I haven't got. Listen, I'm funny. Yeah. Y' all gotta understand how funny I am. My attitude in life is give it to me when I deserve it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You deserve it, right?

[Keith Sweat]

Hold up, hold up, hold up, hold up, hold up. This is. I've been. I've had more heads. First of all, if you don't give it to me when I deserve, like I told my daughter, if God forbid, I leave here today, tomorrow, you better not take no award they try to give you now. Because, you know, like, my attitude is this, right? You know, don't try to give me my flowers when I'm not here. And then, like, I be seeing them do that to people, and I'm like, yo, you never really acknowledged them like that when they was here. Come on. I don't want that. You know what I'm saying? It's like, I'm the man that I am. You know, I teach my kids to be the same way. You know, be proud men. Don't be. Take a hand out. You know what I'm saying? Don't give it to me. Because now you want to make this big thing and you want people to come and acknowledge, man, that's for the. The networks and the. That I don't. I'm. And that's not me.

[Brittany Luse]

But you don't think that it adds, like, just education around your legacy? Because there are a lot of people who don't know your role in the new Jackson.

[Keith Sweat]

I do my own documentary and put my own out. There you go.

[DJ Envy]

But there's so many people you influenced, though.

[Keith Sweat]

I don't need to do. You know, because I can. I got my money to do my own document. 8, 9, 10 episodes if I want to do it. Put it all Together. And that's what I do now. You know what I'm saying? And you won't buy this. And then I own the car. I own it. Yeah. You know, and said, that's how. That's how you do things today. I'm not gonna do that. That's why I never did Armstrong and none of that other stuff. Right. Because I'm not going to let you have my thing and show it at any time you want to show me. This is. No, you can't do that to me. So I'll do mine, sell it to you, and then I'll tell you when I want you to show that and when I want you to stop showing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And you don't want nobody else to tell you a story.

[Keith Sweat]

Yeah. Because half the people. The stories that I told are not real stories. They're not. They're not true. You know, they leave a lot of tape on the floor and we want to show. The networks want to show what they.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Want to show they can fabricate things.

[Keith Sweat]

Fabricate things. And I don't want that. You know, you can't fabric advocate things, you know, I mean, it's just like everybody said, New Jack Swing started on my first album. No, it did not start on my first album. I was with Suture Records, Mars Levy, Adam Levy, when they had the Fat Boys. I was producing for Suture Records back in the day, you know what I'm saying? I got two records on the Internet. All I wanted, my baby, my mind, Wait, I was with Tony Lopez with gq, you know what I'm saying? Back in the day on 165th Street. And Woody. Crap, Woody Crest Avenue in the Bronx, you know what I'm saying? So my legacy extends. Y' all just know the make it last forever part, you know what I'm saying? Put me hanging on 95th street in Columbus Avenue, going to sell a restaurant, you know what I'm saying? And all that type of stuff, you know what I'm saying? When Errol Monroe used to come to 165th, Woody Crest Avenue, to see me because he had pretty Pearl records, all that type of stuff, you know what I'm saying? People don't know about all that stuff. So that was way before I wanna. So that's what I'm saying, you know, it's like. It didn't start with people thinking, Don't Stop your Love was my first song. That's what I got my deal on, Don't Stop youp Love. It wasn't on. I wanted. It was on don't stop it love. So, you know, and Benson Davis gave me the deal with Entertainment, and that's where it all started.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's why I want to see your. Your story told. Because if you. You can't. I love Teddy, but Teddy can't get all the credit for creating new Jack Swing, not without Keith Sweat.

[Keith Sweat]

Well, Teddy will tell everybody, and that's my man. Is that what happened? Is when I got my deal. But don't stop your love. I'm the one that went to Teddy and told Teddy, yo, I need. I got to deal with Electra. And I want to you to come on and work without me. Because he was with this group called Kids at Work, if you remember. And I was. We would do the Chitlin circuit in New York. We would do the Red Parrot, Mark four, all those Smalls paradise, all them clubs in Harlem. And that I had a group called Jamila Kinky and what's the name was in Kinky Fox. My Just Got Paid, man. Johnny Kent was in.

[DJ Envy]

Johnny Cassandra.

[Keith Sweat]

Johnny Kent was in. See, because I wrote Just Got Paid with Teddy, you know what I'm saying? But I never got credit for it. So, you know, it's just a whole nother thing, you know what I'm saying? Because I'm the one that ran the Johnny Kimmel say yo. Because Just Got Paid was supposed to go on my first album, and we missed the time frame of it because we had handed the credits in. So it was sitting with Teddy that whole time. And Johnny went over there and recorded it. And then, you know, that's exactly what happened. But that's. That's. Hell. There.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

There was some.

[Keith Sweat]

You.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You applied a little bit of pressure to Teddy for that too, when you. Because you heard the record on the. The radio. So the story.

[Keith Sweat]

Now, I applied a little pressure to Johnny Kemp, you know, God rest his soul. I applied some pressure to that and, you know, and Gene Griffin.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Gene Griffin, that's what.

[Keith Sweat]

Yep.

[DJ Envy]

Look at his face, man.

[Keith Sweat]

Yep.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The record sounds just like you, though.

[Keith Sweat]

You can tell.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Keith Sweat]

So, you know, that's where the pressure got a product. But I just. But I left it alone because, you know, it's just like. Because I. You know, then it went on for more. It just kept going, going on. And then. Because let's Chill was supposed to be the song I did then me, Teddy and Bernard Bell wrote Let's Chill together. And that was supposed to go into the. That was the song that I was supposed to do in New Jack City. And, you know, I didn't. It didn't happen. And, you know, that's how I end up singing. There you go telling me no again. Why would I be singing There you go telling me no at a wedding scene? And. Yeah, because I had to have it. See, the song was supposed to be ready that next day. I had to have it for the. The wedding scene. Mary band people said, yo, we. You know, we gotta have a song. If you're gonna be in the thing, you gotta have a song. So I had to go. And right. There you go telling me no again. That same night before I shot that scene in Grandstone. At Grandstone. So.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, damn.

[Keith Sweat]

That's where. There you go telling me no came in. Because I couldn't think of nothing else but there you go telling me no. Okay, but look, we gonna get y' all that. Wow. And that's how that came about.

[DJ Envy]

I was asking. So if bet, the Grammys, or any of those organizations come out and say, we want to do something for you, you're gonna say no?

[Keith Sweat]

Yep. Wow.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Damn.

[Keith Sweat]

Can you. Why you say that? I don't know. I would love to see.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She just felt a damn was appropriate.

[Keith Sweat]

I would love to see you get your flowers. Look where I'm at. I got my flowers. I'm Will, I'm like.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's right.

[Keith Sweat]

Like. Like, everybody thing is different. Everybody. You know what I'm saying? That don't. That's not gonna make. Take my legacy away. Me not having that. That's not gonna do nothing less for me. They ain't gonna. They ain't gonna give me no more money. You know what I said? So what is it gonna do? Oh, just. Nah, I don't care, man. I used to care. It used to bother me. I'm gonna tell you the truth. It used to bother me. It's. And when, you know, they took the. What was it? The American Music Award for me the first time or something like that, and gave it to George Michael or whatever for Best Army Album. And I was halfway out my seat. Bezomi George. I sat slumped myself back down. So it's like. But that was the only one that really ever acknowledged me and gave me was American Music Award. That was my first real big award, American music. So it's like. So when I got that, I'm like, yo, dag, I didn't get a vt. And I never got a Soul Train Award when Don Cornelius was with it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What?

[Keith Sweat]

Never?

[DJ Envy]

That's crazy.

[Keith Sweat]

Paxton Baker gave me. I never got over. But Paxton Baker realized I never got a Soul Train Award and gave Me, a lifetime achievement award on the second Soul Train run. So never got a Soul Train.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm sitting there trying to think, who the hell was they giving awards to?

[Keith Sweat]

Then back, I never got a soul trainer. I'm like, hold up, Wait a minute. That's crazy how I never get a Soul Train. I can't even get on the train, you know, Everybody knows I can't even get on the Soul Train, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Damn.

[Keith Sweat]

So that's why you like that? That's why I'm like that. It's like, I'm not playing politics. I'm not playing a political game. Cause the game is. I don't feel like playing the game. I don't feel like if my music don't say what it says or say that. Yo, this is like, I know everybody know who Keith Sweaty. I went to the Knicks game last night. I know everybody know who Keith Sweat is.

[Brittany Luse]

Yeah.

[Keith Sweat]

You know, just walking in. Spike, Alan, Houston, all of them. Hell, what's up, baby? You know, you know, T, Lou, you know all them. What's up? You know, hanging.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Drake said he the Light skin keep sweat. He said that years ago.

[Keith Sweat]

Yeah, but I'm the Dotskin. Keith.

[DJ Envy]

Have y' all ever hooked up the Door record? Did y'.

[Keith Sweat]

All.

[DJ Envy]

Y' all ever reach out, speak to each other or.

[Keith Sweat]

No, I saw him in the hotel.

[DJ Envy]

Did he try. Did you try or. No, Y' all just didn't have that conversation.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did he speak to you?

[Keith Sweat]

Hey, hey.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Light skin, light skin, keep sweating.

[Keith Sweat]

Yeah. When I first met him, he was. He was excited to meet me, but as time went on, he. He became. He was Drake. Yeah.

[Brittany Luse]

Oh, the interaction wasn't good or.

[Keith Sweat]

No, it was. Yeah, it was good. It was good. You know me, I've just. I'm just like, you know, it was good.

[Brittany Luse]

Yeah.

[Keith Sweat]

You know, he never. We never we.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We.

[Keith Sweat]

It's always been cool with us meeting, you know, running into it just. There's never been no, I don't with you or you don't with me type of. Yeah, I don't do that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm glad Cut Close is on this tour. Why isn't Silk on this tour? You wrote too many hits for Silk.

[Keith Sweat]

Merry Go Around. Nah, it. It's because I tried to make it happen as recently as last week, but, you know, when you. When you're doing shows, right. There's only but so much money in the thing, you know, because you got production. You know what I'm saying? And, you know, like, I gave up a lot of my money to make it happen. With Cut Close and Certain, you know, I gave up certain things. You know, when I do shows, I look at the branding of the show. I'm not. If it's. If me, if it's about me putting all the money in my pocket, but the show is gonna be whack. I won't do it, you know. So I try to make it where the show is good for the public, because now it's. And the temperature we in the world and in this time and people losing their jobs or whatever. I tell people, I say, you can't charge as much for the ticket price because, you know, and you got so many tools I sold. You gotta have. The ticket price has to be at the right price because everybody can't afford those high prices right now because so. And they want to see the show. It's got to be at a price. So that means the artist prices has to. To come down to make sense if you want to tour. Right. Some people get it, some people don't.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Silk didn't get that.

[Keith Sweat]

I'm not saying. But they're five guys, so I can understand that. You know, you got to split the money five ways. Gotcha. You know, and so the money has to be a little more for somebody who got split. Somebody. I realized that when I did lsg, I wasn't thinking, swear your money gonna get cut three ways. You know what I'm saying? Then when I started touring, I'm like, hold up, wait a minute, man. Look at my money. I'm going out by myself. So that type of thing. So I'm. I was disappointed it didn't happen, but I, I'm. I'm understanding that, that you got to spend the money far away. So my money is just me. And I make a lot more than I did back in the day when I hit the road. But I'm not giving up all my money because you splitting five ways. I can't do it. You know what I'm saying?

[Brittany Luse]

I heard you say you're going to give up some of it, though, so that Cut close can be good. There's sometimes these conversations about you and Cut Close and like y' all relationship being a little bit rocky, but it sounds like, you know, you taking care of them, right? So when you.

[Keith Sweat]

Okay. I don't listen when it comes to people relationships being rocky. I hear things and you know what I'm saying? It's my truth, they truth and the real truth. Right? Like, and I say this to Silk, Cut Closer to anybody else. I always tell people, if you think I did something from you. I'll pay for my lawyer to open my books. You go look at my books, and I'll pay for it. People have heard me say that. I've told Teddy that. I tell Silk that. Hey, I tell you what. You think I took something from you? I'm gonna call my lawyer. You can look through whatever you want, and I'll pay for it. Now, if you don't find none, you're gonna pay that money back.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

To the lawyer.

[Keith Sweat]

So really, it's like, to me, it's like, okay, I'm gonna pay my lawyer for me to open. Okay, you gotta take time. You gotta find things. Go ahead, find it. Look through it. Now, if you find something, then you got a point. But if you don't find that, why should I pay for you to find? And you don't find nothing. Right. You got to pay that back. Am I right or wrong?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Makes perfect sense.

[Keith Sweat]

That makes sense. Right? You know what I'm saying? So. No. So I tell anybody, but when. But Close was signed to a production company, they weren't signed directly to me.

[Brittany Luse]

Got you. So that.

[Keith Sweat]

So the. The production company gets everything, and they got to pay their artists. So it's never a direct thing, because I didn't. They were. They were bought to me by someone else.

[Brittany Luse]

Got you. Okay.

[Keith Sweat]

Right. So when they saying I did. That's not. That wasn't a deal I put together. That was a deal the production company put together. Because it's like, if anybody signed to a production company, you know how that works. The production company is basically the artist, and you sign to pay the production company, and the production company don't pay the artist. That's not you. You have nothing to do with it. That's not. That's not your fault. That's why it was only one album done. I believe you know, so. But, you know, I. You know, I still, you know, love the hell out of them girls. And I'm. I'm. That's why I'm taking them on tour. I don't have to take them on tour with me, but I want to take them on tour number one. I want to take them because I think that's what the fans want to see. And, you know, everything you see is Keith when there was a whole era. Key sweat Cut Close Key sweat cut clothes. So I'm doing that because of the fans now. I'm gonna make it work. If they have issue because I've been blessed to be in a position with. I can make it work. You know what I'm saying, so I'm definitely gonna look after them at this point, you know what I'm saying? Because it's like it's my. It's my responsibility, I feel, to do that. That's why I'm taking them on the road.

[Brittany Luse]

That's why hearing from you is so important though, because like they even like there's like the dollar publishing story. There's the sophomore album was supposed to come out. They throw a happen or didn't happen for cut close on you. But to hear that there it was somebody, the production company that was also involved and not just Keith Sweat, but your name gets.

[Keith Sweat]

I don't even know nothing about a dollar. You know, I. I said, where did that come from? Because I don't. Some of them. Them ass stories. Why would I pay like that? That's so beneath a person like. Like that. That's not even my. My pedigree, you know what I'm saying? So. So when I like sometimes when I hit things, I laugh because that's not even my pedigree, you know what I'm saying? Because when I see people that's in a pro have a problem, I go in my pocket and just head in the back. I said, yo, can I borrow some money? I know you came and you asking for thousand. I know you can't pay it back, man, I'm giving you this to you because I know you can't give it back because you ain't even got it to give it back. So you know what I'm saying? It's gonna put you back in the hole if I'm looking for it, right? That's what I do with a lot of my fans who are my friends. Friends, to be honest with you, right? So I'm not. I'm not even a dollar. Come on now. That's not even real. That's not real, you know, because if somebody did that to me, I would never talk to their ass. Never.

[Brittany Luse]

For people that are listening, I don't know what he's talking about. The story was that cut close sign. They're publishing away for a dollar. Just I wanted to mention some people don't know what the story is that we talking about.

[Keith Sweat]

I wouldn't take nobody publishing for a dollar.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't think nobody would sell it for a dollar.

[Keith Sweat]

Thank you. You got to sell your publishing to me, right? Okay. I can't force you to sell it. So how can I get take your publishing for a dollar? How can I buy your publishing for a dollar? Because somebody would have had to. So that doesn't even make common sense to me. Like, you know, nobody's going to say, yo, here's a dollar, here's a dollar. Let me get you happy public. Who gonna do that? That so that. I'm telling you, it was a production company, right? Signed them through me. Now, if somebody lying says we gave Keith Sweat your publisher for a dollar, then they better go check them, you know what I'm saying? Because other damn lie like that is like, I need to go to hell and burn like a. If that's true, damn. And I'm telling the truth. That's how I feel, you know what I'm saying? Because that is so whack to me to do something for somebody to do some like that. That's like me having a problem with it. Why would I. I had issues with people in the past on my. My music. Matter of fact, I'm having issues right now that I'm hiring like two or three lawyers to go at certain people right now where there's millions and millions and millions of dollars at stake on my right. So my masters and all kind of. Right. So I know I'm get that ass, you know what I'm saying? I'm putting it out there for those. I know I'm get that ass. So you might as well. Come on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What made you want to do Afrobeats?

[Keith Sweat]

It's the. It's the new R B. Yeah. I call it New R because it's so soulful.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The energy.

[Keith Sweat]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I just came from Cape Town. I agree.

[Keith Sweat]

Yes. The energy is the feeling.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It is smooth. Yeah. What made you want to do radio? And you got your radio show.

[Keith Sweat]

That was so long ago.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Been doing that forever.

[Keith Sweat]

Yeah, yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But what made you want to do radio?

[Keith Sweat]

I don't know, Doc. Winners. Nah, it's like he just like, he said, yo, let. I said, let's do radio. And I just did radio because it was like the next thing that my next move. Everything is the next move. Like, you know, like executive producer, movies. All the shit I do is my next move. My next move. What's my next move? You know what I'm saying? That type of stuff. So I'll be on that next move thing, you know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Got a candle line, platinum bag.

[Keith Sweat]

Platinum. You wanna smell like freak me. You can put it on. You won't smell like. Make it last. Put it on. Nah. Cause the candle line is a different scent. Well, do I got my candles? What do you mean my.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Y' all came in here with all kind of bags.

[Keith Sweat]

Don't worry about it. Don't worry about sleep.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Sleep?

[Keith Sweat]

What you mean? Don't nothing. Come to sleep with a dream. Hold.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Candles by Keith. Oh, this smells good. I didn't even open the box and it smelled good. Oh, this is fire. I'm a candle guy. You're just gonna come get candles. Just one. One side.

[Keith Sweat]

Okay. What'd that candle say?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This one says candles by Keith. Make it last forever. Oh, thank you. This one is. I give all my love to you. This one is twisted.

[Brittany Luse]

God damn, they smell amazing.

[Keith Sweat]

Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I want one.

[Brittany Luse]

Y' all got three candles a piece. I want one, but they gave me one bag.

[Keith Sweat]

When you gonna be in Atlanta, man?

[DJ Envy]

I'm always in Atlanta.

[Keith Sweat]

Okay, well, you need to come to my house and get your bag.

[DJ Envy]

Say no more. Oh, say no more.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, Keith. I like this.

[Brittany Luse]

Out and about. In Atlanta, there was a video that went viral. You singing. I think it was like a karaoke night or something like that.

[Keith Sweat]

A pleasure. Pete made me come there.

[Brittany Luse]

You were? Yeah. You were just.

[Keith Sweat]

Yeah. I don't know what kind of bag you special? Because I'm gonna tell y', all, Keith.

[DJ Envy]

Gallowskin and dark skin people in here.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's wrong with that?

[Keith Sweat]

No, they told me you always in Atlanta. I got over night your bag.

[DJ Envy]

I'm just messing with you. I'm older.

[Keith Sweat]

Or you better bring in your ass up and come to my house and you can pick whatever one you want. Sit down.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's fine.

[DJ Envy]

Don't worry. I'm calling you later on for something else.

[Keith Sweat]

What you calling me for?

[DJ Envy]

I see you leave a comment on my daughter's a page that she get married, make it last forever.

[Keith Sweat]

I got your comment.

[DJ Envy]

Yes, you did.

[Keith Sweat]

No, I didn't leave. No.

[DJ Envy]

Okay.

[Brittany Luse]

Not like you acted like no.

[Keith Sweat]

Yo, that is for yo.

[DJ Envy]

Ke Sweat is going out on tour. 30 city tour, kicking off on the 13th of February.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's Valentine's Day.

[Keith Sweat]

Go to ke.com for the candles and the bags. You know what I'm saying? They. They, you know it.

[Brittany Luse]

Yo, send me some candles.

[Keith Sweat]

They going to burn them here.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They going burn them right here.

[DJ Envy]

So.

[Keith Sweat]

And the candle, Keith Sweat dot com, you know. Candles by Keith. Candles by Keith. Platinum status bags. Great, great quality.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Keith Sweat]

Kelly Clarkson. Kelly Clarkson got hers, you know what I'm saying? Spike Lee got his, you know what I'm saying? So. You know what I'm saying? You're gonna see it. You had the zipper works, but it's all good.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Where did they get the tickets from for the time.

[Keith Sweat]

Matt Black.

[DJ Envy]

Yes.

[Keith Sweat]

That bag is fire.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Look at that. Whoops. See? Yes, sir.

[Keith Sweat]

Put it all out so you can see it. Hold up. I want to show it. Hold up. Backpack comes off, that's fire, y'.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All.

[Keith Sweat]

You know what I'm saying? Zip whatever it is.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You can use that as, like, a.

[Keith Sweat]

Little fanny pack or something.

[Brittany Luse]

Charlemagne. Don't put none on that fanny.

[Keith Sweat]

Come on, baby. I told everything.

[DJ Envy]

That's right.

[Keith Sweat]

It got a bunch of pockets. You know what I'm saying? Look, that's clean. You know what I'm saying? But, you know, it comes in this style, too.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay. Were you funny?

[Keith Sweat]

I want that one.

[DJ Envy]

Get your tickets.

[Keith Sweat]

Yes.

[Brittany Luse]

I like that one, too.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Everything on keepsweat.com.

[DJ Envy]

Appreciate you, Keith, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Always a pleasure.

[Keith Sweat]

That's right.

[DJ Envy]

Make sure you get your tickets, your candles, and your bags. It's the Breakfast Club.

[Keith Sweat]

And when. When he come to my house, he'll get his this. And I ain't. I didn't hit up on Make It Last, B, but, boy, that was scary to me.

[Brittany Luse]

At the wedding.

[DJ Envy]

It's the Breakfast Club.

[Keith Sweat]

Good morning. Every day I wake up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wake your ass up.

[Keith Sweat]

The Breakfast Club. Y' all finished or y' all done?

[NFL Announcer]

The NFL playoffs are here, and it all starts with Wild Card Weekend, powered by Verizon.

[DJ Envy]

Man, it all comes down to this.

[NFL Announcer]

12 teams, six games, three days, and one epic weekend.

[Keith Sweat]

My goodness.

[NFL Announcer]

It's win or go home, and every moment counts on the road to Super Bowl 60. It's a touchdown wild card weekend powered by Verizon. January 10th through 12th. Visit watch.NFL.com for the full schedule.

[Brittany Luse]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.