← The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club
INTERVIEW: MAJOR. Talks Faith, Purpose & Music, Grammys, Beyoncé, Chadwick Boseman, Spirituality + More
00:42:42
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- [00:00]
Lauren LaRosa
This is an Iheart podcast. Guaranteed human pressure has a way of revealing what remains steady. In the latest Nissan campaign, the Nissan Rogue was tested to the extreme to demonstrate that it's built to last through durability and reliability challenges inspired by real tests conducted by Nissan engineers. Brutal potholes, a steady force of water, even a jet powered sandstorm. Each challenge inviting a deeper look at how quality, durability and reliability hold hold their ground in real world conditions. Every test was 100% real. No CG, no AI. To see how the Rogue held up, visit nissan-duordability.com the wait was worth it.
- [00:43]
Major
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- [01:18]
DJ Envy
Instagram teen accounts have automatic protections on by default, built in content settings for the content teens can see, contact limits for who can contact them and time management tools like daily time limits and sleep mode. Teens are automatically placed into teen accounts and teens under 16 will need a parent's permission to change any of these settings to be less strict. Instagram will continue adding built in safety features to help create age appropriate experiences. Learn more about teen accounts and Instagram's ongoing work to protect teens online@instagram.com teenaccounts you know, we joke all the time on our show and it seems like we hate on each other, but in real life, it's all love here and that's family. And that's why this message from the Blue Square alliance against Hate really, really matters. Because real hate isn't jokes. It's real people getting targeted. Like the kid who gets singled out at school in the commercial during the big game. But what stood out to me was someone choosing to show love instead of ignoring it. If you saw that Blue Square commercial, you know, and if you want to show support, sharing the Blue Square is one way you stand for love and not hate.
- [02:24]
Lauren LaRosa
Hold up.
- [02:25]
Major
Every day I wake up.
- [02:26]
Charlamagne Tha God
Wake your ass up.
- [02:27]
Major
The Breakfast Club.
- [02:30]
DJ Envy
Morning everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne the guy. We are the breakfast club. Lauren LaRosa is here. We got a Special guest in the building.
- [02:38]
Charlamagne Tha God
Yes, indeed.
- [02:39]
DJ Envy
We got the brother Major here. Welcome, man.
- [02:41]
Major
This is an honor. Thank y' all for having me. Listen, I'm, I'm, I'm on cloud three. Milli.
- [02:48]
Charlamagne Tha God
Good morning to you. I didn't know that Lauren used to be a youth pastor at your church.
- [02:52]
Major
Okay, listen, A youth pastor.
- [02:54]
Lauren LaRosa
Listen, I was not a youth. How are you lying about God?
- [02:56]
Charlamagne Tha God
I thought that's what you mentioned.
- [02:57]
Major
No, no, no, I, I, when I saw, when I said I saw her face and when I started seeing her rise, I'm like, I've seen her before. And she did indeed go to the church. I used to be the worship leader at one church in la. Pastor Tori Roberts and Sarah Jake Roberts. Yeah.
- [03:12]
Lauren LaRosa
And that's when they actually used to be at the church preaching like, like now they're like all these different places.
- [03:17]
Charlamagne Tha God
But they were not all these different places. They're at the Potter's house on Sunday.
- [03:20]
Major
Shout out to the Potter's house.
- [03:22]
Charlamagne Tha God
All these different places.
- [03:23]
Major
I know exactly.
- [03:24]
Lauren LaRosa
You know what I mean though? Like, I mean like they were, it was, there was, it was. I mean they still had a lot, they said a lot going on. Because I remember he did Gucci's wedding at that time too. And I was like, oh shoot, that's the pastor from the church I just started going to. Yeah, but Pastor T, like he, Sometimes when you go there now, it's other pastors that will step in. It used to you would never miss him if you went to church on Sunday.
- [03:42]
Major
Yeah, yeah, there was, there was a time. But it's grown. So you know when you build and you gotta kind of have folks standing in they.
- [03:50]
Charlamagne Tha God
Right there. The Potter's house. Every Sunday I watch Bedside.
- [03:53]
Major
Oh, absolutely. There. I'm, I'm loving seeing what's happening there. Potter's house has been really supportive of my movement. So.
- [03:59]
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah, I was gonna ask you that, cuz last time I saw you, you were singing at Bakari Sellers wedding.
- [04:04]
Major
Yes.
- [04:04]
Charlamagne Tha God
And Bishop Jake was he, he, he. What do you call that? I about to say pastor the wedding.
- [04:09]
Major
But that he officiated the wedding. Listen, same difference.
- [04:15]
Charlamagne Tha God
Pasted the wedding, he officiated the wedding. So what's the relationship?
- [04:19]
Major
Well, Bakari is a brother of mine that I, he's our mutual brother. We actually, I met years ago on a panel for the naacp. Shout out to the naacp. They're still relevant, doing the good work for our people. But we were on a panel. It was me, him, Jotaka Eady and Brittany Packnett Cunningham. And we Just connected. And we literally just said, yo, we're gonna help each other along the way. He had his vow renewal. He invited me. I also know Bishop, you know, from, you know, a lot of the work that I've done, but it was a really beautiful time, man. And he. He. He pulled out all his stops. Definitely did shout out to. Shout out to the family.
- [05:04]
Charlamagne Tha God
He definitely did. I actually was talking about, what's the connection between you and Bishop?
- [05:07]
Major
Oh, Bishop.
- [05:08]
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah.
- [05:08]
Major
Oh.
- [05:11]
Charlamagne Tha God
I wasn't gonna step on that.
- [05:12]
Major
Okay, well. Well, Bishop has supported me. I actually saw, you remember, at the. The birthday party, his 65th. Diddy was there. Diddy was there. Charlamagne hanging with me.
- [05:25]
Lauren LaRosa
What was Charlamagne doing with Diddy?
- [05:27]
Major
Listen, I will say this. I will say this. It was no funny business. And so it sucks that a picture can lead to all that crazy. But, like, I mean, it was great energy. Diddy clearly sees him as a father. And. And it was. You see the respect in real time, but it was. It was wild. Cause I'm like, lord, I hope none those pictures come looking like I done did something. But, nah, it's. It's love, Bishop. I had to sing for Cisley Tyson tribute before she passed away at the Mega Fest. And Bishop just said, yo, there's a. There's something on your life. There's an anointing on your life. Stay locked. I got you. I'll support you. His family has supported me, and it's just. It's just been consistent. So dope.
- [06:13]
Lauren LaRosa
It's a great prophecy to get from a great person.
- [06:15]
Major
I know. Yeah, it's. He's really a legit good person. And I think because we've had so many experiences seeing the church from the humanity side of things, mishandle a lot of things, we just automatically just assume his success must be a scheme. But he's a really sincere. Like, he shows up for people. He respects people. It's real. And I think you know that. Absolutely.
- [06:44]
Charlamagne Tha God
I love the Bishop. I love all of them. Bishop, you know, Bishop Jakes and Pastor Torre, Pastor Sarah. Like, I call them the first family of faith.
- [06:51]
Major
Okay.
- [06:52]
Charlamagne Tha God
You know what I mean? First family of faith.
- [06:54]
Major
I get it. I get it. Yes, absolutely.
- [06:56]
Charlamagne Tha God
One thing I like about your music, it always centers purpose and positivity. How intentional. Hope.
- [07:03]
Major
Exactly.
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Charlamagne Tha God
Last project was Hope Dealer. How intentional have you had to be about protecting your spirit and message in an industry that just seems like it rewards the bullshit, for lack of a better word?
- [07:14]
Major
Man, it's. It's. I live in an anomaly like I studied music. You know, I've really studied. I've been to performing arts schools. The Shout out to the hspva, that's the same high school as Beyonce, Robert Glasper, Brian Michael Cox. I did an intensive at Juilliard. I did Berklee College of Music. So I'm versatile in what I've. But I have found success in the most peculiar ways because this journey, it does celebrate the salacious, it celebrates the negative. It celebrates, like just a disrespectful specific to our culture, what they allow to thrive in our culture, which is really wild how that works. But I've just kind of just been committed to the assignment that I think on my life is to amplify hope. I define hope as hope is not the denial of reality, it's the commitment to believe greater is on the other side of it. Hope is not pretending struggle and circumstance aren't real, because one thing life is going to do is life with or without our permission. And so what hope does is it keeps us anchored in this thing called the Promise from the Promise Keeper. And it delivers every time. And so that's just what I've been committed to. It's been difficult to stay on that because people, like, want to put people against each other. I remember when why I Love youe. My song. This is why I Love youe. Just in case you. Oh, no. I know.
- [08:48]
Lauren LaRosa
I know the song.
- [08:49]
DJ Envy
I love you.
- [08:49]
Charlamagne Tha God
He ain't black.
- [08:50]
Lauren LaRosa
I know the song.
- [08:51]
Major
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes. No, listen. But that song changed my life. And I was just singing my producer harmony. We made this love letter to God. It's a love letter to God. And love wrote me back to help people really understand how to do this love thing on Earth. But they started saying I was bringing back classic R and B. And so then it was like this responsibility to try to keep up with R and B. But I don't have the typical R B language. I'm choir boy. I'm a church boy, you know, so it was. It's been interesting, but I've stayed steady with it and I'm living better than I've ever lived before.
- [09:28]
Charlamagne Tha God
So what would you say to people, you know, when they hear the term hope dealing? It's funny. We just had, you know, Jill Scott here and she has.
- [09:34]
Major
Oh, that's.
- [09:34]
Charlamagne Tha God
She has an amazing song on her album, Too Short. I can't remember the name of it right now, but it's literally talking about, you know, all of these people who pimp different sectors of our society from the Church, to education, to the pharmaceutical companies. And when they hear the term hope dealer, what do you say to people who feel like people in the. In the in with that do gospel are just peddling hope?
- [09:55]
Major
Listen, hope is powerful. Hope ain't ever canceled. It's necessary. It's a disruptor. It's an anchor. And I think anybody that's in the business of doing it, and I love what the Breakfast Club has evolved into because that's actually what y' all are doing in just the way that you do it. Hope does not have to have a three piece suit and you know, or a big church hat. Like, it's just amplifying that there's better than this on the other side. You. I just read a quote that you made. You said, if you're building something that only benefits you, it's not big enough. That's hope. That's giving hope to the people. That's. That's amplifying this thing that there's room for all of us to win. And so my thing is, if you're locked in that you're doing a good work, be it the four walls or not of the church, you're doing the work that God put us on this earth to do. Sometimes you're going to be one of the few voices amplifying it, but it's powerful. One thing you say, my name in most rooms is going to be respected. They're going to say, yeah, he's a good dude because I've just been committed to it. But it sucks as an independent artist. Cause it ain't cheap. So it's like, it's easier if I didn't do the whole thing from a surface level. But I know at the end of the day I gotta deal with if God says well done and I'm trying to get to the heaven now.
- [11:33]
DJ Envy
Your record is almost 10 years old.
- [11:34]
Major
10, bro.
- [11:36]
DJ Envy
When you recorded that record, did you.
- [11:37]
Major
Know what it was when I first recorded. So let me give you. There's two, two, two spaces. I'm on a web series. Before it hit for me, before my life changed. Because why I love you changed my life. It's a low budget web series. The brother of Kev onstage, I think he's been here. Jason Fredericks, who he recently passed away of cancer.
- [12:05]
Charlamagne Tha God
Oh, man.
- [12:07]
Major
Yeah. Beautiful. Beautiful. Dude. He. They said we had sandwiches and I've been high maintenance all my life. Didn't come from a whole lot of money. Just. It's just in me. For some reason. I don't like sandwiches that are Just basic.
- [12:21]
DJ Envy
Okay, Bougie man.
- [12:22]
Major
So they said, what kind of sandwich do you want, Major? And I said, you know, my guy Jor El Quinn is playing lullaby music on this holding room that we're doing on the piano. And I said, chicken salad sandwich. I want a chicken salad sandwich because I'm hungry. And they filming it. They're filming it. And it goes viral. And at that time, viral was about a thousand views, right? So I was killing it. And so my producer, Harmony Samuels, hits me and says, yo, where'd you get that song? And I said, it just came to me, man. He said, it's a hit. I said, I know, right? We gonna pitch it, like, to Chick Fil A or something. Like, yeah, I think that would be crazy. And he said, no, take it down and come to the studio. There's a love song in that. And I, at this time, didn't have, like, a real love experience to write about. I had my heart broken, but I didn't have nothing that was just solid. And so I was like, I mean, my mama and God have been the most consistent. And he says, write about God. And so literally, the download was like, I have a bunch of stuff to talk about that. And the. What I understand about love agape, that love that still chooses you anyway, regardless of the crazy, is the understanding that I think we all need to take in our experiences of love. And so when I wrote that song, I literally was hoping that it would succeed, because I'm like, yo, if this gets marketed, it can make some noise. And sure enough, it took off. We first million on YouTube streams for the video, and it literally goes viral every. Every other month. It's 175 million on YouTube alone. Stevie Wonder said, you know, I believe this will be the wedding love song for years to come. I'm like, yo, if Stevie saw it, you know, we got something that's right. You feel me?
- [14:17]
Charlamagne Tha God
I tell you one thing, man. This is why you can never, ever let people demonize chicken. When a black man is hungry and wants some goddamn chicken, great things happen. Do not let them make chicken a negative stereotype for us, okay?
- [14:29]
Major
At the end of, you know, chicken salad sandwich changed my life. It did.
- [14:33]
DJ Envy
You ever get that sandwich?
- [14:34]
Major
I actually do. And it hits different. So when, like, I go places and they have, like, food, like, if they cater in chicken salad, I'm like, I see you, God. I see what you do. Arby's. Arby's had it on the menu one day. And that. That was the one thing I got from Arby's. Arby's do better. Listen. But listen, I. I got so hype. I was like, I see you. I see. I see you guys. You coming through. But, yeah, it's that song alone. You see the weddings. You're, you know, DJing. We've done a couple weddings that you've played at. It's like, it's so much love. And, you know, this love week right now. So I'm about to, you know, go to Chick Fil A and get all the chicken nuggets I want.
- [15:18]
Charlamagne Tha God
Not.
- [15:18]
Major
Cause I'm hungry. Cause I can afford it. You feel me? You know?
- [15:21]
Lauren LaRosa
So, yeah, when you recorded the song, like, so. Cause I never knew that it was a gospel, like a song for God.
- [15:28]
Major
It was a love letter to God, right? And love wrote me back to help people understand how to do this love thing on earth as it's heaven. So it wasn't necessarily intended to just be gospel. It was like, it's inspirational. I. I believe that life is meant to be shared. These intersections that we exist weren't meant to be divided like that. And. And I want to give people healthy perspective on this love thing. To not run in another direction thinking that dysfunction is proper love.
- [16:01]
Lauren LaRosa
Got you.
- [16:01]
Major
Because that's not what it is.
- [16:02]
Lauren LaRosa
Because I realized in the lyrics. I went and looked once you said that, and I'm like, you don't ever say the word God.
- [16:06]
Major
Exactly.
- [16:07]
Lauren LaRosa
And I'm like, what's that?
- [16:08]
Major
God is love. Love is God.
- [16:09]
Lauren LaRosa
Yeah.
- [16:09]
Major
And so I'm helping people understand that. And it's. It's wild. It's wild. Like there's babies that were made from that song. I ain't never thought I have songs that people be like, this, you made this? And I'm like, nah, that ain't mine. But I got you. You know, me and the wife are trying, but we ain't had one yet. Yeah. So. So, yeah, but it's really dope. Yeah.
- [16:34]
Charlamagne Tha God
I love your name Major. And that's actually your name.
- [16:36]
Major
That's my real name. My mama named me Major. She prayed that I make a major impact on the world. And I hated it. Growing up, I hated it. Cause it was different. Major. Major. Minor. Major pain. Major pain. Like every single joke, the military, it's. Yeah. Doing it big, right? It's you. We can say that now because we mature. But Colonel, you know. You know, listen, listen. I hated it. I was like, yo, but I get to college. I had this dream. No pun. Dr. Martin Luther King told me what I did for love, peace, and Civil rights you will do for love and hope. I woke up and literally, it was like, own it. Lean in. This is the assignment. And so I'm doing it one song at a time. I got my new one for the win to encourage people that it all works together for the win. You saw that happen for you. You know, one minute you're doing this, and then God said, no, stay ready, because I got you. I heard the prayers. I heard the promise. I caught the tears. So, yeah.
- [17:44]
Charlamagne Tha God
And you said, major is a reminder of a destiny.
- [17:47]
Major
Right.
- [17:47]
Charlamagne Tha God
I heard you say that before. That your name is a reminder of your destiny.
- [17:50]
Major
Yeah. When it's spoken like it's a wild thing. My guy, Jaime from. He's. He's a jeweler with Jason of Beverly Hills. He actually reminded me, he says, your mama. Your mom knew, because she actually, let me tell you, like, she considered abortion when she got pregnant with me because she got pregnant with me in college. She was embarrassed. She had already had my brother out of wedlock, and. And on her way to the abortion clinic, the tire went flat. And so she goes back, and at that time, you had to get appointments. It's not as easy as it is now, which I still think is necessary. Don't make it so easy that people can flagrantly live. But I do think the options should be left to the people. But she ends up coming back on her way back because she was just feeling judged, her own internal. And the tire busted in nearly the same spot. A different tire busted in nearly the same spot. And so she was like, God, if I have this kid and if I name a major, I pray that he makes a major impact. So it's. It's. This is a prayer in real time. Yeah. Wow. Yeah.
- [19:01]
Charlamagne Tha God
What's the moment in your career where you truly felt yourself stepping into that knee?
- [19:12]
Major
Right now on the Breakfast Club, ladies and gentlemen, it's major. On the Breakfast Club. I've been praying for this moment to sit with y'.
- [19:20]
Charlamagne Tha God
All.
- [19:20]
Major
I. I admire y' all so much. But, no, I. I think for me, I've always been major. I shift spaces that I'm in, and I think we all have that ability when we lean into our authentic self. I, you know, used to just be like, why am I so different? And it's just like, yo, that's the superpower. Yeah. You know, so I'm just showing up as me, man. Like, I could follow the models that have already been done, but at the end of the day, I think we were each created to be an answer to A specific need in the earth. So if we're chasing down trends and tracing down the stuff that's already been done, we're chasing down already answered needs, leaving the one we were assigned to unanswered. And that's why most a lot of folks feel unfulfilled in life, because we're chasing down stuff that's already been handled. It's like lock into what you do. Can't nobody do radio like y'. All. There's only one Charlamagne. There's only one DJ Envy. There's only one Lauren. There's only one Jess. There's only one lock into that. And the way will be made. It ain't gonna be easy all the time, but it'll be made.
- [20:35]
DJ Envy
Now, you also wrote an open letter to the Grammys.
- [20:38]
Major
Did. Why?
- [20:40]
DJ Envy
Why was that important?
- [20:42]
Major
I'll say this first. I'm very active with the Recording Academy, which is the institution that houses the Grammys. I have a lot of respect and love for the Recording Academy. But while it has made a lot of progress, it still has a lot of work to do. There's an issue with the screening committees that has impacted me and artists like me that kind of sit in these margins like what we talked about.
- [21:09]
DJ Envy
Break it down.
- [21:09]
Major
Cause a lot of people don't know how. Yeah.
- [21:11]
Charlamagne Tha God
So they gotta put. They don't know what category to put you in.
- [21:13]
Major
Yeah. So when you submit. Which is called artist intent, when you submit to a particular category. So my situation to what you were saying, Envy is. I submitted my categories. My song I Prayed for your, which had tremendous success last year in gospel, specifically from Billboard, to so much success. I submitted it to gospel because that's where it was celebrated. I submitted my new ep, the Hope Dealer Sessions. Available everywhere. Zoom in.
- [21:45]
Charlamagne Tha God
Zoom in.
- [21:47]
Major
Hope Dealer Sessions. Motivational mixtape. Right, right, right. Capture that. That's good. But I submitted that to spoken word. And the screening committees move them out of both gospel to. And put it in ccm, which is more of a white facing genre of Christian music. And. And they move my project, my hope Dealers, to R and B. I know the difference ain't crazy. Artist intent should be respected and should be the dominating determinant. And I just wanted to challenge the system. I talked to executive leadership. I respect Harvey. I respect everybody in the space. But it left me at a disadvantage. I didn't have a shot at getting, you know, even considered anymore because people aren't looking for me in categories I don't belong in.
- [22:38]
Lauren LaRosa
You said that it left you at a Financial and a creative disadvantage. I understand the creative, but what's the financial disadvantage that you could talk about?
- [22:45]
Major
So they. So for many people. And this, this needs. This will help a lot of folks that think it's just simple. You put something out and it works. You actually have to market your stuff. You have to promote it. And it costs a lot of money to promote and be competitive. And so as an independent artist who has. I've gone platinum. That's not normal for independent artists that have never been signed to a major label, right? Shout out to Empire Ngozi for supporting. Supporting me from the jump. But I'm completely independent, so every dollar that I spend, I feel it in real time. It's not an advance.
- [23:23]
DJ Envy
We joke all the time on our show. People may think we hate on each other when we go back and forth, but the truth is that's the way we show love. That's respect. That's knowing where the line is. And that's why this message from the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate really sticks. Because real hate isn't playful. It's not jokes. It's not entertainment.
- [23:41]
Major
It's not.
- [23:41]
DJ Envy
The commercial during the big game showed a kid being targeted at school quietly, but in a way that happens way too often. And what really hit was the response. Someone chose to step in and show support instead of looking the other way. We talk a lot about culture, about community and having each other's backs. And this is what that looks like. So if you saw the Blue Square commercial during the big game, take a second and really think about it. And if you want to show support, go to bluesquarealliance.org to learn more.
- [24:09]
Major
You've been working in the garage with your dad every week, Monday to Sunday, trying to get the old school up and running. Today, after all the hard work, y' all finally finished it. So you have that feeling of accomplishment. You did it. Then your dad throws you the keys. He says those three magic words, all yours, son. Yep. Same car that belonged to your grandpa and that your dad helped him fix. It's yours. Three generations right there, keeping the tradition alive. But if you ask dad to really keep the tradition going, you need to get insurance. And you already know you need to get State Farm because your agent, well, he gets tradition, too. His dad was an agent, his grandpa too. So he gets you generation to generation. Remember to choose the agents that your family counted on. Like a good neighbor. State Farm is there.
- [25:04]
DJ Envy
Instagram teen accounts have automatic protections on by default, built in content settings for the content teens can see contact limits for who can contact them, and time management tools like daily time limits and sleep mode. Teens are automatically placed into teen accounts and teens under 16 will need a parent's permission to change any of these settings. To be less strict, Instagram will continue adding built in safety features to help create age appropriate experiences. Learn more about teen accounts and Instagram's ongoing work to protect teens online@instagram.com on eBay every find has a story. Like if you're looking for a vintage band tee. Not just a tee, the band tee from the last show your favorite band ever played. You wore it everywhere. Then your girlfriend started wearing it, which was cool until she dumped you and took it with her, which was not so cool. Anyway, now you're on ebay and there it is. Same tee from the same tour, still living in your memory rent free forever. See, the things you love have a way of finding their way back to you. But ebay isn't just for getting what your ex stole back. It's also for that rare championship foul ball you caught, then heroically gave it to the kid next to you. And where else are you going to find your first car, the one you wish you never sold, but now finally get the chance to take back home for good this time. You know, I'm a collector of cars and sometimes I'm looking for the right rim that I had when I was a kid. Yeah, it might have been 20 years ago, but I want that same feeling. And the only way I could find it is on ebay. Shop ebay for millions of finds, each with a story. EBay, things people love.
- [26:40]
Major
And I get something back, you know, and I got work that out later. So when we did the campaign, I'm on promo tours, I'm on radio. Tamron hall had me on twice. You know, I'm putting in work and then only to find out on the first day of voting when it's too late to move anything, that I'm in the wrong category or in a category I didn't submit to. That hurts because now I gotta try to backtrack or rebound to get people to move and change. But they're not thinking about that. So that's what I'm speaking to as far as the finance. And it's expensive. Just the energy, the bandwidth of trying to show up every single time when systems machines are hard to fight up against. That's tough work.
- [27:27]
Charlamagne Tha God
Did you receive any pushback speaking in a machine in the system?
- [27:30]
Major
Well, I noticed some folks went silent on me that I thought would be loud I got certain messages personally where some significant voices were like, I'm proud of you for using your voice. And I'm like, say that.
- [27:47]
DJ Envy
You say that out loud.
- [27:49]
Major
You know that'll help me. If you say it out loud, I won't look like I'm only. I'm crying by myself. But a bunch of other artists came to me and said it. But I've reached out. I have a meeting, a follow up meeting with the head of awards just to cause. I'm advocating for a lot of people that are in these margins. We're not black people, are not a monolith. It's not just R B, gospel, jazz, and rap. Like we literally are the blueprint, the golden print of what American music in all of its facets exist. Rock and roll, all that. So when we show up in those spaces, just know that we're showing up in the spaces and we're qualified. We don't have to keep trying to convince you to accept us in something that we helped inspire. And so I think what has happened is we ourselves as a culture has kind of accepted that just as what it is, and we don't always fight against it when we have an opportunity to be the difference. CeeLo Green is not your average hip hop artist or R and B singer. You get what I'm saying? Gary Clark Jr. John Baptiste. These are folks that exist different spaces. Beyonce, when she wanted to go country, we see what it was.
- [29:06]
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah.
- [29:07]
Major
So my thing is I'm advocating for everybody. It's not just me, but I feel it. So I' ma speak up and, you know, y' all pray for me. Just, you know, support me.
- [29:17]
Charlamagne Tha God
You didn't go to high school with Beyonce, right?
- [29:19]
Major
No, no, she's. She's a few years ahead of me. I went to the same middle and high school, Welch Middle school and. And high school. Latoya Luckett. Shout out to all of them. But, yeah, they're. They're a little older than me, but killing it nonetheless. Beyonce. Remember Major from Six Flags AstroWorld? I'm gonna say it on air. I went to the Grammys, and it was two Grammys ago, and it took a lot for me to go up to say hey to her because everybody, even Meryl Streep, was trying to get her attention. I'm like, beyonce is literally Beyonce. I went up to her and shout out to Johnny Nunez. He was gone. Take pictures of the moment. And you know those in between the segments, they're quick, so you got to talk fast. So I'm like, hey, Beyonce, I don't know if you remember a major from Houston. And she's like, looking at me, okay? And I'm like, okay. So I got the song. This is why everybody. The places. I didn't even get to finish the song. She looking at me. She looking at me like, okay. And so I go back and sit down. I'm sitting with Stevie Wonder's wife Tameka, and she's like, how did it go? I said, beyonce don't know me. And so I called Angie bn saying, I'm like, yo, tell B. I'm not crazy. I'm the same. I'm lil major from, you know, back then.
- [30:45]
Charlamagne Tha God
Cause you know Angie.
- [30:46]
Major
I know Angie. I know mama Tina. I know all of them. I just haven't seen Beyonce in person since then, so maybe this moment.
- [30:54]
Charlamagne Tha God
Damn. Why'd you just say Houston, though? Why you ain't name this physician?
- [30:57]
Major
I said, and I forgot, like.
- [30:59]
Charlamagne Tha God
You forgot what school you went to.
- [31:00]
Major
Listen, listen, listen, listen. It's Beyonce. Bros. Beyonce. I was. I would. I'm good with words. Exactly. I should have started first.
- [31:11]
Charlamagne Tha God
I should have started with the school. That's a different connection.
- [31:13]
Major
School would have done different. But it was. It was. Bro, my mind was like, I gotta say the right thing. So I'm like, you know, I'm a major from. From Houston. I'm thinking, Houston.
- [31:22]
DJ Envy
You think I'm major?
- [31:23]
Major
Like, you're majoring. Exactly. And I'm.
- [31:27]
Charlamagne Tha God
Man, man, she probably thinks she met Mims. She's like, I didn't get Mims in the future. This is why I'm hot, Right?
- [31:36]
Major
Right? Cause I was like. And she was like, okay, places, everybody. And I'm like, I'll be back, Johnny over somewhere else. You know how fast Johnny moves. He like, he'll call your name. And I'm like, johnny, nowhere to be found. And so. But you didn't even get a picture, bro. I didn't even get the picture. But, bro, how about this? I did get an optic that looked like we were really talking. Somebody some Stan posted the footage between us as we were talking, and it looks like she's having a serious conversation about three seconds long, right? And it looked like we're having a deep conversation. People like, I see you, major. And I'm like, yeah, but they don't know.
- [32:14]
Charlamagne Tha God
They don't know that. They don't know she was looking for Julie.
- [32:19]
Major
Juliet. You'll see him in the picture looking at me like, who? This Charlamagne make it funny.
- [32:23]
DJ Envy
He did the same thing when he met Prince. The same Exact thing.
- [32:26]
Charlamagne Tha God
Prince is different.
- [32:26]
Major
It stutters. You. No, it's.
- [32:28]
Charlamagne Tha God
I love Beyonce too.
- [32:29]
Major
But Prince is different for you. Because of the, the. Because of what? Ask him what he said to Prince. What you say to Prince.
- [32:37]
Charlamagne Tha God
Well, first of all, let me tell you this song.
- [32:40]
Major
Well, you gotta say, first of all, you know, it's a BS when we.
- [32:42]
Charlamagne Tha God
Were at the old radio station.
- [32:44]
Major
Yes.
- [32:44]
Charlamagne Tha God
You know, we were doing radio. And somebody just randomly. Mind you, it's six o' clock in the morning's. Like, Prince is in the building. Like Prince. Yeah, like Prince. Prince.
- [32:51]
Major
Yeah.
- [32:52]
Charlamagne Tha God
Why would. There's no way Prince is up here. So we put this, Put everything in automation.
- [32:55]
Major
Yeah.
- [32:56]
Charlamagne Tha God
And as soon as we opened the door to go walk in the hall, he walks by with two random white women. Old white women.
- [33:02]
Major
Yeah.
- [33:02]
Charlamagne Tha God
Like, yo, Prince, he was the nicest guy. He came over, he shook everybody's hand. But I was just like, I grew up Jehovah Witness too.
- [33:11]
Major
That's all he said. Not, hey, what's up?
- [33:14]
DJ Envy
How you doing?
- [33:14]
Major
I grew up Jehovah's Witness. It wasn't like that.
- [33:16]
Charlamagne Tha God
Wasn't that I grew up Jehovah.
- [33:20]
Major
I'm telling you, people think I can't stand these couch and keyboard bullies that say, well, if I was this, I would do this. You don't know what you'll do in a moment. Prince was like, what?
- [33:33]
Charlamagne Tha God
You know what? Yo, Prince didn't. He really didn't seem real.
- [33:36]
Major
It's very surreal the first time I met Oprah, Shout out to Oprah, who, by the way, ended up calling me on my phone. It's wild. Just stay ready, beautiful people. Just stay ready. Cause life just comes at you. And literally the opportunity you've been praying for will unfold in the way God chooses. But like, I remember meeting Oprah and Arnold, the photographer was like, oprah, meet Grammy nominated major. And she's like, she comes up to me and she wasn't doing any more interviews, but she was willing to, you know, have the moment with me. And she stands there and the only thing I could say, I said, you're Oprah, damn it, man. And she said, I am. I said, I'm major. And she said, you are. So I just flipped it and said, oprah said, you are major. So when you see that quoted, just know that's how it really went down. But fast forward, you just, you get. Stop acting like you don't get nervous in front of you.
- [34:40]
DJ Envy
Not like that.
- [34:41]
Charlamagne Tha God
You did it twice.
- [34:41]
Major
Who have you gotten it? Who have. Nobody.
- [34:44]
Charlamagne Tha God
There's only been Two for me that I can remember.
- [34:46]
Lauren LaRosa
That literally just happened with me and Jill Scott.
- [34:48]
DJ Envy
Y' all didn't know when she walked in.
- [34:49]
Major
Well, Jill has an aura.
- [34:51]
Lauren LaRosa
Yes.
- [34:51]
Major
That will leave you stuck.
- [34:53]
Lauren LaRosa
Because I was going to be like, hi, nice to meet you. I'm Lauren. Before I could say anything, she was like, lauren. I was like, yeah, that's me. Yeah. Hi. It caught me off guard. Like, oh, shoot.
- [35:02]
Charlamagne Tha God
My wife had a moment like that with Jill Scott. Cause that's my wife's favorite artist.
- [35:04]
Major
Your wife is dope, by the way.
- [35:05]
Charlamagne Tha God
Thank you, brother. My wife's favorite artist is Jill Scott and Erykah Badu. First time we ever met Jill, she was like, oh, my God, that's Jill Scott. And when. You know, when they're. They're talking and my wife is telling her what her music means to her until my wife cried. Right? Yeah, but that's. That's different than just being starstruck. You know what I mean?
- [35:22]
Major
Yeah, it's both. It is starstruck. It's both of it. It's like, you meet your heroes in real time, and y' all are now like, is that Chadwick?
- [35:35]
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah, that's Chadwick. I'm asking you about Chadwick.
- [35:37]
Major
Yeah, that's really dope. But you meet your heroes, like, in real time, when you do the work, you eventually become a part of the company. And the thing is, it's dope to revere them and to honor them and respect them, but also know that you're occupying this space, too. Cause that section of the Grammys, that wasn't just, you know, y' all been. Right. Have you been before? No.
- [36:03]
Charlamagne Tha God
No. Oh, you know what? I went once, but I was sitting up in a suite. And the second time I gave my tickets to Ken Suck.
- [36:11]
Major
They're so freaking far away. You get all the good food, but it's like you're so far away from the feeling. But that section is a special section. I was. You know, Stevie's wife had me at her table. And it's just. It's like, we just gotta understand, occupy the space life puts you in. You know what I mean? You in the room.
- [36:33]
Charlamagne Tha God
Cause you supposed to be in the room. That's right.
- [36:34]
Major
That's it. Thank you for making. Yeah, I said it all poetically. Like, you in the room. Cause you're supposed to be in the room. I'm like, I occupy the space. Life has. Life has settled you. Life has given you. Yes, life has given you.
- [36:45]
Charlamagne Tha God
God has put you in his building, nigga. You in the space.
- [36:49]
Major
Nigga, you belong.
- [36:50]
Charlamagne Tha God
Nigga, you belong. Word up.
- [36:51]
Major
Yeah.
- [36:52]
Charlamagne Tha God
What was the last text that Chadwick Boseman sent you? Because I saw you say that a text that he sent before he died inspired the whole project.
- [37:01]
Major
Chadwick is a. A special soul. Was a special soul. On April 4, 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, Chad sent a text message to a group of us asking us to pray for the hope of the world. He says this pandemic has basically thrown people into a sea of hopelessness where, like, people are going through. They don't know if they're going to make it. More than. And more of the issue is the anxiety of how we're going to get out versus the actual situation at hand. And he's saying that's what's crippling people. He said this bar, and I'm going to say it because it's poetic, but it's a bar. He says the plague was asked why it had killed so many. The plague responded, I only killed a hundred. The thousands that died, died from the fear of me.
- [37:52]
Charlamagne Tha God
Wow.
- [37:53]
Major
It's hopeless. Hope that makes a difference. Most of the time, our sickness lingers on because we're plagued by wondering when we gonna get better. Not I am gonna get better. The mindset, the hope mindset that immediately I started writing from that, things started happening. You know, I. I did a song called I pray for you, which I ended up releasing a few years later. I did a major whole project with motivation. So he passes away four months later. I didn't realize I knew he was sick, but I didn't know to what degree. Yeah, I'm a part of the circle that, you know, thanks to his best friend, Logan Coles and Simone and all of them. But I'm not knowing that he's dealing with cancer. This man could have focused only on himself with what he had, and it would have made sense. But he literally had the audacity to hope for the world. And that's when it, like, reminded me, you got work to do, bro. While you can breathe on your own, while you can do this thing, lock in this hope work is real. And so that's what inspired the hope. Dealer sessions. Out now hold. Hold your card up.
- [39:06]
Charlamagne Tha God
There you go.
- [39:06]
Major
Out now.
- [39:07]
Lauren LaRosa
Hold your card up. Okay. Got you.
- [39:09]
Major
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- [39:12]
Charlamagne Tha God
There you go.
- [39:12]
Major
There you go. A lot of people to get that right, right, right, right, right. But it. That's what inspired it. But Chadwick literally was a. You. Y' all interviewed him?
- [39:27]
Charlamagne Tha God
Oh, yeah, a couple times.
- [39:28]
Major
Like, you know, his aura. It's like a grounded aura of, like, I belong. And this moment is not gonna be a wasted moment. That's what he taught me. Don't waste the moments. Like, if you gonna get caught up on the stage, don't waste the moments. I should have took that advice when I saw Beyonce. I should have started with HSBVA to high school.
- [39:54]
Charlamagne Tha God
But Chavik was very. He had a very regal, royal presence. And, you know, even when you think about him now, it's just like, yo, he. You know, God, everything happens the way it's supposed to happen, but that is one that really feels like it got cut short. Like, we didn't see the full greatness of it.
- [40:14]
Major
What's wild is we say that because of age and because of potential that we see, but if you think about it, he did some of the biggest work in a short amount of time. That is iconic work. It's not stuff you forget about. 42, Jackie Robinson, Black Panther, all this stuff. We had a funny moment. I remember when he was preparing for Black Panther. We were watching a documentary about the Black Panthers, and he was just. And he's real quiet. He's like, yeah, I'm studying for the Black Panthers. And I'm like, okay, so you're doing another one of those movies? And he's like. He's like, yeah, I had no idea that's how grounded he was that the Black Panther he was talking about was this big Marvel movie. I'm thinking it's about the Black Panthers because he was Thurgood Marshall, you know, all this other stuff, and he lived this huge life in a span of 42 years.
- [41:17]
Charlamagne Tha God
I agree with you, but what I mean is not the work, him. The person, like, the wisdom that he would.
- [41:25]
Major
You know, I. I think. I think it still. It still needs to be said. Like, it's not a guarantee that our years will be to 100. It's not a guarantee that our years will be to 60. There are some kids that have died at 5 and the. The impact that they made. We live for assignment, feeling envy. You are literally living out assignment. Your experience with your wife. What y' all overcame is assignment. To show people how it. How you rebound in integrity, the work that y' all have done. You flipping this from just being about gossip or whatever to really being a platform of responsibility. That's assignment. You may go tomorrow. God forbid you may go tomorrow. But what you've done is 20 lifetimes worth of stuff, what y' all have done. And so when I. It sucks, because you take A friend away. You take a big brother away. But the man lived. He lived. Well, he didn't wait. I tried to joke with him. He would. He'll be like, that's funny. And I'm like, but everybody else is dying hysterically. He's dissecting. He helped me with my James Brown moves for one of my shows. And we can see. Think back, like, if you had time with him, you're like, this man lived. He didn't waste it. It wasn't like, man, if only he had a few more years, he would have been this. That man lived.
- [43:06]
Charlamagne Tha God
No, he did.
- [43:06]
Major
What's crazy is April 4, when he sent the text. This is a parallel. That's crazy. April 4, when he sent the text to me, that was this. That's the same day that Dr. King passed away. April 4th in history. He passed away on August 28th. Chadwick passed away on August 28th. That's the same day that Dr. King gave the I have a dream speech. It's these parallels where that's not just happenstance. That's divine orchestration. It's divine that I would be included in this group text. This dude does not text. And he's texting from an Android. I hate group text with androids, but I answered and responded to a group text with androids, and I'm going to tell you, shout out to all of you with an Android, but it's disrespectful that you cannot leave the conversation when it gets out of hand because androids mess up. You know? You know what I'm saying?
- [44:07]
Lauren LaRosa
Apple, it's normally the family group chats, too, and they don't know what they talking about.
- [44:10]
Major
Yeah, just saying random stuff. My wife is an androider, but I still love her. But I don't know why I went off on that tangent. But at the end of the day.
- [44:19]
Charlamagne Tha God
Live like people with androids.
- [44:21]
Major
Yeah, just live.
- [44:22]
Lauren LaRosa
Now I see exactly what happened with Beyonce. Your words.
- [44:26]
Major
Yeah, I'll just be. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Chadwick lived.
- [44:32]
Lauren LaRosa
No androids.
- [44:33]
Major
Chadwick had an Android. Jesus Christ. And he still was the greatest to do what he does. And I thank y' all for honoring him the way that y' all have and have.
- [44:44]
Charlamagne Tha God
And you did South Carolina all day, man. Yeah.
- [44:48]
Major
That too. Just literally. You're doing it, too. Just literally. Course. Correcting the narrative of what comes out of the south, what comes out of the country. You know what I mean? Like, we belong, too. And it's. And it's. It's a. It's a beautiful thing, man. I've lived an interesting life. I've lived an interesting life. I'm still at it. But his life inspired me to be intentional with every.
- [45:20]
Charlamagne Tha God
Well, let me ask you a question. This is my final question, right? When you look forward, not just musically, but personally, what kind of man do you want the next chapter of Major to represent?
- [45:33]
Major
I want my legacy to be. He gives what he lives. He lives what he gives. It's enough of just talking and saying all this stuff for the clicks and all this stuff. Live it. If you're about it, be about it. I want to help as many people as I can. That's why when you said, if what you're building only benefits you, it's not big enough. I want to help as many people as I can. I have. You'd be surprised how many careers I've supported. I've helped so many people. I would love for people to give back. So when you kept your word on I got you, that meant everything to me. I'm just. I'm not perfect. I'm a good hearted person. I love everybody and I want everybody to know hope ain't ever canceled. I'm seeing the visual now. I spent some time with Reverend Jackson, and I'm saying this now in the event that I just feel that his days are, you know, I was blessed to have some time with Reverend Jackson a couple months ago. And I was holding his hand in the hospital room and he wasn't saying much, but I said, rev, I'm keeping this hope alive. I'm locked in on this hope thing. And the first words that he said, non stop. And he stood up, Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive. And he's saying his gasping over and over and over. Gigi Dixon was there, his wife was there. And I'm like, God, this moment. You set this up. Because this work is not in vain, man. This work is not in vain. I know sometimes I'm by myself trying to amplify this hope, looking like the cornball that wants to push this thing, but I know it works. People are hurting. I'm an empath. Too many people need this stuff. And so I'm gonna give it and I' ma live it to the best of my ability. Thank y' all for making time for me. Thank you, Major. For real.
- [48:03]
Charlamagne Tha God
Go get the Hope sessions, man. The whole sessions are out right now by my guy, Major, man.
- [48:07]
Major
That's right.
- [48:07]
Charlamagne Tha God
Follow him at now that's major. And go to now that's major.com.
- [48:12]
DJ Envy
Yes, sir, it's major.
- [48:13]
Major
Thank you. The breakfast Club. Good morning Every day I wake up.
- [48:18]
Charlamagne Tha God
Wake your ass up.
- [48:19]
Major
The Breakfast Club we are fit.
- [48:22]
DJ Envy
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Major
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