Full Transcript for Morris Chestnut

couldn't play football anymore. So I was playing high school football and I was in, I was in advanced classes, but I was never doing the work. So I was a C student in all my classes. And I had one of my advanced English classes in 11th grade. We had to do a scene. And I did the scene. My English teacher was like, oh, that was really good. I thought that she was just trying to encourage me to do better, to get better than a C, BIA or whatever. And then, so then I was in 11th grade. Then I graduated my first year in junior college. And then my neighbor down the street, he came to the house one day and was talking. He said, yeah, man. He said, yeah, I was in Mrs. Meadows' class. And he said, we got these scenes and she brought you up. I was like, Mrs. Meadows brought me up? He's like, yeah. And she said that you were one of the best seniors she had seen. And I was like, oh, okay. All right. That's cool. That's cool. And so at that point, I was going to a junior college. Were you playing football at the junior college? I know. So my thing was, for me, was if I never got a scholarship, I wasn't going to try to walk on it. It was done. It was done. Because football is too brutal. You got hell weeks. And it was just a thing to where– you're just not good enough, you know? And so I was looking for something else to do. So my first year in junior college, I was always looking at the occupations manual handbook to where they say, okay, a pharmacist makes 56,000 a year. I was always looking at, then a friend of mine in my English class and not my English class. And yeah, he wasn't my English class. He said, come take them out in this play. So I said, okay, I went and checked them out in this play. And literally I had, this was my second date with this chick. And, um, And I took her to the play and I'm like, he was doing his thing. He was doing his thing on stage. And I'm like, I'm looking at her. She's like mesmerized. Oh, she was into it. She was into it. She was into it. I was like, okay, okay. And then that combined with, you know, my boy down the street telling me that, you know, my English teacher said, I said, okay. So the next semester I, uh, I, I took an acting class in junior college and, um, and just started pursuing it from there. The interests of the woman, um, in said activity. That's always part of it. Always. That's always part of it. We don't come with a woman. Why are we doing it? But, you know, it's funny, too, because the interesting thing, too, because I was, you know, I talked to my mother the other day and I started thinking back And so I was, so I'm not really like of the group of friends that I ever had. I'm never really the one that's like, cause we grew up when bagging, you know, you bag, everybody bag. And I was the one that was trying to instigate. So everybody stay off me. Right. Cause I can have no, I never had no jokes. Right. So I'll be, if you said a joke about him, Oh, so you keep, keep you going. But I was never like the,

the, the kid with the attention, the kid with the jokes, I kind of was just like there, you know, I was, you know, I was, decent football player whatever and then um but when i was talking to my mother the other day i realized that she she was telling me about years when i was in elementary school i did this i did this thing in church you know i just got up and recited something i did it at the last minute i said oh yeah i did do that and then i thought back and me and me and a buddy of mine, but in my elementary school, no, it was junior high school. We did this thing to where we did a dance to Michael Jackson. So I was like, okay, I did, I did do that with him. And then the buddy of mine in high school, we were in like this talent show to Roxanne Roxanne, you know, back in the day. So I was like, I was doing all those- You were finding your way. I was just doing them, but not- Not knowing it was- Not knowing that it was something, yeah. But what really triggered it though, even before I saw my dude in the play that was in my English class, was when he told me, because I really didn't know what I was going to do. You know, I was working at the bank. I thought I was going to have a career in banking. You was the educated brother from the bank. I was working as a bank teller. Well, no, but see, there's something to that though. So when I was working at the bank, so it was right at the time to where, so I have always, thanks to my mother, my mother was a grinder and she always had multiple jobs, but I always had a job that was paying more than minimum wage when I was coming up. I started out with Sears, whatever minimum wage was, I was $ 2 over. And then when I started working at the bank, when the bank was, they were phasing out full-time tellers. So they were phasing out full-time tellers. So instead of the wage being, you know, $ 6 an hour, that's like 15. So, and then back in the day, the banks, when I was coming up, they would close at three, Monday through Thursday and six o'clock on Friday and one on Saturday. So you had, I always had my Friday nights and my Saturday and my whole weekends. And I was making more than just a, you know, just a regular minimum wage job. So yeah, so I was, I was at the bank. So I just figured that I figured that my, I thought I was going to be like a bank manager. I was just going to go up the thing. But then when, yeah, so that's how it happened. And so what is your first acting moment? What is your first, like, once you start getting in this acting class, like what's the first thing you do? Don't tell us. What do they do? What do you do? So me and my boy, so I had a couple of dudes from my acting class. We say, hey, let's try this. You know, we started going out trying to get agents and stuff. And so I got an agent and here's where I knew this is what I wanted to do. So I got an agent and he was sending me out on stuff. And so I went to an audition for A Different World. Now, in this audition, it was in the cafeteria. The girls are at the cafeteria line and I'm back there serving food. And the girls walk by and I was one line. I was supposed to smile and say hi. So I did that in the audition. I smiled and said hi. And so that was it. My agent called me a couple of days later. He says, they want to put you on a veil, which they want to check and see if you're available for those dates. And they said, if you do the job, it's going to pay $ 1, 500 per week, this, that, and the other. All I heard was $ 1, 500. I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I said, how much? I said, $ 1, 500 a week? He said, I said, so he said, yeah, $ 1, 500 per week. You get this, you get that. And I was like, okay. So I'm going to start doing the math. So I'm like, wait a minute, wait a minute. So if I'm saying hi... For $ 1, 500 a week. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What's Dwayne Wayne doing? Right, right. What are they getting? So I said, oh, I got to go after this. And so that was it. That was really what. That was what. So at first we were just kind of having fun. Oh, let's try it. Let's go down to Hollywood. Let's do some stuff. But when I heard that, I was like, oh, yeah, yeah. I got to go after this. So did you land that? They wrote the script. They wrote that rollout. So I did not get that, but they wrote that rollout. I didn't get that. And then, um, and then I just started, I started just auditioning. So I auditioned. And what's the first one you got? So, so what I did was back in the day, they used to have a thing called the drama log. So the drama log every Thursday night, they would have, well, it would come out on Fridays, but they would have like auditions for movies, auditions for, you know, TV shows. Most of it was non-union. So I started booking those. I was booking student films, but the first, my first SAG card was the television version of Nightmare on Elm Street. It was a, it was a TV show that came on at like, 2 o'clock at night, and it didn't have a regular cast. Each episode had a new cast because they would kill the cast. Gotcha. They killed you. They killed me. No, no, no. Yeah, they killed me. You're black, so I know they killed you. That was definitely when they killed me. They killed me. But the episode was about my father, and he was investing in me. I was just a young athlete, and he was investing in me, and because of whatever stuff he had did, they took me from him, so they did kill me. Yeah, but that was my sad card. That was my sad card. So, athlete from the beginning. Athlete from the... Well, yes, because at that time, now, there was a... You know, it was kind of like the gang explosion. Like, a lot of roles were like gang roles. I would never get those. You know, I auditioned, I would never get them. And then, you know, there were a couple things throughout there, but, you know, but when it came to the athlete, you know, I would get those parts. What's a role that... you didn't get that you can remember that people that you might've auditioned

for early on, which could you, could you had it been rocketing colors? No, I wouldn't be rocking colors. I would, I do remember I got close on, there was a Friday, the 13th role brother was in Friday, the 13th. I got close on that role. I didn't get it. And then there were a lot of stuff I auditioned for, but I, you know, that is cause I ended up going to, I mean, everything, when I was first starting out as an actor, everything was just so, I was taking in everything. I remember there were a couple of times when I did go back to a different world. And I'll never forget, when I went to this audition, Martin wasn't Martin yet, but he was there at the audition. And he was in outside, you know, everyone's got their papers outside. And of course, he's holding court with all the commies and everything. So there were roles on a different world that I didn't get. There were a lot of roles that I didn't get. Wow, for sure. Mommy, let's get to the roll. Come on, buddy. We got to go there. You did get. We got to go there. Oh, you got the roll of rolls. Boys in the hood. Boys in the hood. Yeah. Yeah. How? Yeah, you got to walk us through that process, bro. So, you know what? For me, I think it was four years before you and I talked about that. So, what happened was this. So, I had been going... So, I started... So... when I went to that acting class at junior college, it was Long Beach city junior college. So I said, okay, I'm getting some pretty good notices here. So let me go, let me go into Holly closer into Hollywood and see if, you know, see if I, you know, if they think I got it, Marla Gibbs, who was the, who was on two, two, seven and, and the Jefferson's back in the day, she had an acting class that was in Leimert park, right, right in the hood. And so, but, Her thing for the acting class was she had everybody, everybody from TV shows actually teaching the acting class. So I said, you know what? Yes. I said, you know, I got to get in that class. These are people who are working in the industry. I got to get in front of them so they can give me direction of what I need to do. So I started going to I started. It was called Crossroads. I was going to Crossroads in Leimert Park. And then I then I ventured even more into Hollywood. So flip to I get an audition for a movie. And Jackie Brown was the cast director. I go in there, I meet with Jackie Brown. I get the, I get the call back and then they call me back to go and meet the director. I'm like, okay, cool. I got called back before. So, okay, cool. I got to be ready for this call back. So I go in and it's, the director is my age, you know, it's not like this old dude with glasses on just sitting like this. It's like, Hey man, what's up? I was like, Oh, what's up? You know, game boy with everything. Um, and so, you know, I do the audition and, um, with John Singleton, God rest his soul, late great John Singleton. And at the end of the audition, he grabs my hand, says, thanks for coming in. He holds it just a little bit longer. I was like, okay, oh, cool. Okay, cool. So I said, okay, I think he liked me. And then, so then my agent calls and said, hey, they want you to do a screen test. I was like, oh, okay. Now, I hadn't done a screen test before. I'm like, okay, all right. I'm getting closer. I'm getting closer. So a screen test, big high. So I'm thinking I'm going to, you know, and at this time it's just a movie. I don't know it's Columbia. I don't recall. But I just know it's a Hollywood screen test. And so I'm thinking, so where am I going? Am I going to, you know, Warner Brothers? I think you're going to a lot. I think I'm going to a lot. Yeah. And he says, yeah, the screen test is at this place, Crossroads Studio in, you know, Leimert Park. And that's where I had already studied. But at first I was like, Crossroads? Is this a real movie? I mean, why are we going to Crossroads for a screen test? But John, what I didn't know at the time, John wanted to keep everything in South Central. And so I went and it was like home because I had already been working out there at Crossroads. Yeah. And then I did a screen test and got the part. Who are you screening? Who are you testing with? Was it somebody from the movie or just? No, no, it was. So there was a bunch of us around. I don't think I ever I don't recall ever testing with Cuba because in the first. So the first audition for it, we all all the all the male leads read for Cuba's part. And then when I came back, they had me, as Ricky, but I don't recall. I think I just went on there and I just went in there and went on tape. I don't recall screen testing with anybody other than the cast director. I have vivid memories of all of that. I learned, I learned a lot, even just from, I learned a lot from people and about people being around the, uh, going to auditions and hearing people talk and everything, but I learned a lot. Um, but yeah, so I don't, I don't think it was with you. I think it was just with John at that point too. How old are you at this? When you, when you both boys in the hood? I think I'm 18. I think I'm 18. 18, 19. I think I'm 19. I graduated at seven. I graduated high school at 17. And then one, two. Yeah. I'm about, 1920, I think it was 1920, yeah. Yeah. Wow. Give me the feeling when you get the call from your agent and he says, or she says, man, he says, you booked, boys and girls. So at that time, I was honestly happy to book anything. Mm-hmm. I'm just glad to have a job. Yeah. You know, I'm in the union, I'm an actor, and I can say I'm working as an actor. You got a speaking part. You got a speaking part. You're going to get a little bit of money. But, so when they ran down the list of who was in the movie, so back then, when I did Boys in the Hood, movies were huge. Movies had huge movie stars. You had Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and all the big movies that people were going to the theater to see had huge movie stars. So... I'm saying, okay. So, wait a minute. Okay. So,

yeah, some people know Ice Cube. Okay. But this other dude that lead, this Cuba dude, nobody know him. I mean, Cuba had holding deals, but the world didn't know Cuba at the time. Right. And then Amelie in the movie. And then, yeah, I mean, this guy Fishburne was in a movie when he was a young kid. And then he was in Pee Wee's Playhouse. So, I'm literally thinking it's like, look, I'm just glad I have a movie. I don't know if anybody's going to see this. but I'm just glad to be in the movie. And then no one knew who Nia was. No one knew who Angela was. No one who knew Regina was. It was just one of those things to where it's like all these people were. So I'm just glad to be working and being in the movie. Breaking new stars. Yeah, he broke new stars, but I didn't realize that at that time because in addition to that, there was an 18-year-old, 19-year-old, 20-year-old kid that's directing the movie. That's directing the movie that I went to the screen test at Crossroads in Leimert Park. So it was like... It was just one of those things where I wasn't thinking of it at the time. But what, for me, I was taking that as a learning experience as well. So when I was on set, it was a situation where I was just trying to learn and see how things are done. And I'll never forget, so we were in a double banger. So a double banger is, there's the trailers that have two rooms on them. You got double bangers, you got singles, you got triple bangers, all that. But a honey wagons. But Cuba's room was right next to mine. And it was to the point to where, because Cuba had, he had done TV shows. He had done MacGyver and stuff like that. He was on a holding deal at the studio. So he was way far ahead of where I was. And I was always asking him questions. I was always asking him questions. And when you're in a double banger, you could hear like, If I'm in my room, I can hear if your door opens and you're coming out. So every time Q was door open, I'd come out. I was just happy to be there. What's up, man? Where you at? Oh, you craft stuff? I'm going there, too. Right? And I'll never forget one time. One time, I was in my trailer. Q was door open. I came out. He came, he went back. He's like, I can't deal with this cat today. But it was just one of those things to me where I was just, I was just so just happy to be there. Just so just, because I've done a lot of independent movies and movies that will never see the light of day. And I was just happy to be in a movie. And y'all were in the middle of the hood. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh yeah, yeah. We actually shot in LA, South Central. Yeah, for real. How was that as far as like, right, because we all come from wherever we come from and it changes. It's insane. Like the community changes when things are going on from a video shoot to a movie set. So I know there were people hanging around. There were people just not realizing that they're in the way, but being in the way. Yeah. So that did happen. So we had people on set and John was from the area. So he had people there on set to help us. But it really was after, you got to remember, nobody knew us. So after it's like, oh, y'all doing a movie? And I could be standing right there. Who, you know, oh, this dude's in a movie? Oh, okay. All right, I'm out. They go and do something else because you're not seeing any stars. You're seeing somebody on a set, you know. But they did want to see Ice Cube, though. You know, Ice Cube was still, he was Ice Cube at the time with N.W.A. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. At any point while you're shooting this movie, does it click for you at any point that you're doing something special? Mm-hmm. Or you're just you're just in it while I'm shooting. Yes. Not one time. Not not one single time. Because, again, no one was in the movie that, you know, there were huge. I'm telling you, there's when movies were huge at the time, you know, and they had huge stars and none of us were huge at the time. And then it was. And to me, it was just like, I'm learning. Okay. And what, what can I get next? You know, what's the next thing I'm gonna do after that? So I was always, I've always been trying to say, what can I get after this? Let me learn here and see what the next thing is going to the next. So at no point did I think the, did I think the movie was going to be big, you know, and matter of fact, I never forget my agent called me at the time. He goes, yeah, that, that the movie that you did, you know, it's going to be in a, in a, in a, in a cam film festival, a calm film festival. I was like, I said, where is that? He said, oh, it's in France. I said, it's in France. I said, damn, they gonna short here though, right? Not even knowing that that's a huge deal. Yeah, they got to short here because I got to- They gonna play that match down at the theater, right? At that time, they don't even know what France is. Exactly. France, right here on the map. I'm telling you, man. What they doing over there? Exactly. I'm not even knowing. So I'm like, dang, yeah. So I was like, yeah, yeah, you guys can have it here, but- You know, so, oh, okay. Cool. So I didn't even know. Yeah. I gotta ask you a question, though. Because if I don't, my whole neighborhood is going to be mad at me. Why didn't you zigzag? He made a post about that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. People ask me that all the time. The hood is going to be mad at me, man. I have to ask. He was fast. Yeah, I was fast. Listen, man. I was doing what they told me. And now, listen, trust me. I remember those scenes. You know, I remember those scenes for different reasons. But, I mean, I had a really good time, you know, with those scenes. Because, you know, it was fun. Got the run. But that particular scene was nerve-wracking because... So they put these squibs on you, which are basically mini explosives to make it seem like you got shot. Okay. So again, my first movie. So I had a squib here and I had a squib here. Yeah. So the stunt guy and explosive guy, you go, okay,

come on. So here's what you're going to do. So we're going to put this here and then, you know, we're going to hit this button over here and it's going to explode. It's going to pop out. And then we're going to put one, then one's here because I got the stuff on. He said, now make sure. make sure you don't hold your head down because it's going to explode. You got to keep your head up. And so I'm like, okay. All right. All right. So, so I remember trying to focus on it. You got cameras going. I was like, Oh, I cannot mess this up. And I can't look down while I'm running because I'm having this. So it was a lot of things like that going on. And then, um, I think we did that like two or three times. And then the next, it was like, it was literally, it was two, like two days later. wearing syrup and food coloring all over my clothes, which was the most uncomfortable thing in the world. But, you know, it was just still fun to be on a movie set. Yeah. Bro, like, that movie is etched in my childhood. You know what I mean? Because we all grew up with friends who maybe died too early. Yeah. You know what I mean? For whatever reason. I think the tough part for me was that your character didn't survive, right? Because I think it was very much realistic, but it was a reminder of how hard it is to get out. And I think some of us were looking for the fairy tale story of, oh, he becomes a star athlete or he goes to college. Like, I mean, I guess just the wild part of me was like, all right, well, I guess he got his boy some cheeks. you know what I mean like he definitely used you he definitely used you dying to get some cheeks I don't think he was gonna get no cheeks no other way that and the punching she was like man I might. 00:29:06 Speaker 2: As well he going through it you know what I mean so but and it was you know I think looking back on I think as a kid me watching it I was like it was cool to see the homie, you know, that worked at the mall, you know, go off to college or whatever he was supposed to do. 00:29:22 Speaker 1: But like, I really wanted to see the star athlete get to the bag and really, you know what I'm saying? Like maybe change the community a little bit, but that was the tough part. That was bittersweet for me. It was like, damn man. Like, yeah, you know, some people do make it out, but you really hope that that person with that talent get out. Get out. Right. You know what I'm saying? It's just, you know, my own hood fairy tale. Yeah. Right. You know? Right, right, right, right. It burst a hell of a bubble for sure. Man, bro. It was true. I think that was, I think that was like, from a movie standpoint, like that was the first real piece of trauma. Yeah. No, that couch scene. That couch scene, bro. Yeah. Oh, man. I'm talking like, we were in the theater sick as kids. Sick. I couldn't audit that. That played in my mind often because it's just where we're from, bro. And One or two bad decisions that probably aren't even yours. Mm-hmm. Yep. Yeah. Can change the outcome. Yeah. For everybody. Yeah. Everybody's life. And it's funny that you mentioned that too, because so after I did, so I did my pretty nightmares. I told you it came on at like two o'clock in the morning. One time I was out, I got recognized. I was like, Oh, someone recognized me. But after that, of course, it was when boys and hood came out and I was in this gym and And I was in the gym in Long Beach. And, you know, I was working out with one of my boys. But it was one of these gyms. At the time, you know, people keep to yourself, you know, in the gym. And then one of the brothers in the gym came up. We've never talked to nobody. Very, you know, just, you know, he's a strong brother, built brother, whatever. And he came up to me. He's like, yeah, you was in that movie. I saw that movie. He said, yeah, man, I cried in that movie. He said, I cried. And I was like, wow. Because he was one of these cats that was very stoic all the time in the gym, just getting it. I was like, wow. So I was thinking, like, this is kind of powerful. And then, you know, all the other people started telling me about it. So I was like, yeah, so to that point, it touched a lot of people. A lot of people. Absolutely, bro. Good work, brother. Thank you, man. All you guys, man. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cube was... incredible Cuba should Cuba's great Cuba should I think Cuba should have got nominated me personally but yeah it was a good movie yeah for sure for sure no he did a this is when you you know you always and I think as black people too like we always kind of like audit things like oh well this wasn't this and that I can't find that in Boys in the Hood I couldn't personally I couldn't find anybody's character I was like well why they cast such and such you know what I mean that movie just felt like everybody was cast in the right parts you know what i mean and the movie was just it was amazing bro thank you man and to that point i want to just give a shout out to to john i true john i think is truly just a genius when it comes to that because for sure you know even in that film because even while we were filming it was like he like had his game boy or whatever it was at that time maybe it was a game boy or whatever the handheld game and he'd be like okay action and you watch the scene. Okay, do that. And while it's set up, he's going right back to his game boy. But he knew in the casting process who he was hiring, who he was putting together. because, you know, it's just amazing for all, I mean, Nia, Cube, Fish, Angela, Regina, all of us still be working today. Everybody became something serious. Ice Cube. Ice Cube. Everybody became something serious. Yep, yep, yep. So he knew, he had a vision. He had a vision for that. For real. For sure. You know, the great thing, man, and I think that obviously as I got older and then you actually did become the star football player. Yes, that's true. You know what I mean? That's true, that's true.

Connecting your movies has been like, huh. That's true. That's a great, that's a great segue. You know what I mean? That's really good. You know. I like that. That's good. Yeah. It was cool to see, like, and I'm sure as creatives and the writers and directors, I'm sure when they were writing these movies later on, they were like, oh, Yeah. That's how to put these pieces together. Yeah. You know what I mean? And with some of the same castmates. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, yeah. Knee along. Knee along. Yeah. And you know what I mean? Like it's, it's, it just started to connect, but bro, another classic. The best man, bro. Classic. Yeah. Yeah. The best man we got to see, Ricky, he changed his name to Lance. This is when I had my first beef with him though. Over best man? I didn't know him yet. Why, you auditioned with a best man? But I had a beef with her. Did you audition? No, I didn't audition. Okay. Okay, I didn't audition. I got to know what the beef is then. But I'm sitting in the movie with, you know, with a particular young lady. Oh, okay. Okay, what do you think? And, you know, we're watching a movie, you know what I'm saying? Best man, you know what I'm saying? Go see the good movie, you know what I'm saying? Date night, you know what I'm saying? I'm going to probably get something after. It's a date night movie. You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah. And so there's the scene in the club bar or whatever, and Ann comes walking around. Lance Sullivan. Lance Sullivan. And all I hear is When I say every woman in this theater losing their mind. Yeah. And the girl next to me, she was trying to hold it in. Yeah. But it slipped out. I said, mmm. I feel like he had one of these type of outfits on, too. No, he had them in the trench. In the trench, yeah, in the trench. I don't know how many. He was waved up. It's part of the same closet, though. It's part of the same closet. I looked at her and said, you all right? You need something? Can he help you with something? That's hilarious. I play football. That was one of those moments where as a celebrity or as a star, you know what I mean, in whatever space you're in, You want that kind of walk-in love. Yeah. Whether you walking in the club, you know what I'm saying? Whether you walking on stage, wherever. That's the kind of love every man dreams about. You just walked in and it went crazy? Yeah. What? That's another role that almost didn't happen to, though. Yeah. So Malcolm didn't write me for that part. I had to audition for that part. And it's funny how things happen. So people think I worked all the time, but what happened was after I did Boys in the Hood, I did a TV show. Now back then, I did a sitcom, no less. So back then, you either did movies or TV shows, right? There was no going back and forth, but I had an agent at the time and me not knowing anybody in the industry. I had an agent at the time. I was like, he just wanted to get me to get me working, get me working. So he put me into, uh, to the sitcom. Then it got canceled. And then there was a drop here. So I said, man, I said, and I was going to auditions. I wasn't really booking. And so I said, uh, I gotta get better. So I went to an acting class and I was working on some technique in the acting class, but So came time to audition for the best man, audition for the best man, got a call back. I think I got, I think I had to come back twice and then I got the job. But what I found out later, and we talk about this all the time. So it was me getting that role was between me and another actor. This actor was much taller than I was. And Malcolm wanted that role to be physically imposing. And Malcolm Lee, the director, of course. And so I hadn't heard from him in a while. What I later found out was he was debating between me and this other actor and his wife, Camille. Thank you, Camille, for giving me the role. His wife said, Malcolm, you better go ahead and cast Morris. And then the rest is history. So I thank Camille for that. Great. Wow. Yeah. Incredible movie, bro. Incredible movie. And another movie that took people to another level. Oh, man. A million percent. You know what I mean? Cast very well. Yeah. Cast very well. And again, so from Boys in the Hood, Cuba went on to win an Oscar. Of course, Angeline Fish did too. But then from The Best Man, Terrence went on to get nominated for an Oscar and All of us are still working to this day, so it was a great eye by Malcolm Lee who just put all the pieces together. You've been part of pieces that, like, when they come on, you don't turn away from them. Oh, yeah. Thank you. No more. To this day. Thank you. I'm unfortunate. Do you feel like doing The Best Man, though, is what kind of took you into this space of, for lack of a better term, of heartthrob? What it did was... Was that the movie that, now, you being outside, changed? That, so... Yes. So when I did Boys in the Hood, people would recognize me and notice me and come up to me. But yeah. So what what the best man did, this was the first time I had experience. I was doing I did think I was in Baltimore. I was in Baltimore doing some Ray Lewis at the time. And the best man was out and I went to a mall and I'm just, you know, normally. Yeah. And it was and it was crazy. That was the first time that and then I had I've had I had other. actresses who were slightly older would come and say, oh, you know, you can be my leading man. So that was the role. So that was that was the role that I think people people took me. They started not thinking of me as Ricky, but thinking of me as a leading. man. Yeah. For sure. The mall Tess. Listen, that is what happens in music. Oh, really? What? You seen your artist in the mall. You went to the mall not knowing. Yeah. I went to the mall. Looking for it. Looking for it. Let me see. Let me see what it do. Check my temperature. Check my temperature. I learned that from Genuine. Yeah, I'm hot. Oh, is that right? He

was the mall man. Oh, really? What? Every time he went to the mall, I went. Shit. really i carried all the footlocker bags and got fake jewelry at the kiosk that's hilarious yeah that's um it's so it's so many things brothers uh two can play at that game yeah yeah yeah um The brothers. Brothers was crazy. The brothers. That was a fun one. That was a fun one. Yeah. Yeah. Worked with me. Classics, bro. What do you attribute, right, your longevity to? So it's a couple things. I won't say it's just one thing. So I think that... Okay, part of it is that when you go from Ricky and you have Lance, in those powerful movies, I was the character in the movie that everyone was rooting for. Like you said, you wanted Ricky to see. And movies are powerful. You go in there with that dark screen and no distraction from your phone and all you can see. So people root for me. They were rooting for, you know, they're rooting for Lance and the best man. Oh, is he going to get through the wedding? And, you know, and they can relate. So I think I've had these characters that people really kind of root for. But in addition to that is I always still try to get better, try to get better every time out, still see acting coaches and things of that nature. And then I think first and foremost for me, which I think has taken me further than anything, is I've always treated people with respect, regardless of what level that they are. You could be a PA on a movie set or a TV show or the head of the studio. I'm cool and cordial with everybody. And I think that that has taken me a long way. And it's not a calculated thing. It's just who I am. But that has gone... that's gone. Cause I've looked back on things to where it's different. Even when I was at these, you know, different agencies and I was still cool with, you know, the, uh, the desk guy at the agency and we, you know, friends. And then when he comes up, he's, you know, Hey, Mo, come over here. We want to take care of you and help me get jobs. And even, uh, you know, PAs, you know, they go from being a PA to a huge writer or showrunner. Hey, Mo, can you, so that, that, that's carried me a long way because, uh, Quite frankly, a lot of people in this industry, in our industry, they don't have respect. They just really get on sets and they really just focus on themselves. I don't blame anybody for the way that they act. Plus, you get on a movie set or a TV show and they're catering you for everything. Sometimes people just You know, people just take it differently. You still got to have some humility. Yeah. And I've seen it with you with my own eyes, right? Like I was, before we started filming, I was like, man, the last time I saw you, you shut my sister's way. You know what I mean? I'm like, all right, meet and greet. But no, but how, how accommodating you were to everyone that was there and all of my sister's friends and my, you know, my family members who, you know, they're like, oh, this is, that's more chestnut wedding or not. I need my picture. You know what I'm saying? But just how you handled it. And I just had, it made me have even more respect for you. You know what I mean? Because I've seen people in those same situations get funny style. Yeah. Yeah. And to that point for me, you know, when it, when it comes to people have supported me throughout all these years. Yeah. Um, I always make that a priority for them because trust me, there have been numerous times, numerous times where, you know, I'm taking a red eye, you know, I get in on a red eye. All you want to just get to the hotel and go to sleep and be, Hey, can I get a picture? Hey, and I'll do it anyway. And because that's the only chance they may get to meet someone that they've been supporting for all these years. They've been watching this movie, that TV show, time and time again. And truly, I mean, and I know this may be cliche, but without the fans, we ain't nothing. We are absolutely nothing. So for me... I make it, I make a priority to, you know, okay, I'll do the picture. Even though a lot of times I don't, not a lot of times, but there are moments where it's really hard for me to do it, but I do it anyway. I'm human. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah, for sure. I think range is a great part of it too. Great conversation. Talk to me about Watson. Oh, oh yeah. So Watson, Watson was a, was a very, very challenging job. You know, I played doctors before. Um, this one was a little different in the sense that we're working with a lot of rare medical conditions and, um, and just the way the whole thing, the whole show worked out. So I met with the producer, uh, on a general and he literally, he was like, he was running down this, like he said, he's a big producer, uh, And he had a lot of shows going, a lot of stuff in development. So he said, this is what we got in development. And he's like, yeah, we got this show about this doctor who was in the Sherlock Holmes universe. And I just said, I never thought that they would come to me with that. And because it was Sherlock Holmes universe, it was TV, and I didn't think they were going to do it. I didn't think they would make the character black. And so then about six months later, I got the call. I got the call, hey, they're interested in you for... You know, the Stevie show. Yeah. And and I went and did it. You know, it was great. I loved it. I love this show. I love the cast. It's a very it's a very cerebral show. It's a show that you really have to pay attention to. And I think that's part of the I think that's part of the challenge is why we only got two seasons, because it's not a show they can just turn on in the background and follow it. if you miss certain aspects of the first and second act, you're kind of lost for the third act. Yeah, but it was, that show right there, it was a very, very difficult show, but it was definitely rewarding. And speaking of more range, you're also a lawyer. I can't wait to get to this part. Show called Reasonable Doubt. Oh,

yes. Yes. You know what? All I can say is this. I do want to talk about this. You got to see it. You got to see it because, okay, so I literally, so when you do a network show, it is, I mean, it's grueling. You know, it's grueling, especially when you're the lead of a network show. You really don't have a life because you're filming all week. On the weekends, you're just going over lines, going over lines, going over lines. We did 20 episodes, second season. So I was coming to Reasonable Doubt. I'm on fumes when I come to Reasonable Doubt. I'm on fumes. And I know who's in the show, and I know who's in the show. I know Sir Tank is in the show. And so I'm like, okay, cool, cool, cool. So... My very first scene of shooting this season of Reasonable Doubt is with Tank. Oh, that's dope. But see, here's the part about it. So I was on Reasonable Doubt for a couple seasons before. And I know the whole routine. But I'm telling you, when I say I'm exhausted, I'm really, really tired. And I'm there. I'm on set. Tank got great energy, you know, great energy when I come to set. But that's not what does it. What gives me, literally, what gives me, what gives me like, what gives me like, oh, we own something. His first scene that you and I saw the other day, the scene that I did with Tank, I just, I just watched him the whole time because he carried the scene. And he carried the scene and did an incredible job. I'm like, Oh, so this is what we're doing. This is what we're doing. Okay. But that was important. So, again, and I say this. So, again, he killed me in the scene. Cut it out. He did. He killed me in the scene. He killed me in the scene because throughout the whole season, though, I'm a team player, but throughout the whole season, him and Emi Asi, their dynamic and what he brings, it really makes me excited to see the scene. That day gave me really, because I was exhausted. I was really exhausted throughout the whole time, but I was like, oh, okay, because Tank can go. I'd never seen him act before. That was my first time. So he is Denzel Jr. Jr. Yeah, he could be. He could be. No, no. Listen, and listen. Ah! From the chestnut himself. I might have some. People know, I don't just say things. I don't just say things like, Me personally, I just don't say things instead of saying something just to say it. Very talented actor. Very talented actor. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the stuff we talked about that he did when I wasn't there. But from, I'm telling you, Most of the scenes, you know, him and Emi Ashi were just, you know, shitting on me all day. They were going after Corey, but I really did enjoy, like that scene, I really did enjoy watching Tank do his thing. And then watching them together, I was really a spectator in most of the scenes with them. And it was like very impressive, very impressive. Because Emi Ashi, I think, I'd say Cuba should have won or been nominated for an Oscar. I think Emi Ashi should be nominated for an Emmy for this season. 100%. Yeah, 100%. Oh, man, I'm excited. Listen, I'm not lying. You should be. He kills it. I'm not just saying that. He does a great job. A great job. I think I even told him a couple times, man. I said, man, you're doing your thing. We was on the set and I was like, I didn't sleep that night. Because. You was excited? I'm about to sing with Morris. You know what I'm saying? We even know I'm Morris. I'm on a Sunday. You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? I'm going to hang out with him. And I'm like, I'm getting ready to be in a scene with Morris Chestnut. Yeah. I'm like, shit. I was in the trailer when I was putting makeup on. It's like, you feel good? I feel great. It's going to be great. And then he just comes walking on set. And you know just that walk-in? He got the walk-in. He got the walk-in, man. Anybody ever offer you a record deal? For the walk-in, huh? Just put together some compilation of walk-in music for Morris Chestnut. He walked on set with his suit on and his tablet and all your... That's it. There he go. That's him. But I got to say, though, too, because it was like I was telling you the other day. So for me, when we did the scene, you can't really talk. I don't want to talk too much about it for the cameras because I'm not sure when it's going to be out. It's going to be out after or before? Before. Before. Because we're October 6th. Yeah, before. Okay, before. So I'm not going to say exactly too much. But when we did the scene, the audience, I didn't want my character to get upset. And you guys will understand the dynamic between me and this cat. I mean, this cat, I'm really excited for people to see him. So I didn't want my character to be upset. I didn't want him to be able to get me to do that. And then the way the scene ended, Dang. I got to give it up. I got to give it up. And it was killing me. It was killing me. And then one time I did a take. One time I did a take and I pulled, you probably didn't know this. One time I did a take and I pulled it back. I pulled back whatever we had. I pulled it back and then Anton came over to me and he's like, yeah, Rama liked it the other way. So I was like, okay, all right, cool, cool, cool. I think that energy, people are going to understand the energy and people are going to realize like, Morrison actually fight. Well, no, I'm telling you what people don't realize. Yeah. This man got talent, man. I'm really, I'm really excited to see. Cause I think, I think, I think what he, what he does in, in, in this, I think a lot of great things are coming for real. Yeah. That's dope. And it sounded like you kicked his ass, but whatever. I'm just listening. I'm talking about like his energy. He gave some different energy. I mean, listen, y'all don't say too much. Yeah. Yeah, I wasn't saying too much. You see it. When you see it, I sound like Tank got his ass kicked, but whatever. And honestly, look, normally, normally like in situations, so like when you tell

people, when you tell people, one of the things why I don't like talking to people when you go to a movie, you tell people, oh, that movie was so great, so great. You go to a movie, it's like, Okay, it was good, but it wasn't that. Or you tell people, oh, that movie was horrible. It was garbage. You can go on with the expectations. Okay, it wasn't that bad. I don't mind saying that with this because when they see the overall, when they see the overall, the way he did, there's no way not to be impressed by it, for sure. No, that's great. I can't wait. Yeah, yeah. No, no. It's going to be entertaining. It's going to be entertaining. But I got to ask you something real quick. Uh-huh. Because I don't, you know, listen, I'm getting older, so I don't know if I'll ever get my chance. But People Magazine, most beautiful man in the world, brother. Most handsome man. What do they call it? Is it beautiful? Is it handsome? Sexiest man alive. I don't know if I've been called that, man. Never. So, you know, like I said, I'm getting older, so my clock might be running out on People Magazine. Bro, when... They call you and tell you that you're considered the most, what is it? One of them? No, no, no, no, no. I wasn't the most. Nah, bro. I was in the book. Nah, fuck all that. You being humble. You on the R.B. Money Park. We're going to say you was the one. Right? When they call you and tell you you're the sexiest man in the world, what do you say to your wife? You say, hey, baby, you married right. You did the right thing. I can say this. I mean, the one thing about my wife is that, so my wife, we're the same age. but she literally looks like she's like 25. And she's never had, there's no point, there's that no point that I can flex on her because she, she always gets attention. She is the flex. She is the flex. She always gets attention. She always, she always on me. But to respond to that, honestly, so in this industry, the one thing that I personally have never forgotten is who I was before. before I came into the industry. Now, growing up in elementary school, high school, I always had girls. I always had girls, but I didn't have like, oh, this is the, the baddest chick at this school is this chick. I never got her. I would get the one beneath her. So I always, the one thing, so for me, it's always been the one thing I never focused on in this industry Is the adulation and what people are saying, because I've seen it in the past with other people. You get so focused on what people are saying and then you're you're you are controlled by that. You need them to say something, but then if they don't say something, then you feel bad. And me knowing that this is the acting game. It's not a modeling game. All that stuff is great. The way I see it, whatever gets me my next job. If people want to pigeonhole me and see me as the leading man, the heartthrob, or whatever, great. But what I need to do is I need to focus on the work. Because I see people who come and You know, they just want to just focus on just being the good-looking guy. And they're so focused on that, they don't really focus on the work. And then, you know, it's harder to get work. Yeah. And they don't end up on the Walk of Fame. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, because there's that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah, that was fortunate. Yeah, that was fortunate. No, that was on my mother, though. That was all my mother. That was all my mother right there. You keep a— you do your best to keep. steady amongst amidst everything that you know is up and down and turbulent with all of this like you do a great job like every conversation every conversation we've had like you're you're and the other part too that i think is great too is that you're always you're always looking for more answers more information a million percent always a million percent and we'd be on set man he just I was picking his brain about a lot of stuff. Yeah. And I'm like, I'm like, okay, that's the other part to where your cells are just going to keep regenerating. You keep looking young is because you, you, you're still a student. I'm a student of a couple of things. I'm a, I'm a student of life, you know, because you're always learning. And the one thing with tank, and again, the one thing with tank is tank is a true artist with a wealth of, knowledge and resources. I normally don't talk that much, especially when someone's enrolled. Luckily we were in the courtroom scene. You know, I wasn't doing that when we were in the other scenes, but maybe it was in the courtroom scenes when we were listening. That was my opportunity to really talk to you and ask you all those questions because Tank has a lot. Tank has a lot. He got a lot in the tank, you know what I'm saying? He got a lot in the tank. So I was just trying to draw for him. And then even hearing, you know, his perspective on things and, And that is me. I'm always just inquisitive. You know, I'll never forget one time I was walking down the street. I was walking down the street. It was in New York. And I was walking down the street. A whole bunch of people on the street. There was this, unfortunately, it was a homeless person. You know, just, you know, he was laying on with the blanket and everything. And just as I was walking by, he was like, what did he say? People should never get married. And I said, okay. I kind of slowed down and paused because I wanted to hear his perspective on why he thought people should never get married. married. Because for me, again, you know, I've learned so much in life. And the main thing I know is I damn sure don't know everything. You know what I mean? And I'm always still learning it. Anybody can teach you something, whether it's the homeless man on the street or it's a five-year-old kid. Anybody with a different perspective on the world or any subject can teach you something. So that's why I'm always listening for things. Always. Yeah. They're very inquisitive. We got something for

you to listen to. Okay. You know what I mean? We got some jams. Okay. Okay. Oh, yeah. Oh, I thought that was going to be something. It's going to be something. Brother Morris Chestnut. The Black Superman, as we call you. The soundtrack to our lives. Music has been in all of your movies. But I also know that you love movies, music, I'm sorry, music to your soul. And the people want to know. What they want to know. Here on the RB Money Podcast. Come on. What is your top five? Okay. Your top five. Yeah. Yeah. Top five. Your top five. Come on. R & B singers. R & B songs. We've got to know. Before you go. We're on this show. For the most they want to know. In your top five. Yes. Come on, dog. Right, right, right, right, right. Top five. Your top five. Yeah. All right, all right, all right. Fresh about to rain. Come on, dog. So that's a very tough question. Let me set you up, Mo. Let me set you up. Okay. Fresh out the rain. You got to cut. Your top five R & B singers. Okay. Yeah. So does this include groups? Whatever you want. Okay. You more as chestnut, brother. Okay. Okay. So I thought about this. knowing I was coming on the show. So different artists have different meanings because some of the artists, I enjoy their work, but some of the artists really, really resonated with me when I was growing up. So, and coming up in the game. So what a lot, so I'll say, and this is in no particular order. Okay. So the first one I will say, so going back to the story with the bank, so this is a quick story. So when I was at the bank, I asked my manager at the bank, Hey, can I go for this audition? So, Oh, of course they love me at the bank. Oh yeah, you can do whatever time you need to go for your audition. Cool. So I went for the audition. I came back and she was like, um, a couple of days later, she goes, Hey, did you ever get that part? I was like, no, no, I didn't get the part. And she goes, well, listen, when you're done with the acting thing, you know, we, we, we love you here. You can stay here. I was like, okay, thank you. But, I thought to myself, I was still young. I'm like, when I'm done with the acting thing, you know, they don't, she don't think I'm gonna make it. And it was a very, it was a comment that was very innocuous. She didn't mean anything by it. She was just trying to be nice. And so that at that point is when I knew I would never tell anybody that I had an audition if I didn't have to. I would never even tell people I was in the industry. To this day, numerous people around me, close to me, be like, we don't know what you're calling me. We don't know we're not going to have a show out until we see it on TV. Because I just don't tell people. But that being said, going to top five artists, one of my top artists is, and I'll bring it full circle, is Anita Baker. So one of the reasons why Anita Baker, so when I was going on these auditions, And when I wasn't getting these parts, so you go on these auditions, especially being young, you put yourself out there. You auditioning for these people and you really want it and you really want it. And, you know, it's all emotional. Some roles are emotional, some auditions, but it was always exhausting. And then when I wouldn't get them, of course, I would get down. So what I used to do a lot back then is I would have songs, R & B songs, be my positive affirmation to me. So when I would, I would basically sing the songs to myself and I was a huge Anita Baker fan. And, and one of my songs by her was the best thing yet, because at the end of it, you know, she would have this, this whole power. You're so wonderful. You're so beautiful. It was a positive, positive affirmation over and over again. And so Anita Baker with numerous songs, but, Anita Baker's one of them, for sure. Got you through them tough times. Anita and a few people, but Anita, I would listen to Anita a lot. I would go to my car. Even when I would go to auditions, I knew I didn't do a good job. And then, you know, no one in the world. I mean, there's so many songs by Anita. I would just listen to and just sing to myself that would keep me going because I couldn't talk to anybody. So Anita's one, one of them. Even going back... So this is a group that I courted my wife to their first album. We would always listen to the first album way back in the day, and it was Jodeci. As you should. Come on. Jodeci. You court with that. You can't do no wrong. You can't do no wrong. Jodeci. And that was just on repeat, repeat, repeat. Cassette, CD, repeat, repeat, repeat. Always playing it. So, so, so Jodeci is, is one. And then I would have to go in terms of, in terms of R & B. I got to go for the songs that resonated throughout my life. And I always, of course, the songs that resonate with me the most are the ones that I apply to what I'm going through in my life. And Boys and Men has some really strong songs. Come on. Come on. That, that, that would resonate. That's three, right? Yeah, that's three. That's three. Now, the next one is a very honest, it's very honest. It's not no lie or nothing. The next one, it would be Tank. Come on. And it's no lie. So you got some songs. I'm not going to say which ones they are. You got some songs that really resonated with me. Really, I was a huge, I'm a huge fan. Really resonated with me at moments. And the one thing that, one thing that I loved about Tank's music that, that I don't know if, I don't know if you could do it today. There was so much vulnerability in your songs. You know what I'm saying? In a sense to where, you know, I don't know, I guess, you know, I guess the younger generation now feels like if a dude is vulnerable, he's a simp or whatever they call it. You know what I'm saying? But back in our day, that's what we would do. All the songs were about that. All the songs were about that. And that's what I read. So Tank has a few songs that are like a really heavily played, like really heavily played. I never told you that, but that's true.

I feel like that's coming back though too though. Cause there are certain artists that are, I feel like the ones that are the most vulnerable of the younger artists are having the most success. Young fellas like Rod Wave. Yeah. Oh, I'm not familiar with him. Oh, you got to tap into him. Oh, really? He sings, but it's leaning more toward, it feels like rap music, but he's singing. Okay. But it's very emotional. Is it R & B? Or is it hip hop? It is. It is. It's like hip hop and R & B. It toes the line of melodic rap. Yeah, it's melodic rap. Okay. Okay. But it's very emotional. It's emotional. And he's speaking his truth. Yep. Speaking is true. Or even a Brett Fias. You know what I mean? I haven't heard of him. Oh, you got to tap in, bro. Don't worry, we'll put you in. So where are they playing these cats now? I mean, that's another thing that's hard. Yeah, now it's like you got to kind of kind of find and discover these things. You know what I'm saying? These young fellas are doing arenas, though. Are they really? Oh, yeah. I'm just out of touch because on, you know, whenever you go to Pandora or whatever, you put in your artist in a similar song, so it's all from my generation. I'm not really sure who the dude got. And, you know, I got you guys. Well, I got Chris on there, too, but I still haven't heard them on his either. Oh, yeah. You probably don't know if you heard them. I don't know if I heard them? Yeah. Okay. You probably heard some Brent on there. You definitely heard some Brent on Chris. Oh, really? Okay. So I'm going to start paying more attention to that. It's starting to connect, man, with that younger generation. And obviously, you know, I got a 19-year-old son, so I'm hearing what he's playing, too. I'm like, oh. You and your feelings. I like this. I see it coming around. Okay. Okay. And I got one left. And there are a lot of, let me just say this. There are a lot of honorable mentions because I'm an R & B. I love all R & B. But the one that's left is the one. And I'm not considering Michael and all those cats. I think it's more pop or whatever. Do that. Huh? Let Morris be Morris, man. Is that bad? No, I'm not saying it's bad. You said he could be Morris. Mike is one of us, brother. He's R & B. No, he is. He's just the most popular R & B guy. You consider Michael's music R & B? Yes. Okay. Yes. I just consider it to be so high level and more palatable for the world that they just bought into it. But that is... from a singing standpoint, from the musicianship to the live musicians, that is R & B music to me. Quincy Jones did jazz and R & B. And when he did Michael Jackson, they did R & B at the highest level. This is my opinion of it. No, no, no, no, no. I can respect that. I'm thinking that... I can say this. PYT? I can say this. I am... probably one of the, everyone can probably say this, probably one of the biggest Michael Jackson fans ever. He is, he will, is, and will always be my favorite entertainer ever. I love this music. His

music had, for whatever reason, didn't resonate with me. Even like, With some Hank song. Right. When you say Anita Baker and that type of thing, is there a different feeling connected to it? A million percent. Because like I say, look, I have moments with, you know, me and my boy, we singing Michael, but it's not, it's not, you know, and I love Michael Jackson, but it's not resonating with like those songs. It just doesn't for me. Now, great songs. PYT is great. I can probably... I can't sing it, but I can try to break down the lyrics for you right now, the whole song, forwards and backwards. But it didn't, I can't really think of, and I don't know all of them, but I can't really think of any Michael songs to where I'm going through it and dealing with it, and I'm hearing it on the radio or hearing it on my thing and say, that's what I'm feeling right now. And it hit me right here, just like that. You've been married for a long time, so you probably ain't had your Dirty Diana's in a long time. But see, I think the next artist I'm about to say covers the Dirty Diana. Bring it home, boys. Bring it home. I'm going to bring it home with who I think everyone, well, not everyone says he's a king, but I think he's a top You know, one time. Here's R. Kelly. I think, for me, you know, he, I will say he, in my opinion, he's the top cat. R. Kelly's the top cat. I ain't mad at you. Yeah, I just. Rob is Rob. Your list is incredible. Your list is incredible. voicing me and Joe to see Anita Baker. Kindles. And remember all of these, and all of these, Robert Kelly. All of these, I'm telling you, they have, they have music and multiple songs that really like resonate. For sure. For sure. Top five R & B songs. Songs. Okay. That's going to be, so I got to put again, again, I'll go with, now all of these songs are not, something that just resonated with me is this song. I just said, that's a really nice song. But I got to say, best thing yet, Nita Baker. Yeah. I have to say this song. There was a song. So with me is I always, if there are negative things about an artist, I always just let it go. You know, even if I had a beef with an artist, I'll always let it go because I can still respect what they do. So one of my favorite songs that I had a major part in my life was Crazy Love. by Brian McKnight. Why are you laughing? Now the streets want to know. What's that? I said, because now the streets want to know. What's that? You was meeting with Brian McKnight? Oh, no, no, no. No, everybody knew about it. Well, a lot of people, we knew about it. It just came from the court. I don't have anything outside. We were playing in the league. And of course... A lot of underlined Ds in that league, man. Yeah. So we're playing in the league and now you guys know I'm not a baller, but I would play defense. I can hit occasional shots. Yeah, yeah. So the team that I was on, they would always, they were, whoever was on the other team, like one time I had to go on air and they were like, yo, go in there and shut Aaron down. It didn't happen. You was Tony Allen. Yeah, I was Tony Allen. I was Tony Allen. And so, this was like the last public outburst I had, I think. But, so, they put me on Brian. And I already knew Brian because we had played somewhere before and You know, Brian, you know, he could play, but he really thought highly of his game, right? And so I think he felt that it was... No, no, he could... No, what? So I really think he felt somewhat disrespected of them putting me on him. The audacity. The audacity of putting me on him. Y'all gonna put Ricky on me? Exactly, exactly. But see, I had already played against him before, but I knew... so brian would never go he couldn't go left yeah it was his right to the jump shot his right yeah was quick as hell you could take it away and he would still go right it was quick as hell but i knew that so we were playing it was an intense game and and he uh he was getting frustrated he was getting frustrated and and it just it just got to a point to where it got to a point I knew he was frustrated because he wasn't scoring like he was normally scoring. Because I was just, I'm like, I'm not moving from your right. I'm going to stay here. You can jab. You can do whatever you need to do. I'm not going nowhere. And then when you do that move, I'm going to step in front of you. And then, you know, it got to the point to where, so he got frustrated. And then he got a little physical. And then the refs, I felt that the refs started giving him calls. You know, they started catering to Brian. So it was just a little, you know, it was just a little, one time he got frustrated and it was just like a little shoving back and forth. And then, and then they teed me up. They teed me up. And I was like, all right, cool. Yeah, tee me up. Go tee me up. You know what I'm saying? Not like you were doing anything to get teed up. I don't know why they did that to me. Listen, I was on it, but I was playing good defense on it. I was playing good defense on it. But it was just one of those things to where, you know. He got chippy. It got chippy. It got chippy. And like I said, I don't have any beef with them. And you still listen to Crazy Love. There it is. Crazy Love was, Crazy Love was, it was, it was, it was, it played a part. I don't want to say what the part was, but it played a part in my life, a significant part in my life. So Crazy Love, Crazy Love was one of the songs. One song I love is, I'm not sure if it's, and I just like the lyrics of the song, is Dangerously in Love. Woo! The lyrics, the lyrics on that song, when you just really just sit and listen and hear what she's saying and the meaning behind it. Yep. That right there, that right there is one of my all time favorites. I would say, so this is another, I didn't have any, any type of emotional connection to that one. I just love the lyrics. I do have an emotional connection to Maxwell has a woman's work. Yeah. Yeah. I have an emotional

connection to that song. I was in Fiji when something happened to me in Fiji, and I realized that something happened back here with one of my best friends and whatever it's like. So that's one. So how many is that? Is that three? That's four. Okay. So another song I had an emotional connection. So we used to really hang out at this place called the Yamaha. And when we would go there, we would listen to Luther. And House Is Not A Home was a really, really, really strong song. But the whole album with Creep and all that song was So, yeah, so I'll say Luther because he's one of my favorite artists. Listen, I have so many favorite artists. I mean, that's why I said top five. No, top five is tough. That's how she was about to give us a Just Me and You, Tony, Tony, Tony, since that played such a... You know, when that played in the movie, it was like, ah! So, yeah, so those things, look, I have, there are artists and songs that I like that, you know, that I've seen in movies that, you know, are cool for the movies, but... but you know, Oh, you know, I do have one. I can't, I can't, I can't, I'm not going to say which song it is. I can tell you guys off the air. I'm not going to say which song it is, but it's, by Tyrese. And I'm not going to say which song it is, but he has a song that really resonates for me as well. But I don't want to say that on the air. Okay. Absolutely. All right. Let's make an R & B Voltron. All right. Okay. This is where we make your super R & B artists. And you decide where you're going to get the vocal from. The performance style. Okay. The styling of the artists. The passion of the artists. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay. And could this one be a great actor? Can he act? And if he can act, what role you want to see him in? Let's go. Let's go. Okay, so where are you going to get the vocal from? One vocal. Of all the five? No, no. Of anybody? Of anybody. You're making a super R & B artist. You're building them in the lab, and you're picking one vocalist from the beginning of time. What one vocal do you want for your super R & B artist? One singer. I would have to say she has some incredible songs. I love a lot of her songs. I would have to say Whitney Houston. The voice. I got to take Whitney. One of the greatest of all time. Yeah, I got to take Whitney. Okay. Whitney for the voice. Whitney for the voice. Performance style on stage. Michael Jackson. I mean, Michael, my favorite entertainer of all time. Mack. Yeah, yeah. Whitney voice performing like Michael is nuts. Styling. The drip of the artist. Who got the walk-in clothes? Who got the fly walk-in clothes, man? Yeah. Wow. Wow. Performance-wise, who... So, if the clothes you see them on stage with, maybe you see them in magazines and stuff, and they got the, you know, all of it. Or they're recognizable for their drip. So I'm trying to think if, I mean, we're going back in the day. I mean, you know, if I go with some of the artists, I would say Jodeci's drip. Huge Jodeci, man. I

would say that drip. They had the style. Stylistically, they were there. I know, you know. Black leather in the desert. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that. I would say that. It was Timbaland Boots. It was Timbaland Boots. But emotional song. It was the edge with the emotion. I'm telling you. Because people always get that confused about Jodeci. Right. When they're trying to be Jodeci. The song's too aggressive. Jodeci sang love songs. Love songs. Oh, for sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure. And were they actually Timberlands? I think they were more of like a leather constructionist boot. I don't think they was rocking Tims, bro. No, I think they was Tims. We have to go back on this. I got to. Feeling those was Tim, Black Tims, Black Leather Tims. They were Tims for sure. Because that was a thing. It might have been a lug. It might wouldn't have been. It could have been a lug. I might wouldn't have been. It's a style. It's a style. It's a style. It could have been a lug. I was like, I was looking at some old pictures. I'm like. Or just a straight industrial. Industrial. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We coming to work. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, okay. We got to look at that. We got to look at that. Pull that up. That could be it. Okay. The passion of the artist. The heart of the artist. Like who means it? Oh, like who means it? Who means it? Who gonna win the thing? When they sing it, you feel it in your soul. I have to go. Wow. I'm gonna go with Tank. Come on, man. I'm gonna go with Tank. It's either you or Nita, but you know, I'll go with Tank. I'll go with Tank. Can we do this? Do whatever you want. Can I go Passion because... Can I go Tank Tyrese? You can. I'll go Tank Tyrese. Because I resonate with some of his songs too. Of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. And again, you know, for me, when you talk about the passion and what resonates, you guys really resonate for me, you know, Cause the moments, you know, in your songs that I'm really, really feeling. Um, and, and you guys, yeah, I was, I'll go, I'll go tank Tyrese. Yeah. And what role are you casting this super artist for? What role am I casting this artist for? Ooh. Well, okay. I'll say this. There's one of my favorite artists that I didn't mention that I go way back being a fan of, but in this type of movie, because it has the range of everything, and I love this artist, I would have to go, I would cast that person, because I want to see the range, in Purple Rain, a Purple Rain remake. because we have all of the emotion. If people don't see, that's what made that soundtrack so tricky because you're following the story and you engage and then he's hitting you with all these songs. So that's what I would do. Yeah, that was good. I like that. I like that. Yeah, who's one of my favorite artists of all time as well, of course. And I didn't want to just say that. You consider Prince R & B? Now I'm just giving you a hard time. So, listen. See, Prince's music resonates with me. I definitely

say he's definitely an R & B artist. And I think probably... I think maybe, you know, of course, I think he's R & B artist. But when I think about, of course, some of his songs, yes. But he has such a unique sound. And maybe when I'm thinking R & B, I'm just thinking just you got that sound that, you know. Yeah, the sound exchange. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. He's more, I would say to me, he's an R & B rock star. Michael Jackson is an R & B pop star. Yeah, okay, okay, yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, that's good. That's a good way to see it because, you know, I mean, I go back to Prince. Because now Beyonce is an R & B pop star. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, not to say the song still can't resonate. I mean, I love Beyonce too, but, man, I go Prince with all, I go way back with Prince. Like, songs people ain't even heard of, like Head and all those other songs. It's crazy. Oh yeah, you tapped in. Oh yeah, absolutely. We got one more thing for you. Sure, sure, sure. Come on. That ain't right. Play it, fucker. I ain't saying no names. Come on. I ain't saying no names. I ain't saying no names. I ain't saying no names. Who you was? Who you was with? I love that. I love that. I love that. You put him in your list. He's showing off, bro. He's showing off. He's like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Morris put me in this. He put me in his top. He put me in his top. For real, for real, for real. Very important part of the show where you tell us a story, funny or fucked up, or funny and fucked up. The only rule to the game is Morris Chestnut, the walk of fame, can't say no names. Okay, so funny, I don't, funny. I'll just say, I have two stories that are kind of similar. Okay. Not as similar, but they're kind of different approaches of me and Puppet. I'm somewhat, I'm an introvert. I'm a very big introvert. I'm at my most comfortable when I'm at home doing nothing, sitting on the couch. So there was, so, but of course, you know, I've gone to parties and things like that. But I said, you know, Sometimes I'm going to go out and I know I've heard people say, oh, they said you like this. People felt, I've heard sometimes people because I don't say anything. Oh, you think y'all, but I don't. When you know me, I'm just real, you know, I'm cordial. And so I said, you know, so there was this party that I went to. I said, you know what? You know, when I see somebody, you know, that I respect and I like this stuff, I'm just going to go up and tell them, hey, you know, I really like your stuff. Yeah. And normally, I would kind of just wait. And if I saw someone, they'd smile. I'd say, oh, OK. We would talk. But if I don't make eye contact with them, I wouldn't go up to them. Because you never know in this game. You just never know. Never know. And there was a rapper, very popular rapper. So I saw him. So I just went up to him. I walked up to him. Hey, man, you know, bro, I really like you. You got some good stuff. And he went, just like that. He didn't even

reply? Didn't reply. Wow. He just looked at me. Oh, man. And looked away. I was like, okay. And this was me trying to say, okay. You know what I'm saying? Trying to break out my shell. Yeah. I'm like trying to, you know. And so that happened then. And something that, this happened about last year. I'm at the UFC. And this is, so that was my thing where I just want to make sure I make eye contact with somebody before I at least say something. Before I say something because, and listen, I respect this. And, you know, people can be going through, it's not about me. They could be doing, they'd be going through anything. And so I was at, I went to a UFC fight. It was with CBS. And, you know, we were all, Yeah, there's a whole bunch of people from the shows are sitting in the aisle. Someone comes up. He walks in. I see he's talking to everybody. But I'm talking to my wife. I'm doing something. I see him at the last minute. He's talking to everybody. I see him come in, but I'm still talking to my wife. And then he's talking to this person like three wheels in front of me. And then he walks by me. I'm like three seats away from the aisle. So he doesn't walk by me, but he walks by the aisle. Mm-hmm. And so I said, oh, that was such and such. You know, I was a fan. I should have said something. I was like, well, you need to look at me. So I'm like, okay. I just want to make sure because I'm right there. Because I am right there. And if you see me, hey, what's up? But hey, look. So then in the middle of rounds, you know, you have the fights and you have the rounds. In the middle of fights, not the rounds. So in the break for the next fight, the person gets up. He comes back to talk to that person again. Now, I know he knows that I'm there. And, you know, I'm a fan. So he's talking to the person, I'm gonna look, and I'm not gonna interrupt this conversation, but I'm looking over there to see what he's gonna say, but he never looks my way. So I'm like, okay, okay, no problem. Listen, I don't judge anybody. He's in a conversation or whatever. So I just don't say anything. And then, so it's me, my wife, and then another actor who's not black sitting next to my wife. And so in between another fight, The guy comes up again, talking to the person who's just in that general area. I look over there. Okay. I mean, he's not looking at me, but he's there. Maybe I should say something, but I don't know because I'm already pumping it because, you know, what happened to me with that one rapper. I'm always tentative now, you know? And sure enough, so I just don't say anything. And me and my wife are just there, just chilling, waiting for the rounds. And then he literally said, What's up to the person that was sitting next to my wife who was not black? And so I was like, for sure he wants me to say something because this person is not saying anything to him either. But he sees me there and I know he knows me, but he said something to that person. So after he said that, I said, hey, what's up, such and such? He said, oh, yeah, what's up, Maura? I was like, okay. Still, I don't judge. So then, so literally, the very next morning, we get on the flight to go back. I'm already sitting there. I'm sitting next to my wife here. He comes on the plane. And I'm like, okay, I'm, you know, look, I'm just going to go up. I feel like almost 100% sure that he only said what's up to that person because he knew I was there and I didn't say what's up to him. I feel 100% sure. So I said, you know what? I see this person coming on the plane. So he came out and looked at me, kept going straight to his seat and sat down just like that. And I was like, Okay, I guess you don't want me to. I don't know. But, listen, I'm still a fan. I'm still a fan. I'm still a fan. What are you doing to the chestnut, man? I don't know. Look, man, I don't know what that is. Because I never met either one of them before, you know? Right. I never met either one of them before. It was probably like when I had that beef with you and I didn't know you. You know what I'm saying? You would have said what's up, though. You would have still said what's up, though. I probably would have said what's up, but not with her. Not if she was with me. You know what I'm saying? I would have avoided you at all costs. And that's the crazy part, bro, because you're so cool. You're such a humble person. And I think that resonates even if someone doesn't know you. 100%. Your aura is of someone who is just a cool cat. You know what I'm saying? Like, so I can't, that doesn't, that doesn't make sense to me at all. Listen, I like to, I like to think so. And listen, and I, and I'm the first person in every situation, you know, I don't just assume it's about me. Oh, you hating. I don't know. I don't assume all that, you know, because, you know, they could have been in a bad mood that day or who knows. But, you know, I, Sometimes I do, things have gotten back to me before when I am in situations and just because I don't say anything, maybe people take that a certain kind of way because both of them, I'm sure both of them are used to people coming up to them. Just right off the bat. I don't understand the rapper. I don't know why he just looked at me and looked away. I don't know, but yeah. So I ain't saying no names, but that's what it was. That's what it was. Well, that's wild. I don't like it. I don't like it. I don't like it. Brother Morris Chestnut, man, we thank you, brother. Absolutely. Thank you, man. You're etched into our childhood, our livelihoods. And again, like I said at the beginning, man, you're just an example, brother. Thank you. You're just an example, man, of just being a dope human being, being awesomely talented. having real values, real morals still since day one. And we commend that, man. We commend all of that. We commend the work. The continued success. Thank you. Y'all got the liquor going. Yes, yes. We got Sable Bourbon. Sable Bourbon. Check out the Sable Bourbon. Come on, man. Send it to the... Yeah, you're going to need it. Sable Bourbon. Oh, yeah. I just took it out the car. I'm going to bring it. I'll bring you something by. You got any bourbon? You shipping? 01:34:48 Speaker 2: Yeah. 01:34:48 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, okay. It's our brother's bourbon, man. All right, all right. All right, all right. I'll bring a bottle by. I'll bring a bottle by. But yeah, man, we just... We love you. We support you, man. Thank you, man. And this is a home for you. Anything you need from us, anytime you need us to speak on your behalf, we're here, brother. Thank you. Thank you, Vice President. Anything you guys need from me, I'm here. Thank you, man. I appreciate y'all. Appreciate you. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Tank. I'm Jay Valentine. And this is the R & B Money Podcast, the authority on all things... R & B. And sexy. And sexy. The sexiest. Yeah. Man alive. I'm not talking about myself. I am. We talking about Morris Chestnut. Thank you. I appreciate you, man. Thank you. Appreciate you. 01:35:37 Speaker 2: Thank you.