- 5 weeks ago
Ciara stopped by the V-103 studios in Atlanta to talk about her new album, 'CiCi,' and more.
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00:00V-103, ATL's number one for hip-hop, R&B, and throwbacks.
00:03Another Odyssey exclusive with Cece.
00:06Hey, Greg.
00:07Hey, this is where it all started.
00:09All began.
00:10Well, downstairs.
00:11Yeah, downstairs.
00:13And the true fun fact for me is that
00:16when I was going to the drive-through,
00:19the first day that Goody's was played on the radio,
00:22it was V-103.
00:23That's what, it started right here.
00:24Yeah, so that was-
00:25You came in and did the drop?
00:27Yeah, yeah, and then I hopped in the car.
00:29I actually, I was not hopping in the car,
00:31but I was going for rehearsals,
00:33and then I hear you with your loud energy,
00:37amazing energy with, you know,
00:39Greg, you know, and then play Goody's,
00:42and I literally had tears in my eyes.
00:44Wow.
00:45It's so crazy for artists, for local artists,
00:47no matter how big they are, how big they become,
00:50people don't understand how real it feels
00:53and how special it is to hear their songs on the radio,
00:56especially on the station.
00:58Like, you got a little baby on the album,
00:59and he was one of the first persons who really brought this,
01:02made it real relevant to my attention of how big it is, like,
01:06to hear their song on the radio in the city where they grew up.
01:09Oh my gosh, it's crazy, because that's like one of the big parts
01:13of your dream that you look forward to, you know,
01:15because you know how much radio, for me, radio, you know, meant a lot,
01:19especially then radio was like the main force,
01:21the main place that you heard music come from.
01:24So to have that same, you know, experience, but from flipping the role,
01:31now I'm an artist playing on the radio, and there's someone else hearing my song,
01:34but for me to hear myself on the radio is like, oh my gosh, like, daddy, I made it.
01:40We made it.
01:41Yeah, so it was pretty cool.
01:43And to go from North Clayton to Riverdale.
01:46Yeah.
01:47Well, it's funny because it's actually reverse.
01:50So I started in Riverdale, then I went to North Clayton, then I went back to Riverdale.
01:55Back to Riverdale.
01:56But my mom, I got to shout out my mom because she's in the room,
01:59because I was saying earlier how, you know, it's kind of amazing how, like, God works,
02:05because my first year of high school at Riverdale, I had made the varsity team, right?
02:11And I was the only ninth grader on varsity.
02:14I think it was ninth grade.
02:14Was it ninth grade, mom?
02:16Yeah.
02:16Yeah, ninth grade.
02:17I had mixed the year up earlier, but ninth grade, I was only, you know, ninth grader on varsity.
02:22And then the next year, I went to audition again, and when I went to audition, I just
02:28felt like it was a whole season, it was a whole moment of pettiness from the coach to
02:31some other people on the team.
02:32I don't know what was going on, but they put me in, when they were announcing the, you
02:38know, who made it, they put me in JV.
02:41And I was like, that's just crazy.
02:43Like, you took me from varsity back to JV.
02:45It just felt like something was going on.
02:47And so me and my super only child, super determined attitude, I was like, or mindset, I was like,
02:54mom, like I had seen the North Clayton cheerleaders, right?
02:58And the North Clayton team and everything, and the energy was lit at North Clayton.
03:03I was like, I want to cheer there, right?
03:06So then I told my mom about my dream, like, or my vision that I wanted at that time.
03:10And, you know, I was saying, we lived in Riverdale.
03:13We always lived in Riverdale, but for that year, we lived in Clayton, we lived in Clayton
03:18County, but basically she helped work it out.
03:21So I got to end up going to North Clayton High School because I was so determined.
03:25Like, I was like, this is crazy.
03:27And I was like, this school is popping.
03:29Like, I want to go to this school.
03:30And the craziest part of it is that in that year, that was the year I got discovered.
03:35Wow.
03:36And then, so it's just kind of like, that was like all of God's, like, working because
03:42I went there to have a special moment in my life that was game changing, you know, or that's
03:48how I see it.
03:49That year was meant for me to do that.
03:51And then I ended up going back to Riverdale, like once everything started rolling, I finished
03:54out my school, my high school years in Riverdale, but it's kind of crazy how that works.
03:58Now, every time I see you, every time there's something on social media, my phone blows up.
04:06Mrs. Rice, all the principals at Riverdale, the principals at North Clayton, you got to
04:11bring CeCe back.
04:13I can show you Texas from yesterday.
04:16Oh my gosh.
04:17Time I posted this at DBS, Mrs. Rice, who was the principal, I think when you were there,
04:21she was probably the principal at the middle school.
04:23Then she went to the high school, and now she's over like a cluster of schools in Clayton.
04:28Wow, that's amazing.
04:29So every time there's a CeCe Greg Street moment, you cause issues on my phone.
04:34Listen, what you're telling me is that Greg stays connected.
04:38He even got a teacher's on lock in his Rolodex.
04:42Man, they go crazy.
04:43I love that.
04:44Man, listen, I remember going back to Riverdale the year, I think that had given me the key
04:50to the city or something like that, and doing a whole ceremony there, and that was like
04:55after my first or second year for my first album, putting out my first album, and those
05:00moments are so sweet, you know, cause it really is, you know, it's just special.
05:05Like it's a city that I grew up in at one point in time, and I feel all that love is another
05:11special sign of like, okay, we're doing something special.
05:14Now this all from the beginning, from Felana and Noonie and Jazzy and Jasper and Zach and
05:21Lil Jon, and then being in the studio with you when you did the big record with Polos,
05:27like just to watch all this being brewed and all this come together, it's like, just how
05:32amazing was this for you?
05:34That was really cool.
05:35You know, because there's nothing better than when you have, you know, such a strong army
05:41of support, but also too, at that time period, you know, a lot of the guys you mentioned were
05:47like super dialed in and tapped into, you know, the community, into the city of Atlanta,
05:54and to have, you know, everyone, you know, lifting me up was pretty cool, and just musically,
06:02you know, Jazzy and I made some really special music, and that was the best way to kick off my
06:09career, it didn't get any better than that, you know, and then you mentioned Polo, you know,
06:14we had a big moment too, because when we put out Promise, we went against the grain with that record,
06:21because we were told it was like one of the worst R&B records, right, and we knew we had
06:27something special, so I really got to give it to Polo for like pressing the button to leak
06:32the record.
06:32Yeah, his drums are so different.
06:34So different.
06:35We leaked it here, it was another great stream.
06:36Yeah, it was.
06:38So people got in trouble.
06:39Yeah, but that was good trouble, because that was also a significant moment for me,
06:45and I went slower musically, you know, because a lot of my songs are more tempo,
06:50and I was kind of, Cece was kind of growing up a little bit then, you know,
06:52I was wearing heels in a video, and trying new stuff, and the cool thing was that
06:57that week I released my album, The Evolution, we had a big week.
07:02It was like Eminem, Gwen Stefani, there was a few other big releases that week,
07:07and we came in number one.
07:09So like, you know, that's pretty cool, right?
07:12You know, we took a risk, and we believed in what we were doing, and it worked.
07:15You know, so many special moments with all the people that you named, you know.
07:21So much love, and those years were really formative for me, you know,
07:25because it was like, the people I was surrounded by, they were all like big brothers
07:28and big sisters.
07:30You know, you mentioned Fulana.
07:32She's actually going to probably hang out with me at some point today, but.
07:34Yeah, she wanted to come, she had a meeting at 12, so she couldn't.
07:37Yeah.
07:37She's going to catch you on the next one.
07:38Yeah, yeah, yeah.
07:39So, you know, she also helped with, you know, making a very special moment for me
07:45when I was here on tour Missy and Busta and Timbaland last year,
07:48and they gave me the key to, well, they made the July 28th Sierra Day,
07:54and that was granted by the city.
07:56And then just recently when I came back on Sierra Day a year later,
08:02I was able to launch our Why Not You Center that Russell and I put together
08:07with the Boys and Girls Club in Atlanta, and, you know,
08:11she helped make a special moment with not only the city but also the state.
08:15And so you just think about, like, the evolution of all of us,
08:18and it's just beautiful to see everyone grow and still come together.
08:23And congratulations on, that's the second center, right?
08:26What's that one?
08:27The center in Atlanta is number two, right?
08:28Yeah, that's the second center.
08:29So, yeah, that is the second center.
08:30The first center we did was in Pittsburgh, and this is our second one,
08:35and now we're working on three of them in the tri-state area of New York.
08:38So it's exciting.
08:39We're just getting started.
08:41But it's such a blessing to create, you know, spaces for kids to dream
08:47and to express themselves because I didn't have much growing up,
08:51but having a space to create and express myself
08:55and just being able to have that love and support was huge for me.
08:59Miss Jackie was enough.
09:01Yeah, my mama.
09:01My mama and my daddy, Jackie and Carlton.
09:05Honestly, the love my parents gave me was so huge
09:08because my mom was more, she was more reluctant about the music industry,
09:12more hesitant, like, ah, that place.
09:14She's seen enough of those VH1 stories where they say, what happened, you know?
09:19Everybody on drugs.
09:20Everybody just doing, everything happened.
09:21This is your brain on drugs.
09:22They take all your money, do all kind of stuff.
09:24A lot happens on them VH1 stories.
09:26They're very, very dramatic.
09:27So my mama, she was like, that industry just sounds scary, you know?
09:31But still, she did allow me to dream, and my dad also, you know, allowed me to dream
09:36and would have late nights driving to the studio, sleeping on the sofa while I'm recording.
09:40You know, that support was huge, you know?
09:43And that was one of the greatest gifts my parents could have given me.
09:48And I'm sure probably one of your greatest gifts to the parents is you being able to give them anything they want.
09:56I guess so.
09:58How's the day in the life you think with mom and the grandkids?
10:01My mom and the baby, she loves the grandbabies, right?
10:04Yeah, she loves the babies.
10:07It's so cute, because she don't like being called grandma.
10:09This is this new, you know, generation of grandmas.
10:14Y'all don't like being called grandma.
10:16What do they call her?
10:17Oh, she said, ah, she don't care anymore.
10:20Okay, well, there it is.
10:21Yeah, it is.
10:22At first, it was Grammy.
10:23They did call me Grammy.
10:25Hey, Grammy.
10:26They got the Grammys and the GGs.
10:28Yeah, but they love grandma.
10:30They love her and great grandma and grandpa.
10:33It's so sweet.
10:35You know, I feel like the grandparents just give the kids anything.
10:39You give your kids with the grandparents, I don't know, they might come back full of sugar.
10:44Full of everything.
10:45Jumping off the walls.
10:48The new album.
10:50But this is what, album six?
10:52Eight.
10:52Eight, album eight.
10:53The new album, Cece.
10:55Great body of work.
10:58You've been having some great viral moments in the music space.
11:00Like, I know the song with, I think Teron was a part of, Level Up.
11:05Yeah.
11:06He was a part of that.
11:07And now the new single that's went viral in the last months, where it's even crossed over.
11:14Everybody's doing it.
11:15Now, who was the first person to get on top of something with the heels on?
11:19Well, okay.
11:20So, first of all, let me tell you.
11:22So, going back, shout out to Teron, because he and I did a great bit of this project together.
11:26And he joined me as an executive producer.
11:30But also, too, with Level Up, you know, we both wrote that song together.
11:34And we've been fortunate to have songs like I'm Out, featuring Nicki Minaj, one of my earlier albums.
11:41Also, I Bet.
11:42We've had a lot of great moments.
11:45And then, sorry, what did you, I keep having my mommy brain moments.
11:49Hold on.
11:50What did you just say to me, Greg?
11:51Lordy.
11:53Okay, yeah, so ecstasy.
11:54There it is.
11:54So, with Ecstasy, that song, people going on the chair, was really crazy.
12:02You know, seeing everyone, you know, like grandmas was on a chair after they saw the video, which is crazy.
12:07But I knew that when I saw the choreography from this young girl named Taylor, and she was showing me, like, what the routine was supposed to look like.
12:17And I saw her on the chair, and I was like, that's crazy.
12:21And I'm like, I don't know if I can do that.
12:22Then I was like, wait, okay, I want to try it, though.
12:25And when I tried it, I was like, it's actually much easier than you think it is.
12:28You know, so to, I got on the chair, I did it, and I shared with the fans how to do it, and then everyone started trying it.
12:34And it was nuts to see a grandma in the backyard on a chair.
12:37I was like, okay, this is crazy.
12:38But it was so cool, and it's been amazing to just see everyone, you know, rock with me and interact with me and, you know, get into my music and the moments.
12:51And, you know, it's really fun, honestly, to see that.
12:55And then, I don't know if you were talking about where I was on the heel.
12:57That was actually a Nicki Minaj challenge thing that I did recently, too, trying to hold my 10-to-1 rum bottle.
13:04What people don't know is Russ actually held my hand before I balanced.
13:07I was like, don't leave.
13:09And then he was like, you got this.
13:11He was like, you just, you don't put out big babies.
13:14You don't have a 9-pound, 10-pound baby.
13:15You got this.
13:16I was like, okay, okay, all right.
13:19And then he released my hand.
13:20I'm like, okay, okay, okay, okay, got it.
13:22Get the video, get the video now, get the video now.
13:23Like, I had to get it now while I was hanging up in there.
13:27But, you know, it's always fun.
13:28I like having fun.
13:30I like tapping in with the people, you know.
13:33I like joining in on the challenges, you know.
13:35It just makes life fun, you know.
13:38So, yeah.
13:39And, I mean, people tap in because they can relate.
13:41They can relate and they connect it.
13:44Like, you make the connection.
13:46Like, there's so much phony stuff going on out here.
13:48We have to connect to the real.
13:50Yeah, you do.
13:51It's important, you know.
13:53I think at the end of the day, no matter how big or successful someone is, you know,
13:58or from my perspective, for myself, it's like I'm human.
14:02And, you know, for me, it's like, for example, I'm like, listen, I can be, I can go all around
14:06the world, but I'm still always, you know, going to be a girl from ATL and ATL is always
14:11going to be in me.
14:12And there's something to me that's important about my people.
14:15It's important to me.
14:16Like, I love fun to have random conversations with strangers that don't know me because
14:20there's some of the best conversations that happen.
14:22And it's just like real, you know.
14:25Real conversations.
14:26Real conversations.
14:27Like, no matter how successful someone is, we all bleed the same color.
14:31We put our pants on the same way.
14:32We all, we go through a lot of the same things.
14:35We do.
14:36Yeah, you know.
14:37It's no different.
14:37Yeah.
14:38Now, you say going around the world.
14:39You did your, a cover shoot in West Africa.
14:45Yeah.
14:46How was that experience?
14:46Well, I did, so I was very fortunate to be the first international artist to be on the
14:51cover of Rolling Stone Africa.
14:53I actually shot that shoot in Los Angeles, but I got the great opportunity to go to Kotonou
15:01Benin, or Benin Kotonou, recently and get my Benin citizenship, which is cool.
15:08So I got to tap in a little deeper with my roots, you know, because I do have a percentage
15:13of Benin in me, which is cool.
15:14So, but moments like that, man, it's so incredible, you know, to be amongst the people of Africa.
15:22Like, I'm obsessed with Africa in general, and I'm obsessed with the people and the culture
15:30and the joy and the talent and the, it's so much special sauce and energy and like magical
15:38stuff that comes from that place.
15:39Um, so to be able to do that was really special, and it was also amazing to hear the stories
15:44of some of the artists and people there, because they talk about sometimes they feel unseen,
15:50you know, or their, for their, their creative ideas, they feel like it's unseen or it's unheard.
15:54They feel unheard sometimes.
15:56And so to hear that really touched my heart, and it motivates me to continue to use my platform
16:02or any kind of way to shine the light on the beauty and the art and the magic of Africa.
16:08So that was really amazing to do that.
16:11And, um, pretty cool to be on the cover, to be the first international artist on the cover
16:15of Rolling Stone and to be the first person in the world to get the citizenship in Benin.
16:21I'm so, so grateful.
16:23Crazy.
16:23Yeah.
16:24Now, speaking of magic, Lil Baby, Busta Rhymes, Lotto, um, Tiana Taylor's on a remix.
16:34And Normani.
16:35Tiana Taylor and Normani is on the Ecstasy remix, yep.
16:38Who else is on the project?
16:40Breezy.
16:40I'm missing some people.
16:41Yeah, Chris Brown.
16:42Breezy or Chris?
16:43Boss Mandilo.
16:47Diamond Platinums.
16:48He's, speaking of Africa, Diamond Platinums from Tanzania, and I just released a deluxe
16:53album, and he's on that song, and it's just super, super amazing.
17:00What song is, like, your baby on the project?
17:02Oh, Tyga.
17:03Shout out to Tyga as well for Dance With Me.
17:04Oh, yeah, Tyga.
17:05My, um, the baby on the project, that's tough, because they're all so good.
17:12I mean, I'm really vibing with Dance With Me right now, featuring Tyga, and I'm also
17:15vibing with the Low Record featuring Diamond Platinum.
17:18I already put the visual out for Dance With Me, and I'm excited about the video with Diamond
17:24and I as well.
17:25Those two are some of my favorite ones.
17:28I love my song called Made It, you know.
17:31Made It speaks to, like, my journey and just, like, you know, what life, like, you know,
17:35I said, someone asked me, like, what were some of the signs that maybe, that you've made
17:39it?
17:39And I said, you know, not having to worry about paying bills.
17:42That's definitely a good sign.
17:43And, you know, seeing fans wrapped around the block, like, yesterday, that lets me know,
17:48like, okay.
17:49Shout out to DBS Sound.
17:50Yeah, DBS Sound.
17:51Yeah, DBS Sound.
17:51Riverdale was 6604.
17:53Yeah.
17:54Howard 85, Tobago.
17:55Yeah.
17:56You got to give Tobago his shout out.
17:57Yeah, shout out to Tobago.
17:58That's amazing.
17:59He's been going for 30 plus years, and he has now over 13 locations, he was telling me.
18:04And, you know, we need those places where you can touch your fans like that and have the
18:09vinyl experience like that.
18:11So, those moments are really, really special.
18:15But, yeah.
18:15Now, the very important time is coming up.
18:22What's the day in the life of a football Sunday when Russell is playing for Sierra?
18:27What's the day like?
18:28Oh, you know, I really move my, I really, you know, kind of get wrapped up in his world.
18:33It's really all about whatever's best for him, the day of ball, the day on football, our
18:38game day.
18:40You know, obviously, we got to kick it off with a little bit of worship.
18:43You know, we make sure to get our worship in.
18:47He has to do, like, walkthroughs and stuff.
18:50And now that we're in New York, I don't know what that's going to be like, because New York
18:54is so wide.
18:55Like, before, it'd be like a quick drive to go to walkthroughs.
18:59So, now we got to, like, adjust all that stuff.
19:01But, yeah.
19:02I mean, I'm like, I roll with him however he moves, you know, throughout the morning when
19:07he's at the house, because I'm just, like, a part of the process in my own, in my best
19:12way I can be with him.
19:13And we, he does his whole PT work stuff.
19:16I'm right there.
19:17We do, like I said, we worship.
19:21You know, we go all the way to the end before he has to leave out.
19:24He gets prepared to go out the door.
19:25We do a family prayer.
19:27And then he goes on to do his thing, you know.
19:29And I guess you would say, I kind of have my little game day prep.
19:32I like to stay calm.
19:33It's possible.
19:35With four kids, the house is just not that quiet.
19:37But, you know, we're getting ready.
19:40And then we have our whole process.
19:41And I leave kind of early, so I can see him, like, throwing the ball before the game and
19:47all that stuff.
19:48And then we roll up to our seats.
19:51And we let the game roll.
19:53Now, I have a dream.
19:57All the, a lot of the male artists in the trap music have been doing these symphony shows.
20:03Now, we have to get with Fulana and tell Miss Williams that Ciara has to be the first
20:09female artist in the city of Atlanta, across the street, in the Woodruff, to hit that stage
20:18with the symphony.
20:20I like that idea.
20:21That would be so crazy for you to be dancing and singing with the symphony?
20:25Yeah.
20:25So, I actually did something really cool like that in Seattle with the Seattle Symphony.
20:29Um, Russ and I did something with our foundation, our Why Not You Foundation, and also Mack
20:34Lamore Performed.
20:36And, um, we raised a lot of money that night with our partners.
20:39Um, and so that was really cool.
20:41So, I know what that feels like to be with the orchestra.
20:45Dancing is different.
20:46And so, I love that idea.
20:48We should, I think it's a brilliant idea, actually.
20:50We should make that happen.
20:51I think they're about to do it again with Gucci Mane for New Year's Eve.
20:53That's so cool.
20:54They just announced it, I think, last week, over the weekend.
20:56She sent me the fly and I posted it, but we have to do one.
20:59And then I got another one.
21:00I got one more.
21:01Okay, come on.
21:02You got good ideas.
21:03This is a ghetto public service announcement to the fine and friendly people at Live Nations.
21:10We need CeCe, TT, and Missy on a world tour.
21:16We have to do it.
21:17I like that.
21:18I like that.
21:19That's a pretty big one right there.
21:21Super big.
21:22I don't know what our budgets would probably be crazy.
21:25That would be crazy.
21:27And when you sell tickets out a year in advance, and all that money goes into escrow, and they
21:31only pay a 10% binder, and they making all that money in the stock market off that box
21:35office money, they can afford to do it.
21:37That would be crazy.
21:38Oh, my gosh.
21:39Greg, you got big ideas.
21:42I love those things.
21:43Sometimes.
21:44Yeah, you always be thinking big.
21:46Greg only thinks one way.
21:48But I love those girls.
21:50I love TT.
21:51I'm so proud of her.
21:53Them your girls.
21:53Yeah, that's my sister.
21:54Missy, Tiana, and CeCe.
21:56Yeah, I love that.
21:57Missy, you know that's big sis.
21:59Our tour experience together was so amazing, and I'm so happy we got to do that.
22:04And you got Spike T.
22:05You got your movie person.
22:06I know.
22:07And it's crazy, because all of our minds were so creative.
22:10That would be definitely some creative, that would be some crazy energy.
22:15I like that.
22:15I like that.
22:16Sierra in the building, the people's station, V103.
22:19New album out.
22:20Stream it.
22:21Download it.
22:21She even has vinyl.
22:23Pick up your piece of vinyl.
22:24You may bump into her and get it autographed.
22:26If you don't get it autographed, it's still something special that you should have in your collection.
22:31If you're a CeCe fan, you got to put that in your archive.
22:34And people was actually coming up yesterday with the first album.
22:38Yeah, that was pretty cool.
22:39That was real cool.
22:40That's love.
22:42That's my day 21, as I call it, because it's 21 years since my first album, Goodies, came out.
22:46And to still feel that same love from the fans, but also to have the same love and passion for music and moments like that is a blessing.
22:58Big blessing.
22:59Big blessing.
23:00CeCe, we got to have us another Papa Do's dinner.
23:04That was 21 years ago.
23:05Oh, my gosh.
23:0621 years ago.
23:07You know I love that Papa Do's.
23:09It's been 21.
23:10It might have been over 21 years.
23:12It could have been.
23:13Because that was like before the album ever came out.
23:15It was just a sequel.
23:16It might have been like 21.
23:18It was actually in Dallas.
23:20That's crazy.
23:22Your memory is amazing.
23:24Get them, CeCe.
23:26Thanks for putting up on the People's Station, V103.
23:28Thank you so much for having me.
23:30It's always fun seeing you.
23:31Southside, we coming.
23:33Mrs. Rice, she said she's going to do it.
23:35She's spending more time at ATL, and she's coming.
23:37Oh, okay.
23:38Yes, Greg said it.
23:40Greg is making major commitments here.
23:42But you know what?
23:42I do want to come and see the students of the Dale, for sure.
23:47The Dale.
23:48The Dale.
23:49The Dale.
23:50How are they doing with sports now?
23:51Do you know?
23:52They're doing pretty good.
23:53Yeah, because we was rocking.
23:54We was rocking.
23:55They're rocking.
23:55Football teams are doing really well.
23:57That's so good.
23:58Yeah.
23:58I love it.
23:59A Sierra exclusive here, V103.
24:01Peace out.
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