- AND I WAS SIGNED TO THE LAFACE RECORDS IN SEVENTH GRADE WITH TLC AND USHER AND OUTKAST AND GOODY MOB AND TONI BRAXTON.

AND IT'S EVERYBODY.

YOU KNOW, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR BEING A PART OF ATLANTA MUSIC HISTORY.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) - I THINK THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT MUSIC IS THAT IT'S ABOUT THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

- STING STANDS UP AND I'M JUST LIKE, "THIS IS NOT HAPPENING."

- THERE'S BEEN SO MANY AMAZING SONGWRITERS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE ATLANTA SCENE.

- I SAY ATLANTA ARTISTICALLY RAISED ME.

- WE GREW UP IN THE APPALACHIAN FOLK TRADITION IN ATLANTA'S 90S HIP HOP REVOLUTION.

- THIS IS "SOUNDS LIKE ATL" I MEAN EVERYTHING IS ATLANTA.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) - ATLANTA, GEORGIA, HOW ARE YOU?

(CROWD CHEERING) OH MY GOD, THAT FELT GOOD.

THAT SOUNDS SO GOOD.

I AM YOUR HOST, ALGEBRA BLESSETT.

GO AHEAD.

YOU CAN GIVE IT TO ME.

(CROWD CHEERING) AND I LOVE IT ALL.

I LOVE IT ALL.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE LOVE.

I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TO CELEBRATE THIS RICH MUSIC IN MY TOWN, ATL, A-TOWN, ATLANTA SO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

SO I HAVE SOME EXCITING PEOPLE COMING TO STAGE TONIGHT AND I NEED Y'ALL TO SHOW LOVE, DRINK WINE, EAT FOOD, GIVE SMILES.

IF YOU WANNA JUMP UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT YOU'RE TOTALLY FREE TO DO SO.

UNDERSTAND?

OKAY.

COMING TO THE STAGE IS MY FRIEND.

I REMEMBER MEETING HIM IN LITTLE FIVE POINTS.

HE RAN UP TO ME AND HE WAS LIKE, "ALGEBRA."

AND I SAID, "WHAT?"

AND HE KNEW ME PROBABLY BETTER THAN I KNEW MYSELF AT THE TIME, AND WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS EVER SINCE.

AND I HAVE TO SAY HE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

AND I HAPPEN TO KNOW WHO ONE OF HIS FAVORITE PERFORMERS ARE.

(CROWD LAUGHING) SO I'VE BEEN TOLD, ALL RIGHT?

I DO HAVE TO SAY THIS.

HE RELAYED A MESSAGE TO ME EARLIER.

HE WANTS ME TO TELL YOU THAT HE BELIEVES IN YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND THAT HE LOVES YOU.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COMING TO THE STAGE MY FRIEND AND YOURS, RAHBI!

(CROWD CHEERING) - WHO IS RAHBI?

RAHBI IS LIGHT.

RAHBI IS LOVE.

RAHBI IS FANTASY TURNED REALITY.

AND YEAH, I'M FROM ATLANTA GEORGIA AND I'M PRETTY CUTE.

(RAHBI LAUGHS) LIKE MOST PEOPLE FROM ATLANTA AND SPECIFICALLY FROM THE SOUTH, WE ALL START IN THE CHURCH.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS A PENTECOSTAL PASTOR.

HE HAS A CHURCH DOWNTOWN CALLED THE TEMPLE OF GOD.

AND HE WOULD ALWAYS ASK ME TO COME UP AND SING A SOLO.

AND I WAS VERY SCARED.

I WASN'T ALWAYS THIS RAH RAH RAH RAH ARTIST THAT YOU SEE NOW.

THE FEARLESS RAHBI, I WAS VERY TIMID, WOULD HIDE BEHIND THE PEWS.

BUT THE MORE I WOULD GO UP THERE AND I GOT MORE CONFIDENT.

BUT FROM THERE I WAS VERY ACTIVE IN MY SCHOOL CHOIRS.

I WAS ALWAYS THE FIRST CHAIR.

AND FROM THAT, WELL I'M SKIPPING A LITTLE BIT 'CAUSE IN SEVENTH GRADE I CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL ONE DAY AND MY DAD WAS LIKE, "DO YOU WANNA BE IN A SINGING GROUP?"

I WAS LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW."

YOU KNOW, BACK THEN, IT WAS NOT NO INTERNET, IT WAS NOT THAT SOCIAL MEDIA STUFF.

AND I SAID, I KNOW I LIKE SINGING, I SING IN THE CHURCH.

I MEAN, I GUESS.

I JUST HEAR PEOPLE SING ON THE RADIO.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS A THING THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO.

I MEAN, I'M IN SEVENTH GRADE.

SO HE WAS LIKE, YEAH I HAVE A FRIEND THAT KNOWS LA REID AT LAFACE RECORDS AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A GUY TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUP CALLED FOURTH AVENUE.

♪ I KNOW THERE'S MORE TO LOVE THAN HUGS AND KISSES ♪ SO I GO AND I SING AND ALL LIKE I TOLD YOU, I HAD JUST BEEN SINGING CHURCH MUSIC, SO I'M SINGING GOSPEL SONGS AND THEY'RE LIKE "DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DO RUNS?"

I'M LIKE, "WHAT IS A RUN?"

LIKE I JUST KNOW HOW TO FLATFOOT SING STRAIGHT NOTES.

BUT I WAS LIKE, "NO, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO ALL OF THAT."

SO THEY WAS LIKE, "GET TEVIN CAMPBELL'S ALBUM, "I'M READY."

LEARN WHATEVER SONG YOU WANT THAT JUST MOVES YOU COME BACK AND AUDITION WITH THAT SONG."

AND IT'S CRAZY HOW I GRAVITATED TOWARDS THE ONLY, WELL, ONE OF THE ONLY SONGS THAT WAS PRODUCED AND WRITTEN BY PRINCE.

IT'S A SONG CALLED "SHHH" WHICH IS KIND OF CRAZY FOR SEVENTH GRADER.

BUT YOU KNOW.

YEAH, I SANG THAT AND THAT SONG, TEVIN CAMPBELL, A TEVIN CAMPBELL SONG IS WHAT HELPED ME GET MY RECORD DEAL ON THE LAFACE RECORDS.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) (CROWD CHEERING) HELLO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.

NO, I SAID HELLO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.

(CROWD CHEERING) NOW WE IN ATLANTA, RIGHT?

AND IF YOU FROM ATLANTA YOU KNOW A LOT OF US COME FROM THE CHURCH.

IS THAT RIGHT?

- [CROWD] YES.

- WE GONNA SAY AMEN.

YES, AMEN.

- [CROWD] AMEN.

- GOD IS GOOD.

- [CROWD] GOD IS GOOD.

- AND ALL THE TIME.

- [CROWD] GOD IS GOOD.

- ALRIGHT, IF YOU COULD DO THAT I KNOW YOU COULD SING.

I JUST WANT YOU TO DO THIS.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

♪ HEY ♪ ♪ ONE, TWO, THREE ♪ ♪ HEY ♪ ♪ ONE, TWO, THREE ♪ ♪ HEY ♪ ONE MORE TIME.

♪ ONE, TWO, THREE ♪ ♪ HEY ♪ ALRIGHT.

♪ EVER SINCE I WAS THREE ♪ ♪ I'VE BEEN SINGING THIS SONG ♪ ♪ THE MAIN ATTRACTION DOING MICHAEL JACKSON ♪ ♪ THE LIFE OF THE PARTY Y'ALL ♪ ♪ NOT A CARE OR A WORRY ♪ ♪ BUT PERFORMING FOR FREE ♪ ♪ GAVE ME A HAND AND A PAT ON THE HEAD ♪ ♪ THEY WEREN'T TAKING MY SERIOUSLY ♪ ♪ BUT I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE IN THIS WORLD ♪ ♪ SHARE MY SONGS FOR YEARS TO COME ♪ ♪ GO 'HEAD, GIVE ME MY STAR ON HOLLYWOOD ♪ ♪ OH GOD, I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE IN THIS WORLD ♪ ♪ ONE, TWO, THREE HEY ♪ ♪ HEY ♪ ♪ I AIN'T GOT TO BE FAMOUS ♪ ♪ TO BE A SUPER STAR ♪ ♪ PEOPLE THINK YOU NEED MONEY AND RICHES ♪ ♪ TO VALIDATE WHO YOU ARE ♪ ♪ I JUST LIKE PERFORMING ♪ ♪ AND WHEN PEOPLE SEE ♪ ♪ THEY CALL IT THE MOMENT ♪ ♪ TRAPPED IN EVERY SONG ♪ ♪ AND THEY CAN'T TAKE THEIR EYES OF ME ♪ ♪ BUT I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE IN THIS WORLD ♪ ♪ SHARE MY SONGS FOR YEARS TO COME ♪ ♪ GO 'HEAD, GIVE ME MY STAR ON HOLLYWOOD ♪ ♪ OH GOD, I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE ♪ ♪ I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE IN THIS WORLD ♪ ♪ SHARE MY SONGS FOR YEARS TO COME ♪ ♪ GO 'HEAD, GIVE ME MY STAR ON HOLLYWOOD ♪ ♪ I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE ♪ ♪ IT TOOK A WHILE ♪ ♪ BUT I DO BELIEVE ♪ ♪ I GOT A LOT OF Y'ALL SINGING WITH ME ♪ ♪ FROM ATLANTA TO OVER SEAS ♪ ♪ SOON EVERYONE WILL KNOW ABOUT YOUR BOY RAHBI ♪ ♪ WHAT'S MY NAME BABY RAHBI ♪ ♪ RAHBI ♪ ♪ RAHBI ♪ ♪ I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW IT KNOW IT ♪ ♪ HAVE A VOICE IN THIS WORLD ♪ ♪ YEAH YEAH ♪ ♪ HEY I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW IT KNOW IT KNOW IT ♪ ♪ HEY HAVE A VOICE IN THIS WORLD ♪ ♪ BUT I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE IN THIS WORLD ♪ ♪ SHARE MY SONGS FOR YEARS TO COME ♪ ♪ GO 'HEAD, GIVE ME MY STAR ON HOLLYWOOD ♪ ♪ I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE ♪ ♪ I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE IN THIS WORLD ♪ ♪ SHARE MY SONGS FOR YEARS TO COME ♪ ♪ GO 'HEAD, GIVE ME MY STAR ON HOLLYWOOD ♪ ♪ I'M GONNA HAVE A VOICE ♪ (CROWD CHEERING) I WENT TO COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY FIRST AND NO SHADE, BUT THEY DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL GOOD ABOUT MY VOICE.

I HAD HEAVY VIBRATO, YOU KNOW, VERY SOULFUL, YOU KNOW?

AND THEY WERE LIKE, "WHAT IS ALL OF THAT?

DON'T SING LIKE THAT.

WE DON'T SING.

THAT'S NOT PROPER SINGING."

SO I WAS LIKE, "ALL RIGHT.

MM-MM.

MM-MM."

GEORGIA STATE SAID, "SHOW US THAT YOU CAN DO WELL DOWN THERE AND YOU CAN TRANSFER HERE."

THEY WERE JUST STARTING THEIR MUSIC INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.

AND I'M LIKE, "I'M ABOUT TO GET OUTTA HERE."

SO I TRANSFERRED TO GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY.

AND YEAH, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

I WAS IN THE UNIVERSITY SINGERS AND THE JAZZ CHOIR, ALL OF THAT.

AND I WAS WALKING THROUGH CAMPUS ONE DAY AND I SAW THESE PICTURES OF THESE THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WITH LOCKS.

AND THE NAME OF THE PLAY WAS "CINDERELLA."

SO I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS AMAZING."

SO I WANTED TO GO SEE THAT.

AND ONCE I SAW THE PLAY, I WAS LIKE, "I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN DOING THIS RIGHT HERE."

SO MY BEST FRIEND NOW, SHERYL LUCKETT, I JOINED HER COMPANY, THE THEORETICALS AT GEORGIA STATE.

AND WHILE WE WERE DOING ONE OF OUR SHOWS, THE ICON, THE GENIUS DIRECTOR, FREDDIE HENDRICKS WAS THERE.

AND AFTER FREDDIE SAW ME PERFORM, HE WAS LIKE, "SON, I WANT YOU TO COME AND BE A PART OF A SHOW WE'RE DOING CALLED (INDISTINCT) SONG."

WHILE I WAS AT THE FREDDIE HENDRICKS YOUTH ENSEMBLE OF ATLANTA, WE WERE REHEARSING FOR (INDISTINCT) SONG, AND THIS VERY ECCENTRIC, JUST OUTRAGEOUS GENIUS ARTIST COMES TO OUR REHEARSAL.

AND I'M LIKE, "WHO IS THIS GUY?"

AND I WAS SINGING MY SOLO AND HE WAS LIKE, "WHO ARE YOU?

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM?

I'M ABOUT TO START MY TOUR AND I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME AND SING WITH ME."

AND THAT WAS THE ARTIST, DONNIE.

AND I WAS LIKE, "SURE."

I WAS LIKE, "IF YOU NEED ME TO COME, I WILL."

HE TOLD ME TO COME.

AND SO I FINISHED MY LAST SEMESTER OF GEORGIA STATE ON TOUR WITH DONNIE IN MILAN.

SO I WAS SINGING AS A PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND SINGER BEFORE I EVEN GRADUATED GEORGIA STATE.

(CROWD CHEERING) (MELLOW MUSIC) ♪ YOU... NEVER MET NO ONE LIKE YOU ♪ ♪ THAT MADE ME FEEL THE WAY YOU DO ♪ ♪ SEXY LITTLE DREAM COME TRUE ♪ ♪ SAY IS IT OKAY IF I GET YOUR NAME ♪ ♪ CALL YOU LATER MAYBE WE CAN PLAY ♪ ♪ DON'T KISS ME AND JUST WALK AWAY ♪ ♪ YOU CAN TURN ME ON TO SOMETHING ♪ ♪ BABY TAKE THE LEAD I'LL FOLLOW YOUR INSTRUCTIONS ♪ ♪ WE CAN TAKE OUR TIME THERE AIN'T NO NEED IN RUSHING ♪ ♪ THERE SHOULDN'T BE TOO MUCH TO SAY ♪ ♪ SO WE DON'T NEED NO DISCUSSION ♪ ♪ NO, NO ♪ ♪ THIS HERE IS ALL ABOUT VIBES, YEAH ♪ ♪ WE'RE MAKING LOVE WITH OUR MINDS, YEAH ♪ ♪ FEELINGS, WE CAN NOT DESCRIBE, YEAH ♪ ♪ CAN WE HOLD THIS MOMENT IN TIME, YEAH ♪ ♪ YOU MAKE ME WANT TO JUMP UP IN THE AIR ♪ ♪ AND STAY THERE ♪ ♪ JUMP UP IN THE AIR AND STAY THERE ♪ ♪ JUMP UP IN THE AIR AND STAY THERE ♪ ♪ YOU ♪ ♪ ME ♪ ♪ OUI ♪ ♪ SAY IT ♪ ♪ YOU ♪ ♪ ME ♪ ♪ OUI ♪ ♪ SAY IT ♪ ♪ YOU ♪ ♪ ME ♪ ♪ OUI ♪ ♪ SAY IT ♪ ♪ YOU ♪ ♪ ME ♪ ♪ OUI ♪ ♪ SAY YOU ♪ ♪ SAY ME SAY US SAY OUI ♪ ♪ BABY WON'T YOU SAY IT ♪ ♪ SAY YOU ♪ ♪ SAY ME ♪ ♪ SAY US ♪ ♪ SAY OUI ♪ ♪ SAY YOU ♪ ♪ SAY ME ♪ ♪ SAY US ♪ ♪ SAY OUI ♪ ♪ SAY YOU ♪ ♪ SAY ME ♪ ♪ SAY US ♪ ♪ SAY OUI ♪ ♪ DAMN BABY ♪ ♪ I USED TO LOVE AND THEN LEAVE THEM ♪ ♪ BUT HOT DAMN BABY ♪ ♪ I THINK YOU'RE THE ONE ♪ ♪ AND I GOT PLANS BABY ♪ ♪ I GOT PLANS FOR ME AND YOU ♪ ♪ WAIT WAIT BABY ♪ ♪ I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY ♪ ♪ BUT YOU STILL AIN'T TOLD ME YOUR NAME ♪ ♪ TRYING THE AND I THINK IT'S KIND OF CUTE ♪ ♪ TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO DO ♪ ♪ YOU CAN YOU CAN ♪ ♪ YOU CAN TURN ME ON TO SOMETHING ♪ ♪ BABY TAKE THE LEAD I'LL FOLLOW YOUR INSTRUCTIONS ♪ ♪ WE CAN TAKE OUR TIME THERE AIN'T NO NEED IN RUSHING ♪ ♪ THERE SHOULDN'T BE TOO MUCH TO SAY ♪ ♪ SO WE DON'T NEED NO DISCUSSION ♪ ♪ NO, NO ♪ ♪ THIS HERE IS ALL ABOUT VIBES, YEAH ♪ ♪ WE'RE MAKING LOVE WITH OUR MINDS, YEAH ♪ ♪ FEELINGS WE CAN NOT DESCRIBE, YEAH ♪ ♪ CAN WE HOLD THIS MOMENT IN TIME, YEAH ♪ ♪ YOU MAKE ME WANT TO JUMP UP IN THE AIR ♪ ♪ AND STAY THERE ♪ ♪ JUMP UP IN THE AIR AND STAY THERE ♪ ♪ JUMP UP IN THE AIR AND STAY THERE ♪ ♪ YOU ♪ ♪ ME ♪ ♪ OUI ♪ ♪ SAY IT ♪ ♪ YOU ♪ ♪ ME ♪ ♪ OUI ♪ ♪ SAY IT ♪ ♪ YOU ♪ ♪ ME ♪ ♪ OUI ♪ ♪ SAY YOU ♪ ♪ SAY ME ♪ ♪ SAY US ♪ ♪ SAY OUI ♪ ♪ SAY YOU ♪ ♪ SAY ME ♪ ♪ SAY US ♪ ♪ SAY OUI ♪ ♪ SAY YOU ♪ ♪ SAY ME ♪ ♪ SAY US ♪ ♪ SAY OUI ♪ ♪ SAY YOU ♪ ♪ SAY ME ♪ ♪ SAY US ♪ ♪ SAY OUI ♪ (CROWD CHEERING) WHO ARE MY MUSICAL INFLUENCES?

NUMBER ONE, KAREN CLARK SHEARD, FROM THE CLARK SISTERS.

I JUST, I COULD LISTEN TO HER ALL DAY, ANY DAY, EVERY DAY.

I LOVE DONNIE.

DONNIE IS A GENIUS.

HE JUST, DONNIE ALONE WITH FREDDIE HENDRICKS LET ME KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH I'M TALENTED, I'M HERE TO MAKE THIS PLACE BETTER.

SO DONNIE DEFINITELY.

ALGEBRA BLESSETT.

I LOVE ALGEBRA AS A SONGWRITER.

JUST HER STYLE, JUST HER INFLECTIONS.

OF COURSE I LOVE PRINCE, BUT THAT HAPPENED LATER.

BECAUSE LIKE, AS A KID, I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF KIDS THAT BE BUMPING PRINCE, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

BECAUSE PRINCE IS LIKE SOME GROWN FOLK STUFF, YOU KNOW?

SO I LOVE MICHAEL, OF COURSE.

MICHAEL WAS MY BIGGER INFLUENCE GROWING UP AS A CHILD.

BUT AS I GOT OLDER, PEOPLE START SAYING I REMINDED THEM OF PRINCE OR RAHSAAN PATTERSON.

SO I WAS LIKE, "WHO?

LET ME LISTEN TO THEIR MUSIC."

AND WHEN I LISTENED TO THEM I WAS LIKE, "WOW!"

THEIR SONGS LIKE, IT FELT LIKE THERE WERE SONGS THAT I WOULD WRITE FOR MYSELF.

FOR SOMEONE OR FOR ARTISTS THAT ARE THAT MUCH SIMILAR TO ME I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO JUST REALLY JUST UNDERSTAND THEIR STORY 'CAUSE MAYBE THEY WENT THROUGH SOME THINGS THAT I WOULD PROBABLY APPROACH IT THE SAME WAY BECAUSE WE'RE JUST SO MUCH ALIKE.

LIKE YOUR STOKLEYS.

LIKE YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT.

SO ALL THOSE ARTISTS THAT I FEEL REPRESENT AN ENERGY THAT I REPRESENT INSPIRE ME.

GRACE JONES, DAVID BOWIE, BILLY JOEL, LADY GAGA.

JANELLE MONET, THAT'S MY SISTER.

ERICA BADU.

YEAH.

ONE, TWO, THREE, HIT ME.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) CAN Y'ALL CLAP UP?

ALL RIGHT, THE OTHER WAY.

HIT ME.

LET'S HAVE SOME FUN.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE ♪ ♪ TO IMPROVE MY LOVE AND BE YOUR MAN ♪ ♪ I DON'T APPRECIATE WHAT'S HAPPENING ♪ ♪ OH OH OH OH ♪ ♪ YOU'RE PLAYING HARD TO GET ♪ ♪ I DON'T UNDERSTAND ♪ ♪ LISTEN ♪ ♪ 'CAUSE I FORGAVE YOU EVERY TIME YOU SAID SORRY ♪ ♪ BELIEVED YOU WHEN YOU SAID YOU LOVED ME AGAIN ♪ ♪ ALL I REALLY WANT IS TO BE HAPPY ♪ ♪ OH BABY I SWEAR ♪ ♪ IF YOU PLEASE GIVE ME ♪ ♪ COME ON SAY OH OH ♪ ♪ ANOTHER CHANCE ♪ ♪ OH OH I'LL PROVE MY LOVE ♪ ♪ OH OH AND BE YOUR MAN ♪ ♪ I LOVE YOU BABY ♪ ♪ I NEED YOU BABY ♪ ♪ I WANT YOU BABY ♪ ♪ IF YOU TAKE ME BACK BABY ♪ ♪ LORD HEAR WHAT I SAY TO YOU ♪ ♪ THE MISTAKES THAT I MADE ♪ ♪ I SWEAR I'LL NEVER DO AGAIN ♪ ♪ OH OH OH OH WAIT ♪ ♪ WAIT A MINUTE PRETTY BABY ♪ ♪ WAIT LITTLE LADY ♪ ♪ WAIT A MINUTE PLEASE BABY ♪ ♪ BEFORE YOU GO AND WALK AWAY FROM ME ♪ ♪ PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE ♪ ♪ BABY CAN'T YOU SEE ♪ ♪ I KNOW I MESSED UP BUT GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ PLEASE GIVE ME OH OH ANOTHER CHANCE ♪ THERE YA GO.

♪ OH OH I'LL PROVE MY LOVE ♪ ♪ OH OH AND BE YOUR MAN ♪ ♪ I LOVE YOU ♪ ♪ I NEED YOU ♪ ♪ I WANT YOU BABY ♪ ♪ GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE ♪ ♪ GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE ♪ ♪ GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE ♪ ♪ OH OH OH OH OH ♪ ♪ OH OH OH ♪ ♪ OH OH OH AND BE YOUR MAN ♪ ♪ I LOVE YOU BABY ♪ ♪ I NEED YOU BABY ♪ ♪ I WANT YOU BABY ♪ ♪ I NEED ANOTHER CHANCE BABY ♪ ♪ I NEED ANOTHER CHANCE BABY ♪ ♪ I KNOW YOU WANT ME BABY ♪ ♪ SO COME AND GET IT ♪ ♪ ANOTHER CHANCE ♪ ♪ YES WE GOT TO KEEP IT REAL ♪ ♪ OH OH OH OH OH OH ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY JUST RIDE WITH ME ♪ ♪ JUST RIDE WITH ME ♪ ♪ WAIT A MINUTE I KNOW THE CITY WINERY ♪ ♪ Y'ALL FEELING REAL FANCY ♪ ♪ BUT LET'S JUST HAVE SOME FUN ♪ ♪ HANDS UP HANDS UP EVERYBODY ♪ ♪ JUST ROCK WITH ME ♪ ♪ JUST ROCK WITH ME JUST ROCK WITH ME ♪ ♪ JUST ROCK WITH ME ♪ ♪ THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT BABY ♪ ♪ THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT BABY ♪ ♪ PLEASE GIVE ME SAY ♪ ♪ OH OH OH ♪ ♪ ANOTHER CHANCE ♪ ♪ OH OH OH OH OH ♪ ♪ I WANT MY LOVE ♪ ♪ CAN BE YOUR MAN ♪ ♪ 'CAUSE I LOVE YOU ♪ ♪ I NEED YOU ♪ ♪ AND I WANT YOU ♪ ♪ CAN I HAVE YOU BABY ♪ ♪ CAN I HAVE YOU BABY ♪ ♪ COME ON SOLANDRIA ♪ ♪ WALK THAT WAY HERE WE GO ♪ ♪ KA KA KA KA KA KA ♪ ♪ CHI CHI CHI CHI CHAO ♪ ♪ ALL RIGHT NOW IT'S YOUR TURN ♪ ♪ SAY GIVE IT TO ME BABY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME BABY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME GIRL ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME GIRL ♪ ♪ SAY GIVE IT TO ME BABY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME BABY ♪ ♪ GIVE TO TO ME GIRL ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME GIRL ♪ ♪ SAY GIVE IT TO ME BABY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME BABY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME GIRL ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME GIRL ♪ ♪ SAY GIVE IT TO ME BABY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME BABY ♪ ♪ ALL RIGHT NOW BABY Y'ALL BETTER SAY IT HONEY ♪ ♪ HERE WE GO ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ GIVE ME THAT STUFF ♪ ♪ THE FUNK THE STUFF THAT FUNKY STUFF ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ GIVE ME THAT STUFF ♪ ♪ THE FUNK THE STUFF THAT FUNKY STUFF ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ THE STUFF THAT SWEET FUN STUFF ♪ ♪ WHOA ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ OVER HERE GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ IN THE MIDDLE WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ OVER HERE WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ DU DU DU DU ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ HERE WE GO ♪ ♪ GIVE IT TO ME GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ YEAH GIVE IT TO ME GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ GIVE THE STUFF, MY LORD ♪ ♪ THAT SWEET FUNKY STUFF ♪ (CROWD CHEERING) WHAT DO I DO WHEN I HAVE CREATIVE BLOCKS?

I JUST UNPLUG.

I JUST UNPLUG AND GO HAVE FUN.

YOU KNOW, GO WALK IN THE PARK, GO HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS.

GO SEE A MOVIE.

YEAH, GO SHOPPING.

(LAUGHS) I JUST DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

I FEEL THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO FOLLOW GOD'S DESIGN FOR YOUR LIFE.

WHEN YOU JUST BE IN TUNE WITH WHAT FEELS GOOD.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

AND RECENTLY, I STARTED APPLYING THIS THOUGHT TO MY LIFE.

I JUST TRY TO ALIGN ALL MY ACTIONS WITH LOVE AND RESPECT FOR GOD.

LOVE AND RESPECT FOR MYSELF AND LOVE AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS.

AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU ALLOW GOD'S DESIGN TO TAKE PLACE AND NOBODY CAN TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

SO YEAH, YOU DO THAT AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

WHAT MOTIVATES ME TO CREATE.

THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M MADE TO DO.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

A CAR IS MADE TO DRIVE.

AN AIRPLANE IS MADE TO FLY.

I'M MADE TO, I WAS CREATED TO CREATE, TO BE AN ARTIST, TO DO EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING.

I'M JUST HERE TO MAKE SURE YOU EMBRACE YOUR SUPERPOWER 'CAUSE I'MA EMBRACE MINE.

♪ SAW ME RIDING IN MY BRAND NEW CAR ♪ ♪ PULLED ME TO THE SIDE ♪ ♪ YOU HEARD I WAS A STAR OH BABY ♪ ♪ I KNOW YOU WANT A BETTER LIFE ♪ ♪ CLAP ♪ (MELLOW MUSIC) ♪ TELL MY BABE WHAT'S YOUR FANTASY ♪ ♪ EVERYTHING YOU WANT AIN'T ALWAYS WHAT YOU NEED ♪ ♪ OH BABY I PROMISE I'MA LOVE YOU RIGHT ♪ ♪ AREN'T YOU TIRED OF TEARS RUNNING DOWN YOUR FACE ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ LOOKING FOR LOVE ALL YOUR LIFE ♪ ♪ BUT IT'S GOT TO START INSIDE ♪ ♪ CLAP ♪ (MELLOW MUSIC) ♪ EVERYBODY'S RUNNING 'ROUND ♪ ♪ THEY TRYING TO GET RICH ♪ ♪ MAKE THAT MONEY FAST ♪ ♪ LOSE THAT MONEY QUICK ♪ ♪ OH BABY ♪ ♪ I KNOW YOU WANT A BETTER LIFE ♪ ♪ YOU WANT A BETTER LIFE BABY ♪ ♪ I'MA SHOW YOU HOW TO GET IT HONEY ♪ ♪ YES RIGHT ♪ ♪ SO CLOSE YOUR EYES BABY GIRL ♪ ♪ AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE ♪ ♪ 'CAUSE I'M GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU UNCONDITIONALLY ♪ ♪ OH BABY ♪ ♪ I PROMISE I'MA LOVE YOU RIGHT ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ AREN'T YOU TIRED OF TEARS RUNNING DOWN YOUR FACE ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ LOOKING FOR LOVE ALL YOUR LIFE ♪ ♪ BUT IT'S GOT TO START INSIDE ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ BUT IT'S GOT TO START INSIDE ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ BUT IT'S GOT TO START INSIDE ♪ ♪ YOU WANT LOVE ♪ ♪ THEN GO AND GET WHAT YOU NEED ♪ ♪ BUT IT'S GOT TO START INSIDE EVERYBODY WANT TO BELIEVE ♪ ♪ IF LOVE IS WATCHING YOU, GET WHAT YOU NEED ♪ ♪ BUT IT'S GOT TO START INSIDE ♪ ♪ INSIDE BABY INSIDE BABY ♪ ♪ OH YEAH OH YEAH... ♪ ♪ AREN'T YOU TIRED OF TEARS RUNNING DOWN YOUR FACE ♪ ♪ AREN'T YOU TIRED OF TEARS RUNNING DOWN YOUR FACE ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ OH OH OH OH ♪ ♪ OH OH OH OH ♪ ♪ OH OH OH OH ♪ (CROWD CHEERING) WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE SOMEONE EVER GAVE ME?

IT PROBABLY CAME FROM MY GRANDFATHER AND HE'S MY BIGGEST INFLUENCE.

HE'S A ROCKSTAR.

YOU KNOW, MOST SOUTHERN PREACHERS ARE ROCK STARS ANYWAY, THEY GET SO ELABORATE.

YOU KNOW, HE HAD RINGS ON EVERY FINGER.

HE WOULD LIKE TELL MY GRAND MAMA WHO WAS SIT ON THE SIDE, "TELL ME YOU LOVE ME BABY."

LIKE JUST, HE WAS VERY EXTRA.

- I GAVE YOU THAT EQUIPMENT HOPING FOR ALL SINCERITY THAT A WONDERFUL MAN THAT YOU COULD BE.

I HOPE YOU COME UP TO IT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE QUALIFICATION.

NO DOUBT YOU HAVE QUALIFIED, BUT I WANT YOU TO COME UP TO IT.

THEN WHEN YOU DO THAT, IF ANYTHING IF I'VE BEEN REAL, CAN BE REAL.

IF I'M IN MY GRAVE, I'LL BE ABLE TO TURN OVER, WAVE AT YOU AND SAY, WELL DONE, SON.

- HE SAW THE LIGHT IN ME BEFORE I SAW IT.

AND I WOULD ASK HIM, "GRANDDADDY, WHAT DO I NEED TO, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO, WHAT AM I DOING WRONG, WHAT AM I?"

AND I JUST REALIZED THIS NUGGET FOR MYSELF RECENTLY.

LIKE, YOU CAN'T TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO.

LIKE, IT'S BEST WHEN YOU KIND OF GUIDE THEM AND INSPIRE THEM AND EMPOWER THEM, BUT IT'S BEST TO HAVE THEM FIGURE IT OUT FOR THEIR SELF, 'CAUSE YOU APPRECIATE IT MORE.

SO HE UNDERSTOOD THAT, SO THE ADVICE THAT HE GAVE ME AND 'CAUSE I WOULD ALWAYS WANT HIM JUST LIKE, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO GRANDDADDY?

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

SO IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY, WITHOUT TELLING ME, HE WOULD JUST SAY, "STOP RUNNING, SON.

STOP RUNNING FROM BEING THE BEST YOU CAN BE."

(GENTLE MUSIC) ♪ HMM... ♪ ♪ HMM... ♪ ♪ OH... ♪ ♪ WHOA OH OH OH ♪ ♪ AH YEAH ♪ ♪ YEAH YEAH ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ GIVING UP ♪ ♪ IS HARD TO DO ♪ ♪ WHEN YOU ♪ ♪ REALLY ♪ ♪ LOVE SOMEONE ♪ ♪ GIVING UP YEAH ♪ ♪ SO HARD TO DO ♪ ♪ WHEN YOU ♪ ♪ STILL DEPEND ♪ ♪ UPON ♪ ♪ HER WARM AND TENDER TOUCH ♪ ♪ HER KISS AND HUG ♪ ♪ CARESS ♪ ♪ OOH AND IT USED TO MEAN SO MUCH ♪ ♪ OOH ♪ ♪ AND BRING YOU HAPPINESS ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ GIVING UP ♪ ♪ SO HARD TO DO ♪ ♪ SAID I TRIED ♪ ♪ I TRIED ♪ ♪ BUT IT JUST AIN'T NO USE ♪ ♪ BUT MY LIGHT OF HOPE IS BURNING DIM ♪ ♪ BUT ♪ ♪ BUT IN MY HEART I PRAY ♪ ♪ OOH, THAT MY LOVE AND FAITH IN THE GIRL ♪ ♪ OH... ♪ ♪ WILL BRING HER BACK SOMEDAY ♪ ♪ HEY... ♪ (SMOOTH JAZZ MUSIC) (SMOOTH JAZZ MUSIC) ♪ I'M TALKING 'BOUT ♪ ♪ WHEN YOU REALLY LOVE SOMEONE ♪ ♪ YES ♪ ♪ HEY ♪ ♪ WHETHER ♪ ♪ WHETHER SHE KNOWS IT OR NOT ♪ ♪ SHE ♪ ♪ REALLY NEEDS ME TOO ♪ ♪ THE LITTLE GIRL IS ALL I GOT ♪ ♪ YES SHE IS ♪ ♪ AND GIVING UP ♪ ♪ GIVING UP ♪ ♪ IS SO HARD TO DO ♪ ♪ HEY ♪ ♪ GIVING UP ♪ ♪ OH LORD ♪ ♪ HEY ♪ ♪ IS SO HARD TO DO ♪ ♪ GIVING UP YEAH ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ SO HARD TO ♪ ♪ SO HARD TO ♪ ♪ SO HARD TO ♪ ♪ YEAH, I CAN'T DO IT ♪ ♪ I CAN'T DO IT ♪ ♪ COULD YOU DO IT ♪ ♪ COULD YOU DO IT ♪ ♪ I CAN'T DO IT ♪ ♪ I CAN'T DO IT ♪ ♪ COULD YOU DO IT?

♪ ♪ COULD YOU DO IT?

♪ ♪ BUT NO, NO, NO, NO ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ NO, NO, NO, NO, NO ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ NO, NO, NO, NO, NO ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ NO, NO, NO, NO, NO ♪ ♪ HEY ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ HEY ♪ ♪ GIVING UP YEAH ♪ ♪ GIVING UP ♪ ♪ WHAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME ♪ ♪ AND NO ♪ ♪ BUT IT JUST AIN'T NO USE ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ IT JUST AIN'T NO USE ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ NO... ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ NO ♪ - MAKE SOME NOISE IF YOU LOVE YOURSELF.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS, BABY ♪ HEY ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC ENDING) - WHAT'S MY BIGGEST CAREER MEMORY TO DATE?

THERE'S A LOT OF THEM, A LOT OF THEM.

BUT ONE THAT STANDS OUT THE MOST, IS MEETING ERYKAH BADU.

AND, I WAS HIRED TO BE A PART OF THE DALLAS SOUL MUSIC CONFERENCE.

SHE WAS HOSTING THE EVENT AND I WAS PERFORMING, BUT IN THE MIDST OF MY PERFORMING, ERYKAH BADU COMES OUT ON STAGE AND GETS ON HER KNEES AND JUST STARTS TAKING, LIKE, PHOTOS OF ME AND EVERYTHING SO I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, JUST STAY POISED, I'M RAHBI, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

YOU KNOW?

SO THAT WAS THAT AND EVEN WHEN I WENT OFF STAGE, I DIDN'T GO TALK TO HER OR ANYTHING BECAUSE I JUST I DIDN'T WANT TO BE ANOTHER ONE OF THEM ARTISTS JUST "HEY."

I DON'T KNOW, I JUST FEEL WHAT'S MEANT TO HAPPEN, HAPPENS.

AND I ALWAYS SAY THAT.

SO I JUST WENT HOME, FLEW BACK TO ATLANTA.

AND I STARTED GETTING PHONE CALLS, THEY'RE LIKE, "ERYKAH BADU WANTS TO KNOW WHO WAS THAT LITTLE GUY SINGING UP THERE?"

I WAS LIKE, "REALLY?"

I SAID, "WELL JUST TELL HER I WAS WHAT'S UP?

IF SHE EVER NEEDS AN OPENER, YOU KNOW FOR A SHOW, LET ME KNOW."

AND SHE ACTUALLY SAID YES AND SHE WANTED ME TO OPEN FOR HER.

- RAHBI WAS PHENOMENAL.

HE GAVE ME ONE OF HIS RINGS AND WE ARE NOW WONDER TWINS.

I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM A RING AS WELL.

AS SOON AS THEY BRING MY RINGS BACK IN HERE.

(RAHBI LAUGHS) HOW'D YOU ENJOY THE SHOW?

- OH MY GOD, IT'S LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING YOU.

AND I WAS THANKFUL TO HAVE MY FIRST BIG, THAT WAS MY FIRST BIG, LARGEST, THE FIRST BIG ARTIST THAT I OPENED FOR WAS AT THE CIVIC CENTER IN ATLANTA FOR ERYKAH BADU AND SHE WENT ABOUT NO CONTACT THE PROMOTER THIS, NO, IT WAS JUST, SHE'S LIKE, "LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE IT WORK, JUST BE HERE AT THIS TIME."

AND FOR THAT I AM GRATEFUL.

SHE IS MY EARTH ANGEL AND SHE IS STILL SUPPORTIVE TO THIS DAY.

♪ YOU WINED AND YOU DINED ME ♪ ♪ GAVE ME MY LIFE ♪ ♪ SHOWED ME THE FINER THINGS ♪ ♪ MONEY COULD BUY ♪ ♪ INVITED ME TO YOUR CLUB OF CLONES ♪ ♪ AND NOW MY OPINION ♪ ♪ IS NOT MY OWN ♪ ♪ WHO GOES THERE ♪ ♪ IT'S MY FACE ♪ ♪ ON MAGAZINES ♪ ♪ KIND OF SAD ♪ ♪ THE REAL ME ♪ ♪ IS NEVER SEEN ♪ ♪ I CRY OUT ♪ ♪ FOR FREEDOM ♪ ♪ BUT IT'S TOO LATE ♪ ♪ THAT'S THE PRICE ♪ ♪ YOU PAY WHEN ♪ ♪ YOU CHOOSE TO DATE ♪ ♪ HELLO WORLD ♪ ♪ MEDIA ♪ ♪ OH ♪ ♪ THIS IS ME ♪ ♪ YEAH YEAH ♪ ♪ HELLO WORLD ♪ ♪ MEDIA OH ♪ ♪ THIS IS ME ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ THEY FROWN ♪ ♪ WHEN YOU WALK ♪ ♪ INTO THE ROOM ♪ ♪ WALK INTO THE ROOM ♪ ♪ BUT HOW CAN ♪ ♪ THEY LOVE THEMSELVES ♪ ♪ IF THEY DON'T LOVE YOU ♪ ♪ YOU ♪ ♪ IT'S NOT RIGHT ♪ ♪ BUT IT'S SURE ENOUGH OKAY ♪ ♪ ONE DAY THEY WILL WAKE UP AND IT'LL BE A BETTER PLACE ♪ ♪ BUT UNTIL ♪ ♪ UNTIL THEY OPEN THEIR EYES ♪ ♪ UNTIL THEY OPEN THEIR EYES ♪ ♪ UNTIL THEY SHED THEIR DISGUISE ♪ ♪ UNTIL THEY SHED THEIR DISGUISE ♪ ♪ THEY WILL BE TRAPPED IN THIS LIFE ♪ ♪ THEY'RE NOTHING BUT SOME PRISONERS ♪ ♪ PRISONERS ♪ ♪ OF A CLOSED MIND ♪ ♪ HEY YEAH ♪ ♪ HELLO WORLD ♪ ♪ WAVE YOUR HANDS IF YOU HEAR ME ♪ ♪ THIS IS ME ♪ ♪ CAN ANYBODY FEEL ME ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ OH ♪ ♪ THIS IS ME ♪ ♪ AH... ♪ ♪ I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO SEE NO RACE ♪ ♪ ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE ♪ ♪ AYE ♪ ♪ I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO SEE NO RICH ♪ ♪ ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE ♪ ♪ AYE ♪ ♪ I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO SEE NO POOR ♪ ♪ ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE ♪ ♪ AYE ♪ ♪ I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO SEE NO POOR ♪ ♪ ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE ♪ ♪ AYE ♪ ♪ I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO NEVER JUDGE ♪ ♪ ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE ♪ ♪ AYE ♪ ♪ I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO ONLY LOVE ♪ ♪ ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE ♪ ♪ AYE ♪ ♪ I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE THAT WE ARE ONE ♪ ♪ ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE ♪ ♪ AYE ♪ ♪ IF YOU AGREE THEN SING THIS SONG ♪ ♪ ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE ♪ ♪ HELLO WORLD ♪ ♪ OH YEAH ♪ ♪ I'M ORIGINAL ♪ ♪ DON'T LIBEL ME ♪ ♪ IT'S SOCIETY ♪ ♪ YOU AND I ♪ ♪ GONNA... ♪ ♪ NOW WISH ♪ ♪ NOW... ♪ ♪ UNTIL YOU FEEL BETTER ♪ ♪ UNTIL THEY SHED THEIR DISGUISE ♪ ♪ THEY HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN THIS LIFE ♪ ♪ UNTIL THEY OPEN THEIR EYES ♪ ♪ UNTIL THEY ALL REALIZE ♪ ♪ THEY HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN THIS LIFE ♪ ♪ PRISONERS OF A CLOSED MIND ♪ (AUDIENCE CHEERING) THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT, THREE ELEMENTS, THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN YOUR MUSIC, WHICH MAKES IT THE ATLANTA SOUND.

IT HAS TO HAVE GOSPEL INFLUENCE.

IT HAS TO HAVE FUNK.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THREE, I THINK IT'S JUST THOSE TWO.

YEAH, YOU NEED TO HAVE GOSPEL INFLUENCE AND YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT FUNK IN YOUR MUSIC AND THAT TO ME, AND OF COURSE, JUST THE WAY YOU'RE TALKING.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

IT'S THAT ATLANTA TWANG.

YOU KNOW YOU DIP, YOU SCOOP YOUR WORDS, YOU SCOOP YOUR NOTES.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST SOUTHERN BLACK ANYWAY.

YOU KNOW, SO, YEAH, THAT'S THE ATLANTA SOUND, GOSPEL MIXED WITH FUNK MIXED WITH THAT SWAG.

PEOPLE DON'T EVEN SAY SWAG NO MORE.

BUT YEAH, THE WAY WE TALK.

(LAUGHS) HOW CAN YOU EXPERIENCE ATLANTA SOUND?

IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER, IT'S GETTING HARDER, BECAUSE IT'S SO MANY PEOPLE MOVING HERE FROM OTHER CITIES AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE ARE NOT FROM ATLANTA ANYMORE.

SO IT'S HARDER TO FIND IT, BUT FAMILY CHURCHES, FAMILY CHURCHES, SMALL CHURCHES, MOODS MUSIC IN LITTLE FIVE POINTS.

THANK GOD THAT WE STILL HAVE DARRYL AT MOODS MUSIC.

OTHER THAN THAT, "STRANGE" IS A CONCERT SERIES THAT I DO AND VERY MUCH LIKE PRINCE.

I TAKE MY CUES FROM PRINCE, AND WHEN PRINCE WOULD SEEK OUT NEW ARTISTS, HE WOULDN'T EVEN TELL THEM ABOUT IT HE WOULD JUST, 'CAUSE WE ALWAYS KEEP OUR EAR TO THE STREETS, AND WE JUST GO POP UP AT THESE SHOWS AND BE ON THE SIDE WHATEVER AND JUST LOOK AND SEE WHAT THEY GOT GOING ON.

AND IF YOU FEEL, 'CAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE LIKE, "CAN I BE ON YOUR SHOW?"

EVERYBODY CAN'T GRACE A STRANGE SHOW.

A STRANGE STAGE.

YOU HAVE TO BE, FIRST OF ALL IT HAS TO BE COMING FROM AN AUTHENTIC PLACE.

YOU HAVE TO BE OFFERING SOMETHING TO THE WORLD IN YOUR MUSIC.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE ORIGINAL YOURSELF, WHATEVER, EITHER IN ROCK, IN FUNK, IN R&B, IN SOUL, IN THE MIDST OF WHATEVER GENRE YOU'RE EMBRACING, YOU NEED TO STAND OUT IN THAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

SO I GO OUT IN THE CITY, GO TO PEOPLE'S SHOWS AND I BE LIKE, "OKAY, I LIKE WHAT THEY'RE DOING."

AND SO I BRING THEM TO THE STRANGE STAGE.

SO YOU WANNA SEE PROGRESSIVE ARTISTS IN ATLANTA THAT I FEEL ARE REPRESENTING ATLANTA PROPERLY, YOU COME TO "RAHBI PRESENT'S STRANGE" AND YOU WILL SEE THAT.

JANELLE MONAE ASKED ME, AND THE WONDERLAND ARTS SOCIETY, HER TEAM, ASKED ME, "HOW DO YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT THESE SHOWS?

LIKE YOU HAVE THESE DIFFERENT RACES, THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT DIFFERENT SEXUALITIES, DIFFERENT GENRES.

PEOPLE FROM THE ROCK WORLD, FROM THE FUNK WORLD, FROM THE FOLK WORLD, FROM SOUL, FROM GOSPEL."

THAT'S JUST, THAT'S REALLY WHO I AM.

LIKE, IF YOU LISTEN TO MY MUSIC YOU HEAR ELEMENTS OF ALL OF THAT.

SO I GO TO ALL OF THOSE SHOWS AND I HAVE FRIENDS IN ALL OF THOSE AREAS.

I'VE BEEN GOING TO GAY CLUBS SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND BEING INSPIRED BY DRAG SHOWS.

AND I COME FROM THE CHURCH AND I AM CLASSICALLY TRAINED.

AND I LIKE FUNK AND ROCK MUSIC AND I GO TO SEE HERO THE BAND.

AND I DID SING BACKGROUND FOR DONNIE WHICH INTRODUCED ME TO INDIA.ARIE AND GEEVA AND YOU KNOW?

AND ALL OF THESE OTHER AMAZING NEO-SOUL ARTISTS.

SO, HOW DO I DO IT?

I FULLY EMBRACE ME, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

AND ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE EXTENSIONS OF THAT.

♪ THESE CROOKED COPS ♪ ♪ THESE CROOKED... COPS♪ ♪ TAKE MY VIBE NO ♪ (MELLOW MUSIC) ♪ INHALE EXHALE EVERYBODY BREATHE ♪ ♪ CAN'T LET THE SITUATION GET THE BEST OF ME ♪ ♪ THESE CROOKED COPS ♪ ♪ THEY WILL NOT TAKE MY VIBE ♪ ♪ NO ♪ YOU CAN SNAP WITH ME, HERE WE GO.

♪ INHALE EXHALE EVERYBODY BREATHE ♪ ♪ CAN'T LET THE SITUATION GET THE BEST OF ME ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ THESE CROOKED COPS ♪ ♪ THEY WILL NOT TAKE MY VIBE ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ THESE CROOKED COPS ♪ ♪ THEY WILL NOT TAKE MY... ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ THESE CROOKED COPS ♪ ♪ THEY WILL NOT TAKE MY VIBE ♪ ♪ NO ♪ ♪ VIBE ♪ ♪ EVERYTHING GONNA BE ALRIGHT ♪ ♪ BY AND BY AND BY ♪ ♪ WHEN THE MORNING COMES ♪ ♪ INHALE EXHALE ♪ ♪ ALL MY TRIALS WILL BE OVER ♪ ♪ BY AND BY ♪ ♪ NO NO ♪ ♪ NO NO ♪ (JAZZ FUNK MUSIC) ♪ HEY ♪ ♪ BY AND BY ♪ ♪ UH HUH HEY ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY BREATHE ♪ ♪ RIGHT HERE ♪ ♪ HEY LORD ♪ (SMOOTH JAZZ MUSIC) MAKE SOME NOISE IN THIS PLACE BABY.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING) ABSOLUTELY.

KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW, WOULD I HAVE GONE ABOUT MY CAREER IN THE SAME WAY?

ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE IT CREATED EXACTLY WHO YOU SEE NOW.

YEAH, I KNOW IT SOUNDS A LITTLE, "EVERYBODY SAYS THAT" BUT IT'S THE TRUTH.

IT MADE ME WHO I AM AND I'M THANKFUL FOR IT, AND I'M CONTINUING TO GROW.

AND I WILL SUGGEST TO PEOPLE, THE SOONER YOU FIGURE OUT WHO YOU ARE, THE FASTER GREAT THINGS START HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

IT TOOK ME A LITTLE LONGER, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

YEAH, BUT THE SOONER YOU REALIZE THAT FOR YOURSELF THE FASTER YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WALK IN YOUR PURPOSE.

YES.

NOW EVERYBODY UP ON YOUR FEET, LET'S HAVE SOME FUN, LET'S HAVE SOME, LET'S GET UP AND IF YOU CAN'T WAIT YOU'RE BORN TO GET UP.

LET'S GET UP, COME ON, COME ON, COME ON.

COME ON BABY, DON'T BE SCARED.

(SCREAMS) HERE WE GO, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY.

JUST ROCK A LITTLE.

♪ IF YOU WANNA BE MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO LEAVE ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ SAY WHAT?

♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ IF YOU WANT TO BE MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO LEAVE ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ MET YOU ON FRIDAY ♪ ♪ PICKED YOU UP ON SATURDAY ♪ ♪ SUNDAY NIGHT YOU'RE CALLING ME ♪ ♪ OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN ♪ ♪ TELLING ME THAT YOU'RE READY ♪ ♪ READY TO ROCK ME STEADY ♪ ♪ ROCK STEADY ♪ ♪ I GOT YOU SO ADDICTED ♪ ♪ I SHOULD HAVE NEVER LET YOU TASTE MY LOVE ♪ ♪ DARN RIGHT I WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN ♪ ♪ BUT I'M NOT READY FOR A LOVE AFFAIR ♪ ♪ STILL YOU ASK ME WHY THIS IS HAPPENING ♪ ♪ WHEN I TOLD YOU THAT ♪ ♪ IF YOU WANNA BE MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO LEAVE ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ WON'T YOU TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ IF YOU WANT TO BE MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO LEAVE ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ NOW EVERYBODY SAY ♪ ♪ DARLING SUGAR ♪ ♪ HONEY ♪ ♪ MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ YOU CAN BE MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ YOU CAN BE MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY SAY ♪ ♪ DARLING SUGAR HONEY ♪ ♪ MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME TAKE IT FROM ME BABY ♪ ♪ YES ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME BABY YEAH ♪ ♪ DARN RIGHT I WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN ♪ ♪ BUT I'M NOT READY FOR A LOVE AFFAIR ♪ ♪ STILL YOU ASK ME WHY THIS IS HAPPENING ♪ ♪ WHEN I TOLD YOU THAT ♪ ♪ IF YOU WANNA BE MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ IF YOU WANNA BE ♪ ♪ IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO LEAVE ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME ♪ ♪ IF YOU WANNA BE ♪ ♪ MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO LEAVE ♪ ♪ MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ FROM ME FROM ME TAKE IT FROM ME♪ ♪ DARLING SUGAR HONEY ♪ ♪ MY WEEKEND LOVER SUGAR SUGAR ♪ ♪ DARLING SUGAR ♪ ♪ HONEY ♪ ♪ MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME BABY YEAH ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME BABY YEAH ♪ EVERY DAY'S A NEW CHOICE.

WE MAKE OUR BEDS AND WE LIE IN THEM.

WHO DO YOU WANNA LAY DOWN WITH?

CHOOSE WISELY.

♪ IF YOU WANNA BE ♪ ♪ BE... ♪ (MELLOW MUSIC) ♪ IF YOU WANNA BE ♪ ♪ BE... ♪ ♪ MY ♪ ♪ WEEKEND LOVER ♪ THANK YOU SO MUCH, I'M RAHBI (CROWD CHEERING) I'M GOING TO BE REMEMBERED AS AN ICON, YEAH.

WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CALL ME THE ICON THAT I AM NOW.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING) (JAZZ-FUNK MUSIC) (JAZZ-FUNK MUSIC) ONE MORE TIME, YEAH, AND EVERYBODY SAY... ♪ DARLING SUGAR HONEY... ♪ ♪ MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ YOU CAN BE MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ YOU CAN BE MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ DARLING SUGAR HONEY... ♪ ♪ MY WEEKEND LOVER ♪ ♪ TAKE IT FROM ME TAKE IT FROM ME BABY ♪ ♪ YEAH, TAKE IT FROM ME BABY YEAH ♪ THANK YOU SO MUCH I LOVE YOU MAMA!

I LOVE YOU DADDY!

THIS IS MY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, MS. SOOKS, RIGHT THERE.

I LOVE YOU ATLANTA!

(ENERGETIC MUSIC) (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) W-A-B-E (MUSIC TONES)