Shawn Stockman's On That Note

Shawn and Antonio sit down and talk about his journey through music. From meeting and working with Teddy Riley, to his time with The Underdogs, Antonio discusses his extensive history as a music producer. Antonio also speaks on working with music legends like Toni Braxton and Beyonce. He goes into detail regarding his process for working with each one on and how to get the best out of someone in t...

Shawn sits down with Scotty and Leaveil from the legendary vocal group The Whispers. The trio share an in depth conversation about groups who inspired The Whispers like The Temptations and The O'Jays. Scotty and Leaveil also talk about the late great Nicholas Caldwell and the impact he had on the group as a whole. The Whispers discuss the importance of ownership of their music catalogue and how it...

Leela and Shawn have a meaningful conversation about her relationship with soul music, how she became inspired to be an artist, and some of her earliest experiences in music. The two speak on her childhood and growing up around soul music before eventually being given the nickname "The God Daughter of Soul" by James Brown. Leela talks about her process as an artist and how what the impact of her m...

Tony Baker sits down with Shawn Stockman and shares a light-hearted and fun conversation about his origins in comedy, who some of his big inspirations are, and how he bounces back if he has a a bad show. From his influences from growing up in Chicago, to only discovering his love of comedy as an adult. Tony dives deep into his process in writing his comedy and how he doesn't write out full scripts...

Laz Alonso joins Shawn Stockman on On That Note for a deep, funny, and inspiring conversation about his journey in acting, being from Washington DC, and how he navigates the film industry. Alonso looks back on being from an Afro-Cuban family and how his roots helped shape his career, and using acting in diverse roles to solidify his grasp on immersing himself in new characters. Laz dives deep into...

Wilmer Valderrama joins Shawn Stockman to talk That ’70s Show, the mystery of where Fez is actually from, learning English through acting, and his journey from Venezuela to Hollywood. He also opens up about breaking out of Fez typecasting, building a decade-long run on NCIS, and the music and culture that shaped him. Wilmer Valderrama sits down with Shawn Stockman for a funny, thoughtful, and insp...

D-Nice reflects on creating classics with KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions, from “Self Destruction” and “My Philosophy” to the journey that led him from the Bronx to Club Quarantine. In this episode, Shawn Stockman sits down with D-Nice for a wide-ranging conversation about hip-hop history, soul music, Scott La Rock, KRS-One’s impact, the records fans may not know he produced, and how Club Quar...

Keri Hilson opens up about the real meaning behind “Pretty Girl Rock,” Kanye West’s last-minute verse on “Knock You Down,” and the 2000s R&B run that made her one of the era’s most important voices. In Part 2 of her conversation with Shawn Stockman, Keri goes deeper into the hit records and behind-the-scenes stories fans have been waiting for — working with Britney Spears during the Blackout era,...

Estelle sits down with Shawn Stockman for a powerful conversation on “American Boy,” meeting Kanye West, manifesting John Legend, and carrying West London soul onto a global stage. In this episode of On That Note, Estelle opens up about the creative instincts, industry lessons, and personal belief system that shaped her career. She reflects on selling thousands of CDs herself, building her own lab...

The-Dream is the hitmaker behind era-defining records like Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” but this conversation goes far beyond the credits. He joins Shawn Stockman to talk about what makes a song timeless, why music has to connect with real people, and how the greatest records carry pieces of life inside them. In this episode, The-Dream opens up about songwriting, fame, lov...

Eric Benét joins Shawn Stockman for a conversation about R&B legends, real vocals, Quincy Jones, Bill Withers, Donny Hathaway, and the stories that shaped his life in music. From True to Myself and “Femininity” to Philly sessions, songwriting, stagecraft, modern performance, and the difference between vocal flash and real feeling, Eric reflects on the craft, discipline, and soul behind his career....

Ralph Tresvant sits down with Shawn Stockman to trace the real New Edition origin story, unpack the truth behind Bobby Brown’s exit, and reveal how “Sensitivity” nearly became something completely different before it turned into his defining solo record. In this episode, Ralph reflects on growing up in Boston, how New Edition first came together, the early Maurice Starr days, the pressure and fall...

Bell Biv DeVoe break down the rise and fall of New Edition, and how their split led to the creation of BBD. Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, and Michael Bivins of Bell Biv DeVoe join On That Note to break down the full story of New Edition — from their formation and early rise with hits like “Candy Girl” to the pressures, conflicts, and eventual split that led to the creation of BBD. They reflect on the...

Brooke Payne reflects on building New Edition from the ground up, developing Boyz II Men into complete performers, and creating the blueprint for what a successful R&B group looks like—from talent and personality to stage presence and showmanship. In this episode, Payne shares the story of discovering young talent in Boston, shaping groups through discipline and performance training, and the philo...

Sean Patrick Thomas joins Shawn Stockman to break down Save the Last Dance, Barbershop, Cruel Intentions, and the career that made him one of the defining Black male leads of the early 2000s. From dance films and romantic dramas to Gen V and The Boys, Sean reflects on the roles that shaped his path, his Guyanese roots and musical influences, and what it meant to break through in Hollywood during a...

Marques Houston joins On That Note to break down You Got Served, the “Never Lie” breakout, and how B2K came together. From dance culture to early 2000s R&B, this episode dives into the moments that defined an era. Marques Houston shares his journey from child actor on Sister, Sister to recording artist and creative force behind some of the most recognizable moments in early 2000s music and film. H...

Tracie Spencer joins Shawn Stockman to share the story behind “Tender Kisses,” winning Star Search at 12, and stepping into the music industry as a kid navigating pressure, fame, and a life that changed almost overnight. From her early days in Waterloo, Iowa to signing with Capitol Records, Tracie reflects on the family foundation that shaped her, the realities of growing up in the spotlight, and...

Bryan-Michael Cox joins Shawn Stockman for a conversation about making R&B classics for Mary J. Blige, Usher, Mariah Carey, and Jagged Edge. From the real-life conversation that led to Usher’s “U Got It Bad” to the hit that helped save Jagged Edge’s career, this episode is packed with legendary music stories. In this episode of On That Note, Shawn sits down with 10-time Grammy-winning producer Bry...

Shanice joins Shawn Stockman to tell the real story behind her global hit “I Love Your Smile,” what it was like singing background vocals with Michael Jackson, and the difficult moment when she lost her record deal while five months pregnant—an honest look at how the music industry treated women at the time. She also shares incredible behind-the-scenes moments from her career, including appearing...

The demo for “Straight Up” was literally pulled out of the trash — and it changed Paula Abdul’s life. In this episode, she takes us inside the creation of Forever Your Girl, her early days at Virgin Records, and the era that connected her to Prince and Janet Jackson’s Control movement. Paula Abdul breaks down how “Straight Up” nearly disappeared before becoming a breakout hit, the creative risks s...

Paula Abdul’s journey from rejection to leading the Laker Girls and choreographing The Jacksons is one of the great underdog stories in pop culture history. In this Part 1 episode, Paula walks through her earliest timeline chronologically — being born premature with lung complications and hip dysplasia, growing up idolizing Gene Kelly and Bob Fosse, and fighting against the idea that she wasn’t bu...

L.A. Reid tells the origin story of how meeting Babyface led to the creation of LaFace Records — and why that partnership changed music forever. He connects the label’s impact to the artists and eras that followed, from Usher to OutKast to the broader R&B legacy. In this conversation, L.A. Reid walks through what it took to build LaFace from the ground up, what made that Babyface collaboration wor...

Sheila E reveals the unforgettable moments that shaped her rise — being called out by Marvin Gaye mid-song, secretly recording percussion for Michael Jackson, and the night Prince pushed her into becoming a solo artist. These stories show the pressure, magic, and turning points behind one of music’s most iconic careers. Sheila E shares the untold stories behind working with three of the biggest le...

Sheila E joins On That Note for Part One of a two-part conversation, tracing the early life and foundation that shaped her into a musical prodigy. Raised in a household where music was constant, Sheila breaks down how rhythm, discipline, and instinct were ingrained in her from a young age — long before fame ever entered the picture. She reflects on growing up surrounded by working musicians, learn...

Reginald Hudlin breaks down the stories behind three culture-shifting lanes: writing Black Panther at Marvel, building Marshall with Chadwick Boseman, and the real origin of House Party. He shares what Eddie Murphy taught him about comedy (“go for the joke”), why passion is the difference between a smart move and a timeless hit, and how one night of inspiration turned into a classic. Hudlin walks...