WENDY WILLIAMS CONTIUNED!!!
O1LT: You’re also a writer for Hip-Hop Weekly right?
Wendy: Yes I am.
O1LT: Where is that magazine? People have been inquiring to me about it?
Wendy: Well ask Charlamagne there he goes right there.
Charlamage enters the room.
Wendy: Charlmagne where is Hip-Hop Weekly? First off of all why don’t we have a copy in this very office? I was just thinking about that earlier today!
Char:-….
Wendy: Once it becomes an actual weekly it will be mass marketed. The thing is, from O magazine to Honey Magazine, they all start out bi-monthly. In this magazine’s case they are bi-weekly but, they will be weekly so it’s great to be apart of this magazine.
O1LT: I actually interviewed Dave Mays recently and he told me you would be bringing celebrity gossip and interesting perspective in a weekly column. How is that column going to differ from your current column in Life & Style?
Wendy: Life & Style had that very same question. When they heard that I had gotten involved with this magazine. They got on the phone and called Kevin but we put everyone at ease. Listen — I’m not talking about Britney Spears in HHW. I wouldn’t do that to the hip-hop nation. By the same token I’m not talking about DMX in Life &Style either.
O1LT: Since you mentioned Britney Spears, what do you think about her recent announcement that she is divorcing Kevin Federline?
Wendy: I’m glad! Good for her. She is still young enough to reinvent her life. If she wants to get married again she is young enough still do that. She’s had her two kids, you know what I mean. She needs to lose the weight because that’s what’s required of a pop star. She needs to get her hair together whether it’s the color or the length. If she needs a little plastic surgery — get it — don’t be embarrassed! Get it and come back hotter then you were with that snake around your neck, and that sexy costume from “Slave for You”, because that’s the Britney that everybody loves!
O1LT: A lot of your fans aren’t happy with Charlamagne—what’s your take on the negative feedback he is receiving?
Wendy: I mean you know no disrespect to the fans but—so?? I like him, I like Charlamagne and I have wanted for a long time to get someone else in on the show because, sometimes your sitting and talking, your talking to yourself—and mind you I have the crazy ability to where I can talk to myself through a microphone and everything but, I like the idea of talking with people or with somebody.
I don’t like the idea of doing a morning show, and you usually only get that kind of conversation from a morning show. It’s not that I can’t do a morning show because I can — I can wake up at 3am and be just a bright as I am at 2pm in the afternoon. But any chance of doing a morning show prior to really solidifying my position in this game by virtue of me being back in NYC — listen I did a morning show in Philly on Power 99 called the “The Dream Team Morning Show”. It was led by men that weren’t qualified to hold my bags. But they refused to call it the Wendy Williams Morning Show. The sexism was absolutely rampant! Oh sure, now you want to give me a morning show — everybody wants me to be on in the morning and do the “Wendy Williams Experience” in the morning. But, back then I couldn’t get so much as an ounce of respect to call it the Wendy Williams Show.
But, what did I like about doing the morning show, with those two bag handlers, was I liked I having people to talk with. Even if it’s me leading the conversation and I prefer it that way. Not for nothing, but at this point in my career if your going to lead me you’ve got to show me that you are qualified by virtue of your experience, your check book, yes — I said it, and your qualifications. I celebrate 20 years in this—what can you show me? I am a leader in this and don’t call it a just “black thing”, which is something that insults me; I’m a leader — show me a white girl who is doing this. What I like about Charlamagne is that he comes to the table with what I need. I don’t have time to concentrate on every freaking story going on in every alley with every Papoose, who with all do respect, I don’t give a shit. But, the hip-hop nation cares and I think of myself as having to be some things to a lot of people. I’ve got to tell the hip-hop nation what the hell happened to Papoose in the alley.
But I also have to talk about Britney and I have to talk about Denzel and Paulette. But I also have to talk about Fat Joe. So, while I’m still very in touch with the hip-hop nation. I don’t have time to get the underbelly of the story — and that’s where Charlamage comes in, and he’s fun to talk to. I don’t need somebody who is in their 30’s and 40’s because I can do that. What I need is someone who is in their 20’s with a younger person’s perspective. Now when he turns 30, he’s out and I’ll have to replace him with a 20 year old. Bada Bum!
O1LT: So I understand that you have a new movie in the works, I have also heard that its coming to big screen is that true?
Wendy: Well my husband/Manager doesn’t like me to talk about it but, yes it’s coming to the big screen.
Wendy’s movie, based on her life, will be distributed by Lions Gate.
O1LT: Wendy I want to thank you for your time. It’s was an honor to speak with you today.
Wendy: Thank you LT
With the departure of beloved sidekick and producer Artie, Wendy has taken on a country cousin by the name of Charlamagne Tha God whose southern draw has made him an instant standout. Though opinions continue to be mixed Wendy, stands in Charlamagne’s corner and will quickly and without hesitation defend her choice to have him apart of her show(s) no matter who disagrees.
O1LT: Where does Charlamagne Tha God come from?
CTG: Charlemagne was a Roman Emperor who was a great warrior that had a high respect for religion and education and what’s he went about spreading. I came across that name because when I used to hustle on the block you never give your real name, so I used to call myself Charles or Charlie. When I was attending night school and was reading history books , I saw that it was this brother named Charles the Great, well his name was Charlemagne which was derived from Charles the Great. So I decided to start calling myself Charlamagne. After studying it deeper and starting to come into my own as far as studying Islam and getting educational level up — I liked what he stood for—which was going around and spreading education. But, he also a great warrior plus the name of his empire was the Carolingians empire so it all added up to me. And the God part came from studying Islam because you learn that the God is the wise man of the east. So I’m basically calling myself what I am.
O1LT: Seeing that you are a spiritual person do you ever have any spiritual conflict being on the “Wendy Williams Experience”?
CTG: Not at all! And the only reason why I don’t is because at the end of the day I’m me, and I'm always true to myself. I tell people to not judge me by words and lip service but, by actions and deeds. A lot of times you have to hide the medicine in the candy. You need a vehicle like this show to get a bigger and broader message out. Anybody who wants to know what Charlamagne Tha God is all about need only to go to my website or my myspace page (www.myspace.com/cthagod). If you go to my website you can see an interview with Minister Farrakhan, if you go to my myspace page you’ll see things that I have written. You need that to bridge the gap. There shouldn’t be any conflict between God in anything, no matter what it is. At the end of the day God is the creator of everything. I feel that everything is derived from him whether, it’s positive or negative. I don’t think this show—the “how you doin”— show is negative. That’s not for me to make that call. I’m just here to be Charlamagne The God.
O1LT: Do you feel that you are being negatively portrayed on the show? A lot of people think that you hate gay people or that you’re disrespectful for calling people Donkey’s what’s your take on the negative feed back?
CTG: I’m the same dude on and off the air. On the show we might go from talking about politics to what’s going in the streets and that’s the way that it is. I’m well versed in a lot of things. I don’t know why people think I hate gays — I don’t know where that comes from. If that’s the case then I hate R&B singers and I hate rappers. I’m opinionated person who has an opinion on everything.
O1LT: I have a friend who pointed out one reason why some may think that you’re homophobic. You were recently invited to attend an event hosted by Next Magazine, which is a Gay publication, and on live radio you were eminently against the idea of attending. Wendy actually chastised you for being so against going. People took that as a way of you being or showing homophobia.
CTG: LT, I am a heterosexual man. Why would I want to be at a party full of Gay men? It’s not my speed. In NYC men are aggressive — they hit on you. It’s just like women who don’t want to go to a club where men disrespect them by slapping them on their ass, why would I want to put myself in that situation — I avoid the conflict. The first dude who ever hired me in radio was a Gay man and we would go out and drink together, and hang out all the time. I started out in promotions and he was the Promotions Director. I worked directly under him all the time so I don’t know where people get that from—it’s simply not true.
O1LT: How do you feel about the negative feedback?
CTG: LT, somebody has to be the bad guy. Iyanla Van Zandt had a quote that said “In order for me to gain proper understanding of myself, I have to realize that everything that comes at me, has a direct reflection of everything that’s in me.” I’m a very opinionated person. There are a lot of things that I don’t like about this industry. I voice my opinions so if it’s artists that come up there or listeners on the radio I’m not afraid to speak about what I like or don’t like, so how can I be mad at somebody for speaking up about what they like or don’t like. Nobody likes to interview anybody anymore. Everything has to be so politically correct. Nobody likes potentially dangerous rhetoric—they want to shut that up. So, for me personally life is like the movies, somebody’s got to be the bad guy and I’m not going to stop being who I am because people don’t like me. Or because they have hate petitions online, to be honest I love it! Hate spreads faster then love that’s why I keep hearing my name everywhere.
O1LT: How has your transition been moving here to NYC?
CTG: New York is a different beast. Coming from South Carolina it’s a culture shock. It’s so many things that are accepted here that I don’t think are accepted any other place. People’s morals and vales are kind of different. People are very superficial, little things like manners are out the window in this city. You open doors for women and they don’t want you opening the door for them because they feel like your trying to flirt or hit on them, when I’m just being polite. Where I’m from I was raised to say “yes ma’am”, and “no ma’am”. Here if someone is lost and asks for directions they brush you off saying —“ask the train director”!! There is no southern hospitality but, I’m not going to let that change who I am.
O1LT: Where do you see yourself in that next 5 years? If Wendy decides tomorrow to give it all up, would you step in her place as host of “The Experience”
CTG: You got to understand something; this right here is a great opportunity. You don’t see nobody in any field embrace like Wendy has to me. I always compare it to Eminem and 50 — Eminem is the biggest rapper in the world. He grabbed somebody who people thought was controversial, the industry didn’t want to deal with, and who many thought was bad news. A lot of people didn’t like his vision but, it panned out for him. I think Wendy putting me on say’s a lot about her, as far as her being secure in herself. She’s more man then a lot of these men because there are these Program Directors that are dudes and DJ’s that are dudes that fight to keep me out of their radio stations — and hate the fact that I am in the position that I am in right now. In the next 5 years I am just trying to reach my full potential as a black man. I just want to do everything that GOD has planned for me.
O1LT: So if Wendy left the show would you stand her place and carry on the show?
CTG: Well first of all WBLS ain’t having it because they can’t stand me. I’m sure it will be something that will develop from this — I would hope so. Look at Miss Jones from Star and BucWild’s show.
Another one of the many faces of “The Experience” is Producer extraordinaire Tarin Donatein. Tarin has been working with Wendy for years and was recently offered the position that would change anyone’s ordinary life. Tarin’s bubbly personality and sweet demeanor could make anyone feel comfortable in her presence. But beneath her exterior lies a career driven business woman who wants one day for her creativity to shine more then it already does. She’s smart, hardworking, and is extremely dynamic. I was equally interested in having a quick sit down with her— as she knows the operations of the show.
O1LT: What have you brought to the table to continually make this show popular?
Tarin: Hard work! Even though — “it is what it is”— as Wendy says, I try to make sure it runs like a well oiled machine. Me and Treff Hollywood just stay grinding to make this show run smoothly.
O1LT: I know that you replaced Artie. Did you feel any pressure filling his position?
Tarin: Well I didn’t feel any pressure on the personality side because Wendy told me from day one that I would be doing all the producer stuff and to not worry about the personality side because Artie — please Artie was Artie. As far as the producing side I did feel pressure for the opportunity period! I mean this is Wendy Williams but it’s all good now.
O1LT: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years with this show?
Tarin: I see myself staying with Wendy as her producer. I see myself growing with her and hopefully doing a bunch of other different stuff in the industry. I have other stuff that I want to do.
O1LT: Like what?
Tarin: I write songs and I like producing. I also like to do entertainment corresponding. I’ve done that for Wendy, you know red carpets and stuff like that. So I hope that show grows but, I also hope I grow as an individual as well.
O1LT: Thank you so much Tarin
Tarin: Your very welcome LT! Read More...
posted by IM OVER IT at 10/20/2006
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