Eric Roberson: Three Decades of R&B Reinvention

In the latest episode of Can We Talk R&B?, host Ian Von sits down with the legendary Eric Roberson, an artist with over thirty years of experience in the R&B industry. Eric takes us through his journey—from his early years in South Jersey to his time in college, where his passion for music truly began to take shape.

Eric opens up about his work with DJ Jazzy Jeff, his role as a writer with the Noon Time collective, and his experiences in the studio with icons like Floetry, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild, and Dre & Vidal. He also shares the story behind writing Musiq Soulchild's hit single "Previous Cats" and reflects on his healing time working with Fred Hampton’s legacy.

Listeners will also hear about Eric's innovative approach to live performances, where he seamlessly blends freestyle elements and creates new songs on the spot, showcasing his boundless creativity and musical versatility. With influences ranging from gospel to hip-hop, Eric explains how these diverse sounds have shaped his unique style and contributed to his enduring success in the R&B world.

Time Stamps:
00:00:00 - Walking into A Touch of Jazz studios

00:00:12 - Meeting influential artists

00:00:33 - The atmosphere at A Touch of Jazz

00:00:57 - Unique music approaches

00:01:16 - Shoutout from Ian Vaughn, the R and B ambassador

00:01:50 - Welcoming Eric Roberson

00:02:48 - Eric's early musical influences

00:03:36 - Eric's journey from South Jersey to music

00:04:48 - Growing up in a musical household

00:05:07 - Discovering Eric Roberson's music

00:06:03 - Eric's live performance and influence from hip hop

00:07:07 - Mixing musical influences

00:08:01 - Beginning steps in artistry and writing

00:10:53 - Transition to Howard University

00:11:59 - Number of albums released

00:12:57 - Discussion of creative process and freestyle performances

00:14:17 - Reflections on the Creative Process

00:17:09 - Impact of the Song "Hearing Our Praise"

00:18:24 - Joining Fred Hammond's Group

00:22:05 - Influence of Commission Records

00:24:35 - Musical Inspirations from Various Cities

00:25:37 - Entering the Music Industry

00:27:00 - Joining A Touch of Jazz

00:28:17 - Working with Music Soul Child

00:29:19 - Working on the second album and the formula.

00:29:32 - Jill's spoken word and music evolution.

00:30:05 - Special songs in the studio.

00:30:40 - Music's debut and unique sound.

00:31:01 - Impact of Music Soul Child's records.

00:32:02 - Story about Jamaica and Def Jam executives.

00:33:38 - Writing and producing "Previous Cats".

00:34:19 - R & B music and the significance of B-sides.

00:35:01 - Transitioning focus to recent artistry.

00:35:14 - Process and creation of the song "Lessons".

00:37:00 - Anniversary inspiration during the pandemic.

00:39:52 - Recognizing the special impact of "Lessons".

00:40:23 - Collaborations with Raheem, Kevin, and Anthony.

00:42:08 - Reflecting on career longevity and success.

00:43:18 - Discussion on the longevity of R&B

00:43:46 - Evolution and diversity in soul music

00:44:23 - Appreciation for fans' patience and support

00:44:47 - The changing dynamics in hip-hop and aging artists

00:45:48 - Highlights of recent successful music releases

00:46:05 - Benefits of having a Patreon for independent artists

00:47:04 - Engaging with core fans through Patreon

00:49:04 - Building a community and deeper connections with fans

00:51:08 - Releasing music strategically

00:53:08 - Debating the best era of R&B music

00:55:00 - Mount Rushmore of R&B singers

00:57:39 - Discussion on influences and key albums

00:58:24 - Closing remarks and final thoughts

🧧 Support the Show:
  / canwetalkrnb  

📱Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & iHeart Now!!!!

✅Don’t forget to stream & rate us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart

CLICK LINKS BELOW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zfIA07...
iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-ca...
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...


📲Stay connected with Us! #CanWeTalkRnB #CWTRB

Hosted & Created by: Ian Von | www.instagram.com/IanVonMusic

Produced by: Launch Pod Studio | www.instagram.com/LaunchPodStudio

Links:

📱www.instagram.com/CanWeTalkRnB
📱www.twitter.com/CanWeTalkRnB
📱  / canwetalkrnb  
🎥    / canwetalkrnb  

#canwetalkrnbpodcast #rnb #podcast #rnbmusic #rnbvibes