Earlier this year, P announced his plans to launch his own TV station called Better Black TV, and while the network is still in planning stages, P’s first proper show No Excuses is premiering this Monday (October 26) on VH1. The pilot follows a former gangbanger named Torrie who can’t seem to get a straight job to support his kids. Enter P. Miller, who convinces Torrie to stop making excuses and shows him how to get his life together. We recently spoke with P for the latest installment of “YouTubin’ With The Stars”—read on to hear his commentary on No Excuses, his daughter’s new music video, his classic Converse sneaker commercial, and more…

Interview By Brendan Frederick

VIDEO: A Scene From VH1’s No Excuses (2009)
P SAYS: “This will change the way people think about VH1—it’s a positive show. This is who I evolved into…I realized that I could have more to offer to people than just hip-hop. My goal is to replace [BET founder] Bob Johnson, and that’s why I started Better Black TV, so people can realize that if you educate yourself and you get your mind right, you can be whatever. I mean, now that Obama is the first African American president, you can be a president if you want to!”

“In 2010, Better Black TV will be up and running. It’s just a lot that you have to go through, getting all these different certifications, federal approvals, and it takes time. It’s not something that can happen overnight. And while I’m in that process right now, I’m saying, let me take some of my shows like No Excuses and take it to other networks so people can see that this is the type of quality shows we’re making. And this is what you would see eventually on Better Black TV. You’ll see entertainment and education together—that’s what it’s about with me.”

VIDEO: Master P x Converse Sneaker Commercial (1999)
P SAYS: “That was a great commercial. I was the first rapper to have a tennis shoe deal, and that opened up doors for so many other rappers and entertainers. My whole thing is thinking outside the box and doing things that other people aren’t doing. I mean, that’s what thinking big is about. As hip-hop artists, entrepreneurs, business people, we really gotta think outside the box, because we don’t realize that we’ve set a lot of trends, we’ve been broke a lot of stereotypes that the world has gotta look at what we’re doing and take it serious.”

Complex: If a sneaker collector wanted to get his hands on a pair of the original MP Converse shoes, where could they find them?

P SAYS: “You can go to Converse and you could also go to P.Millerclothing.com and you could get some.” [Ed. Note: that website does not exist. We think maybe he meant PMillerDesigns.com, but they also do not have any MP Sneakers. The hunt continues!]

VIDEO: Cymphonique (a.k.a. Master P’s daughter) “Lil’ Miss Swagger” (2009)
P SAYS: “She could be the next Beyoncé, the next Mariah Carey, as long as she works on her talent and keeps going. Now she’s on Disney’s The Next Best Thing, which is about the 5 top talented kids in America—it’s like American Idol for Disney. I think she could have a promising career, the same as Romeo. But what I’m stressing with her is education. I want you to get your education first. I look at a lot of these talented kids, they end up getting in all this trouble because they never really got a real education behind them, they only been in it for the money. I’m just so proud that she has talent and if she had an education to go with it, she can be as big as Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus in the next couple of years.”

VIDEO: Master P “Gutta Time” (Directed By Alex LeMay) (2007)
P SAYS: “To be honest with you, on this video we worked with a director who wanted to showcase how we stereotype people. Like how every African-American male is a gangbanger, or every white person is a Ku Klux Klan. That was the director, that’s what he wanted to do and he was showcasing that. Through your eyes you might see somebody, but what if they not like that? What if they good people? That’s where that whole concept came from and I thought it was great. I think that we gotta stop looking at people and judging them by how they look. And not really getting to know people and not giving a person a chance. We not living in the days when the older generation was living in where they look like that. Times have changed. You know, every girl is not a hoochie mama. So that’s where that whole concept came from, from that director.”

VIDEO: West Coast Bad Boyz f/ King George, Master P, Ray Luv, Dangerous Dame, Lil Ric, JT The Bigga Figga, Mac Spoon, Rappin’ 4-Tay, The Delinquents, Toby T, The Perk, Erase E & Keylo “Peace 2 Da Streets” (1994)

P SAYS: “Crime was up in the Bay and we was losing a lot of young people. We all got together and said, You know what, we gotta put some peace in the streets. Even when I was on the streets, I was into trying to do something to help make a difference. I think that’s what people gotta realize. If we stop pointing the finger, and do our part, we can make it better. Even if it’s at our own level. That was a movement. At the time, that was a movement. We brought a lot of people together from a whole bunch of different cultures and everybody showed that we all have the same Love. I directed the video and shot it in Richmond, San Francisco, Oakland and Vallejo.”

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In the midst of all the chaos that makes up his schedule, Tip found time to kick it with Complex and watch some videos on YouTube, just like you and your friends do. Only our friend is Q-Tip and neither of us were high. Read on for Q’s commentary on his visit from Tupac on the set of Poetic Justice, Michael Jackson’s short film Ghost, and his favorite politician, Mike Bloomberg…

Interview by Andrew Rivera

CLIP #1: SCENE FROM POETIC JUSTICE

Q-TIP: Is this when I get my cap peeled? By the homies? [Laughs]. It was cool making this film. We were in Simi Valley and the Rodney King verdict came in that day. It took us forever to get back to LA because of the riots. So it was pretty intense being out there. We saw shit burning and people looting and wildin’ out in the streets and shit. It was crazy.

COMPLEX: How was working with Janet Jackson?

Q-TIP: Oh great, Janet is just you know, so professional. She’s been acting since she was a kid. It was just great. Tupac was there when we were shooting that scene and when we did the first kiss, ’Pac was like, “Yeah nigga, I know you gonna fuck up again, right?” [Laughs] And I was like, “You motherfuckin’ right, nigga!” I’ll never forget it. Then he was like “Damn, nigga!” you know how Pac was, and he was watching it and just left for a cigarette because he said he couldn’t watch it anymore.

COMPLEX: So are you saying ’Pac was envious?

Q-TIP: Nah, we were just goofing around. But all my boys from the ’hood were like, “Dude, what was that like? What’s up with you kissing on Janet?” [Laughs] But of course everyone is going to ask that.

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CLIP #2: DIDDY DANCES IN THE PARK WITH Q-TIP

Q-TIP: It looks like it was me and Mase! [Laughs] My man, Sean. People who saw that video were like, “Damn, I wish I was there.” What’s crazy was that day it was supposed to rain and we wound up getting blessed with beautiful weather and he was hitting me up about the show. He was hitting me up the day before saying things like “I’m gonna be in Central Park, nigga! Get ready!” You know how he is, he’s just extra. So he says, “I don’t give a fuck! Get ready ’cause I’m fucking coming! You better come with your motherfucking A-game!” and all this crazy shit. So he came and he was just chilling and he caught the feeling.

COMPLEX: Wait, so you didn’t know that he was going to come up on stage and start dancing?

Q-TIP: No, he just caught the feeling. [Laughs]

CLIP #3: DEEE-LITE F/ Q-TIP “GROOVE IS IN THE HEART” MUSIC VIDEO

Q-TIP: Oh Deee-Lite? She was at the show that Diddy was dancing at.

COMPLEX: Did you invite her?

Q-TIP: She just came. I haven’t seen this in forever. [Laughs] I think that was ‘88 or ‘89?

COMPLEX: The big scene back then was house music. With new artists like Kid Cudi and Wale experimenting with house music and fast paced beats, do you see a comeback for house?

Q-TIP: Yeah there’s a lot of fast records. 120 BPM records. I mean things just comeback in the circle, you know? So if these cats doing it now, I say yeah, definitely there is kind of a re-birth. Even as a DJ I can see the tempos are just getting faster and faster and faster. My theory as to why its coming back is videos came into play in the ’80s and ’90s and there was a lot of dance music that was popular. Now that we have the Internet, whenever kids check out old school music videos it turns out a lot of those songs are tempo sounding, dance songs. You don’t really get anything that pre-dates ‘82 or ‘84 music videos. From those years on, there was just a lot of dance music so I think that whole retro vibe comes from that. Also, people just love to dance. People love to party, so there are a lot more DJs and that kind of music. Especially now where it’s easier to learn how to be a DJ with all this new technology. So the music falls right into play.

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CLIP #4: MICHAEL JACKSON’S SHORT FILM GHOST

Q-TIP: Oh with Mos Def? [Laughs]

COMPLEX: Yes, has Mos told you anything about this?

Q-TIP: No, he keeps this quiet [Laughs] I don’t know why. When I found out about it I was like “Yeah, man.” and his response is always “Shut up!”

COMPLEX: You have a Michael Jackson birthday tribute show coming up, is that something you feel like you needed to do?

Q-TIP: Yeah, he’s just beyond measure. So you have to. Its gonna be a fun party. We’re gonna celebrate the man.

COMPLEX: Where were you when you found out about his death?

Q-TIP: I was in Norway. We were on stage performing and we got the text. After I got that text I had to stop the show and people thought it was a joke a first. I heard some people screaming and others were laughing like, get out of here. I just walked off stage and everybody realized it and they were all just stuck. So I went back stage and I called Janet and asked her if it was true and she was just like yeah, he’s not here anymore. It was just crazy.

COMPLEX: It was pretty crazy. People were yelling all these things about Michael and making t-shirts the day of or day after…

Q-TIP: You know what’s even crazier then that? I mean people die everyday but all the people of note that have died this year. It’s like, “holy crap!” dudes are just droppin’. It’s just a weird year, and of course what’s going on economically. Its just a different time. What I always remember was that the artists spoke on what was going on and lead the way in terms of the temperature and the barometer of the spirit and the emotion of the people. Hip-Hop and punk rock were the voices of opposition to any status quo or spoke on what was going on in an honest way. I feel like hip-hop has been emasculated. Like these niggas don’t want to rock the boat, they just want to do what they want to do, ride the wave, get whoever is hot, make the right song, make the right money and shut up.

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CLIP #5: THE KNUX “FIRE (PUT IT IN THE AIR)” VIDEO

COMPLEX: How does it feel to see young groups like The Knux who are influenced by what you Tribe was doing?

Q-TIP: It’s an amazing feeling. If you would’ve asked me years ago if all this would be going on, I would’ve looked at you like you were a crazy dude. I’m still trying to understand it. I’m truly humbled by it.

COMPLEX: How was touring with The Knux and The Cool Kids?

Q-TIP: Oh, I loved doing that, that shit was a blast. Pac-Div was on there too, man, that shit was dope. What I tell all those dudes is to love the music and stay entrenched in the music and that will guide you to success. If you start focusing on all that shit success brings you, whether its money, drugs, girls or men, or whatever the fuck that’s external you start to lose your way. As long as you got people to keep you in check and you focus on your craft, I don’t think you’re going to have a problem. Just love what you do and be honest with it.

COMPLEX: Musically, who are you really feeling right now?

Q-TIP: Pac-Div, The Cool Kids, Kid Cudi, Consequence, Kanye, there’s this kid called Spree Wilson that I really like a lot, and this group called The Losers.

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CLIP #6: MICHAEL BLOOMBERG FOR MAYOR COMMERCIAL

COMPLEX: You’ve been very vocal on your Twitter account about Michael Bloomberg. What do you say to those who give you criticism about it?

Q-TIP: It’s a free country and I have the right to express my opinion. I’m not degrading him or calling him an asshole or tearing him down personally. I’m just commenting on the bad job that I think he’s doing. When you get power the person that you’ve always been gets highlighted even more, and I think who he is, is showing through how he’s running the city, especially with the quality of life. He’s not running a city based on the quality of life of average folk, it’s the quality of life of well-to-do rich folk. He’s fashioning and shaping the city towards them. The thing about New York that makes it the satellite city to the rest of the world is that whole idea of a melting pot. With poverty and homelessness here, it makes me wonder, where is the social responsibility? Where’s the emotional and psychological responsibility that you owe to your city and its contingent? Its not there and he’s running it like a tyrant.

<strong>COMPLEX: So what do you do in that type of situation?

Q-TIP: This is where hip-hop needs to be again. I don’t want to see some benefit and he’s [Mike Bloomberg] there and he’s shaking hands with Russell or shaking hands with 50 Cent or something like that. We’re the rebels, you know what I’m saying? If 50 wasn’t there or I wasn’t there or Russell wasn’t there, we would still be in the hood! I’m lucky because I’m in that tax bracket that he’s trying to cater to. So I benefit, I guess, but then not really. If I want to continue to do business here, have my family here and raise my kids here, I’m gonna want my kids to be cultured and really feel like they can go everywhere and not be intimidated, but he’s sectioning shit off in a really scary way. Its a police state basically. It started with Giuliani and he’s carrying the torch.

Interview by Grace Efuwape

CLIP #1: “NOBODY IN THE U.S. GOT A BLACKBERRY BOLD”
Kingston says: Yo, look how many views that got. That’s crazy. Yeah, that was a big issue. My chain didn’t get robbed. I had sent my assistant to send a package to my jeweler in New York. The jeweler even showed the security cameras to prove he never received the package. The assistant isn’t around anymore; I fired him. Like, why would you put $500 insurance on something worth $500,000? What part of the game is that? [Laughs.]

CLIP #2: “I’M A CELEBRITY, GET ME OUT OF HERE” SPENCER PRATT’S RAP DEBUT
Kingston says: Being on The Hills was great ’cause I had a blast with Audrina. We shot the scene when she was interning at the record label, Epic. I never ran into Spencer though. Oh, he’s rapping now? Look at this. His swag is…nah. He’s probably a cool dude but I don’t know about this. [Laughs] Spencer Pratt? Sounds like Kyla Pratt. I mean, Kyla Pratt can do a better job than him.

CLIP #3: “THE E.N.D. OF DAYS” BY IT’S THE REAL
Kingston says: Yeah I heard about the fight between Will.I.Am and Perez Hilton. [Laughs]. You saw the Spectacular video? [Laughs]. He did another video. Why would you do that? That makes people talk about it even longer. As soon as I saw it, I hit him up about it. He’s not gay. I know for a fact that he’s not gay ’cause he has a girlfriend. You ever been to a preview of his show before? They grind on the floor with their pants off like that all the time; nobody ever says nothing about that. On their last single on Late Night Special, they grinded with the same panties he had on. No homo. They grind on the floor and don’t nobody never talk about it but he does it on World Star and people wanna talk. That’s what he does [Laughs]. I mean, it’s not my direction but to each his own. I know he’s not gay though, I’ll tell you that. I don’t know about the Will.I.Am and Perez Hilton incident. I don’t really think that Will.I.Am’s manager did that and now Will.I.Am is saying it’s a fan.

CLIP #4: “VIDEO MODEL CALLS SEAN KINGSTON A GROUPIE”
Kingston says: Yeah, I don’t wanna talk about it. Nah, there’s no side to the story. She’s a stalker. She’s the stalker. Her story is right but it’s the other way around. On the real though, I don’t wanna talk about that. I had a crazy stalker though. I had a girl that drove behind my tour bus on the Chris Brown tour. She was just crazy, just trying to get my autograph. Then I come back here to New York, this is about two years ago after going on 106 & Park to drop “Take You There” and I come back and she’s standing in front of my hotel. I don’t know how she knew where I was staying at. It tripped me up. I really don’t mess with groupies; I’m really focused. I guess [Chyna] is a groupie. Call her a groupie. [Laughs].

CLIP #5: “PASS THE DUTCHIE” MUSIC VIDEO FROM MUSICAL YOUTH
Kingston says: I love this. I wasn’t even born when this came out. These kids are how old? They look mad young and they singing about the Dutchie. I can understand if they were like 13, 14, or 15 years old but they were young.

CLIP #6: “BEAUTIFUL GIRLS” BY JOJO
Kingston says: I like it. Her version didn’t go nowhere. She’s beautiful though; I’d go out with her. I remember the rumor that I was going out with Paula Deanda but I only worked with her and that was it. I dig Jordin Sparks but she’s linked up already. I think Meagan Good is on a whole ‘nother level than Megan Fox. That girl is gorgeous from head to toe. I idolize her every time I see her. There is nothing wrong about that girl. That girl is B-E-A-U-TI-FUL, toes and everything. [Laughs.]

CLIP #7: ELEPHANT MAN AND BUJU BANTON FREESTYLE WITH TIGGA
Kingston says: I like Elephant Man. Tigga can rap; he’s dope. [Laughs.] He was killing it when he used to freestyle in the Bassment at Rap City. Yeah, that was tight. Tigga did his thing. Elephant Man took it. He killed it though. He switched it up; sped it up. I like that. That was real nice.

Seriously, though: The former 3LW member has already overcome plenty of adversity, from an unceremonious group breakup to harsh words from Lil Kim about her Notorious portrayal. With a starring role in the upcoming Fame remake (out in September), Naturi is ready to leave all the controversy behind. Still, when the lovely Ms. Naughton showed up at Complex last week (entourage-free, mind you), we had to get our Dr. Phil on and allow her to vent a little on the ups and downs of her career thus far. In this edition of YouTubin’ with the Stars, Naturi discusses her breakup with 3LW, her new movie role and why she’s not mad at Lil’ Kim…

Interview by Maurice Slade

CLIP #1: “BABY REMEMBER MY NAME,” COCO FROM FAME TV SHOW (1982)

Naturi says: This video is incredible. It’s kind of funny to look at an old Fame video like this and think that I’m doing a modernized version of this great film from the ’80s. Watching this video helped me realize how fortunate I am because this is a film that a lot of people are familiar with and have had a connection with for a long time. When people hear the theme song from Fame it brings them back to when they were growing up and to be a part of something like that is pretty cool.

CLIP #2: “PARENTS JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND,” LIL’ ROMEO FEAT. 3LW & NICK CANNON (2001)

Naturi says: Oh no! This is a throwback. I cannot believe you guys found this. I haven’t seen this in like forever. Look at Lil’ Romeo. Oh my gosh! This was forever ago. I was like 16 years old. This is from when Nickelodeon just launched Jimmy Neutron. This was the single and theme song for the movie. It’s funny because I just saw Nick Cannon the other day and it’s like, wow, look how much history I’ve had with people in the business. You always end up crossing a person’s path again. That’s why you have to always do right and treat people right. Jessy Terrero shot this actual video. This is actually his directorial debut and now he’s shooting a lot of 50 Cent videos. We had so much fun shooting this video in L.A.

#3: 3LW ON MTV CRIBS (2000)

Naturi says: Oh my gosh! Why are you doing this to me? This is even further back around the time “Playas Gon’ Play” came out. This is in L.A. We lived in L.A. during the process of recording our second album. It’s weird looking at myself that long ago. Look at my clothes and my hair. I would have definitely done a lot of things differently.

CLIP #4: THE 3LW BREAKUP ON MTV TRL

Naturi says: Wow. I remember this. I remember everything. Especially when I see the images. I remember being at home watching this. I watched this live. I really don’t like looking at videos like this and it’s one of those things that’s petty. I look back at moments like those and I just remember that I am so much better and stronger because of all of those moments. So when I look at old videos like this I think, wow, Naturi you are strong, you are blessed, and you are so much bigger then drama. It’s a reminder of where I’ve come from and where I’m at now.

CLIP #5: LIL’ KIM SPEAKS ON HER PORTRAYAL IN NOTORIOUS MOVIE (2009)

Naturi says: Oh. I never saw this… All I have to say is, I didn’t write the script, I didn’t cast, produce or direct. I’m just an actress who put in her work. And as far as her saying that I never reached out to her; that is totally untrue. I would never want to play a real-life person without trying to contact them. The acting that I did is because I had a great director, a great acting coach and great co-stars. We did some great work and I’m not going to water down anything because someone feels like they should have had their way. Who knows it could have worked both ways. Talking to someone and listening to what they have to say could make you nervous—you stop focusing, you start doubting your own work, and you start trying to please them instead of focusing on the acting. I’m an actress and I’m going to do me at the end of the day. It’s no disrespect to anybody but I’m here to do me in this world and I definitely tried my best to have the input of Lil’ Kim and it did not happen. And I have so much respect for Kim. When I got the role I was like, I have to speak to Kim, so I reached out to [Lance] Un [Rivera] and there was conversation after conversation with Un but I never got any feedback from Kim.

In 2004, after years of doing Beyoncé numbers in Japan, Utada released her first U.S. album, Exodus on Def Jam. Though it had some good songs, it ultimately failed to make her an American star. Five years later, Utada is back with the follow-up This is the One, out now on iTunes and dropping officially on May 12. Whereas Exodus was what Utada now calls an “uncomfortable, bold and experimental” project, This is the One is more of a focused, concerted effort at breaking the U.S. charts with production from Stargate (”So Sick,” Ne-Yo; “Irreplaceable,” Beyoncé) and Tricky Stewart (”Rockin’ That Shit,” The-Dream, “Umbrella,” Rihanna). It seems to be working: The new LP debuted at #2 on the iTunes Pop Album chart. In anticipation of its official release, we sat with Utada and got her commentary on 7 YouTube clips related to her career…

CLIP #1: “EASY BREEZY” MUSIC VIDEO FROM EXODUS (2004)

Utada says: This was the first video for the last album. I came across too sexy in it, and they focused on that, but that’s not my character really. So that was really weird, especially as a first impression. Like you wouldn’t imagine that I was the singer/songwriter of the song when you saw this. So mission unaccomplished [laughs]. I remember running through this artificial rain so many times and it was freaking freezing.

CLIP #2: “SORRY I LOVE YOU,” FANMADE KOREAN DRAMA CLIP

Utada says: Oh, that’s cute! Of course it’s illegal [laughs], but this is really nice. I ain’t going to say shit if you’re not going to say shit! [Laughs.] But no, I’m very flattered. I can’t stand cheesy dramas though. I really can’t stand it.

#3: “SACNTUARY” FOR KINGDOM HEARTS VIDEO GAME

Utada says: I guess most of the people in America know me from this song, probably. [Also] “Simple and Clean,” you know. One of Kingdom Hearts’ main creative directors, [Tetsuya] Nomura, is a big fan of mine, so he offered me to do this theme song. This is actually the remix version. [Sings along.] See a lot of my songs were written from a guy’s perspective. I love you, don’t get me wrong, but does that mean I have to meet your father?

CLIP #4: UTADA FAN SINGS “DEEP RIVER”

Utada says: I think I heard about this. This is so sweet. Oh, she’s so cute. Look how shy she’s feeling. Awwww, how cute. Right through me, look at my heart. It’s pretty amazing. I have some friends check the fan websites and stuff, or my fans actually e-mail these things to me. It’s so cute, this person singing. She’s feeling it! [Laughs.]

CLIP #5: NINTENDO DS COMMERCIAL

Utada says: I was the first spokesperson for DS, I guess. My hands are tiny, too, so that’s the problem. I don’t remember how this came along, but the way I decide whether to accept an offer or not for these sort of commercials is whether I really use it or not. Even if it’s really good money, if the product has nothing to do with me, I’m not going to promote it as if I’m in love with it. That’s why I did the Sony commercial in Japan for MB player discs and batteries, because I used them so much back then. And Nintendo, I’m in love with this stuff.

CLIP #6: UTADA’S TETRIS CHALLENGE

Utada says: This was so hard because it was the first time I used wi-fi and I was just so mad at how difficult the situation was and how bad I was. So then I started to go on wi-fi, and I’ve been playing against people all over the world. My level is in the highest..the way that Tetris otakus are categorized, I’m a master.

CLIP #7: KEIKO FUJI (UTADA’S MOM) SINGING ENKA

Utada says: I look up my mom’s stuff on YouTube all the time. So amazing, so cool, love her so much. That was what was good about TV stuff back then. Now, especially in Japan, everyone has a bunch of takes, everyone has like three or five cameras, running around you. Cut, switch, zoom in, zoom out. It’s like, yo, unnecessary.

BONUS VIDEO: “COME BACK TO ME,” UTADA’S NEW SINGLE

To celebrate his smooth landing on Razor & Tie Records, we caught up with Devin for an old fashioned round of YouTubin’ With The Stars. Check out what Devin had to say about rednecks and obscure Florida rap when we played him a few videos…

CLIP #1: “Reefer and beer”
A homemade video for Devin’s 2002 track, starring a mulleted redneck.

Devin Says: “I just recently seen this and I was tripping. The country voice on the song is me. Coming from Florida, I used to trip people out on the way people sounded in Texas. I just wish it had more pictures. I wouldn’t mind getting in touch with the fellow so we can do some more.”

CLIP #2: “BLOWFLY ‘SHAKE YOUR THANG’”
The legendary Florida rapper’s 1990 video.