Anthony Hamilton Talks D'Angelo, Angie Stone, Nick Cannon's Gift & Drake's Home | Club Shay Shay

Anthony Hamilton reveals that his iconic song 'Charlene' is based on a real relationship that ended because his dedication to his music career left his partner feeling neglected. He explains that the unstructured nature of the music business, with unpredictable touring and late studio nights, makes traditional work-life balance impossible, requiring a partner who truly understands and can handle the lifestyle.

Hamilton states, 'It is a real story. Her name is now Charlene... it was a relationship, you know, and uh just working being focused on what I was born to do, man. Sing and go get it. And uh sometime it's not good enough to to be successful in your business and home suffer.' He adds, 'Music business is not structured. One minute you hot and the next minute you may not be.'

Hamilton's powerful voice and emotional depth are deeply rooted in his challenging upbringing. He recounts his father's absence from age nine, leading him to 'grind harder' to prove his father 'messed up.' At 14, he was adopted into another family due to his mother's struggles, creating an unstable environment that fueled his drive and infused his music with 'pain' and 'grit.' He also witnessed a violent incident at age seven, further shaping his perspective.

He states, 'My dad, we we ended up being in our relationship for at least a good 20 years, but wasn't around like I needed him to... I felt betrayed... he broke my heart.' He continues, 'I ended up getting adopted when I was like 14... that unstable situation in my life, it, you know, it made me work harder. It put a little pain in there, a little grit.' He also mentions, 'You saw your uncle shoot your cousin's husband. Yeah. That was pretty crazy.'

Despite being a signed artist, Hamilton chose to become a backup singer for D'Angelo, viewing it as an invaluable learning experience rather than a step back. He describes the tour as a 'university' where he learned true musicianship, stage control, and dynamics from D'Angelo and his band, which included elite musicians. This experience, he asserts, made him a 'better artist all around' and taught him how to lead effectively.

Hamilton calls his time with D'Angelo 'one of the most... deepest learning I've ever done. Like I didn't go to four-year college, but I felt like that was a university that you couldn't even pay to get in.' He adds, 'I was able to learn how to lead from learning how to follow.'

Hamilton dismisses the notion that R&B is 'dead,' arguing that its core elements are present in various genres, including rap and country. He actively bridges generational and genre gaps by collaborating with diverse artists like Drake, Busta Rhymes, Jada Kiss, and even country singers. His distinctive voice acts as a 'sample' that other artists seek out, ensuring his relevance and continuous work.

He states, 'I ain't never been to no funeral [for R&B]... the core of R&B and the core of soul music, it's in every rap song you ever heard, every country song, every church record. It's it's there.' He lists collaborations with 'Drake... Buster Rhyme... Jada Kiss, Young Jeezy... NL Chopper. So, that keeps me bridging the gap. I sound like a sample, so they want to be a part of that soul world.'

Hamilton and Sharpe emphasize the critical need for Black men to get regular health check-ups and screenings, particularly for conditions like pancreatic and prostate cancer. They share personal experiences, including D'Angelo's tragic passing from pancreatic cancer and Sharpe's early detection of prostate cancer, highlighting that early intervention significantly improves outcomes and allows for a better quality of life.

Sharpe discusses D'Angelo dying of pancreatic cancer and asks, 'Why is that so important for black men to get tested early?' Hamilton responds, 'Because if you catch something early enough, there's a chance that you can beat it.' Sharpe recounts his own prostate cancer detection at 35 due to early testing.