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Muni Long Talks Writing for Your Favorite Artists, Overcoming Lupus & Freestyle over “21 Questions”
Mar 4, 2024
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Dive into the enchanting world of Muni Long, the Grammy Award-winning sensation who has penned anthems for icons like Ariana Grande and Rihanna. In this riveting Sway In The Morning exclusive, Muni Long reveals the secrets to her songwriting success and the journey that led her to become one of the most influential figures in music today.
From overcoming adversity to inspiring the next generation, Muni shares her compelling narrative, shedding light on the resilience and raw talent it takes to thrive in the industry. Plus, don't miss out as she takes on Sway's legendary challenge, proving her unparalleled skills live.
This is not just an interview; it's a masterclass in making hits, facing challenges head-on, and staying true to your art. #MuniLong #SwaysUniverse #SongwritingSecrets
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CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Monie Love Introduction
1:56 - Muni Long Music Career Beginnings
6:38 - Muni Long Challenges in Music
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0:00
This woman right here is a Grammy Award winner, multiple Grammy nominated
0:04
She's written hits from some of your favorite artists, whether it's Kelly Clarkson or Ariana Grande or Rihanna, whoever it is
0:11
She's been a part of their success. She's put out music on her own in her past
0:17
And then she also had a lot of adversity that she faced in her past
0:20
And she has a lot of challenges that she had to figure out and work through
0:24
And now she serves as an inspiration for many youth who may walk the same walk she walks
0:30
And to be here today to survive and to get through all the things that she's gotten through
0:34
I know she's here on a purpose. She's here for a reason. It's one of the reasons why we wanted her to be with us today
0:41
We're going to talk about a new single, Made For Me. But I want to welcome her to the show
0:45
The one and only Money Long. Money Long. Hey. Money Long. Hey
0:52
What's up, beauty? Man, I'm just grateful and happy to be here. Yeah. Your presence
0:57
Yeah. You know, watch y'all coming up. Come on. Oh, you watched us growing up
1:01
Of course. We can talk about that. What do you mean? I mean, bro
1:04
You talk really? Yeah. Of course. So you know who Heather B is, the legendary icon
1:09
I know all y'all. Tracy the whole nine, huh? That's dope. Thank you for watching
1:13
Of course, man. You guys are like representatives. You know what I mean? Yeah, bro
1:16
It's how you know that it's possible when you see people look like you. That's what's up, Money Long
1:20
So you was born and they lifted you to the sky and said, money long
1:25
Is that how it happened? Yes, December. December, right? No, you know, I just, I do believe that I definitely have like some divinity, divine connection
1:36
But I think I came here to just show people something different
1:42
Show them that anything is possible. Because I've always been like this. I've always been a little bit like bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, unicorn, DeLulu
1:50
it worked out though hey absolutely all right and here you are um what what you're known for
1:58
writing a lot of hit records right what when did you first decide that this is
2:04
want to be one of the routes i want to take to make it in music i want to write
2:08
um oh i wrote my first song at eight years old wow i did not know that songwriting
2:15
was an actual profession that you could have. That was just something that we always did in the car
2:22
My mama, we used to remix the lyrics as they were playing in the radio
2:32
But it wasn't until I started writing my own stuff and posting it on YouTube, somebody found me
2:40
I got signed to a major, Capitol Records. Capitol Records, right. Yeah, at 19
2:45
Wow. Yep. And then it kind of like went, like fizzled out
2:51
That's around two box time. Yep. Yep. When I was going by my government name
2:56
And then I was like, oh, no, what I'm going to do
3:00
I ain't trying to go back to the country, you know, and get pregnant and put my feet up and, you know, be cooking and cleaning
3:06
Nothing wrong with that. That's what you want to do. But I didn't want to do that
3:11
And so I was like, well, what can I do? I heard that through Ryan Press, who was my publisher, who is now the president of Warner Chapel
3:22
But he was like, well, you know you can come out here and get this songwriter money
3:26
We can fly you out. It was a deal at the time. I think Warner paid for my apartment
3:32
My management at the time rented me a car because I wasn't 21 yet. And I flew myself out there
3:37
It was just a gamble. And I hit the ground running doing five sessions a day
3:42
I was just talking about this the other night. Five sessions a day, no cap. Two songs minimum in every session
3:48
Damn. And I did that every day. And I started out like 10 a.m. was like the Hollywood records
3:53
like the pop stuff. So from like 10 to 2, I would do something. And from like 3 to 6, I would do another one
3:59
And then from like 7 to 12, I would do something maybe
4:03
That would be like the more R&B, rap sessions. And then I sometimes would link up with artists like Jason Derulo
4:10
He liked to start at midnight. And then leave out the studio at 7
4:14
And sometimes it would be like two studios in the same, two rooms in the same studio, the studio next door
4:21
So it was like Glenwood Encore right next to each other. I was going crazy. But you felt it was necessary though, right
4:30
I just wasn't trying to go back and live with my mama. You know what I'm saying
4:34
She would have been like, you going to school, you getting a job, you finna be Oprah, you going to telecommunications
4:41
and that's not, I just didn't feel that for me. So, yeah, I went to L.A. and I got to it
4:48
You got to it. Wow. That's so funny you mention L.A. because I was watching LeBron play last night
4:54
It was the Lakers versus the Clippers. And LeBron just went on this crazy tear towards the end of the game
5:00
After it was over, they asked him what happened. And he said, you know, I just hit a zone
5:05
I just got into the zone. And it doesn't happen often, but when it does happen
5:10
it's unbelievable. and listening to you describe that time in those sessions, were there
5:16
times when you just like hit that zone when you knew after you came out
5:20
I was like I got one, I got two yes and you know well
5:24
I won't say in that respect cause I never really know if the song is
5:28
gonna be something I just know if I like it but when you talk about zone for me that just means like it bypassing the limiter
5:41
that makes you think about what you're about to say or do. And it just goes straight from heaven to my brain through my mouth
5:49
The flow out. Yeah, it's channeling. And that happens. It also happened last night
5:53
I wrote, like, three hooks, three songs I featured last night in the studio. Wow
5:57
And I just be going, just like, zoom, zoom, zoom, zoom, zoom. You know, when I catch something that I think is fly
6:05
and I can hear it maybe like two seconds before it comes out of my mouth
6:11
And sometimes even I say stuff, and then I catch the bar after
6:16
And sometimes it be like double, triple, and I'm trying to drop. Ooh, that girl good
6:21
I did that. That girl good. You heard that? I did that. And so it's just a fun experience for me for when you are good at something
6:29
and it is a passion for you, I think that combination, that recipe
6:33
is what opens up the floor for you to get in a zone. Money Long is here
6:39
Okay, 888-742-3345. So, Money, with this deep knowledge and experience of yourself
6:47
really as a genius type of artist, did it create a lack of patience or understanding
6:57
an increase of frustration with the period of time the period of time where the public doesn't
7:04
necessarily know behind the scenes so many people know you getting tagged to write this song and this
7:09
song and this song but like sway was saying 2009 is when your debut comes out but then hours and
7:14
hours is last year the year before becomes super huge what is going on through your head with all
7:22
of those years in between and also can you now see the benefit of the weight excellent question
7:28
yes there were many times when i rushed and i was anxious and i was frustrated and i'll walk
7:36
into these sessions and get a frog in my throat and trying not to be disrespectful to the artist
7:41
but also trying to stay true to how i really feel like i don't know i want to be over here with you
7:47
you know but i need to eat and i know if i don't work today the the pipeline gonna run out and i
7:55
gotta keep performing on this hamster wheel for my future um until i get a plan of like how do i
8:01
bridge that gap or that two-year gap from whenever i first of all write the song it might not come
8:07
out for a year and then after that year when it starts generating income it's still two years
8:11
until I really see anything for real. And so just in the back of your mind
8:17
knowing that you can't get off the wheel. You got to keep, people thought I was crazy
8:22
when I stopped writing for other people. You know, they're like, but you're so good at it
8:26
That doesn't mean it's bringing me joy. That doesn't mean, you know, I felt like I was just kind of like
8:31
banging my head against the wall. And then artists started becoming more and more
8:36
detached from the actual intention and creation the intention that should go into the creation of your music
8:45
and that frequency that you're trying to penetrate people with, they would just be in there scrolling and not connecting with you
8:55
So it's just kind of just like, all right, man, what we doing? Because if you wanted to write this song by yourself
9:00
I could just go get some Pinkberry. Not Pinkberry. That was the thing
9:06
You know, you know, in L.A. during that time, Pinkberry. Pinkberry with the mango and you got to get the coconut yogurt with the mango and Captain Crunch on it
9:19
Oh, my God. That's a good order. You drink green juice, too? Now, these days
9:23
See, Heather? She said now. I'm just saying. And not all day
9:29
But you know what? Not all green juice is created equal. Some of that stuff is nasty
9:33
Some of that stuff is real nasty. You see, Sway? Yeah, but I'm- You just got to hold your breath and chug it
9:38
That's what you got? Okay, I don't know what green juice is. That's not the weak grass shots. Your story is very impressive
9:45
And the fact that you maintain your passion and your craft throughout all the adversity, I guess
9:51
And that adds to it all, right? That adds to the pin game. That fuels it. I like your resilience, that you didn't give up
9:59
I often ask people, have you ever reached that moment? I reached it. You know, I've been in the business decades
10:04
Shaka's reached it, I'm sure. Heather's reached that moment. Like that moment you have, like, oh, shit, if something don't happen
10:11
I'm going to have to go back to my mama's house. But you kept it going. I got these kids right here who I think can learn from that resilience you have
10:20
They're from Big Brothers, Big Sisters. I'm going to invite them to ask one or two questions if you don't mind
10:24
Absolutely, yes, go ahead. Now, this young man, Aiden, said he wanted to be a writer. Which one is Aiden
10:28
Aiden is right here. Get on the mic, Aiden. Go ahead. And so she's a professional writer
10:33
So when you said this, I knew, Aiden, that this would, you know, sync up with what you want to do
10:38
So you have a question. Say hi, Aiden. Go ahead. Hello. What kind of writer do you want to be, Aiden
10:44
Maybe a screenplay writer. Amazing. We need more of that. Okay, what's your question
10:50
Take your time. It's okay. What would be your plan if something went wrong in your career
11:00
Lots of things will go wrong. and you don't have a plan
11:04
I think the best thing to do is just to really understand who you are and how you wanna be received in this world You going to have many days where I had a lot of days where I didn eat
11:16
Because I didn't have no food. I would take a pack of chicken breasts and pound them out as flat as I could
11:23
Fry them up, slice it in little slices. Then I would take the broccoli and carrot and the cauliflower bag
11:29
And I would take one piece of broccoli, one cauliflower, one carrot
11:33
and then I would fry up some plantains, half a banana, and I would ration that
11:38
and I literally would be eating that for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And I would go to the studio and empty out the fruit bowl in my backpack
11:46
and I would take toilet paper out the bathroom so I could have toilet paper in my house
11:50
You got to do what you got to do when you're trying to get where you're going
11:54
And you will have a lot of people, like your parents, your friends
11:58
maybe your girlfriend or whoever you decide to love, they will not understand why why are you doing this why won't you get a job why are you but if
12:09
you listen to that little tug i'm sure you felt it right and if you haven't started paying attention
12:15
when you get that little tug that says i think i want to do this or if somebody gives you a
12:22
suggestion and you immediately get that knee-jerk reaction of like that don't sound right don't do
12:29
it. And it's that simple. But the core of that comes from
12:33
knowing who Aiden is and knowing what you want to be. And don't let anybody
12:37
sway you. She's such a writer. Grammy Award winner. Don't let anybody
12:43
sway you. That's it. You don't got to be arrogant. Just a quiet trust
12:47
and faith. That's it. Alright, my man Aiden. Good question, Aiden. Val, you got one, Val
12:55
Valerie's here too. Hello, Val. Good morning. Okay, so my question is, what or who inspires you
13:06
What inspires, I think when I see people now these days, when I see people that are unafraid to be free and like authentic
13:17
I find some joy in that because it just, it gives me hope that I can do that, you know
13:23
sometimes you do succumb to just like being overwhelmed and i'm tired and there's so many
13:30
people pulling at me and i gotta smile and i don't feel like it people in my face and i haven't
13:34
brushed my teeth yet like you know what i'm saying like you might want to back up you can get this
13:39
halitosis if you want it but you know please back up like let me let me wake up you know and that
13:47
sometimes when you're no but you get what i'm saying though it's like i'm not talking because
13:51
I haven't got myself together. I don't have an attitude. But that kind of stuff, it just keeps piling up on you
13:59
And sometimes it just is a breath of fresh air to see someone also dealing with the same
14:04
things you are who has a smile on their face. You know, so I'm inspired just by joy and happiness, especially in these times
14:12
Today, there's a lot of nasty mess going on and we see it on the timeline all the time
14:16
And so, you know, inspiration is everywhere if you are open to seeing it
14:24
understanding that the world is literally your oyster. Nobody's out to get you
14:28
You know, it might feel like that, but the truth is nobody's really paying
14:32
attention to your mess because we all have our own. You have a lot of gems right there
14:38
All right, Val. Good question, Val. Great question. I read somewhere, and you told me if it's true or not
14:44
that you live with lupus. Is that true? Overcoming, yes. Overcoming? Overcoming
14:50
Yes. And there's a lot of folks. I got family members with it, and I watched them overcome it
14:57
and actually it becomes what most people might think as an ailment
15:01
becomes a superpower for them. Yes. What has been your relationship with it
15:06
It's exactly that. At first I was sort of in denial because I was so young
15:12
I got diagnosed at 25, and I was going through a very, very stressful lawsuit
15:17
where I wasn't wrong, but I was being sued, you know, into submission, which that happens a lot in this music business
15:29
Not saying no names, but you know who you are. And I overcame that, but at what cost
15:35
You know, I was in fight or flight where your body is just shooting your body with cortisol nonstop
15:42
and I would be knocked out asleep and just wake up like I was falling off a roller coaster or something
15:50
And that's not healthy in that over an extended period of time, it starts signaling to your body to just attack, attack, attack
15:58
So I could stub my toe and that could trigger it. Somebody could call me who I don't really want to talk to
16:03
and I see the name pop up and that can trigger it. Or my mom could come in my house and try to rearrange my furniture
16:10
because she feel like it need to go that way instead of this way. And that could trigger it
16:14
And so being in this business, as you know, is very stressful, highly demanding
16:19
And a lot of black women, I think, are, you know, live with that ailment
16:25
because we are tasked societally. You know, the socioeconomic norms for us is that you're a strong black woman
16:35
You can handle it. You can take everything. You can take care of everybody. And how dare you take a break
16:39
How dare you want to have luxury? How dare you sleep You know what I saying How dare you get rest You need to come home take care of these kids after you just had a long day and cook for me and clean for me and if you don do that you have no intrinsic value and that is a burden that like you know you want to resist against that you just
16:56
want to wear your hair crazy and not put no lotion on it you know what i'm saying walk around in a
17:02
if you want to without feeling the pressure to submit yourself to other people's ideals and so
17:09
So it's been a lot of mental brainwashing. And it's forced me to de-center other people, men, de-center other things
17:23
not prioritize work, prioritize my health and things like that. Excuse me, somebody's blowing up my phone right now
17:29
Somebody calling me right there. What are you talking about? But it has forced me to, as you say, develop my superpower
17:38
of just advocating for myself, sticking up for myself without guilt. Amen
17:44
Because that was very hard for me. Yeah, without guilt. That's powerful
17:48
Yes. Right? I have to learn that. I still do things because of guilt that I don't want to do
17:55
Thank you for sharing that with us. Yeah. All right. Money Long is here
17:59
I'm going to play her new single, May, for me. But first, she got to do some work here, Tracy G
18:03
Uh-huh. You got to do some work, Money Long. You've been writing these hits
18:07
You know Ariana Grande, Ariana. Okay, I know who you know. I know who you roll hits for
18:13
Oh, God. I've seen it. I know your career. Shaka's my brother
18:18
I've known him since he did radio. DTP is in the building. Shaka Zulu is here
18:23
Salute to this king. We do something here, man, where artists who were in their first time
18:29
they go through an initiation aid, and you know what this is. That's my brother right there
18:33
I see you taking off your jacket, Money Long. Yeah, you made me hot. Okay, good, good
18:38
She need a pen in the pad? Yeah, well, she might need a pen in the pad. I would ask her to write something real quick
18:42
but I want to invite her not just to the show, Sway's Universe, Sway in the Morning, with Heather B and Tracy G
18:47
but I wanted to invite her to the Valley of the Hyena! Hyena! You know what this is
18:54
She said what that means, Sway. We're going to throw a beat on for you and we're going to see what you made of
18:59
Get money! Singing, rapping, whatever it is you do. Pay them dudes
19:03
Get money! Let me see if this pays off. Okay, but can I listen to it for a second? Yeah, you got the headphones right there
19:08
There you go, there you go. I'm going to call it a little song. Okay
19:12
Let me know if it tastes good. What you think? Like that BPO
19:24
Maybe slow it down a little bit. Slow it down a little bit. Let's just slow it down. Let's just slow it down. Just a little bit
19:35
I'm alone She in her bag I don't usually do this for that
19:41
You know I Is you married? Is you single? Do anybody out there got a ring on
19:52
You got exes? Are they jealous? These days gotta ask some type questions
19:57
Is you broke boy? Is you rich rich? That bitly is it yours or is it rented
20:03
Is you gonna take care of this checkup? We gonna split it These days Gotta ask some type questions
20:08
Was you trapping? Is you legit yet? Saw you a rapper You got a hit yet
20:14
When you grew up Did your mama teach you respect? Still got a couple of things
20:18
That I ain't asked yet When you did a bid What did you go for
20:22
I got my reasons Why I wanna know for You know you not the type
20:25
Of guy I usually go for I'm just inquiring Cause I wanna know more
20:30
Do you got kids? Is you there for them? Four different baby mamas
20:34
Do you care for them? Why you keep laying down with strangers unprotected
20:38
These days, gotta ask them tight questions If it's conclusions, is you jumping
20:44
I'm good at making something matter nothing Then you never asked me if I had a husband
20:48
These days, gotta ask them tight questions Yeah, 21 questions 21 questions
20:56
I think that was counted 21 questions In case you thought it wasn't
21:02
I just want to chill and live my life. Money long. Anything I want, I buy
21:09
Hit them all every time my accountant cries. Sway. Yeah, he said you don't got the answers
21:16
We got a higher than I better have. All right. Yeah, girl
21:21
I love you. Money is alive. Now you're good. Money long. Yeah, you got it
21:26
A round of applause. Money long. You got to feel my heartbeat. It's like woof, woof, woof
21:31
Nah, you stepped up to the ground. plate. Too easy. Too easy. And that was a plan
21:36
to the same. She didn't hear that B before she stepped in the studio. Yeah, I was kind of nervous
21:41
Like, what's even important for the plan? Money easy. Money easy. Easy money
21:46
Easy money. I got one more question. 50, let me buy a... Can I get a dollar
21:52
Let me hold something. That was great, yo. Money long. Thank you for joining us today
21:58
You're amazing. You're amazing. Let me get that footage, though. We got you
22:02
We're going to get you everything. All right, man. Introduce your new single. My name is Money Long, not Mooney
22:10
Money Long. And this is my single, Made For Me. Thank you for coming through
22:16
Thank you for having me. This was fun
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