Shawn Stockman's On That Note

Nicky Jam adds fire to the reggaeton “pure hitmaker” conversation as he breaks down crafting early records with Daddy Yankee, surviving addiction and street life, and rebuilding his career into a global comeback story decades in the making. In this episode of On That Note, Nicky reflects on moving to Puerto Rico as a kid, learning Spanish through music, witnessing reggaeton’s rise from the inside, and navigating the dangerous realities that nearly derailed his career. He opens up about recovery, faith, longevity, and what it takes to last 30 years in a genre built on pressure, competition, and reinvention. An honest, deeply personal conversation about music, survival, and earning your second — and third — chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn Stockman warms up the guitar as the conversation turns musical, and Jemele Hill breaks down her all-time favorite artists — Aretha Franklin, Sade, Prince, Michael Jackson, and Mary J. Blige. Then Shawn jumps into an acoustic performance of Human Nature, and Jemele gets pulled into the moment for the iconic “why, why, why” — reluctantly, hilariously, and fully aware she’s about to get roasted. A raw, fun, and playful moment that captures everything On That Note does best: great music, great taste, and zero pressure to be perfect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jemele Hill and Shawn Stockman break down why the 1990s became the golden age of culture, from Michael Jordan’s mystique and NBA rivalries to MTV’s grip on music, media, and shared experience. They explore how scarcity, radio dominance, and fewer platforms created bigger stars, stronger legacies, and a level of cultural focus that’s nearly impossible to recreate today — and what’s been gained (and lost) in the modern media era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Rich performs and shares the story behind “Nobody Knows,” the hit song that many listeners mistakenly believed was a Babyface record. In this episode of On That Note, Tony breaks down how the confusion started, why the comparison made sense at the time, and how the song—written with his brother about their father—became one of the most misunderstood classics of ’90s R&B. Alongside a stripped-down performance, Tony offers rare context about the record’s creation, its legacy, and what it was like hearing his own song misattributed on the radio. This is “Nobody Knows” as it was meant to be heard—with the story behind it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Detroit kid turned LaFace secret weapon, Tony Rich joins Shawn Stockman to talk John Salley’s studio, Tim & Bob’s life-changing phone call, writing “Nobody Knows” and “I Sit Away,” the pressure of “LaFace University,” and the Prince moments that flipped his whole approach to music. In this episode of On That Note, Tony traces his path from Motown’s backyard to Atlanta’s hit factory, breaking down how L.A. Reid, Babyface, and the LaFace camp shaped his songwriting, why bridges are a lost art, what it meant to hand Boyz II Men a classic, and how Prince, Al Green, Stevie Wonder and the 90s label era still guide the way he writes, performs, and self-checks every new project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices