- Queen Naija has stunned us all since she stepped
on the music scene.
She's a fan favorite at the Soul Train Awards.
From 2018 when she first appeared in the epic Soul Cypher,
throwing daggers into the hearts of her exes with Karma,
which explores how, what goes around,
comes around in the game of love.
- ♪ Treating me bogus, ♪
♪ talking about you wanted something new, ♪
♪ Like I wasn't good enough for you. ♪
- She performed its accusatory first verse
and added some powerful voice runs to let the fans know
that her talent is heaven-sent.
- ♪ So you don't got to worry about me ♪
♪ You made it clear that you're unhappy, yeah. Go ahead - ♪
- Her songs became so popular and hit the airwaves.
From being an unsigned social media star
to the Soul Train Awards,
she definitely brings those feel-good vibes.
She was even invited back to perform in 2019.
She shocked us all.
- Performing live is important
because you can record tracks all day,
but if you really have a voice and you perform live,
people know that you can vocally sing.
I found that I was going to perform at Soul Train Awards
when my manager called me and she said,
"They want you to perform."
I was like, "No way."
This is a big opportunity because my album is coming out.
When I heard the band's live arrangement of my song,
I felt like they nailed it. Like they made it bigger.
Cause I was thinking, like, this song is, like,
more of a vibe-y song.
I can't really even showcase my vocals on this song,
so how am I going to do that?
♪ 'Cause I don't get that good morning text no more ♪
♪ I don't get no kiss when I walk out the door. ♪
♪ Baby we was so in love. ♪
So when I heard the arrangement, I was like,
"Okay, this sounds big."
Bands make the show and the music so much more.
You can slow the song down if you want.
You can play around with it.
You could make it bigger if it's not such a big song.
So I just love the idea of like having a big band.
It can be a lot of pressure when performing sick.
I got two days to get my voice right.
I just know that I have to do what I need to do
to take care of my throat issues right now.
No, like the end.
So I need to find a way to make it bigger with it.
And I don't know how right now. So.
- So I was thinking a break, like after the verse.
(improvising singing with track)
What about call and answer.
(singing with track)
- So basically like call and answer?
- That's all I'm saying, yeah.
If you call and response,
you'll stay up big with us and then we can end
- With the assistance of Adam and Noelle,
they pretty much help me find the pockets
of where I could show the range that I want to show.
(Noelle improvises with the band)
First of all, the girl can sing.
She sounded good.
I want to just let her just take the mic,
but it was helpful.
Just trying to make my hoarse voice sound good.
It kinda was a moment of women empowerment
because when she stepped up,
like that's my song.
I didn't have no problem with having
someone teach me something.
I'm just humble.
♪ Than you love me 'cause it was way better before ♪
This is a big deal to me because first of all, it's live.
So whatever I do is going to be there.
I'm excited.
♪ I try so hard to ignore my heart. ♪
♪ Thought it was all in my mind. ♪
♪ But you know my intuition never, my intuition never lies. ♪
♪ 'Cause I don't get that good morning text no more. ♪
♪ I don't get no kiss when I walk out the door ♪
♪ Baby, we was so deep in love, what happened to us? ♪
♪ First of all, I love Drinko. ♪
He was basically just trying to teach me
how to play around with the camera
and play around with like the way I walk.
He was pretty much trying to tell me
when I came out on stage to, you know,
look at the camera directly.
The next step is now just with myself.
First of all, take care of my voice
and make sure it's going to be on point on Sunday.
I just need to find my arrangement of like,
okay, first verse, I'll do this.
Second verse, I'm doing this.
And after the bridge I'll do this.
So pretty much, it's just all with me.
I just have to study what I'ma do and memorize it.
(vocal warm-ups)
♪ Who washed Washington's white woolen underwear ♪
♪ When Washington's washerwoman went west? ♪
♪ Washington's white, Washington ♪
That is my vocal warm up guys, now back to you, Jim.
The biggest difference today for my voice
when I first started out I was very hoarse.
I could barely hit a high note.
Now I can do it some good.
It's show time, show time.
- Just two years ago. She was an unsigned artist.
Tonight, this Detroit native is here
to explain the importance of a good morning text.
Ladies and gentlemen, Queen Naija.
♪ I used to check my phone, chills when I saw your name. ♪
♪ Used to talk all night long, now things are not the same. ♪
♪ I used to lay in your bed ♪
- When people see my live performance at Soul Train,
I would like to gain new supporters.
I would like for people to just be like,
"That girl can sing."
♪ I don't get that good morning text no more ♪
♪ I don't get no kiss when I walk out the door ♪
♪ Baby, we was so deep in love, what happened to us? ♪
♪ Guess all I really wanna know is do I love you more? ♪
I would like them to get a new perspective
of me and know more of who I am.
- Her work effort is truly nothing to mess with.
Even performing sick Queen Naija managed
to become the queen of the night,
giving us the vocals, The Drip,
and the looks that we all needed.
♪ I wanna know do I love you more? ♪
♪ Do you still love me? ♪
♪ I wanna know do I love you more? ♪
♪ Than you love me 'cause it was way better before. ♪
Thank you BET Soul Train Awards.
I love you so much.
Thank y'all for having and recognizing my craft
and I hope to be back next year.
♪ I wanna know do I love you more? ♪