SG: You just shot the new video for “Be Still” with Janelle Monae. Janelle is obviously signed to your label as well, on the album. How did the two of your first connect?

BB: Janelle was singing background for an artist I had signed named Scar, and she used to be around, stank on the edges, a cute little school girl, and I caught her at open mic night at Justin’s – P. Diddy’s soul food restaurant in Atlanta – and I heard her singing and I told her I had to have her. I brought her in and just really vibed with her for some years, until it was time for her to come out. She’s one of those artists that you don’t have to lead the way on; you don’t have to hold their hand, they’ve always got input. I like artists with vision. She’s definitely one of those, and she’s gonna be here for a long time.

VIBE: Honestly, we’re starting simple. How did you get the name Red Café?

Red Café: Red is a name that I grew up with. My pops name was Red—my hair is red. When my hair used to be long; I had long braids. I was more like Little Red. That was a name I grew up with. Even my moms doesn’t call me by my government name, ever. Nobody really knows me as my real name, except in school, but even in school. You know how that goes. Café was a name that I acquired in the streets. That was my stamp. I was in the streets doing a lot of different things as far as supplying different…