

Dr. Benjamin Wright
Legendary composer and arranger Dr. Benjamin Wright joins Tank & J. Valentine for a masterclass in orchestration, arrangement, and musical storytelling. From shaping iconic R&B records to scoring timeless moments, Benjamin breaks down how strings, horns, and live instrumentation elevate a song from…

Jaycen Joshua
Jaycen Joshua—Grammy-winning mix engineer and the ear behind countless modern classics—sits with Tank & J. Valentine to break down what separates a “good mix” from a record that feels finished. From gain staging and low-end translation to vocal placement, depth, and loudness, Jaycen walks through h…

Tricky Stewart
Tricky Stewart—Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, and RedZone architect—joins Tank & J. Valentine to unpack how era-defining records get built. From the first chord choice to the final vocal comp, Tricky breaks down the decisions behind smashes like Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,…

Philip Lawrence
Philip Lawrence—Grammy-winning songwriter/producer and frequent Bruno Mars collaborator (The Smeezingtons)—sits with Tank & J. Valentine to unpack how stadium-level records get built. We get into melody-first writing, lyric clarity, chord choices that carry a hook, and the vocal/arrangement details…

Blaq Tuxedo
Blaq Tuxedo—brothers Darius & Dominique—pull up to talk songwriting, the journey, and building records that hit both the timeline and the stage. With Tank & J. Valentine, the duo breaks down their process from melody math to production choices, how they split roles in the room, and the rollout thin…

Marc Byers
Executive and A&R strategist Marc Byers sits with Tank & J. Valentine to map the relationships, instincts, and timing behind era-defining R&B and hip-hop moments—from internships under Kenny Gamble, to early wins with Maurice Wilcher, to linking artists, producers, and labels that shaped the sound …

Tony Dixon
Tony Dixon (aka Antonio Dixon)—songwriter, producer, and vocal architect—sits with Tank & J. Valentine to break down how modern R&B records come together: chord language, pocket, and vocal production that lives on repeat. Tony walks through the making of Kehlani’s “out the window”—from concept to a…

Jill Scott Highlights
This week, we’re bringing you a Highlight Episode packed with some "Golden"moments, from our recent episode with the one and only Jill Scott.

Jill Scott
Jill Scott sits with Tank & J. Valentine to talk about how songs start, how performances breathe, and how an artist protects her center. She walks through the making of signature records——and the choices behind phrasing, silence, and dynamics. We get into the bandstand, the poem-to-melody pipeline,…

Deon Cole
Deon Cole—comedian, actor, writer, and producer—pulls up for a masterclass on craft and longevity. With Tank & J. Valentine, Deon breaks down the evolution from late-night writers’ rooms to Netflix specials (Charleen’s Boy) and dramatic turns on screen, the discipline it takes to build an hour, and…