Behind the Mic with David Ruffin Jr.: Detroit sports, scandal, and a surprise studio session
Manage episode 518454477 series 3621207
Headlines had us heated; a surprise guest had us silent. We kick off with Detroit energy—Lions optimism, Tigers heartbreak, and the true price of a night out—then sprint through the week’s wildest stories: Diddy’s courtroom strategy and Fort Dix rumors, a Texas swatting twist linked to a Tesla case, Mark Sanchez facing upgraded charges, and the scrutiny orbiting Bad Bunny’s every move. We also dig into Dolly Parton’s calm rebuttal to health rumors and Gene Simmons’ dehydration scare, before zooming in on Michigan’s cannabis wholesale tax and Detroit’s new 679 area code—small numbers with big impact.
Then the door opens and everything tilts. David Ruffin Jr. pulls up, drops two unreleased performances, and tells the story behind the voice on Gin & Juice. He talks about spending months in Thailand, waking up with nothing on his mind for the first time, and learning to produce for himself after years of waiting on other hands at the board. The conversation gets real about AI’s too-perfect sheen, the power of imperfection, and why he won’t lend his voice to songs that say nothing. We pull from the vault, revisit a deep cut, and talk about releasing legacy sessions with full credit so the music can finally breathe.
David is narrowing 30 tracks to 13 using trusted listener votes, aiming for a release on his 60th birthday. One standout, Electricity, was written with an EV launch in mind—high-voltage, hook-driven, and begging for a sync. The through line is clear: peace as success, forgiveness without forgetting, and art built to warm more than it wounds. It’s Detroit grit with a global perspective, and it sounds like life getting lighter.
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Chapters
1. Cold Open & Detroit Roll Call (00:00:00)
2. Sports Banter: Lions, Bills, Tigers Heartbreak (00:02:55)
3. Jen with the Juice: Diddy, Legal Heat, Pop Culture (00:05:47)
4. True Crime & Swatting Twist in Texas Case (00:14:30)
5. Sanchez Charges, Stadium Drama, Celebrity Health (00:20:07)
6. Michigan Weed Tax & Industry Fallout (00:27:28)
7. New Detroit Area Code 679 (00:31:20)
8. Entertainment Prices, Local Venues, Night Out Costs (00:33:40)
9. Surprise Guest: David Ruffin Jr. Enters (00:37:00)
10. Live Performance: “Stop” Sneak Peek (00:38:06)
11. Origins: Gin & Juice Hook and Credits (00:41:28)
12. Thailand, Healing, and Creative Reset (00:46:00)
13. Industry Truths, AI Voices, and Integrity (00:52:30)
14. The Vault: Unreleased Cuts & Legacy (00:58:40)
15. Blast From the Past Playback (01:03:32)
16. Making the Album: 30 to 13 Songs (01:08:20)
17. Second Performance: “Electricity” (01:13:20)
18. Release Plans, Forgiveness, and Final Thoughts (01:17:40)
19. Closing & How to Connect (01:21:20)
25 episodes