LOYALTY OVER MONEY -JUBU SMITH

LOYALTY OVER MONEY. On this episode of The TrevBeats Show, Trevor Lawrence Jr. sits down with Jubu Smith—the guitarist whose feel and tone helped define modern R&B. From his Oakland gospel-quartet roots to shaping the signature sound of Tony! Toni! Toné!, touring with Whitney Houston, and holding the guitar chair for Maze featuring Frankie Beverly for 24+ years, Jubu breaks down what really keeps a musician working for decades: taste, integrity, and spirit. You’ll hear the real story behind the “Anniversary” guitar moment, why he chose loyalty over a bigger paycheck, and his unapologetic take on AI in 2026—plus practical advice for the next generation trying to get hired today. Chapters 00:00 Meet Jubu Smith: the “Anniversary” tone architect 00:39 Welcome + “Hamster Wheel” praise (Jubu/Charlie Hunter/Calvin Napper) 01:47 Oakland roots + church foundation (quartet DNA) 02:59 Family lineage + early heroes (quartet culture) 04:13 Quartet guitar influences + the gospel rabbit hole 05:21 Ancestry connections: “Rejoice & Shout” + Questlove link 07:25 “Quartet is my secret sauce” (identity + confidence) 09:12 How “Anniversary” was born (jazz-room spark) 11:36 Tony! Toni! Toné! studio moment + the lick 13:15 When it clicked: Kirk Franklin uses the lick 14:30 Pulled over after the session… smiling in handcuffs 17:31 Euge Groove albums: remote “band” workflow 19:22 The Jubu Trio: playing with Charlie Hunter (no bass) 20:49 Real-time writing: calling chord moves on the fly 22:58 Integrity talk: turning down Dre to stay with Frankie 24:45 Choosing the road over the studio (and the money) 30:32 Whitney Houston tour: audition, approach, and getting the gig 33:39 Dialing tone with Paul Jackson + Whitney behind the scenes 35:30 Michael Baker at Ronnie Scott’s: pop discipline vs jazz monster 37:30 The elephant in the room: AI in 2026 41:31 Jubu links + where to find his music 42:04 Advice for the next generation: work daily + post your playing 45:10 Shout-outs + closing Guest Jubu Smith Instagram: @jubu.smith New Album: “JUBU” https://open.spotify.com/album/0jOpLQ... Official site: jubumusic.com 🎙️ Gear Used on the Show (Affiliate) 🎤 Audix PDX720 Broadcast Dynamic Microphone 👉 https://cdn.audixusa.com/media/downlo... Transparency Note: Some of the gear used in this episode is tagged via YouTube Shopping. If you purchase through these tags, The TrevBeats Show may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only feature equipment Trevor actually uses and trusts. 🎧 Studio / Chart Reading Setup (Exact setup used on The TrevBeats Show) 👉 https://www.amazon.com/shop/trevorlaw... 🎛️ Splice (Affiliate) — Trevor Lawrence Jr. Sample Packs • Boom Bap Drums https://splice.com/sounds/packs/that-... • Vintage Hip Hop https://splice.com/sounds/packs/that-... 🥁 Products & Resources 🎁 Welcome Pack — Mini Drum Pack (one-shots + loops) 👉 https://trevorlawrencejr.com 🎼 LYNGO — Music Term Pack 👉 https://trevorlawrencejr.com 📱 PROMPT-DUCER App / MAIAI App — From Idea To Creation MAIAI: AI Workflow & Workbench https://apps.apple.com/us/app/maiai-a... 🎧 “Tech Support” — New EP by Trevor Lawrence Jr. 🍎 Apple Music 👉   / tech-support   🟢 Spotify 👉 https://open.spotify.com/album/0Sq8ha... 📀 20 FOR 20 PLAYLIST 👉    • THE TREVBEATS SHOW 20 FOR 20-JUBU SMITH   📲 Follow & Connect Instagram:   / trevorlawrencejr   YouTube:    / @thetrevbeatsshow   Website: https://trevorlawrencejr.com 🔔 Support the Channel Like. Subscribe. Share. Built for musicians who think long-term, move with intention, and refuse to compromise. 🔔 BACKSTAGE MEMBERSHIP    • Introducing Backstage: A New Way to Connect 🥁   #TrevBeatsShow #JubuSmith #TonyToniTone #Anniversary #Maze #FrankieBeverly #WhitneyHouston #GospelQuartet #RAndB #GuitarTone #SessionMusician #MusicIndustry #MusicPodcast #MusiciansOfYouTube #DrDre #RickyMinor #CharlieHunter #EugeGroove #AIinMusic #musiclegacy