Jon B has openly criticized Chlöe Bailey and Gunna for their rendition of his 1997 hit “They Don’t Know.” In a recent appearance on Ian Von’s podcast Can We Talk R&B?, Jon B expressed his displeasure with their sampling of his classic track.
Jon B’s Disapproval
Jon B revealed that he was not thrilled with Chlöe Bailey and Gunna’s use of “They Don’t Know” in their track “You & Me.” He stated, “It does get sampled every year… Someone last year was Gunna and Chlöe Bailey, they put that ratchet record out that I couldn’t stand.” He further emphasized that they never sought his permission to use the song, saying, “[They] never actually got my rights to do that record, either, so Gunna, we gotta holler about that. … That’s some business shit we got to handle.”
Despite acknowledging the frequent sampling of his music as a compliment, Jon B made it clear that he did not appreciate the approach taken by Chlöe and Gunna. “My lane is my lane, and my area is my area, and I earned that,” he remarked. “If you made a hit in your area, you do your song whatever it is. I’m not going to just come into your area, take your joint, and make it mine and not pay you or whatever.”
Mixed Feelings About the Industry
Jon B’s dissatisfaction extends beyond this particular cover. He voiced strong opinions about Justin Timberlake’s recent music video, calling it “demonic.” Jon B remarked, “That new single is trash. I’m not feeling his music at all anymore. And the video is even more trash… I don’t like all this demonic sh**. You would sell your soul to be popular or something? Or to give your allegiance some hidden power behind the scenes?”
As Jon B’s fans eagerly await his first album in over a decade, titled Waiting on You, he continues to assert his presence in the music industry. The title track featuring Tank was released in January, but the full album has yet to materialize.