Deb Antney & ‘Deb’s House’ Winner Audrey Lakel Talk Mentorship

After the Deb's house season finale, the music mentor and her newest protégé sat down to reflect on the power of purpose, perseverance and passing the torch in R&B.

Deb's house began as a music competition created by veteran manager and industry powerhouse Deb Antney, the woman behind the early success of Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane, and Waka Flocka Flame. Season 1 spotlighted hip hop, crowning Philadelphia rapper Rocky as its first champion.

For Season 2, Deb decided it was time for something different. The show traded bars for ballads, channeled the heart of rhythm and blues: a genre Deb proudly calls her first love. This time, contestants were pushed to master storytelling, tone and emotional presence while surviving the same no-nonsense structure that defines Deb's brand of artist development.

Now, BOSSIP's very own, Lauryn Basschatted with Deb Antney and Season 2 winner Audrey Lakelgrandson of soul legend Loletta Holloway, to talk about mentorship, growth, and what it means to carry a legacy into the future of R&B.

“It's not just a TV show, it's artist development”

For Deb, Deb's house has always been about more than television. It's a character test and a crash course in artistry.

“You have to create a map, and in that short period of time, that's just a sliver of what you bring to the table,” she said. “Having a good team is very, very important because there is no 'I' in team. There is no one that one person can bring to the game alone. It takes a team of people to do that.”

Audrey agreed, describing the experience as unpredictable, rigorous and humiliating.

“When you wake up in the morning, it's not like, 'Hey, you're going to do this today,'” she said. “You don't know what the challenge is or who's going to go home. I would have thought about it if I knew what was coming next, so I'm glad it was.”

Because of those surprises, the series doubled as a masterclass in professionalism and adaptability. It was a complete training ground where instinct mattered as much as talent.

A sober house and a serious standard

While other reality shows thrive on chaos, Deb keeps her competition grounded, literally. Deb's House is intentionally frugal, a decision she says filters out distractions and forces participants to rely on discipline rather than dependency.

“​​​​​When you watch reality TV and are a part of reality TV, you see people become different from themselves once they take that drink or they are high from whatever it is,” Deb said. “We don't. I have to see how badly you really want this, and I can't have someone having such a dependency.”

That clear focus set the tone for a different kind of show — one that centers growth and substance over gimmicks.

R&B's Revival: Why the Genre Still Matters

Deb's pivot to R&B wasn't just creative; it was personal.

“R&B fell off, and actually R&B is my first love,” she said. “We need that love. We need that love in the air. R&B stands for rhythm and blues. It has nothing to do with how wet you are between your legs. We need that love element back in the air, not R&B getting angry.”

Her mission was clear: to bring back the feeling that defined generations of soul – vulnerability, romance and real stories.

Audrey echoed that sentiment, crediting her upbringing for grounding her artistry in musical integrity.

“My grandmother did disco and pop, but she started in the church,” she said. “Her mother, who was also named Audrey, had a huge choir in Chicago called the Holloway Community Singers. I grew up listening to Anita Baker, James Brown, that real blues, rhythm and soul. That's definitely what I incorporate into my music.”

Audrey Lakel: From Legacy to Leadership

Carrying her grandmother's torch is a responsibility that Audrey takes seriously.

“It's such a cool thing to pick up Apple Music and scroll through hours of it [Loleatta Holloway] songs,” she said. “They spoke life into me and prayed for me all the time. I definitely leaned on the parts of her that are in me to bring out my best.

Since returning home, the singer has been busy writing and recording, balancing her courses at Clayton State University with hours in the studio.

“I've been writing two to three songs a week, right in the middle of my normal work and all the other things I do,” she shared. “That's probably been the biggest change.”

Deb says that drive is exactly what made Audrey stand out.

“The one thing that stood out to me was watching her evolve into the butterfly that she is,” Deb said. “She didn't believe in herself at first. Her self-esteem wasn't there, but I saw her grow.”

Advice and the next chapter

As Season 3 looms, Deb and Audrey both offer powerful advice for the next wave of contestants.

“Focus on yourself, period,” Deb said. “Be true to your craft. Know exactly what it is that you want. What is your purpose here? What are you willing to sacrifice to get to the top? It's not about who you know or what you look like. It's about who wants it most.”

Audrey added that self-discovery and discipline are essential to longevity.

“I used to be someone who smoked every day,” she admitted. “I started asking myself, if you say this is a gift from God, but you feel you have to smoke to deliver it, what are you really giving the world? I don't make music with flows in mind. I make music that comes naturally to me, and that's why it feels so good right now.”

Deb closed by reminding everyone that for her the show is just the beginning.

“The season isn't really over,” she said. “Next is her music. You'll hear her music soon. It goes as far as she takes it. When you step into Deb's House, you're not just chasing a title, you're earning your sound,” said Mrs. Deb Antney.

With Audrey Lakel carrying her grandmother's torch into a new era of soul, Season 2 didn't just revive R&B, it redefined it.