T.I. | Ep 170 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME Basketball

been locked in for many ways. It is nine to five. Uh, somebody that's always shown me love since I've been in the city, and somebody I really look up to, my brother T I be in the building. Welcome to all the smoke, my love and respect. Appreciate you all for heavy man, Thanks for coming. Man. Let's get straight to it, man, um just open trap cafe. Um, let's talk about that, because I know I gotta pull up there and enjoy some of the comedians and the good foods. You got

gonna tell them about the vibe, right O? Man? Try to see the cafe just a place for us, you know what I'm saying. Just a bad, bad eat, drink smoke. Vocals enjoy. You know, I'm trying to enhance the human experience. I feel like, you know what I'm saying. With phones and everybody's hands, social media, everybody kind of like, really, you know, living life through the lens of a device, and ain't nobody really putting this ship down to connect with one another anymore. So I'm trying to, you know,

just trying to just do something to encourage that life. House, family and life. We all know you big on family and uh you know house life and family right now? What new projects you got going on? Um Man, families, great family, great kids are good. I'm blessed, blessed beyond measure. UM project X got a film fear coming at Yeah, Terrence J. Joseph's a coorra um Ruby any uh you got King Badge? Um just the host of us, the

host of was that all? And the phenomenal part about the story is we all kind of came together and invested in the film, so like we we we collectively became producers of m as well. UM. I want to talk about the trap. A lot of people don't understand what trap is. A lot of people, UM learned that we talk about the trap of trap music something to tape, so the word trap. So a lot of people confused about the trap because it became commercial because a lot

of people ain't really from the trap. I don't know where the word trap started. So could you help explain trapp and trap music, the difference between trap and trap music? Oh man, the turn trapped to me, you know, it was just just passed down kind of from generation to generation. Um. I think the first time I heard it in music was when Big Boy used it from Outcast, you know what I mean? Um? And and basically the trap is

a drug dealers place of business, you know. Um. Uh could be considered a double untendry because you know what I'm saying. Essentially, the lifestyle is a trap. Um. But it's really well and of course some of the most prominent hustlers would like to consider it the place where

they trapped the money. Um. But trapped music is pretty much philosophical presentation set to music, uh, outline and in detail, and the life, lifestyle and experiences of a druid deal or form a druid deal I mean, and trapp music the twent anniversary, uh, this year of trap music, and it would not have sustained and and and just had the longevity that has had. If it were not so many people in this country or in the world, they

have a similar experience. If there was no war on drug, there was no crack, no crack era, then there would be no need for trap music. But because of that, we are all refugees to the War on drug some way shape form of fashion each and never layed one of us in the country got somebody who was selling dope, smoking dope with the jail for dope, Dad over dope, you know what I'm saying. So we all have a come and experience and trapped musically to everybody know that

they ain't going through it alone. M I've been here since two thousand three, so I was still I was living on the West Side when it was still banking a Hollywood. It's just changed. Not a hollowell now you know I've been in a while. Let's talk about your childhood on the West Side, Okay, man, Uh just a little badass snapperhead light skinning, you know what I'm saying.

I mean, man, I was very small and you know, always uh just inquisitive, always getting in the ship unnecessarily, but very small, like in school with academics and stuff, and a lot of people always ask like, why can you be so small and then getting so much trouble at the same time, And I think that that was the two became tethered together, probably in kindergarten for grade, when you know, when I'm kind of small compared to people in the class and ship, you know what I'm saying,

light skinned, come to school fresh air day, and when the teacher calling me to read, I read fluently. So there was a lot of hate from that. So I had two choices. I could either pre tend to be not as smart so you know, yeah, dum damn. Or I could show you my time Jesse smart and getting just in what trouble is out And I chose the latter, you know what I mean, So they can both of both of them, my intellect and my troublesome nature kind

of grew at the same rate of speed. You got a deep history of investing in real estate out here, and it seems like a lot of artists do that out here. Where does that mindset come from? M hmm, I mean it's hard to say. I think maybe maybe all the examples that we've had, you know what, I'm saying before us, Um, the hustlers that came before us. Before there were you know, rappers, entertainers, so on and and

so forth. You know, there were always people were there were number runners, you know what I mean, people send a weed out of envelopes, you know what I'm saying. It was people who you know, figured out a way to subsidize their own lifestyle, you know, outside of the government, you feel me. And with those funds, the diversification of the portfolio, we just watch what the people before is. Did you know before before there was a t I buying property over here, it was a que ball, you

know what I'm saying, buying up all the properties. There was a cheeriot, there was a nappy, there was you know, just so many o g that we saw. And the the natural transition of the natural progression is when you get a certain amount of wealth that you've attained, don't just let it sit there until you spend it till it's gone. Don't just let it sit in the bank. Let the white folk trade on your money and make money and don't give you but a opinions on the dollar.

Take their money and put it into something that they ain't never making no more dirt. I mean, and uh, I really learned from I learned from the examples that were set for don't you have I'm hearing something in the streets that you did. Um, either Google or a big company just brought up one of your properties and building something on that. Ain't sold none of my properties. Uh, but what we what we do have? And I believe Microsoft is coming. And they bought Overlook Overlooking Lona. I

did not actually own Overlooking Lot. I would have loved to have participated in the aosition some kind of way shape form of fashion. But now a little further down the street, UM, I purchased a piece of land. I think in fifteen used to be a kmar in the grocery store. By eight and a half now equals. And I had the pleasure of sitting on the mayor's transition

team Mayor Keisha Lands Bottoms. And when I did that, it kind of put me at the table with a lot of heavy developers and and you know real entrepreneurs, real uh people who run CEOs of corporations like the CEO Delta, you know what I mean, people like um

the legendary Nowhere or Khalil from Columbia Developments. Goddress is soul and so me and Killer Mike, we're sitting here and we all, you know, we were students, were we considered it an internship, if you will, And we learned the initiative of the city, like one of the real priorities of the city was affordable housing because close to the people who work in Atlanta can no longer afford

to live in Atlanta. UM, and I had an idea with the property to probably do something entertainment driven bowl and nalege skating ring, you know what I'm saying, something like that. But when I sat on that transition team and learned of the city's initiatives, I said, well, maybe this could be utilized for something that could be more beneficial to the community at large. And you know, the vision and we kind of developed together, me and my

team and the city supported it. And you know, we just created the camp, the cap table, and we should be cutting the ribbon later this year. The yeah yeah, mixed use affordable housing, um yeah. Hunting for the three units, yeah yeah. Um. You know with community center, community Garden, um got retail space. It's a food there's in the area.

So what we would love to do and spanned us a tenant for a supermarket for fresh produce and so for fresh vegetables for for the community to reap the benefits. And also a drug store. We need the drug store over there for elderly to feel the prescription. We also need a banking station. All the banks moved out. Yeah, I mean, uh, and now that people like Microsoft coming back now at it, you know, we got it's clear

to see that there's some money over him. So we need to supply you know, the community with the amenages that you deserve. And I'm just trying to do what I can. That's a beautiful thing. What was the music seemed like growing up out here as a kid, and and and and when did music really come into play for us as a passion for you mm hm as a kid? Music? Uh, let me see. Well, further of all, man, Atlanta has always been like just a super like a hot bed for tallent you know what I mean, Atlanta

Georgia life. For instance, Jane Brown from Augusta, but the third place he coming is is Atlanta. You know you're from Augusta. The third place you're coming to the really, you know what I'm saying do your thing on on a grand scale is alana uh oldish ridden you know what I mean. You know, you just got so much talent. Brick the group brick Um, so many different people man came came from the city. But when I was a kid, it was all about uh Sammy Sam, Uh Kilo, I l yeah n c sha d um a damn shame

get on my field. Yeah, I mean just the name a few. And they opened the doors for you know, uh future legends at the time, like Outcasts and good hmm. You know, I like to look at it is. I say that Kilo and Sammy, Sam kroll so Outcasts and good Hm up walk so till Jeez and Gucci karun so the future Thug and little Baby could fly sah.

I mean it's all integral, it all work together. The doors that were opened by Shade Kilo and Sammy Sam are the doors that benefited Outcast and good m. The doors Outcast and good Am open all the doors that benefited me and you know the rest and the doors that we open, all the doors and benefit just benefiting the generation of the day. Um. And I think that's just that's just a natural evolution at what age did music did you start taking music serious as a you

knew I can. I can make this a career taking it serious. Okay, okay. So the first song I ever ever memorized and just like new in my head and corrapped word for word was was was Elia cool j I'm Bad. So it came out of like eighty five, I like four five years old at the time. Right, So all my older my older sister's cousins, my uncle's you know, they're like, til come do that. Thank you dude, you know what I'm saying. So, oh, nobody can wrapped

quite like I can. I take a muscle bound man, put it facing the center, So I do that, you know what I mean. And I just saw the reaction to the gap for me everybody, it was like, you know what I'm saying. That was kind of like, okay, I'm thinking this, and and and there was. I was in school, third grade eight. I was getting in trouble, getting in trouble all week in school, and my uncle told me if I hear from that school again, I'm gonna whoop your ad. So we had we had a

standard artists, you know what I mean. And I always finished the test early. But when I finished the TI early, I'm throwing paper in, you know what I mean, getting another ship. But I knew I had an air whipping on the line, so I had to think of how it will go, Like you know what I'm saying, occupy my time. So I just challenged myself to see if I could write my own rap by the time it

took everybody else to finish the test. So by the time they finish the tests at the cafeteria table, I did the rap and then I was like, oh, no, you did that. I said, yeah, I did that. Do another one. So then that night I wrote another one, came back playground killed the ass again. This is eight early, about eight years old. I wasn't talking about ship, but you know what I'm saying, I'm just putting word together. And it wasn't um I will say though, you know that.

But that's when I found my thing. I mean eight years old, I knew this is what I can do. Did not many motherfucker's around me, You are able to do the way I can um. But it wasn't until criss Cross came at Criss Cross ABC illegal, I mean, it wasn't until they came out and I said, oh wait a minute, I ain't gotta wait till I'm grown. I could do this ship now. I found out Krik krawd Will discovered in the Mall by Jermaine dupri became superstars. Say man, I'm in the mall every week. The funking

wrong way, where am I? You know? So that was my planing, man, You know what I'm saying. That just kind of you know, to to present my talent to the world and and you know, share my art and speak my truth. That was ever since probably Twitter thirteen. At what point did you cut? You feel like you kind of break and I really got your first opportunity man ship That wasn't until nineteen twenty. I was eighteen

nineteen something like that. So um quite naturally as a kid man twere thirteen, fourteen years old, you're working at something, working at something, working at something, you know, going from this group of producers, these managers, to traveling to New York and you know, shopping your demo with this label, this label, this opportunity. You know, people saying, yeah, man, I think I can get us in. I think I can and then you know, just rejection after rejection after rejection.

You know, I kind of got discouraged. And that's kind of when I you know, just jump head first into the streets probably around fourteen with thirteen fourteen fifteen, kind of like many wraps, you ain't gonna work, man, we try something ill, you know what I mean. And then I started, you know, becoming introduced to people like master P.

I mean you started researching like Rapp a lot. Yeah, I mean start you know, seeing how people who didn't get signed by majors, how they you know, manifested their own destiny and became the architects and they you know what I'm saying, they are they future? And so that who we did man, Me and me and a group of homeboy we just we just hustle and hustle and hustle and use the money every week that we hustle

on Sunday to go to the studio and ship. That's you know, we kind of worked that move until they until we made it. Two questions, Um, what is your writing process like now? Like do you freestyle and punch? And second question is do you write down? Second questions, what's your studio must have? Like what you gotta have in the studio to make that make that hit man. Okay. My writing process is you know it, it differs case by case, appearing on the type of song. Yeah, pen

on the type of song. Right, If I'm writing a song like uh, like live your life, you know what I'm saying with thought, there's a lot of thought into it. And you you know what I'm saying. You really got to kind of put your word choose your words carefully. I might, like, you know, use my notes, I might need put pain in the paper. But if I know I'm I'm going in with adult If I know I'm going in with adults like me and Currency just did a record together, me, Currency and j D, I knew

he went from to be bullshit. Yeah men, I already knew I got to go. I got to come in here, you know what I'm saying on my A game. So that was a little bit different. Whereas if I got records like Pink. The one you did with Pink was crazy with oh yeah that that that that that motherfucker came to me. I was going through something at the time. I had it on my map. Hey man, let me

tell you something. Man, you're talking about juicy, right, Huh, the slow one you got with Pink Ship to know that she's I don't even remember what the process were like at that at that moment in time, Man, I'm telling that's like three albums ago. I mean, let me see, probably Foe probably four. I think that was my last album on Atlantic, probably about four or five. That she

actually should have been a single. Yeah, Yeah, that was a classic favorite producer to work with doing your career early on, Man, I got to say DJ tun DJ the first you know, a live producer really the first person who had ever been in the music industry you know present day that that saw me and took a liking and took a chance on me and uh in my talent um. Of course, you know over time, you know what I'm saying. We we our work ethic candid

changed um. As far as us working together, a lot of kind of being this guy in the way, a lot of stuff. It's just a lot of stuff, but we will always remained brothers. I love Tompe I give you know, I give whatever I can for him, and he would do the same for me. We created classics together, like real bona fide classics. That's my doctor, Drake. I'm here,

Schnoop dogg feel me. Um. But after I'm gonna say but uh and included to that afterwards for real became the next A list producer that kind of really took a chance and invested and you know what I mean, like really really poured energy, information and his efforts into into what I had going on. And after that you had people like just Blaze Um, Scott Starts. Um Man, there's so many and so many I don't even want

to get, you know, create a list. I leave somebody shout out jazzy, Oh, jazzy face got that and see how you see what you did that? You know? I know, man, you got some classes with jazz here. Yeah, what's one of your favorite shities to perform? And besides they, Man, I'd like to go overseas, man, Uh, Africa is different over there too. I mean yeah, the money is the money, you know what I'm talking about the energy from the crowd though, you know what I'm saying. Like Kenya, we

did a showing Kenya not Ruby. If I ain't mistaken, man, it was your lit. We did a show intensive knee up like man, at least a hundred thousand people for the ACTA see um and it was just a different engergy. You could tell that, you know, they appreciate it the moment, you know what I mean. It wasn't like, man, yeah he hear him, It's gonna be another motherfucking his knit and another motherfucking hit the money after that, So you know it felt special. It just feels you know what

I mean, It feels different. And Jamaica, Jamaica was dope, you know, yeah, performing this song, uh with I'm serious, we're being a man Jamaica and yeah, um, I'm serious. Trap music Urban Legend was my one of my all time favorite albums, King Paper Trail all two times platinum. Where out of those do you have a favorite? Out of those? Man? You know, I used to say when I asked this question that I don't. I can't pick

a favorite because they all like children. However, the Liberal is my favorite now simply because the Libra is the only album or the first album I gotta change to work with Matt with my children. You know, we got a song on the Libra called Family Connect features my

son and Domind and my other son Messiah. He produced it, demanding performed together reason that they Yeah, yeah, that's the song we performed Yeah, Yeah, what's that like to to see I mean lebron is on the on the track to try to play but one of his songs in the NBA. I mean you basically did that in your in your professional What was it like to be side

by side by your little man man? It's a phenomenal feeling, simply because even for him to take the art as serious as he does, and and for me to witness his work ethic and witness witness his growth. Um. I remember hearing his first songs and I just remember like telling them with love, this ain't ship, you know what I mean, It's just you got you got to do better this because we only were talking about we're going to the mall and you know, walking down with big

bags and clothes. And I said, man, any bother they gonna beat your head. Don't nobody want to hear about you bawling in they fail. You gotta find a way to relate to people and a commonality, something that y'all have, that that brings you together. Don't talk about the one

thing that separates you. And he took that information and he just started he started rapping back how he felt school was a waste of time and him wanted to go somewhere, but not having the driver license and having to with like those are the things that everybody really care about. Start rapping by ship, like you know, being in the mansion on the weekends and apartments on the weekdays.

Because a lot of people that think that you know, just because he's my son, that he lived with me indefinitely, you know, but his mom you know, has had you know, majority of the time with him, and it was probably I mean, I just with his music is shared light on the fact that that was a pretty it was a transition going from my house back to it. Wow,

you know what I mean? Um, but those are the things I think that that when he started speaking on those subjects, uh, speaking as a young man expected to be in a relationship with a with a you know, with a girl like hey man, I'm not really yeah, I mean those types of things. I just listened to it and respect so much. I find so much value in it. So to share stage, share song with him,

this it's a phenomenal field. You've won three grammars. Um looking back at that where you come from, with you accomplished, what you continue to accomplish. Is there one that stands out more than others when it comes to those three grammars. I mean I think that all to me, um Man, I think you know, it's it's it's an honor and a privilege to be acknowledged and considered amongst the elite, um, amongst your peers and constituents, you know what I mean. Um,

So I value all of them collectively and individually. UM. I probably say that the moment that that stands out to me, the Grammy moment that stands at is the swagger like us performed, Yeah, I mean, which we also took home from whole well for that that that that year. Um, that to me was like, you know, I don't think it's been another moment like that since I was. I mean, that was my next question was, I mean, what was

the creative process like that coming up? I mean, obviously that song is you Jay, Wayne, Are you guys all on the studio together? So and in versus how is that working? Now? Man? I had, like, you know, some m unique conditions at the time, you know what I'm saying. That down necessarily allowed me, you know, to make myself available for everybody. But what happened was okay, So Um, so we're working on the album, um, paper Trail, and you know we have a lot of records. This you know, bankers,

you already got, like what's up was having? We already had records like my Life You're Entertainment, We already had uh whatever you like, you know what I'm saying. Um, at the last couple of weeks of the deadline of the album is always like you know, one or two to just takes the album to another level. So those two records that came in the lad minute Swigger like Us and Live Your Life, Yeah, I mean three three and didn't gone just just some blood, just timber la Um.

Those records came like in the last two weeks of us wrapping the album up. And so initially, man, Kanye here J got me to beat when he's simple h M. I A's paper Planes, you know, which was a huge, huge international hit record at the time. Um, and it was just ya excuse me. It was a beat produced by YEA and I put three verses on it. And then I think g Roberson, who's you know, my A and R and would later become my manager. He Um,

he said, oh yeah, you got a verse. I said, Okay, bet so then you got me here verse I took one of my verses off and then you just listened to it and say, you know what to be dope, if I could get Wayne and Jail here, I say, make the got it right, ain't going to do that. And he was like, nah, for real, just let me work, Let me work. So you know, we held it so for for a long time it was just me and Yate on the record, right and in the lead two

weeks we got all the verses. Yeah, I mean and uh that she was just you know it was it was unspeakable magic. It was unspeakable. It was magic. You could tell, like, you know, this ship I don't not posed. This ain't posed to be happening for real. You know there's the stars in the moon and landing in my favor of the universe is shining down on me the way it came together. Yeah, obviously you can make hits when they're sent and and your and your conditions don't

allow you to move freely. When your conditions do allow you to move freely, and you're able to get in the studio with an artist, explain the difference in the energy when you're in there with somebody rather than having the sample sent to you with to be honest with you, man, I'm gonna tell you when I was well on house arrests and working on the like when I did the I guess the the body of the work that that

that became paper trail. When I did the first like fifteen sixteen songs when I'm on house arrest, that was the most thought I ever put into my lyrics because when I can't just say no, why she I'm already you know, I'm on supervide release, got all kinds of fiends and she you know, looking at so I gotta say what I want to say, but be very careful in my delivery. Saw a song like What's Up? What's Handing?

It was very difficult to do. You know what I'm saying because you know this happened when uh I found that that that me and Low had some issues. And I'm gonna tell you so the funny ship ill so Lower and I had issue. But because he was upset that or he didn't he didn't agree with me not getting on a song that he wanted me to get on um and he felt like you should just be like yo, I asked you to do it you do. I'm like NA, but for real, I don't like the song.

So then, you know, the back and forth led to all I will fifty thousand men, and so you know, he he kind of took that, you know, he took that the ward and cut too. We go to Club Cruiser, which is my club time by the way, uh shout a low and up and he played bum bum bum bum bam bam bam bam bam bam bloom hell the you know, you know, and I see him performing that ship for the first time. And then I see him perform done, done it all, and I say, I leave

the VFP and go meet him at the stage. I say, Nickeld, that's it. Them the ones right there, them the songs, and then I got them funk around called a k own house of read and find out them sucking songs was about to me. I didn't complimented the man, but I genuinely liked the right the first songs, you know, because I mean I had been counted up, I guess, conditioning myself and and and preparing myself lyrically create creatively

for my moment. So you know what I'm saying, My my my opinion and my skin, like my expectation of myself was just at a grade level. Right. So some ship I just went fucking with and it took people like you know, like Low and other people. It took them a minute to kind of like catch a stride and to get you know, they always Low always had

the people. But because he really he bought what he said, he back and he from where he saved from and the whole community knows, you know, so he always had the support, but the skill set and the the he had to be surrounded with the producers and it just had to had to grow into the moment that would would allow me to include myself in. Um So when I heard those songs, I was like, you know, I found your pocket. Yeah, I mean literally did I know? Songs directly directly at me. But I never took it

like really personal. I never took it really personal because I understood I understood what what what this represented? You know what I'm saying, uh, because you you you you you you spent a lot of time on the West Side. You understand bank kids is split into sad. When you said it must be too sad. Yes, it's the projects in the back streets. You see what I'm saying. So

lowers from born homes, so you got boring homes. You got bank kid caught you got you know what I mean, like projects his own bank kids, that's yeah, it's gone. And told them that you know, you know, they're gonna be some nice condominiums. But um, people from the project is always historically help you know, looked at people from the back streets like, yo, y'all didn't go to for real, y'all living in nice houses and ship you know what

I mean, you ain't got no you know. Uh. And and people live in the back street like ship, and they would be in the same ghetto, you man, you know what I mean, just up the street. So it is two sides, um. But I understood what that represented, right, so I never took it personally. We always maintained the mutual respect for one another. Um. And we used to just talk on the phone throughout the beef, if you were we like we talk on the phone and and he say, yeah, yeah, you know I got something for

you man. I say, man, you know I'm ready for it whenever it gets here, right, And you say, see see, And I don't like your the only thing you could do and I can't do. It's talk. That's all you could do. It's talk. I say, well, if that's all it takes while you don't learn how to talk, then so we'll just go back and forth exchanging with you know what I'm saying, banter on the phone. Uh. But

I really did respect him, Bro. I respect him because because he took his vision and he took the talent and capabilities and the things that he had, never mind what he didn't, he took what he had utilized it, maximized the opportunity and turned it into some legendary ship. And I think that's like, you know, of all of the beefs and squirmishes and disagreements that I've been in, that was my most respectable one. You know what I'm saying. That was the one that I really really did respect.

And I'm glad that before he passed we got a chance to. You know, he became my neighbor. I was getting out of prison. I found out he bought the house up the street from me. You know what I'm saying, I'm down, I'm working at it's a little so we live on a lake. Uh and and it's a point where you can put your boat on the lake if you don't actually live and got a dock and so it's like a little parking level. We used to go ranch sprints and work out and ship. So I see

him pulling in. I see another nigga, you know who the funk else is over here looking like this, These west side niggas right here. What they're doing over here? And I looked my kuders and say, that's low so your bullshit? So he see me. I see him, and it's like right after I got out of prison, so fresh out of whatever the beef was supposed to be. And and I walked up to him for a thing.

He said, Man, what's happen? And welcome home? And you know, we dapped up, just start talking about fatherhood, talking about yeah, you know what I'm saying, And you know we was We were solid from that point forward. Mentioned a few names. You tell me the impact of Atlanta and some of the favorite projects from these people out casts man, legends like goats, I could they are they are the Pitacle, you know what I'm saying, that's the holy Grail. You

did favorite I don't know, man, the whole discography. I'm gonna have to go. I'm gonna go with the first with Southern players. Listen, I'm gonna do I mean, that's everybody, yeah, to change to change man. That's that's, that's, that's that's one of the most uh prolific businessman. You see what I'm saying. He was a Benny man before it was a round. You know, were't gonna speak too much of it, you know what I'm saying, Like I bro was in

the studio before he were recording in the students. Uh. And again, Hustler's mentality took what he had, you know what I'm saying, and turned it into an empire. And that's just you know, you can't say enough about that. That's you know that that that level of I guess tenacity should be acknowledging and and hell in high regard future um present day. I can like he's basically taking everything that everybody else before him has done for the city and putting an exclamation on top of you know,

and he's doing it. He's doing it and presently in grand fashion with with with with hits, you know, with numbers, touring, you know, and and you know, just the the leadership of a whole generation, you know what I mean, Like, and she is beautiful to see one of this name up and to said, I wish I would have could have got a mixed tape of something from y'all. Jess h. Every time y'all get together, it's over man, y'all man, listen, man,

that's my partner, right. So, uh I met y'all early on before he was he was still I think it called him Jay or something like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, he was. It was way before the snowman like it was. And we have a mutual acquaintance in Big Meach and so I knew Meach already, and you know, we all frequent the clubs and ship together. And uh I remember seeting across the stage from them in Magic City before the before the innovation Look Catwalk to Look cat Walk

came down. That was it. So I'm sitting across from there and he climbed up over on the stage and you know what I'm saying, brain Jesus would saying. Man. Then I got Jake, you know what I mean, And you know, he rapping in and I'm like, yeah, okay, another rapper, all right, good, you know, and he kind of took that like ship, and bro, what's up? What's it? I'm saying, all right, man, I I see, we'll see

where it where. It turned out to beat. I was real, you know, arrogant in my in my day, and I end up going to jail when I got that he had done, took off with with the mixtapes and she with the snowman she, And when I got out, I said, oh shoot, I need to do a recompetition to you. You know what I'm saying, like, this is motherfucking ship. He got it. And I remember him. He didn't already told the story, so I ain't saying then, you know,

and privileged. Um. I remember seeing them, meeting them in the studio after I got out, and I remember he had, you know, he had some people in there that I knew, that people. I know what they're on, and he had, you know, some material that I recognize. And I said, I said, bro, coming right quick, man, listen, you gotta let one go. I can't. You can't play at this level and still play at this level and expect them not to cross collateralize. You can't hold on to the

grass and reach for the stalls. And you got to let one go. And you know at the time he looked at me like shit and I you know, and his his his his exact word was sick. Ain't you doing? Both? Say no, bro, I let that ship go a long time ago. It was some Hongry Knights. That was my sacrifice. You know what I'm saying. You know that what I did to show the universe that I really wanted it. Um and and as legit tires, you know, that conversation led to him, you know, inevitably taking the wraps it

a lot more serious. Stop u last guc man mm hmm man guccer Main is also a legend. You can't take enough. You can't take anything away from where he represented, where he brought to the city. UM definitely put the East Side on the map, you know what I mean, he would definitely. And it was in a time where it was number with side action going on, you know, when he came and stood on business. Uh you know,

I mean right, a wrong. You can't take away from from from his his contributions, his contribution to the court and what he meant to the city. What he means you know, to the to the legacy of the city. Even if we don't see out how all the time still got the know we still got to acknowledge the contributions that were made to the culture because that benefits the city as a whole. A lot of our contributions collectively and individually, it's all for what's best for a level.

I mean, uh, two thousand six you started acting a t l mm hmm. What was the process and that and what made you interested in and it makes you interested in acting? Man, just to be on it with you bro again watching people who had came before me, A little cool j ice q tupop ice tea, you know what I mean. It's a natural evolution if you're doing this at a you know, at a accelerated level, and the natural transition is to go into acting. And

so that was always on my checklist. And as I'm you know, making my rounds are just coming up, uh In in my in my journey, Um Dallas Austin, he came. He was like, Yo, I got this movie I'm doing. I want you to read for it all. I bet uh, he said, But you gotta learn how to play the drums. H I learned how to play the drum. It's acting though, right, He's like, now you need to learn how to play the drum, say man, nah, but I went and read for it anyway. Uh that with drum Line, I didn't

get that one. You know, some nick named Nick Kennon came yeah, I mean, uh but but but the next movie he had at off of the success of drum Line gave him the opportunity to do his second piece. And at the drum Line, I walked up to him in the club, I say, and I ain't reading for the next one. He's even gonna have to go and get me roll and you know, but this is like while I'm kind of you know, I'm feeling myself a little bit. You know, I've got my chicks at and

he said, all right, cool. When I get a script and near thing, we get a green that don't need trip, you got it? And um that that that that film was at the time called Jellybeans after the skaing ring in the Swash in the in uh late seventies and eighties, and I believe some kind of way it got into the hands of will Smith. Will Smith and Overbrook as a production company came in and kind of like Green Lidded and Dallas had I always said, yo, tip is supposed to be the start this because I think a

lot of people don't know. But that's that's like Dallas's story as I mean him and t Bas from TLC. I believe t Bas was new new if I ain't mistaken, and Dallas was shure. I believe you know, it's just uh folklore, urban legend. If you so, Dallas that I already said, yo, this is supposed to be re shod. But I'm a first time actor, and no major movie studio gives the first time actor the you know, the responsibility of carrying a lead role. And we had the

first time director in Chris Robinson Um. So they were pushing back, man, now we need to find somebody a little more seasons, a little more poised, and and Will Smith said, well, if he's not gonna play for sure, I don't want to. I don't I don't want to produce the movie. So Will came in and really really put his you know, he put it. He put his his reputation on the line for me to be with shared and a t L. So that was my introduction into f I'm gonna got five the first day, almost

got five, almost didn't it? Almost did not happen because I so okay, now, man, you it's my first film. I'm a first time actor and and I'm pretty new too. I guess show business altogether, but I'm coming into a certain level of says I think I might have made eighty five thousand, a hundred and thirty thousand to do a TL I had y gotta ten million, I a check, and then another five million. I a chick, And I'm like,

I'm pulling up. I remember we had these these roller skates lessons, like practices, like a you know, every for six weeks before we started shooting. We had to learn how to skate and ship. Man, I'm coming late, blowing, blowing smoke out of fathom and you know what I'm saying, this is totally not the leadership that they expected from, you know, from the lead actor of this film. And when we started shooting. You know, film, the film industry has to work promptly on time. You gotta show up

on time. You gotta be prepared, you gotta be ready because it's not just you, it's a whole crew, a team of people. They got to show up and be focused and be on time in order for this to be achieved. It's how I shall have forty five minute later. Like, man, I show up to a consert forty five minute later. That's literally that's pretty much on time. Man. It's like, yo, so we're gonna fire you, right, and we're just gonna reshoot everything, and my first thing will fucking fire me.

I don't care. And Chris Robinson came and saw me and he said, bro, listen. And Chris Robinson also shot my first video. I'm serious being the man. So we had a report all he said, Bro, it's not just you, it's me. I'm a first time director. You got other first time actors like like Evan Ross, Diana Ross's son, He's and you know, if Will first time producer. So we're gonna need you to show up man, and we're gonna need you to lead us to the finish line.

And so I kind of, you know, I started looking at it a little different, you know what I mean. I had a real individual mentality going into it. But after that conversation with Chris and Childie Matt by the way, also Childie Matt, after having old conversations it, I felt a different sense of responsibility, you know what I mean.

I felt like I felt like I was responsible for the sussist or to fail you, but it fel And you know, I was on time from that day for um funny thing about a t L that you probably don't The ending was totally common deered by me, Chris Robinson, Evan Rolphs, Lauren London, totally not what's on. You will not find the script for the end of that movie if you look at the script for what The script

was entitled Jellybean. But if you look at that script, at the end of the script, the movie wipposed to be back me making up with my friends and going back to win the skate competition. And we saw the film and the first thing I said, I said, Chris, this ain't ship about to give a funk about no goddamn skate competition. Man, what's going on? You got real ship going on? What about the boy? What about Evan? And and the money? Did he old big? But what then?

What that's the story? That's that's the uh? I can I say the gravitas that you need to pull in the people of the community that this story is supposed to represent, you know what I mean? And we're substance the substance. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so so of course you know we we we first thing, he said, well, man, the studio never approved. I said, what ship, let's get it done. So what we did well, and please don't do this. This is not fair, there's not good practice.

Don't do this. Um. But what we did well. Told the studio we were doing reshoots for the scenes that already existed. So they set up two days for the reshoots, and we just totally redid the end of the movie the ship where he walked out and spilled the milk, when I throw the money in Big westphads him getting shock, going to the high pitar. All that was totally off script. One brothers had no idea. They've seen the movie. They say, how fucking dare you take god fucking money and do

what you want? And you know, I just here behind creation. You know what I'm saying? Is it good? Though? You know what I mean? They said they'd be happy if they made eight million dollars off of a t L total. I think we did like fourteen sixteen million the thir week. But the audacity of go make this movie a better movie. But sent you know what I mean, a little fun, fat oh seven American Gangster with Denzel What that's like? What was that like big school with big schools, your

big boy parents. Yeah, yeah, yeah that was big school man. That was in Timid Dane. In Timid Dane like like kind of like, damn me, You sure you know what I mean? Um? Yeah, Russell Crowe Rizzle directed by Ridley Scott, same Gladiator for real me, Denzel Common, Chua Tail Ruby d. You know what I'm saying. So many legendary Cuba Good Jr. So many legendary actors and actresses that that were called upon, and I was included. I was a little overwhelmed. I

ain't gonna cap you down. I remember I remember the first well, the scene that I was supposed to be doing with Denzel. Um, when we're sitting outside in the yard. I want to be like you uncle Frank. Yeah, we'll actually where they cut from me, like catching the base something like that. And I sit down and we go through it like a little rehearsal. And then you know why they're sitting up the cameras and Ship. I'm pacing back and forth, you know what I mean. I'm like

talking to myself and Ship. And then then I say, hey, what's up. You're nervous? I say, man, kind of brought you. They don't want to just just just don't want to suck it up. You don't want to suck it up. You say, fuck it up. You say, hey, listen, let me tell you something. Look around. They could have had anybody do what you're doing right now. They could have put anybody in this position. It could have put anybody right here, couldn't They said, yeah, he said, they chose you,

didn't he? I said yeah. He said, do you know why? Do you know why they chose you? I said, yeah, I think so. He said, okay, well, if you know why they chose you, get your ass in and do that. You ain't got nothing to be nervous about. And so you know, after that, we went in then and did you know, did the same, and I think we one took it. I think it was like one take and

of safety. Yeah, I mean, but he really really spoke, man, He spoke life into meat at the time, because for him to even look at me out of and you know what I'm saying, respect my craft enough and respect you know me enough as an actor. Especially this is when a lot of you know, a lot of uh a lot of formal or should I say, first trade actors. We're looking at rappers who get movies kind of like

you know what I mean? Uh So for him to even take the time to pour into me and give me some game, right then, that took me a long way. How hard now you've been in comedy? Now? How hard were you laughing on set with Will Farell and Kevin bro I couldn't keep a straight faith, man, laugh. I couldn't keep a straight faith. I probably would have been in the movie a lot more if I wouldn't laughing. And the camera's on me so much, you know what I'm saying? Uh, Man, you can't Kevin Hard funny? He can't.

He can't not be funny, right yeah? I mean, and we're fair the same thing. Man, You get these motherfucker's together. That ship was just hilarious. There was a lot of ship that they did on days. I wasn't there. Well, I saw the move. I was like, god, damn, what the fuck? But you know, pushing the limits is where you know that would make comedy, that would make it great. Um, But that was a phenomenal opportunity that that that Kevin

Hard pretty much. Man. He pretty much it ushered me into that, you know, I mean, uh, he said, Man, this guy, this guy right here, this is you all day. I just need you to come and be you. That's here, all right, cool, let's do it. I was around a little bit around the time BMF was here. Yours magical moment. Man, I'm talking about great years. What's your assessment on um bmm fifty cent? How accurate is that to you? How? What?

How act? Well? Well, listen, First of all, I'm looking and learning about a lot of days before I met. I wouldn't in Detroit, you know what I'm saying. I mean, I remember him as like, you know, one of the first niggles who had been in the city. You know what I'm saying, Oh, Rover, I don't remember, but he had you know what I'm saying. He was just always known as a quiet motherfucker who had you know, had the paper. And I don't know what happened before he

made it to Atlanta. So presently right now, what I'm saying is teaching me a little game in a different level of understanding and a different level of appreciation. Yeah, and I think you know, you can't say enough about fifty for putting his name, his reputation, relationships together on behalf of somebody like meat. And even to take the

opportunity to pour into little meat. Yeah, I mean, that's the biggest part, to pour in the little meat and put him again first time after leading wrote you see what I'm saying. That's a lot of trust. That's a lot of trust. That's a lot of risk, ye, I mean, and to make it work the way that that has been wildly successful is it's you know, I think that's commendable at the least. Um, you and your wife both

obviously public figures. You made the decision as a family too through the reality TV thing, and I had a small text of that. And realize once you open that book there ain't no shot and everything is judged and scrutinized. What was your biggest takeaway from actually letting people all the way in? Let's see the first thing? You're right, okay, so us both being celebrities. You know, it's hard to enjoy the union when he married to another celebrity. Did

I always remind you they were famous before? What I'm saying, like, it's difficult to really enjoy it, you know, um and behind it with your man family hustle of the concept. It was kind of conceptualized while I was in prison the second time. Um, so I was really kind of like kicking myself in the ass. When I went back to prison the second time, I was real, you know, you can heal? Like the album No Mercy, I was like, man ship, I would really discourage it. How long was

you in there for? I ain't do but let us Yeah, I did Lettlemon tim up the first time, little much a second time. So, but I would really discourage it because I got that my fur did drop takers number one movie, beat out The Exorcist, number one film in

the country. Had Jay got married, I didn't didn't get a chance to go to a honeymoon because I had to, you know, do press for taking Open Dick to number one film in the country, and in the midst of the celebration for being a number one film in the country, get pulled over with a goddamn peel in my pocket. And I had no idea that mother, I don't kinda fund. Did a pill appear in my fucking pocket? A loose

pell you know what pill? Had I known that pill, that would have do that mother going back would have had you know, a different conversation. But but I mean, man, you know, I think it was it was the universe sitting me down because I needed to learn. I needed to, I need I need this require to yeah. Uh and I needed I needed to to train myself in a different aspect of my life. Um. And that's what that's

what ended up happening. Uh. So when I was when I went back to prison the second time, it was just very tumultuous, if you will, um, it's difficult at

virtuals tomortuus um. And we just needed I would just notice like everything that was written about me was only being written about like small indiscretions like I probably had done had years and years of community service, giving back, trying to you know what I'm saying, mentor to youth, you know, just just doing everything I can to kind of you know, community development with with new finished constructions and whno, and everything that we're being spoken about about

me during that time was all about indiscretion this time and an indiscretion last time. So we felt like, man, we need to put something else on people's masks. So um, Chris abrego, Uh, in my and my agent manager at the time. They came and saw me and it was like, yo, we already got the show, so we just need you to say yeah, yeah, like yeah, but what's the show?

What's just like, man, we just just gon you how you balance being a family man and and and a business man and you know, a musician, and like, all right, cool. We still didn't know what the show was. It wasn't until well first, so it picked me up from prison in a bus and I got sent back to prison because they said I wasn't supposed to leave in a tour bus. M hm hm, you know I did two weeks. It wasn't. I was. I'm still locked up no matter

where you put me. But when we got home and when they saw Tamika and how you know how much of a star she was? When they saw uh, Major, how much of a star he wore that first episode where he said get you know what I mean? And I was like, man, I didn't even know Major to

be this animated like. And I learned a lot of my kids because there are times where they would be shooting their own scenes and they would talk just like you know, brother and sister, brother and brother talking and I'm like, I don't even know the this this side of them, and when when the people saw it, they became the stars at that point, you know. I mean, so that's when we knew what the show up. The show is about the family. I just happened to be

in the family. You know. It's almost like me fighting have I'm a big deal. They're like, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's what your head down, you know what I mean. So that's what the show became. Um. But but you know, over the course, you know what I'm saying, I think, man, I don't regret it because it documented a time like most people don't get a chance to document their children growing up. Like season not the season, not the season, that's the season. That's a hell of a photo family

photo album. Yeah, I mean, seas you guys do with that team, I think, yeah, I think thirteen. So I I don't regret it, but I do, you know, I do recognize the coins of the pro you know. I mean, I do see motherfucker's beat in your business. You know what I'm saying. People you don't even know saying, hey, what made you? Because that's my favorite I'm like, okay, thank you, you know, And it were telling me and

my wife be going through stuff. Old ladies say, listen, get back with your with your family, man your business lady. H But I guess it takes a village. So you know what I'm saying, that ship. But all in all, it beat the m matches fatherhood, your kids taking their journeys and and and seeing and learning, and obviously you, you and your wife working hard so that you could provide a better upbringing for them. Explain your journey with

each of them, because it's been again well documented. And I remember the one thing was it did you do it on social media where you caught major smoking the joint in the spa of the first time agent has not smoking the joint yet. Did I know who'd you catching the spa? You thought that was king? A King said nothing, Yeah, that's what I was that on your social media. Yeah, but see what happened, Well, we was on vacation, and so what I was talking about during

that live was these rich kids. They all they do is, you know, live off the fat of the landing, got the they ain't got to work from that. And he happened to have been with his shirt off like scarf face. It was a perfect time back, like he didn't paid for everything. And I went to show him being getting

the jacuza and this Nick is smoking the joint. I ain't even smoking, and you know, you know, I guess the cat was released that that bag day and that's the fird time I'd ever seen him smoking, you know, Uh fatherhood on the floor. Yeah, bro. But at the end of the day, I mean, I think about how I was when that was his age, twelve times worst he did, you know, And I just you know, I understand.

I think he had some sort of like a survivor's remorse a little bit because he he you know, as as a fluent and opulent as he grew up, as all the access to relationships, resources and just you know, the lifestyle that he grew up. Uh, he doesn't want that to precede his true character, his moral He don't want to lean on you know, being celebrity kid. He don't want to lean on living in the mansion of

being richie. Like like, yo, man, I'm gonna I'm gonna stand on I'm gonna stand on my own and I'm gonna have my integrity intact, and I want my respect to speak for me. You know, but I don't know how he got the ops. I don't know how. But you know our fans though with King, no bro, You know, I love King and all of my children, all seven of them, got a different part of me, a different

case of my personality, each of them. And I don't know how it happened like that, like each of them, like almost almost like the time they spent with me. It took the parts of my personality that they felt like applied to them and and like, well, I don't need the rest of this ship. I take this and you know if it don't apply to the fly. Um. King, however he got that dope boys in the trap. Still

ain't forgave myself till you know what I'm saying. He reminds me the mirror he reminds me of myself during the time of my life, I made the most mistakes that could have ever possibly made. And I love him, I respect his heart. Um, I'm worried about him because the three things can do. Man, When I say King gonna have trouble on his hand, it's three things he do they worry. I mean one travel with a pack of niggers. You feel me and he the only rich one.

And well actually now with him and too you know now, at least now I feel a little bit better. But you know, me and Booster still got bumped out of head against the wild. We have never been as close, you know what I mean. Now, we got to get there, collaborate on how to deal with these But so he

run with a pack of niggers. He talked so much old the time you hear him for you him, you know what I'm saying, And he don't listen to that out of spite if you tell him, if you tell him do it this way, he gonna do it that way, just to show you that he could be done. And those three things scared me the most about him, you know what I mean. But you know, through the grace of God, I think we're gonna get passion and get through it because I see the motherfucker who were way

worse than him make it. Yeah, you know what I mean. Good Stack got to share a moment with his daughter at the the George Foyd march Uk here in Atlanta. You're a part of that. Can you guys elaborate on what that experience was like? The money was with you that day? Yeah, yeah. That's what really got me kind of in the social activism, like when my daughters and my sons like, but that, what does this mean? Like why I ain't really got no else's you know what

I mean? And because I remember the money that same mor as the mindy said well what can we do? What can we do? Said Ship? We speak at we we we we just rebel And he said how. I said, well listen, Marge going on there, you're gonna go? He said, yeah, said we pulled over sent tenor Paul got in the mix. That's how I happened, you know what I mean. And then after the march we marched all the brain and Ship. Then we came back to Centennia and sat on the bench and then the whole crowd looked at me. I

right till what's next? What's next? Ship? Just you know what I mean? And then that you know that kind of you know, just you know, turn start spinning my wheels and like, man, if people looking to me for what's next, I got the least start thinking about it, you know, and and speaking out using my influence, using the platform that has been that I've been blessed with, to all be a voice for the vo US list. Yeah, I mean, and and that's really what started. I'm gonna

tell you what got me out of it. Um seeing how many of the people you're actually fighting to try to help, how many of them are willing to go above and beyond to destroy you. I ain't worried about the enemy. I'm not worried about the enemy. I already know what the enemy is capable of. I expect the enemy to be is treacherous, deceitful, and and and you know, as dastardly as they could possibly be. They've shown time and time again what they capable of. I'm expecting that.

But the motherfucker's standing next to me, to my left, to my right, you know what I mean, who would rather destroy me to please the enemy then assist me and overthrow or assist me, and and you know, trying to bring about change? Um Man, that she is? That that that was really discouraging, you know what I mean? That ship really hurt. So I just pulled back, you know,

I just man might business now. Yeah, I mean, and I know exactly what you're talking about, because you know, a lot of the times when you speak up with people, it's like my experience with Georgia. I didn't ask to be in that position. I didn't actually have to see my friend murder, you know what's for the world to see. But at the same time, I did something that a

lot of people didn't have to gus to do. Now, when you have success at things like that, it's a lot of people and I'm gonna tell you why they're mad at you. One, it's some people hustle. They prey on stuff like that to go down and benefit all people pains. And we didn't do that. We did it because our hearts. We want to do what's right. That's a lot of people hustle. So when you show up and get all attention and and and ain't no money involved, you're doing it out your heart. It's taken out of

their pockets. So that some people hustle too. People only hate what they can't be and what they can't do. So if you're able to go to a march and leave people have people follow you for the right cause people envy that because ain't nobody following them, you know what I'm saying. So that's the two things I've said.

They envy what they can't be. Bro Well, I mean, I've learned that the for the most part, where people feel about me is usually a reflection to them is very little, has very little to Actually, it's about where they've been exposed to, UM, what they expect of themselves, their fears, their failures, their insecurities, UM, and that just gets projected onto me, you know by way of conversation. You know, just just just hate. Yeah, I mean uh.

And and my understanding of that, my understanding of the that allows me to count on just see it and don't see it, bro, Yeah, I mean cool. I went from a time where I wouldn't let nationalize and when none getting back, I ain't. I'm at it everything it is to be at I'm at and I learned that no matter how many victories or how many successful battles you endure and overcome, it's gonna they're just gonna keep coming, and they're gonna keep coming, and they're gonna keep coming.

So at the end of the day, man, for real, you have to protect your peace at a certain point time you feel me, So I just man, I man, fuck them. I want to I want to command you, bro, because like I said, I know, I know it ain't easy, but I commit you for taking a standing and being selfless in situations like that. UM. Reflecting your career and the advice you would give somebody because you've been able to have longevity. A lot of people die and and and and would give anything to go back to be

able to say they had longevity than anything. You've been successful in multiple things and still going. Um, what advice would you give somebody? Um? First of all, don't do it like I did it, because that ship might not work for you. You know what I'm saying. You gotta you gotta, You got your own journey that you gotta. You gotta walk your own walk. You know what I mean. There is no monolithic path to success. Um, learn listen, you know what I mean. Accept the opportunity to grow

and evolve. Don't don't don't pigeonhole yourself to to heaven to remain you know, any particular way for any particular group of people. Man, just learn, grow evolved. And you got one or two options. You can either pull them up, let them pull you down. Ain't no one between you, feel me. Surround yourself with people. That's just as it's just as hungry and eager to learn, eager to succeed as you are, and don't let nobody talk to you

out of your vision because they can't see it. I think that's that's a bigger mistake I ever made in this ship, you know what I mean? Because you know we all have visions. You should never lead one of us. Every human being on earth has a purpose and and and and has a vision or something that they can contribute. It comes to us first by way of a vision, something that you see in your mind, an idea that

you have, nobody else had it is yours. And the first thing we usually do it go to our peers and go to the people around us and tell them of our vision. And because they don't have the same vision or they don't believe that they could achieve properly execute this vision. First thing, now, man can't do that? What you wanta do that? For? Man? Ain't nobody did? And the first thing we do, like Dan, it might

be a dumbass idea. Let me just and then a year later you'll see another motherfucker that just ben't gotten shot through the roof doing this is that same thing that you just said, you know what I mean? Uh? And and that's the thing that I regret the most about my career just just being so, I guess so m hmm, sharing my vision with other people who projected their fears and failures on me and allowed myself to not do with the universe show me how wippold to

be doing? I mean, but that lesson I've carried into you know, I've I've been able to do it right mm hmm. This next phase or and passion of yours comedy. Speak to us about the ups and downs, what you've learned, what you love, your drive for it? Man? Okay, so what I've learned? Dear people like take me very literal and like you know, everything I say, mother can take it very serious, you know when I'm really I guess the motherfucker have to really spend some time around me

to see. You know, I'm pretty cavil, like I I joke in Trip. That's kind of how we get through a lot of the ship that have a very dog since a humor sometimes. Uh. I think my first stand up sick unofficially was at my sister precious funeral, you know, and everybody would hurt, everybody was in pain, everybody was you know, going through it, and I was something speak, and so the first thing I said, what we ain't gonna do is being here sad and miserable, and because

that ain't what she represented. And secondly, Pressure, we got all of popsis mistresses and women and everybody in here, so we already having together. You know what I'm saying. Everybody just died laught because they're probably the only time because you know, my pops ain't never been married. You know what I'm saying. I got six sisters, one little brother, and all of his children's mamas was there and they had never been nowhere in the same building. At the

same time, I said, Pressure, you did it. You did the impossible. Uh So I I you know what I'm saying. I mean, I have a pretty healthy sense of human But people, you know what I'm saying, take care of things. I say, to be literal, everybody can't take you. Yeah, I learned that. Uh. But it didn't do nothing. But just you know what I'm saying, pushed me to go to go harder bout it. Uh. And I also learned that,

you know, comedy is it's very sacred. It's a lot of people who suffer and don't never get they just do it's a lot of accolades that people don't receive, and you can do it for a lifetime. Your motherfuckers were masters at the craft. Who deserves every every chance to be in every spotlight that that exists for this for this area entertainment, and people really take it personally when motherfucker's just getting up there like yeah, yeah, I could do this, Yeah yeah, you know what I mean.

Uh So I learned to respect it a whole lot. I always had a respect for the people who did it, but I learned that there must be an equal amount of respect as I do it, you know. Um. And it's it's therapeutic. It's therapeutic. There's a freedom that I get up here and you know, talk about whatever I'm going through in my day. If I do a song, you know what I mean, if something happened to me today,

I record a song and go to the studio. I gotta mix it master to shoot the video to be fastest weeks for you actually hear what I got on my mind, You feel me. Whereas if something happened to me today, I can hit a comedy club and I can you know, I can got them get it off my chest, right now you know what I mean? Um, and I think initially, you know, there's a lot of criticism and speculation. He ain't need funny. I don't see him like that. What are you doing up there? Well?

The thing is the crowd is gonna tell you immediately whether you're supposed to be up there, you know. So I just man, do the best I can to speak from my heart and talk about ship that everybody can relate to and find humor in that. I went to one of your first shows, man, wife, your first shows with Hi Mafia. Okay, and what city? It was heading out Nomber, I saw you'all side. I was walking in what venue? Remember the being your baby? It was a

hole in the wall. It was a hole in the wall and it was the first one d C did itself. Remember that? Yeah, I saw you outside, I was walking down. You did a great job to say that was one of your first times, bro. So I take my hat off to you, man, Thank you. I appreciate it. Man, It's just getting better and better. You know what I'm saying. Uh, my favorite show thus far though, it's Brooklyn ba Clag's.

You know what I'm saying. Everybody told him we're gonna get booed eventually, Like everybody like, Yo, it's gonna happen. You're gonna get Boot's gonna happen. Just be ready. And I'm like, man, everybody from the booming out of here. And it happened. You know what I'm saying. You know, the mothercker were waiting to get me somewhere to boot me for a long time, you know what I'm saying. But we shared a moment, you know myself in New York, all five brows came together and could agree and that

moment at that time, Man, boot this nigga, you know. Uh. But I enjoyed it so much. I enjoyed it so much. Uh. And then the very next so after I got off stage, I got a lot of calls from me everybody. You know what I'm saying, everybody Downiel Rollings, k Dub to you know, Don Roy to to uh, Marlon Wayne's. You know what I'm saying, Like, hey, man, you are right, Yeah, I'm straight. What's up? Man, I'm just saying the first thing more to say, Man, leave the arenas alone. Man

to the small rooms. Man, I said, Man, they gave me third It don't now to do with my first paid gig as a campy say they set you up, nigga,

can't you see it? And so you know, Maha, I hear it as I went right back to an arena, came right to it Atlanta the next day, you know, on the No Cap tour with d c And and Duval and d ray and talked to back getting boot the day before and gotta standing ovation and that when motherfucker was like, yo, you're a real comedian now you know what I'm saying that you didn't took the lumps and bumps, you know, but that was my favorite show and Jordan's so thank you, Brooklyn. You learn from it.

Quick hitters almost finish. The first thing to come to mind. Let us know a show, a movie you can watch on repeat. Mm hmm, Present Day of Pass, whatever you want, whatever show, a movie I could watch your retreat life m M. If you can remember one lyrical bar, what would it be your favorite lyrical bar? My favorite lyric or bar. We'll just give me this, I'm gonna say, m change the question. Okay, you can put one of your favorite bars on the billboard. What would it be

my favorite? Coming from your Yeah, if you can pick a bar. Um m hmm, it'll probably be to lay me baby. Hey, he gonna need a trap from God featuring Jesus and jay Z. It'll probably be that one. If you needed more all ready to do. It was called Monte Ellis. It's just anything by him. Yah, man, my te you go crazy. Man, appreciate I'm ending this ship. I appreciate that. I appreciate. We had Mike on the show and he told us about one of his favorite stories one time about you and him in the in

the in the studio with Kobe. Yeah, yes, any Kobe stories man, that one. So you know Kobe was here playing the hops, you know, uh and and Kobe and my my manager at the time, g Roberson, real real tight. So while he was in the city, um G brought him over to the studio and that just happened to be in there with Mike at the time and m me, you know, just again fucking with Kobe, you know, Jack, because I said, they don't take this ad with a personal now, I don't want to phone out with you.

Back to Zad Whipple, we feel to put on you. And you know, because he came back in Grand Cod He's like, oh yeah, you believe it. You look so much smarter than that, you know. And we just enjoyed the moment, and he listened. I think I played, um was it trouble Man. I think I played the trouble Man album for him, you know, the songs before you know they were released. We vibe that me and Mike were smoking big cod just in their motherfucker trying not

to get a content I mean. Uh. And and when he left there, I w was like, what you're gonna do? Said she gonna go to the gym? What it were two in the morning. I say, what, we went to Mades City. Didn't he say he's going to the gym? I say, God, damn, this motherfucker serious, you know. And I just developed the whole, a whole another level of a spare for him. Um. Of course you can't take anything away from his from his accolades and the things

he's achieved. Uh, but just for me to see first hand the commitment and sacrifice that we're into those things becoming possible, it um, it was. It was a joy to behold. It's beautiful. Uh. Five dinner guests that are alive, come on, man, yeah, against dead alive Mohammad Ali, Tupap, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, real thought going behind it? So I like it? How many of that before? That's for one more? They got to go, Mike Tyson Man, Mike, you know, Michael, make sure that's a hell of a

that's a hell of a goddamn dinner table. Man. See a lot of mushroom. And we there with Marley Damn. You can come to Malcolm Ship's at now you're making a big table. If you can have one guest on the show, and you can see one guest on our show, who would it be? But before you answer that question, you have to help us get your answer on our show. The catch, that's the catch. So I gotta think about somebody who I can actually have indeed, boost oh we're supposed to have. I just talked to him a the

other day. I just talked to himself. You gotta have and he got and he just dropped the movie. Yeah you and he's been he'd been in his bag independent film production bag. Yeah man getting it at the mud too, you feel and I just I'm just buried my brother in that rocket man. Help you know it's been Let me get through some times some tough nights, so he dropped that right on time. Well, tip man, we appreciate your time. You know you're busy. Best of luck in

all aspects of life. You continue to excel in man, and we really appreciate you. We are a fan of you know what you stand on, what you're stand for. So thank you for your time today. Man, both of you brothers. I appreciate the opportunity. It's on the city and just ex change dialogue with y'all, both of y'all. I've seen both of y'all go through some ship. I was like, who, I don't know, hey ship, Hey man, the goddamn palates bro Like God, damn nigger got busy.

And you know what I'm saying, Man, you had to exercise so much for strength, you know. But but but but but but I had to make exceptions for the acceptional circumstances, you know, you when when we ain't gonna profit this line not the gun line, you know. So I respect. I've seen y'all, you know, uh be tested, you know what I'm saying, Not necessarily by the world as much as tested by yourselves. You had to overcome yourself. You had to you know, you had to really be

who you presented yourself to be. And you you know what I'm saying. And y'all and you pat it. That's what real motherucker's are gonna respit. Anybody who do everything perfect, do everything perfect, and their life is going perfect. You could do that. I mean, can you lose it, get it back, make a mistake, learn from it, be built, and and move forward with the understanding and the knowledge and the wisdom that comes from that. That's what I respect.

So thank you. I appreciate that. We got some we got some merch for you. Okay, appreciate man, appreciate it. That's a wrap. Yeah, you did all the smoke. You cast us on Showtime Basketball, YouTube and the I Heart Platform, Black Effects, the King Pop. Yeah.