Rap Radar Rewind: Russ (Part 1)

the good I heard? We got some real rust fans up in this place, oh man. And not take once, not day once. We got some day one day? Wont I don't go to front? I was like a day two. Yeah, we were a little late. Can we talk about that so we betterf you we together, we've been if you rust before and wrapperate up podcasts. I think that was right when uh what they want was starting to really take off, bubbling, just bubbling. It wasn't platinum yet. It

wasn't platinum. It was about bron It was copper, but he was. But you know, Russ is such a hustle like he I found like old emails when I was like it first started rap right out what he would email me like check out his video and the fronting on him and stuff, and we had to kiss his ass and he had to come on even it was like, Hi, my name is Russ from a twenty yod rapper. Listen

to my album. It's fire like right, So I know we're gonna get into that because I know a lot of you guys look at the business and you know he's heat to me. He just said to himself, he's a d I Y pioneers. You know, he's done it his way and it's inspiring to you guys, the audience inspiring tests you know, as the other young artists that want to make in a game. But like I was saying, so what they want went platinum. Losing Control went platinum. So he got two platinum singles. Then he puts out

this album, Man, it was a Wolf. There's really a wolf. It's really a wolf Fire one of the best of the year, I'm saying, and like a lot of the best songs you got. And it's funny because all of those things that he said. He was solds records for free, but people ended up still copping him and selling and like the album with Gold you got that album. There's really a Wolf album going down on title. And then now this maniacs like with Scott Storch, and he's making

fucking records and he wants some stones. He's everywhere, man, He's always walking into that man. But but I appreciate him taking the time. Man. We haven't spoke to him since he got all successful and ship. He still remembers the little people. Thanks for us. He was somewhat nice to us backstage, so and he said he got a lot of ship to get off his chest. You know, Russ doesn't hold his tongue. Man, you're into some controversial ship,

into some real talk. That's what they want. Elliott, I'm gonna give it to the Beetle makes some noise, man to rapp right up podcast for us? Who pioneer makes some noise? Stand out for us, Stand up for baby, Shut out up, baby. Yeah, you ain't gonna be shy, man, you ain't gonna be We're in the library. We want your energy. I want you to you know over here, you want you rust us. I'm sitting over here, over here. Good. Whatever you want to do, though, yeah, says that's not water.

Is that water? Russ? Yes? Water? Are you jumping in with the questions? I can't do so, rust man, how are you feeling? Yeah? You know a lot of rappers can't sell out this venue for the shows. The man, I'm just up here talking. See Rust speak. It's my intro to the Tony Robbins lifestyle. Russ. The last year, I don't even say last year. The last six months has been crazy, man, Like yeah, wild. The album's gold, the singles are platinum, talk about tours are packed, talk

about it. What's life been like man since we last spoke. It's super surreal, bro, But like you know, I can't. I can't lie and say, yo, I didn't see this coming. Feel me like I saw this coming. But it's just dope. All these people just funk with me for being me absolutely one point two billion streams like billions say that motherfucker with a strong ass be Yeah, you say something to like with the album because a lot of times now, even with the album consumption, people like have the moment

with the album. But like you know, back in the day, albums would have very long shelf lives. But even with this really Wolf I saw the other day you were saying, like, yo, I'm listening to my album, like I'm appreciating my album even more now is going on. That's the thing. You don't know how good music is until you listen to it later on and then it's still good. Then you're like, oh, ships it's super good. You feel me. That's how I feel bad. I feel like it's aging really nicely. Yeah.

And wait, so when you I think you're saying when you found out the record went goal, you know, to read it right back to that point. How you know the music is timeless, right, losing control and what they want when platinum right, like fair to say that that's when they like blue and went crazy they came out. I'm saying, come on, like, that's that's just how you know.

It's about making good music. And at the end of the day, when you make good music, whether it be two years from now, three years from now, four years from now, they're gonna come around. Do you think the industry still rewards talent? No, I mean the industry awards talent. I mean, because you're living proof. I mean the music is speaking for itself. M hmm, made it. Oh, I can already tell it's gonna be let it's gonna be lit. We'll speaking about it. Let me tell you what the

industry reward was. Industry awards, connections and function. That's what the rewards. I mean, if it rewards talent, you feel me like, I would be the biggest artist in the entire world. But yet, but yet, but yeah, and still Russ, you know you did tell into the industry pool. There's a lot of fine folks here from Columbia Records, your your partners in business. Why has it worked for you? And you've been able to still maintain your authenticity to

your audience. But you've still been able to power up and play this major label game in a certain sense. I mean, yes, but not it was leverage, you feel me, like, why I was able to link with Colombians still do what I'm doing, It's because I came into it with a fan base that already loved me for me what I was doing, So it's nothing that they could tell me, like, yo, you should actually probably switched it, you know, switching shipped up, you feel me because look how far I took it

off of just me being me. But that's why they got with you. That's why y'all connected. But why do you think it seems like it's working well for both parties. We're happy, they're happy, Like, why is the relationship working? I mean, it comes down to the music, you feel me, It comes down to the music. There's a lot of theatrics and hip hop. There's a lot of antics and hip hop where you have a lot of like fucking entertainers,

you know what I'm saying. Like there's a lot of people who have like a strong social media following this ship, but when they drop albums, no one's copying. It's because, bro, the music is not fired period. So like for me, the music is good and like I said, the songs that were out two years ago before anyone knew who the funk I was in the industry, it's all we're fucking that's all that people are listening to, Like Cherry Hill I recorded in losing control of what they want

doing myself pulling sugar this ship. So the fact that it's working in it's just a testament to real fans and good music period. But how do you not stay complacent because you said the album's god the singles of platinum and you're like not content with that you're still releasing these. I'm a psychopath. I mean honestly, I'm obsessed with Like people think it's like it's about being competitive with other people. It's really not like there's that element

to it. But it's more like, yo, I gotta one up myself every time. And it's like, you know, it's it's really not healthy because it's an insatiable desire to like quench because I'm always like, nah, but I can be better. But I can be better, you know what I'm saying. There's a really fine line like I haven't figured I'm twenty five, I haven't figured out how to be uh content without feeling like I'm sleeping right next to complacency. You feel me? So I'd rather not even

be content. I'd rather just be like, you know what, Yeah, the albums go singles are platinum. Fuck that, you know what I'm saying? I want more? So, how do we get to funk that Scott Storch? What we do with Scott Storch? You don't you know? We know that Russ produced, rights, arranged mixes, masters, and engineer on the t shirts all

his music. But but you obviously had great mistair for Scott to talk us to how did that happen that you really connect with Scott Storch and go into the lab and knock on all these records or you knocked out five records, right, Yeah, I mean the like the misconceptions like Russa isn't funk with anyone, which is like, nah, Number one, I didn't know anyone, so I had to learn how to do it myself. Number two, A lot of people are whacked. So yeah, I don't funk with

a lot of people. I'm not falling for the hype that oh nah, but you don't work with him. Nah, neither do you after six months from now, so shut up stop asking me. You feel me like period. But Scott Stitch is a legend, and it was like one of the reasons why I started making beats. So I was like, wait what it came in a fucking email to the management email and we're thinking, like this is fucking fake because it was like, Yo, Scott wants to get into the studio or us. We're like, what is it?

Like an email? Nah, there's no chance, but you know, it turned out to be true. We go to Scott's house and like the chemistry was just crazy. So the wife wife, Yeah, he did wife you Up? And how did you get John Maya? You got John Mayor? Doing John Mayor is a fucking legend period. Also, the way John Mayor's brain works is crazy genius. Now I've never met him, the thing is right, how it all happened was like it's like some real hilarious not hilarious, but

it's very like modern day link up scenario. He liked to tweet on Twitter, right, I was like, done, deal, it's a wrap. But so then he follows whatever so that I'm like, I'm like, yo, I'm obviously about to send a d M to John Mayor to be like continue as the greatest album ever you feel me? Um, So like we connected Dan and you know whatever whatever we're texting, but he's actually been like a really you know, not that he took on that role and whatever, but to me like a mentor, like a had a really

great advice. Um, but yeah, we had to wife you Up song. And I'm sitting there and I'm like, yo, now once again I didn't produce it. And how I feel when like I produce shit. I would be so pissed if someone like takes a song and produced to them and just like get someone to do something on it without asking, right, But I'm so used to like it's my ship whatever. Like I didn't really think twice. But I'm sitting there listening to wife you up back,

and I'm like, Yo, I needs some guitar. And I'm like, I mean I played guitar or whatever. I did the guitar and Cherry Hill loky no. But I'm sitting I'm like, YO, needs a guitar. Feel me. I'm like, who do I know that plays guitar. I'm like, Yo, you know what fuck it? Let me ask John Mayor, because I was like, you don't get what the funk. You don't ask for a period. That's how it works in life. So I was like, yo, you know what fuck it? The worst is gonna say is no, So I test him. I

was like, Yo, you want to play guitar on this song? Instantly, like within thirty minutes, Bro sends me the fucking ship. Within thirty minutes, Seriously, I was like, I mean, I was like, we were sitting in the studio on the basement, like me and my homies were like, Yo, the fuck we're listening back to John Mayer's guitar right now. That's crazy. So this is the version that Dr dre heard. Yes, Wow, what a sentence. What a sentence. That's about you said,

dave it the coat. So life has been really really wild, really wild. So I'm sitting at home, this is probably five days ago something like that, and I'm sitting there, like, I'm talking to my mom. I think I was talking to her about uh, you know, we just always be reflecting on everything that's happening whatever. And then like like I see my phone ringing in Scott's stories and I don't care how many times I keep the sky stories

or whatever. Like, you can never get jaded to seeing that ship pop up, and if you do, you need to check yourself. You know what I'm saying. That's a lot of people's problem though. They get super super jaded with their own success. People forget how bad they wanted to live the life that they're currently living. You feel me, It's like, wake the funk up, bro, this is what the funk you ask for it. So I see him calling, I'm like, Yo, this is fucking crazy. Okay, No, No,

I do want sauce for dinner. Just hold on anyway. So I picked up the phone. He's like, yo, it's good, that's everything going. I was like great, he's like yo. So I played Dr Dre the music now to like Tarantino it. I saw a picture of like sky Stories Steve Lobel and draining the studio on Instagram, so nastally in my head, I'm thinking, like a right, he had to play him the ship, but I wasn't about to hit him up and be like yo, So like, how'd that go? You know what I'm saying. So I was like,

you know what, whatever, I'm gonna weight. So he calls me, he's like, yo, I played him the music. He was like, he went fucking ballistic for wipe you up. He stood up, he went fucking crazy, and he was like this is the best it up? Now? How I said earlier, sky Stories one of the reason why I started making Beast

dr J is the other one. So those two are I started making be So you know, it was a fucking it's a crazy thing because I started realizing, right there might be new rappers or new people or whatever that don't fuck with me, don't expect me. But it's like it's cool because eleven times that attended feelings are probably mutual. You know what I'm saying, Like, I don't funk with y'all. Know what I'm saying, So like I didn't listen to you growing up, I don't respect your music.

I don't work with you at all, So I don't really give a funk. But all the legends who I respected, John Mayer, Scott Storge, Dr Dre. I'm out in New York right now because Swiss Beat said, let's get in the studio. You feel me showtime? Why are you so open now? You make your own beats? Man? What are you doing? You just get into rapper mode? Like? What is it like? No, I'm just saw something like because it came from a point of survival. It came from a point of I know no one, so I have

to fuck it. What is it like? Making that adjustment where you're so used to being the board and doing Everything's super fun, bro, It's super fun. It's like, I just show up. You feel me and because I have faith. The whole thing is about being able to trust people's taste. I'm saying, when you can trust someone's tage, you don't have to micromanage like man, I hope he plays a fire beat. It's like, bro Scott Store, It's gonna be fire,

you know what I'm saying. So it is though, I just go in and like let legends do them and then you know I played my role. I want to speak about another legend though. You got went to Quincy Jones's house, the guy to make thriller that also came to the email that was super weird. What's your email, Russ? I mean the same management emails on the you know it's public, you feel me, But that was crazy. Bro. We go to Quincy Jones's house and like we walk

into like a fucking museum. I was like, Brot like, I'm pretty sure you had like a I don't want to like inaccurately depicted, but I'm pretty sure there was like a secretary working like real lobby of the house. Right there was like dess Like I was like, where are we? Bro? But you walk in, like the first thing you see is just like awards upon just like just so that in case you didn't know where the funk you're at, like this is where you're at, You're in this energy, you feel me. So it was crazy.

They were like sitting in his I'm sure one of his nine million living rooms and just like waiting for him to pull up, pulls up in this crazy like silk robe just like I'm like, yo, he's got on like burgundy sway like sliding. So I'm like, that's me in like forty years for sure. So what you'll talk about? Just like Michael Jackson's just like, Bro, he's super honest, because I feel like if you're lucky enough and fortunate enough to reach that age of life, you don't even

have time to sugarcoat ship. Bro. You're like, I don't literally have time to be bullshitted with y'all. This is what the funk it is. I really don't give a funk if y'all funk with it. Look at my funking, you know what I'm saying, Like, here's where you're at in my house, so you can funk with it or not, you know what I'm saying. Like you know, like your grandparents are just like so blunt because it's like, yo, like eight five, you think we got time to be

lying to you? Know what I'm saying? You know what, we got time to be lying you at eight five type of ship. So it was fire it was a lot of like it was so honest that it was a bunch of ships. Like I can't repeat because it's like there's no way people know that. It's like it's crazy he like about you? What did he say? Well, why did he reach out? I guess he just funk with it. He's like a really like he's a legend. He's like has that aura too. It's like, oh, that's

some ship. The speaking allegends. On the back front, you were saying Storch was your favorite producer growing up. Eminem was obviously one of your favorite rappers. So you're in like lead if you're hanging out with Marshall Mask and here's the thing, like he did you did a show with him, Like you could do a show with somebody.

That don't mean you really get to beat them and hang out with them or well the crazy thing with that, right, because the Glasgow show that we did it was like an Eminem show, So it wasn't like it was a festival. It was an Eminem show. So I was already like amped off of that. And then we have the same international agent. So I'm sitting there, I'm like, yo, you gotta make this connect happening, you know what I'm saying. So we get to Glasgow whatever, we're kicking it and

I'm like telling the age. I'm like, yo, gotta like make this that we were telling him like weeks before, like I gotta meet him. And then this is literally why the funk I started rapping. This was like the bug that bat me as far as hipop. So I'm like, yo, you gotta like make this happen. He's like, Yo, we're working on working on whatever whatever. So Paul Rosenberg comes and says, what's up. I'm like, all right, we're getting closer. You feel me like we're getting closer. So I'm like

chopping up with him whatever whatever. He's super cool, fuss with the movement, and I'm like, yo, i gotta ask once again the John Mayorship. Like you don't get what you don't ask for something like I gotta meet him and there you feel me like I got to meet them and there he's like I'm gonna I'm gonna talk to him and he was up. So it didn't happen that night. Right the next night, we have a festival like in uh red UK want the same bill once again.

It's a fucking like wow, Goose, It's like, Yo, we gotta meet never and then we gotta meet them, and that doesn't happen, and they were like trying to make it.

We're like on the golf carts and the festival like because the agent calls and she's like, Yo, you gotta get over here right now if you want to meet him, because he's my fucker's be on compounds and the festival lockdown in the compound, it's like yo, like getting the fucking golf cart right, like everyone in the fucking golf cart, but like like fucking like you know, going three miles per hour, Like we get to call like mid fucking golf cart, like high speed chase and three miles perur,

Like yo, I'm not gonna happen. Like it's like your fuck. So the next day we have another festival with it in leads. I'm like, YO, all right, funk all this ship. I'm telling Milam a manager. I'm like, yo, I don't know how the fund is happening. I'm meeting Eminem tonight, you know what I'm saying. So I was like, all right, cool, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna just have to finesse it. You know what I'm saying. We can't wait on other people to like yo, to go ahead whatever.

So we finesse our way into his compound, shout out to the like lack of security and leads Serminem's bodyguard has a bodyguard now. But like see, it wasn't Eminem's people that let us in. It was the festivals, the most fus that they just be hiring. And just you know what I'm saying, whatever, you just like flash something like you know, you flash like a receiver from like Burger King. It's like, yeah, we're in now. That's ship on them. That's how people got here today. Now. But

like so we finesse our way in right. So Milan hops out and it's like we were in communication with one of his like his tour manager. He's not hitting his basketball like yo, okay. Malon hops out. We see the guy. Milan like walks up to him. Whatever they talk, they talk and what he told you like come back later, come back after your set. I was like, man, this

is that fucking runaround ship. Like here we go again. Whatever, So we did right after this set, we just go back and we pull up again Finessea way back in again because they still don't know who the funk we were finesse Our way back in and we just hop out with just like standing there and then they're like, yo, come on, come with us. So then like we walked back and Eminem and it was like, Yo, that's persistent in an ushell, you feel me. But he was like, Yo,

this is how I came up. This is the whole ship. Was he familiar with the music and all that? Yeah, So craziest ship, right. I don't even know, like what better of a first impression you could have of Eminem other than this we walked back. You know, it's like a compound, right, So it's like imagine like trailer trailer trailer type of ship and there's a tent like in the middle of it, right, and you just see Eminem

and Royce the have nine sparring. I was like this spawt I was like, I was like, Yo, this is crazy. I was like, this is the fliest way to meet Eminem. And then I'm thinking, like did they plan this? Because I would do I would do something like like, yo, if he's gonna meet this, we've gotta be doing the most like like crazy, you just come back and I'm sucking like whatever, like skiing. I don't know whatever the funk it is. But anyway, so he spawned and he

takes the gloves off. This was right after the Conomic Gregor ship. He literally had gloves on gloves, That's what I'm saying. Like, I was like, yeah, this is crazy, like this is really wild. It's like, all right, cool, it takes the gloves off. But they were like super

super cool, super cool, really humble guy. Yeah, he was saying also, Jo not to not to cut you off, but the craziest ship was that before that, right, it was the sky Store ship or with sky Stories after that after okay, but eminem like I'm saying that, I don't know if he really knows this ship. I'm just like whatever, But he's like, yo, we saw your funk flegship was crazy. I was like buttle and like, like I said about the J Cole ship and the other interview,

I fan the fuck out period. I was like, bro, I don't give a funk about any of this ship. You're the reason why I started rapping, like you're a fucking legend. My fucker's don't be telling people that they're a legend until their dad. I was like, funk, all that ship, You're fucking epic fuck everything, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, Like I'm like, yo, like your a legend. He's like, bo, you're on your way. Funk fleship was crazy. I was like, I was like, said that too, No, No,

this is Jacole was super cool too. Jaco's a legend. But you definitely give people their props man, Like, I think you get this thing. A lot of people are scared to do that though it's anti like it's anti macho pride. It's like, yeah, he's nice, but like only in private. Think that bugs people out because I think reputation is this guy's so super confidence over staying how good he's got a chip on his should or whatever. But at the same time, you you give it up

to other grades. You hate when people don't give legends to respect right facts, bro facts. I mean the thing is like I'm a psycho fan of people. So like you see, uh, have y'all seen that video of DMX and rock Him When DMX met rock Kid, DMS is going crazy, Like no, like he starts wrapping his lines and ship. It's like Yo, if DMX is not too cool to fan out, no one is? You feel me?

Because dm is a fucking cool's legend ever. But yeah, I mean a lot of people they wait for people to die, you know what I'm saying, And they wait to do the r I P ship. But it's like, why why don't you let people smell their fucking flowers when they're here? You know what I'm saying, Like Michael Jackson. But if everyone's joke, you know what I'm saying, Everyone's joke, And now it's don't you dare say anything bad about Michael Jackson. Shut up. You were saying something bad about

him before he died. Every one was you feel me? So my whole thing is Wayne doesn't get the respect. Little Wayne is no fucking problems. You know who else is? Like? You know what else people need to really start putting respect on the period is Nicki Minaj. Period. I've been like, I've been like noticing. I'm like, do people not know that?

Like Nicki Minaj has birthed like so many females, not even just in rap, but like the look the whole everything just in women, like and you've got to really do your research, like she's been like that ship for mad long now, Like, let's not act like she wasn't on a jay Z and Kanye song and didn't arguably have the better verse. Come on, but it's like, what

are we talking about with that? But you know what it is, if you live long enough for people to not funk with you, guess what they won't sunk with you. It's that simple. Why do you think everyone in the twenty seven club is so cherished because they live till seven? Bro? How old was Eminem and Jezy when they put out the debut twenty six? It's like, come on, you talk about respect a lot man and getting your props. Like I was listening to your record The Game and you said,

like fucking MTV for study. Yeah, MTV doesn't know ship about ship and they can suck my dick. But who do you think that it's snubbed for? Like MTV or yeah, the VMAs, which what do you think you have to go? Am? I not in the best New Artist shout out? College should definitely be up there Scissor for sure, Like that's

not a knock to everyone in the ship. But but then, how like and this is no disrespect, like that's the thing, right, people want to take my wards and get so offended and think that I hate this person and I don't respect what you've done with your life a career, like shout out young and May and like she's like she's getting it, you know what I'm saying. But let's be real, how on earth are you a seen best new artists

and not me? That doesn't make any sense. That just like like this is like from the bird's eye view speaking on this ship, have you even dropped a song in you feel me? That doesn't even make any sense? So that's how you know it's just some like it's just some function, you know what I'm saying. And that's not a disrespect. I know, motherfucker's gonna cut this clip and only show that part and be like there is beef. It's rusting. It's really not that she can rap. She's dope.

But I'm just saying, like, when you look at it from a fair standpoint, it's like, yo, that just doesn't even make any It seems like these new songs you're putting out a sound class, like a lot of it you're getting off your chest, like because this is this is a new phase I feel like music is about catching catching time and a bottle type of ship. That's what it is for me at least where it's like all my ship is kind of a time machine and it's like, yo, I want to listen to like I

make it for therapeutic reasons. I make it so that I can listen to it and be like, damn, I remember exactly where I was back then. This is the phase that I was at, So you know, this is this new phase is like it's it's being on on, it's it's having a bunch of fans, it's it's doing all this, but it's also like it's also this kind of like thing that you recognize getting snubbed, and it's like it can only happen so many blatant times before you naturally are like yo, somethings a little like fishy

with this ship, you know what I'm saying. Like on the record fall Into You said that you miss like being back in the basement at times, Like yeah, but that's you know, that's a that's just that's an honest emotion. That's an honest emotion for sure, But you know, you do you miss kind of what it is you don't necessarily miss being in the basement, being broke, not being on.

I think what I kind of miss if I like really dive into that line, what I probably miss is the feeling of being in your own corner of the world and like just going fucking hard and no one bothering you about ship and you're doing your ship and before anyone could cast their own ignorant, dumbass perceptions on you, you know what I'm saying. Where it was just the out the music, Like people didn't know enough about me to judge me off of anything but the music. Back then,

it was just yo, it's your song. Fire. Now once you get more visible, they start judging you off for like yeah, but I don't like his curly hair and ship. Yeah, like they like they be they be coming at you for everything but the music. But like, you know, it is what it is that comes with the territory. It is what it is. But that was just being honest and reflecting. But uh, you know, we're living a beautiful life,

bro I would I wouldn't change anything at all. Controversy Russ, Yes, And the controversy creates cash everything every day struggle, appearance, Yeah, yeah, yeah, touched on one of the records too, like what's your take on that, Like why did that become such a such a big deal and why did you address it in the song? What was that song? Again? I think twice. It wasn't really addressing anyone. It was addressing and Joe Budden.

It wasn't addressing every day struggle. The thing with every day struggle, right, the thing where yeah, we'll get to him in a second. The thing with the thing with every days struggle was that you know, when they called and their people can attest to it or not whatever. But before we were going up there, I was like, yo, I want Joe to be there because that's the like, that's the Charlotte magine, that's the the like you know,

the ship and the ship. So I was like, yeah, I want to have a conversation with him that it would be hilarious, like I fought with Joe whatever whatever. So we go up there. Like keep in mind, I was up the whole like the internet lacks context, right, I was up the whole night. I was at some fashion show, kids fashion show. Shout out to Ronnie Um performed, so like you know, I got like thirty minutes of sleep type ship six saying whatever whatever, but we're doing

this ship. It's a fucking super informative interview mad gems. But because they want to like take only a minute of an email question, people are gonna like not watch the rest of the interview. A lot of people are just gonna see the one minute clip but the email ship on Twitter and be like, man, you went up to every Day Struggle just to talk about an email. It's like, no, you went on Twitter just to watch one minute of an hour long interview to try and

just the whole ship, you know what I'm saying. Or really it was like I was laughing when I was saying I was like, that's I still love y'all. You know what I'm saying. I wasn't really tripping like that. I was honestly sitting there like during the interview, we were getting into conversation, and when I get into conversation, i'd be speaking passionately, like sometimes I lose like where when I was really trying to talk about because I'd

be like in the conversation in the moment. So then like she like kind of let a notion go that like time was running out, So I was like, oh wait, I got something I want to say though, But it wasn't like I'm sitting there the whole time like yo, I'm waiting for her to slip for you know what I'm saying Like that was just crazy. That was crazy to me how that ship how actually went. But even

after the interview, we were all cool with it. But then after the cameras went off back, like you know, backstage, I was like, yolys. I was like, I was like, good, like everything schools to give me how She's like no, and it's like you know, and like I get it. You're like you gotta do your thing whatever. Um. But even after to that, you know, I told my public says, I was like, yo, calling it like telling a desk.

Want to call her and just like apologize if you felt I was coming at you and whatever, like I was trying to. I was trying to have a conversation because, like I said, this ship I'm not too big for a conversation. Like I'll have the conversation be like yo, sorry, if if any like whatever the funk it was, we could talk about it. She didn't want to talk to me after that, so it is what it is. But like, I'm not tripping that she was like Joe Button's comments

after I guess that's why why was he addressed? Then? Yeah, we're talking about um. I mean the thing with him, right, the thing with him, the thing, the thing with the thing with Joe Buddy is that at the end of the day, I funked with Joe Buddy. I wanted to go up there and have the conversation with Joe Buddy. But you're obviously gonna go up there and defend your co host. You know what I'm saying. You crossed the line when you did the whole get this fucking wolf

out the funk out of here. You're doing like too much talking now about the music and so unlike you. I'm not gonna sit on the fucking YouTube show and gossip. I'm gonna just go to the booth. I'm not gonna get at you on Twitter. I'm not gonna get at you on the fucking whatever. I'm going to the fucking

boost You feel me? Period? You got on another note, you got your message out on a T shirt that hold on, get to that on the crazy thing with Joe Budden right now, the crazy thing with Joe Budden Joe Budden wants to play this whole I'm retired like that was his choice, and that's that's that cop out ship. Nah, I'm retired. I can't give him bars. I'm retired, man. No, no, no no, no, we retired you from our speakers and headphones. Bro,

what are you talking about it? How do you gonna say you retire when you were at if no one gave a funk, You did like five K in your last album in the first week. You know what. Listen, nobody's checking for Joe Budden's music. He knows that, which is why he has to checking for Joe to be fair though, No, come on, okay, no, I was just saying, I just I get a drink. But if we run into the scene with him, a chance the rapper right

like that show has become a big outlet. We're now in a situation where, you know, way Charles Barkley is on this side of the NBA, somebody that played the game, taking the game. Do you think there was a place for it? Do you think there's a really go's a really great place for it. But Joe Button is not Charles Barkley. Joe Button is Eric Dampierre like you want to compare Joe, but the shirt the T shirt now. But also I'll tell you why even why that's the problem.

It was cool you kept it on the you talked about the music, you defended the deska. But then you brought my family into it. You brought my dad into it. You know, it's a grown ass man. You crossed the fucking line about here. You crossed the all your industry plant. Someone helps set you. I'm so glad a ship so we can clear it up. What is it? It's like, it's like in the bout, It's like in the bows of Boxton, in the bottom of the community industry. If

you're a planet like a fern, let me tell you something. Right, the idea that I'm an industry plan for people who don't know what the industry plant is. My definition is someone who goes to the industry to get the people instead of going through the people to get the industry. Right. Are you placed in this position? So there's people who's like, yo,

you're an industry plan. Your dad worked for, your dad's got a business with Columbia and your mom's and music like this crazy ship, I'm like, okay, if that was true, why did I drop eleven mixtage badger of bloggers on the internet for years and drop nineties six songs for free? If I had connections, why wouldn't have I just gone straight to the ship? You know what I'm saying, and all that is that's like real hater energy. A hater

isn't just someone saying like your music sucks. Hater is someone who really does not want to see you in that position, and they'll do anything to bring you down. And at the end of the day, those people didn't like me anyway for no reason, And so what losers and hater ass energy does They create a fake reason to confirm their own fear and insecurity, Like, you know what, I didn't like him. I didn't have a reason to like him, So let me create this thing and yeah,

that's why to justify your own dumbass ship. But the reality is that there's no truth to its Someone's like look at his dad's LinkedIn. Okay, Now what where does it say anything? You feel me? Like? What does your dad do? And then how does he feel like you? Career? This is why I have a massive problem with everything right because to put me in a position where I have to make my dad look any less of an

amazing person. Is That's why I have a problem with Joe Budd because you're a clown, You're a job is a clown for trying to bring my dad into some ship that's an innocent bystander, and you're a rapper. And so you should know that there's function on the Internet which is just rumors. So you've been sitting in that chair for too long. You forgot that. So for you to go up there and be talking about rumors and ship like you're fucking deputy fucking do on E News

talking about just dumbass rumors is crazy, bro. But the ship with my dad, he worked at an advertising agency when I was in high school. Right. My mom was a teacher for like a year she uh, then she was a substitute, and then my dad split. There was differences, so he dipped. He tried to start his own business and it wasn't It didn't like, it didn't go well,

you feel me. It wasn't going as he planned. Because anyone knows if you're trying to start your own business, it's not as easy as sounds, you know what I'm saying, Especially in advertising ship it's like advertising is. If you don't have clients, you don't make money. You feel me. Some one he was at the advertising agency when I was like sixteen. That company, you know, they did business with Texas pe the Great Clips or whatever, and so he worked on those projects. But afterwards he tried to

start his own company. Did really go that well? Luckily this is where the song Titanic came from. If everyone knows that ship, but absolutely, but this is where the song Titanic came from, which is as soon as the ship was sinking. Where it's like, my dad's trying to start his own company and it's just not working. Like the money's fucked up, you know what I'm saying, there's no clients. It's like, Yo, Luckily the rap ship took

off and kind of came in and swooped in. But me even half to me even having to fucking tell people that my dad is trying hard to start a business but it's not going well and it's not successful. Me even having to say that because someone wants to say some fucking fake as ship about my family. Now you have a real problem with me. And people don't need to like, oh wells who are you, like, what are you gonna do? Like, look at you, You're gonna sunk somebody up. Y'all should know by now, like this

is not where it ends. You feel me like, you don't have to worry about me. There's other people who want to fuck you up. You know what I'm saying. Why are you so concerned about me? As if like I'm the only person in my contact list? You know what I'm saying, And that's not a threat. That's just like anybody who with any sense you know that ship so. But people making me have to defend my dad's maybe like rough go at starting a business because you don't

want to say face sh it is fucking ridiculous. Bro. To put me in a position to fucking make my dad look like less than what he is is crazy. The other controversy, Yeah on you on your shirt? Say again about how many leaves you have to take before you realize you're a fucking loser? Sorry, one more, one more time, one more time? Or how much and leans you have to take before you realize you're a loser?

What inspired that? Russ? The thing with that right, I wasn't talking to anyone other than my audience and that's reality. I was talking to my fans because I lost a really great friendship best friend in high school to heroin. You feel me so and I don't talk about that ship ever, but that's what I'm saying. Everything lacks context, you know what I mean. But like I was around when he was we I went to college for like a semester before I went to college for like two weeks.

But I went to college for like because I did like a semester here and then I was like fun that ship. Then I did like two weeks somewhere else, and then I was done forever. But I was with him. I was with him at like parties and ship where like people were offering him ship, and he was the kind of kid who was like, man, I just kind of like I want to be accepted and I want to be the only kid in the room not doing ship.

And I had to kind of be there to be the voice of reason and be like, bro, like no, what are you talking about? Like don't because what the funk is wrong with you? Right? And he wouldn't do it. So then I left, I did whatever whatever, and he

got on the ship. And so I was talking to the kids who look at me and value my opinion and and and you know, are influenced by my you know, choices or whatever the funk it is, who are looking at me Like, Yo, if he says that this ship is whack, I'm gonna listen to it differently, be like, you know what, maybe it is whack. That's what I'm

talking to. I'm talking to the sixteen seventeen y kids and high school, the kids in college who maybe think that doing zanex and lean is how you get the girl, or like I'm in college, I'm new, I'm experimenting in my experimental phase and I don't want to be the loser at the party. I'm trying to join this fright or whatever funk it is, Like you're thinking that that

ship is cool. I'm talking to y'all because when y'all go to do that ship or you attempted to do it, maybe in the back of your head you're like, man, that's some losership though, And that's why I was doing it for, you know what I'm saying. And I don't need I don't need hip hop to co sign I don't need anyone to co sign it. The thousands of d ms I got from kids who are literally like, man, I was about to go do that ship, but then I was like, man, funk that ship, because you're right,

it's some losership. Even if I change one person's idea about doing it mission fucking a combat. So everyone who got offended, that's your fucking issue. Take that ship over yourself. I mean, that's that's very true. But then I feel like though it did shifted once that reaction came in on social media turned into you also saying that you may not like that a lot of music represents that kind of reckless Yeah. Well then yeah, so then I

took it a step deeper. It was like, you know, we got to really look at the landscape of the content of hip hop, and there's a lot of there's a there's a lot of I love this guy, there's a lot of there's a lot of glorification of xan X and of Lean and of all this ship. And it's like, I get it, you didn't sign up to be a role model whatever whatever, but you gotta be responsible enough to realize that whether or not that's what you sign up for. I'm not a role model. That's

everyone's cop I'm not a role model. You're a role model, bro, That's what comes with the dinner. You feel me, you know what I'm saying, Like, I don't care if you want a cup of water and you ask for wine, like I'm gonna just give you a cup of water. That's what comes with it. I'm saying, you are a role model. People look up to you and are influenced

by your decisions, content, everything. And I'm not sitting up here like a preacher, like I don't drink that's in my cup, Like I don't sit and drink, and I don't fucking smoke weed sometimes, you know what I'm saying. But it's like, at the same time, that's the truth. But the thing that this society does, right, if you don't like the messenger and respect the messenger, they vilify the truth. You know what I'm saying. If you don't like or respect the messenger, they're gonna vilify the message.

Meaning that and everything that I said is obvious. Obviously, zan X and Lean is not the ship you should be doing, period. That's an obvious thing. But if you don't respect me or fucking like me or whatever, and you're just like fuck him anyway, you're gonna try and vilify that truth, but you know, it is what it is. At the end of the day, I'm out here trying to see eighty feel me, So you know that's definitely

that it needs to be discussing on hip hop. You know, you feel about you know, the narratives and media and culture things like that. What do you think right now the narratives should be in media? Right now? What the narrative should be in media? I mean people need to understand but na, But like honestly, the people need to understand that the media is money, you feel me, So they have to do ship to generate money. Everything is about money. So do you get more money in advertising

via clicks by covering your local lyricists with two thousand followers? No? So why do you think that they follow fucking you know, a little retard? Or where the funk it is? You know what I'm saying. No, but seriously, that's not it this to anyone. It's just like it is, what the funk it is? You feel me? But it's like I guarantee you the next twenty years is someone named little Retard. All I did was given the inspiration right, No, but not,

but seriously, like it's about money. So you know, I used to get frustrated, Yo, why don't they fucking why don't the blow it was covering me? And it is because the blogs are not covering who is dope or who is this? The blogs are only going to cover people. It's a symbiotic relationship. It's a what can I get from you? And what can you get from me? When I had two thousand followers, what I can get from you is way more than what you're gonna get from me,

you know what I'm saying. So that's what it runs off of. You feel me. People don't start working with you until there's something to gain from it. And that's the real I mean, but that's business, that's capitalism. That like,

that's what the funk it is. Welcome to Speaking of business, there was another thing you had did online where I think you had saw an article about streaming and artists saying that there was a bad like artists was saying that streaming wasn't that great shoutow title, but he was basically breaking down how streaming is good. You're sort of basically breaking down what tune core is in your journey? Can you expect because there's a lot of inspiring guards

are gonna watch this. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Like what was that the thing? When you read these articles about streaming nightmares like so and so had a billion streams and only made like crazy ship like that, it's like, once again it lacks context. Why don't you talk about why they're only getting or whatever the funk they're getting. It's not because streaming there's no money in it. It's because the deal that they're in. You can't just ignore that,

you know what I'm saying. Because I read those articles and I look at my numbers on tune Corn, I'm like, hmm, no, that's not right. I feel great, you know what I'm saying. But that's because there's no middleman there. You feel me. And it's like, you know, you gotta just look at the deals that people are doing, and people like, yo, well, how did you know about too and cool? How did it well? When we were seventeen making songs, we typed it on Google. How to put your song on iTunes

was to me. If you're dead asked for real about getting into any craft and you don't do any sort of three and a half minute research on Google, you really don't want it that bad. You know what I'm saying. You really don't. It took us five minutes to figure that ship out and then like we've had a tune course, you know what I'm saying. So my whole ship is on tune core minus the album. You know what I'm saying.

But so I look at it and I have a frame of reference of like, yo, these streaming like nightmares are just lies. It's people who are in shitty as deals with no ownership. It costs nine dollars ninety nine cents to oapload to upload a song on tune court for a year. That nine dollars and nine that ten dollar investment can make you millions. Go find me a better investment than ten to a million? You feel me? Now?

The thing is shout out to like districate or whatever people like, yo, But what about I don't really know about them. I just speak on what the funk I know? So, yeah, another distribution thing, but tune course a digital distribution platform where you can you go, you upload a song for You're on Spotify, Beats, Title, Apple Music, everything, everything for ten dollars, you feel me? So that whole like I

would always get fucking like super con use. When I would see these artists, those ones that would like blow up with one viral song, and then you see it on iTunes with a label, I'm like, why didn't you just have it on tune Core? You'd be caking. You feel me like, it's just like you know, but it's lack of education on the field that you're trying to get into, which is no one else's fault but your own, you know what I'm saying. So I don't have any

sympathy for artists getting taken advantage of. You have the Internet, you post on Instagram, Use Google, you feel me like, use Google. I don't have any sympathy for like, man, no, it's in a really bad deal and like you had Google, right what I'm saying, And you still look at your number you said, it's a weekly things every day. I look at my numbers on tune cores every day every day. Tune Core is an online bank account for your own fucking operation, you feel me. Friday's a pay days. So

what was it like? You know at that time when you had that song, you know, talk Talk Talk Up. You're talking about like how you got booked for shock Up, So you were this is before Sound before Columbia, before was no, it was on sound Clap. I know what you're saying, yeah, but what what I'm saying is that you got booked for a show overseason Europe. Like Facebook, so listen from the get go, I've been fucking hustling right period. So when I had a personal Facebook, which I don't

have any more, I haven't had for years. But when I had a personal Facebook, I was that person like messaging everyone, check this out, check this out, check this out. Check because I was like, yo, wait a second. All this whole Facebook is about is having mad like friends and getting them to funk with. It's like, none of us are actually friends. I don't really give a funk about that. I was like, I'm gonna just add everyone I can, and I'm gonna add everyone who has other

mad friends. You feel me? Now you gotta go. You gotta keep in mind this is twenty ten eleven. Ship Instagram came out, so like people need once again context. You gotta understand the world of social media was way different. But I would be on my personal Facebook like sending everyone this ship whatever whatever. Belgium. This kid in Belgium sent me his ship. This artist for me to listen to. I listened to him like, Yo, it's just fire, just rapping in Flemish. I know what day what is saying?

It was fired though I had no idea, but like I moved, I moved off the sonics though. I was like, yo, this just sounds good. So I was like, funk it, this is fresh. He's like, yo, let's do songs like cool. So we do a song. It goes crazy in Belgium. Now, when I say crazy in Belgium, it's probably like two

thousand kids are like, yeah, it's crazy. But back then it's like I'm on Facebook and I'm getting like, you know whatever the fucking likes were on posts or someone like yo, I'm letting a hundred likes on like posts like ship whatever. But so that happened, and then naturally more and more Belgium kids started hitting me up. So

they set up a show for me. The kids managers set up a show for me and Budgie is my homie was starting uh in case y'all don't know, me and Boogie started this diamond Ship at seventeen, masterminding full of absolutely right here, what's up? You feel me? This bovie is right here, and let me tell you something. Buggist is next to y'all thought you had a problem with me, wait till both of us are anyway. So Buggist Buggist was talking with fans in Paris right once

again via Facebook. This person on Facebook, Like, you're spamming people on Facebook, like people just you know, two kids being like, yeah, I like your ship, you know what I'm saying. But then you know it spreads the thirty kids. So we go out there and like, you know, it was crazy, but I never even left the country before, you know what I'm saying. And we get to Belgium

and you know, we go to the venue. I'm not fucking thinking ship, bro, I'm thinking like ten kids are showing up, like and then the promoter, we show up the promoters, like I still have it on my Instagram. That's what I'm saying. Like the industry plan shit is crazy.

Like the come up is documented step by step. You feel me, Like you can go back to old tweets and watch me get no retweets on mixtapes and then two and then three and then five and then a song it's ten and the next one like to come up is documents anyone saying that industry plan ship is an ignorant hater in their clown and the losers, and they vibrate at a very low level of frequency. What it's pathetic, it's pathetic. It's pathetic. Those people aren't gonna win,

not because they're broken pockets. Their mind is so poor. It's so poor, bro, their mind is disgusting. It can't win. But anyway, so I'm in Belgium. The promoters like, yo, it's sold out. I was like, yeah, I was like, what sold out? Now? It's only three kids, but three bro, I had a thousand followers, So a thousand followers and three kids in Belgium. I'm like, y'all gotta be fucking kidding. Like I'm thinking I'm the fucking man, Like where's the

girl with the fucking flowers? And I need the graves now, but like I'm thinking, I'm sucking lit. It was just kind of like I'm like, it's surreal to me, but so we do the show. It was fucking crazy once again. All this year is on my Instagram. You've got to scroll down further, but um, it was crazy. That's what Carol Lewis, who was like a big time Carol. I didn't link with carro Lewis though September one. I remember all the days because I run him down on my

nose like a psychopath. Yeah, that's another one of those like Eminem Scotch Storch figures. While I was kind of like, I was like, yo, before I even knew what the funk you look like I need carre Lewis just from like two packs and yeah, come on, anyone that's that goes back to the research ship. You feel me like, if you're trying to get into the music business and you don't know who the fun Carrol Louis is a question if you're really trying to get into the music business.

So I'm like, all right, I need carro Lewis. Cool. So my manager, my current manager, Mylne hit me up in an email. This is probably February, right, I'm alright, cool. This is when you're like, you know, it's not really happening, but you're like you're fielding little things coming into your email. All right, cool, Like what's up? He's like, yeah, I want to like you don't want to work with you, I want to like bring you to keep from candidates. I want to bring your candon. I was all right, cool,

So flies made to Canada. We kick it and that first time we met, actually, where's Milan? He's out gaffling someone, Okay? That that that first time we met is when I made. He took me to the studio in Toronto. I've never even been to Toronto before. I don't think, Yeah, I had it first time I ever met I made I want to go down with you on the album. So like I kind of took that as like a sign, like I'll just make music around people. Usually it's just

me and myself or me and Bugis that's it. So if I can meet a stranger and just like still be kind of in that space of energy where it's just like you don't feel you just feel great still, you know what I'm saying, I was like, oh, it's gotta be a sign. But anyway, so I didn't want to go down with you the first time I met him in I come back and all I'm telling him is, bro, I'm not speaking to you too. Give me Carroll Lewis. That's That's all I kept telling. I was like, bro,

you want to me? Give me Carroll Lewis. Period period, now here's how the universe is fucking crazy. Me and him had like a falling out, and it wasn't really me and him. It was like me and his partner kind of had like a you know, like a disagreement, like all right, we weren't really fucking with each other like that anyway, hasn't been that long. It wasn't official, so it wasn't really a thing. It was like, all right, well, by what I'm saying. So it's and it's September. It's

sucking September. One another this independent label at the time, Cinematic Johnny Ships. Um, I was trying to funk with me. So they're flying me up to New York, right, and now the Johnny Ship because people are gonna be like, how do you just know Johnny Ships kids super Who? I recorded a bunch of ship at who y'all know kids, super Be in the mix of New York. He knew someone who Fox with someone Dominoes fall whatever. So he's flying me up to New York. I gotta lay over

in Charlotte, right. So I'm sitting there in Charlotte and Milan calls me. Now I haven't talked to Milan and months, Blon calls me and he has no idea my movements or whatever that I'm on the way to go. And he's like, it's like, oh, I got you carro Lewis. And I was like, yeah, but we got to talk about like the disagreement, and she said. He's like, yeah,

like I get it, I got your carre Lewis. I was like when, And he has no idea that I'm flying and he's like today for thirty I'm on the layover in Charlotte about to get on the flight, the connecting flight to New York, and I landed sucking four. So I'm like, yo, you guys, ask Kara. You feel me Like, I go to Kara's office with bags in hand. That's the first time I met Kara. I had the luge in hand. I was like, I was going there, but not for Caro Lou. But then all of a

sudden it turned into that. So then I fucking go to meet Carre with bags in hand. I'm like, yo, you're a unicorn. And that's the first thing I told her, you're a unicorn. I think I still call her unicorn. How did he do it? He? Because I mean, he just knows and he knew her. Apparently, he kept telling me, but when you don't know someone, you don't trust it. But the only way you trust somebody's by trusting them,

which is a very fun thing. But yeah, I mean we get I get to the office and she was just like she was her and she was like, yeah, let's you know, let's start working on ship. But you know, when you don't have fans like that, when you can't sell tickets, you can have the greatest book and agent in the world, you're gonna do no shows. Why because there's no money with you. There's no tickets. You can't

sell tickets. So from September until fucking May, I was just saying that, like please like send me on the tour, like open for her, open for this whatever. Whatever. She was like, just not time yet. But you said he's talking about like on this record of the journey. He said like, yeah, your bucket list is ever changing, right facts, So what's so where's it that now it feels like you're doing My bucket list is still like the number one ship is get my mom and beach house, which

were in the process she's shopping. Yeah, shout out to moms. Yeah, I mean you know. That's That's the beautiful thing about keeping like family close and friends close and ship is that you know everyone around me. I've just known like for mad long, Like me and Buggies, like I said the Masterminds in seventeen, Like I moved to Georgia when I was twelve. Buggas was my first friend in Georgia. Feel me Like me and Boogies have been fucking bussing people off for years, for a decade,