He wants to rap raid our podcasts. Manators beat out Elliott Wilson. Goodness see Elliott, good to see you be Man.
You know what I'm saying, How are you?
Brother? Feeling great? Man? Feeling better now that we got our newest guests on the show.
Today behind the scenes person Man. The podcast people love it. Behind the scenes champions Man. They think they're in the music industry. They're like, you know what's funny. When we did that trailer, uh, we revealed I guess today was one of the people we had featured in it.
I remember I was like.
Everybody's gonna want Tyler first. And one of my homies from the old I call him the Social Squad. He was like, oh there, Stephen Victor. Episode is first. I was like, word, Stephen Victor. Got fans like that Stephen Victors aren't moving.
He's so nice.
You gotta stay the name twice Victor victim Man, Victor victim Man for those that don't know, Stephen Victor's man. Where do we start with this guy? Long time manager pushing.
Tea, working the clips, good Music, worked over there many years with Kanye and uh brought the world pops Smoke. That was a pretty good accomplishment, brought the late great pop smoke. I think he signed producers that produced like the biggest song in the world, the Old Town Road X. This man does it all and like we're announcing, we're excited to be part of the new announcement, which is now he's getting into the sports world right beat out.
Yes, sir, He's getting his Don kingo on. He signed Davis Davis.
You know.
And he also has a Nego on his roster too, man, Like this guy is not stopped Nego.
Man, and he's got one of the Flyers logos and uh merch and we still get our Victor Victor Jackets. Man, it got promise man waiting on it. Yeah, man, this is one of these patted episodes that we stacked up. It's a good window. But it was great about it be is we at the time of it. It was
the beginning of the whole. Like I think rapt Caviart set it off with Jim Jones was really bigging up Drake and you know, put not put in respect on pusha T's name, and that led to like what's going on right now at the time we're taping this now, uh Paris just had the amazing Pharrell Williams les vaton Don reveals the new Boss shout Out version do with recipes Virgil uh it played a new song right beat off from the Clips.
Yeah, he played a new song. Wait.
I don't know if it's a solo record or if it's like a CLIPS record. You know, I think it's a CLIPS record. I think it's a CLIPS record. They have both had verses on it.
Mouse Yeah, push him.
Outkay unless unlet's it's for pushing your feature in mouth.
But yees's know what I'm saying, like if we don't know as of yet, but it sounds like he has some subliminal shots at Jim Jones.
I guess it was based.
Off his ranking that was it Fi magazine had put him as like one of the top best rappers. Yeah, obviously Jim Jones has some objections to that, but it was it sounded very sturgical, you know, how push you could get.
He said, the reality TV is mud wrestling.
He said a lot of things.
He said he trying to get a feature out of your out of your lane or something like that. Basically he's supplying that, you know, Jim Jones was trying to kiss up the Drake to get a feature, and he had Jim. Jim made the boll statement that he didn't consider pushing one of the top FIFTYFC. So so now we have the song. The internet is on fire right now at the time. Whist is coming out about this. They wanted Jim Jones pushing Beef. Man, he want that beat? Jim Jones pushing Beef.
I don't think I want that.
That's I'm gonnah, But.
You know, Joebo's excited. Man.
It puts his name in the conversation. Man, he put that video up him laughing in the car like you know.
He loves it, man, veterans man, I mean not for enough that gym has had a hell of a run over the last couple of years with cops, a LoJack and fraud department. So I don't know if he's a formidable opponent.
But you know, one thing about Jim is that he's overachieved his entire career, like he's not to be in a position that he's in right now. So you know, salute to him, But I don't know. I think pushing might be a little bit out of his weight class. Respect We'll see.
I have to agree with you with that, But I do think it's played a lot of people saying like, yo, you know, Jim's crazy if Jim went after jay Z and I so go after push It And it was like and also they're like, yo, he rhymes way better now too.
So I never would have thought that.
On Joel Moo's Coofy Listed twenty twenty three, here we are, Here, we are.
Man, and you know it's funny Stephen Victorm we used to be involved with Joe, with Jim Joe's career.
Also, I know, Steven, I know Stephen Victim is like, what's going on man? By ex guy by current guy? That going at it like it's exciting times man.
You know.
Also Victor, you know, definitely going to enjoy the conversation we have with him. But he's also promised us that one of the times we're gonna get that tang Davis on the Underraparated podcast.
Right, We're gonna make that happen.
Man.
You gotta make it happen, man, You gotta get your gloves up, man, practice the jab and the hook.
Man.
What I'm saying trying to be we try to be the world champion, the world champions out here in the podcast world. Man, we got to get champions on the platform.
Man, you know what I'm saying, Let's do it.
Let's get do it to Ben one of the most prolific businessmen behind the scenes man, mister Controversy himself, mister all hands in, mister Stephens.
Victor on the Rap Rate All Podcast.
Yeah, Yeah, Raperate Up Podcast. Elliott Wilson, you know you're going with the man shining because it was Stephen Victim.
Man.
Yes, long time coming man, supermanager extorday, you had the hell of.
A twenty twenty two and twenty twenty three looking no different, Eliot.
Yeah, he's on major levels. Man, trying Can we just start with this some fun of formal announcement. Man, you just taking over the sports world? Can we start there.
I don't know if I'm taking over the sports world, but I think I'm just trying to get It's not I don't think it has anything to do with sports. It's more so just working with people that whether they're in sports, whatever they might be in that like we have a mutual respect for one another and there's like a relationship there more than it is like trying to get into different areas of business.
You know what I'm saying, A gentleman known as mister Yeah Tank Davis best box on the planet.
So they said itself, yeah, face of boxing.
So we saw that with the big fiber Garcia. I'm seeing a lot of Victor Victor merchants seeing human made.
Yeah Nego did in shorts.
Yeah right, Yeah, that's still is a custom human made.
Like when you see someone with a Victor Victor shirt or like a jacket's almost like a Rockefeller chain.
It's like you're down with the squad. Yeah, that's interesting you say that because UZI said the same thing to me, and I was like, oh, I mean, you know Rockefellas, Like, I mean, I guess I feel honored, you know what I'm saying that somebody would even mention because you know, I'm not thinking, I don't think we're there yet, but the fact that someone sees your in that light.
Yeah, was always your intention for Victor Victor worldwide to get into sports or just was it like happened by happenstance.
I've always been into sports. I don't think I ever like that was like an idea, like y'all I'm going to venture into the sports world. I've always been into sports, and I've always been obsessed with boxing, you know what I'm saying. So I don't know if I would say it's like a natural thing, but I wasn't, you know, headed towards that are so like the opportunity presented itself.
What was your favorite boxer coming up?
Floyd? I mean before Floyd out n let me take that back, Roy Jones. I was really into like Roy and zab Judah, you know what I'm saying. And then after that was Floyd like them Roy Jones rhymes must have forgot. Yeah. I bumped into Roy Jones at a record at university when I was interning. I bumped into him and that was a little key starstruck.
Wow. Talk about the connection with Tank like like we see him like he's now he's putting more so hitting the radar. If you're not even a casual boxing.
Fan, Oh yeah, he is.
Like what makes them special? And like your connection to him, I.
Think what makes him special, Like he reminds me of you know, whether it's like uh, I think through the course of life you meet special people, whether you meet them personally or you see them on TV or on Instagram. Now, I feel like he's just one of those people. He's just like a superstar like people. I feel like people are born superstars and then the ones that end up being in our face are the ones that like work hard towards their craft, whether it's boxing, making music, whatever
it might be. I feel like he's just someone that was born a superstar and his talent is boxing, and he's making the most of it. So what's what is Victor? Victor's intentions of like elevating his profile and his brand really just tapping into all the different things that he's into, whether it's like fashion, like design, sports, and just like helping him execute different things that he wants to do outside of boxing.
How did you guys connect? Like you said what you was on Instagram?
Yeah, on Instagram, well, like I said, I'm like obsessed with boxing, so I'll be boxing too, And in my my trainer was like, Yo, your favorite boxer is like oncase he don't really post like that if you ever noticed, and he was like, yeah, you should reach out to him whatever. So we just started like talking in in the DM pause, you know, and then we just you know, we developed the friendship and from there started working together.
So he did a cool campaign. I think it was it was Hove and also Udell voiceovers.
Yeah, yeah, so what I can't remember if it was me or David. I have a friend of mine, like everyone I work with like friends named David, and he had the idea. He was like, YO, for Tank's next fight, we should do we should have like a director. Forgot who the director was. He said, we should have them direct something crazy, you know what I mean? And he
was I forgot who. He said. Yeah, he was like, we should have someone direct something crazy and I was like yeah, and then we should probably have like Mike Tyson or somebody like narrated or Hove, you know what I'm saying. I was like, I was like, maybe we should have Mike Tyson and Hove narrated, right, And then I was like, we have to find somebody to write the script or whatever. So we took the idea to
Tank and he was like, Yo, that's fire. But before we had we took the idea to Tank, I reached out to a couple of scriptwriters, but then I reached I reached out the whole first, and I was like, yeah, I'm thinking about doing this. You know what I'm saying. I'm going to reach out to some scriptwriters. Can I send it to you when it's done? And he was like, yeah,
send it to me. So then we saw speaking the Tank about it and he had this video on his phone and it was it was a speech that Whole gave at one of his concerts and he was like, Yo, this ship is like fire right here. So I sent that to Jay and I was like, can you just resay this? I was like, because he really this that. Yeah, it came out dope. He sold my fire right. Yeah, it came out really dope. I saw that Jay kind of shotowed him out at his Paras show. But it
was like, I've seen Tank box him up. Yeah, what was it?
Like?
If I see it that?
Like to be like part of that big big fight night Vegas?
What was that? What was that? Like he was in? It was ill for me because, like I said, I'm obsessed with boxing, so like I used to go to all of Floyd's fights. Oh wow, yeah, that's back when I had I was a degenerate gambler, so I would get the tickets from the deck. It was crazy, man, to just be a part of that moment. And even his fight before that. But it's not what you would think, right because like I used to watch the All Access twenty four you know whatever with Floyd and before the
fight he would just be chilling. So I used to think it was like the opposite. But it's the same thing with Tang. He's like just another day, you know, it's another day of the literally, it ain't no different than anything else. You wouldn't think he's about to go. I mean I would be if it was me, I'd be like, Hella nervous.
Well Youse's a lot of hype.
Because remember I'm I'm a I'm really into boxing, like really really into boxing, you know what I'm saying. So I knew there's like you feel confident. I was like, it's gonna be sparring for him, you know what I'm saying, you know, because it's not like you know, the only thing about boxing is like everybody has a punch his chance, especially if you can hit, if you could crack like you can never you know what I'm saying. Because with boxing, I don't know if you guys are into boxing, like
it's really mental. So the minute you take your mind off, it's like racing. I'll be racing too. It's like the minute you take your mind off what's going on, that's the split second that you could either crash or somebody catch you with a.
Was how fitting it was, and with the body rare like literally shut him down.
So I didn't, you know, I was like, there's no way this guy he got no work, Like I was. I bet with Swizz like I was. I was speaking to Slits and I was he was like yo, and I was like cool. I was like, swizzly you like, it's like, you know, just suspecting Ryan. But it's like if you're driving a sports car, somebody's you know, if I'm in a truck and somebody's in a car, there's no way they're gonna how.
Much you was Swiss bat.
Crazy with me and we got to talk about that.
Wet either bet no vehicles. You know, I said, you both got a collection.
Tank he called it in the seventh Yeah he did. Yeah, did you know what was going to happen then? Like did you feel like it was coming watching the fight?
Yeah, Like just watching his facial watching his facial expressions, and watching Ryan's facial expressions, I thought it was going to be more. I like that. I thought it was gonna be he was gonna get stopped like a round a ninth or tenth, you know what I'm saying, because I could tell he wasn't. He was like, Okay, I'm gonna just play with Like I could tell his face shots, but he's like, I'm gonna play with him. Gonn carry him for a little okay, you know what I mean?
So you could tell, like like I said, I'm obsessed with about you could tell when a fighter like steps on the gas and he's trying to get him out of it. I don't think he was trying to get him out of there with that punch. I think that just presented itself and he just shot. Kind of surprised you when he didn't get up, yeah, for sure, because I didn't even see it, Like watching it live is different than watching it in TV. I didn't even see them. I just seen him get on their knee pause. You know.
There was a really dope hip hop moment too when they came out with Chief Keith was that you did you that was all? Okay? That was his idea.
He said, somebody he did the love so so he said he didn't want to do the I don't like it was more rowdy or something like that.
He is interesting because when they were we were like in the dressing room and me to league and David were talking and he was like, Yo, he's going to come out to Finico right one. He was like not, he wants to do love so like, yo, he should do such and such, And I was like, yo, you know, as a boxer someone that's like in sports, you should just really do what makes you feel good, regardless if
it's going to be the hypist or so. Yeah, but that was all, you know, the chief keep thing was all he wanted to come out too.
So obviously you're a big boxing fan. Well, Victor, Victor, get into any other sports world like the basketball, baseball, football.
Nah, because you know, I feel like for me, it's all about like the individual, whether in tennis, basketball, or baseball, whatever it is. You know what I'm saying, Because I feel like there got to be some level of connection, you know what, because I got so much going on, like to be able to folk. I feel like like, especially in today's day and age, like you have to be able to be successful with something. You got to be able to like hyper focus on it or else.
It's like they know different than any other successful person that has connections. Like, what's the difference between you and somebody else that's successful that has the same connections that you have. It's about like your mindset and what you bring to the table, like your perspective. I think that's very important. So for me, it's like not necessarily about
getting into sports. It's more about and then you know, it's like when you're working with people, to think about Tank, that's that's really ill is that he has an extraordinary team. And his team he's been with for like twenty years, so they really know him, and you know, it's not like you know, because sometimes with like artists are just entertainers. You have like your friends that you came up with, so they might not necessarily be the most like experienced.
But with Tank, like he has a really good experienced team, you know what I'm saying. They've been with him for a long time. They're really really smart, so it's kind of like it's not as difficult because you're dealing with you.
Know, it's almost like a good foundation.
He has a great foundation. Everybody around him is like really good at their jobs. They're excellent, you know what I mean, And they've been with him for a long time, so they really care for him. So I feel like all that stuff matters when.
What's the next step for him, Like there's another big fight coming up.
Like yeah, I mean he's gonna he's young, he's like in boxing at least, so he probably got you know, we're just gonna keep taking stepping it up.
You know, he's undefeated, right yeah.
Undefeated, like twenty nine and oh twenty seven knockouts you see on defeating these streets to Victor. Victor the company? Can you talk about the company? What it is exactly? Yeah, I mean really it's just all the different things that I'm into music, obviously, boxing, right fashion, It's like in
all encompassing things. I just really try to focus on things that like even with you know, I started my career at Interscope, but where I kind of like took the next step was managing the clips Like that was me just being like a fan, Like I really just trying to hyper focus on things that I'm really into, like as a fan, Like I come into the thing as a fan first, whatever it might be, you know
what I mean, whether it's like boxing, like Tank. I was a huge fan of Tank before I even started working with him, Like I was, like, so I knew everything about him before I even met him. You know what I'm saying, Not to be on some like stalker Shiit same thing with like the clips. So whoever I might work with, you know what I'm saying, Like I just yeah, what was those.
Other conversations of convincing you don't push your tea that you can manage him to take his career.
No, I never, I never would push it. I never. I started off as a publicist, which.
Is a herald of like the people that know, like these are the music industry. The publicists a lot of times get shitted on right in the system, right, So it's so rare for someone like you to break you as a publicist and become the you know, the success story that you are starting.
Get that. So I had to beg him to let me be his publicist first, you know what I'm saying. So I did it for free, and I was just like, got you cheap. Yeah, that was the first project I worked on. We got it for cheap e STAPs, right, But yeah, I just went into it. I've been Listen, I'm the same person I've been since I was a child. You know what I'm saying. It's worked out in some
areas good, it's bad, you know what I'm saying. But I've always looked at everything the same, like just a fan and I do all of the knowledge and I just work super hard. I feel like I'm the I'm like forever an intern you know what I'm saying.
Is it more like just seeing what's missing and trying to make that happen?
What you think I'm like, Yeah, I'm just willing to do whatever. Man, whether it's like I'll go and walk the dog and pick up the dog shit if I have to, you know what I'm saying. I feel like that's gonna help the situation. Like whatever it might be, like, I'm willing to do that, you know what I'm saying.
And you got an internship while you were attending more House, right, Yeah, what.
Was it like being in Atlanta during that time? I wasn't so. I had an internship in Atlanta at MTV Studios, but that wasn't ship. That was just like getting coffee. And during the summer I had an intern in New York when Universe was at eight twenty five and I was interned for Plaza. Yeah World. Plaza was interning for Hawk Islam, you know him. He had a record label, cour University, and Drew Hill was signed there.
Maya wow, Okay, that's crazy, that's crazy. I don't know what floor that was.
That was the seventh floor. It was either the sixth or the seventh. Five, yeah, okay, yeah, so and then they moved to seventeen fifty five. But yeah, I interned there for the summer for two summers, and then that's where I met Junior.
Oh yeah, Junior.
Yeah, so Junior kind of gave me my first shot. Yeah. Right, But you also came up under Tony Draper from swab House. Right when I met Tony Draper through Pusher.
Oh okay, he was managing because he was managing the clips while I was the publicists.
You know what I'm saying.
I saw something you had said that one thing you learned from twenty is like a lot of times people get jobs at labels and you just start spending money recklessly, right, And Tony was the owner of the of the label, so you felt like his approached to how he dealt things is what you took from.
Right, Well, that's all I knew so before So I was a publicist, right, like you said that was I wouldn't say it was like a low job, but I wasn't.
In like the decision making.
Yeah, so my knowledge of like a record label came from Draper. It didn't come from it, and so my so the way Draper explained it was, you know, that's everything is your own money, you know, So that was my knowledge, you know what I'm saying. So I feel like the way that you're your initial learnings of things is usually like the foundation. So that my foundation was treat everything as if it's your own, because that's how Draper,
you know what I'm saying. I was with Draper a lot, and like he like instilled that in me.
Right, So those were the cues that you took going into the relationship with the Clips then right as a when I started, Yeah, for sure manager, m what makes a good manager?
I've been lucky, right because I started managing Pusher after I had like a like a five year late like a three or four five three four or five year relationship with him, like, so it wasn't so I knew
him as a person like with friends, you know what I'm saying. So, I feel like the thing that makes a good managers you have to have like a certain level of care for the person that you're working for, you know what I'm saying, Like you have to look at them first, and you have to always think about their their well being, whether it's like their financial wellbeing, their personal wellbeing, their
emotional wellbeing, like their creative well being before. Like that has to be the focus, right, you know what I'm saying. And there from there you could kind of make decisions that you make the best decisions from there, I feel like. So I feel like that's the most important thing as a manager because you're it's like you're in the service business. Right.
It's like I said, whether it's like you gotta go walk Nigga's dog or you've got whatever you gotta do, you know what I'm saying, you should be willing to do it, you know what I mean, if that's going to help, that's going to help further their career. And this is the first grap group you ever managed, the first.
Also, it sports like I'm just gonna get the best boxer that.
So I've been lucky, you know, So I feel like I'm I've been you know, no.
But it was challenging, like people don't understand, like you know the clips, you have the clips right, they're a successful group. You know, there was obviously drama with the labels at times and stuff. Then Malice goes off and like you know, this transition of like okay, how we're going to turn push your t into like his own solo entity, Like you talked about those early days of that challenge of like you know, establishing him coming out of a group which was his foundation.
You know, it wasn't like I gotta be honest, I've been super fortunate because it wasn't that challenge because you got to remember it was maybe like a three or six month period when Malice like left the group and when we started fucking with Kanyem.
So you're like, go to Hawaii, Yeah, Hawaii, stay there.
You feel me like half of half of a manager's job. So it's just not fucking it up, like you know what I'm saying. You get in a situation and you make the most out of the situation instead of fucking it up.
But that was the thing too, Like he was you had sort of vision might be more clear than he did, right in terms.
Of like oh yeah, yeah. I was like, Yo, this is this is it, you know, because there was other opportunities on the table, and I was like, nah, this is saying that ship as clear as you're not leaving wire. Yeah exactly, I'm not getting you a ticket. You're staying. This is it, you know what I'm saying. So, but I guess where you're intent is up.
You know, when Malice decided to not continue to rap, like, did you feel like, okay, we.
Have to no? You know, Like I remember I was saying that I'm like forever an intern. I feel like I'm very I can't think of a better word to describe it, but I'm very like childish in my thinking. Like I have like childlike optimism, and I'm a little bit delusional. I never look at the negative, you know what I'm saying, Like the fucking house could be burned down,
I'm thinking about something completely different, you know. So I've always been I've always had like very very good focus and the ability to like not think about anything that's negative but trying to focus on the positive aspects of things. Does that just come from being a Brooklyn native? Have you always been that way. I think it comes from like my upbringing, right, So my my my father's very like straight, like everything is about like education. He's very,
very practical. And then my mom is like low key delusional about things like she's very you know what I'm saying, Caribbean parents. Yeah, of course, so I had both, like you know what I'm saying, Like my dad like superstructured, very everything is like education, education, and my mom is just like, oh, you know, right wherever I want, I
could like woul it, you know what I'm saying. She's a bit but grow with BK like when the rap become meaningful for you, like you were always a fan, so like naw, you know, my my first my sister put me on the wrap. She put me on a mob deep like early on, like Mob Deep in Chop Cort Quest. So we're talking about ninety three. Yeah, before that, I don't even know if I was even into music. You know what I'm saying. Wow, yes, Wow, man, I listened to NBA Boy all day.
So your sister's responsible for putting you onto all the new music and stuff like that early on.
But then once I got into it, I got into it. But Yeah, my sister put me on the wrap earlier.
And then when you were in traveling, when you were in college or in Atlanta or even in Virginia at some time, right.
Yeah, because I got chipped off the boarding school, right, But I was I was like boarding school. I was like in a town with like a thousand people. So how would you get into new music? Just the kids, you know what I'm saying. They would be in my dorm and like, yo, check the shit out. Like we would just share music, you know what I'm saying, right, and whatever was exciting at the time, like whether it was beefing with you. It's like a soap opera. Do
you remember the first time we heard the clips? I was in college. When when did that? When did two thousand and two? Yes? I was in college and I had a friend, yeah, and he was he was really into the clips and I was like, yo, this ship is like he grinding came out and he was like, Yo, this ship is fire is firing. I was like, Yo, this ship is trash. Is trash? Move that ship up for someone. I was like, what the is that? Because it was so different and my man was like, nah, bro,
this is wow. He just kept on playing it. He played it so much I start I was like, oh, this ship is actually fire. But the first time I heard I was it was just so different, you know what I'm saying.
Funny, It's funny how Push it still hates like the commercial joints off there, like when the last time all that, Like do you feel does that bug you out there? He really hates like an artist really kind of hates some of their catalog. That's like with big records, like nah.
Because I think that he has his own taste, you know what I'm saying. He's into what he's into, whether he's making that kind of music or not. But I don't what's up.
With the sort of the direction of like sort of leaning into the fact that it's almost like wrestling like that pushes the bad guy right, like the playing up the joker thing that the the themon type of energy like that.
He's well, that's not he's not playing that. That's who he is. Yeah, you know, Push is a good guy. We love Pusher now. He but he's like there's two sides to the coin, right, there's always two sides.
Of a saying we're lucky to be cool with him because.
When he goes.
It's very very bad. You know what I'm saying, How do you How does one man is that? That seems to be probably one of the most challenging things to manage someone like that.
I would think now because he's not like when he goes left, there's like a reason for he doesn't go left, you know what I'm saying, there's reason for it. So if you're just being an objective person, you assessing the situation, you know, I was a therapist, I'd be like, Okay, I can see why he went left. It's not you know, some people just go left because they they're angry by something else. It's not like he's not one of those people that takes out his frustrations about something else on
something else. Like if he goes left on you, you know what I'm saying, and he goes all the way like he don't stop.
So how many for it for you? For When he scored the number one album last year with Almost Dry.
It was great man, because he you know, that was important. It was important to us. So I feel like and anything when you accomplish your goals, it always feels good, right, And he's been in the game for so long, you know what I'm saying. And he's never like switched, It's never It's always been you know what I'm saying, what he's on like, he hasn't had to conform to anything, right, Just point about the Grammy nomination and yeah, man, the Grammys his cap I think. So, you know I thought
he was gonna get it last year. Well this year, yeah, the Grammy. Yeah, I thought he was gonna get it.
He's gonna get man, So what happened after what you guys do?
After you just left? Yeah, went back to New York, to New York, Yeah, or speak about New York.
There's a lot of talk from another New York all it's the same to push your t's in the top fifty rapper, right, how do you?
What do you?
What are your thoughts about that? About what push your tea? Not necessarily being a top fifty rapper.
That conversation's like you can't say he's not a top fifty rapper. Like this guy's been twenty years, right years, two thousand and two and then in twenty twenty three. Yeah, he's been relevant for twenty years without doing anything outside of what he's doing. Right, you know what I'm saying, it's like you can't say.
Yeah, were you surprised that Jim said that, Jim Jones, somebody you work with the.
Pier, right, was that surprised. I'm not surprised by anything, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, it's kind of crazy. Twenty years, It's yeah, twenty years is insane. I'm the same who else. A lot of rappers don't make it past twenty days. Man, That's what I'm saying. In twenty years, and he's still operating at you know, a high level. You know what I mean. I'd just say, arguably, he how many rappers? How many relevant rappers out right now? Right now?
Is the question?
Right? So my thing is I look at at it as who is performing at a high level and who's making the most money? Right, That's how I judge it, because you could be performing at a high level and not be getting paid accurately for it. That's true, especially in music, because there's a bunch of artists that are incredible,
but they don't you know this this artist. You can have artists a that's the best singer or the best rapper, but they don't they don't have the recognition or they're not being you know, their talent doesn't match the deals that they're getting. So I feel like when you have the connection of the two, that's what you really want. You want to be able to do what you do at a high level and get paid paid for it the way you want to be paid for it. Right. It's like you look at any brand like you look
at Ferrari. They do exactly what they want to do and they sell the cars at the price they want to sell it, or it's not it's not you know, they don't got to make a bunch of like you don't got to make minivans like he got to make minivans. You know what I'm saying is.
That the most is that the most awarding part because it feels like always we push whatever you guys are doing. It feels very uncompromising, right.
Completely uncompromising. That's the whole point of life. Right. You want to be able to do what you want to do and get paid for it. You don't want to get up in the morning and be like you go to work and you're like, fuck this job. You want to feel good about your job, your craft. You know what I'm saying. You want to feel good about the people that's around you, and all the other ship is for the birds, Like, what's the point.
Why has every Push your T album? I joke with him about every marketing plan is like I just made the best album of the year. Every every Push your T album is like the whole mo is just the best album is just a certain standard, Like that's the marketing plan, Like I've made the best album.
Because he feels like he and he does. And that's the thing. Right, you want to be the best at what you do. I'm saying, once you've gotten to a place where you're that's why if you look at anybody that's great, whether it's Kobe, Michael, anyone, right, Floyd, Like, once you make money, once you're at a place where you're you're comfortable in you like, there has to be something else that's driving you. And for people that are great, it's you know, them wanting to be at the best.
They're competing like you guys are competing with other people in your in your field. I'm competing with other people in my field. Like you know what I'm saying, race car drivers, boxes, whoever it might be. You're competing against your peers. You want to get to that place where you're you know, that's what's driving. It's something else driving you other than money. You know what I'm saying. It's
always for everyone that's successful, that has impact. It's always like a zero sum game, you know what I mean. It's zero zero sum game. Like it's like somebody whin, somebody loses. Like it's not you know people that are thinking about like money. That's like once you're financially fund no one's thinking about that, you know what I'm saying. It's like the game amongst people. That's what's going on out here.
I saw that you recently tweeted that no one wrapped better than Push, said no one writes better than dream?
What do you think makes them so good at their crash?
I'm god, what do you say like when someone no one raps better than Push? Like, what is it about pushing? T's rhymes that just make you make that statement?
Who wraps better? I'm going to ask you better and push your tear? You don't want my answer? Why not? I want you? I do? Why don't I want your answer? Tell me? I want to know. I think there's a lot I mean, Push is dope. Tell me tell me. I want to know. I want to know he conna start some ship. Though I listen, by the way, you can tell me something that probably I might shut up.
Okay, I think jay Z I think raps better than Push your Teeth. Okay, we're talking about right right now, talk about right now today. See I'm going off of based off what people see. It sound like I'm coming, police, you're coming.
Please, You're giving me context?
Is the context. I'm basing it off of recent releases. And you know I'm not going off of legacy, my recent releases, releases. Even though I do think Push Your Tea had the best album of last year, I do think Drape the Canadian, I think he does rap better than Push. You know, at certain times I think, yeah.
Can Cole.
They evenly yoked, but I would put I think they're like one A one B Cole.
I put cold, I think cold depending on the day, Push, but he.
Still would have Pushed in the top five or top ten, in the top ten. And we're talking skills, We're just talking.
You're talking about it. You're being objective. I'm being objective. I think I think Push Your Tea right now is a top ten rapper.
Absolutely, but I think he has criterior for that I'm going off of because I said he was the best rap of last year. So I'm basing it off of releases, guests versus freestyles. If it's applicable just in totality, not trying to be a no.
So even with what you're saying, that's like, you know, someone can argue one or the other. I feel like that in itself.
I mean, I think it's not necessarily just based off of lyricism, you know what I mean, because if that were the case, we would highlight battle rappers and we don't really.
Know, yeah for sure, because you have to have you know, that's like in a void.
Yeah, of course, you know. I just don't think it's just that, you know. But if I'm just taking everything into tally, I do believe pushes in the top ten for sure.
But I think what's best of all pushes, Like I mean, they say the Coke Wrap whatever. But like he's made he's made an art out of what his lane is, right, Yeah, he's masterful in his lane. It feels like there's nobody else that can kind of go in that area anymore in a way, like that's sort of like doing.
Like the kind of thing. You know, he's difficult his own lane. It's difficult to be doing it for that long and keeping it at at a certain point, you know, everybody kind of your reflexes go, right.
How do you what's your take on how we stay so sharp as he somebody's always recorded, because you don't seem like the type of artist that's recording all the time, right, you know it was up to me. Yeah, I feel like he's the guy that he goes through the ten songs. Those are the ten songs, right, Like that's.
He lives his life. You know what I'm saying. He's not bound by the studio. He's very you know, this is it, that's it. And you know what I'm saying. This going on.
He was saying like you guys are poll opposites with that, right, like like you're you're different.
Oh yeah, for sure, he's very Like like I was late, He wouldn't he wouldn't be late. I just have so you know, my mind is all over the place. It reflects in my behavior.
You know.
So it's the weird thing that when the artist is like the steady more time. But I think that also that's part of what why I've been able to be successful. You know what I'm saying is that he's the way he is and I'm the way I am. I think the way he is allows me.
To be because otherwise if it was the opposite, you know what I mean?
And Beat I have mentioned Dream, like, let's talk about that, Like, so you're involved in Dreams? Were also like how did that come about.
To Push your m hmm. So we developed a relationship because he was working on Push, his first album.
You know some of those songs underrated on that first.
Album, Yeah, somebody a lot of them didn't.
Dream has a record with Pusher and Big Sean called Pussy.
That I really enjoyed. Yeah, the video was very nice.
But we know, we know he's very interesting man. Talk about like getting to know him and building that that connect.
Same thing, Like I was a huge fan of the Dream, you know what I'm saying. So when I got the opportunity to work with him with pusha like we just had a mutual respect for one another. We became friends like quickly, and then we started working together the same thing. It just started off as a relationship, like a personal relationship.
What is it about him? That you that you think we said no one writes better.
You haven't been in the studio him, Nah, you've been before, No, I haven't known. Okay, so I've been in the studio with a bunch of people. Mm hmm. And I would say by far, like he's the most talented person.
Wow to this day, even right now for me, Yeah, I think so, yeah, Well just you'll see him just quickly craft like melodies.
And not just quickly. I mean, yeah, this guy is yeah, because you can people can make songs quickly, but what's the quality of the song Like this guy is like brilliant when it comes to songwriting, like brilliant I mean this layer like just like pushings, like layers and layers. He's just like in another category. And he scooped up some Grammys too though. Yeah, so you see what I'm saying, Like he's been, he's been. He's another one that's been
around twenty years operating at a high level. Crazy, you know what I'm saying, right, Yeah, So, I mean how many people do you know that can operate at a high level for that long that long of a time, especially in this industry. That shit, it's like fleeting, right you know what I'm saying. The Urban Sextu music is like that shit swings. Yeah, you know it definitely is a temper A monkey in the zoo. He feel me?
When you said you were in the studio with Dream, were there any records that you saw him craft that we know all of them. They're just very like you know what. There's been interviews where they said he wrote Umbrella in like five minutes, went, yeah, that's how all the records. It's like the Beyonce stuff you saw. I wasn't in there with with Beyonce, but whenever I've been in the studio with him, all those songs, you know what I'm saying. He comes in, he goes into and
it's not right. He just goes into booth.
Oh he's not putting the paper or not.
No, he figures it out when he gets in there, and it gets figured out like like that, ain't He's not in there for six hours. He's in there for like sixty seconds. And he'll come out with and.
What's the project? He was telling me something he's doing like a movie around it or.
Something for his current one.
Yeah, the next album.
I don't know about the movie. But we did a movie around his one of his projects a couple of years ago. But he's really into film. He's just very, very creative. This guy can you can build a house. I'm not joking.
I mean like Carpenter dreams of Carpenter's frank Ocelana in real life, I really do.
Yeah, the fuck is going on. You're going to his career and he'll be building cabinets. So that's the reason why we don't have dream album. He's building the cabinet. I mean, listen, he's doing that. He can whatever's wrong with the car and fix it. This guy's working about Listen. I'm telling you this guy's very extremely talented. That's crazy. Thank you for the dream of it. And he has a really good taste. This is something that's underrated. M I saw you said that. You know, you can't listen
to someone if they can't dress. How could you like to think about it? Right, you're going to leave your house and you're gonna put that on. That's a very bad you start. You started to start the day off making a very bad decision. So you're not about to give me some advice to me, I give you some equally bad.
I think to go ahead and here and fashion the music. It's like if you dress badly, your taste is reflect.
Yeah, everything is bad. Like you cannot you can't listen you you know what I'm saying, You can't listen something else about you? You always wear the La Dodge you had? What's that about? I don't know. I just love the color. M you know what I'm saying.
Okay, Like, oh no, no affiliation.
I'm very like everything's the same. Like I eat the same thing, wear the same thing. I'm like obsessive with. What if I'm obsessive with at the moment. So jay Z has a Yankee, you have the La Dodgers. Yeah, speaking to taste, though you also work with someone who has great taste. Nego, how'd you convince him to do an album?
Man?
It started off with the logo, right.
Bold enough to ask him to do a logo, Yeah, to do your logo Victor Victor worldwide right?
And then through that, you know, we developed a relationship. And I just had this idea of him doing an album because I was like, I mean, he used to put music out like back in the days when ape sounds and ship like that. But I was like, yo, it would be really fire if he did like an album, you know what I'm saying, m M, every don't know Neo is the founder of Bait. Yeah, yeah, I know, Nego. It was really well received. Man, we got a clipse song song and you know, pushed it his thing on
this on the solo record. He has the best taste of like this guy is Yes, Wow, nobody's fucking with this guy. I saw that you will to his house and it's yeah, bro, that's what I'm telling you. Nobody's fucking with this guy. Everything is perfect, you know what I'm saying, Like everything is done to a level of sophistication, and m it just makes me be like, oh, I'm I'm not doing anything in my life. I gotta reevaluate
everything right. The only person that comes close is like Kanye just very I mean it's just very like everything gotta be perfect. And if you notice it, you know what I'm saying, then you on the same wavelength. But most people won't know.
It's just like you're talking about like detail in the room, like furniture, the fucking the reveals in the.
You know what i mean, The type of like everything is just very thoughtful. You know what I'm saying, and I think that just like if you're that thoughtful in your own life and like things that you're around, like you're always going to be so you're gonna be great and you're gonna be surround You're going to surround yourself with greatness. And hear me clearly was on that album, right, Yeah. Did you know that he was going to salvage that for almost dry Well? No, because I begged him for it,
like I was like please, Yeah, that is crazy. So it was originally on the album and I was like please, So.
All the songs on the album, like did you create them? Because you have like tal creator was on there. It was like really soft study. Yeah.
Yeah, that was a big conversations between like Me, Pharrell, Rocky because Rocky executive producer project. Also, I think Rocky maybe Forrell was the first person I called, and then Rocky was the second person. And then Rocky was like, Yo, I'm into this, let's let's do it together.
That's so he said something. Nego wasn't going to work somebody lest he kind of had a person relationship also with the.
Person he was really on some like you know there's people I was like, yo, this I think it's fine. We should put on a good look. Sam.
Right, He was like, no, I.
Rocky exactly, you know what I mean? So yeah, I mean we had a I had a really good time putting that together because again it's like I'm a huge fan of Nego, Like it's now he's your client. Yeah, that's so surreal.
Also, gonna be business owners, right, entrepreneurs, you're going to restaurant together.
Yeah, we're trying to bring a carry up to New York. It's his restaurant that he has in Japan.
Hmm, we're gonna put away in New York.
He said, what what's it called again? Carry up? Yeah? Fire, and you trying to bring it to New York. Yeah, not trying to. We're going soa we don't try.
We let's do it exactly.
The Victor worldwide. We try. You know what I'm saying, You don't try do it? And so does that happened in twenty twenty three, twenty twenty four?
What's it look like?
Probably like twenty four? Okay, hopefully twenty three, but I done it. Were already in May March, we may May. Yeah.
Do you feel like you're getting more motivated doing stuff like that outside of the music, do you still have that drive in terms of, like, you know, running a label, trying to find the next star. I mean obviously you know you brought us pop smoke to the world, Like is that still part of it? Do you feel like music?
Yeah, just trying to find a news listen to music is the basis for all of it. Like music is, you know, like they say in My First Love, So like music is always going to be my focus. Is Music's never I just feel like I'm I have ideas and I try to execute them. My side of music.
I feel like I could do not do it all, but I can do it at the same time, like it works and and and you know, I just feel like, you know, before like I signed pop, when I first started at UMG, I think maybe like I don't like five or six years ago, like I was just so excited to have my opportunity, you know what I'm saying.
I feel like sometimes when you first get an opportunity, like there's a lot of excitement and you you know what I'm saying, You're just trying to do everything, and then kind of as you start having more success, sometimes it I don't want to say you get jaded, but you know, maybe you know it's kind of I don't know, if you get to a point. And then I remember I had a I was feeling really good about I don't remember what I had. I had just did some
deal and I felt like really good about it. And I bumped into J at a party and he said to me, you're you're going to be great. I can remember how he phrased, but basically it was like, yo, like I see a lot in you're going to be great type thing, right, And I remember that night I went home and I was just like, I don't want to say pressure on me, but it made me feel like like, oh man, I ain't done ship I got,
you know, because it had like the opposite effect. I feel like for some people it might have been like, oh, like, nigga, you've made it, but for me, it I was like I feel like I hadn't done shit. I was like, damn this niggas looking at me like I'm about to do something great now, right, Like I gotta get it together. And I feel like that that's the point that like sh like switched for me, and I was just like, yeah, I gotta like focus because again I was feeling I
can't remember what had just happened. Maybe I had just got my deal, so I was feeling really good about something I had just done in business, right, and then he said that to me, And it was kind of like at one point Jay Z offered you a situation
at Rock Nation too. Right. It was between the time when I was my deal was up with Kanye and I was speaking to des a lot and I was going to go m So what ended up what it was is he was like, Yo, if you're not gonna you should work out your situation where yay, Like that's what you should do, but you should you should really fuck with Like, don't go into one of these corporate buildings that might not be the best use of your talent because you'll get kind of put in the box.
You know what I'm saying. Right, She's like, if you should, your first you things should be to work it out with him. You know what I'm saying, because obviously you guys do great ship together. Foks with you fuck with him, But if you can't come to death Row instead of yeah, all right, but it's ill because you know, like I said, I was talking to Deaths and I was like, Yo, you know what I'm saying. This is the kind of situation I want. This is what I'm looking for conversation wise.
And I mean I know now, but before before I went to Universal, like they were talking with her about something and she was the one that gave them the kite, like you should really because I was dealing because remember Yea Yeay's thing was he was managed by rock Nation. I think at the time I was dealing with with das on a bunch of like different matters and she kind of put the like helped it out? Did she helped out? UMG situation? I'm saying. So, I'm forever grateful those guys.
Because you have like a direct line with this Lucing Grange guy. Man, what's that guy like in real life?
Scared? What is he like? You never met him? No? No, I never met Loution Grange.
Neither that he didn't want the podcast of Universe.
I mean, listen, this guy is He's brilliant, yo, because remember when before I went to Universe, I was picking between a bunch of different situations and when I met this guy, I was like, Yo, this guy is, like I said, you meet people in life, whether they're like athletes. Saw, yeah, this guy is genius level m hm, Like there's loosing it as everybody else. Like he's in a whole different area.
Code, and he's the one that presented you the opportunity to bring Victor Victor worldwide University.
And at the time, it wasn't even Victor Victor. It was just like, yo, I'm gonna give your own situation and create this this job for you. Like working in the center at UMG where I was, I was fluting across like the different labels, and I was just able to tap into whatever you m G had going on, like I could tap into it. So if I had an idea for like TV, film, publishing, merch records, whatever it might be, how.
Did you develop pop Smoke And did they believe right away in him?
You know? Interesting you talking about Lucien right that was that was the only person that believed the pop went up. And I played it for him because when I when I first found him, well I didn't find it. WECo brought him to me, you know, and I started trying to get him a deal, Like nobody wanted to sign him because he didn't have anything going on, Like there was no metrics on it, right, but the ship was his fire, you know what I'm saying, and the energy
of it, the energy of it, the music. He was just talented, you know what I'm saying. And everyone else was like, oh yeah, this is cool, it's fine, whatever, whatever, what's what's going on? Like, what's the the number? What's the number? Lusen was the only person when I played it for him he was like, oh, this think is fire. You should sign him. It doesn't happen like that anymore, like a traditional signing. Yeah. That he was the only person that was like, he's fire. It's funny. Push yourself.
Let Steven talks streaming. This is m number listen. I love that though it's weird because I'll never sign an artist off of it, But I know every stat m hm. You know what I'm saying.
So what makes you want to get into business with an artist if it's not based off of that? Just like how you like the music?
Yeah, it's the same thing, like how I like the music, how I like the person. More important is the person, you know what I'm saying, and then the music and the talent, because you could that's the most important thing for me is the person. I don't give a fuck out talented someone might be. If they don't, if we don't mess off, I feel like they're not a good parted person. I'm out. So what song was it that you heard when you heard pop Smoke that caught your attention?
It wasn't a song so with pop At the time, I was at Death Gym right and Rico, you know, you know, Rico beating right. Rico kept being like, Yo, I got this kid, I got this kid, you got to meet him. Fires from Brooklyn. And at the time, like I said, I got I'd be having like a lot going on sometimes, so I was. I was not really I was kind of like rapping from Brooklyn, you know what I'm saying. And at the time, like we're from Karanarsi, you know what I'm saying. He was like
he's from Aranashi. I was like, nothing comes out of Karanasi, bro, you know what I'm saying. So I also had that in my mind, like you know what I'm saying, there's no there's not even public transportation out there. You gotta walk. You gotta walk hell of fight to catch a dollar van, to go to catch a bus or to catch a train. You know what I'm saying. So like to Reco kept just being like, Yo, you gotta meet this y. So finally I was like, all right, I do it. And
I did it as a favor. I was like I just because Rico was like, Yo, I've been promising him this meeting and like now he's looking at me like a liar. I was like, okay, Rico's my man, Like I'm like twenty years like you know what I'm saying. So I was like, I'll do it as a favor. And then when I met him, I was like, you're sick. Is a super star.
I think.
Thank god Rico kept, you know, bothering me about this.
So it wasn't just his presence.
His presence more than anything because all the songs he played, they were like it wasn't nothing to Joe stuff. It's like songs, you know what I'm saying, And they were just like really good songs. But more important than that, it was like his presence, you know what I mean. I was just like this nigga. I remember I called Rico when I left. I said, Yo, this nigga's a superstar. He was like, Yo, we gotta get him a deal. We got to get him a deal, right, But yeah,
was he He had some legal trouble too. Before. I didn't know about none of the legal trouble until after I signed him. Wow. I was just like, Yo, this niggas star. We gotta sign him. And Lusien was like, you should sign him, So we signed him. Originally he was signed at the Center. He wasn't assigned to a label. He was just at Umgen. We say the center, what does that mean? So you know, Universals owns all the
labels like def JAM, Republic, Interscope, Island Capital. It's like a bunch of subsidiaries underneath MG, and then there's the Center where like Lucy In and then it has like business affairs, you know, it's like the holding. It's like you know, it's like LVM Major or whatever. They got those different companies within it. Gotcha, Okay, So I work in the Center, I don't work for a particular label.
You can go to each one of those, any one of those different labels.
So thank god for that because if not, if I was working at a label and I presented, they would have just been like unless I was the CEO of the company, you know, because remember I took him. I sent it to everyone. Everyone passed, right, so you had the legal and I sent it to J too. You know what I'm saying. This is why, like I'll be saying, there's people in life that are just like special. And and he was like, Yo, this nigga's fire because I sent him the I send him like seven or eight songs.
I think y'all just signed this kid from Brooklyn? What do you think? What do you think you thought? He was saying? He said it was fire. You know what I'm saying, right, so you got everyone else's co sign. You felt it was good, But I knew it was good. You know what I'm saying. I just I was just like the push. You feel the same way too. I think so because he brought him out on the show so early on, very very early on. Yeah, but because
it was so early, you know what I mean? It was more so one of those things where I was like, am I bugging? Am? I? Just like out of my mind? And it was different. It was it was like very very different.
Did you feel any of that, like this guy's gonna save New York hip hop?
Rapped? Yes? Because I don't know if you remember so back to the legal thing. So once we started working, he had all these cases, which is like insane. So the kid that came and got my car keys, right, So it's interesting how life works. So it's like he had like all these court cases. But more important than that, like with the music, I was like, yo, he because when we started, when I signed him and we started speaking, he was like, yo, I want to be His goal
was to be like Kanye. It was to be like a global superstar, you know what I'm saying. So I was like, yo, you know, the only way you can do that is by taking over a sound your hometown. So you got to be like super deliberate, and it's not going to be fast. It's not going to be easy because you have to build a foundation, and it takes time to build a foundation, you know, Like it takes a lot of time. You got to be just very deliberate and you gotta you know what I'm and
you got to stay the course. So that was one of the plans, was to be the face of New York and then branch from there. What was it like put them together that first project? You know, it was like a work in progress because initially after we signed him. He started, he had the song Welcome to the Party. Then you know what I'm saying, This shit started started buzzing. So a lot of people started reaching out to him and wanted to work with him, whether it was like
producers or other artists. And I remember we would have these meetings and I'd be like, Yo, you can't be over here over there. You know what I'm saying. You got to kind of be very centered if you try to like really be like Kanye or somebody like this. You got to really develop your own sound and be the person that's responsible for your success. Like you can't
have an artist bigger than you. You can't get on the song with the artist bigger than you or put them on your song, because then they're going to get the credit. You're not necessarily going to get the credit because people are going to be able to pinpoint where your success came from. Like they're gonna be like, oh, he had a song with this person, You had a
collaborate with that person. You know what I'm saying, Like, you got to get your own fan base, whether that is five people, yo, five hundred thousand people initially, but you have to be you know what I'm saying, the bulk of your fans have to be have to find you. They can't find you through your collaboration with I don't know a song with any like B level or A level artist, you know what I'm saying.
So he was like, I'm not clearing that.
Was good. I was like, Yo, we gotta be very very And then that's how the whole thing with Mellow came about with the producer from London because when he had all those songs, I remember asking Rica. I was like, yo's let's get this nigga to the studio and come to find out, he was in London. So he flew him from London and put them in the studio together. But then that sparked an idea. I was like, Yo,
his producers from London, pops from New York. He wants to be a global artist, Let's do his first show in London. Because the producer that was doing all the music was based in London, you know what I'm saying, and nobody knew him. So I was like, Yo, this is a way to further build your platform, your legacy because you'll be known for also introducing someone from a town.
Right, you know, create a whole new sound. You said it takes time, but it felt like it went really fast.
It did go really fast. I didn't know it was going to go that fast, you know what I'm saying. But you know, I feel like he knew because when he first played dr he was like, yeah, I'm telling you, and I was just like, where's the hook? But the whole song was like a hook. You know what I'm saying, right, But he knew, you know what I'm saying.
So, you know, with Pop passing, U, you know that tragy within itself, like did you feel like, I mean, obviously lost a friend, but did you even think about on the business and like, you know, where do we go to from here?
No? Man, I was like depressed. I don't know if you saw that interview, I do it, Noah, But I feel like that conversation with Fifty kind of like really because I went to go see right before he passed, like we had. I had taken him to see Fifty just because I felt like, you know, he was just living like super fast. So I was like, yo, you know, I feel like Fifty could talk some sense in them, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, it was really fifty. That was just like, yo, you gotta He said, what
are you going to do with the album? You know what I'm saying, because remember when we were la recording his album, because the whole plan was he passed away in February, right, Yeah, he was supposed to go on tour in March, March, April, and the album was supposed to come out in June. So we had had that conversation with so most of the album's already done. So he was like, what are you doing with the album? And I was like, man, I'm not thinking about that ship.
And he was like, you know you're He's saying, I get you're grieving, but you gotta like get out of this ship and stop being selfish, Yetta. You see, he's you, guys have plans to put this album out. You did all this great work, and now you're just going to like abandon it because you feel because you're sad, you're depressed. He was like, I get it. You know what I'm saying. You gotta mourn, but you can't abandon what you promised him.
I was like, he was like, you signed him, you guys, you made a promise to him and made a promise to you that you were gonna he was going to be like the face of New York. You guys had all these great plans and now you're just gonna You're just gonna like forget about that. And then he was just like, you can't forget about that. And he was just like, yeah, I help you. And then it was he was like, you know, he would push me. He'd
be like, yo, what are we doing. He was like, you got to you gotta do this for his family, for his legacy. He was like, you can't wait till you done morning in like a year, two years or whatever, and be like, oh, you know, he said, you gotta do it now and I'll help you. And he did. You know what I'm saying.
He was like it was almost like as if it was his artist that was pushing in the wake of that. Was it hard to listen to Pop's music.
Yeah, I didn't listen to it. I mean I still have a hard time listening to it.
I don't.
I don't really listen to it like that, right, because you got all those songs, was like very into meate. I was like we were, you know, between me and him. Ben Rico, he was in the studio together like all the time. Yeah, so much. So, Like I remember when we when I first signed him, and I used to always be like, yo, let's go to the studio, studio, studio. He used to be like, why do you want me to go to the studio? So and I'd be like, like, how do you think this war? I'm saying how to create?
But once he once he realized that and he saw you know, the music coming out, like how it was coming out and how good it was, you know, he would he didn't want to leave the studio.
Right because me the WU two came out before he passed, right before in February seventh, and Christopher Walken it's just even with that. We made that, and we made a lot of those songs in the Bahamas because that was the point.
So here was the thing, right. There was a period in time where he was working like every day, like I mean, he would be Remember he also had like court cases, so his days would be like on Monday he'd have a court case and then on Tuesday he'd have a We'd go to London and he'd do a show on Wednesday and then come back on Thursday for a court case. On Friday Saturday, we go to la for a studio session. And this went off for like months,
you know what I'm saying. So I told him, I said, I was like, Yo, this these next six months is going to be like super grueling. But at the end of the year, like I'll take you on vacation, you know what I'm saying, on vacation, and if you want to record, like we can. We can go to like the Bahamas or wherever you want to go, and we'll just make for studios there and like you can record, you cannot record. So we decided to go to Bahamas and there was a studio out there that we booked
and he was just recording out there. So Christopher Walking came from one of those sessions and he made it. When he made it, I was like, this is so fine. We got to put it out tomorrow. And that's what we did. Like I think he might have made the song on like a Wednesday, and we put it out on like Saturday.
Wow, it definitely took on the life of its loan, Like I love so like that just it's not for the radio.
Yeah, I was just like, yo, this is so fire. And we did everything that that night we did the because I forgot what it was called before, but I was like, yeah, we should call a Christopher Walking and we should we should recreate the King, because I like, you can't be like so uh in your face with it, like oh, I'm the King of New York. I gotta be like subtle, like saying most people don't need most people your age don't even know. Because he didn't even know the movie.
I was like, we didn't even know the movie. Movie is super old, rightly.
So I was just like, Yo, we're gonna put your face on it, and we're just like imply and I mean people that I know, you know what I'm saying. So it worked out to walking, and yeah, exactly, it was perfect.
So yeah, are there any plans to release any more prossimous projects with Pop?
I don't think so. I feel like the fans just go so crazy, you know what I'm saying, Like they just go to boom brazy with it.
It'll be in your comments, yea.
And I'm like trying to say something to drop some more exact nobody has time for, Like it's insane, you know, they like just critique it so much and he's not here to.
So it's kind of just like, yeah, how did you feel about that backlash with the cover for Faith, Like it seems like you took a more proactive approach with FAV.
I feel like that was bullshit, you know what I'm say because at the end of the day, it's like because people don't know, right, people sit back and they think that they know, but they don't know shit. They're like, oh, this is not Like I'm like, what are you talking about?
Like when we did fucking the video for Shake the Room, like that whole concept and idea was like Virgil's idea and when we would when we were going through the process, like at first, Pop was like, don't you know, I don't know because you know, he had never had a video like that. He was like, I don't know, but he trusted Virgil's vision, so it would have been the same thing for like these guys is created and creatives.
You can't, like Nigga, if you could do a better cover than you should, And that's when they were doing it. I'm like, move this shit, you know what I mean, Like, this is this bullshit? You know, it's just like it's pure nonsense. But you got at some point you did acquiesce and just give the fans what they wanted though, right, Yeah, but because it just it just took a life of
its own, you know what I'm saying. It was just like why I put Virgil through this, why I put Pops family through this is kind of just like because by the way, if he was alive, it's been like, fuck off, you're not jacking to cover cool, right, you know what I'm saying. It's all about the music and the end of the day, Yeah, like this is my cover.
I like it.
That's what it would have been, you know what I'm saying, Right, But he wasn't here to defend it, so we kind of you know, how did you operate?
You know, found the pass in the Virgil obviously he had an impactful rolling your.
Guys is Yeah, I mean I'm doing Virgil a long time. We met during Dark Twisted Times, right Yeah that was like two thousand tens. When did Dark Tis to come out? Twenty ten? Yeah, So I've known Virgil a long time and he's we've been friends, and you know, even with like Pop, I was like, yeah, I signed this kid from New York, you know we should It went from like him creative directing some ship to him doing a video. But it was just like very I don't know. I
mean that was like because Pop past and vergins. Just yeah, it was like almost like back to back almost like yeah, so you're looking at pictures and it's like poping Virgil in the picture and they're both not here. You know. Yeah, it's very very tough, right, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, I see a lot.
Of pictures with Pharrell though, you know, he got the new creative situation over at Louis Vuitton.
What do you make about that? I think it's amazing.
It was like Valentine's Day or something.
Yeah, because that's the thing, like Pharrell is like all about like love and pushing the culture for it and helping people and like he's done so much for me, you know, you know, and you got to remember and he was the first nigga with it was the first thing in that seat before anyone was you know what I'm saying, before anyone of our our culture. That was he had the campaign with the fur on and remember like the millionaire Yeah, and that changed the game. So
I think it's fitting, you know, super fitning. It's just like I'm sure you're gonna have some input in listen. You know, we'd be in Paris and listen. Whatever. Whatever we on is what we're on. Like you know what I mean, Like when Frell was fucking with Chanelle, it's
all Chanelle, you know, now it's LV you know. You know what I'm saying, Victor, you know, so yeah, I'm very like i feel like I'm a creative, but I'm just saying, we're just so happy for him, like everybody's just you know, like everybody's celebrating as if it's because for has done so much for all of us. He's the most giving person. You feel me like he's and he's just you know, it's pell and then as everybody else. Yeah, let's not forget. Let's not play around. You know what
I'm saying. We'll get out of here, though. I need to get some insight on DJ drama and push your t give us some insight. You know. It's like dramas fire pushes. It's just like it's energy, you know what I'm saying, Like you know the songs is going to be, but you know what that energy is with when you know what I'm saying, it's going to be Freestyles original recordings, we would get a hybrid hybrid n you know what I'm saying.
Are there actual songs done?
Yeah? Yeah? Okay, oh Scott, you think it's not coming out?
No even about the theory, I'm like, we have like five six records done, Like what's the status of it?
Yeah, we got records doing. Ok So this summer is going to be a hot summer. Yeah, but does it.
Feel like like you know all to say, well, that feels like a mixtape. It feels like an album right like and pushes or to set the standard of album. Is it going to evoke that same sort of feeling? But does a lot of kind of go a little bit more?
Nah? Listen not me and my Like we the avengers of the flee. So anything we do is gonna protect flyness, whether it's closed music, you know saying you feel's think about it right acts like you know, we're protecting the flea Like it's like means and we got an Nego album coming out to another one? Nice? Okay? Is that coming to ship too this year? Yeah? A hot simmer ship? Does that mean a new Clips album on the way too? You see how Tank came out with the purple hearts
and all that. You know what I'm saying, what are you saying? I'm saying what to be saying? Just know if you don't know, I'm just saying, like, you know, I think what did the purple hearts signify? Purple hearts signify? What are signify?
You?
Gouty should notice I'm jowing a blank helped me out, Steve. I mean, don't you get that when you oh, when you go to war and you you know, you win, right, oh oh oh, right, gotcha, you get a purple Heart from the military. Yeah, for your servant services, extraordinary service, extraordinary service in battle in combat. Yeah, Like I was saying about, you know, it's like a zero some game, Like it's like somebody when somebody loses. You know what I'm saying, you flee, but I'm more flee. You know
what I'm saying. You got you know that you got this, but I got the one of four of the same thing. And you don't you know unless you know this is another level of that. You're speaking jay Z right now. You know what I'm saying. Absolutely, it's like, oh, where did you get that from?
If you know, you know, you know what I'm saying, I got you, Steve, Steven Victor has the hunger for more. Man's that player. I feelt we got the we got the real Stephen Victor. People get to see it's only right, man, it's only right. Or well, thank you brother, I'm glad you finally did this.
Man. Yeah, so good me and push. You're gonna be good after this. Yeah? What what did you say? What happened? We'll see why? Why did you ask that? What I'm saying, you know about the rapper thing and oh biggas you said you put some rapper listen, but you're it's you're saying like he's in the conversation. Definitely not five absolutely, So it's at that point it's like subjective, it's what you prefer for the most part. Even though you're saying
it's objective, it's also there's some subjectivity in there. I try to be objective and yeah, but there's some of it in there. There's some of what you prefer. Sure nobody can. He can't knock you for that. You know what I'm saying, Like if you would have been like, oh, he's like number twenty one and all these other trash niggas is ahead of him, then he might have a problem with you. But you're saying, you're making sense. I love Push Love.
I think I think the Push of Drama is my personal most anticipated project because.
It's going to be, like you said, like an album, you gotta craft it a certain way, like something with drama, you can have a little more fun with it. And I feel like when you haven't, like I take it back to what you were asking me earlier about like, you know, working with different people, like it gotta be fun.
So if if if it's no level of like fun on love in the equation, then it's pointless, Like you're never gonna be able to get anything out of it, you know what I'm saying, Like I always say, and you know, people kind of not make fun of me for it, but because I you know, I don't want to say I have a love for material things. But like I said, I love flee shit, I love fire ship. But I always say that, you know, everything is always for love, not for money, you know what I'm saying.
Obviously the money is going to come from it, and it seems like it's a contradictory statement because I'm like, oh, this is this and then there's like the one to fourth version of it, but not it's like it's always for love, you know what I'm saying. I feel like when you're having fun, like to think what you're saying about drama the drama tape, Like he's gonna be having fun with it, so I feel like it'll be more enjoyable,
you know what I'm saying. Like, I feel like when you're making an album, not to say it's like stressful, but you want to make sure.
That it's like super meticulous.
Everything is like perfect, you know what I'm saying. But when you're doing a mixtape, like you know, you're fucking around and you're competing, and I feel like when you're competing, just like when we're talking about with like with Tank and the Ryan fight, I'm like, if you're watching the fight and you see his face, you're like, oh, he's having fun in there, so he's about to That's why I didn't think it was gonna end in the seventh round,
because I saw he was having fun. So he was just like, I'm gonna carry him a little and then I'm gonna get him a body here and like nine at ten, but I'm gonna have some fun because I'm like enjoying the game. I'm in control, but I'm also enjoying it. You know, Like if you watch the fight right, like, you know, he was standing in front of Rye and Tank was and He's just like Ryan couldn't hit him, you know, And when he did hit him, he was like, oh,
Scooby snacks. You know what I'm saying. But it's like you could tell he was like enjoyed himself. You know. Like whenever people, like whether it's like an artist or athletes, start enjoying themselves, I feel like that's when you get that's when the fire comes out, you know what I'm saying.
Stevid Victim Man, I appreciate you coming through man success brother, thank you.
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