Rap Radar: Westside Gunn PT1

You know, that's how California doesn't man, you know, go to that roof from one of pops up more for real quick man se duality, that duality, man. But yeah, we're gonna have exciting here. I think our resolution, I think I can speak for you, is that we're gonna find a way to bring the Rapperator Podcast audience some damn videos, man, videos, right videos that our resolution is that we're gonna get you some damn videos. How we're gonna do it. Well, we're gonna do it. Yes, get

off my back, but everyone's on your back, man. Everyone wants your name, everybody wants to you. Did it again? Man? Real? Welliott, We're still reeling off your two list explosion that you do. You ruin everybody's Christmas. You're like the Grinch this st Christmas, You rap journalist that takes over the winner. Yo. Just my thoughts, man, it's just my thoughts over. What's thet You keep it smooth man, like you come in here first,

you do like, these are my favorite albums. You know, these are great guest appearances, you know, these songs are like and then and then it's all headliners until we get to that main event, which is your top ten best rappers of Should I go over to list because I have question? We can talk about it. Let's talk about it. We haven't even spoke about this yet, but we have alright, So I'm gonna make sure people are clear. I'll run the list down and ask you start a

number ten. Let's start a number ten. You want me to read it, You're gonna break it down ahead. Okay, So this is Brian bid Miller. How many years was this? It's like a four fifth year and rold I think maybe two with the who's keeping catt at this point? Right? So? The top ten best Rappers two? It's from Brian bd Miller's The Personal list as we used again, do not

reflective using Ellie Wilson Northern Rapperator podcast. Correct. His criteria is based on skill performance on the track and present and the president like relatancy throughout the year. Okay, skill performance in present? Yes? So now at number ten, be that has little Wayne. Yep? Now do I comment on? Way, let's get all the numbers out there? I guess yea. Let's get them all out first? All right, so number ten is a little Wayne the Great Little Okay. Number nine, Ransom, Ransom,

noise man. Listen, man, you try to take doggy diamond spot. That's underground man. Let himans and all those guys man ransom. Okay, alright, Number eight you got Drake the six god and number eight, number seven, the god number that goes to Kodak Black, Kodak Black. Number six, you got twenty one Savage. Number five, we have Jit j I d Yeah, number four, Kendrick Lamar number three. You give them little bronze medal. I see here the bronze medal. The bronze medal goals to

Jamaine Colt number three. J He was he number one, he had he was my number one last year. You had he was he was my number two, I believe last year two last year, Yes, number two you have here, which seems to be the most controversial pick so far. He has been Gucci Main gua number two on your list and the number one top best rapper of two according to be That Brian b That Miller based on skill, performance and presents. Yes, push your t push your team. Yes.

Round of applause for push your Team man. Yes, had a hell of year. So we're never going to Toronto again. That's really great. Appreciate you for that. So what's been a feedback Gucci Main? Mostly like, what's been the feedback said? You shook up the rap world with this man. I feel like, you know a lot of people. You're never gonna satisfy everybody, right, But it seems to me like the most glaring pick has to be Gucci Man. But I'm like looking around, like, did anyone else listen to

the music this year? I said back in July, the Gucci Man is rapping better and everybody you know, and I listened to the music since January all the way up to December, and you know, I make notes and what the funny thing is like Spotify had me listening to new music every day every week excuse me for sixty weeks for my show joint slide. So every every week I was listening to the new songs that were being playlisted, and Gucci Man was almost in the top

ten every week. So I was taking notes about Gucci what was doing. And some of the songs that stood out to me was like Rumors featuring him a little Dirk all this went go right, Rumors is the biggest success, right, Rumors that I believe, So Rumors go and he killed that joint right. And then he had like publicity stunt where he tapped NBA Young Boy, all these chains featuring

little baby Mrs Davis. I think that might be that might be certified to that one a little baby Mrs David that he dedicated to his wife letter to take off this and the dead. I'm like, guys, did you guys forget that this guy? Wait, you know what, don't don't be my friend now, Elliott. No, no, I definitely, I definitely don't think he's number two. I definitely don't

think he's number two. But when you make the argument, maybe maybe he does belong in the bottom of the list somewhere like I don't, I mean, I don't look at it that way, Like I feel like some of the stuff with it, guess has been I guess the question becomes like if there's not a full album, right, like what do you call the impact of individual singles?

And also you have a factor of like you know, guest features, right, Like you're saying Jake Cole Ja Coles kept his spot even though he hasn't even given us nothing but guest versus like in the dream Ville Compence Dreamville mixtape. But you're still saying he is still top three. So that's controversial to when somebody didn't even put out a studio album. Meanwhile, Drake put out Drake put out

two studio albums and he's at number eight. It's but let's be honest, like Jake six, Jay Cole's versus right have probably been been some of the most impactful throughout

the year. Right, People still talking about his appearance or Benny the Butcher's album, and also he was talking about you know the things that he did on Stick Earth Gang water Boys, like j Cole was like the feature king this year, right, and I'm talking about throughout the year, right, So a lot of people Alsten said, like where was Naas? But I'm like, where was Nas from January all the way to November. If we're talking about a year of

two thousand and twenty two, NAS really wasn't present. I think his highlight he did make an appearance on a DJ Premier album, but I feel like the highlight for that was little Wayne out shining Slick Rick on that project. And you know, so NAS was kind of kind of quiet until he dropped Kings of These Three, which made my best album list, But I feel like there were

better albums that dropped last year. You know, yeah, I think you also praised Freddi Gives, but Freddy gives right, pretty gives, you know exactly pretty gives that I'm a big fan of. But he only put out one album this year, and for the most part he was pretty inactive, like as far as features go, and you know, the activity that he usually has, he kind of took it back seat. We talked about that on the podcast. So I'm trying to do a good survey of throughout the year,

and I feel like Gucci Man dominated. When we had the interview with him to revote summit, I told him he stepped his game up and I love the constituency that he did throughout the year. And also he's putting on his own guys, so I had to give Gucci man his props. All right, well, you know, yes, features though you could consider Cardi bat Cardi B with that tomorrow.

That's one of the ones too. And I feel like she also was with the key Flock record or something like her guest versus kind of took over two and and you know, you get it all the time being I think you need to address it, man. I know you make jokes about it. You know they try to call you, you know, you're like a young hold the times they try to call you the misogynist, you know, ladies and stuff, pre Beyonce catching and catching shots. You're like the Mona day Drake Man. We have like a

lottle out here putting out smashes. We got Glorilla pimp like I don't even Glorrilla might get on female rapping all the fellas you don't like. I like Thella. I love it's not impact little Rilla. I think we're gonna have on the podcast probably eventually. And I love her songs. I love F and F, I love tomorrow too. Um, she had the EP out, but I don't feel like that was enough to say maybe she could have made like an eleven spot, but to say she was the

best rapper this year, I don't. I don't I think she was in that running. Respectfully, I was surprised to see I was surprised to see Jit. I felt like that's more like credited all. I don't know if that said you are you bumping in? You know? Yeah? I like the Jet Project and I also like his um guest appearances to Dreamsville record. Yeah, he stands, he stands out, so um yeah, I like j I like him a lot, so I had to. I had to give him something.

So it's been tough for you. I know. I get our guest today has probably been one of the most volt critics against your list, but overall, out side of outside of the Gentleman were about to discuss, has there been any crazy feedback, like what's been really much? How people have been here? You approach, you have you with some relationships. It's gonna affect me and wrap it up podcast probably that's all I care. Probably, but we will survive.

So you get it. You said you get into your raising rement a certain point, you just have to not care, right like, you just have to take it like you like, do you feel like is it a villain turn? Like is it like wrestling? It's just like the bad guy now. So it's like we've been in this business a long time. You don't get to where we are without having thick skin. Man. So you know I've heard, I've heard worse by better,

So it's all good, all right, man. And I just want to say I still you know, somebody saying yan don't do no list and that's gonna be a t shirt. Men do the list. But uh but let me ask you though I still think I still think that Drake and eight looks ridiculous to me, Like I just feel like Drake is still the top guy in the game. He put out the he put out the damn Ship. It didn't work, but to circle back, which one he won? And he's barring you up and like he's told the

most units, so that the biggest first week. It was like, I don't know, man, and I think a little baby like even though you know, I think his albums disappointing and stuff, like, I think he hasn't really lost his like status in the game, you know what I mean, Like,

I think he's the same Dirk. Like guys like that are still like to me in the top ten, you know, even though I didn't like Baby's album at all, But I feel like, you know, there was a time when they thought a baby was gonna take Drake spot, and I feel like Drake is still you know, Drake and Cole and Kendrick Guard Kings, and I feel like Drake runs around still like he's the champ, and it's hard to prove him wrong because the twenty one thing I

think got him back up on this steel. I think he needed that because honestly, never Mind, honestly, you know, I didn't enjoy it at all, and I did like his Yeah, I think it's it's my least favorite Drake album. I think even I think I like, I think David Later is probably better than Yeah. Yeah, I would agree. I think honestly never Mind is definite at the bottom of his catalog, and to me, it was a black guy.

I think he set a year off right with his feature on Jack Carlow's project, and then you know, the future wait for you and this project comes its like uh, but then I think he bounces back with her loss. So that's why I felt like I had to put him at that bottom because of honestly, never mind that that to me was like that was the sour spot. So well, let's let's get to today's episode. Man, we hadn't. Thankfully we were smart enough to record this before you

last came out. We're speaking with the gentleman, the Leada Griselda, Mr west Side Gun and like, yet, for the record, why is they no Westside Gunna? You listen Ship Watson, Conway, Benny? If they falling out of favor? Man, they used to be on the Beat that list? Man, what where's the Brazilda representation on the beat that list? Still? Griselda, I put their songs on the best song list that I that I featured. But I also, just to be frank with you, I felt that Benny's album and Conway's album

we're a little bit disappointing for me. I think I enjoyed Burden of Proof and From King to a God more, and of course they could rhyme at a high level still, but I just felt like those albums were lacking some of the things that I enjoyed from the previous efforts. So I couldn't, you know, with being fair, I couldn't include them on the list. Look at that honesty, guys, Look at that honesty. Man. You gotta love it. Man, Look at journalism. I have to be objectively. I have

to be objective. No, you also face the five man. Look, you know you'll get that you said an interview. You know you'll get that Westside Gun call it two in the morning, and you'll take it like you know, you're accountable to what you say. But you just got to be standing up about it. People may not agree, but you know, you critique things, but you'd be respectful about it. And it's just the way it is. Man. But I'm glad at least Gun was reasonable enough to sit with us. Man,

this isn't like he said, it's an amazing interview. He's already out here promoting a dispromoting like what happens when it's like a negative rollout. He's like he's retiring. You know, Raps never retired, but he says he's retiring. So I guess we got to the foe of the final interviews before he HIGs it up. Because I don't know, they said, ain't gonna come back on the Rapper Up, so you better enjoy this. I think we could we could try another Griselda New Year. Maybe Money might get the money

about it. Man, it's it's it's now. I'm just saying it's that I love Gun. You know, I have no problems with him. I don't think he has any problems with me. You know, he last year we talked about this on the episode. He he dissed me from his deathbed. And you know I've gotten those I've gotten those colds in the past from him. So you know, this is nothing new. We've been here before. We've been there before, Madison, Griselda New Year, Mansters this ye, Man, we got Westside Gun.

It's one of our longest interviews, I believe. And also you know, special surprise guests at the end. We hadn't We actually didn't even play to have these other mcs get on the micro. Yeah, we were. You know that's the beauty of the rap Raido podcast. You never know what you're gonna get, you know, So stay tu man. We had We had a lot of fun recording this one. Yeah. Both special guest appearances Bodie James, Ron Streets, Stove God.

I finally met Stove god Man. Come on, that was my first time to sell the New Year, first time meetings Stove Griselda. Man, it says Griselda two point oh. Man, you know they're gonna flood the market. Man, I'm excited that we got this definitive piece on them, this new regime. And like he said, he made it clear. You know, Conway, Benny on Money, everybody else is still down there just wasn't there at the time. You know, this was down in Miami. We went down there for the gun Basil

celebration and you know, got the whole crew together. Man. Its historic, man, So you Grizelda fans, I think we did it again. You know, we have a lot of classic interviews with that click and uh carrying on tradition. Man, absolutely, get a snack there, back, get ready for resulta hey yo, hey, yr feet out here yea, well, not on the list. He called me a Trump Elliott. You know he this. He did his artwork on you too. Man. He wiped

your face off. Man. It's crazy. Man. I feel like man, I feel like that dude in the War Report when he was called uh, don't say me, don't say guys. Man, put your ball out here. Man, let's get into it man, west Side Gun Man especially up. So first episode of twenty three. Man, We're back Man the wrapper It up. Boy, It's gonna be a good year for us. Man watching sport, Yeah rapp right up podcast Elliot Wilson's feeling good in Miami. Man, Yo,

because it's Gunn Basil time. Man Basil. I feel like at this point Westside Gun is like the third member of the rapper. We were trying to figure out like he might have most appearsons. Man, he might have I think, so yeah, yeah, that's a man. We're gonna drop this top of January year listening Man, Happy Griselda, New Year. Man, it's always a pleasure for real. Two albums this year. Yeah, Man, I was gonna do three, but it took it light

too easy, you know what I'm saying. I focused on other things, But you know what I'm saying, that's the thing like this year I focused on a lot of other things, but still was able to still drop two. You feel me? So you know peace fly guy. Though that was more like I curated that different, you know what I'm saying. I kind of wanted I wanted Esternact to shine. You know what I'm saying is, you know how I always do certain projects. You know what I'm saying.

It was just like an externact my men, and you know, we got a future project coming up soon. You know, by the time this dropped, people probably know about it. You know what I'm saying. I kind of was waiting to after gun Boys with the announce things that's coming up, just to keep people tuned in. You know, that project was kind of me just having fun and you know, just just just giving people something. But then it was just like because I was working on Michelle Records, know

what I'm saying. So it's just like, Yo, while I'm waiting on this, you know, I still gotta I still gotta drop something, you feel me like, even though that wasn't ready, because that's the thing. You know, I make projects in a couple of days. So you know, Peace Fly Guard was made in two days, you know what I'm saying, Like, it wasn't like a long time, you feel me. Um, you know, I got up with Stove, I got up with Esther that and it was done.

You know what I'm saying that what it didn't take a lot but you know, so I just wanted to, you know, keep the oven on, man and give people something because you know, I'm a firm of believer. Just you always gotta give the people something, Like you know what I'm saying. It's just like if you're a crack dealer, you gotta add crack, you know what I'm saying. It's

just like, yeah, you know what I'm saying. So you know a few people had jumped in the ring earlier in the year, and I was just like, yo, let me, let me, let me hop in real quick. The hot back. I'll key working on Michelle. But then you know at the inter September, I always get that energy, you know what I'm saying, Like how it's a Grisetta New Year, you know every year, you know what I'm saying. You know, you know it's the Hitler Ware Airmen's time and I

just get that energy. And I've been doing it since day one, you know what I'm saying. So you know this year was the last one and I just wanted to do ten with a bang. It was just like, yo, me personally, I don't think nothing could funk with it, you know what I'm saying. Just from top to bottom. If you really just listen to every last rhyme from me, from every feature, every production, are the producers that's so

on it. The way it's just the way it flows from top to bottom is nothing that sounds like it. I mean even if other albums, there's plenty of albums that's fired, but just the way I know, the way I made it, and I just it's different for me, you know what I'm saying. And I think it's just a master But gonna think about telling me is that you could live out like a fan of the cultures fantasy, right like the somebody incredible like collaborations get Ready Gold

some there to get, you know, but still on the Swiss. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like nobody doing that getting you know what I'm saying, Getting Black Star, you know, run the Jewels. You know what I'm saying. Like it's just crazy, bro, It's it's nothing like it, you know what I'm saying. And that's just my job. Like I said, you know, certain people, you know, they make they purposely make those hit records like you gotta make a hit. That's they

feel they gotta live and survive off that hit. So that's what. That's all the only thing they focus on. I just like making good music. Man, that's all that mattered to me. Man, the money gonna come. I'm already blessed. We're just having fun and I just make music now just to show people. Every year, people can't funk with me. You know what I mean That people don't Some people don't get it because I might not be the most popular guy, I still get the you know, people put

you know what's that gunning? Well, you know you're gonna get a thousand who know what I'm saying. That's all fine. You know what I'm should. I love that. I'll be reading that ship from my lake. I say it all the time for sure. But you make your name known this weekend you call it gun Bossle. Can you explain what gun Bossle is for the people that can make

it to Miami? Yeah, I mean it's just you know, everybody that knows me, you know, no artists first, you know what I'm saying, and just curation and fashion and this weekend every year, you know, it's during our baso and it's just like, you know, I wanted to do something for the people. I felt that was like us you know what I'm saying, because our Bobs isn't for everybody, but this is also for me, you know, to to get people that's not familiar with our Boso to come

to Miami for our bos. It was like I'm I'm introducing you that are at the same time you see what I'm saying in this energy, but then also you could come here to raw ship that you could possibly here on top of getting some of the Fly's fashion one or one pieces I'm making, you know, just the Fly merchant only can get here, and just you know, I'm just introducing people to uh another side of the culture that they're not familiar with, and just bringing people

more into my world because for the longest, you know, I've always been this way. It's not it's not like I became this way all of a sudden, you know what I'm saying, Like I've been this way my whole life. Like you know, people know the story, been doing this ship. You know, the arts is nine fascist. It's well I just said that a million times, but it's like when people see it through the album covers, people see through

the merge, people see what I really do. But it's just like this is an opportunity for people not only to see it, but to meet me, meet the team, and we just have fun. Man. It's it's it's all just good energy. Everybody coming out to you call the wolves out right for sure. You know what I'm saying. Everybody, you know what I'm saying. Because the thing about it, it is just like a family reunion too, you know what I'm saying. What what better place to have it?

In Miami? Good? You know, listen at home. I know morefucker's right now. Probably got the snorkel on with this with the scarf, you know what I'm saying. So it's like to come down here, vibe about good weather, good food, beautiful people. You know. In the year off right, man, we had a Griselta had a great year. Yeah, talk about that. Yeah, you guys released six projects. Hopefully I'm

not missing anything out. We have God don't make mistakes trying to talk for Kiss the Ring, the List to Beast Fly God ten and Bodie James killing nothings that that counts. It don't count, but it count. I don't take credit for nothing that's not Grisela records though, like Bodie is Griselda. But that project isn't Grisela Records, so I can't take credit for that. Feel me. Everything else though, was Grisela Records, you know what I'm saying. So we

had a great year, you know what I'm saying. You know, every year, Matt, you get competitive, guns, you get competitive because that's the thing, you know, that's what we in this ship for, you know what I'm saying. And um, you know I always be making jokes like alright, let's wait another two years for your favorite rappers to drip album, you know what I mean? Like I said Ship like

that all the time. You know, I always get in trouble too when I come up here because I always say Ship said that the TV dream or whatever, Griselda, like you compt yourself and you know I did that back then, but yeah, they didn't see that. But that's what I'm saying, Like I've already seen it. I've already been new. It's there's nothing nobody can tell me that, Griselda, and not the greatest, nothing nobody. Like if you can sit up here and say that you fucking with Conway

and Benny, what's I gun? A stove of Rome, Armandi of body? You know, what I'm saying that Jay Worthy of Wife and Billy, you're lying. I'm saying, you're lying. So it's it's you know what I mean, Like I said, other people might got one of two, but Dan what you know what I'm saying, and they don't want to don't drop. But every two or three years, y'all, y'all in the way, we're taking this wholesale approach kind of like how Masterp used to do back in the day.

Or was it like premeditated with these projects? Do you have like on the board like six projects this year come out? I really don't. It's just the energy, you know what I'm saying. It's not even like Okay, I have to do something right now. It's just really about you know, energy because like you know, we we're doing what we're doing right now. But and we did what we did this year, but and you know, Bodie was still doing it on the side, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, yeah, yeah,

you know what I'm saying. So now, of course top of twenty three, now we're gonna strike. You know, Um, I always wanted the executive producer West Coast album, So you know, Jayworthy, like those are the type of things that I'm ready to do, like new challenges to you know what I'm saying. Why you and Billy a self artist? You know what I'm saying. And I'm just ready for new challenges. Man. You know what I'm saying. I'm having fun.

That's the thing too. It's like right now, you know, even though people starting to get you know, used to the name, or they're starting to find out about me, I've been doing this though for ten years, you know what I'm saying. And in them ten years, I mean I know, currency dropped a lot, you know, a certain and people drop a lot, but it's not a lot of currencies. It's not a lot of Westside you see what I'm saying. So it's just like for me to drop I would have never thought I was gonna drop

this much music. You know what I'm saying, you'd be retiring, retiring and come back. I'm thinking about to retire again, and you know for a couple of weeks ago to Jamaica and then be like I'm back saying you know I got that passport now you can't tell me ship. So you know it's just like I just like I said, Mane is gonna be even a bigger year because I already know you see what I'm saying, Like I already

know that what's about to happen in twenty three. So it's just like if you thought twenty two or something, it's about to be even crazier. And like even though I have all them, you know, other projects I'm curating, Like I said, I just you know, dropped Staco on it, Like nobody knew about that, But that's gonna be one of the projects that's so stellar. That's gonna be like, Yo, we never knew about s Neck like that, because that's I feel like that's my job. It's just the brain

because everything is the same. You play the radio, you're gonna hear the same songs all day every day, go to the club all day every day. So I'm privileged enough to at least be in that middle. Whereas like I can talk to all the underground heads and get that love and respect, but then I could go to any mainstream artistly get the same amount of love and respect. Like I'm literally in the middle, and I don't think

nobody else. A lot of people can't really do that either, Like that connected, Like I've literally made songs with these guys or been produced by these guys already, and they're friends. So it's just like my job is the bridge they gat like. I feel like that's just what I do that. You know, with Robbie Uhakpen, we recorded I record that their studio in Buffalo, like when I record in Buffalo,

record at Google down Studio. My engineers they engineer. Yeah, so you know the same guy who mixed and master all my albums engineered them, you know what I'm saying. So it's just like it's Buffalo kids, man, we are family like we you know, of course being from Buffalo, you know what I'm saying. Fans Google do with they you know, he represented the city. But then now they also had somebody to be like, okay, somebody else from our city doing they want to, So they supported just

as much as we support them. So it was just a matter of time. And you know, I had that crazy Alchemist beat and at first I was just like, you know, it's just gonna be me, Benny and Conway, and then it was just I just started hearing and it was just like, no, I wanna I want to just put everybody on it because I wanted it to make it, you know, be like a two thousand two triumph, you know what I'm saying. Just like you know, everybody

was on it but Body. And because I made the album so quick, Body didn't have access to a studio. He was out of town, traveling and moving around every day. He really didn't have access. So that's the only reason, Like it's not because of you know what I'm saying. And then like you know, because you know, the Internet is not real, you know what I mean. So you know a lot of people say ship they try to come up what they own, like why boating out on

that song? Why Darringer didn't produce on and he didn't did all the other you know what I mean? Like, No, Darringer is my brother. You know what I'm saying, Like he's DJAM for me tonight, you know what I'm saying, Like that's my you know, the only thing that's not just that don't make his brother's blood, But that's my brother, you know what I'm saying. So it's just like, you know, at again, I was working so quick. By the time he even really starts sending, I was already done. It's

not like because that's the thing I'm not. I don't be like, oh I have to you know what I mean. It's just I just curate a project. When it's done's done. I don't do nothing more, nothing less. I don't save songs. There's not any project I ever made is no songs left over. Every song got made goes on that project. Soever. That doesn't take it personal though, No, of course not, of course not, of course not. That's the thing that's my brother. A lot of people would, you know what

I'm saying. I know a lot of people would. But that's the thing. Is like when you have communication, you know, and my team trust me, they don't. They know. It's not personal. It's just what I'm feeling at that moment. You know what I'm saying that I could sit up here and you know, if I do a project right now with with Matt Live, we do gun Lit. It's not like, oh funk, everybody Else's just I'm doing a

project with gun Lit. This is gonna keep us hot, this is keeping us lit, this is what the fans want. It's bigger than me. It's bigger than Grisel. This culture. It's interesting to me because you talk about it more and more about putting up these all the song obviously the foundation as you been in Conway, but you continue to bring you grow grizzled and bring artists in and

like your creation and your hands on with everything. It seems like like there was a time even Tank with Riz the assort of that leadership and could control everything. It seems like you're still able to maintain that. Like what do you think about that? Like why are you being able to maintain that? What are the keys to leadership in that sense? Um? Well, first of all, people see like I'm fifty and oh I don't know what may Weather may rather fifty one and check the record Google.

But um so when you see somebody you know what I'm saying, Like when of your locker rooms see you go out there and score fifty every game, they believe in you. When there's two seconds left one the clock, they believe in you. So they believe in me. And on top of that, every since day one, bro I always put everybody before me. I always made sure my crew shine. Since day one. Benny used to smoke ship on purpose. Yo, I need you to smoke this ship, smoke me my own ships. Yeah. I always tell everybody

that because that's gonna make the best songs. And that's what I'm saying, just me not being selfish, Like you know, a lot of people sit to a lot of people that's selfish. Motherfucker's man, that's gonna drop five six times, and they are still they're like, Okay, am I gonna drop? My gonna drop? Am I gonna drop to the point where you forget even the artists even on that label, and then they fall out and then they never dropped for real, you know what I'm saying. So it's just like, nah,

I don't, I don't, I don't. I want them to shine, you know what I'm saying. And like I said, you know, it's nothing more that I want, you know what I'm so I feel like I already have everything that I need, you know what I'm saying. So everything now is just a blessing. So it's just like, yeah, I'm gonna stick my feet in the water, but now let them let let my team shine, like they need. People need to know that these is the best m season the world.

People need to know that. Do you think there's a lot of pressure when it comes when it comes to that, because it's like, you know, you obviously a boastful and prideful person, especially with your artists, and you make these they just claims like, yo, it's classic. This is right. So if the project doesn't isn't well received by the public, do you feel like responsible for that for that claim? I'm fifty and oh, it ain't happen yet. I don't know.

I can't. You can't see, I can't. I never seen a red flamingo, Like you can't actually high red flamingo. Look if I never seen one, you know what I'm saying. It's like I don't know. But see, that's the This is the point I'm trying to make. If I've been doing this shift for ten years straight and still only making better projects still like I didn't drop Supreme Blind tell I didn't my god, you know what I'm saying. I didn't drop Prey for Parents. I didn't drop seven.

I didn't drop A side A, Side B. I didn't drop Awesome. God, I didn't drop ten. I didn't drop all these ships in the last few years four years. It isn't it's haven't been done. We can sit up here and talk about who the best rapper and all that that how it don't even matter because I wasn't even coming in this game to be a rapper. So that lets you like that that ship really don't bother me. I like, I like having fun on internet, you know

what I'm saying. Sometimes I get bored and I smoked, and I'd be just like I said, I'd be, you know, calling it bump fights me and thing. It was like it was fun birthday. He was like, he was like, fuck your birthday still firth change that sho ain't changed. Sorry, man, you know what I'm saying. But talking about the curation because like I end viewed the money recently for the title and stuff, like I think LISZT two is way better than Liz. Like do you see the growth right

as an artist? Like you talk about that process of like what what what role do you playing like an artist like that project, Like what's the process like for you? Well, let me just say, you know, Liz one, both of them was designed that way. Let's just say that the first one I had to introduce her on some raw grimy ship because again it's Griselda. Griselda fans is very critical and at first it was already skeptical, like oh, she just looks or she gonna come out of some clubs. Ship.

Oh but while you sign her so off the gator. First single was primo. I made sure that her and Benny promo off the Gate. Then when they heard the project, it was just raw, like I could play that ship right now, liz One is fired, you know what I'm saying. But LISZT two and like you know, it was eight

five percent like hired ship. And then we sprinkled it like two songs that was kind of like you know, some turn up ship, just because I wanted people to still understand, like, no, she can do this too, like and I want you to get familiar with it. But I got a spoon feed jall. This one was more like, no, let me show a little bit more range on her.

So I entered, you know what I mean, introduced it to a couple more style of beats that wasn't on the first one, Like, yo, get busy on this, get busy on this, and I want you to get a little more commercial, because you know you can get busy in that lane too. I always I always felt our

money was a star. But she don't have to do what the other females do, you know, what I'm saying, and and females be feeling like they have to do that other ship and I'm just like, yo, you I mean it's cool to have fun to do that too, but you get busy with us too. Like she could get in a cipher. You know that's what she do. You know what I'm saying. She hold her own and I always say like, nobody never wrote one buyer for our money. That's all a million percent her, you know

what I'm saying. And I just love her just growing as a boss. Like she hit me, you know what I'm saying, Like, yo, I feel we should do this. I feel we should do that, you know what I'm saying, Because like or list too, I picked every beat, Like that's the thing when I curate, I picked every beat. It's not like you know what I'm saying. So it's just like yo, wrong, listen, you mean this or you you know stole Pete this or your body Pete this.

You feel me? And they just cooked because I'm already I'm I'm painting why they why they doing what they're doing. I'm doing what I'm doing up here, so it's like I'm already putting it together. But they don't see it. They just hear this beating a rhyming. But I'm already seeing it, you know what I'm saying. Um, And like I said, man with with Liz too, it was just like leveling up. And she she actually did the Kodak

record like the record was already done. And ship she sent me that ship one night and I'm like, I put that shot her Kodak. I said, holy ship, she did that on it own me and she connected that. So I was that that just made me proud because it's like she want to take it to another level. She hungry, She hungry. She she got that little taste.

Now she like, no, I gotta take off. And so that's what I mean, Like we are we're not even waiting, like we're already about to start cooking again, like she hit me last week, like time to work, like she hitting me like she's hungry, you know what I'm saying.

And we still got like two more videos we're gonna drop from the We're not even done with this too yet, you know what I mean, Man, look out for her, because I'm telling the energy she had right now, she's gonna be a star for Shure three is gonna be our mindy year for sure. But we gotta credit you, like you got the Rick Ross here right, Like you picked great beats, right, So what's that process life for you?

Like you're saying, like you just constantly get producers and track you just sit in the room and just listen to beats and pick things out, Like what's your process? Like, I mean, of course you already have my in house producers, you know what I'm saying. I always I got Darren j. I got Camouflage Monk, I got Denny look Flair, I got Conductor Williams conduct what I'm saying, so you know that's already home team. I got Fly Guy Junior my son. Yeah,

he made the album. You know what I'm saying. He's smoking ship right now to people want Fly Guy Junior beats, and like that's what I'm saying, Like I'm already putting my son on. It's like I'm just having fun and I'm I'm I'm just bringing dope ship to the game. But my earman, I always say top three, you know what I'm saying, period of hip hop? You know what I mean, Like ship me, me and me. I was really just trying to be nice, but you do have

this production crew. I think you're taking the page out of Puffer his book with the hit Man. You have the Heartbreaking productions. What is that? So that's like your I guess your avengance, That's what I'm saying, Conductor Danny and Cammel Camoul Flage Monk. So that's the Heartbreakers. That's who I considered the Heartbreakers. That sound can't be matched right now, you know what I mean. It's like it's Fly Junior and the Heartbreakers to make it light now,

flag got Junior? Just flag gout Junior? How flat that Junior got Daddy making the traps on them? Man, you just come out of the gate. That's the project with that two. It's dope You're and dope boy. Yeah. I mean the thing about it is like I just told him, I'm like, man, see me something, because I'd be one. You know, that's my son and I remember when he hit me because like as a father, I'm looking at

this tall motherfucker. To shit, they're playing video games and ship in the house like you're gonna do with your life. Shign I just I've just been working for three weeks straight. Y'all has been playing fucking Call of Duty. She's gonna donna motto is you're gonna design, He's gonna make beas as you're gonna rap. Is what the is you gonna do? Because whatever it is, we're gonna start activating because you know he's still yea. So it's just like, you know,

this was a couple of years ago. He had just graduated from high school, so that's when you had that speech, Like alright, ship college started two weeks ago. Um, so I see we didn't go that route. You know what I'm saying that they like you about to sell drugs. So what you're gonna do? You know what I'm saying.

Dad's house is nice, but it's my house. But but like he just was like for real, for real, Like he just hit me out of nowhere and was like, Yo, this was like two Black Fridays ago, two years ago. He was just like, Yo, such and such guy, laptops on sale, could you buy me this? And I want to get all the you know, the software. I want to start making beats. I was like, Yo, if I buy this for you, I need to hear fifty beats. That's what I told you. Gotta just na I need,

I need to hear fifty beats. NA stopped, gave it to him and the first beat he ever played me was fly Guy Junior. So I wrapped on the first beat I even heard for real and ship it's just now he now And that was a couple of years I had to beat. I had to beat for the

two years, you know what I'm saying. But it was just about perfect timing, and it was It was perfect because it's like, you know what, I'm about to start having fun in tree and the same way I was saying, like I had to introduce that a little speed spoon

feed our money. Now I'm sp spoon feet and y'all this oh you're gonna hear me on all type of trap ship coming up, like because now I'm just having fun and I do that good too, what I'm saying, And you take them off a mentorship roll with other artists as well, like talk about room streets, King of New York room Streets. He wants to add that in the beginning, what makes him so attractive to you want

to work with him? Man, I can't even explain his lyrics, bro, like he you know he you know, people always say give you the big el vibe. You know what I'm saying. What I heard is, you know how you always compare somebody in the beginning of somebody, Like in the beginning, there would be like, you know, west Side sounds like ghost Face or who you know what I'm saying, some

ship like that, and that's cool. Then when you really start hearing the music and hearing what I'm really saying and doing what I'm doing, is like, Okay, he sounds similar, but he got his own his own style. In the same with Room, it's like, yeah, okay, the beginning, you might you're gonna always compare to somebody, to somebody, and ship I would love to be compared to bigger, you know what I'm saying. So it's like coming out the

gate with that alone is dope. But to hold his own like Roman, it's like mainstream you know might not nor him like that, but underground Room is that guy. Rome is that guy. So now it's my job to just make them bigger. That's how I feel. It's like that's the challenge again, like you know, how far can we make? How far can we take this ship? You know what I'm saying, because you know everything I always

tell everybody everything is a blessing. Everything ain't meant for everybody, you know what I'm saying, Like I can be you know, look that people might be like, Okay, well he got this, he got that, and you know what I mean to think I'm on top, and then I'm like, I'm nothing compared to what they got. But the thing is, like me, I think nobody can funck with me. It's not about money, That's what I'm saying. So that's that's the way I moved. That's the way I think. So it's it's nothing nobody has.

That's like, you know what I'm saying. I just feel like, you know, nobody can't funk with me, you know so, But like Rome incredible artists, incredible, Like this is just the beginning with with you know, Griselda Beckerson, Wrong Streets and a year or two from now, people are gonna be like yo, They're gonna be having them at every conversation, you know what I mean. Because the thing is, this was just like just to just jump in the ring.

But Rome can make song after song after If we wanted to really drop an EP or album every month, we could because Rome raps like that like he just get in his zone. He one of them guys just give me the beat. So if if I'm already just feeding them the illest beats, he just gonna body in. And that's how we got kissed the ring, and that's how we he got a whole project done with Conductor already. You know what I'm saying, Just Roman Conductor. So it's

like we're just working. I like a verse, no non factor. Oh yeah, yeah, pretty hard. Yeah yeah, you know, I try, you know, for real, I promise you all. Man, I'm in a good space. Man. You know what I'm saying. I'm having fun. You know what I'm saying, I'm just having fun because you know, the ship that used to stress me, I won't let's stress me no more, you know what I mean. And like until you like, nobody taught me how to do this ship. So I'm self taught.

So of course I'm gonna still take the bruises and all of that. Like I'm learning, like I might do a bad deal because it didn't learn from it and never do it again. You know what I'm saying. It's like everybody had them bumps and bruises, and I was going through that ship for a couple of years, trying to figure it out, looking being looked at it like, oh that's just ain't the buffalo guy in a couple

of times and following he ain't. But in my mind, I'm like, I'm the illisent of fucking world, you know. But it's like I still had to prove so many points, you know what I'm saying. But it's like, now, don't I raced all that. I don't prove nothing. I just do what the funk I want to do, and you just get it presented on a platter like that ship. I just wake up and be like I'm gonna do this, and I might take a picture and post it and you might funk with you might not, I might not.

I do more things off camera that's lit than I do put on camera, Like my life lit, you know what. A year ago though, you know, around this time, we were all kind of stressed out because we didn't know you were in the hospital and we didn't know what was going on, Like can you explain what happened? A little little little covid what I'm saying, you know, rest in peace, dj Sha. You know we lost shade of

covid you know what I'm saying. And also I wanted to say rest in peace the whole vein let me like, I wanted to start off the show saying this whole episode. Yeah you know that we we just started getting a conversation, but I wanted to start the whole show saying that because you know, a few times I've been up here, a whole van was here. You know what I'm saying. So you know, I just wanna wanna, you know, shout him out for sure. In fact, did um being in

the hospital kind of change you. I'll look a little bit of life and the way you approach things now just this carefully attitude. Okay, No, Um, I think probably like I can't really say it's not COVID though, but it was just it just came to a point where it's like, you know, not to sound crazy, man, God is the greatest, that's a fact, you know what I'm saying. And when you just know that you know what I'm saying,

like I don't. I'm not no guy that ship up here and taught religious and no ship like that, Like that's not me. So you're not you know, you're not gonna really get that from me. But I can't say that. You know what I'm saying, And it's like, I don't know, man, I'm just I don't know. It's just a different energy in life right now for me. You know what I'm saying. I can't even explain it. It's like I wish everybody

can feel like this. Man. I think it's addressing because others, like you guys have success, like you said, look, wait, more Richard than you did the first time you sat with us. But seems like with the success though, from Benny to everybody down, y'all still seem hungry, right, You still have that drive nowhere, no one's comfortable. Why do you think that she that's the thing? Well, maybe because we're from east side Buffalo, and I guess because you

know I'm hungry. It's fun, bro, I'm gonna be honest with you, Like the thing is, like I said, I have everything I need. I think I'm maybe hanger to just like it's not even for money, you know what I'm saying, Like, I don't do it for money. I think the hanger is just to, like I want everybody to know that the Griselda is the best in the world. I think that's the ship that just makes me work harder to be like you here wrong ship. You hear I'm money ship, You hear you hear this, You hear

stover here this, you hear that? Like you know what I'm saying. I think like that's the hanger of just like maybe trying to prove, Like even though I always talked like you don't have to prove, but you know, I still be just I feel like we still don't get the respect we deserve. I still feel like that. I still feel like right now, after we just named everything I fucking did, and we could talk about who the best fru, they still donna name all the mother

motherucker's that ain't even had no album out. How you know what I'm saying, Like how you know what I'm saying? And you know it's just like I'll just be wanting that the roses why I could smell him? You know what I mean? It's crazy because you know rest of piece, you know, take Off he said the same ship. You

know what I'm saying. It's just like how he was feeling, is how I feel like, because you when you when you gotta think Takeoff came from the megos, which and you know who the eras because we you know, I'm a little older too, so we came through the real

and every era of hip hop. Like I'm at that age where I was there for fucking Salt Peppers MC all the way up to fucking Little Woozy right now or whoever, motherfucking what's her name, Ice Spice from from all of that, from that to that, I've just seen it.

Everything in way too short, motherfucking Big Daddy came Coumo d motherfucking self destructions to motherfucking to NAS coming out with the brim on the scully to motherfucking you know what I'm saying everything I was there for all of That's what I've seen, you know, every you know era that you could possibly think of, and this ship and then like what Griselda has done, it ain't been done, man.

And we still like making elite music because a lot of people, like I said, no disrespecting nobody, they fall off after like two or three four joints. They do, they really do, man, Like, Yeah, we still praise people for them first two and three, but let's talk about that four or five, In six or seven, you know how it was certain and now a certain NBA, you know, a certain NBA motherfucker's. You know what I'm saying, You're

gonna give them the creo. They're gonna be people get a five hundred thousand just to put the jersey on the be the motherfucking the locker room to still. I mean it was a good game. Yeah, yeah, it's like you know what I'm saying, Like, you're still gonna give a lot of people those you know though, that credit.

And I love everybody. I'm a I'm a student of this ship, you know what I'm saying, Like, that's what I'm saying, Like I'm so different, Like, don't compare me to these other motherfucker's that haven't been through every fucking phase of this ship. Don't compare me to the niggas that don't drop two or three times a year. Don't compare me to the niggas because we ain't the same. You know what I'm saying. I come from I come from a whole different point of view from you know

what I'm saying with this ship. So the way I think, in the way I move isn't gonna be compared to somebody else that just came into this ship or they don't even understand what I'm saying. So some of the rappers that's new, like the young heads, Like I love a ship because that's the thing I like evolving. That's why I'm doing trapped ship now after ten years of just hard row grimy ship, Now all of a sudden, I'm doing ship. You know what I mean? Because like

I said, it's like Lebron playing with Brownie. It's like, now I'm just having from my son. I'm getting him better. I'm giving him looks and hopefully, you know, he could take off and do what he'd do, and I did my part. You know what I'm saying, not only you know, as a businessman, but as a father. Like that's like, you know, another goal of mine, another challenge, you know what I'm saying, Like I have to keep challenging myself for what do I have? If I don't keep challenging

my own self? Like what am I again? Like safe for instance? Let me because I don't like name dropping. It always give me in trouble. But just safe for instance, like a Drake or Kendrick or whoever, because these are guys I respect. I'm only naming these guys because I respect you know, I mean every back Drake, I respect Kid. I actually just met Kidren for the first time. Fashion

we can parish what I'm saying. I never met him and ship, you know what I'm saying, and that it was it was all love, like you know what I mean, not even sound crazy. He came up to me, you know what I'm saying, like that ship, you know what I mean. Because the thing is, it's like certain people, you know what I mean, you still you had that certain respect for for what he did, you know, for the game and what he's doing for the game. You know what I'm saying. So like when I looked over

and I've seen it, we've seen it. He came like, I mean, we kind of greeting each other and it was all love and you know, um, you know he told me, he he fucking with what I'm doing tough and you know, vice versa, and it was just like that was it. We gotta do a song together, hang out, it's your phone number, Like it was none of that. It was just like a mutual respect. No picture, you

know what I'm saying, none of that. Nobody don't even know that this even happened, Like what's that gonna kid you with talking like nobody know that but now and in Paris though too, so beautiful that it's even yeah, yeah, because I think he you know, he's performed for the Louis the Time Show recipes Virgil too. You know, that's why Ward is you know, because yeah, man, that Louis Vati version, that Nego Louis. You know what I'm saying. You know, you know, Virgil is my guy. Like you know,

we're losing a lot of people. Man, We're losing a lot of people. So I'm just doing my part while I can, you know. Yeah, but with it the way you just champion Griselda, what's the purpose in the need for Michelle Records? That's something that you launching soon, right, Yeah, but you know, Michelle Records isn't a label. Griselta Records is a label. Michelle Records is on Griselda Records. Okay, you just gotta see what you know what Michelle Records is.

People still don't know. I don't know. People still don't know. People don't know who producing it, people don't know who on it. Yeah, people don't know nothing. But I'm telling you, like this, like just a sprinkle, I'm just telling you it's already like mad lead Riza, that type of ship, you know what I'm saying, Like it's Alchemists, It's still that, you know what I'm saying, But again it's it's so much more. It's producers that you never heard of, you

know what I mean. You're I was doing like the Little Woman is snippets on my page and people here to production and be like, what the fund is this? What's this? What's that? And I just keep teasing Michelle Record, Michelle Record, but nobody still don't know what Michelle Records is, you know what I'm saying. And I'm gonna be I'm gonna be honest, Like at first, rest in Peace mym Michelle too. I lost her, and you know that's when

it just became everything was Michelle, Michelle Michelle. Because I was using that to just help, you know, it was like therapeutic, Like when I started seeing it, I'm gonna be honest, I didn't even know what Michelle Records was. I'm saying. I had to make that ship up myself afterwards, like Okay, well maybe I could do it like this and this could be that we should I sign somebody to Michelle records one is it? The album is it?

And then once I figured out what I was gonna make it, then I start, you know what I'm saying. So yeah, at first I didn't even know. Man, you know what I'm saying, Like these shorts I got on right now, say, Michelle, you know what I mean? The same saying. You know, homies that make ready made, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, you know what I'm saying. So you know, Saint Michael's ready made, you know what I mean, Like Callie and James, the same people that

did the Saint Pablo for all that. That's why the same people that did that, we collapsed on these you know what I'm saying. So it's like I'm just yeah, yeah, Michelle by fashion Reel. You know, I'm just I'm leveling up because that's the thing. Like even with the merch, you know, people was calling me merching, God merged this merch that, But I and take that to another level now, so you know, I got the factory, I got the highest quality ship. But then I also working on some

Michelle ship. You know what I'm saying. And it's like I'm I'm making it a standard of just having the best ship. You know what I'm saying, Like, and that's why I keep putting them a little pieces of my album. I like, Yo, Flying Guy got the best ship. It's like everything I do now, I wanted to be the best it could be, so like even you know with Griselda Body Fast Rubber, Now I kind of took her from Mercht to a brand, but I'm still making that affordable.

I can't fucking shoot myself in the foot. I'm still have to make something, but I'm not trying to bang people in the head because so many people supported me for so long. I can't go from a sixty five dollar hoodie to six hunting now you feel me. I can't do that, But you know I could go from sixty five to a hundred and give you a way better quality shift. And I'd rather do that then, you know, print on Champion or print on this guilding or some ship you know rustle from ship, Like no, we were

building these hoodies from scratch. We're dipping them to with the color you getting like everything like fitting perfect, And I'm still making that affordable. But then like I can work on Michelle and this would be in sacks like the partners. I'm you know what I mean, talking to and fucking with with Michelle was more like sacks nemons, you know what I'm saying, because like again, I'm linking with you know a lot of power players. I don't

really want to speak on yet. But like I said, even this was you know designed, you know, collad with me and you know the homies from Saint Michael isn't ready made. So the hoodie that I wear, the Supreme Blind Tell when I wear that, I get stopped a lot people because I think it's maybe or something like that. And you have to ski masks and the logos on it, so I can attest to that that you know, it gets a lot of looks. I also saw you working

with partner with a fossil y'all did a collaboration Jeff Staple. Okay, and Jeff Staple, you know, he he blessed me, you know what I'm saying. I came a part of the campaign, you know what I mean here he dropped the fire Watch, not just you know, supported them, and you know we we had a pen on on it, and he blessed me with some new you know as bees and I got the Watcher Lee and you know that's my guy.

He got some ship going on out here right now too, so I'm I probably check him out, you know, I mean, I got the you know, the show tonight. I'm tell him to come through. You know what I'm saying, catches vibe because you never know who you're gonna see. Hey, Yo, it's Bet and we're not finished. Look, the Fly God is too big for one episode, so next week we'll pick things up with Griselda's new front line, room, Streets, Bowlie James, and stove God cooks. All right, I'll see

y'all there. Rap Rate of podcast Rap Right or is The Interval presents original production from hyper House, produced by Laura Wasser, hosts and producers Elliott Wilson and Brian B. Dot Miller. From Me to Full presents executive producers Alan Coy and Jay Kleinberg, Executive producer Paul Rosenberg, editing his sound design by Dylan Alexander Freeman, recording engineer Raoul Cardinas, and Chris Nicholas. Special thanks to Busy Crook, Chris Marino,

Hank Fortner, Chase iffinit and Formula seven Studios. Operations Lead Sarah You Business development lead Cheffie ellens Wegg and marketing lead Samara Still. Make sure to follow Rapperator or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts