#114 - Dom Kennedy

first time I heard nineteen ninety seven. Yeah, just this is kind of like the original was what really put you on the map? Exactly? Why now have dropped part three? Because Part two was what twenty eleven, twenty eleven, First

one twenty ten, twenty eleven, twenty twenty one. Man, just the ups and downs of the music game, you know what I'm saying, loving it, being in love with it, you know, having some successes, you know, being underrated, getting too the label stage, taking meetings, you know, and just realizing, like like you said, my passion is from the west I would love you know, one of my staple you know, I don't know. Somebody asked me one day, if you had a book about your life, what would you call it?

And I was like, from the West, I would love you know what I'm saying, and so as I'm you know, after working with here boy, let's say maybe twenty eighteen, twenty seventeen, twenty nineteen. Last year, I put out Rap and Roll. You know, I kind of kept the songs that I do a hit separate from songs that I

create on my own with other producers. And then we started working and I did a couple of solo songs and I told him like, man, you know, he was really inspiring me in like a different way with my music. And I told him, like, you know what I think I could make from the West? I would love three you know, and I need your help, you know. And that was kind of the beginning of it. And I was like a year and a half ago. You know. It's crazy the just the relationship that you guys musically

have put on paper the last few years. Yeah, whether it's the half a meal shit or whether it's like I feel like hearing you on records with like nas like just's certain shit that like you never thought you

would ever hear. And I feel like like like one day we'll look back at like the last few years that hip boys had and just the magic that's coming out of his studio, the relationships that are happening, and man, you know the shit he's doing with Sean, she's doing withs doing with you, and I just think it's real special, Like what's that energy like over there? Because at any time you go over to hit spot, like you never

know who's gonna be in the studio, never knows. And he's brings so many worlds together that wouldn't be together, yeah, never know, brings so many from you know, producers to engineers, like the engineer work were now built, the relationship through working with it, you know, and several artists even collapse that's never come out or you know, we never done any music. You know, people like Anderson Pat you know what I mean, Like people like Sweetie, you know what

I mean. Like they'll literally be in a studio on a random day, you know what I'm saying, and the

collaborations is open. So you hear me with like Quinn Miller or like Nahs for instance, on the courtesy I have for mil those is just coming from everybody just building me on Big Sean album, you know that that's coming from us eating together, sharing music sharing ideas somebody playing Sean maybe playing a verse and an me being like I could try so I could add something to that, you know, and end up on his album, you know

what I'm saying. But that's all directly related around here, boy, Like he's like the sun, you know what I mean, the solar system, and we all are planets, but we all moving around Bro's energy and his spirit, you were, and Burden of Proof too, right, I was, exactly And that's like something that nobody like I would never ever think that Benny would be on a record. I never had no relationship with nobody. Shout to Benny the butcher Man obviously super talented, you know East Coast MC, but

it's no connection there outside of here. Boy, you know, that's all what I'm doing an album with Bennie. He's six seven songs in, that's what's up. I'm listening to it like damn bro Hard. You know, he coming in every day working, listening the beats, just sit His process was different. So in the instance of that song that I'm on, you know, just seeing how he took his time just mentally writing. He didn't write nothing down, but he would just walk around listen to the song and

then I'm like, again, like, y'all I could contribute. That's a big factor for me. That's one thing that me and he always talk about. It's like, whether it's a Dom Kennedy song or not, I always got something I could contribute, even if it's just insight, even if it's four bars a bars whatever, I always have something to contribute. And just being in that environment and people knowing who I am I think as well obviously, you know, allows me to them to be like, yeah, go ahead, you

know what I mean. And then like in the case of that Benie song, just dropping that hook and then being like, dang shit hard, you know what I mean, And the next thing I know, it's out and people like I heard you on being a Butcher album. Yeah, that's what's up, you know what I mean. You talked about being like underappreciated, underrated. Yeah, I feel like your whole career that's kind of been the story right now. You said that, I didn't feel that you just you

say that. I don't know you said that. You said, but what is the like for you? Yeah, I feel like you've kind of been the people's champ at LA for your whole career, you know what I'm saying, And you have like an extremely hardcore fan base that just fucks with you, and they fuck with you over all this time. Like we think it's been eleven years since the first from the West Side would Love. Yeah, put

my first project out in twenty two thousand and eight. Man, so I've been in it for a minute, Yeah for sure, thirteen plus at least. You know, what do you think is like, you know the reason why maybe you might still be a little underrated or why you still kind of fly under the commercial radar a bit. Well, I never embraced fully commercial success. You know, never tastes like fully commercial approval. I don't want to say records, because to me, a song is just a song, right, you

know what I'm saying. It's certain things that you have to do obviously if you want, you know, maximum spins and exposure and to fit into you know what they call now playlist, but just fully never embracing you know, one of my homies that really know me, he taught me a couple of years ago, like, man, he felt like I kind of did everything, but like embrace the rap game. I was gonna say, you feel like you're in the rap game, but you're kind of like an outsider,

right exactly, and you're like peace with that. I'm sure, yeah, for sure. But yeah, and that just him saying that kind of made it more more like put it on my conscious more to like, I don't want to be a anti you know, the rap game. So it's not like I'll go out my way to embrace it or do things even like the features that we just was

talking about and things like that. But that's probably things four or five years ago I probably wouldn't even I was gonna say, old Dom like I felt like, like seeing you on all these albums, I just wouldn't have

been available, right, you know, for stuff like that. But just understanding my position in it and how important it is to myself and others like and once my real you know, I want somebody that really love you and know you, you know, pre the rap game and all that really tells you something like that you gotta listen,

you know, And so I did. I did take it to heart, and I began, like, you know, just examining everything, just helping more people and myself even you know, where I could Yeah, No, I think like you obviously as far as like you had other opportunities to write, because I know there was a point in time where everyone was trying to sign you ye at the peak of MMG.

I know you guys had conversations like what was like were you always just like yo, I'm gonna do it with the OPM way like I'm you know, like why did you never really take that bigger step as far as like never owner, shit was never on the table. And I always more than anything more than being a celebrity, more than being super rich off for you know, whatever they could offer me in any way, I always wanted to be a CEO, you know what I'm saying, Like, I always wanted to be a CEO. I always thought

of myself as a CEO. And I always felt like I was smarter than just what the microphone and the instrumental had to offer, you know, and and and my only thing was it wasn't a fear I had. But I never wanted to just be the menuce Like as good as I could be as a rapper, as an artist, I never just wanted to just be that. You know, that would have felt like a failure to me automatically,

Like if you try. If I had a room full of plaques and like a power full of money like looney like uh dug tails and I was just a rapper, I would still feel bad because you're not fulfilled because I was. Yeah, it would exactly. I would just be disposable, you know, artists based off of whatever song I was. People dem was tight high at the time, and that would be it, you know, and I would be just

chasing that. How how serious were those talks because I remember Roster talked to you and Nip at that time

and Wizard time. Yeah, how seriously those talks? Well, well mmg, that was more like obviously I was a lot younger than I was still in man, was a big fan of Rick Ross, you know what I mean, And so that was more predicated on, you know, somebody that was heavy in the game and still is, and somebody like myself who was up and coming, who hoped to be you know, get good at this shit, get great at this and just trying to learn, you know, like from them.

I had other situations with major labels that was a lot closer to being a real you know situation. But again, when it came down to ownership and to OPM being represented the right way in the deal and never really sat right with me. They never really saw the full full potential of like what it was that I wanted to do and what we was capable of doing. So again, it was easy for me to say no because if all I was gonna be diminished to it was like

an artist on trial. I had passed that all the artists that they was trying to do that with, I had did more shows than them already, you know what I'm saying, Like I had soho more T shirts than them already, you know, like we was doing venues. Like I wasn't interested in none of that. You know, I was not genuinely in my heart, I was never really

interested in any of that. What would be some advice you would give to like a bubbling artist because obviously you came up in a different era when I mean, I really feel like it was kind of like peak blog era too. Dope, it's not right, you know what I'm saying. I was starting out and were first getting notice. Yep,

it's coming out of that. It was pretty music. Yeah, it was a different time, and I also thought it was dope because there were so many curators that really had power because like maybe shake and mech fuck with you over here. So if they post you like rap rate on my you know what I mean. It was Now it's like very few people in charge of these

playlists that can make or break people's careers. But at the same time, like there's other ways to build an organic following and to monetize being an artist if you could figure out how to get those fans to you know, spend money with you. But in twenty twenty one, what be some advice you would give to some upcoming artists that are kind of bubbling, like just to kind of you know, whether or not it's to stay independent or to sign or just some things. Man, Now it's a

different game. You know, it would depend on what you what you are intent was coming in. You know, mine tent was to build a label. I was inspired by Jay Prince, Master, p sug Knight, Sean Combs, Russell Simmons, people like that. That was the type of legacy regardless of if anybody wanted to box me in as just you know, in a blog air rapper. That's how I honestly saw myself in my label, you know, and I'm

still working towards that right now. So if you're an artist coming in right now, you might need a label to push your record because, like you said, it's so many gatekeepers now in the game, and so in the twist, I can't like, I don't see too many people that could do what I do. That's just being honest. That's

just being honest, you know what I mean. Like, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it like I never did back then, and I don't especially right now, because to do what I do, you have to be really great, you have

to have a lot of you know. That's why I only really fucked with Nip coming up right, because he the only one that had the courage and you know what I'm saying, the talent and to back it up, you know, and to go out there, like how we was talking before this, when you gotta go out in your hometown and do your thing and around the country as well, around the world as well, and represent you

know what I'm saying that let people see that. And it's like, if you can't do that, if you're not willing to do that without no machine behind you, you can't play in my game. You can't playing. It's impossible. It's impossible, you know what I mean. I did it a couple of times, you know, multiple times, and it's like I would not lie to somebody and tell them, like follow my footsteps, because not everybody's path, not at all.

You know, a lot of them they need the system. Yeah, because if you don't got the system behind you, then you got to really depend on yourself. You gotta be willing to take risks of the exact people. You gotta have money, you gotta have insight, you gotta be able to you know, whether through a whole couple of seasons, maybe just grinding it out with great produce, you know, me and Me and Nip in the studio with mic

and kids for eight months. Them days is over, you know what I'm saying, Like we had great producers, we had great ideas, but that led us to the victories into the better days later. But it's like a lot of people they can't they can't weather that. They want instant results, you know what I mean. It took us years of believing in ourselves and working on what we thought was good to be able to present it to the world. You know, I don't see that type of

patience right people. Yeah, the patients is kind of out the window these days. Yeah, people want results. Yeah, they want to put out a song and you know, just gratification. Yeah, go viral and do their thing, and that's all good. But that that type of response takes like a system without it, ye know, that kind of response takes a bag exactly. Take. Yeah, it takes like a machine. It does. And I wouldn't lie to a kid and tell them like, oh, you could do this or you could achieve these type

of numbers. Are these type of results without that, because otherwise you're hitting the lottery if you Because it happens, but it happens very seldomly, right, like somebody independently gets a TikTok record to go. You know what I'm saying. It's like hitting a lot of low key right. Yeah. You mentioned like how you obviously you and Nip's relationship was you know, a great one one that was very important to hip hop. You guys put out incredible records together.

You guys were peers for I feel like you guys kind of career wise were parallel to each other the whole time. What was it about Nip from the Jump that you guys just kind of saw each other as you know, like he's one of me. You know what I'm saying, Like you built the same way tape. Just the neighborhood, you know what I'm saying, where Nip comes from. I know that area well, you know La Meurt Park is down the street. You know, this is all actual effectuals,

not just rap, you know. And we got a lot of the same homies and know a lot of the same people coming up. I didn't know nib growing up, but immediately when I saw him, you know, doing what he was going to do in the music business, I understood it because I had that type of heart at

as well. You know, I had that type of heart as well, and I knew that immediately upon discovering him, that this was somebody that I was going to work with and you know, our our our careers would be intertwined in a way, you know, and I chose, and I chose to make it a good story, you know, immediately even before I met him, you know, and so you know, just meeting him, I thought, like, you know, he was brilliant. He was serious about what he was going to do. I could tell that at a young age.

And the most important thing I loved was the structure of the business. I love you know, Black Sam, you know Panietzche, you know household names, Jay Rock, you know Fats rest in peace. You know. These was like copy supreme. These was like people that he really loved and worked with and they all respected each other. And I thought that I wanted my friends and my family to see that, because that's why I wanted, you know, I wanted us to be And eventually we had separate CRUs He had

all money in I have OHPM. But you know, when we got together, it was always like a family thing.

You know. We had shows together where you know, his family will be selling merch, My family will be selling merch, simple as that, you know, trading secrets side by side on you know, new technologies and things like that, things that people never really saw right, you know, And that was like those were the most important things to me, you know what, I mean, to be there for him when he was trying to make something of his career

when people maybe didn't believe in it. But I knew how talented and how special that he was for sure. It's just it's an art to this all, you know, and trying to get people to fill that through music is not easy, you know, No, it's definitely. I feel like you guys are always going to be synonymous with each other in terms of just the classic record y'all got, yeah for sure. And I just feel like, you know, out of la from like twenty ten on, like you

guys were built for the longevity. Like if you think about all the artists that came up during that era, obviously it's Kendrick j. Rock, but you guys kind of feel like you guys kind of embody ownership, yeah, boss shit. Accountability, yeah, for sure. Accountability. We used to talk about it a lot. You know, it was worse that I was thrown around, you know. And the great thing about it is now we inspired a lot of artists that's out right now

doing the thing. And that's the most incredible part is that all those times that we were sitting around trying to make songs and inspire people and you know, find our fans and our voices, and it's like, now people really appreciate it, you know, And we probably didn't get that then, and we wasn't any for the glory or

the credit immediately, so it didn't really matter. But I think the beautiful thing is like all the artists that's out right now that's having their career and having the way with it was the ones that I was inspired and listening to the things that we was putting out. You know, when we was doing our thing was like this, Uh, I know that there was supposed to be like some sort of supergroup with you nip and was a YG look but yeah, yeah, yeah, you know about that. Okay,

so like this like nipsy YG dumb. Yeah. I remember like like hearing that this was like a real thing that was supposed to happen. Yeah, it was talks about it. What what ended up happening with that? And like how far along did those talks get. I remember we had a couple of phone conversations about it, like everybody had to get on the phone, you know, a couple of people. I think they just was surprised at that time and wanted to hear everybody's voice together to agree with it,

because it was like speculation. I don't even know who first presented or came up with it, but yeah, it was. It was a little time where that was like on the table and I remember we had maybe one or two phone calls about it where we were all on the conference call just in agreement with it and just you know, they just working out. Nah. I mean, I think that all those career was just going in different

trajectories at that time. And that was one of the things because we never even really got in and made no songs or like made no plans. It was just all like talks, That's what I was gonna say. It was like, so there was no music that was not damn no, it was no like official sessions for that at all. In any way. Do you do you still have unreleased records with Nip that may or may not see the light of day one day? Me personally, I

don't not that I could think of. No. Every single thing that I'm saying, I'm sure that there are songs that you know, either myself, Mike and Keys, they got all the music, you know, they got some shit, they got all the ship. Yeah, So I'm not saying that people won't. But it's nothing that I have that I'm like, oh, I'm saving this for this, you know, or like I have it for this, or Nip did a verse or

drop like, Nah, I don't have anything like that. Double Up is obviously one of the highlights of Victory Lap. What can you tell us about your your rolling that record and how that came out? Man, that was a beautiful evening man Nip had. You know, he was working on this album. We went from like you know, on the come up and in the times where we was really working together. We worked together heavy, like damn near every day for like a couple of years, all the time,

you know. And then when they got the deal with Atlantic and I was doing other stuff. I had traveled and did a couple of tours, and I hadn't really seen Nip as much for like a little window besides like shows. He came to one of my festivals in Anaheim, might have been dand Night, I don't know, at the Angel Stadium. I think that that was a big one. Yeah, he came out and showed up for me. And then a little bit after that, you know, he was working

on an album the whole time though. That's one thing I could say, like it was always focused, like about that album and being adamant about it coming out one day. How it was because I remember having conbos with him years ago and him playing me songs that was still on our idea. That was, you know, way before that album came out, so you know, in the midst of all of that, you know, I would see Bro and he was like, man, come, I got I want to play the album. He was he was camped out at

uh what's the spot off Vine, you know Paramount. He used to have his whip right there and pair on the curb. Everybody know that. Knowing, I went up there one day and he was like, yeah, you know, the music done. I'm just vibing, just listening, showing my support. He was getting tatted. It was funny because I remember he was getting blasted the big All Money in on that was a part of the rollout. He took his

shirt off a lot on the campaign. So I was there to night he was getting blasted and he was playing me songs and he was like, man, really, I just got one verse song that I really really love that I haven't did two verses, but that could make the album. Man. He played it and I just went right in the booth and I remember he was getting tatted. He was smiling, just looking at me, you know what

I mean, recording it. I never get that. And I could just see him through the window and he was like listening to what I was saying and he was getting tatted and it was just a cool night. Man.

And the next time I really heard the song, I really found out, you know, how it went down was really when they released, being at the release party, yeah, exactly, and then hearing you know, exactly what Belly had added to it and just the final project, man, and I just thought it was like the highest quality, you know, not that that's nothing, that's what I expect from it, but I was really floored by how well, you know, he was able to weather the storm and really get

his vision all the way out on the highest level. Man. I'll forever be proud of him for that. Yes, it might be my favorite song, Victory Lap, It's one of them. But it's crazy because like I just think, like, what if Nip was still here and he was over there at Chialdie with what's going on a hip boy spot like him in the middle. That's what I'm saying, Like they just forgetting, they were just getting there. They're they're like, you know what I'm saying, Like, just imagine, I know

I think about it every day. Man. I was the last place I saw him and spoke to him at and Hey Boy Studio finishing racks in the Middle. Yep, you know it's crazy man, Yeah, rip the great Hey what up man, We gotta interrupt the interview real quick to tell you about our family at odd Socks. Now. When I be riding for odd Socks so hard, man, it's because I really love the product. They got the most comfortable socks in the fucking world. I got a pair of odd Socks basic song right now, go get those.

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You got to help me understand, man, When or how can we get the original on the DSPs and the yellow album on THEES? Okay, those those are real expensive. I say that a lot my fans know because of all the features and example, clear no disrespect to that Pith and right, and they're at off man. They have nothing to do with it. But I'm just saying that if I don't want to listen to or, I gotta pull up the YouTube. Recently, I just almost been like, you know, fuck it and let's just take our shot

and just run it. I know we'll gets sued, might so listen. Static Selected always told me this because he samples every all his ship. I don't even want to air his ship out Like he's like, hey, bro, if I get sued, that me as a record doing something. Yep. Facts facts, man, But with the again, with the guest features on there, with the pepperwork that they tied to, you could imagine that they're not let's just throw it without it, without it having any of the features on it.

Like the track list is just it doesn't say their name on it. I would have to. I would have to if I went that way. But I have been in discussions. We're working on some maybe a little anniversary or just some fly like a relaunch for that one. That would be special. Man. I definitely want to do that before sooner than later. I will say that. I

think about it a lot. I've been in discussions with, you know, people that don't even have nothing to do with me, honestly, but just that just want to help, that's in tune with business and music, and they're like, yo, you know, look into this, this and this. But it's a process. You know. It's like Wiz finally got Cushion Orange on the exactly exactly, you know, exactly, Big Crip got all his old ship on the DP. It takes time. Joey Badass and the like that. You guys came up

like they were mixtapes, but they weren't. They were albums. That was great music. It was just music. It was great music for me. I always made wanted to make my music as albums. I always tried to keep that integrity. But it was free music back then, you know. So I don't feel cheated. I don't feel you know better about none of that, because that's how I made that music. You know, I knew what I was doing going into I came off the era where they thought the music

business was done that real. You feel what I'm saying. Like people forget that when they ask questions and they think like, oh no, no, no spotted Like me, I don't think about Spotify when I make songs. I'm sorry, you know what I'm saying, Like I'm pat I was around before that, Like I think about the fans, I think about what I want to say. I think about great music because back then, you guys had to figure

out how to monetize everything else with the music. Because pre ship died tomorrow, I would not give a fuck, you feel me like, I would still do my thing. I was still figure it out. I would still make away just like I did before. That's all the result of trying to be in the music business like that. It doesn't really affect like my process, you know. But at the end of the day, I want to get the Flyers music possible to the fans. So that's where

we have where I have to deal with it, you know. Yeah, it's it's definitely I feel like with a lot of like my favorite artists from that error. It's like, fuck, like j Cole, I just saw him at the form and he performs with shit on Friday Night Lights. I'm like, only if we could get Friday Night Lights. It's not but yeah, I imagine it's a lot of artists and a lot of great you know music like back in the day all that ship Like, yeah, you want to buy a certain movie on DVDs, but it might not

be at Best Buy. That's real, you feel what I'm saying, Like, that's that's how the game goes. Sometimes I was looking for the Mac you know what I mean on DVD we be trying to find and I buy it on Amazon Prime exactly, Like fine, you know, as far as the CEO ship, man, like obviously you know you've been building o PM for a minute. Andyeah, you know you got some really dope talented artists that you've been working with over the year Shooter to Nico four G G

four G four. I remember he came a freestyle killed it with you. But what is like the roster looking like now? Man, We're about to expand twenty twenty two were expanding right now. We still got Dom Kennedy. Of course, we got J throw five, who was one of my motherfucker's alive. Yeah, exactly, man, that's my homie. You know what I'm saying. It's a small roster, you know what

I'm saying right now, But I'm expanding. Man, I don't want to say like what I got going in the works right now, and you know, put it all the way out there. But definitely in twenty twenty two, you're gonna see some new artists come out on O PM, you know what I mean. And the whole vision is gonna come to Fruition for sure. So look forward to that ship with like Interscope was kind of your partner

on on some ship. Right. No, they wasn't, or they was trying to sign us, but yeah, they was trying to do a deal with us, but mainly just with me, you know. And J three or five end up at a point he had a solo deal, That's what I was thinking. Yeah, he had a solo deal for his first album, came out officially through Interscope, but no Dom Kennedy music, nothing else ever came up. What's going on

with Jay? He's about to put out some singles, hopefully sooner than later, probably top of the year, you know what I'm saying. But he's working on some singles right now, playing me a couple you know songs. But is Jay he gonna do what he do? You know what I'm saying. He official LA, so it's hard for him to kind of like he's an LA celebrity and then it's the rap game. Say yeah, for sure, LA celebrity kind of always text President over the rap game. You know. I mean,

we we all got friends here in the LA. Hip hop Syne are the same way, exactly exactly. You talked about being influential to a lot of the artists that are kind of doing their thing. Now. Someone who I always kind of when I listen to I always reminds me of you is Larry June. Larry jon Like Larry June is like the like bays Don Kennedy. Sure, Larry Jones. Man, I look at him as the bais Larry Jones. Man, he's been He's been killing it for years. I glad to see someone is finally starting to get a lot

of like looks, but like well deserved. Who are some people who you like that that you're fans of that is a part of the new generation of the Rapture that you're like class Blast, Don Tolliver, you know, I really like his innovation, you know what I'm saying. Ship people like Meg the Stallion, you know, and Jason Cash, he another artist from Carson exactly chopping with him, you know,

and being a rideaut obviously. You know. I was just at being on show last night, you know, and all of those people's kind of like loosely inner and you know, music that I had probably a decade ago that helped them kind of see themselves in the space that they in right now, you know what I'm saying. And it's

like that's important for me. But those people right there kind of stick out the most, you know, meeting somebody like Blast and them truly like knowing about my catalog and like what years certain shit came out and where they was at with it, and then seeing the success they have. You know, it definitely makes me feel good because it's like all that work didn't go and noticed

all that music. You know, I'm real sincere about this shit, you know, making music, being an artist first and foremost, and so when you see other artists flourishing and doing they thing and they just randomly might shout you out a lot of people. Was hit me like a year ago when Don Toloro was doing his press run and he was shouting me out a lot on like bigger platforms and people was kind of like thrown off by it.

But you know, I understood it because I've done shows for years in Houston, you know, for years in Houston and no coverage, no big you know, hope, I but selling out shows, and I'm like, these are the type of people reason why I was out there selling tickets and having fans. It was kids like that that was probably in high school doing their thing whatever, and they was for some reason, they gravitated towards my message in

my music. You know, No, that's crazy. Yeah, there's definitely like I feel like, you know, Phoenix is where I'm from, and that's a big market for you. But you have like your certain pockets of the country where motherfuckers just show out for you. Yeah. Yeah, Arizona, d C. What's hell Yeah yeah, hell yeah. Shout out to DC, Maryland,

Virginia period. But like my show in DC at like Howard Theater, Silver Springs, Maryland, cracking, crazy, cracking, Yeah, for sure for years though years, Like this is not new, you know, like years supporting me for years, you know, Atlanta, Detroit, you know, for real, these are places that's like, were real people that really, you know, on a random day during the week, you know, in bad weather, you know, would come out and pack a venue for me just to see me, you know, do my thing. And I

definitely appreciate it. You also always have like a banger on deck with T Fly. Yeah. T Fly, someone who I think maybe doesn't get enough flowers, like, you know, had this Dick record that was huge. Yeah, but like you guys always have have a record together. Yeah. I feel like it almost feels like every project he flyes like my brother man. Like it was funny because Okay, in that era where I was talking all about working with Nip and doing all of that, I met T

Fly during those times. He had the studio on the same building next to us. Okay, but I didn't know T Fly. But every day he used to sleep at the studio. We would leave like we kind of was having money a little bit, you know, we had cars. T Fly was on to come up about to get a deal with I think Sony, Epic, whoever he had this deal with. He was trying to get that deal. But I was so I was hearing all the music that he was recording that wasn't out, and that's how

I got familiar with him. So by the time I'm working on Get Home Safely. And I remember I was somewhere at a truck stop on the road one day and somebody came up to me, and it's a true story, Like randomly, I swear to guy, like two in the morning, I'm at a little thing, looking through the little glass, about to get a ginger rel or some shit of water,

and the dude's like he's staring at me. I'm obviously like, okay, he gonna say something about music, And he asked me like, how did you know to put a T Fly on that song? And I was like, damn, I mean, I guess that's how he looked at it, you know, like it just came out of nowhere but now. When we was recording, t Fly was in that same building recording,

so I was hearing his songs every day. He was recording three or four songs, and I realized I knew the songs before they came out because I was hearing them play them all day while we was just sitting there eating, chilling, I was hearing them. So by the time I got to do and get home safely and I had to be for Still Calling, I sat. I went in his room and I said, could you do a hook for me on this and then I'll do the verse? You know what I'm saying. And I sat

there with him and he was like cool. And that's really how our collaborations really started working, you know what I'm saying. After that one day, it was like a Saturday, I remember, and I was like, man, I got this b Bro, I think that you would kill it. And we did Still Calling that day and then I've been working with Bro literally ever since till shit, I seen

him last week. You guys, I feel like, yeah, we never really fell out, you know what I'm saying, because you know, I understand what he does and he understands what I do, and we always rocking. And you know, I put out an EP on o PM, like a five song EP, and I ended up being on four songs, not intentionally but just being on songs. But yeah, me and T Fly working on some a collaboration for the people. Man, I'm glad you got yeah, OPM. We're gonna put out

an album. Oh Ship, Yeah that's together yeaheah. We already working on it. I was working on it before. That's a Bullleg keV exclusive, so a T flight down project on the way. Yeah, you guys have such a crazy chemistry. Yeah, we're gonna do a whole album. We already, we already more than halfway in. I kind of put it on pause to finish the West Side three. But that's how I got that intermission, and it was kind of like a warm up to introduce and to keep the vibes

going for the album. People will hear it. But we got a great you know, we're gonna put out a great body of work twenty twenty two. How many records you guys have done right now? Ship? Maybe twelve, but only like sounds like an album, Yeah, but yeah, probably really like three or four that I really want to keep We got a lot of work to do, but we're gonna put it out though it's already on the bucks for sure. Yeah, it's already on the books. It's

something we've been working on. One of my favorite records of yours was CDC with you Carter and Uh and case Veggies. Yeah, Casey Veggies. That record was incredible and I always just we used to bump the fuck out of that song. Did you guys ever talk about putting the tape out as like CDC or it was just being funny like abbreviating our names at that time. You know what I'm saying. The title that song, that was a beat that hit Boy had through us and we

just hit Boy beat. That's I don't even realize it was h favorite like that crazy, that was hit Boy and that was Casey Veggie's just going crazy on it like how we do pulling up, staying in, you know, staying in attendance. Bro got off on it at my

studio and then the rest is history, you know. But that was a hit Boy beat that came out of a fudder or some beats that hit Boy gave me that case he had picked and just went, well, here was that was that twenty twelve, eleven eleven, So that was that was around the time Watch This Throne came out. That was pre that, so that it was right before that. You could even say a lot that the the thesis for Washing the Throne was that song That's crazy. Yeah,

you could say that wholeheartedly. You could say that that sound spun off of that right there. That's wild yo. So the album is out. Is there gonna be another o PM compilation? I hope so? Young Nation Man, thanks for asking you. That's one thing I've been flirting with, you know what I mean. Nico G four he just put out a type called Winners Type. It's doing pretty well. And then just in the midst of like recording West,

I would love three working with Jay. You know, those Young Nation compilation albums are designed for everybody to shine and then to spin off and get fans on their own solo projects. So it's definitely one like it was a big gap between the first one and the second one. And the one thing I've been telling the crew is like, we gotta do a better job. If that's a platform that we have, we should do a better job of introducing new music, new artists, stand current ourselves with no

ideas and no production through those platforms. So it's very very likely that you'll see a Young Nation Volume three and twenty twenty two as well. Do you feel like you're still like learning rolling with the punges when it comes to doing the CEO shit, because it's no like, it's no real blueprint, it's anything, right, it's not And

it changes every day. You know, people in positions that you might meet and have a contact and then next you might call him two months later and they'll be like, oh, I'm not even doing that no more, but I'm doing this, you know what I'm saying. So I've learned that I've learned how to deal with producers, artists. You know, I've had artists now that I have deals and then god don't have deals. And you know, I had a group called Warren Brow. They was doing their thing. They don't

it was one brother? Are they the ones? Who did you guys collaborate with the Red Bull? Wasn't exactly. They had had a situation where red Bull. But they're not a group anymore, you know. So I kind of have learned that it's like being a CEO and being having a true label is not like everything doesn't go as planned,

So hell yeah, it's us down broke up. Yeah yeah officially you know that, and that that's not an OPM car, that's a Warren broke, Like I collaborate with these people, but you know, just going from Okay, this is something new, this is exciting to like, damn, they don't even want it. They're not doing it no more, you know, and you kind of got to accept that, just like a label does. Like every artist that a label signs, maybe one out of what a hundred of them go platinum. That's real,

you know what I'm saying. Yeah, so you can't sit around and be like, oh they don't you know, so this didn't work out, so it's done. Like nah, you just keep going. You take it as a lesson learned. You got great music that you made in the process and things that you learn and you just apply that shit going forward, you know. But yeah, I take a

lot of It's been more bruises on that side than anything. Man, being on the CEO side, it's tough and for a point in time, and weighed down on my artistry as well, you know, because as I got older, as I'm you know I'm older now, so I wanted to like be more involved in business, you know, And I was cool

with being an artist obviously I made dope songs. I was a rapper, but it kind of started bothering me, I think in a way a couple of years where it was like I wanted to be more in the business and more you know, serious about that and help more artists. But it just wasn't working out. So it kind of like, you know, not soured how I looked at the game, but just like it made it less fun.

I will say that. Yeah, I feel like when you start dealing with other artists and you start dealing with individuals in general, right with anything, like you feel like, yo, I've done all this? Is it like hard? Like I don't use the word babysitting, but is it hard to like work with a bunch of different variables when it comes to being like, hey, this is what you need to do. It is, but you can't walk someone it is because it's non transferable. Man. It's like I work

out at seven o'clock. Right, If I go work out, you don't get stronger. You know what I'm saying, You gotta go. I could tell you what I'm doing. I could even let you come, you know, ride with me, but there pull up right if you don't do the same things at least, like how could you expect the

same results? You know? And it's non transferable, So no matter nothing I tell you or try to pound into your head could really work unless you embrace it and do it yourself, and your results might be better than mine. You know. That's one thing I try to get them to understand, Like I didn't do it the best way or the right way. I did it my way, you know, and what I thought was best at the time for me, my self esteem, my state of mind, you know, my heart,

Like I do what's best for that. But that doesn't mean that you gotta do what I do. You know, do it your way, you know, take the good part's lead up parts you don't like. I think the best artists that end up making it having the most longevity. I mean, everyone has management and all that, but are kind of like self managers, if that makes sense. You got to like they almost like they're like if they didn't have management, they would take the initiative their self starters. Yeah,

you know what I'm saying. You got to you got to because I see so many artists that are fucking incredible, but the reason why they never made it is maybe because they were lazy or they just didn't. Yeah, you gotta be self motivated. Man, nobody's gonna at the end of the day a manager. You know all of that. They following your lead. You know, they can only get you to believe and do and do so much. You know. And another thing is, like people want to see us

as an artist enthusiastic. You know, we gotta love it before we could sell it to anybody, even your manager, even your you know whoever, Like people could tell if you really in tune it, if you really are who you say you are, if you really are what you're pushing, you know, and what you want is to attract people that believe in the same things as you. You know what I'm saying. And don't mind you know, spreading, promoting whatever it is, you know, your agenda, your product, you know. Yeah,

how you gonna ask someone to be enthusiastic about your ship? Right? You're not and you just lay it up like, you know, not really tripping and you want them to be you know, come back like, oh I got you on Jay Leno and it's like, what like that don't happen? You know they look at it like that, but that that's not how the game goes. You know. Some people be too cool about their own ship, and it is your ship exactly.

If you don't love it, you cannot expect anybody else to work harder than you are, to love your product more than you. That's a foods game. And even even like when you like, you know, there's we're in la right, So there's always opportunities where people will get the ox Court in the studio, like, Yo, don't just play that ship and like sit back right. You gotta like feel your ship in those moments, you know what I'm saying,

and work your way up to feeling that. If you don't feel that way, be honest about it and keep going to you do. Are you in hit Boy going to do any more? Half a real Ship? Yeah, courtessy half a mil I mean originally it was a trilogy anyway, So we we've dropped two albums. We put out the EPs just because we were just learning how to work and what we was gonna be talking about. But we've dropped two albums on courtesy half a mil which is me and here boy. We're gonna have at least one

more for sure. I don't know when it's coming out, but we already you know what I mean, it's locked in for sure. Anything else you got that you're working on, any any sort of anything that you want to man, just with my new artists shooting visuals from the West Side. We left three you just on the beach, which was Dobele, Mike Kis Deep Thought, mars k Franklin. You know what I mean. Check that out. Don't walk away with Quinn Miller.

I'm gonna shoot some of the solo videos now and then twenty twenty two I'll be on the road for sure, more new music. You know, I'm firting with the idea. Obviously I dropped the t fly information, but just man, I want to stay consistent with the music, you know, as long until I'm done, just with that part of my spirit, you know what I'm saying. And right now I really feel like not that I rediscover something, but it feels like you have though. Yeah, I mean, thank

you Kevi's I didn't want to say that. For a minute. It felt like you weren't really like into this shit. Anymore. Yeah, I mean it was a lot of factors, you know, a little bit of what I touched on earlier about the business side and just certain things when things, you know, it gets like I don't want to say not being into it, because I was always into writing songs and making music and I do it about myself most of the time. So what is it not to be into?

But just rediscovering that passion, you know what I'm saying, and that initial mission statement, you know what I'm saying, and having great friends and people that you know and love like here boy, that to just remind you you know what I'm saying and support you through it. And that's initially, honestly why I thought it from the West Side with Love three and why it's so important to me.

And just seeing a you know, the it's only been out like not even two weeks, so just seeing the initial you know, feedback just lets me know, like, Okay, it is a lot on the table for us. And it is a segment of just music in general, and especially rap where it's like the conversations and the things that I talk about in the music that I talk about is necessary, you know what I'm saying. And it's avoiding. I feel like it's my job to you know, shed

some light on that. No, you're definitely I feel like you've been back in your bag the last couple of years. Man, Thank you. So it's been great to see you. Can't wait to hear the t FLA ship. Yeah. Now it's gonna be do It's gonna be dope. Man, it's gonna be on point, like we got we already got songs

I'm excited about, like sharing. That's why I feel, you know, real good about the music that we making and even saying that it and just honestly just us being It's really about when as artists and friends that we all see and eye to eye in in a great space as human beings, you know what I'm saying. And that's when I feel like in what I've seen, like you know, not saying we all got to have a lot of money or you know, so for it's just you know,

just real life. And I feel like that's happening right now. And from the West Side, we love three. I feel like it's definitely one of the reasons why, you know, and I want to continue that. Well, look, go get the album. That shit is Fire, Thank you man. I'm sure more visuals are coming like yes, yes, so there'll be some more visuals hopefully be hitting the road yeap twenty twenty two. I'm looking forward to it, probably like springtime, will be out there, a lot of special guests Fire,

you know what I mean. For sure, there it is, man, Well look, thanks for pulling up man, Yes, sir